Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST) Zurich University of the Arts
Ambisonics @ ICST - Tools, Tutorials, and Studio for Spatial Sound
This site is for composers, sound designers, students, and researchers who want to work with spatial sound, whether they are getting started or already advanced. It combines open tools with practical studio workflows and artistic practice.
Use Tutorials for step-by-step setup and production workflows. Use Studio Cases for residency context, listening sessions, and studio updates.
How to use this site?
Two short entry paths:
- Technical path: Start with Quick Start, continue with Step by Step Setup, then move to Tutorials for reproducible workflows.
- Artistic path: Start with Ascolta and Audio Examples, then jump to Studio Cases and Residencies for production context and artistic practice.
Start by Audience
For Beginners
A short entry point into setup, signal flow, and first projects with ICST Ambisonics.
For ICST Residents
Studio context, residency workflows, and production infrastructure on site.
For Ambisonics Nerds
Technical depth on decoder logic, OSC workflows, and production details.
Mobile Quick Access
Residencies
Equipment
New: Ambisonics 101
A compact entry point with the basics of Ambisonics, B-format, typical setups, and headphone-vs.-loudspeaker workflows.
→ Ambisonics 101
The ICST Ambisonics Plugins (Reaper DAW)
The ICST Ambisonics Plugins encode and decode Ambisonics B-Format and provide spatial audio production tools for REAPER DAW — free and open source.
Developed at ZHdK Zurich, this site brings together plugin documentation, tutorials, and a living practice: international composers work in our studio through artist residencies, and the public is invited to acousmatic listening sessions (Ascolta). All tools are format-agnostic and built on the open B-Format standard.
Info at ZHdK: https://www.zhdk.ch/forschungsprojekt/icst-ambisonics-plugins-555245
The Ambisonics Tools (Max 8.0)
Info at ZHdK: https://www.zhdk.ch/en/research/icst/software-downloads-5379/downloads-icst-tools-for-maxmsp-5385
©2026 ICST
Latest Posts
#07 ASCOLTA ACOUSMATIC LISTENING SESSION
Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST) Zurich University of the Arts #07 ascolta Acousmatic Listening Session For whom: Level: All levels | Audience: Composer, Student, Researcher, Studio visitor. A concert featuring some of the ICST artists in residence Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 18:00 Toni-Areal, ICST-Kompositionsstudio (3.D02, Ebene 3) Pfingstweidstrasse 96, 8005 Zürich Free admission Nikos Stavropoulos Artist in Residency 3.7. – 14.7.2017 | 12.1. – 22.1.2018 Karst Grotto 7:15
AUDIO EXAMPLES
Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST) Zurich University of the Arts For whom: Level: All levels | Audience: Composer, Student, Researcher, Studio visitor. Short preview snippets are hosted on this site. Full-length versions are linked externally to avoid GitHub Page size limits. Hinweis: Ambitest-Referenzbeispiel von Audiobrewers: Ambisonics Test Library How To Listen Ambisonics 101 Ascolta Downloads Examples 3D-Audio-Test 01 · Binaural Preview Format: Binaural stereo · Preview duration: 4min Your browser does not support the audio element. Example 02 · Speaker Stereo Preview Format: Stereo for Speakers · Preview duration: 4min
STUDIO TERMS OF USE
Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST) Zurich University of the Arts For whom: Level: All levels | Audience: Composer, Student, Researcher, Studio visitor. Regulations for the use of the ICST composition studio: Do not eat or drink in the studio. do not set up your own user accounts on the composition computer no installation of own software & plugins (if needed, please contact support) Do not move the 18-Ambisonics speakers as they have been precisely calibrated. Please dismantle all modifications No stock Put instruments/music stands/special equipment away again. Reset the audio matrix routing to ‘standard.’ Set ‘Ghielmetti’ back to ‘Standard’. Turn off all equipment when leaving the studio. Important. The user data on the composition computer will be deleted. Each user is responsible for the security of their own data. (Save to your own HD) Please leave the studio in default settings when leaving! New: For night sessions, please note that the Studio components will automatically shut down at 03:00. At 03:00, a warning appears on the ‘Extron TouchPanel,’ and with the confirmation to cancel, this process can be stopped. These regulations are valid for the duration of the studio booking. For projects and AiR guests, the agreed regulations are valid. The next studio user will thank them.
ICST AMBIENCODER – SPIRAL WALK SCRIPT
Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST) Zurich University of the Arts ICST AmbiEncoder_64 Spiral Walk - Dokumentation For whom: Level: Advanced | Audience: ReaScript user, Technical artist. 🔍 Funktion Dieses ReaScript generiert Spiralbewegungen (z.B. expandierende Spiralen) für die X-, Y- und optional Z-Koordinaten des VST3 “ICST AmbiEncoder_64” in REAPER. Es erlaubt dir, Bewegungsverläufe auf Basis von Startpositionen deiner Punkte zu erzeugen und automatisch als Envelope einzufügen. Das Ganze erfolgt grafisch via ReaImGui mit einstellbaren Parametern und Preset-Speicher.
#08 ASCOLTA ACOUSMATIC LISTENING SESSION
Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST) Zurich University of the Arts #08 ascolta Acousmatic Listening Session For whom: Level: All levels | Audience: Composer, Student, Researcher, Studio visitor. Tuesday, October 24, 2023, 18:00 Toni-Areal, ICST-Kompositionsstudio (3.D02, Ebene 3) Pfingstweidstrasse 96, 8005 Zürich Free admission La Canción de la Tierra Mesias Maiguashca Artist in Residency at ICST: 2018 | February 28 – March 1, 2019 | April 25 – April 26, 2019 | 2020
ICST AMBIENCODER – CIRCLESELECTED
Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST) Zurich University of the Arts ICST_AmbiEncoder_64_CircleSelected_Lua-Presets For whom: Level: Intermediate | Audience: Reaper power user, Performance artist. 📃 Benutzer-Dokumentation Script: ICST_AmbiEncoder_64_CircleSelected_Presets.lua Funktion: Punkte des ICST AmbiEncoder_64 Plugins grafisch auswählen, im Kreis anordnen, bewegen (Rotation/RandomWalk) und als Preset speichern/laden. 🚀 Installation Datei speichern Lege die Datei ICST_AmbiEncoder_64_CircleSelected_Presets.lua in deinen REAPER-Scripts-Ordner: /Users/<name>/Library/Application Support/REAPER/Scripts/ICST_AMBI/ In REAPER registrieren Öffne REAPER → Actions → Show Action List... Klick auf ReaScript: Load... Wähle die Datei und bestätige. Das Script ist nun als Action verfügbar. AmbiEncoder laden
#09 ASCOLTA ACOUSMATIC LISTENING SESSION
Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST) Zurich University of the Arts #09 ascolta Acousmatic Listening Session For whom: Level: All levels | Audience: Composer, Student, Researcher, Studio visitor. Tuesday, December 5, 2023, 18:00 Toni-Areal, ICST-Kompositionsstudio (3.D02, Ebene 3) Pfingstweidstrasse 96, 8005 Zürich Free admission Hans Tutschku: Remembering Japan Hans Tutschku ICST Artist in Residence from January 31 to February 13, 2022. Remembering Japan INFO: https://tutschku.com/remembering-japan/ https://electrocd.com/en/album/6390/hans-tutschku/remembering-japan Biography Foto: Tony Rinaldo Hans Tutschku is a composer of instrumental and electroacoustic music. In 1982 he joined the “Ensemble for intuitive music Weimar” and later studied theatre and composition in Berlin, Dresden, The Hague, Paris, and Birmingham. He collaborated in film, theatre and dance productions, and participated in concert cycles with Karlheinz Stockhausen. Since 2004 he directs the electroacoustic studios at Harvard University.
BLAUERT'S BANDS
Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST) Zurich University of the Arts Blauert’s Bands For whom: Level: Advanced | Audience: Psychoacoustics-focused composer/researcher.
BLAUERT'S BANDS
Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST) Zurich University of the Arts Blauert’s Bands For whom: Level: Advanced | Audience: Psychoacoustics-focused composer/researcher.
#10 ASCOLTA ACOUSMATIC LISTENING SESSION
Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST) Zurich University of the Arts #10 ascolta Acousmatic Listening Session For whom: Level: All levels | Audience: Composer, Student, Researcher, Studio visitor. The Composer, Herself Concert March 19, 2024, 18:00 Toni-Areal, Kompositionsstudio 3.D02, Ebene 3, Pfingstweidstrasse 96, Zürich Free admission Program: Natasha Barrett Prince Prospero’s Party [2005] 2nd order Ambisonics 16:00 One of the first pieces in Ambisonic second order was by Natasha Barrett as Artist in Residency 2005 at the HMT Zurich.