8 inputs / 8 outputs surround panning project — looking for advice

[NikosT]

Hi everyone,

I'm working on a project that involves 8 audio inputs and 8 audio outputs, and I'd like to implement surround panning functionality similar to what the built-in modules SURR PAN SIMPLE, SURR PAN TRAJECTORY, and SMOOTH SURROUND TO PANNER offer.

I tried to replicate these features by copying and adapting the existing devices to work with an 8-input / 8-output surround setup, but the results were not satisfactory.

Could anyone give me some guidance or ideas on how to properly implement this kind of project in Usine? Any tips on routing, patching strategies, or custom module configurations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[grego mondo]

Hello

Is that 8 simultaneous input or 8 independent input ?
What is not satisfactory for you ?

[NikosT]

Sure, let me explain.

I need 8 independent inputs, each with its own panner. The idea is that each input can be routed to any of the 8 outputs independently — for example, input 1 to output 7, input 2 to output 3, and so on.

I'm also interested in using dynamic movement features such as LFO modulation and trajectory movement, similar to what SURR PAN SIMPLE, SURR PAN TRAJECTORY, and SMOOTH SURROUND TO PANNER offer.

The issue is that the existing ready-made devices only support up to 2 or 4 inputs. When I tried to adapt them to work with 8 inputs, the results were not satisfactory — the routing and panning behaviour did not scale correctly.

[grego mondo]

Well if it's 8 independant inputs then I would use 8 panners with only 1 input and 8 outputs

You can link all the parameters of the 8 panners so that : numbers of speakers / area / array speakers X and Y pos so they respond as "slaves" to a master panner (even with no sound in).

Hope it helps

[NikosT]

Thank you for your response.

[oli_lab]

Hi nikos,
Greg solution is good to try, but you can also try this solution with audio matrix.
with it you can specify how each audio signal is spread on witch output. It is very interesting if you work with acousmoium-like speaker configuration as you can send one audio signal on many different speakers.
On dome like configuration, it allow for more bluriness and subtle movements within the sound !

audio matrix.wkp

(237.83 KiB) Downloaded 43 times

[grego mondo]

Hi
I obviously thought about Matrix but then you can't use lfo moving style
("I'm also interested in using dynamic movement features such as LFO modulation and trajectory movement, similar to what SURR PAN SIMPLE, SURR PAN TRAJECTORY, and SMOOTH SURROUND TO PANNER offer.")

[oli_lab]

Hi
I obviously thought about Matrix but then you can't use lfo moving style
("I'm also interested in using dynamic movement features such as LFO modulation and trajectory movement, similar to what SURR PAN SIMPLE, SURR PAN TRAJECTORY, and SMOOTH SURROUND TO PANNER offer.")

a good thing to do is doing both : the matrix fo the texture and a surround panner for precise movement, LFO and what not.

althought, with the matrix solution, you can still make presets and switch from one to another one to simulate movements.

[NikosT]

Thank you, @oli_lab.

That’s a very interesting approach. I hadn’t considered combining the audio matrix with the surround panner, but it makes sense: using the matrix for texture/diffusion and the panner for more precise movement, LFOs and trajectories.

I’ll try this hybrid setup and experiment with presets in the matrix as well.

Thanks again for the suggestion!

[oli_lab]

Hi Nikos,
You may find tis interesting as well :
https://www.brainmodular.com/forums/vie ... ion#p46014

For badass spatialisation you also have the VST3 Acousmodules from my friend Jean-Marc Duchenne : http://acousmodules.free.fr/

Cheers

Olivar

[NikosT]

Hi Olivar,

Thank you very much for your help.

I have checked the links you shared, and they were very useful. They helped me understand how to approach the project more clearly and gave me practical ideas for implementing it in Usine.

I really appreciate your guidance and the time you took to help me.

Nikos T