Performing Music in three Dimensions (Musikperformance in der dritten Dimension)

Contemprorary electro-acoustic music increasingly demands spatial positioning and movements of sounds. During a performance, it is often necessary, to render both virtual sound objects (pre-recorded as well as live signals) and pre-recorded soundfields into variable virtual and/or "enhanced" acoustics. To fulfill the manifold requirements of sound transformation and interactivity, a modular concept can provide the possibility for on-demand extensions. Reproduction has to be possible on a variety of setups, ranging from binaural systems at the composer's studio to large scale loudspeaker arrays in public auditories. In this paper, a periphonic software mixing system that aims to meet these requirements, is introduced and discussed.