ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the spatial attributes of sound, focusing primarily on reverberation and mid-side processing. The goal of the spatial software practice module is to systematically familiarize listeners with aspects of artificial reverberation, delay, and panning. Pop, rock, electronic, and other styles of music that use predominantly electric instruments and computer-generated sounds are not usually recorded in reverberant acoustic spaces, although there are some spectacular exceptions. The spatial attributes of sound sources consist of three main categories: angular location, distance and spatial extent. Decay time is the most common parameter in artificial reverberation algorithms. Reverb decay time is defined as the time in which sound continues to linger after the direct sound has stopped sounding. The chapter explores two fundamental processes found in most digital reverberation units: time delay and reverberation. Reverberation and delay have important functions in music recording, such as helping the instruments and voices in a recording blend and "gel".
