Empirical Evaluation of Immersive In-Headphone Spatial Audio in Contemporary Theatre
Spatial Audio Gathering 2026 University of Leeds, UK March 31 – April 1, 2026
Poster presentation + Demo
Abstract
This practice-as-research study investigates the dramaturgical impact of binaural 3D audio technology in contemporary theatre through the case study of Puttana, an experimental music-theatre piece where the entire audience experiences the performance through wireless headphones.
Using dearVR PRO 2 for spatial music composition and Ableton Live for real-time voice processing, the production creates a dual-layer sonic architecture: pre-composed spatialized music and live-processed voice that remains perceptually central as a deliberate dramaturgical choice.
Empirical data collected from 69 audience members across three Italian productions (Catania Off Fringe 2025) reveals measurable patterns in spatial perception, emotional engagement, and the relationship between sonic movement and narrative comprehension.
Keywords: binaural audio, immersive theatre, spatial audio dramaturgy, audience perception, practice-as-research
Research Materials
📄 Short Paper (4 pages) "Binaural Audio as Dramaturgical Tool: Empirical Evidence from PUTTANA" [Download PDF]
📊 Key Findings:
N = 69 respondents
54% reported feeling "inside the scene" rather than observing it
100% perceived 3D spatial movement
Emotional engagement: 4.64/5 average
🎭 About the Production Full details about Puttana (awards, creative team, technical setup, press reviews): → See Theatre section
Conference Details
Spatial Audio Gathering 2026 University of Leeds, School of Music March 31 – April 1, 2026 Leeds, United Kingdom
Session: Day 1 Poster Session Format: A0 poster + live demo (binaural audio playback, Pro Tools session walkthrough)
Conference website: https://spatialaudiogathering.github.io/
Bibliography
Key references cited in the paper:
Guastavino, C. (2007). Categorization of environmental sounds. Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology, 61(1), 54-63.
Stenzel, A. et al. (2013). Distraction from visual to auditory stimuli in virtual environments. Experimental Brain Research, 229, 49-59.
Giovannucci, F. (2018). La nuova drammaturgia sonora. Bulzoni Editore.
Papaleo, A. (2013). L'altro suono: Estetica e drammaturgia del teatro musicale contemporaneo. Franco Angeli.
Full bibliography available in the downloadable paper.
Technical System
Composition & Spatialisation:
Pro Tools + dearVR PRO 2 (Sennheiser)
Binaural 3D rendering (ITD, ILD, HRTF)
Pre-composed spatial music tracks
Live Performance:
Ableton Live (5-channel voice processing)
Sebastiano Cecchini, live sound designer
Wireless headphones (60 units, Silentsystem Audio Global)
Performance Architecture:
Layer 1: Spatialized music (360° movement)
Layer 2: Voice (perceptually central, 5 characters via real-time processing)