Auralisation making in practice; a very visual undertaking?
Channel: Recording Archaeology
Date: 2017-04-29

The use of auralisation and the use of acoustical modelling are starting to influence archaeological practice; opening up questions about the auditory and multisensory experience of the past. The method for creating an acoustical model of a building is comparable to the method for producing a three dimension model. Through the process of visualisation creation we naturally critique and amend based on what we are seeing. An auralisation is assessed on what it sounds like; does it sound right, appropriate for the space? However, this is often just one step in the process. A significant amount of the assessment is undertaken based on our initial, visual, perception of the model, and the visual perception of the results.
This presentation aims to question the practice of making an auralization. Is our reliance on the visual elements of the model and results based on our reliance, or our prioritisation of the visual over the other senses? Or is based on our unwillingness to engage with the creative elements inherently involved with the production of visualisations and representations which still apply in the production of auralisations?

Catriona Cooper, Allen Archaeology Limited