In computer music, many spatialization algorithms use a self-contained syntax and storage-format, wherein control messages (e.g. trajectories to move a sound virtually) programmed for one application are incompatible with any other implementation.
This lack of a standardization complicates the portability of compositions and requires manual synchronization and conversion of control data - a time consuming affair. Incompatible data formats also prevent collaboration between researchers and institutions.
The general idea is to development of a format to describe, store and share spatial audio scenes across 2D/3D audio applications and concert venues.
Therefore we call for a collaborative developing of SpatDIF - a format to describe spatial audio information in a structured way to support real-time and non-real-time applications.
You can learn more about the current state of the SpatDIF development in the WIKI. If you are interested, please join also the mailing list.
Ircam will be hosting a two day meeting/workshop on SpatDIF and GDIF from Thursday May 20th (starting 2:00pm) to Friday May 21st (until 4:00pm). The initial announcement of the workshop can be found here.