Sculpting the Invisible Art of the Cinematic Soul aka Soundscopia Vienna
SOUNDSCOPIA is the definitive annual movement and ‚pilgrimage‘ for the cinematic sonic soul. Evolving from the Viennese Journey into Direct Sound (2024) and the Pro Audio Roadshow 2025, it has transformed into a comprehensive, three-tier festival. Here, storytelling is explored through the art and science of location recording, direct sound directing, and immersive audio landscapes.
It is a practitioner-led ecosystem where Academy Award-nominated coryphaei in sound, production sound mixers, recordists, microphonists, directors, film students, and world-leading manufacturers—meet on equal ground to explore the ‚invisible art‘ of sound.
Phase 1: The Spring Impulse & Tactical Launchpad
Concluded: April 13th – 17th at the Filmakademie Wien and IKT.
This inaugural phase of this journey focused on technical mastery while interrogating the fundamental philosophical „whys“ of direct sound capture. Designed as a tactical intervention right before the seasonal production rush began, it bridged high-level theory with physical practice:
- The European Direct Sound Symposium: A landmark forum that examined the ontological and narrative role of direct sound in cinema. This gathering united representative production sound mixers, film directors, and the next generation of sound mixers to debate the preservation of acoustic truth on set.
- Direct Sound Directing Panel: A deep dive into an avant-garde, yet largely unmapped discipline, forecasting the vital role sound recording and acoustic design will play in the near future of auteur filmmaking.
- The Next-Generation Panel: A curated forum intended to invite younger cinematic voices to connect, exchange paradigms, and mobilize ahead of the festival’s upcoming second phase.
- Masterclasses & Curated Workshops:
- The Architecture of Body-Worn Audio: Advanced techniques for miking actors, led by Simon Bysshe and Laura K. Smith (sponsored by URSA Straps /United Kingdom).
- The Invisible Thread: Explored RFoF (Radio Frequency over Fiber) distribution systems with Daniel Jäger (Wisycom / Italy).
- Acoustic Geometry: Mastered the complexities of plant mics and grand piano capture with Benny Breuning (DPA Microphones / Denmark).
- RF Topology & Field Capture Systems: Advanced RF coordination and recording ecosystems with Thomas Conen (United Brands / Sound Devices USA-Germany).
- Beyond the Human Ear: Unveiled the unseen and rendered audible the unheard world through ultrasound exploration with Jonáš Gruska (LOM audio / Slovakia).
- The Technical Lab — The Microphone Atelier: An intuitive, side-by-side „bench test“ profiling the sonic DNA of 30 of the world’s most iconic cinema microphones. Curated by William Edouard Franck, this laboratory allowed practitioners to critically analyze everything from self-noise thresholds to off-axis coloration under controlled, rigorous conditions. A follow up event is planned in phase 3.
- The „Bring Your Own Bag“ Challenge: A deep dive into mobile ergonomics, physical endurance, and the philosophy of the „Sovereign Sound Bag.“ This competition celebrated the field rig as a literal extension of the mixer’s own body. Participants focused on engineering bulletproof, power-efficient kits capable of navigating chaotic environments, ensuring that even in the most hostile acoustic spaces, the captured sound remained transparent, textured, and profoundly alive. Jakub Trš took the grand prize home to Prague, a victory proudly sponsored by K-Tek.
(*) SOUNDSCOPIA is emerging as the definitive annual pilgrimage for the cinematic sonic soul. Growing directly out of the historical foundations of the Viennese Journey into Direct Sound (2024) and the Pro Audio Roadshow (2025), this evolving project is shaping up to become a comprehensive, three-tier festival. Right now, directors, editors, and designers across all disciplines are redefining narrative storytelling by exploring the delicate intersection of art and science within direct sound directing, acoustic architecture, and immersive sonic landscapes.
This initiative builds a practitioner-led ecosystem rooted in radical collaboration. At SOUNDSCOPIA, traditional industry hierarchies dissolve: Academy Award winners and nominees, production sound mixers, boom operators, directors, film students, and pioneering developers gather on equal ground. Together, they actively interrogate the „invisible art“—the profound auditory canvas that shapes human emotion and breathes life into the moving image.European direct sound: Symposium about the role of direct sound in cinema. Gathering representative production sound mixers, film directors and students.
The Three Pillars of the SOUNDSCOPIA Journey
SOUNDSCOPIA operates across three distinct phases to sustain, educate, and provoke the global audio community year-round.
Phase 1: The Spring Impulse & Tactical Launchpad
Phase 2: THE LOCAL PULSE | The Community Anchor
Discover how this phase bridges local talent, regional soundscapes, and neighborhood-level audio initiatives. 👉 Phase 2: The Local Pulse
Phase 3: THE GRAND SUMMIT (October) | The Global Apex
Delve into our flagship autumn gathering, where the international community unites to finalize the year’s research and push the boundaries of cinematic sound. 👉 Phase 3: The Grand Summit
Registration & information via franck(a)mdw.ac.at
Program designed and curated by senior artist William Edouard Franck
