Follow up event 13th – 17th April 2026 / Arthouse Kino & Filmstudios / mdw Campus
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.
The Three Pillars of the Soundscopia Journey
SOUNDSCOPIA operates across three distinct phases to support the industry year-round:
Phase 1: THE SPRING IMPULSE (April) | The Tactical Launchpad
Focuses on technical mastery and preparation before the production season begins.
- European direct sound: Symposium about the role of direct sound in cinema. Gathering representative production sound mixers, film directors and students.
- Expert workshops:
- Micking actors with Simon Bysshe and Laura K Smith (URSA STRAPS)
- and RFoF by Daniel Jäger (WISYCOM)
- Plant mic and piano Miking by Benny Breuning (DPA)
- RF techniques and Recording Tech by Thomas Conen (United Brands / SOUND DEVICES)
- ULTRASOUND by Jonáš Gruska (LOM AUDIO)
- Technical Lab: The Microphone Atelier: A side-by-side „bench test“ of the world’s 30 most essential cinema microphones to compare their DNA, from self-noise to off-axis coloration.
- The „Bring Your Own Bag“ Challenge: A deep dive into mobile ergonomics and the „Sovereign Sound Bag“— We are looking for the most evolved mobile ecosystem in Europe—a rig that is an extension of the mixer’s own body. building bulletproof, power-efficient field kits, and to ensure that even in the chaos of a „tricky“ space, the sound remains transparent, textured, and alive. Award will be sponsored by Ktek.
- Follow up COMMUNITY Exquisite audio show: Every mixer has a drawer of gear that is „perfect, but not for my current workflow.“
- No Dealers. No Salesmen. Just practitioners.
- show your niche components, discontinued mixers, capsules, or custom cables with peers who know their value.
- It’s about keeping the tools of the trade within the community that respects them.
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Simon Bysshe and Laura K Smith -
Daniel Jäger -
Benny Breuning -
Jonáš Gruska -
Phase 2: THE LOCAL PULSE (Monthly) | The Community Anchor
Regular gatherings in Vienna to keep the heartbeat of the industry alive.
- Practitioner Spotlights: Local technicians share „war stories“ and problem-solving tactics from recent film sets.
- Young Austrian Cinema: Bridging the gap between emerging directors and sound teams to ensure audio is never an afterthought.
Phase 3: THE GRAND SUMMIT (October) | The Global Apex
A world-class symposium where the physics of the signal meets the emotion of cinematic art. More to come
Registration via franck(a)mdw.ac.at
Program designed and curated by senior artist William Edouard Franck
