SMSurround is a combination of both hardware and software used to both aid
the theatre audio designer, and enhance the theatrical audio experience. The
system in its current configuration allows entire shows to be pre-programmed
in a special show language so that a show may be run by simply hitting a
go button on a stage manager's cue. This is a vast improvement over previous
methods employed in the theatre community at WPI, which were largely kludges
involving using Windows software not entirely suited to the task at hand.
The full SMSurround system is extremely powerful. Software provides
full control of CD audio, digital sound effects, and MIDI via the currently
existing technologies of sound cards and CD-ROMs. Custom hardware that was
developed for the project allows five stereo audio inputs to be routed to any
of eight mono outputs at any volume levels. This mixer/matrix setup allows
many special effects, such as rotating sounds, sounds that follow the action,
automated fades and crossfades, etc.
