Audium-Theatre of Sound - San Francisco, California

mei S.

This place is so cool and if you’re looking a unique experience or just something new to do, you should go here.
I wish it was slightly more musical vs it being more like noise but they have a few different shows and I want to go back and try out the different artist-in-residence shows.

Mateus F.

Even though the idea seems good - a presentation focused on noise, without any visual stimulus - the reality is that the performance was tedious and nonsense to me and my girlfriend. It could be described as an almost random sequence of familiar noises - ocean waves, kids talking, people at the table etc. There is almost no silence or usual music, as far as I can remember. In short, I felt really disappointed by this experience.

Salvatore C.

What an incredible experience. I saw “the depths” which is an installation put on by Dave Shaff, the son of the original brain behind the theatre. Visiting from NYC, this was an absolute hit and I highly recommend it if you’re into impressive audio performances. It is a concert in the dark. Just close your eyes and get enveloped in the sound.

Jules C. (.

some 3 dozen of us sat on chairs in a large space in a circle. the lights very slowly went out until we were in complete darkness and then we were surrounded in sound moving around us.

water dripping and a lost saxophone and mostly unstructured musical exploration.

I love that places like this exist but it's important to note that the technology used at the Audium is decades old. the promise of a vast spacial audio experience wasn't quite achievable even with the 170-ish speakers around, above, and below us.

these days audio modeling is far more advanced and even a set of good headphones can provide better spacial audio.

nevertheless, it's a very unique experience and I think with the right composition it can be very powerful (the program that was playing that day, an experimental, meandering, anchorless piece by David Shaff, was not really my thing).

I think I'll give it another try when more interesting programming is available.

JD D.

This place is a San Francisco gem, offering a truely unique experience in sound immersion. A new crew of sound buffs have undertaken a years-long technology update, and they are bringjng in new sound artists and musicians regularly to develop programming that takes you on a journey through the darkness, borne on waves of pure sonic energy from down the street to far across the universe.

Desiree A.

Wasn’t really to my taste. Some parts were so loud I had to plug my ears. Didn’t enjoy the sounds of traffic and people clapping and coughing. Did like the nature and chime sounds. The show was about 40 minutes long.

Anthony R.

The Audium is an essential SF Institution. It is the original immersive audio experience and something that can not be talked about and must be experienced!

Allan E.

This is a unique immersive audio art performance in a unique custom performance space. Father and son Stan and Dave "compose" unique blends of audio (train noises, footsteps, music, street sounds, water, nature sounds, etc,) that you listen to in the dark. Underscore Unique (some would say Odd). It's art. Not for everyone. I wasn't high, but that would definitely help the experience. Facility was built in 1975 and is showing it's age.