PrePosition
PrePosition version 1 has been widely used since 2020 across the live sound world, by electronic musicians, experiential sound artists, theatre sound designers and front of house engineers, amongst others.
The quick to configure, intuitive controls will make total sense to you if you use Ableton in your workflow, and are easy to learn for those new to it.
PrePosition version 1 added d&b Soundscape functionality to the existing Robert Henke / Ableton surround panner, which meant you could pre-program (or position!) your objects on a simple quad system, before moving to a Soundscape spatial audio system. However, it quickly became apparent that the panner mode was the least used feature – with more users enjoying the simplicity of integrating Soundscape automation into their Live sets using PrePosition.
If the panner functionality is of use to you, or you want to try PrePosition for free please download version 1 below. There is also more on the back story of the device, including testimonials from various cool peeps who have used it!
New mid-2025, PrePosition version 2 includes a range of updates from version 1 including:
- 128 object maximum, up from 64.
- Object linking – mirror or opposite modes.
- Z-axis control.
- Scalable ADM OSC output – for use with L-ISA, TiMax, SPAT, Spacemap, Lawo etc etc. – XYZ and width “horizontal extent”(!)
- Mappable outputs – for use with Dolby Atmos Music Panner.
- Soundscape DS100 functionality improved – global or local mapping area per instance.
- Snap – object returns to where it was first picked up.
There are also a couple of new extra tools in the bundle –
- MIDI mapper – allows you to map one MIDI controller to a number of different instances of PrePosition, and easily switch between them.
- Spatial Step Sequencer – everyone loves a step sequencer 🙂
Check out the tutorial video or read the manual below –
PrePosition v2 Manual – click Icon above to download.
If this is of interest to you, version 2 can be downloaded by members of the ‘All-access’ tier on the BrooksAudio Patreon –
BrooksAudio can also offer customised training packages, for individuals or groups, on Ableton, Max for Live, d&b Soundscape, or how to tie all of this together for your performance / show. If you’re interested in learning more please get in touch using the contact page.
PrePosition version 1 used by Robb Allan at FOH for the Groove Armada farewell tour.
Why was PrePosition version 1 created?
There are many live Spatial Audio systems on the market – d&b audiotechnik Soundscape, L-acoustic’s L-ISA, TiMax, SPAT etc etc. They all offer powerful ways of routing audio to speakers in a surround sound system.
However, sometimes without a hardware brain it is not possible to pre-program your set or show. PrePosition version 1 allowed you to place your sound using a small 4, 6, or 8 speaker set up in your studio, which will then (with one click!) would give you a starting point for your work on the venue’s d&b Soundscape system.
BONUS! The added benefit of the surround panner’s ‘Rotation’ control is really powerful to create quick movements mapped to a Max for Live LFO. These can be freewheeling or synced to the Ableton master tempo (which as of v11 can also follow an external audio signal). This functionality has seen PrePosition adopted in many Front of House boxes, like at the Groove Armada show shown above, or by FOH engineer Rampton, who talks about his experience of the plugin below.
Soundscape PrePosition version 1 inserted in a channel in Ableton Live.
“Aux bussing from console onto pre-set looped automations that are sat on objects using your PrePosition plug-in, then returning to faders on the console is deffo the way to go! We had a whale of a time mixing The Bays live set at Brixton Academy last year. For a live engineer, this technique offers an exciting and creative way to use Soundscape and at the same time, maintain a familiar workflow.”
Rampton (Velocity Resolutions)
How much does it cost?
PrePosition version 1 is free to download. We just request your email address (please fill in the form below) so we can email you when new developments are made. If you are looking for the greatly expanded features of PrePostion version 2, please head over to the BrooksAudio PATREON and sign up to the All-access tier or higher to download.
What else do I need for PrePosition version 1?
* Ableton 10 – 12 Suite.
* Minimum 4 speakers on individual outputs of your soundcard.
* A DS100 / Soundscape system at the venue to perform on!
Walk through tutorial of the PrePosition version 1 device.
“Over the last 10 years (initially as one of the Soundscape specialists at d&b audiotechnik), I have worked on lots of spatial sound installs and many live events using spatial audio.
Since I first started experimenting with this technology in 2016 I have realised there are some gaps in the tool kit, especially for electronic musicians who need a quick and easy way to get their content to translate to a (or across different) live Spatial Audio systems.
This toolkit is designed to build confidence in the artist to really grab hold of the system and put it through it’s paces, by fully integrating it into their performance system, which 9 times out of 10 is fully or partially based on Ableton Live Suite.”
Bill Brooks (BrooksAudio)