Lydbygg

Lydbygg is a term used in Norwegian and other Scandinavian contexts to describe the deliberate construction of soundscapes through architectural-like sonic design. The word combines lyd (sound) and bygg (building), conveying the idea of building sounds as one would build a structure. In practice, lydbygg refers to methods that assemble complex sonic textures by layering field recordings, synthesized material, and effects, and by shaping dynamics, timbre, and spatialization to achieve a cohesive auditory environment.

Practically, lydbygg emphasizes process and listening; practitioners treat sound as modular material to be arranged in time and space. Techniques include multi-layer editing, granular synthesis, convolution reverb, equalization and dynamic processing, precise panning, and the use of ambisonics or binaural cues to create sense of place. Sound sources may be synthetic, captured in the field, or generated by algorithmic methods, and are modified through filtering, compression, and modulation to blend into a single sonic organism.

Applications of lydbygg include experimental music, film and game sound design, installation art, and education about sonic perception. The term is not widely standardized; it is often used descriptively to discuss a practice rather than as a fixed set of techniques, and it intersects with broader concepts such as sound design, sonic texture, and electroacoustic composition. See also: sound design, field recording, granular synthesis, ambisonics.