• Research

    The fundamental principle of IRCAM is to encourage productive interaction among scientific research, technological developments, and contemporary music production. Since its establishment in 1977, this initiative has provided the foundation for the institute’s activities. One of the major issues is the importance of contributing to the renewal of musical expression through science and technology. Conversely, sp…

    • Research Topics
    • The STMS Lab
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    • Sound Systems and Signals: Audio/Acoustics, InstruMents
    • Acoustic and Cognitive Spaces
    • Sound Perception and Design
    • Sound Analysis-Synthesis
    • Sound Music Movement Interaction
    • Musical Representations
    • Analysis of Musical Practices
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    • The Musical Body
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  • Creation

    IRCAM is an internationally recognized research center dedicated to creating new technologies for music. The institute offers a unique experimental environment where composers strive to enlarge their musical experience through the concepts expressed in new technologies.

    • Composers & Artists in Studio
    • Mauro Lanza in studio
    • Chloé Thévenin in studio
    • Oren Boneh in studio
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    • Deena Abdelwahed in the studio
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    • L’Étincelle, IRCAM’s journal of creation
  • Transmission

    In support of IRCAM's research and creation missions, the educational program seeks to shed light on the current and future meaning of the interactions among the arts, sciences, and technology as well as sharing its models of knowledge, know-how, and innovations with the widest possible audience.

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  • Innovations

    Engaged with societal and economic issues at the intersection of culture and IT, research at Ircam has forged a reputation for itself in the world of international research as an interdisciplinary benchmark in the science and technology of sound and music, constantly attentive to the new needs and uses in society.

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  • Research

    The fundamental principle of IRCAM is to encourage productive interaction among scientific research, technological developments, and contemporary music production. Since its establishment in 1977, this initiative has provided the foundation for the institute’s activities. One of the major issues is the importance of contributing to the renewal of musical expression through science and technology. Conversely, sp…

    • Research Topics
    • The STMS Lab
    • Research Teams
    • Sound Systems and Signals: Audio/Acoustics, InstruMents
    • Acoustic and Cognitive Spaces
    • Sound Perception and Design
    • Sound Analysis-Synthesis
    • Sound Music Movement Interaction
    • Musical Representations
    • Analysis of Musical Practices
    • Projects
    • Sound Workshop
    • The Musical Body
    • Creative Dynamics
    • Finished Projects
  • Creation

    IRCAM is an internationally recognized research center dedicated to creating new technologies for music. The institute offers a unique experimental environment where composers strive to enlarge their musical experience through the concepts expressed in new technologies.

    • Composers & Artists in Studio
    • Mauro Lanza in studio
    • Chloé Thévenin in studio
    • Oren Boneh in studio
    • Tristan Murail in studio
    • Martin Matalon in studio
    • Sébastien Gaxie in studio
    • Murcof in the studio
    • Vimala Pons in studio
    • Lucie Antunes in studio
    • Deena Abdelwahed in the studio
    • Music-Fictions
    • Artistic Research Residency
    • Artistic Residencies: The Blog
    • Rendez Vous 24.25
    • 2024-2025
    • Replay Concerts
    • Seasons from 1996 to present
    • ManiFeste-2024 Website
    • ManiFeste festival from 2012 to 2024
    • L’Étincelle, IRCAM’s journal of creation
  • Transmission

    In support of IRCAM's research and creation missions, the educational program seeks to shed light on the current and future meaning of the interactions among the arts, sciences, and technology as well as sharing its models of knowledge, know-how, and innovations with the widest possible audience.

    • Training Courses
    • Training Courses 2025.26
    • Max, Max for Live
    • Computer-Assisted Composition
    • ASAP & Partiels
    • Sound spatialization
    • Generative AI
    • Practical Information
    • Higher Education
    • Cursus Program on Composition and Computer Music
    • Master ATIAM
    • Sound Design Master's Program
    • Mixed-Music
    • AIMove Master
    • Discover Research at IRCAM
    • Cultural Outreach
    • Cultural Mediation at Middle School Students
    • Médiations culturelles au lycée
    • Digital Workshops
    • TACT
    • Images of a Work Collection
    • Group Tours
    • ManiFeste-2025 Festival Academy
    • 2025 ÉLAN award
    • Spatial Composition Workshop
    • In Situ Polytopes
    • ULYSSES Ensemble
    • Auditors
  • Innovations

    Engaged with societal and economic issues at the intersection of culture and IT, research at Ircam has forged a reputation for itself in the world of international research as an interdisciplinary benchmark in the science and technology of sound and music, constantly attentive to the new needs and uses in society.

    • The IRCAM Forum
    • Softwares
    • Ircam Amplify
    • Innovative art-science-technology processes
    • Forum Vertigo
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  • Multimedia Library






      Multimedia Library

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      The library is currently open at its usual times, Tuesday to Friday, 2pm to 5.30pm.

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      The collections

      Download the bulletin of our latest acquisitions

      The IRCAM multimedia library is a resource center on contemporary music as well as  music and sound science and technology. Currently boasting 35,000 documents, its collection is constantly being expanded in connection to the Institute's musical programming and research activities.

      The reading room is open for consultation in situ and it is possible to borrow documents from our  collection of books, scores, periodicals, theses, sound recordings, films, and concert programs. Databases offer a wealth of online musical and scientific resources.

      The collections described below are referenced in the catalogue:

      • A collection of approximately 13,000 books dedicated to the following areas:
        • music from 1945 to the present day (theory, aesthetics, composers, instrumental techniques)
        • the history of music and other arts since antiquity (dance, theatre, visual arts)
        • sciences and technologies related to music and sound (signal processing, sound synthesis, instrumental acoustics, room acoustics, computer music, psychoacoustics)

      The entire collection is contextualized by the presence of books on history, philosophy, linguistics, and sociology.

      • About fifty subscriptions to periodicals in the fields of music creation, computer music, acoustics, perception and sound technologies.
      • More than 400 theses and dissertations in musicology and acoustics, signal processing and computer science applied to music.
      • Nearly 10,000 scores, mainly works from the 20th and 21st centuries, and in particular the repertoire performed at IRCAM. In addition, there are about 1,000 volumes of critical editions (from Baroque to modern times).
      • About 2,300 CDs and 150 vinyl records devoted to music from the 20th century to the present day, and 200 films (portraits of composers, documentaries, performance recordings).

      Musical Databases Accessible On Site 

      Databases are accessible from the multimedia library's computer workstations:

      • BabelScores: offers a wide catalogue of contemporary music works allowing the online consultation of scores while listening to the work.
      • Maison ONA: offers a catalogue of contemporary music works allowing the online consultation of scores.
      • International Index to Music Periodicals Full Text: summaries and abstracts of more than 500 periodicals devoted to music in all its aspects (musical training, performance, ethnomusicology, musical theatre, theory and composition, etc.). 140 periodicals are available in full text.
      • International Index to Performing Arts Full Text: summaries and abstracts of more than 260 periodicals, about 100 of which are available in full text, in the fields of dance, drama, theatre, scenography, musical theatre, circus, opera, film, etc.

      Useful Information

      Library Card

      Lending is possible upon presentation of one of these supporting documents:

      • to composers and performers
      • to students in Master 1 and 2 programs
      • to doctoral students enrolled in a department of musicology or art
      • to teachers and researchers working in secondary, higher education, music education, or research institutions
      • to all persons who make a request in writing to the multimedia library

      The library reserves the right not to grant the permission to borrow documents. 

      The card is valid for one year from the date of registration.

      Documents required for a library card:

      • 40 € (or 26 € for students, job seekers, IRCAM Card holders) by credit card, cheque or cash
      • proof of eligibility to borrow materials (student card, professional card, contract, pay slip)
      • a 50€ deposit by cheque
      • the membership form completed on site or downloaded here

      Lending Rules

      • Quantity and Duration: 4 documents (books or scores) and 4 discs for a period of 15 days, renewable once. Periodicals can not be borrowed. 
      • Overdue Materials: a delay in the return of documents results in a borrowing ban for a period equal to the delay.
      • Unreturned Materials: in the event of loss of a document, it must be reimbursed; otherwise, the deposit cheque of 50 € will be cashed.

      Access Conditions for IRCAM staff and Collaborators

      Anyone holding an IRCAM staff card has access to the multimedia library during opening hours. Registration is mandatory. Loans are free and a library card is issued on presentation of the IRCAM card and an ID photo.

      The lending rules are as follows: 6 documents and 6 discs for a period of 15 days, renewable once. Materials can not be borrowed during the last month of the contract

      Contacts

      01 44 78 47 44 | info-mediatheque (at) ircam.fr

      Aurore Baudin: aurore.baudin [at] ircam.fr / 01 44 78 45 02
      Jérôme Boutinot: jerome.boutinot [at] ircam.fr / 01 44 78 48 98

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        © Philippe Barbosa
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