AES Berlin 2014
Poster Session P5
P5 - Perception/Spatial Audio/Room Acoustics
Sunday, April 27, 15:00 — 16:30 (Foyer)
P5-1 Elicitation and Objective Grading of Punch within Produced Music—Steven Fenton, University of Huddersfield - Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK; Hyunkook Lee, University of Huddersfield - Huddersfield, UK; Jonathan Wakefield, University of Huddersfield - Huddersfield, UK
This paper details the results from an investigation into the objective grading of punch within a complex musical signal. The term punch is a subjective term, which is often used to characterize music or sound sources that exhibit a sense of dynamic power or weight to the listener. In a novel reverse elicitation process, experts were asked to create audio samples that they perceived as having punch using a multi-band wave shaping process. Expert listeners then graded the generated punchy audio samples in a controlled listening test. Statistical analysis identified correlations between Mean Subject Scores and the parameters that created the punchy audio samples suggesting that an algorithm could be developed to objectively evaluate punch in produced music.
Convention Paper 9043 (Purchase now)
P5-2 The Subjective Effect of BRIR Length on Perceived Headphone Sound Externalization and Tonal Coloration—Ryan Crawford-Emery, University of Huddersfield - Huddersfield, UK; Hyunkook Lee, University of Huddersfield - Huddersfield, UK
Binaural room impulse responses (BRIRs) of various lengths were convolved with stereophonic audio signals. Listening tests were conducted to assess how the length of BRIRs affected the perceived externalization effect and tonal coloration of the audio. The results showed statistically significant correlations between BRIR length and both externalization and tonal coloration. Conclusions are drawn from this and in addition, reasoning, a critical evaluation and suggested further work are suggested. The experiment provides the basis for further development of an effective and efficient externalization algorithm.
Convention Paper 9044 (Purchase now)
P5-3 3-D Audio Object Rendering into 5.1 Surround System—Kangeun Lee, Samsung Electronics - Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea; Seokhwan Jo, Samsung Electronics - Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea; Do-Hyung Kim, Samsung Electronics - Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
Following the recent trend of employing UHD video for increasing reality, audio object-based representation is one of the candidates for UHD audio format. The current paper is concerned with an effective method for the rendering of audio objects into a conventional 5.1 surround system. In order to represent the 3-D objects onto the upper hemisphere of the listener, the proposed system introduces object localization and virtualization of height speakers. The object is mapped to the 10.1 channel by using the object localization, and the 10.1 channel is rendered to 5.1 surround layout by virtualization based on the mixed structure by HRTF and VBAP. Subjective impressiveness was compared with the 19.1 loudspeaker system, which demonstrated almost same performance on localization in the horizontal and vertical plane. Therefore, the proposed system is capable of delivering sound moving effects to listeners over the conventional surround system.
Convention Paper 9045 (Purchase now)
P5-4 Elevation Localization Response Accuracy on Vertical Planes of Differing Azimuth—Tommy Ashby, University of Surrey - Guildford, Surrey, UK; Russell Mason, University of Surrey - Guildford, Surrey, UK; Tim Brookes, University of Surrey - Guildford, Surrey, UK
Head movement has been shown to significantly improve localization response accuracy in elevation. It is unclear from previous research whether this is due to static cues created once the head has reached a new stationary position or dynamic cues created through the act of moving the head. In this experiment listeners were asked to report the location of loudspeakers placed on vertical planes at four different azimuth angles (0°, 36°, 72°, 108°) with no head movement. Static elevation response accuracy was significantly more accurate for sources away from the median plane. This finding, combined with the statement that listeners orient to face the source when localizing, suggests that dynamic cues are the cause of improved localization through head movement.
Convention Paper 9046 (Purchase now)
P5-5 A New Method for the Determination of Acoustically Good Room Dimension Ratios—John Sarris, Aretaieio University Hospital - Athens, Greece
A new method for the determination of acoustically good room dimension ratios is presented. The method is based on the metric of variation of mean pressure defined as the variation of the mean levels of the sound pressure distribution within a room over a frequency range. This new metric quantifies the overall sound pressure variation within the room and is representative of the evenness of the frequency response among the various listening positions. Simulation results are presented for a small and a larger room where the new index is used to draw maps from which appropriate room proportions can be chosen.
Convention Paper 9047 (Purchase now)
P5-6 A Novel Approach for Prototype Extraction in a Multipoint Equalization Procedure—Stefania Cecchi, Universitá Politecnica della Marche - Ancona, Italy; Laura Romoli, Universitá Politecnica della Marche - Ancona, Italy; Francesco Piazza, Universitá Politecnica della Marche - Ancona (AN), Italy; Balázs Bank, Budapest University of Technology and Economics - Budapest, Hungary; Alberto Carini, University of Urbino "Carlo Bo" - Urbino, Italy
Multipoint equalization is a useful procedure used to enlarge the zone to be equalized in sound reproduction systems by measuring the room impulse responses in multiple locations and deriving a prototype function capable to represent the real environment. This paper deals with the introduction of a novel prototype function derived from the combination of quasi-anechoic impulse responses with the impulse responses recorded in the real environment to be equalized. This is motivated by the fact that at mid and high frequencies the timbre perception and localization is dominated by the direct sound, thus, the measurable, but mostly inaudible magnitude deviations due to reflections should not be equalized. Several experiments have been conducted in order to validate the proposed approach, considering a real environment and reporting objective and subjective measurements in comparison with the state of the art.
Convention Paper 9048 (Purchase now)
P5-7 Implementation of a Binaural Localization Algorithm in Hearing Aids: Specifications and Achievable Solutions—Gilles Courtois, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) - Lausanne, Switzerland; Patrick Marmaroli, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) - Lausanne, Switzerland; Morten Lindberg, 2L (Lindberg Lyd AS) - Oslo, Norway; Yves Oesch, Phonak Communciations AG - Murten, Switzerland; William Balande, Phonak Communciations AG - Murten, Switzerland
This paper introduces the constraints and issues related to the implementation of a binaural localization algorithm on a pair of hearing aids. This algorithm should improve the rendering of the spatial information available in the audio signals, which are usually distorted by the signal processing algorithms in the hearing devices, thus degrading localization cues. First, several reported algorithms achieving binaural sound localization in the frontal horizontal plane are reviewed. The way in which the standard methods and processes could be used within the context of hearing aids is then discussed. Finally, a solution that is suitable for a certain type of system is proposed.
Convention Paper 9034 (Purchase now)
