AES New York 2018
Engineering Brief EB03
EB03 - Posters: Recording and Production
Friday, October 19, 10:30 am — 12:00 pm (Poster Area)
EB03-1 Microphone Positions in Acoustic Field Reconstruction: Robustness Analysis and Optimization—Yuchen Shen, Nanjing University - Nanjing, China; Ziyun Liu, Nanjing University - Nanjing, China; Yong Shen, Nanjing University - Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China; Ning Xiang, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Troy, NY, USA
This paper introduces a low-cost, simple structure, and high-convenience 3D microphone positioning system for scanning acoustic field of sound sources. For the inherent errors caused by motors, mechanical fluctuations, and string deformations this work describes an anti-error method based on experimentally measured data to eliminate the corresponding effect. The method can determine a weighting strategy for every measured data and could be extended to any scanning system.
Engineering Brief 462 (Download now)
EB03-2 Creating Object-Based Stimuli to Explore Media Device Orchestration Reproduction Techniques—Craig Cieciura, University of Surrey - Guildford, Surrey, UK; Russell Mason, University of Surrey - Guildford, Surrey, UK; Philip Coleman, University of Surrey - Guildford, Surrey, UK; Matthew Paradis, BBC Research and Development - London, UK
Media Device Orchestration (MDO) makes use of interconnected devices to augment a reproduction system, and could be used to deliver more immersive audio experiences to domestic audiences. To investigate optimal rendering on an MDO-based system, stimuli were created via: (1) object-based audio (OBA) mixes undertaken in a reference listening room; and (2) up to 13 rendered versions of these employing a range of installed and ad-hoc loudspeakers with varying cost, quality, and position. The program items include audio-visual material (short ?lm trailer and big band performance) and audio-only material (radio panel show, pop track, football match, and orchestral performance). The object-based program items and alternate MDO con?gurations are made available for testing and demonstrating OBA systems.
Engineering Brief 463 (Download now)
EB03-3 Practical Recording Techniques for Music Production with Six-Degrees of Freedom Virtual Reality—David Rivas Méndez, University of York - York, UK; Cal Armstrong, University of York - York, UK; Jessica Stubbs, University of York - York, UK; Mirek Stiles, Abbey Road Studios - London, UK; Gavin Kearney, University of York - York, UK
This paper presents practical spatial audio recording techniques for capturing live music performances for reproduction in a six-degrees of freedom (6DOF) virtual reality (VR) framework. The end-goal is to give the listener the ability to move close to or even around musical sources with a high degree of plausibility to match the visuals. The recording workflow facilitates three major rendering schemes–object-based using spot microphones and diffuse field capture microphone arrays, Ambisonics with multiple-placed sound-field microphones, and hybrid approaches that utilize the prior two methods. The work is presented as a case-study where a jazz ensemble is recorded at Studio 3 of Abbey Road Studios London using the proposed techniques.
Engineering Brief 464 (Download now)
EB03-4 A DAW-Based Interactive Tool for Perceptual Spatial Audio Evaluation—Tomasz Rudzki, University of York - York, UK; Damian Murphy, University of York - York, UK; Gavin Kearney, University of York - York, UK
A software tool for subjective audio evaluation is presented. The tool helps to overcome the limits of the existing listening test tools by allowing DAW-based multichannel playback with required signal processing and enabling the use of novel test participant interfaces: mobile app, physical controller, and VR interface. Test preparation is done by importing audio samples into the spatial audio standard DAW and setting up the required signal processing plugins. The listening test tool triggers the playback of the desired audio samples inside the DAW, according to the participant’s choice. The tool described in this paper can be used for various perceptual audio tests, including evaluation of spatial audio codecs, virtual acoustics, and binaural rendering engines.
Engineering Brief 465 (Download now)
EB03-5 Stationary Music from Users’ Viewpoint in VR Applications—Sungsoo Kim, New York University - New York, NY, USA; Sripathi Sridhar, New York University - New York, NY, USA
The ultimate goal in virtual reality (VR) is to achieve complete immersion in terms of audio and video, where background music is typically included to keep users absorbed in a game or 360-video content. This paper explores a multichannel loudspeaker configuration to anchor the background music to the user’s viewpoint in VR. To that end, an evenly-spaced octagonal loudspeaker configuration is implemented in order to anchor the background music using head tracking data. The real-time panning is achieved through Vector-Base Amplitude Panning (VBAP). This paper also describes a demo interface built using the Oculus Rift in Unity and Max/MSP, as proof of concept.
Engineering Brief 466 (Download now)
EB03-6 Implementation of 4-pi Reverberation Effects in Immersive Sound Contents—Balance of Object-Based Tracks and Channel-Based Tracks—Akiho Matsuo, SONA Co. - Tokyo-to, Japan; Ritsuko Tsuchikura, SONA Co. - Nakano-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Masumi Takino, be Blue Co . - Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Masataka Nakahara, ONFUTURE Ltd. - Tokyo, Japan; SONA Corp. - Tokyo, Japan
The paper describes effective use of 4-pi (all directional) acoustical information of reverberation for post-production works. Measurement and analysis technique of sound intensities, VSV(Virtual Source Visualizer), is used for capturing 4-pi reverberations, and the obtained reverberations, VSVerb, are mapped on audio tracks of a DAW. In order to obtain precise rendering of spatial characteristics of the VSVerb, it is ideal to assign one object track to one reflection component. However, Dolby Atmos has the number of reflections restricted to 118. According to the hearing impressions by the authors show this restriction is impractical. This paper proposes a practical method to balance objects’ and beds’ tracks with less auditory deterioration.
Engineering Brief 467 (Download now)
EB03-7 Development of a 4-pi Sampling Reverberator, VSVerb—Source Reduction—Masataka Nakahara, ONFUTURE Ltd. - Tokyo, Japan; SONA Corp. - Tokyo, Japan; Akira Omoto, Kyushu University - Fukuoka, Japan; Onfuture Ltd. - Tokyo, Japan; Yasuhiko Nagatomo, Evixar Inc. - Tokyo, Japan
The authors developed a 4-pi sampling reverberator, named “VSVerb,” which restores a 4-pi reverberant field by using information of dominant reflections that are captured in a target space. The timings and amplitudes of reflections are obtained from the analyses results of the sound intensities that are measured at the site in orthogonal three directions. The generated reverberation provides high S/N performance and enables to adjust various acoustic parameters with no additional measurements. These advantages provide the VSVerb with high affinity with post-production works. In order to enhance its affinity with object-based production schemes, this manuscript proposes a practical method to reduce a number of reflections from generated reverberations. The method, called “Source Reduction,” thins out reflections with less auditory deterioration.
Engineering Brief 468 (Download now)
EB03-8 In-Ear Headphone System with Piezoelectric MEMs Driver—Andreas Männchen, Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT - Ilmenau, Germany; Fabian Stoppel, Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology ISIT - Itzehoe, Germany; Daniel Beer, Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT - Ilmenau, Germany; Florian Niekiel, Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology ISIT - Itzehoe, Germany; Bernhard Wagner, Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology ISIT - Itzehoe, Germany
This article presents a prototype in-ear headphone system based on a previously disclosed piezoelectric MEMS driver technology (piezoMEMS). The centerpiece of the earphone is a 4 mm x 4 mm piezoMEMS chip loudspeaker that on its own achieves broadband sound pressure levels of up to 110 dB in an IEC 60318-4 ear simulator. A specifically designed enclosure allows for easy installation of the piezoMEMS driver and takes first steps in optimizing the acoustic performance. Furthermore, the system comprises a specially tailored amplifier as well as a dedicated signal processing concept. The article describes the ideas behind the system, discusses the particular challenges in designing the piezoMEMS earphone, shows measurement results, and, finally, discusses the vast opportunities for future research.
Engineering Brief 469 (Download now)