In consideration of the remarkable intensity of research in the field of Virtual Acoustics, including different areas such as sound field analysis and synthesis, spatial audio technologies, and room acoustical modeling and auralization, it seemed about time to organize a second international symposium following the model of the first EAA Auralization Symposium initiated in 2009 by the acoustics group of the former Helsinki University of Technology (now Aalto University). Additionally, research communities which are focused on different approaches to sound field synthesis such as Ambisonics or Wave Field Synthesis have, in the meantime, moved closer together by using increasingly consistent theoretical frameworks. Finally, the quality of virtual acoustic environments is often considered as a result of all processing stages mentioned above, increasing the need for discussions on consistent strategies for evaluation. Thus, it seemed appropriate to integrate two of the most relevant communities, i.e. to combine the 2nd International Auralization Symposium with the 5th International Symposium on Ambisonics and Spherical Acoustics. The Symposia on Ambisonics, initiated in 2009 by the Institute of Electronic Music and Acoustics of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, were traditionally dedicated to problems of spherical sound field analysis and re-synthesis, strategies for the exchange of ambisonics-encoded audio material, and – more than other conferences in this area – the artistic application of spatial audio systems. This publication contains the official conference proceedings. It includes 29 manuscripts which have passed a 3-stage peer-review with a board of about 70 international reviewers involved in the process. Each contribution has already been published individually with a unique DOI on the DepositOnce digital repository of TU Berlin. Some conference contributions have been recommended for resubmission to Acta Acustica united with Acustica, to possibly appear in a Special Issue on Virtual Acoustics in late 2014. These are not published in this collection.
Modern noise research and assessment techniques are commonly used in the workplace and our personal living environment. Occupational Noise and Workplace Acoustics presents new, innovative, advanced research and evaluation methods of parameters characterizing acoustic field and noise in the working environment, as well as acoustic properties of rooms and noise reduction measures. This includes acoustic field visualization methods, field imaging techniques, wireless sensor networks, and the Internet of Things (IoT); optimization methods using genetic algorithms; acoustic quality assessment methods for rooms; and methods for measuring ultrasonic noise in the frequency range of 10-40 kHz. This book is a valuable resource for individuals and students interested in the areas of acoustic and sound engineering as it provides: The latest techniques and methods in the field of noise reduction and improvement of acoustic comfort, Innovative and advanced acoustic field visualization techniques for those with an auditory impairment, Explains noise reduction through proper workplace design, Discusses use of wireless sensor networks and the IoT for monitoring noise, and Provides acoustic quality assessment methods. "The authors’ intention to expound on advanced issues in a lucid and accessible way was rewarded with success. In the book, an expert will find a number of hints helpful in solving actual problems, whereas a layperson will be able to form a view on challenges facing contemporary technology. What should also be emphasized is the book’s soundness in documenting these advanced theses and postulates with diligently conducted empirical research. Despite a wide thematic range, the book is written consistently and under no circumstances can be considered a collection of randomly selected problems. The content corresponds fully to the title. The authors are consistent in acquainting the reader with topical scientific issues concerning assessment of acoustic hazards and the methodology of combating them." —Professor Zbigniew Dąbrowski, BEng, PhD, DSc, Warsaw University of Technology
3D Audio offers a detailed perspective of this rapidly developing arena. Written by many of the world’s leading researchers and practitioners, it draws from science, technologies, and creative practice to provide insight into cutting-edge research in 3D audio. Through exploring the intersection of these fields, the reader will gain insight into a number of research areas and professional practice in 3D sonic space. As such, the book acts both as a primer that enables readers to gain an understanding of various aspects of 3D audio, and can inform students and audio enthusiasts, but its deep treatment of a diverse range of topics will also inform professional practitioners and academics beyond their core specialisms. The chapters cover areas such as an Ambisonics, binaural technologies and approaches, psychoacoustics, 3D audio recording, composition for 3D space, 3D audio in live sound, broadcast, and movies – and more. Overall, this book offers a definitive insight into an emerging sound world that is increasingly becoming part of our everyday lives.
This book includes a selection of papers from the 2018 World Conference on Information Systems and Technologies (WorldCIST'18), held in Naples, Italy on March27-29, 2018. WorldCIST is a global forum for researchers and practitioners to present and discuss recent results and innovations, current trends, professional experiences and the challenges of modern information systems and technologies research together with their technological development and applications. The main topics covered are: A) Information and Knowledge Management; B) Organizational Models and Information Systems; C) Software and Systems Modeling; D) Software Systems, Architectures, Applications and Tools; E) Multimedia Systems and Applications; F) Computer Networks, Mobility and Pervasive Systems; G) Intelligent and Decision Support Systems; H) Big Data Analytics and Applications; I) Human–Computer Interaction; J) Ethics, Computers & Security; K) Health Informatics; L) Information Technologies in Education; M) Information Technologies in Radiocommunications; N) Technologies for Biomedical Applications.
This book comprises twelve articles which cover a range of topics from musical instrument acoustics to issues in psychoacoustics and sound perception as well as neuromusicology. In addition to experimental methods and data acquisition, modeling (such as FEM or wave field synthesis) and numerical simulation plays a central role in studies addressing sound production in musical instruments as well as interaction of radiated sound with the environment. Some of the studies have a focus on psychoacoustic aspects in regard to virtual pitch and timbre as well as apparent source width (for techniques such as stereo or ambisonics) in music production. Since musical acoustics imply subjects playing instruments or singing in order to produce sound according to musical structures, this area is also covered including a study that presents an artificial intelligent agent capable to interact with a real ('analog') player in musical genres such as traditional and free jazz.
Immersive Sound: The Art and Science of Binaural and Multi-Channel Audio provides a comprehensive guide to multi-channel sound. With contributions from leading recording engineers, researchers, and industry experts, Immersive Sound includes an in-depth description of the physics and psychoacoustics of spatial audio as well as practical applications. Chapters include the history of 3D sound, binaural reproduction over headphones and loudspeakers, stereo, surround sound, height channels, object-based audio, soundfield (ambisonics), wavefield synthesis, and multi-channel mixing techniques. Knowledge of the development, theory, and practice of spatial and multi-channel sound is essential to those advancing the research and applications in the rapidly evolving fields of 3D sound recording, augmented and virtual reality, gaming, film sound, music production, and post-production.
This book provides a broad overview of spaciousness in music theory, from mixing and performance practice, to room acoustics, psychoacoustics and audio engineering, and presents the derivation, implementation and experimental validation of a novel type of spatial audio system. Discussing the physics of musical instruments and the nature of auditory perception, the book enables readers to precisely localize synthesized musical instruments while experiencing their timbral variance and spatial breadth. Offering interdisciplinary insights for novice music enthusiasts and experts in the field of spatial audio, this book is suitable for anyone interested in the study of music and musicology and the application of spatial audio mixing, or those seeking an overview of the state of the art in applied psychoacoustics for spatial audio.
This book provides a new multi-method, process-oriented approach towards speech quality assessment, which allows readers to examine the influence of speech transmission quality on a variety of perceptual and cognitive processes in human listeners. Fundamental concepts and methodologies surrounding the topic of process-oriented quality assessment are introduced and discussed. The book further describes a functional process model of human quality perception, which theoretically integrates results obtained in three experimental studies. This book’s conceptual ideas, empirical findings, and theoretical interpretations should be of particular interest to researchers working in the fields of Quality and Usability Engineering, Audio Engineering, Psychoacoustics, Audiology, and Psychophysiology.
Sound, devoid of meaning, would not matter to us. It is the information sound conveys that helps the brain to understand its environment. Sound and its underlying meaning are always associated with time and space. There is no sound without spatial properties, and the brain always organizes this information within a temporal–spatial framework. This book is devoted to understanding the importance of meaning for spatial and related further aspects of hearing, including cross-modal inference. People, when exposed to acoustic stimuli, do not react directly to what they hear but rather to what they hear means to them. This semiotic maxim may not always apply, for instance, when the reactions are reflexive. But, where it does apply, it poses a major challenge to the builders of models of the auditory system. Take, for example, an auditory model that is meant to be implemented on a robotic agent for autonomous search-&-rescue actions. Or think of a system that can perform judgments on the sound quality of multimedia-reproduction systems. It becomes immediately clear that such a system needs • Cognitive capabilities, including substantial inherent knowledge • The ability to integrate information across different sensory modalities To realize these functions, the auditory system provides a pair of sensory organs, the two ears, and the means to perform adequate preprocessing of the signals provided by the ears. This is realized in the subcortical parts of the auditory system. In the title of a prior book, the term Binaural Listening is used to indicate a focus on sub-cortical functions. Psychoacoustics and auditory signal processing contribute substantially to this area. The preprocessed signals are then forwarded to the cortical parts of the auditory system where, among other things, recognition, classification, localization, scene analysis, assignment of meaning, quality assessment, and action planning take place. Also, information from different sensory modalities is integrated at this level. Between sub-cortical and cortical regions of the auditory system, numerous feedback loops exist that ultimately support the high complexity and plasticity of the auditory system. The current book concentrates on these cognitive functions. Instead of processing signals, processing symbols is now the predominant modeling task. Substantial contributions to the field draw upon the knowledge acquired by cognitive psychology. The keyword Binaural Understanding in the book title characterizes this shift. Both books, The Technology of Binaural Listening and the current one, have been stimulated and supported by AABBA, an open research group devoted to the development and application of models of binaural hearing. The current book is dedicated to technologies that help explain, facilitate, apply, and support various aspects of binaural understanding. It is organized into five parts, each containing three to six chapters in order to provide a comprehensive overview of this emerging area. Each chapter was thoroughly reviewed by at least two anonymous, external experts. The first part deals with the psychophysical and physiological effects of Forming and Interpreting Aural Objects as well as the underlying models. The fundamental concepts of reflexive and reflective auditory feedback are introduced. Mechanisms of binaural attention and attention switching are covered—as well as how auditory Gestalt rules facilitate binaural understanding. A general blackboard architecture is introduced as an example of how machines can learn to form and interpret aural objects to simulate human cognitive listening. The second part, Configuring and Understanding Aural Space, focuses on the human understanding of complex three-dimensional environments—covering the psychological and biological fundamentals of auditory space formation. This part further addresses the human mechanisms used to process information and interact in complex reverberant environments, such as concert halls and forests, and additionally examines how the auditory system can learn to understand and adapt to these environments. The third part is dedicated to Processing Cross-Modal Inference and highlights the fundamental human mechanisms used to integrate auditory cues with cues from other modalities to localize and form perceptual objects. This part also provides a general framework for understanding how complex multimodal scenes can be simulated and rendered. The fourth part, Evaluating Aural-scene Quality and Speech Understanding, focuses on the object-forming aspects of binaural listening and understanding. It addresses cognitive mechanisms involved in both the understanding of speech and the processing of nonverbal information such as Sound Quality and Quality-of- Experience. The aesthetic judgment of rooms is also discussed in this context. Models that simulate underlying human processes and performance are covered in addition to techniques for rendering virtual environments that can then be used to test these models. The fifth part deals with the Application of Cognitive Mechanisms to Audio Technology. It highlights how cognitive mechanisms can be utilized to create spatial auditory illusions using binaural and other 3D-audio technologies. Further, it covers how cognitive binaural technologies can be applied to improve human performance in auditory displays and to develop new auditory technologies for interactive robots. The book concludes with the application of cognitive binaural technologies to the next generation of hearing aids.
This book puts the focus on serving human listeners in the sound field synthesis although the approach can be also exploited in other applications such as underwater acoustics or ultrasonics. The author derives a fundamental formulation based on standard integral equations and the single-layer potential approach is identified as a useful tool in order to derive a general solution. He also proposes extensions to the single-layer potential approach which allow for a derivation of explicit solutions for circular, planar, and linear distributions of secondary sources. Based on above described formulation it is shown that the two established analytical approaches of Wave Field Synthesis and Near-field Compensated Higher Order Ambisonics constitute specific solutions to the general problem which are covered by the single-layer potential solution and its extensions.
