Directional Bias Equalization of First-Order Binaural Ambisonic Rendering

Thomas Thewlis McKenzie; Damian Thomas Murphy; Gavin Cyril Kearney

Directional Bias Equalization of First-Order Binaural Ambisonic Rendering

Thomas Thewlis McKenzie, Damian Thomas Murphy, Gavin Cyril Kearney

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

Abstract

The human auditory system is more accurate at localizing sounds in front than at lateral, rear, and elevated directions. In virtual reality applications, where Ambisonic audio is presented to the user binaurally (over headphones) in conjunction with a head-mounted display, it is imperative that audio in the frontal direction is as accurate as possible. This paper presents a method for improving frontal high frequency reproduction of binaural Ambisonic rendering through a novel adaptation of the diffuse-field equalization technique to exploit the non-uniform directional sensitivity of human hearing. The method is evaluated via spectral difference and a height localization model, and results show improved frontal reproduction at the expense of lateral fidelity.

Original language	English
Number of pages	9
Publication status	Published - 11 Aug 2018
Event	2018 AES International Conference on Audio for Virtual and Augmented Reality - DigiPen Institute of Technology, Redmond, United States Duration: 20 Aug 2018 → 22 Aug 2018 http://www.aes.org/conferences/2018/avar/

Conference

Conference	2018 AES International Conference on Audio for Virtual and Augmented Reality
Country/Territory	United States
City	Redmond
Period	20/08/18 → 22/08/18
Internet address	http://www.aes.org/conferences/2018/avar/

Keywords

ambisonics
audio
Binaural
VR

Access to Document

http://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=19689Licence: Unspecified

Cite this

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title = "Directional Bias Equalization of First-Order Binaural Ambisonic Rendering",

abstract = "The human auditory system is more accurate at localizing sounds in front than at lateral, rear, and elevated directions. In virtual reality applications, where Ambisonic audio is presented to the user binaurally (over headphones) in conjunction with a head-mounted display, it is imperative that audio in the frontal direction is as accurate as possible. This paper presents a method for improving frontal high frequency reproduction of binaural Ambisonic rendering through a novel adaptation of the diffuse-field equalization technique to exploit the non-uniform directional sensitivity of human hearing. The method is evaluated via spectral difference and a height localization model, and results show improved frontal reproduction at the expense of lateral fidelity.",

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T1 - Directional Bias Equalization of First-Order Binaural Ambisonic Rendering

AU - McKenzie, Thomas Thewlis

AU - Murphy, Damian Thomas

AU - Kearney, Gavin Cyril

PY - 2018/8/11

Y1 - 2018/8/11

N2 - The human auditory system is more accurate at localizing sounds in front than at lateral, rear, and elevated directions. In virtual reality applications, where Ambisonic audio is presented to the user binaurally (over headphones) in conjunction with a head-mounted display, it is imperative that audio in the frontal direction is as accurate as possible. This paper presents a method for improving frontal high frequency reproduction of binaural Ambisonic rendering through a novel adaptation of the diffuse-field equalization technique to exploit the non-uniform directional sensitivity of human hearing. The method is evaluated via spectral difference and a height localization model, and results show improved frontal reproduction at the expense of lateral fidelity.

AB - The human auditory system is more accurate at localizing sounds in front than at lateral, rear, and elevated directions. In virtual reality applications, where Ambisonic audio is presented to the user binaurally (over headphones) in conjunction with a head-mounted display, it is imperative that audio in the frontal direction is as accurate as possible. This paper presents a method for improving frontal high frequency reproduction of binaural Ambisonic rendering through a novel adaptation of the diffuse-field equalization technique to exploit the non-uniform directional sensitivity of human hearing. The method is evaluated via spectral difference and a height localization model, and results show improved frontal reproduction at the expense of lateral fidelity.

KW - ambisonics

KW - audio

KW - Binaural

KW - VR

M3 - Paper

T2 - 2018 AES International Conference on Audio for Virtual and Augmented Reality

Y2 - 20 August 2018 through 22 August 2018

ER -