Spatial Quality and User Preference of Headphone Based Multichannel Audio Rendering Systems for Video Games: A Pilot Study

Joseph David Rees-Jones; Damian Thomas Murphy

Spatial Quality and User Preference of Headphone Based Multichannel Audio Rendering Systems for Video Games: A Pilot Study

Joseph David Rees-Jones, Damian Thomas Murphy

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

Abstract

This paper presents a pilot experiment comparing the perceived spatial quality and preference of virtualized 7.0 surround-sound video game audio with a stereo down-mix of the same material. The benefits of multichannel audio in gaming are clear in that spatialized sound effects can be used to create immersive and dynamically reacting virtual environments, whilst also offering competitive advantages. However, results from this study suggest that the spatial quality of virtual 7.0 surround-sound is not perceived to be significantly different to that of a stereo down-mix and neither rendering method is preferred, based on a feedback from 18 participants. These results are interesting but surprising, as they bring into question the current methods used for spatial game audio presentation over headphones.

Original language	English
Number of pages	9
Publication status	Published - 20 May 2017
Event	Audio Engineering Society 142nd International Convention - Maritim Hotel, Berlin, Germany Duration: 20 May 2017 → 23 May 2017 http://www.aes.org/events/142/

Conference

Conference	Audio Engineering Society 142nd International Convention
Abbreviated title	AES 142
Country/Territory	Germany
City	Berlin
Period	20/05/17 → 23/05/17
Internet address	http://www.aes.org/events/142/

Keywords

spatial audio
game audio
headphone listening
interactive audio

Access to Document

http://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=18648Licence: Unspecified

Cite this

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title = "Spatial Quality and User Preference of Headphone Based Multichannel Audio Rendering Systems for Video Games: A Pilot Study",

abstract = "This paper presents a pilot experiment comparing the perceived spatial quality and preference of virtualized 7.0 surround-sound video game audio with a stereo down-mix of the same material. The benefits of multichannel audio in gaming are clear in that spatialized sound effects can be used to create immersive and dynamically reacting virtual environments, whilst also offering competitive advantages. However, results from this study suggest that the spatial quality of virtual 7.0 surround-sound is not perceived to be significantly different to that of a stereo down-mix and neither rendering method is preferred, based on a feedback from 18 participants. These results are interesting but surprising, as they bring into question the current methods used for spatial game audio presentation over headphones.",

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N2 - This paper presents a pilot experiment comparing the perceived spatial quality and preference of virtualized 7.0 surround-sound video game audio with a stereo down-mix of the same material. The benefits of multichannel audio in gaming are clear in that spatialized sound effects can be used to create immersive and dynamically reacting virtual environments, whilst also offering competitive advantages. However, results from this study suggest that the spatial quality of virtual 7.0 surround-sound is not perceived to be significantly different to that of a stereo down-mix and neither rendering method is preferred, based on a feedback from 18 participants. These results are interesting but surprising, as they bring into question the current methods used for spatial game audio presentation over headphones.

AB - This paper presents a pilot experiment comparing the perceived spatial quality and preference of virtualized 7.0 surround-sound video game audio with a stereo down-mix of the same material. The benefits of multichannel audio in gaming are clear in that spatialized sound effects can be used to create immersive and dynamically reacting virtual environments, whilst also offering competitive advantages. However, results from this study suggest that the spatial quality of virtual 7.0 surround-sound is not perceived to be significantly different to that of a stereo down-mix and neither rendering method is preferred, based on a feedback from 18 participants. These results are interesting but surprising, as they bring into question the current methods used for spatial game audio presentation over headphones.

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KW - game audio

KW - headphone listening

KW - interactive audio

M3 - Paper

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Y2 - 20 May 2017 through 23 May 2017

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