Chris Pike

Multi-sensor concert recording dataset including professional and user-generated content

We present a novel dataset for multi-view video and spatial audio. An ensemble of ten musicians from the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra performed in the orchestras rehearsal studio in Salford, UK, on 25th March 2014. This presented a controlled environment in which to capture a dataset that could be used to simulate a large event, whilst allowing control over the conditions and performance. The dataset consists of hundreds of video and audio clips captured during 18 takes of performances, using a broad range of professional-and consumer-grade equipment, up to 4K video and high-end spatial microphones. In addition to the audiovisual essence, sensor metadata has been captured, and ground truth annotations, in particular for temporal synchronization and spatial alignment, have been created. A part of the dataset has also been prepared for adaptive content streaming. The dataset is released under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license and hosted on a specifically adapted content management platform.

Next generation audio system assessment using the multiple stimulus ideal profile method

With the development of so-called next generation audio systems the question of evaluation of such immersive or object-based systems is of large interest for the industry. This paper presents the multiple stimulus ideal profile method for the practical assessment of next generation sound systems. The approach takes best practices from a number of different well-recognised methods as well as some novel ones from other industries. The paper presents the method as well as the initial results of the test using specially designed test items to investigate the characteristics of the method. Practical experiences in two labs with different listener groups and statistical analysis will be discussed in detail.

ICoSOLE: Immersive coverage of spatially outspread live events

ICoSOLE researches and develops approaches for the integration of content from professional and consumer capture devices, including omnidirectional and multi-source equipment, in order to provide an immersive media coverage of live events spread-out over larger regions.