Gavin Kearney

Localization accuracy of advanced spatialisation techniques in small concert halls

A comparison of several spatialization systems is presented in terms of their localization accuracy under the nonideal listening conditions found in typical small concert halls. Of interest is the effect of real reverberant conditions, noncentral listening positions, and nonsymmetrical speaker arrays on source localization. The data are presented by comparison of empirical binaural measurements and perceptual listening tests carried out using Ambisonics, VBAP, SPAT∼, and Delta Stereophony systems. The listening tests are conducted by comparing the localization of phantom sources generated by the spatialization systems to sources generated by reference loudspeakers. The reference and phantom sources are presented at front, side, and back locations about a nine‐listener audience, and the systems are tested in a random order with a calibrated 16‐loudspeaker array situated nonsymmetrically around the audience area. The binaural recordings are compared to the subjective measurements of localization accuracy through the interaural level and time difference cues for each source position.

The Application of Impulse Response Measurement Techniques to the Study of the Acoustics of Stonegate, a Performance Space Used in Medieval English Drama

The application of impulse response measurement techniques to the study of the acoustics of Stonegate, a performance space used in medieval English drama

The sound of the crowd: auditory information modulates the perceived emotion of a crowd based on bodily expressions.

Although both auditory and visual information can influence the perceived emotion of an individual, how these modalities contribute to the perceived emotion of a crowd of characters was hitherto unknown. Here, we manipulated the ambiguity of the emotion of either a visual or auditory crowd of characters by varying the proportions of characters expressing one of two emotional states. Using an intersensory bias paradigm, unambiguous emotional information from an unattended modality was presented while participants determined the emotion of a crowd in an attended, but different, modality. We found that emotional information in an unattended modality can disambiguate the perceived emotion of a crowd. Moreover, the size of the crowd had little effect on these crossmodal influences. The role of audiovisual information appears to be similar in perceiving emotion from individuals or crowds. Our findings provide novel insights into the role of multisensory influences on the perception of social information from crowds of individuals.

Viking Ghost Hunt: creating engaging sound design for location–aware applications

In this paper, we present and describe the sound design and audio evaluation of Viking Ghost Hunt, a location–aware game based around important historical locations in Dublin, Ireland. We describe the novel approach taken in developing an engaging soundscape for location–aware games in mobile multimedia devices that highlight the importance of spatial audio and reverberation in the subjective sensation of engagement with the game. In particular, we present how the level difference and temporal separation between the direct sound of the sound object, the early reflections and the diffuse reverberant field influence this engagement. Results obtained from this investigation in regards to reverberation and engagement may therefore inform future location–aware sound designs.