Sound, Space, and Structure

Designing a System for Sound Spatialization

Song Yang

University of Toronto

April 5th, 2013

outline

what is sound spatialization?

what are some existing sound spatialization systems?

why is my system meaningful?

how does my system achieve spatialization?

introduction

sound spatialization : the simulation of point

sound sources and their movements

possible applications :

gaming (immersive RPGs)

film & home theatre

many more...

analog sound spatialization (pre-1980s)

R. Maconie, Tuning In: A Film About Karlheinz Stockhausen,

[Video recording]. London, United Kingdom:

British Broadcasting Corporation, 1981.

digital sound spatialization (1980s present)

Institute of Sonology

digital sound spatialization (1980s present)

CIRMMT @ McGill

gap objectives

design a household sound

spatialization system...

I. intuitive

II. flexible

III. simulates distance

IV. simulates direction (in 3-D)

V. minimal hardware requirements

modern sound spatialization

systems...

+ flexible

+ simulates distance

+ simulates direction (in 3-D)

- computationally expensive

- requires specialized equipment

system overview

simulation of

directionality

simulation of

distance

path definition

trajectory

generation

input

output

module I : trajectory generation

A.R. Forrest, Interactive Interpolation and

Approximation by Bzier Polynomials, The

Computer Journal, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 71-79.

how to communicate spatial

trajectories to the computer?

cartesian/polar coordinates?

I. intuitive

II. flexible

III. simulates distance

IV. simulates direction

V. minimal hardware

bzier curves!

y(x) = x3 +3x2 2x + 5

module II : simulation of distance

M. Schroeder and B. Logan, Colorless Artificial

Reverberation, Journal of the Audio Engineering

Society, vol. 9, pp. 192-197.

I. intuitive

II. flexible

III. simulates distance

IV. simulates direction

V. minimal hardware distance of illusory sound source:

direct signal vs. reverb (echo) signal

model concert hall reverb using:

increasing signal density

decreasing signal amplitude

module III : simulation of directionality

V. Pulkki, Virtual Sound Source Positioning Using

Vector Base Amplitude Panning, Journal of the Audio

Engineering Society, vol. 45, no. 6, pp. 456-466.

active arc

vector base amplitude panning

I. intuitive

II. flexible

III. simulates distance

IV. simulates direction

V. minimal hardware

direction of illusory sound source:

volumeSpeakerLeft vs. volumeSpeakerRight

V. Pulkki, Virtual Sound Source Positioning Using

Vector Base Amplitude Panning, Journal of the Audio

Engineering Society, vol. 45, no. 6, pp. 456-466.

active

triangle

module III : simulation of directionality

I. intuitive

II. flexible

III. simulates distance

IV. simulates direction

V. minimal hardware

summary

an intuitive, flexible sound spatialization system with low

computational/hardware requirements, while maintaining

functionality of complex systems

Thanks!

Questions?