Adapting spaciousness of artificial, enveloping reverberation in multichannel rendering based on coded sequences

Abstract

For virtual room environments, adapting realistic reverberation and enhancing reverberation are critical for producing a convincing immersive experience. Also, in perceptual studies of room-acoustics using virtual room environments, using the appropriate enveloping reverberance to correlate perceived room size and apparent source-width to the virtual space, is a challenging task. This research applies to both binaural rendering and a multi-channel loudspeaker reproduction that can be employed in simulating such an environment. Approaches to adapting and enhancing spaciousness within the context of artificially generated reverberation are investigated via psychoacoustics tests. The pseudo-random properties of coded signals based on reciprocal maximum-length sequences allow for a deterministic, controllable decorrelation between all reverberation channels. For this challenging task, shapes of both sound energy decays and spatial profiles have been found to be decisive for creating successful immersive environments. This paper discusses potential values for fundamental research in room-acoustics and for educational purposes in seeking a broadened understanding of perceived spaciousness and reverberance in varying contexts. © 2013 Acoustical Society of America.