Wave Field Synthesis

Abstract

Wave field synthesis enables acoustic control in a listening area by systematic regulation of loudspeaker signals on its boundary. This chapter starts with an overview including the history of wave field synthesis and some exemplary installations. Next, the theoretic fundamentals of wave field synthesis are detailed. Technical implementations demand drastic simplifications of the theoretical core, which come along with restrictions of the acoustic control as well as with synthesis errors. Simplifications, resulting synthesis errors as well as the working principles of compensation methods and their effects on the wave field are extensively discussed. Finally, the current state of research and development is addressed.