Binaural assessment of parametrically coded spatial audio signals

Abstract

In parametric time-frequency-domain spatial audio techniques, the sound field is encoded as a combination of a few audio channels with metadata. The metadata parametrizes the spatial properties of the sound field that are known to be perceivable to humans. The most well-known techniques are reviewed in this chapter. The spatial artifacts specific to such techniques are described, such as dynamically or statically biased directions, spatially too narrow auditory images, and effects of off-sweet-spot listening. Such cases are analyzed with a binaural auditory model, and it is shown that the artifacts are clearly visualized thereby.