Spectro-temporal analysis, visualization and identification of listening-space measurements

Abstract

Measurement of a listening space might be done to characterize it in a gross way, or to identify some deficiencies in the space, which can then be corrected. Alternately, these measurements might be performed to create inputs to an auralization software, which might seek to recreate a virtual listening experience. We propose that it might be possible to perform audio-visual measurements of a listening space that allow the entire response of the listening space to be understood, visualized and recreated. The goal is to understand the response completely in terms of its components: along direction, frequency, early and late characteristics, and finally at the level of the structural elements of the scattering surfaces in the space. Measurements with spherical arrays of cameras and microphones provide measurements that allow the response to be decomposed in the desired fashion. Post-processing software that allows the measurements to be analyzed instantly following the measurement will also be described, and demonstrated. © 2013 Acoustical Society of America.