Date of Defense

4-18-2022

Date of Graduation

4-2022

Department

Music

First Advisor

Carter John Rice

Second Advisor

Christopher Biggs

Abstract

This study was an ear-first investigation into the spatial fidelity of binaurally rendered Ambisonic content, which is a technique currently in wide use to create multi-dimensional sound for virtual and augmented reality. 4 participants compared sounds played back on a 2-dimensional horizontal acoustic loudspeaker configuration, and a replication of an identical sound field that has been binaurally rendered for headphone playback. The final goal of altering the headphone program to align more closely with the original acoustic loudspeaker sound field has been realized and proven with improved localization results for participants.

The discovered improvements of this investigation consist of a set of mathematical equations that can be applied to the parameters of an audio filter which enhances localization perception of the user. The variables in the set of equations are based on the user’s weak localization areas, and a short test is necessary to determine these areas. Weak areas are then remedied with the improvements to create a perceptually more accurate multi-dimensional sound field on an individual basis. Pictured to the left is the graph of a subject’s localization data taken on loudspeakers and headphones without the discovered improvements applied. To the left is an identical loudspeaker graph, and a headphone graph portraying localization direction with the improvement equations applied. The position of the dashed lines verses the solid lines indicates variance between perceived headphone and loudspeaker sound locations.

Thank you to Dr. Christopher Biggs for mentorship and support of my honors thesis project and to the Lee Honors College for providing funding. Please send correspondence to jacob.w.wolfe@wmich.edu.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Open Access

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