An Internet-oriented system for acoustic measurements of sound fields

Abstract

A new diagnostic system was developed, based on the model of the auditory-brain system. The system, including the AD and DA converters, works on the PC for Windows, thus there is no need for special additional devices. Further, the system is available on the Internet, where a user can obtain further information about the system, and utilize it easily in practice by downloading a demonstration program. After obtaining the binaural impulse responses, four orthogonal factors, including the SPL, the initial time delay gap between the direct sound and the first reflection, the subsequent reverberation time, and the IACC are analyzed. Then, these factors may be used for the calculation of the scale values of both global and individual subjective preference. In addition, two more factors, τIACC and WIACC, in the interaural cross-correlation function are figured out for evaluating the image shift or balance of sound fields and the apparent source width (ASW), respectively. Also, the effective duration of ACF, τe, and fine structures of autocorrelation function of sound signals, including the value of first maximum, φ1, and its delay time, τ1, are analyzed. This system may be utilized for automatic control of sound fields by electroacoustic systems also.