Fast HRFT measurement system with unconstrained head movements for 3D audio in virtual and augmented reality applications

Abstract

Binaural audio plays an indispensable role in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Binaural audio recreates the sensation of the three dimensional auditory experience using Head- Related Transfer Functions (HRTFs). HRTFs are as unique as our fingerprint. To achieve an immersive audio experience, HRTFs measured from every particular user is required. Nowadays, the conventional methods for HRTF measurements requires a wellcontrolled environment, hardly any movement of the user, and projecting to the user a high level of unpleasant sound in a rather long duration. Such difficulties have greatly limited the use of individually measurement HRTFs and hinder the authenticity of immersive audio. To solve these problems, we proposed a fast and convenient HRTF measurement system that is an order of magnitude faster and more importantly, it does not place any constraints on the user’s movement. With the help of a head-tracker and advanced adaptive signal processing algorithms, this system is able to achieve satisfactory HRTF measurement accuracy. In this demonstration, we will present a fast real-time HRTF acquisition system and show how the individualized HRTFs improve the audio experience in VR/AR applications.