Synthesis of acoustics of coupled volumes—Perceptual approach

Abstract

Connected, acoustically coupled spaces are typically characterized by non-exponential decay with double or multiple slopes. In some cases, two volumes of different absorption characteristics are connected through an aperture that may be opened to vary the engagement between the two acoustics, e.g., the auditorium and the reverb chamber. In a large complex room, acoustic energy emanating from the source will simultaneously and sequentially engage a number of different volumes (regions), depending on how the space is physically laid out, and where the source and receiver are. The regions shape and exchange energy collectively. The listener’s overall room impression will be due to an overlayed mix of spatially and temporally distributed ambient responses reaching the listener or receiver position. In synthesis of complex acoustic spaces, we take a perceptual approach where we combine elements of measured spatial room impulse responses, divide them into meaningful temporal segments, shape their envelopes, and recombine these varied characteristics for multichannel convolution with a source. Different variants of processing the impulse responses create different perceptual outcomes, and a variety of aurally diverse spaces can be created for applications in virtual acoustics and immersive audio production. These perceptual approaches, balancing clarity and reverberation, will be discussed in this presentation.