A Technical, perceptual and aesthetic exploration of cellular "multi-scale" artificial auditory environment

Lennox, Peter

English

UDORA - University of Derby Online Research Archive

3-D sound: massive and minuteDr Peter LennoxFaculty of Arts, Design and Technologyemail: p.lennox@derby.ac.uktelephone: 01332 593155The technical, perceptual and aestheticexploration of cellular “multi-scale”artificial auditory environmentsImagine…Being able to listen to a record-ing of some remote, exotic,large-yet-detailed environment.Let’s say: a Tunisian market-place, with all the hustle-and-bustle, a myriad of tiny soundevents that all go to form awhole, large place. As with frac-tal geometries, one can standback and consider the wholepattern, or zoom in endlessly toexplore finer and finer detail.Imagine…Being able to compose, construct and controlsuch a finely detailed artificial environment.In this modest ambition, the University ofDerby is in the very front line of research andtechnological development. Real word envi-ronments are so infinitely explorable, and wehave been pursuing the means to conjuresuch complexity artificially. Now, through theTQEF funding stream, our students can grap-ple with spatial audio technologies that willnot reach most ears for a decade or more.1. Stage One: EngineeringManaging large numbers of loudspeakerscoherently relies on custom software andnon-standard usages of pre-existing hard-ware. The previous work by Dr. BruceWiggins has been extended to accomplishthis. We can currently deploy up to 40speakers (more if cost constraints wereremoved!), covering a large listening areawhilst retaining some control of very fine-grain spatial attributes. Final year studentshave experimented with various use-specificinstantiations of this software. They haveexplored interface problems, perceptualeffects and made forays into understandingaesthetics within this new approach. Theseexperiments help to drive our developmentof control structures which are then handedback to the students for further rounds of‘destructive testing’ this process will continueinto the next academic year.2. Stage Two: PerceptionConventional “living room”surround sound appeals tohuman spatial perception invery limited ways. Listenersmust be seated in exactly theright position and orientationfor the illusion of spatiality towork correctly. However, in thissystem as in the real world, lis-teners can move and explore the field. This exploration is a powerful perceptual tool.Building on previous work by Dr. Peter Lennox, students will partake in tests whose outcomes willbe used in delineating the “perceptual rules” of this new artificial environment. Preliminary worksuggests that not all technical manipulations are equivalent in terms of perceptual effect, so resultswill be iteratively fed back to push technological development. Students are already enthusiasticallydevising their own experiments. Available time is the main constraint here!3. Stage three: AestheticsWe are all familiar with places that sound “nice”, “interesting” or “relaxing”. We also know ofplaces that are unpleasant sounding, fatiguing or even “threatening”. Students, through practicalexperimentation, will build on understanding of what these terms actually mean and how they canbe parameterised for control purposes.4. Ongoing4.1. Custom spatial soundmaterialCommercial recordings for thiskind of project do not exist, ofcourse (since no such systemhas previously existed!). Usingthe research facilities of theSignal processing andApplications Research Group(SPARG), custom recordings ofwhole environments, part-environments andspecial features are being made. Some envi-ronments (for example the interior of theDerby Cathedral) are relatively large. Otheritems (a whispered conversation, a crisp-packet blowing in a breeze) are finelydetailed and require different techniques.Moving items, thought to be particularly per-ceptually impressive, must be treated withcare. Additionally, synthesised items thathave never actually existed in the real worldcan be integrated into a complex, multi-scaleartificial auditory environment. The creativepossibilities remain to be explored.4.2. DemonstrationsThe initial trial demonstrations of the systemand some custom recordings are, at the timeof writing, scheduled to take place at theFinal Year Degree Show at Kedleston Roadon the 8th of June. The showing will be setup and run by final year students. Listenerswill be able to walk toward, through andpast a ‘virtual choir’ (courtesy of the realDerby Cathedral Choir) within the acoustic ofthe cathedral. There will also be a demon-stration of “spatial DJ-ing” – a music form inits infancy – where some of the spatial con-trol systems will be put to the test.Other demonstrations are in planning stages.Several respected artists have expressedstrong interest in composing with the sys-tem, which will drive exploration of the aes-thetic issues.5. DisseminationIn addition to this poster forpresentation at the LTAARG con-ference in Buxton in July, apaper on the topic of navigableand explorable artificial soundfields is to be presented to theInternational Conference onAuditory Displays (ICAD 2007) inMontreal, Canada. The presen-tation will refer to student workwith the system in relation toperceptual issues and findings.A paper will also be submitted to the Audio Engineering Society (AES) for inclusion in a forthcominginternational conference. Similarly, a report is to be submitted for presentation at a workshop of theEPSRC funded network spACE-Net, of which SPARG is a founding member.Student independent studies dissertations based on use of the system (and of sufficient quality) willbe considered for publishing on the SPARG website.Peter Lennox:LTA 2007 A1 base  22/6/07  1:40 pm  Page 1

3-D Sound: Massive and minute

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3-D Sound: Massive and minute

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