Externalization of Static Virtual Sound Sources using HRTFs Approximated by Parametric IIR Filters and Room Simulation (de)
* Presenting author
Abstract:
Externalization of virtual sound sources is still one of the major challenges in 3D spatial audio through headphones. Here, the presence of reflections and reverberation within the used directional filters, e.g. binaural room impulse responses (BRIRs), is given as the most significant factor for a successful externalization of static virtual sound sources. Since measured head-related impulse responses are usually only of short length, no room effects are included inside them. Thus, synthesized room effects have to be added afterwards in order to improve the externalization of the virtual sound sources. The image source model (ISM) and the feedback delay network (FDN) can be used to simulate early reflections and late reverberation, respectively. In this work, ISM and/or FDN are used to enhance the externalization of virtual sound sources generated using head-related transfer functions approximated by parametric infinite impulse response filters. The influence of the two room simulators on the perceived externalization of static virtual sound sources is evaluated in a listening test by comparing the achieved externalization levels to the ones achieved using measured BRIRs as directional filters.