Placement of Sound Sources in the Stereo Field Using Measured Room Impulse Responses

Current advances in techniques have made it possible to simulate reverberation effects in real world performance spaces by convolving dry instrument signals with physically measured impulse response data. Such reverberation effects have recently become commonplace; however, current techniques apply a single effect to an entire ensemble, and then separate individual instruments in the stereo field via panning. By measuring impulse response data from each instrument’s desired location, it is possible to place instruments in the stereo field using their unique initial reflection and reverberation patterns. A pilot study compares the perceived quality of dry signals convolved to stereo center, convolved to stereo center and panned to desired placement, and convolved with measured impulse responses to simulate actual placement. The results of a single blind study show a conclusive preference for location-based reverberation effects.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2007
• Where: CMMR
• Authors: William D. Haines, Jesse R. Vernon, Roger B. Dannenberg, Peter F. Driessen
• Keywords: CMMR 2007, Impulse Response Data, Impulse Responses, Music, Reverberation Effects