3-D Sound Reproduction System for Immersive Environments Based on the Boundary Surface Control Principle

• Published in: Virtual and Mixed Reality - New Trends pp. 174 - 184
• Main Authors: Enomoto, Seigo, Ikeda, Yusuke, Ise, Shiro, Nakamura, Satoshi
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin, Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2011
• Series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science
• Subjects: Boundary surface control principle; Immersive environments; Stereophony; Surround sound; Virtual reality
• ISBN: 3642220207; 9783642220203
• ISSN: 0302-9743; 1611-3349
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-22021-0_20

We constructed a 3-D sound reproduction system containing a 62-channel loudspeaker array and 70-channel microphone array based on the boundary surface control principle (BoSC). The microphone array can record the volume of the 3-D sound field and the loudspeaker array can accurately recreate it in other locations. Using these systems, we realized immersive acoustic environments similar to cinema or television sound spaces. We also recorded real 3-D acoustic environments, such as an orchestra performance and forest sounds, by using the microphone array. Recreated sound fields were evaluated by demonstration experiments using the 3-D sound field. Subjective assessments of 390 subjects confirm that these systems can achieve high presence for 3-D sound reproduction and provide the listener with deep immersion.