08.12.2005
A comparison of different auralisation results obtained with various room acoustic simulation tools led to large differences which can be attributed to the use of different dummy head microphones as well as to differences in the ray tracing methods and convolution algorithms.
For getting an auralisation of sound signals in virtual and real rooms the time function of the sound signals which are recorded in an anechoic room have to be convolved with the impulse response of the room. First experiments of comparing the results of such auralisations with different room acoustic simulation programs for a given room have shown large differences. It could be recognised that the different room acoustic simulation programs are based on different types of dummy head micro-phones with different head related transfer functions (HRTFs).
On the other side it could be found that the diverse room acoustic simulation programs use ray tracing methods of various kinds so that the impulse response as the result of the calculation may differ too. In addition it may be assumed that the mathematical algorithms for the convolution are not similar for the different room acoustic simulation programs. It is the common desire of the group of international room acousticians in the EAA (European Acoustical Association) who are involved with the development of room acoustic simulation programs to request the PTB to examine this topic.
Contact person:
I. Bork, FB 1.7, AG 1.72 ingolf.bork@ptb.de