A Sound Spatialization Server for a Speaker Array
as an Integrated Part of a Virtual Environment

Kimitaka Ishikawa, Minefumi Hirose, and Jens Herder

University of Aizu
Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima-Pref. 965-8085, Japan
e-mail: { m5011104@, hirose@madmac., herder@}u-aizu.ac.jp

Abstract:

Spatial sound plays an important role in virtual reality environments, allowing orientation in space, giving a feeling of space, focusing the user on events in the scene, and substituting missing feedback cues (e.g., force feedback). The sound spatialization framework of the University of Aizu, which supports number of spatialization backends, has been extended to include a sound spatialization server for a multichannel loudspeaker array (Pioneer Sound Field Control System). Our goal is that the spatialization server allows easy integration into virtual environments. Modeling of distance cues, which are essential for full immersion, is discussed. Furthermore, the integration of this prototype into different applications allowed us to reveal the advantages and problems of spatial sound for virtual reality environments.



 

kimitaka ishikawa
1998-06-08