France Telecom

Olivier Warusfel

Jean-Marc Jot

Jean-Pascal Jullien

Philippe Derogis

Rene Causse

A method for the simulation of the acoustical quality produced by a virtual sound source and for the localizing of this source with respect to one or more listeners, and one or more original sound sources. This method consists in: 1) fixing values of perceptual parameters defining the acoustical quality to be simulated and values of parameters defining the localization of a virtual source, 2) converting these values into a pulse response described by its energy distribution as a function of the time and the frequency, 3) carrying out a context compensation so as to take account of an existing room effect, 4) obtaining an artificial reverberation from elementary signals so as to achieve a virtual acoustic environment in real time and control the localizing of the virtual source. This method can be used to modify sound signals coming from a real source, or to create sound effects on recording media. An acoustic virtual processor which enables implementation of this method comprises a signal processing 'room' module that enables the obtaining of an artificial reverberation and a signal processing 'pan' module enabling the controlling of the localization and the movement of the sound source and that carries out a format conversion into another reproduction mode. The acoustic virtual processor can be used to fit out all types of entertainment halls or games halls.

Method to simulate the acoustical quality of a room and associated

To obtain a directivity pattern representing the directivity of an original or virtual sound source, directivity patterns of different sources are composed algebraically. To take account of the progress of the directivity patterns of sources that differ with the frequency, the signals applied to these sources are filtered so that the composite directivity function represents the expected directivity pattern throughout the spectrum. The coefficients of the filters are determined by a method of optimization in modulus and in phase.

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Paris, France

Olivier Warusfel