Philippe-Aubert Gauthier - Sound Reproduction Using Multi Loudpseakers Systems

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An introduction to the foundations, the technologies and the potential applications of the acoustic field synthesis for audio spatialization on loudspeaker arrays

Abstracts

Sound Reproduction Using Multi Loudpseakers Systems

P.-A. Gauthier

philippe_aubert_gauthier@hotmail.com

GAUS (Groupe d’Acoustique de l’Université de Sherbrooke), 2500 boul. de l’Université, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada J1K 2R1

Parts of this article are also presented in an other one of the same author about "Wave Field Synthesis".

Abstract. The pages which follow present a short introduction about the broadcasting of sound with mutli loudspeakers systems. This discussion concentrates mainly on the classification of the technologies of reproduction of the spatial character of the natural hearing while situating the sound diffusion with multi loudspeakers systems in this context. With such a technological topography of spatial sound reproduction, it is easier to be situated in the present times or in connection with future. It is with the concern of general clarification that this presentation was so drafted. Although this review bases itself essentially on the technical dimension of the problem, it does not penetrate into the detail of technologies and is specially built to answer necessities or questioning which could arise in the process of creation or artistic theorization. So, within this trend, the current and future spatial description and, finally, the potential roles of the artists are the other evoked subjects.

An introduction to the foundations, the technologies and the potential applications of the acoustic field synthesis for audio spatialization on loudspeaker arrays

P.-A. Gauthier†, A. Berry†, W. Woszczyk*

philippe_aubert_gauthier@hotmail.com

† GAUS (Groupe d’Acoustique de l’Université de Sherbrooke), 2500 boul. de l’Université, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada J1K 2R1

* CIRMMT (Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music, Media, and Technology), McGill University, 555 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 1E3

Abstract. Mainly dedicated to the artists or to the composers interested in the search and creation with networks of loudspeakers which can include up to hundred sources, this article introduces the technology of sound reproduction which is WFS (Wave Field Synthesis). A classification of the methods of spatial sound reproduction is also presented. Within the borders of this introductory text, I hope to expose an innovative technique of spatial sound reproduction, well-known in acoustics or in signal processing, which suffers regrettably from a lack of visibility at the artists or the composers. Such as presented in this review, the WFS adorns itself with many possibilities and openings for spatial compositions. The most fascinating aspects of this technology come from the fact that traditional spatial mixing (as with the case of “Surround 5.1”) is no more realized by a sound engineer or the composer. Sometimes lengthy and fragile, this process is now automated – on the basis of physical principles – and creates a link between the virtual description of an acoustic scene, prescribed by the composer, and the network of loudspeakers, which is the reproduction system. Finally, this technique produces the reconstruction of the virtual sound field over a vast zone of the reproduction space. Because WFS is considered as a most promising solution for the near future, the composers or the artists interested by the broadcasting and the spatial composition on loudspeaker arrays, will surely be informed by this brief introduction to the subject.