Sound Spatialization
Spatial is related to multi-dimensionality in nature. Spatial sound is perceived in three dimensions in relationship
with the source location
Thus the capability of localizing sound in space is often referred to as spatial sound
To deploy space is to choreograph sound: Positioning sources and animating the movement
Spatialization has 2 aspects
1. Virtual
2. Physical
Most popular special illusion is Horizontal Panning (Lateral sound movement from speaker to speaker and
reverberating
Hundreds of years ago, when there was no concept of music technology yet, spatial sound was practiced by a
number of classical music composers.
Giovanni Gabrieli, in the 16th century, splits the choir in two groups named
"cori spezzati" similar to the stereo technique.
The Baroque period composer Vivaldi’s “per eco in lontano” can be regarded as the first spatial sound
performance with echo technique on a concert hall.
Enhancing spatial projection
v Whenever possible use at least quadraphonic sound
projection
v When 2 channel recoding is played back on the
quadraphonic system, route 2 channels to the front and
2 channels to the rear with left & right channel
configuration reversed.
v To add more spatial articulation place the speakers at
opposite corners in an elevated position . This is called
periphony or sound with height (Here when the sound
Pans from left to right it even Pans vertically.
Principles of how listeners pinpoint the locale from which a sound is produced.
1. Azimuth or Horizontal plane
2. Distance(for static sounds) or velocity (for moving sounds)
3. Zenith (Altitude) or vertical angle
3 Cues to determine the Azimuth of sound
• The different arrival times of the sounds to 2 ears when sound is coming from one side
• The difference in amplitude of high frequency sounds heard by 2 ears, which effect from the shadow
effect of the head
• Spectral cues provided by asymmetrical reflections of the sound off the outer ear(Pinnae),shoulders
and upper torso.
3 Cues for Distance are threefold
• The ratio of direct signal to reverberated signal
• The loss of high frequency of high frequency components with increasing distance
• The loss of detail (absence of softer sounds)with increasing distance.
When the distance between the sound an the listener is changing the cue to the velocity of sound is the
Pitch change called the Doppler Shift effect.
The cue for Zenith is a change in the spectrum caused by the sound reflections off the pinnae and the shoulders
Reverberation
It is a naturally occurring acoustical effect we hear in high ceiling spaces and reflective surfaces.
Reverberation is caused by reflection of soud off surface in a space .
The dark line is the path of direct sound
All other lines represent sonic reflections that arrive later than the original
due to their longer path.
The analysis of reverberating spaces was carried out by Wallace Sabine, who advised in the construction of
Boston’s acclaimed symphony hall in 1900
He observed that the rooms reverberation is dependent on its volume, Geometry and reflectivity of its surface
The geometry of the room surfaces determine the angle of sound reflection walls that are not parallel, scatter the
wavefronts in complicated dispersion patterns and small irregularities such as plaster trimmings, indentations,
column’s which tend to diffuse reflections creating a richer, denser reverberation
Impulse response of a room (IR)
IR envelope of a reverberant Hall
An irregular time interval between peaks in desirable in a concert hall. Regularly spaced peaks indicate
“Ringing”, which are resonant frequencies in the hall and can be annoying.
Reverberation Time
This is an important measurement of reverberation and is also referred as RT60
The term RT60 refers to the time it takes the reverberation decay 60dB from its peak amplitude
Typical RT60 time for concert halls are from 1.5 to 3 seconds
Artificial Reverberation
To create an acoustic ambience effect sound can be feed in to the chamber
via loudspeaker
For creating a delay on a sound
Equation for BPM to MS= 60000/BPM (beats per minute)
Eg: if the song is at 110 BPM to get the millisecond time
60000/110 = 545ms (approx.)
