A head-related transfer function model for fast synthesizing multiple virtual sound sources

A head-related transfer function （HRTF） model for fast and real-time synthesizing multiple virtual sound sources is proposed. A head-related impulse response （HRIR, time- domain version of HRTF） is first decomposed by a two-level wavelet packet and then represented by a model composed of subband filters and reconstruction filters. The coefficients of the subband filters are the zero interpolation of the wavelet coefficients of the HRIR. The coefficients of the reconstruction filters can be calculated from the wavelet function. The model is simplified by applying a threshold method to reduce the wavelet coefficients. The calculated results indicate that for a model with 30 wavelet coefficients, the error of reconstructed HRIR is about 1%. And the result of a psychoacoustic test shows that a model with 35 wavelet coefficients is perceptually indistinguishable from the original HRIR. When multiple virtual sound sources are synthesized simultaneously, the computational cost of the proposed model is much less than the traditional HRTF filters.

Design and validation on a multiple sound source fast-measurement system of near-field head-related transfer functions

Near-field head-related transfer functions （HRTFs） are essential to scientific re- searches of binaural hearing and practical applications of virtual auditory display. High ef- ficiency, accuracy and repeatability are required in a near-field HRTF measurement. Hence, there is no reference which intents on solving the measuring difficulties of near-field HRTF for human subjects. In present work, an efficient near-field HRTF measurement system based on computer control is designed and implemented, and a fast calibration method for the system is proposed to first solve the measurement of near-field HRTF for human subjects. The efficiency of measurement is enhanced by a comprehensive design on the acoustic, electronic and mechanical parts of the system. And the accuracy and repeatability of the measurement are greatly im- proved by carefully calibrating the positions of sound source, subject and binaural microphones. This system is suitable for near-field HRTF measurement at various source distances within 1.0 m, for both human subject and artificial head. The time costs of HRTF measurement at a single sound source distance and full directions has been reduced to less than 20 minutes. The measurement results indicate that the accuracy of the system satisfies the actual requirements. The system is applicable to scientific research and can be used to establish an individualized near-field HRTF database for human subjects.