Synthetic individual binaural audio delivery by pinna image processing

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a system for customized binaural audio delivery based on the extraction of relevant features from a 2-D representation of the listener’s pinna.

Design/methodology/approach

The most significant pinna contours are extracted by means of multi-flash imaging, and they provide values for the parameters of a structural head-related transfer function (HRTF) model. The HRTF model spatializes a given sound file according to the listener’s head orientation, tracked by sensor-equipped headphones, with respect to the virtual sound source.

Findings

A preliminary localization test shows that the model is able to statically render the elevation of a virtual sound source better than non-individual HRTFs.

Research limitations/implications

Results encourage a deeper analysis of the psychoacoustic impact that the individualized HRTF model has on perceived elevation of virtual sound sources.

Practical implications

The model has low complexity and is suitable for implementation on mobile devices. The resulting hardware/software package will hopefully allow an easy and low-tech fruition of custom spatial audio to any user.

Originality/value

The authors show that custom binaural audio can be successfully deployed without the need of cumbersome subjective measurements.

Citation

Spagnol, S., Geronazzo, M., Rocchesso, D. and Avanzini, F. (2014), "Synthetic individual binaural audio delivery by pinna image processing", International Journal of Pervasive Computing and Communications, Vol. 10 No. 3, pp. 239-254. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPCC-06-2014-0035