A PHYSICS-BASED APPROACH TO THE PRESENTATION OF ACOUSTIC DEPTH

A virtual listening environment providing localization cues is pro-posed for the reproduction of acoustic depth. By simulating the propagation of acoustic waves inside a tube it allows to change the source/listening point positions interactively, in a way that lis-teners experience various spatial configurations depending on the source/listener mutual position, and, correspondingly, perceive dif-ferent auditory cues of depth. The quantitative relationship exist-ing between physical and auditory distance assessments suggests to represent the tube using a model which allows direct control of the depth parameter. Simulations and experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the model and its relative robustness in applica-tions contexts where state of the art equipment and ideal listening conditions cannot be guaranteed. 1