Evaluation of the Perceived Naturalness of Artificial Reverberation Algorithms

Listening tests were carried out using a modified MUSHRA method to compare the perceived naturalness of reverberation generated using scattering delay networks (SDNs), feedback delay networks (FDNs), CATT- Acoustic modelling, and convolution with recorded room impulse responses. The difference in naturalness ratings achieved by reverberation generated using FDNs and SDNs was statistically significant, with the mean rating being 12% higher for SDN stimuli than for FDN stimuli. It was also found that CATT-Acoustic models which had been simplified to a bare rectangular room received lower ratings than models that included furniture or irregular room shaping, suggesting that the scattering and mixing effects of irregularities cause improvements in perceived naturalness of the generated reverberation