Contribution
Towards Head-Related Sound Field Synthesis for Enhanced Binaural Reproduction
* Presenting author
Abstract:
Current research in binaural rendering focuses heavily on individualizing Head-Related Transfer Functions (HRTFs) to achieve a personalized listening experience. However, this study explores an innovative approach to recreate the sound field of a point source at a distance of 1m by exploiting the superposition of sound fields generated by a limited number of simple acoustic sources arranged on a hemisphere that encloses the outer ear. The feasibility of accurately reproducing the sound field of the far-field point source around the pinna of a dummy head for various incidence directions is investigated through numerical simulations. Different source configurations and characteristics, i.e. acoustic monopoles and dipoles, are considered, and the deviations between the reproduced and target sound fields are systematically analyzed. Furthermore, it is discussed how this approach could serve as the basis for a new binaural rendering technique that does not rely on traditional, often cumbersome HRTF measurements or simulations, while inherently incorporating listener-specific personalization. This preliminary investigation is intended to provide insights and to set the stage for future work, with the ultimate goal of developing more accessible and personalized binaural audio applications.