GIT-GVU-92-22

Real-Time Audio Spatialization with Inexpensive Hardware

David A. Burgess

There are a variety of potential uses for interactive spatial sound in human-machine interfaces, but tremendous computational costs have made most of these applications impractical. Recently, however, single-chip digital signal processors (DSP's) have made real-time spatial audio an affordable possibility for many workstations. This paper describes a spatialization technique based on empirically derived FIR filters. The fundamental performance and quality limits for this technique are discussed as well as the minimum bandwidth required for the associated audio channels. It is shown that current single-chip DSP's may be expected to spatialize several sources to different positions in real time. Techniques for improving spatial audio quality and performance are described. As an example application, the spatial sound system of an all-acoustic computer interface is described.

Interactive spatial sound, human-machine interfaces, real-time spatial audio, FIR filters, computer interfaces

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