The effects of early reflections on proximity, localization, and loudness

Описание: A lecture given at the Institute of Acoustics conference in Paris, October 30, 2015

The lecture first describes the perception of proximity - the sense of being acoustically close to a performer or musician. Acoustic closeness is largely sub-conscious, as humans detect distance largely visually. But proximity has a very important function: it involuntarily focuses attention. Along with increased attention comes an enhanced ability to localize the sound source, and to separate it from noise and other sources.

Proximity has recently been found to be a principle - perhaps the principle - attribute that predicts preference for sound in a performance venue. It has been previously unknown, and no current acoustic measure can predict it with accuracy. The lecture shows why it has been unknown, and suggests that an improved method of binaural recording can be used to elucidate it.

The second half of the video discusses the importance of proximity in hall design. It has been widely assumed in performance acoustics that early lateral reflections are an essential part of excellent acoustics. Our improved binaural method to study hall acoustics casts considerable doubt on this assumption.

Tests in eight seats in Boston Symphony Hall show that eliminating the side-wall reflection improves both proximity and the ease with which every instrument can be localized with no effect on loudness, and with an enhanced sense of the hall.

Audio examples are included in the video, and further examples can be found on the author's web-page, www.davidgriesinger.com