Auralization

Auralization is the creation of audible acoustic sceneries from computer-generated data. The term “auralization” is to be understood as being analogue to the well-known technique of “visualization”. In visual illustration of scenes, data or any other meaningful information, in movie animation and in computer graphics, we describe the process of “making visible” as visualization. In acoustics, auralization is taking place when acoustic effects, primary sound signals or means of sound reinforcement or sound transmission, are processed to be presented by using electro-acoustic equipment. This book is organized as comprehensive collection of basics, methodology and strategies of acoustic simulation and auralization. With mathematical background of advanced students the reader will be able to follow the main strategy of auralization easily and work own implementations of auralization in various fields of applications in acoustic engineering, sound design and virtual reality. For readersinterested in basic research the technique of auralization may be useful to create sound stimuli for specific investigations in linguistic, medical, neurological and psychological research and in the field of human-machine interaction.

Author Biography

Michael Vorlander became director of the institute and professor of technical acoustics at RWTH Aachen University, Germany, in 1996. After education in physics and a doctorate degree in 1989 he worked in various fields of acoustics, mainly architectural acoustics and binaural technology. His main areas of research are room acoustics, building acoustics, psychoacoustics, acoustic measurements, virtual acoustics. Professor Vorlander is active in international societies, like 2004 – 2007 President of the European Acoustics Association (EAA) 2007 – 2010 Vice President of the European Acoustics Association (EAA) 2004 – Board of the International Commission for Acoustics (ICA) Acoustical Society of America (ASA) German Acoustical Society (DEGA) German Physical Society (DPG)