PSQ '97, Product Sound Quality 1997, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA.
Usability and reliability of real head recording in product sound design
Antti Järvinen (1)
Klaus Riederer (1)
Juha Backman (1, 2) and
Jyri Huopaniemi (1)
(1) Laboratory of Acoustics and Audio Signal Processing
Helsinki University of Technology
P.O. Box 3000, FIN-02015 HUT, FINLAND
Email: Antti.Jarvinen@hut.fi, Klaus.Riederer@hut.fi, Jyri.Huopaniemi@hut.fi
(2) Nokia Mobile Phones
P.O. Box 86, FIN-24101, Salo, FINLAND
Email: Juha.Backman@nokia.nmp.com
In the paper we will present our experiences in binaural recordings made using real heads and laboratory measurements on the repeatability of real head measurements.
The binaural recording technique has been used successfully for recording material for sound quality analysis and listening tests. The most important reason for the success of the technique is that it offers superior spatial performance compared to other recording techniques, especially if headphone playback is used.
Traditionally the use of the artificial head has dominated in binaural recordings. It is also possible to make binaural recordings using a human subject fitted with miniature microphones in the ears. In this study this technique will be called the real head recording.
A series of experiments was conducted on the repeatability of real head measurements. In these experiments the microphones are repeatedly inserted and removed, and the head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) are obtained. These tests are done on the same test subject, but using different experimenters with different levels of experience. We will compare the repeatability of the test between measurements done by a single experimenter and the systematic differences between experimenters. Also the effect ear plug type on the repeatability is studied.