Psychoacoustics
Our research activities in psychoacoustics comprise experimental design and evaluation methods. Furthermore, objective assessment models are being developed which enable prediction of subjective feeling of physical acoustic stimuli. Of central interest is which acoustic signal characteristics are the cause of different auditory impressions and perceptions and to what degree they can be predicted.
Psychoacoustics
Psychoacoustics primarily deals with the relation between physical acoustic stimuli and the resulting auditory impressions and perceptions. At least two basic perceptual phenomena are distinguished here. So-called perceptual measures occur when perceptual characteristics result which can be distinguished from each other and can be assessed separately. In contrast to this, the affective measure is an integral assessment of the acoustical stimulus in which its fine structure is not dissolved but rather combined. Aspects such as emotion, acceptance, aptitude and personal state are here incorporated into the assessment.
Our research activities in psychoacoustics comprise investigative methods and evaluation strategies. Furthermore, objective assessment models are being developed which allow the subjective feeling of physical acoustic stimuli to be predicted. Of central interest is which acoustic signal characteristics are the cause of different auditory impressions and perceptions and to what degree they can be predicted. Here, the design of the experiment, the development of new methods and modelling take centre stage.
Currently, a permanent “expert listening panel” consisting of about 40 specially selected, trained experimental subjects are being supervised in the framework of the Advanced Audio Processing Project (http://www.comet-aap.at/publikationen). A continuation of this project extending beyond the project end is planned.
The results of our research activities include acoustic quality assurance, benchmarking, acoustic optimisation, and basic research in the field of spatial sound rendering. In the context of assisting artistic activities, the results and findings are directly incorporated in art productions and sound design.