AES New York 2009
Paper Session P10
P10 - Consumer Audio
Saturday, October 10, 2:30 pm — 5:00 pm
Chair: John Strawn, S Systems, Inc. - Larkspur, CA, USA
P10-1 The Wii Remote as a Musical Instrument: Technology and Case Studies—Paul D. Lehrman, Tufts University - Medford, MA, USA
The inexpensive and ubiquitous remote for the Nintendo Wii game system uses a combination of technologies that are highly suited for music generation and control. These include position tracking, tilt and motion measurement in three dimensions, a two-dimensional joystick (with its companion "Nunchuk"), and multiple buttons. A new accessory, the "MotionPlus," adds gyroscopic sensing and another, the "Balance Board" adds body-position sensing. Use of the system in several musical performance contexts is examined including conducting a synthetic orchestra and playing expressive single and multi-user instruments.
Convention Paper 7888 (Purchase now)
P10-2 Measurement Techniques for Evaluating Microphone Performance in Windy Environments—Simon Busbridge, University of Brighton, AudioGravity Ltd; David Herman, AudioGravity Ltd
The traditional solution for controlling microphone wind response (foam windshield) is of limited benefit in miniature applications. The use of ECM and MEMS type microphones is typically associated with DSP-type solutions to reduce the unwanted output from air mass flow. Such solutions vary widely in their effectiveness. The situation is compounded by the range of techniques in current use to evaluate microphone wind response. This paper discusses the essential elements necessary for consistent microphone wind measurements and proposes a standard measurement technique that will be of use to all developers and manufacturers concerned with controlling microphone wind noise. Practical implementation of the technique and results obtained for a range of microphones are presented.
Convention Paper 7889 (Purchase now)
P10-3 Psychoacoustical Bandwidth Extension of Lower Frequencies—Judith Liebetrau, Daniel Beer, Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT - Ilmenau, Germany; Matthias Lubkowitz, TU Ilmenau - Ilmenau, Germany
Nowadays, small and flat loudspeakers are requested by the market for home and mobile entertainment. One major problem of such small devices is the reproduction of lower frequencies due to physical limitations. A lack of low frequencies has a negative impact on the perceived audio quality. To obtain good audio quality even with small loudspeakers, the utilization of psychoacoustical effects is conceivable. Basic principles of psychoacoustical bandwidth extension, concretely implemented algorithms and parameter settings for a considerable extension of bandwidth are explained. Furthermore, a listening test method for evaluating perceived audio quality in comparison to bass extension is described. Based on that, an assessment of increased bandwidth extension and sound coloration is done and a conclusion is drawn.
Convention Paper 7890 (Purchase now)
P10-4 Reducing the Complexity of Sub-band ADPCM Coding to Enable High-Quality Audio Streaming from Mobile Devices—Neil Smyth, David Trainor, APTX (APT Licensing Ltd.) - Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
The number of consumer audio applications demanding high quality audio compression and communication across wireless networks continues to grow. Although the consumer is increasingly demanding higher audio quality, devices such as portable media players and wireless headsets also demand low computational complexity, low power dissipation, and practical transmission bit-rates to help conserve battery life. This paper discusses research undertaken to lower the complexity of existing high-quality sub-band ADPCM coding schemes to better satisfy these conflicting criteria.
Convention Paper 7891 (Purchase now)
P10-5 An Interactive Audio System for Mobiles—Yohan Lasorsa, Jacques Lemordant, INRIA - Rhône-Alpes, France
This paper presents an XML format for embedded interactive audio, deriving from well-established formats like iXMF and SMIL. We introduce in this format a new paradigm for audio elements and animations synchronization, using a flexible event-driven system in conjunction with graph description capabilities to replace audio scripting. We have implemented a sound manager for J2ME smartphones and the iPhone. Guidance applications for blind people based on this audio system are being developed.
Convention Paper 7892 (Purchase now)