Sensory Perception of Active Acoustic Enhancement Systems (SPACES)

Research Student: Will Cassidy
Supervisor: Dr Enzo De Sena
Supervisor: Dr Russell Mason

Industrial Partner & Funding: L-Acoustics
Additional Funding from: University of Surrey Doctoral College

Start date: 2023
End date: 2027

Project Outline

Imagine walking into a medium-sized room along with a sound engineer. The engineer points you to a set of microphones and loudspeakers hanging from the ceiling. As she speaks, the room reverberation sounds like what you’d expect from a space of that size. The sound engineer flips a switch, and, suddenly, the room sounds like a cathedral. You clap your hands, and a lush reverberation reaches you from all directions. This is made possible by the active acoustic system of the room.

In audio engineering, controlling reverberation in this way is used to enhance the quality of sound reproduction in concert halls, recording studios, and performance venues. By using electroacoustic systems to manipulate the sound of a space, it is possible to generate a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience.

The aim of this project will be to establish fundamental perceptual knowledge relating to how active acoustics systems are perceived. The resulting perceptual models will then be used to evaluate and optimise active acoustics systems.