2000 Volume 5 Issue 3 Pages 911-918
This study aims at establishing a digital signal processing technique for controlling 3-D sound localization, especially focusing on the role of information provided by Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF) in the distance perception. In order to clarify the cues to control the auditory distance perception, two conventional models called Hirsch-Tahara model and the auditory parallax model were examined. As a result, it was shown that both models have limitations in controlling the auditory distance perception generally. Hence, in this paper, the auditory parallax model was extended to be applicable to broader cases of auditory distance perception. This model is called the extended auditory parallax model. A psychoacoustical experiment was performed by simulating HRTF's based on this model. The results of the experiment showed that the cues provided by the new model were almost sufficient to control the perception of auditory distance from an actual sound source located within about 2 m for any azimuthal direction.
