Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions

Conference Track:  Emerging Technologies

Selection1:       Paper

Language:         English

Keywords:         HRTF, Binaural, Prony, Pinna, Localization

Contact Title:     Mr.

Contact First Name: Maroof

Contact Last Name:  Choudhury

University:       Florida International University

Web:

Position:         Graduate Student

Country:          USA

Email:            mchou001@fiu.edu

Fax:              304-348-3707

Paper Title: 

Modeling Head-Related Transfer Functions Based on Pinna Anthropometry 

Abstract: 

The use of Head-Related Transfer Functions (HRTFs) in creating 3D sounds is gaining wide acceptance in multimedia applications. HRTFs represent the modifications undergone by a sound wave as it reflects, diffracts and resonates due to interaction with the listener's head, torso and the outer ears. Due to the unique shapes and size of each individual's head and outer ears, the HRTFs are different for each listener. So, to synthesize an accurate binaural sound, it is important to use an HRTF that is very similar to the listener's own.

This paper presents a new method of modeling HRTFs based on the shape and size of the outer ear. Using signal processing tools, such as Prony's signal modeling method, an appropriate set of time delays and a resonant frequency were used to approximate the measured Head-Related Impulse Responses (HRIRs). HRIRs represent HRTFs in time domain. Statistical analysis was used to find out empirical equations describing how the reflections and resonances are determined by the shape and size of the pinna features obtained from 3D images of 15 experimental subjects modeled in the project. These equations were used to yield "Model HRTFs" that can create elevation effects.

Listening tests conducted on 10 subjects showed that these model HRTFs were 5% more effective than generic HRTFs in the frontal plane. This model is a simple, yet effective method of creating customizable HRTFs. It reduces the computational and storage demands, while preserving a sufficient number of perceptually relevant spectral cues. 

Mailing Address: 

10555 W. Flagler St.

EAS 3970

Miami, FL 33174

Phone: 

(305)348-6072 

Authors: 

-Navarun Gupta, ngupta02@fiu.edu, Florida International University

-Armando Barreto, barretoa@fiu.edu, Florida International University

-Maroof Choudhury, mchou001@fiu.edu, Florida International University (P)