The effect of microphone placement on localization accuracy with electronic pass-through earplugs

D. S. Brungart; A. J. Kordik; C. S. Eades; B. D. Simpson

doi:10.1109/ASPAA.2003.1285853

The effect of microphone placement on localization accuracy with electronic pass-through earplugs

D. S. Brungart, A. J. Kordik, C. S. Eades, B. D. Simpson

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Many audio applications make use of electronic pass-through listening devices that intercept the signals entering a listener's ears and electronically process them in real time. An important issue in designing such devices is ensuring that they maintain the listener's natural ability to localize sound sources. Previous research suggests that optimal localization requires a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) design with a system bandwidth of at least 13 kHz. However, most practical designs have to make engineering compromises in terms of bandwidth and/or microphone placement that cause some degradation in localization performance. The paper compares open-ear localization to localization with seven different pass-through devices: five custom-molded earplugs with different microphone configurations; a CIC hearing aid; an electronic earmuff. The results show that earplugs interfere substantially less with localization than earmuffs, but that the frequency response has a larger impact on performance than does physical configuration in earplug systems that are bandlimited to frequencies below 6 kHz.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2003 IEEE Workshop on Applications of Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics Proceedings, WASPAA 2003
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages	149-152
Number of pages	4
ISBN (Electronic)	0780378504
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ASPAA.2003.1285853
State	Published - 2003
Externally published	Yes
Event	IEEE Workshop on Applications of Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics, WASPAA 2003 - New Paltz, United States Duration: 19 Oct 2003 → 22 Oct 2003

Publication series

Name	IEEE Workshop on Applications of Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics
Volume	2003-January

Conference

Conference	IEEE Workshop on Applications of Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics, WASPAA 2003
Country/Territory	United States
City	New Paltz
Period	19/10/03 → 22/10/03

Keywords

Acoustical engineering
Auditory system
Bandwidth
Degradation
Design engineering
Ear
Frequency response
Maintenance engineering
Microphones
Signal processing

Access to Document

10.1109/ASPAA.2003.1285853

Cite this

Brungart, D. S., Kordik, A. J., Eades, C. S., & Simpson, B. D. (2003). The effect of microphone placement on localization accuracy with electronic pass-through earplugs. In 2003 IEEE Workshop on Applications of Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics Proceedings, WASPAA 2003 (pp. 149-152). Article 1285853 (IEEE Workshop on Applications of Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics; Vol. 2003-January). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/ASPAA.2003.1285853

Brungart, D. S. ; Kordik, A. J. ; Eades, C. S. et al. / The effect of microphone placement on localization accuracy with electronic pass-through earplugs. 2003 IEEE Workshop on Applications of Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics Proceedings, WASPAA 2003. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2003. pp. 149-152 (IEEE Workshop on Applications of Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics).

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title = "The effect of microphone placement on localization accuracy with electronic pass-through earplugs",

abstract = "Many audio applications make use of electronic pass-through listening devices that intercept the signals entering a listener's ears and electronically process them in real time. An important issue in designing such devices is ensuring that they maintain the listener's natural ability to localize sound sources. Previous research suggests that optimal localization requires a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) design with a system bandwidth of at least 13 kHz. However, most practical designs have to make engineering compromises in terms of bandwidth and/or microphone placement that cause some degradation in localization performance. The paper compares open-ear localization to localization with seven different pass-through devices: five custom-molded earplugs with different microphone configurations; a CIC hearing aid; an electronic earmuff. The results show that earplugs interfere substantially less with localization than earmuffs, but that the frequency response has a larger impact on performance than does physical configuration in earplug systems that are bandlimited to frequencies below 6 kHz.",

keywords = "Acoustical engineering, Auditory system, Bandwidth, Degradation, Design engineering, Ear, Frequency response, Maintenance engineering, Microphones, Signal processing",

author = "Brungart, {D. S.} and Kordik, {A. J.} and Eades, {C. S.} and Simpson, {B. D.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2003 IEEE.; IEEE Workshop on Applications of Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics, WASPAA 2003 ; Conference date: 19-10-2003 Through 22-10-2003",

year = "2003",

doi = "10.1109/ASPAA.2003.1285853",

language = "English",

series = "IEEE Workshop on Applications of Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics",

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Brungart, DS, Kordik, AJ, Eades, CS & Simpson, BD 2003, The effect of microphone placement on localization accuracy with electronic pass-through earplugs. in 2003 IEEE Workshop on Applications of Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics Proceedings, WASPAA 2003., 1285853, IEEE Workshop on Applications of Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics, vol. 2003-January, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., pp. 149-152, IEEE Workshop on Applications of Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics, WASPAA 2003, New Paltz, United States, 19/10/03. https://doi.org/10.1109/ASPAA.2003.1285853

The effect of microphone placement on localization accuracy with electronic pass-through earplugs. / Brungart, D. S.; Kordik, A. J.; Eades, C. S. et al.
2003 IEEE Workshop on Applications of Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics Proceedings, WASPAA 2003. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2003. p. 149-152 1285853 (IEEE Workshop on Applications of Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics; Vol. 2003-January).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AU - Eades, C. S.

AU - Simpson, B. D.

PY - 2003

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N2 - Many audio applications make use of electronic pass-through listening devices that intercept the signals entering a listener's ears and electronically process them in real time. An important issue in designing such devices is ensuring that they maintain the listener's natural ability to localize sound sources. Previous research suggests that optimal localization requires a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) design with a system bandwidth of at least 13 kHz. However, most practical designs have to make engineering compromises in terms of bandwidth and/or microphone placement that cause some degradation in localization performance. The paper compares open-ear localization to localization with seven different pass-through devices: five custom-molded earplugs with different microphone configurations; a CIC hearing aid; an electronic earmuff. The results show that earplugs interfere substantially less with localization than earmuffs, but that the frequency response has a larger impact on performance than does physical configuration in earplug systems that are bandlimited to frequencies below 6 kHz.

AB - Many audio applications make use of electronic pass-through listening devices that intercept the signals entering a listener's ears and electronically process them in real time. An important issue in designing such devices is ensuring that they maintain the listener's natural ability to localize sound sources. Previous research suggests that optimal localization requires a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) design with a system bandwidth of at least 13 kHz. However, most practical designs have to make engineering compromises in terms of bandwidth and/or microphone placement that cause some degradation in localization performance. The paper compares open-ear localization to localization with seven different pass-through devices: five custom-molded earplugs with different microphone configurations; a CIC hearing aid; an electronic earmuff. The results show that earplugs interfere substantially less with localization than earmuffs, but that the frequency response has a larger impact on performance than does physical configuration in earplug systems that are bandlimited to frequencies below 6 kHz.

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Y2 - 19 October 2003 through 22 October 2003

ER -

Brungart DS, Kordik AJ, Eades CS, Simpson BD. The effect of microphone placement on localization accuracy with electronic pass-through earplugs. In 2003 IEEE Workshop on Applications of Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics Proceedings, WASPAA 2003. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2003. p. 149-152. 1285853. (IEEE Workshop on Applications of Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics). doi: 10.1109/ASPAA.2003.1285853

The effect of microphone placement on localization accuracy with electronic pass-through earplugs

Abstract

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Keywords

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