Auditory Perception Lab, Department of Psychology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94530-1650, USA.
Hear Res. 2010 Feb;260(1-2):1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.heares.2009.11.004. Epub 2009 Nov 10.
The article reports the experience gained from two implementations of the "Simulated Open-Field Environment" (SOFE), a setup that allows sounds to be played at calibrated levels over a wide frequency range from multiple loudspeakers in an anechoic chamber. Playing sounds from loudspeakers in the free-field has the advantage that each participant listens with their own ears, and individual characteristics of the ears are captured in the sound they hear. This makes an easy and accurate comparison between various listeners with and without hearing devices possible. The SOFE uses custom calibration software to assure individual equalization of each loudspeaker. Room simulation software creates the spatio-temporal reflection pattern of sound sources in rooms which is played via the SOFE loudspeakers. The sound playback system is complemented by a video projection facility which can be used to collect or give feedback or to study auditory-visual interaction. The article discusses acoustical and technical requirements for accurate sound playback against the specific needs in hearing research. An introduction to software concepts is given which allow easy, high-level control of the setup and thus fast experimental development, turning the SOFE into a "Swiss army knife" tool for auditory, spatial hearing and audio-visual research.
本文报道了两次“模拟开阔场环境”（SOFE）实施的经验，该设置允许在消声室内的多个扬声器上以宽频率范围和校准的水平播放声音。在自由场中从扬声器播放声音的优点是每个参与者都用自己的耳朵听，并且他们听到的声音中捕获了耳朵的个体特征。这使得有和没有听力设备的各种听众之间进行轻松而准确的比较成为可能。SOFE 使用自定义校准软件来确保每个扬声器的个体均衡。房间模拟软件创建房间中声源的时空反射模式，然后通过 SOFE 扬声器播放。声音播放系统辅以视频投影设施，可用于收集或提供反馈或研究听觉-视觉相互作用。本文讨论了针对听力研究的具体需求的精确声音播放的声学和技术要求。本文还介绍了允许轻松、高级别的设置控制的软件概念，从而快速开发实验，使 SOFE 成为听觉、空间听觉和视听研究的“瑞士军刀”工具。
