At the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR) at the University of Southampton, we have for the last ten years been working on using digital signal processing to improve the quality of sound reproduction systems. The ultimate goal is to be able to produce the illusion in a listener of being in a "virtual" acoustic environment which is entirely different from that of the space in which the listener is actually located. Sound systems designed for this purpose are usually referred to as "surround sound" systems, or "3D-audio systems"; we prefer to label such a system a virtual imaging system.
 

An overview of our activities also gives a brief introduction to virtual source imaging. This technology is based on binaural technology which is the art of "fooling" the human localisation mechanism. We have developed a number of sophisticated digital filter design techniques that enable us to control the sound field at several points in space simultaneously by applying the principle of cross-talk cancellation. Research into numerical modelling techniques is used to calculate the reproduced sound field, and is reconciled with research into multi-channel systems. 

We highlight a very specific virtual imaging system, the stereo dipole, which uses only two very closely spaced loudspeakers. Optimal Source Distribution (OSD), provides novel and effective loudspeaker design and signal processing principle which enables lossless crosstalk cancellation process.

Recently we have started investigating visually adaptive systems which can update the filters in real time. If you want more information, you can consult a list of some of our publications, or you can write to us with your questions and comments.

Correspondence:
The Institute of Sound and Vibration Research,
University of Southampton,
Highfield,
Southampton, SO17 1BJ,
U.K.,
Tel +44-2380-592944
FAX +44-2380-593220
E-mail: FDAGgroup@isvr.soton.ac.uk