WEb Audio Virtual Environment Rendering (WEAVER): Online Virtual Acoustics for Sonic Art, Digital Heritage, and Broadcast

听觉化，音频上的视觉化，使我们能够试听曾经存在的、将会存在的或纯粹是虚构的虚拟声音环境。通过测量建筑物是否已经存在，或者通过使用计算模型进行模拟，获得空间的声室脉冲响应（RIR）。其结果是我们希望在听觉环境中听到的任何声音的3D声学渲染。这项研究在建筑、环境噪音评估、在数字遗产中重现过去的环境，以及在音乐制作、广播和电脑游戏中实现创造力方面发挥着关键作用。WEb音频虚拟环境渲染（WEAVER）项目将重新审视空间音频组成和渲染的概念，并结合过去十年在听觉化和虚拟声学研究方面的发展。自2004年这项研究开始以来，使用虚拟声学、听觉化、声学测量和建模来探索空间构成所需的专业音频技术现在在大多数创造性的计算机音乐软件应用程序中都很常见。在过去的十年里，通过在线开放声学脉冲响应库（OpenAIR: www.openairlib.net）收集和传播了来自不同地点、建筑物和场地的声学RIR测量结果，其中许多具有重要的遗产价值或兴趣。在这段时间里，OpenAIR已经成为电子音乐家、声音设计师、软件和电脑游戏开发者的关键资源。事实上，探索和试听空间音频内容和虚拟声学环境所需的大部分功能现在可以通过标准的web浏览器和移动设备提供-仍然需要额外的声学RIR数据来试听这些虚拟空间，但现在全球数百万潜在用户都可以使用或收听这些结果。WEAVER将使用Web Audio API通过Web浏览器提供交互式虚拟声学环境，并进一步实现十多年前首次提出的一些创造性研究目标。结合与OpenAIR相关的研究和资源，这也是最初工作的结果，WEAVER将在在线声音艺术，数字遗产和广播方面发展影响和参与。WEAVER将从OpenAIR数据中创造出新颖的在线声音艺术。我们将扩大Web Audio API的范围，详细说明其开发创造性虚拟声学应用程序的能力，并通过开发OpenAIR内容的新用户联系提供影响途径。我们将与约克皇家剧院（York Theatre Royal）合作，开发一个网络资源，以吸引新观众参与剧院礼堂空间的重建和遗产。约克皇家剧院是一家基于历史遗址的地区性制作剧院，自1744年以来一直是剧院的所在地。这提供了一个独特的机会，在一个具有文化和历史意义的场地翻新期间应用我们的虚拟声学研究。我们将利用我们在声学遗产、听觉化和声音设计方面的专业知识，通过开发新颖、互动的在线内容，帮助约克皇家剧院讲述他们的故事，吸引新的观众。在BBC音频研究中，我们将研究虚拟声学渲染如何告知收听音频广播材料的体验。WEAVER将扩展现有的BBC广播空间音频渲染，包括不同渲染的虚拟声学和回放收听环境，并将利用BBC的设施和测试平台来接触观众，以获得有关该演示技术的有效性和未来可行性的反馈。在所有阶段，开发的数据和代码将通过开源/开放获取的方式传播，鼓励对WEAVER及其创建的资源产生最大的潜在影响。

Auralisation, the audio equivalent of visualization, enables us to audition virtual acoustic environments that once existed, will exist or that are purely fictional. Auralisation is based on obtaining the acoustic room impulse response (RIR) of a space, through measurement if the building already exists, or otherwise via simulation using computational modelling. The result is a 3D acoustic rendering of any sound we wish to hear within the auralised environment. This research plays a key role in architecture, environmental noise assessment, recreating past environments in digital heritage, as well as enabling creativity in music production, broadcast and computer gaming.The WEb Audio Virtual Environment Rendering (WEAVER) project will revisit the concept of spatial audio composition and rendering in relation to the last ten years of development in auralisation and virtual acoustics research. Since this research started in 2004, the specialised audio technology required to explore spatial composition using virtual acoustics, auralisation, acoustic measurement and modelling is now commonplace in most creative computer music software applications. Acoustic RIR measurements from various sites, buildings and venues, many of significant heritage value or interest have also been gathered and disseminated over this ten-year period via the online Open Acoustic Impulse Response Library (OpenAIR: www.openairlib.net). Over this time OpenAIR has become a key resource for electronic musicians, sound designers, software and computer game developers.Much of the functionality required to explore and audition spatial audio content and virtual acoustic environments can now, in fact, be offered via a standard web browser and mobile device - additional acoustic RIR data is still needed to auralise these virtual spaces, but the ability to use or listen to these results is now carried by millions of potential users worldwide. WEAVER will use the Web Audio API to deliver interactive virtual acoustic environments via a web browser, and to further realise some of the creative research aims first articulated over ten years ago. In combination with the research and resources related to OpenAIR, that was also an outcome from this initial work, WEAVER will develop impact and engagement in online sonic art, digital heritage and broadcast.WEAVER will create novel online sonic art from OpenAIR data. We will scope the Web Audio API to detail its capabilities for developing creative virtual acoustics applications informed by existing examples and current practice, and provide a route to impact through the development of new user contacts for OpenAIR content.We will work with York Theatre Royal, a regional producing theatre based on a historic site that has hosted a working theatre since 1744, to develop a web resource to engage new audiences with the redevelopment and heritage of the theatre's auditorium space. This presents a unique opportunity to apply our virtual acoustics research in a culturally and historically significant venue during its refurbishment. We will help York Theatre Royal to tell their story and engage new audiences using our expertise in acoustic heritage, auralisation and sound design, brought together through the development of novel, interactive online content.With BBC Audio Research we will investigate how virtual acoustic rendering informs the experience of listening to audio broadcast material. WEAVER will expand on existing BBC spatial audio rendering for broadcast to include differently rendered virtual acoustic and playback listening environments, and will make use of BBC facilities and test platforms for reaching audiences in order to gain feedback on the effectiveness and future viability of this presentation technology.At all stages data and code developed will be disseminated by open-source/open-access means, encouraging maximum potential impact for WEAVER and the resources it creates.