On the Requirements of 3D Audio Telephone and Teleconferencing Calls: A Mini Review on Background of 3D Audio – From Human Hearing toTechnology

Abstract

Audio quality of telephones and teleconferencing solutions is much talked issue these days. Despite the significant advances in the technology there is hardly any improvement in the audio call quality. Incorporation of 3D audio is the one way to improve the audio quality of telephone or teleconferencing calls. In order to develop and to design telephone and teleconferencing solutions supporting 3D audio, we have to understand the 3D audio phenomenon and its associated concepts. In this article, we present a mini review on the background of 3D audio. Especially, focusing binaural technology in general, 3D audio localization and localization cues, binaural technology, audio spatialization techniques such as Ambisonics and wave field synthesis. Also, we discuss technology behind 3D audio recording and reproduction by focusing on dummy head recording, B-format, Head Related Transfer Functions (HRTFs) and its characteristics, and amplitude panning techniques for the reproduction of 3D audio over loudspeakers.