Nagaoka Tech – Japan’s Nagaoka University of Technology – is at the forefront of auditory research, with its Acoustic & Vibration Engineering Centre providing a research hub dedicated to advancing the understanding of sound and its applications. Key to its work are Genelec’s Smart Active Monitors.
Established in 1984, the centre comprises a suite of resources including two reverberation chambers, an electromechanical acoustics laboratory and a psychological auditory laboratory. A large anechoic chamber stands as the centre’s flagship, providing a controlled environment for precise acoustic experiments.
‘We’re dedicated to creating immersive sound experiences using a minimal number of loudspeakers,’ explains Deputy Director, Professor Yasunori Sugita. ‘Understanding human auditory perception is paramount, driving us to explore technologies such as stereophonic sound through bone conduction – to aid visually impaired navigation and wheelchair control – through to sound localisation and recognition. Our students engage in diverse projects, from out-of-head sound image localisation to stereo acoustics, aiming to better understand sound perception and tackle real-world challenges.’
Marking a significant upgrade for the university, a 41.2 channel 3D loudspeaker system was recently installed at the Acoustic & Vibration Engineering Centre. The system serves as the cornerstone for various research endeavours, spanning sound field reproduction to the remote control of robots using virtual and augmented reality.
‘Although it’s now possible to reproduce visual information three-dimensionally using head-mounted displays, it’s not yet been possible to reproduce sound, which is also crucial for remote control,’ Professor Sugita says. ‘We wanted to analyse the sound of the space in which a person is present, and then reproduce it in a different space. I’ve been researching stereophonic sound for some time, and when it comes to measuring Head Related Transfer Functions, I need loudspeakers with completely flat characteristics that I can then easily tweak if needed. This is why we introduced a multichannel 3D loudspeaker system that could reproduce the sound field more accurately, and this ultimately led us to Genelec.’
Comprising Genelec 8320 Smart Active Monitors and 7380 Subwoofers, the system is designed to meet the rigorous demands of the university’s research. ‘Genelec monitors not only meet our criteria but also offer the flexibility and ease of calibration essential for our research,’ states Professor Sugita. ‘Their scalability and stability, as well as their compatibility with RME interfaces, make them ideal for the precision needed in our research.’
Elevating the system’s capabilities is Genelec’s GLM loudspeaker manager software, facilitating precise control of individual loudspeakers. ‘GLM simplifies the calibration process, ensuring consistent performance across all channels,’ notes Professor Sugita. ‘This level of control is indispensable for our research, where accuracy and reliability are paramount.’
Looking ahead, Professor Sugita plans to use the immersive system for in-depth research initiatives such as Audio Spot – which is aimed at delivering tailored sound experiences within shared spaces. By harnessing sound localisation and personalised audio delivery, this initiative has the potential to revolutionize industries spanning automotive to entertainment, offering exceptional levels of customisation and immersion.
‘I know that our students will make good use of this Genelec monitoring system for their auditory experiments, and I look forward to seeing how it will contribute to society at large.’
More: www.genelec.com
