Communication Acoustics

Data is displayed for the academic year: 2024./2025.

Lectures

Course Description

The goal of this course is to provide the fundamental knowledge on the way the human hearing system functions, and how these phenomena are applied in various fields of modern technology. The introductory part of the course deals with the physiology of the human hearing system and the consequential course of the hearing process. The focus is then shifted to the binaural nature of human hearing and the related sound source localization mechanisms (interaural level and time differences and the head-related transfer functions. The masking effect and the closely connected perceptual audio coding are described next. The field of psychoacoustics is introduced through the psychoacoustic parameters such as loudness, sharpness, roughness, fluctuation strength and tonality of sound, with the emphasis on loudness and pitch perception. The term and the field of sound quality is introduced. Methods of subjective (perceptual) evaluation of sound-related phenomena through listening tests are described. Special attention is given to speech intelligibility as a complex phenomenon influenced by many factors. The influence of the listening space on the listening experience is addressed as well. Auralization via binaural (and other types of) synthesis is presented as the basis for creating virtual sound environments. The final part of the course deals with the analyses procedures of the overall sound image in a sound environment.

Study Programmes

University graduate
[FER3-HR] Audio Technologies and Electroacoustics - profile
Elective Courses (3. semester)
Elective Courses of the Profile (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Communication and Space Technologies - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Computational Modelling in Engineering - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Computer Engineering - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Computer Science - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Control Systems and Robotics - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Data Science - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Electrical Power Engineering - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Electric Machines, Drives and Automation - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Electronic and Computer Engineering - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Electronics - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Information and Communication Engineering - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Network Science - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)
[FER3-HR] Software Engineering and Information Systems - profile
Elective Courses (1. semester) (3. semester)

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyze functional elements of the hearing process
  2. Breakdown of methods used by the hearing system for sound source localization and identification
  3. Create a system for binaural recording and binaural sound synthesis
  4. Evaluate the sound quality based on psychoacoustic parameters
  5. Prepare speech intelligibility measurements in a communication system
  6. Use of different methods for speech transmission quality evaluation in a channel
  7. Assemble elements of sound auralisation in virtual reality system

Forms of Teaching

Lectures

The theory of communication acoustics and psychoacoustics is explained. These phenomena are also explained through demonstrations, where applicable.

Seminars and workshops

Work on a selected topic from the field covered in the course through a joint project.

Independent assignments

Individual work on a selected topic from the field covered in the course

Laboratory

The students will evaluate psychoacoustic parameters of hearing and communication acoustics through exercises in small groups.

Week by Week Schedule

  1. Sound source localization; Localization precision
  2. Sound source localization; Localization precision
  3. Head related transfer functions (HRTF)
  4. Roughness; Sharpness; Fluctuation strength
  5. Roughness; Sharpness; Fluctuation strength
  6. Perception of loudness
  7. Perception of pitch
  8. Midterm exam
  9. Psychoacoustic parameters for determination of sound quality
  10. Psychoacoustic parameters for determination of sound quality
  11. Auditory scene analysis
  12. Auditory scene analysis
  13. Speech intelligibility
  14. Speech intelligibility
  15. Final exam

Literature

David M. Howard, Jamie Angus (2017.), Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, Taylor & Francis
Hrvoje Domitrović, Kristian Jambrošić, Antonio Petošić (2015.), Prijenos zvuka, Element
Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen (2015.), Communication Acoustics, John Wiley & Sons
Jens Blauert (2005.), Communication Acoustics, Springer Science & Business Media

For students

General

ID 222624
  Winter semester
5 ECTS
L2 English Level
L1 e-Learning
30 Lectures
0 Seminar
0 Exercises
12 Laboratory exercises
0 Project laboratory
0 Physical education excercises

Grading System

Excellent
Very Good
Good
Sufficient