A Tangible User Interface for Playing Virtual Acoustics

In this thesis the development of a digital musical instrument (DMI) playing virtual architectural spaces in the manner of a musical instrument is presented. The structure of the instrument is based on the implementation of an Auditory Virtual Environment (AVE) approach. The AVE approach comprises a geometric room model enabling real-time acoustic modeling of rectangular room geometries and supporting a dynamic modification of boundaries and sources. The computation of early reflection paths is derived by the implementation of an image-source model. A statistical model provides the simulation of reverberation and is based on a feedback delay network (FDN). Higher Order Ambisonics (HOA) is employed for the reproduction of the sound field. In order to enable instrumental interaction a tabletop tangible interface (TUI) providing tangible and direct-touch interaction is built up. The results of an objective measurement evaluating the auditory quality of the environment are presented.