Influence of electroacoustic parameters on the performance of reverberation enhancement systems

The computer simulation of electroacoustic reverberation enhancement systems for variable acoustics is presented. All involved room impulse responses are predicted using the image source model, complemented by a diffuse field extension for the late part. The electronic units included in the reverberation enhancement system are also specified by their impulse responses. The corresponding frequency responses are processed using a matrix formulation which yields the total room impulse response of the hall with the reverberation enhancement system installed. From this, measures which describe the system performance can be calculated. In the simulation study presented, a typical medium‐sized hall which seats 450 persons has been modeled and nine different two‐channel configurations have been simulated. The current simulation approach proves more flexible than previous methods since also the early part of the total impulse response can be predicted. Transducer directivities and electronic reverberation can be included and it is shown that these, along with the system delay, to a large extent influence the early part of the total impulse response. The risk of feedback is also discussed.