Virtual Audio Environment

[Arny Krueger]

http://www.lexiconpro.com/NewsArticle.aspx?ArticleID=111


"the VAE creates extraordinary acoustic room simulations with settings that
include Baroque Room, Recital Halls, Auditoriums, Cathedral, and Arena.
These active acoustic simulations contribute to the sensation of being
enveloped - or surrounded - by the sound, and enable musicians to hear
themselves as if they were performing inside a particular space. Based on
Wenger's revolutionary V-Room® technology, the new VAE offers an integrated
music learning environment with active acoustics for "audio virtual reality"
simulations and features built-in recording/playback capabilities. The VAE
can record up to nine single-track sessions with a 60 minute total recording
time. Audio transfer of recordings is possible through the built-in USB
connection in standard stereo .wav format (44.1 kHz, 16-bit). Accompaniment
music may also be transferred to the VAE via this USB connection. By
selecting from the nine active-acoustic settings, musicians can learn how to
optimize their performance in different environments. Designed for
installation in a Wenger sound-isolated music practice room, the VAE
features easy, intuitive operation, including visual feedback from an LED
display and backlit, 18-button control panel. An optional foot control
provides convenient, hands-free playback and recording."

Searching on google turns up a goodly number of academic papers that take
this all pretty seriously.

[Arny Krueger]

"Soundhaspriority" > wrote in message

> Golden Ears will speak now.
>
> "Arny Krueger" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> http://www.lexiconpro.com/NewsArticle.aspx?ArticleID=111
>>
>>
>> "the VAE creates extraordinary acoustic room simulations
>> with settings that include Baroque Room, Recital Halls,
>> Auditoriums, Cathedral, and Arena. These active acoustic
>> simulations contribute to the sensation of being
>> enveloped - or surrounded - by the sound, and enable
>> musicians to hear themselves as if they were performing
>> inside a particular space. Based on Wenger's revolutionary V-Room®
>> technology,
>> the new VAE offers an integrated music learning
>> environment with active acoustics for "audio virtual
>> reality" simulations and features built-in
>> recording/playback capabilities. The VAE can record up
>> to nine single-track sessions with a 60 minute total
>> recording time. Audio transfer of recordings is possible
>> through the built-in USB connection in standard stereo
>> .wav format (44.1 kHz, 16-bit). Accompaniment music may
>> also be transferred to the VAE via this USB connection.
>> By selecting from the nine active-acoustic settings,
>> musicians can learn how to optimize their performance in
>> different environments. Designed for installation in a Wenger
>> sound-isolated
>> music practice room, the VAE features easy, intuitive operation,
>> including
>> visual feedback from an LED display and backlit,
>> 18-button control panel. An optional foot control
>> provides convenient, hands-free playback and recording."
>
>> Searching on google turns up a goodly number of academic
>> papers that take this all pretty seriously.
>
> Although I couldn't resist taking a swipe at the hype, it
> does sound like a good idea. But I don't understand how
> it works. Do the musicians listen to a headphone feed as
> they perform?

The upgrade to the mjusic practice room is composed of a controller
(apparently developed by Lexicon) some misc electronics and a bunch of tiny
speakers.

> Before shelling out all that money, how close could one
> come by feeding an analog mix of the mike inputs into a
> consumer processor such as the Yamaha HT series, which
> can output the effects through the headphone jacks? The
> Yamaha algorithms are nothing to sneeze at, and do work
> in parallel with the unprocessed LR signal path, meaning
> that latency would not be an issue.

Good question. I have no idea.