Abstract
Spatial audio displays represent a promising method of conveying directional information, but have generally been implemented using tones and other stimuli that may limit user acceptance. As a first step toward evaluating the utility of spatializing complex auditory stimuli, we asked participants in three experiments to localize the source of sounds varying in content (musical, vocal, or noise), speaker location (±45°, ±90°, or headphones), and volume level. The sounds were processed using two methods to simulate nine source locations from 40° left to 40° right. Participants' responses generally followed the virtual location of the source; participants made correct left vs. right judgments and significant differences were seen between most adjacent locations. Importantly, localization abilities were unaffected by the content of the auditory stimuli. These results support the continued examination of spatializing musical stimuli to convey directional information while minimizing boredom and fatigue.
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