title: Binaural dereverberation based on interaural coherence histograms.
abstract: A binaural dereverberation algorithm is presented that utilizes the properties of the interaural coherence (IC) inspired by the concepts introduced in Allen et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 62, 912-915 (1977)]. The algorithm introduces a non-linear sigmoidal coherence-to-gain mapping that is controlled by an online estimate of the present coherence statistics. The algorithm automatically adapts to a given acoustic environment and provides a stronger dereverberation effect than the original method presented in Allen et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 62, 912-915 (1977)] in most acoustic conditions. The performance of the proposed algorithm was objectively and subjectively evaluated in terms of its impacts on the amount of reverberation and overall quality. A binaural spectral subtraction method based on Lebart et al. [Acta Acust. Acust. 87, 359-366 (2001)] and a binaural version of the original method of Allen et al. were considered as reference systems. The results revealed that the proposed coherence-based approach is most successful in acoustic scenarios that exhibit a significant spread in the coherence distribution where direct sound and reverberation can be segregated. This dereverberation algorithm is thus particularly useful in large rooms for short source-receiver distances.
authors: National Acoustic Laboratories, Australian Hearing, 16 University Avenue, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia. adam.westermann@nal.gov.au
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Westermann
authors: Jörg M
authors: JM
authors: Buchholz
authors: Torsten
authors: T
authors: Dau
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000162:Acoustics; D000465:Algorithms; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009038:Motion; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D013016:Sound; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013067:Speech Perception; D013997:Time Factors; D014732:Vibration