Auditory space expansion via linear filtering

A signal-processing algorithm that modifies the interaural time delays associated with directional sources is described. Signals received at two microphones are processed by four linear filters arranged in a lattice configuration to produce two outputs, one for each ear. Since the processing is linear, the method is equally applicable to single or multiple directional sources. The filters are designed to minimize the average squared error between a user specified desired space warping function and the actual warping function that they implement. Two classes of filters are considered: filters whose frequency response is unconstrained and filters constrained to be causal with finite impulse response. In both cases the solution of the least-squares problem is given and properties of the actual space warping function are examined. Perceptual experiments and analysis of acoustic waveforms are utilized to demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm. Extension of this method for utilizing more than two microphones is described.