Multi-resolution audiovisual representation of sound fields recorded with a 7th-order ambisonic microphone array

As part of the development of an ambisonic microphone array, it is of interest to determine the spatial accuracy required to capture and reproduce a sound field over headphones. A 7th order ambisonic microphone array consisting of 480 MEMS capsules has been developed to capture sound fields with high resolution. This research demonstration allows us to experience the drawbacks of reducing the spatial accuracy of an ambisonic representation obtained with such a prototype. It allows to listen to the captured sound field at different resolutions and to visualize the resulting accuracy in terms of energy over the sphere. The visual information is overlaid on 360 videos to help identify the sound sources around the listener. Such development can find applications in the context of remote monitoring and will enable the study of interactions between auditory and visual cues in the context of Virtual Reality experiences.