Genelec redefines listening through headphones with its Aural ID software

Aural ID works by acquiring each person's unique acoustic attributes to create detailed modeling of their unique anatomical characteristics that affect hearing.

Genelec just announced the availability of its new software Aural ID, based on a new technology that represents an important step forward to improve fidelity when listening through headphones.

Aural ID works by acquisition of exclusive acoustic attributes of each person to create a detailed modeling of their unique anatomical characteristics that affect hearing, which can then be compensated for, allowing for the delivery of more truthful and reliable sound, when headphones are used for playback.

Recognizing that traditional “one size fits all” headphone reproduction cannot provide a reliable and suitable reference for audio professionals, Aural ID calculates the head-related transfer function (Head Related Transfer Function o HRTF) personal of each user. The HRTF describes the acoustic properties of the head, upper torso, and outer ear, elements that interact in complex ways to affect the sound that reaches the eardrums. Thus, Aural ID calculates these elements and creates a personal data file that characterizes the modification of the sound that arrives from any azimuth and elevation. Thus, this file allows an audio device to accurately reproduce stereo or surround content through headphones.

Until now, collecting personal HRTF information has been a complex and time-consuming process requiring the use of an anechoic room, the placement of measurement microphones at the entrance to the user's ear canals, and careful attention to the setup and details of the procedure, with multiple measurements. However, even after these steps have been carefully followed, the data collected is less comprehensive than what can be obtained with auditory identification and may still be prone to errors.

In contrast, Genelec's Aural ID software simply requires the user to provide a 360-degree video of their head and shoulder region, requiring only a mobile phone equipped with a high-quality camera. Once the video is made, the user can upload it to Genelec's web-based calculation service; The calculation process will first produce an accurate and detailed 3D model scaled exactly to the correct dimensions of the head and upper torso, paying particular attention to modeling the outside of the ears. After this, the acoustic fields are calculated and analyzed numerically using a full-wave method, to capture the acoustic phenomena in detail.

Los Acoustic fields are calculated for hundreds of different orientations in which the audio signal reaches the ear, which makes up the HRTF; finally, the data is compiled into a SOFA file that can be downloaded; This is an audio file format that has been defined and standardized by the Audio Engineering Society (AES). This maximizes the technical compatibility of the HRTF data file, since the SOFA format is supported by many virtual reality (VR) and gaming playback devices.

In fact, Genelec believes that those working in academic research, immersive audio monitoring, VR and game development will likely be the first to adopt the new Aural ID technology.

Siamak Naghian, CEO of Genelec, comments: "Just as our monitor speakers have set the sonic benchmark for professional audio monitoring, and GLM calibration software revolutionized the way studio monitors could be optimized for any acoustic environment, we are determined to help provide standards of sonic authenticity for playback through headphones. With the growing number of audio professionals relying on room monitors and headphones, Aural ID from “Genelec represents an important step forward for the use of headphones for audio reference listening and monitoring.”

The Genelec Aural ID service can now be purchased online at a price of €500 through the Genelec Community website.