PyBinSim

This is an adapted version of pyBinSim which runs as a local audio processing server. The client sends audio packets via a TCP connection managed by the ZeroMQ library. PyBinSim applies binaural simulation processing, according to the spatial information delivered in the packet. The audio is then sent back to the client, completing a request-reply communication model.

Install

Extract the audictive.zip file in place.

Let's create a virtual environment. Use either Python or Conda to do this and then use pip to install the dependencies.

Windows

Assuming you are using the default command line (navigate to pyBinSim/ folder in Explorer, click into the address bar, type cmd and hit enter).

python

$ <PathToPython >= 3.6> -m venv venv
$ venv/Scripts/activate.bat
$ pip install pybinsim

For Powershell, the activation command is venv/Scripts/Activate.ps1.

conda

$ conda create --name binsim python>=3.6 numpy pyzmq
$ conda activate binsim
$ pip install pybinsim
$ pip install pyfftw
$ pip install scipy

Linux

On linux, make sure that gcc and the development headers for libfftw and portaudio are installed, before invoking pip install pybinsim.

For ubuntu

$ apt-get install gcc portaudio19-dev libfftw3-dev

For Fedora

$ sudo dnf install gcc portaudio19-devel fftw-devel

python

$ <PathToPython >= 3.6> -m venv venv
$ source venv/bin/activate
$ pip install pybinsim

conda

$ conda create --name binsim python>=3.6 numpy
$ conda activate binsim
$ pip install pybinsim

Run

Create pyBinSimSettings.txt file with content like this

soundfile signals/test441kHz.wav
blockSize 512
filterSize 16384
filterList brirs/filter_list_kemar5.txt
maxChannels 2
samplingRate 44100
enableCrossfading True
useHeadphoneFilter False
loudnessFactor 0.5
loopSound False

Start Binaural Simulation

import pybinsim
import logging

pybinsim.logger.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)    # defaults to INFO
#Use logging.WARNING for printing warnings only

with pybinsim.BinSim('pyBinSimSettings.txt') as binsim:
    binsim.stream_start()

Description

Basic principle:

Depending on the number of input channels (wave-file channels) the corresponding number of virtual sound sources is created. The filter for each sound source can selected and activitated via OSC messages. The messages basically contain the number index of the source for which the filter should be switched and an identifier string to address the correct filter. The correspondence between parameter value and filter is determined by a filter list which can be adjusted individually for the specific use case.

Config parameter description:

soundfile:

Defines *.wav file which is played back at startup. Sound file can contain up to maxChannels audio channels. Also accepts multiple files separated by '#'; Example: 'soundfile signals/sound1.wav#signals/sound2.wav

blockSize:

Number of samples which are processed per block. Low values reduce delay but increase cpu load.

filterSize:

Defines filter size of the filters loaded with the filter list. Filter size should be a mutltiple of blockSize.

maxChannels:

Maximum number of sound sources/audio channels which can be controlled during runtime. The value for maxChannels must match or exceed the number of channels of soundFile(s).

samplingRate:

Sample rate for filters and soundfiles. Caution: No automatic sample rate conversion.

enableCrossfading:

Enable cross fade between audio blocks. Set 'False' or 'True'.

useHeadphoneFilter:

Enables headhpone equalization. The filterset should contain a filter with the identifier HPFILTER. Set 'False' or 'True'.

loudnessFactor:

Factor for overall output loudness. Attention: Clipping may occur

loopSound:

Enables looping of sound file or sound file list. Set 'False' or 'True'.

OSC Messages and filter lists:

Example line from filter list: 165 2 0 0 0 0 brirs/kemar5/kemar_0_165.wav

To activate this filter for the third channel (counting starts at zero) for your wav file you have to send the following message to the pc where pyBinSim runs (port 10000):

/pyBinSim 2 165 2 0 0 0 0

When you want to play another sound file you send:

/pyBinSimFile folder/file_new.wav

Or a sound file list

/pyBinSimFile folder/file_1.wav#folder/file_2.wav

The audiofile has to be located on the pc where pyBinSim runs. Files are not transmitted over network.

Demos

Check the https://github.com/pyBinSim/AppExamples repository for ready-to-use demos.

Troubleshooting

For Unity integration:

• 'cannot reshape array' error: may arise when Unity sends audio buffers with different size to those expected by pyBinSim. DSP buffer size in Unity can be changed under Project Settings > Audio ('Good Latency' mode corresponds to pyBinSim's default of 512 samples).

Reference:

Please cite our work:

Neidhardt, A.; Klein, F.; Knoop, N. and Köllmer, T., "Flexible Python tool for dynamic binaural synthesis applications", 142nd AES Convention, Berlin, 2017.