Name
On Auditory Envelopment: An Undervalued Percept
Date & Time
Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Description

This paper explores the concept of auditory envelopment (AE), which may have a stimulating effect similar to affective touch—a sensation linked to specialized C-tactile nerve fibers and modulated by non-neural pathways. AE, distinct from listener envelopment (LEV) in acoustical engineering, is defined and examined through studies involving individuals aged 6 to 90. Participants identified abstract sounds between 40 and 700 Hz, with AE inducement being the sole variable. Remarkably, across ages, descriptions of AE were consistent, suggesting it is a fundamental percept, possibly developed during gestation. The findings suggest AE might be a previously underestimated aspect of pro audio and challenge the notion that "hearing is first to come, last to go," proposing instead that "the feeling of AE" could be foundational. Practical implications include challenges in AE control across recording, mixing, distribution, and reproduction, with public theatres providing a more reliable environment for AE compared to domestic setups. The paper is research-based and non-commercial.

Technical Depth of Presentation
Intermediate
Take-Aways from this Presentation

Present definition and novel studies on Audiotory Envelopment (AE) as an attractive qualia. Compare AE to a recently discovered socializing percept, affective touch. Exhibit AE bottlenecks in recording, mixing, distribution and playback of audio. Discuss decades of misleading studies and use of bass management in consumer audio, and the potential of immersive theatres for taking more advantage of this perceptual void. Machine learning risks trivializing AE and its potential effects.