The Use of Virtual Reflectors to Improve Speech Intelligibility in Open Stage Auditoria

A potential problem encountered with open stage auditoria is poor speech intelligibility arising from the directional nature of human speech sources. The conventional technique of employing large overhead reflecting surfaces to ensure a large early energy fraction to improve intelligibility is shown to be unsuitable in this situation. The use of Virtual Reflectors consisting of microphones and loudspeakers symmetrically located relative to the stage is proposed as a possible solution to the problems of open stage auditoria. It is suggested that the Speech Transmission Index is a suitable parameter for assessing the performance of Virtual Reflectors when in use and that computer modelling could provide a suitable method for investigating the action of Virtual Reflectors.