Envelopment

A spatial descriptor in audio assessment. Degree of being surrounded by a source, scene or ensemble. Typically, envelopment is associated with a scene. Being surrounded by reverberation would be considered highly enveloping. Being surrounded by a large number of dry sources may also be highly enveloping. This may be heard when standing and listening to the rain hitting the pavement. Envelopment may occur with reverberation or other aspects of the scene such as applause in a concert hall, atmosphere or air conditioning (room tone). Holes (an absence of sound from a certain directions) in the reproduction would normally reduce envelopment. Envelopment may be subdivided into horizontal and vertical envelopment. Scale applied in listening tests: Scale: Not enveloping – Completely enveloping.