Coordinate Systems

In HOLOPHONIX, positions are identified using their Cartesian or angular coordinates

Cartesian coordinates xyz
Angular coordinates aed (azimuth, elevation and distance)

The orientation of a source, as in navigation, is identified by three rotation angles [-180°, +180°]:

  • Yaw: rotation around the vertical Z axis.
  • Pitch: rotation around the lateral X axis.
  • Roll: rotation around the frontal Y axis.
Orientation in Holophonix
Rotation around axes in Holophonix (original by André Huppertz)

Note that these coordinate systems differ from international navigation conventions:

  • The x-axis and y-axis are rotated 90° counterclockwise so that the x-axis points forward (positive front, negative rear) and the y-axis is lateral (positive left, negative right): this means “roll” is along the X axis and “pitch” along the Y axis.
  • The azimuthal rotation angle is counterclockwise and the angle from the vertical z-axis is preferred over elevation. These are spherical coordinates.
Rotation around axes according to international convention (original by André Huppertz).