Optimization of loudspeaker installation within monitoring space

Abstract

According to an exemplary aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of generating a report for optimizing installation of a loudspeaker system (100) comprising at least one loudspeaker (101, 102, 103) located in a monitoring space. The disclosed method comprises providing audio data representative of performance of the loudspeaker system (100), performing an analysis (1030) that analytically processes a value of at least one audio parameter (1... n) in the audio data as a result, and outputting (1039) the edited result.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to sound reproduction. In particular, the present disclosure relates to optimizing the installation of loudspeakers that have been calibrated for a specific monitoring space. Background Art

[0002] Calibrating loudspeakers in a monitoring room is generally well known in the art. Conventional calibration procedures generally involve reproducing a test signal with a set of loudspeakers, capturing the reproduced test signal with a microphone, and then analyzing the signal and equalizing the input signal to the loudspeakers to balance out room imperfections that may cause peaks or dips in the frequency response curve. Such a calibration method and system is disclosed in US10924874 B2.

[0003] US2005031135A1 discloses a method and system for statistically optimizing a loudspeaker system for one or more potential listening points. In the method, a test signal is generated using the loudspeaker system, and a transfer function is derived based on the measurement results of the test signal. The transfer function is modified by calculation to simulate different loudspeaker installation configurations, such as positioning or adjustment, to predict the impact of the different configurations on the sound output. In other words, the core concept of US2005031135A1 is to analyze the variables in the selected audio system that theoretically affect the performance.

[0004] US2018359583A1 discloses a system for monitoring a listening room, the system being designed to perform periodic verification measurements to determine that the output of a loudspeaker system has remained constant since installation. The system and method are based on a test signal generated by the loudspeaker system and measuring the output. If the system of US2018359583A1 concludes that the loudspeaker system can no longer produce the original output, the user is alerted to check the listening room and investigate which components have failed.

[0005] Although modern calibration systems are sophisticated and effective, there is still a desire to further optimize a loudspeaker system for the listening room. Summary of the invention

[0006] The invention is defined by the features of the independent claims. Particular embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for generating a report for optimizing the installation of a speaker system, the speaker system comprising at least one speaker installed in a monitored space. The disclosed method comprises the following steps:

[0008] - providing audio data representative of the performance of the speaker system;

[0009] - performing an analysis, comprising: extracting a value of at least one audio parameter from the audio data; comparing the extracted value with a standard database, the standard database containing tolerances for the at least one audio parameter; storing a compliance indication for the corresponding audio parameter if the analyzed value is within a relevant tolerance range; querying a help database for installation recommendations for the value if the analyzed value is not within a relevant tolerance range, and storing a non-compliance indication for the corresponding audio parameter and the relevant installation recommendations; and editing the stored results; and

[0010] - Output the edited results.

[0011] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for generating a report for optimizing the installation of a speaker system, the speaker system comprising at least one speaker located in a monitored space. The disclosed method comprises the following steps:

[0012] - providing a plurality of audio data sets representing the performance of the loudspeaker system in a corresponding plurality of different installations;

[0013] - performing an analysis, which includes: extracting a value of at least one audio parameter from the plurality of audio data sets; comparing each of the values ​​extracted from the plurality of audio data sets with each other and with a predetermined target value; based on the comparison step, selecting as a recommended installation an audio data set having a value of at least one audio parameter closest to the predetermined target value; and compiling a stored result; and

[0014] - Output the edited results.

[0015] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a computing system is provided, comprising a processor and a memory connected to the processor. The memory stores a set of computer-readable instructions, which, when executed by the processor, enable the processor to perform the processing steps described above. The computing system also includes a data communication interface, which is connected to the processor and configured to receive audio data from a sound reproduction system. The computing system also includes a standard database, which is directly or indirectly connected to the processor. The standard database includes a library of tolerances for at least one audio parameter. The computing system also includes a help database, which is directly or indirectly connected to the processor. The help database includes a library of installation change suggestions for multiple preset non-compliances for the tolerances of the at least one audio parameter.

[0016] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable medium is provided, on which a set of computer-readable instructions are stored. When these instructions are executed by at least one processor, the device can perform the processing steps described above.

[0017] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program is provided, which is configured to run the method described above when executed on a computing unit.

[0018] One or more embodiments may include one or more features selected from the following list of features:

[0019] - the analyzing step comprises analyzing a plurality of audio parameters;

[0020] - the analyzing step is performed at least partially in a computing system located outside the speaker system;

[0021] - the computing system is connected to the speaker system via a data communication interface between the computing system and the control system, and the control system is connected to the speaker system;

[0022] - the method comprises a calibration step;

[0023] - the calibration step comprises: in a test signal step, reproducing an audio test signal with at least one loudspeaker;

[0024] - the calibration step comprises: in a listening step, capturing the reproduced audio test signal using a microphone located in the monitoring space;

[0025] - the calibration step comprises: calibrating the speaker system according to the captured audio test signal;

[0026] - the method comprises a second similar calibration step;

[0027] - the audio parameter is selected from the list consisting of: frequency response; -6dB point; transit time; sum of frequency responses of multiple loudspeakers; high cut-off frequency of subwoofer; low frequency roll-off in (full bandwidth) loudspeaker; early to late sound ratio; decay time of room modes; summed response roll-off of subwoofer and (full bandwidth) loudspeaker; early reflection level; and reverberation time (RT60);

[0028] - said outputting step comprises displaying the compliance of each audio parameter with respect to predetermined criteria set for these parameters;

[0029] - The calculating step is performed in an external computing system, such as a cloud-based computing system, and the adjusting step is performed physically in the listening space.

[0030] The inventive concept conveniently optimizes the physical installation of loudspeakers in a listening room with data as a basis. Previously, loudspeakers could be equalized with preset values ​​to mitigate deficiencies due to the physical limitations of the listening room. While a competent professional installer can certainly improve the overall performance of the room and loudspeakers, the inventive concept provides well-reasoned suggestions for installation improvements that do not require prior experience but are based on verifiable data. In addition, it can be determined whether the installation meets specific audio standards. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Certain exemplary embodiments will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0032] Figure 1 A block diagram showing a system for optimizing the installation of a multi-speaker system according to at least some embodiments of the present invention, and

[0033] Figure 2 A flow chart illustrating the main operations of exemplary calibration and analysis steps according to at least some embodiments of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] As used herein, the term "installation" includes, but is not limited to, the actual placement of the loudspeaker in the listening room. The physical parameters of the installation include distance from the chosen listening point, distance from the acoustic center axis, speaker inset, distance from the "back wall", use of sound absorbing material between the loudspeaker enclosure and the supporting surface, type of bracket or mount, etc.

[0035] Figure 1 A simplified block diagram of a system for optimizing the installation of a loudspeaker system 100 in a listening room is shown.A typical loudspeaker system 100 comprises at least two loudspeakers. Figure 1 A first loudspeaker 101, a second loudspeaker 102 and an nth loudspeaker 103 are shown to highlight that the exact number of loudspeakers in the loudspeaker system 100 is not relevant to the present invention.

[0036] The loudspeaker system 100 is controlled by a control system 200 connected to the loudspeaker system 100. The control system 200 may be constructed as a single unit or may be formed by an interconnected network of dedicated devices. An exemplary control system 200 comprises a controller 201, which may be in the form of a tuned amplifier. The controller 201 may be connected to the loudspeakers 101 ... 103 directly by cables or via a network (e.g. a local area network). Such devices are known per se. The control system 200 has a user interface 203 for issuing instructions to the controller 201. The user interface 203 may be in the form of a control panel on the tuned amplifier, a graphical user interface included in the tuned amplifier, or a user interface based on a computer and connected to the controller via a network. Such devices are known per se. In order to access the controller, the control system 200 has a communication interface 202, which should be understood in a broad sense as any galvanic and / or wired or wireless data interface that communicates with the controller 201 and ultimately with the loudspeaker system 100.

[0037] A computing system 400 is also provided for analyzing the performance of the speaker system 100 in a listening room. Figure 1 As shown, the computing system 400 can be an independent cloud processing system or a locally operated processing system connected to the control system 200 via a data network, or it can be integrated into the control system 200, for example, embedded in a memory and operated by a related processor of a controller (not shown). According to the illustrated embodiment, the computing system 400 is a cloud-driven processing unit, which has a communication interface 402, which can be in the form of a communication port open to the Internet or other data networks. The communication interface 402 is directly or indirectly connected to the corresponding communication interface 202 on the control system 200. The communication interface 402 is connected to the processor 401, and the processor 401 can be functionally understood as a locally provided data processing resource, or it can be understood as cloud computing. The processor 401 is connected to the memory 403 for storing the software required for data analysis, which will be described in detail below. The computing system 400 also includes a first database 404, which includes a library of acceptable standards for audio parameters. The library may include one or more standards listed according to one or more standards or other requirements. An exemplary audio quality standard is ITU-R BS.1116, which is a quality recommendation for broadcast services and describes high-precision listening conditions for monitoring applications such as recording studios, post-production and audio editing. In practice, the first database 404 may be contained in the memory 403 or in a remotely accessible memory. Figure 1For purposes of illustration only, the first database 404 is shown as a separate entity. The computing system 400 also includes a second database 405, which includes a library of predefined speaker setting instructions, which are associated with similar predefined non-compliance with the acceptable standards. In practice, the second database 405 can be stored in the same memory as the first database 404, or can also form a part of the first database 404, or vice versa. According to the example shown, the second database 405 is a locally stored or remotely accessible database, separate from the first database 404.

[0038] The computing system 400 may be constructed as a separate unit or may be physically built into the control system 200. If constructed as a separate unit, the computing system 400 may include a signal interface 406, such as a microphone jack or a wireless audio signal interface.

[0039] The listening room is equipped with a microphone 300 for capturing the sound signals generated by the speaker system 100. The microphone 300 can be connected to the controller 201 via the communication interface 202. The connection can be wired or wireless. As an alternative or in addition, the microphone 300 can also be connected to the computing system 400 via the signal interface 406.

[0040] Now according to Figure 2 The flowchart below illustrates the speaker installation process. Figure 2 Shows the use Figure 1 An exemplary analysis process implemented by a system.

[0041] As a first calibration step 1010, the controller 201 drives each speaker 101, 102, 103 of the speaker system 100, either individually or in series, to reproduce a (first) predetermined audio test signal (step 1011). The test signal file may be contained in the memory of the control system 200 or may be accessed remotely. Alternatively, the speakers 101, 102, 103 may also include a locally stored test signal file. Preferably, the controller 201 commands the speakers 101, 102, 103 to perform a "test chirp" individually to avoid interference. After each reproduction of the test signal, the output of the speaker is captured by a microphone 300 placed in the listening room (preferably at an ideal listening point) (step 1012). The captured test signal is stored in a memory (not shown) of the control system 200, or directly in the memory 403 of the computing system 400, or in an external memory connected to either system. After all the loudspeakers 101, 102, 103 or selected ones of the loudspeaker system 100 have produced samples, the audio data is analyzed, which analysis is known per se. The loudspeaker system 100 is then calibrated by the controller 201 (step 1013), which is also known per se.

[0042] After the first calibration step 1010, a second calibration step 1020 may be performed, which includes similar operations to the first calibration step, namely, using the speaker system 100 to reproduce a test signal (step 1021), using a microphone to measure a response (step 1022), and performing calibration based on the test signal data (step 1023).

[0043] Theoretically, more than two calibration steps are possible.

[0044] After the loudspeaker system 100 is calibrated for the listening room being used, the loudspeaker system 100 is optimized within the limits of what can be achieved with equalization. In order to optimize the physical installation of the loudspeakers, either after or before calibration (whether single or multi-stage), an installation analysis is performed (step 1030), which, according to the exemplary embodiment, is performed in a remotely accessed cloud service separate from the control system 200 and the loudspeaker system 100.

[0045] The calibration steps 1010, 1020 will generate an audio data file representing the performance of the loudspeaker system 100 in the current listening room. The audio data file may be pre-processed or may include raw audio data. The audio data is transmitted by the communication interface 202 of the control system 200, received by the cooperative communication interface 402 of the computing system 400, and then the analysis begins (step 1031). The audio data can be streamed between the control system 200 and the computing system 400 using conventional streaming methods, or a recorded audio file, such as a WAV file, can be transmitted using conventional data transmission methods. First, the audio data file is processed to extract a set of audio parameters 1...n from the raw data, or to identify the audio parameters from the pre-processed data. The relevant audio parameters include a conventional frequency response data set, in particular the peaks and dips, -6dB point, transit time, early reflections, early sound, late sound, reverberation time (RT60). These parameters are known per se when extracted from the audio file. Preferably, they are at least the parameters defined in ITU-R BS1116. According to ITU-RBS1116, the quality of the listening conditions is defined at least in part by the level of early reflections (dB), the reverberation time (RT60), the deepest notch of the frequency response below 300 Hz (dB), and the relationship between early and late reflections (dB).

[0046] After the parameters 1...n are determined, the standard database 404 is queried to compare the values ​​of the audio data file with the standards for these parameters 1...n stored in the standard database 404. For example, these standards may be the standards defined in ITU-RBS 1116. Next, in a determination step 1034, it is determined whether the values ​​of the selected parameters 1...n meet the standards.

[0047] If the value is within the tolerance range of the standards database 404, a compliance indication is stored for each value that meets the requirements (step 1035). The compliance indication preferably includes data for the value of a given parameter and an indication of the degree to which the value meets the associated tolerance for that parameter. For example, in this loudspeaker system, the early reflection value of the first loudspeaker 101 is -10.3dB, which is classified as "excellent" according to the tolerance, while the corresponding value of the second loudspeaker 102 is -6.5dB, which is classified as "good".

[0048] If a value is not within the tolerance range specified by the standards database 404, help is sought to improve the physical installation of the loudspeaker so that the loudspeaker complies fully or better with the standards. For each value that exceeds the specifications, the auxiliary database 405 is queried (step 1036). The query can be single-level or involve a series of complex combined conditions. The auxiliary database 405 includes a library of preset installation change suggestions, which are associated with a series of non-compliant values ​​for selected parameters. These suggestions may involve one or more of the following elements: the location of the speaker, the orientation of the speaker (tilt, twist-in), the listening position, the room acoustics, such as the use of damping materials, resonators, diffusers, etc.

[0049] The following sections describe in more detail some practical examples of audio parameter standards and recommended installation changes related to those standards.

[0050] For example, if the tolerance for early reflections is set to -5dB, the library may include predetermined installation change recommendations for those speakers that fail to produce values ​​less than the threshold value of -5dB. Assuming that the second speaker 102 will produce -4.5dB of early reflections, the library may include the following installation change recommendation: "Speaker 102 exhibits a high level of early reflections. This may change the timbre and imaging. The difference in channel distance between the two can be seen from the time difference between the direct sound and the early reflections. Recommendation: To reduce the level of early reflections, there are several options. Move the speaker farther away from the reflective surface, and / or move, rotate, tilt or remove the reflective surface to eliminate early reflections, and / or add sound absorbing or diffusing material to the reflective surface to reduce the level of early reflections.

[0051] As another example, if the tolerance for the sum of the sound pressures of a plurality of loudspeakers is set to -2 dB, the library may include predetermined installation change recommendations for those loudspeakers that fail to produce values ​​greater than a threshold of -2 dB. The threshold in dB is relative to the ideal sum of the sound pressures, which is theoretically 0 dB. The sum of the sound pressures may be calculated for any number of loudspeakers.

[0052] Assuming that the speaker system 100 as a whole produces a sum of -3dB, the library may include the following recommendation for an installation change: "The sound output from these speakers is not adding correctly in phase at all frequencies. This will move or change the sound image in the sound field, and the sound levels at all frequencies may not add correctly, changing the timbre. The reason for the poor summing is that the sound from the left and right speakers is not in phase. This may be due to different transit times of the audio, or the phase response of the speakers is not consistent at all frequencies. Recommendation: Study the acoustic imaging of the speakers. Are you satisfied with the imaging? To improve this, check that the speaker placement and aiming are symmetrical about the left and right axes of symmetry in the room, and that the left and right stereo speaker pairs in the room are at similar distances from acoustically hard surfaces. Are there any asymmetric acoustic reflective surfaces in the room? If these surfaces cannot be moved by rearranging the speakers, try absorbing or diffusing the acoustic reflections. If 'Individual calibration' mode was selected in GLMAutoCal, try using the 'Symmetric' calibration mode."

[0053] As another example, if the tolerance for the upper or high cutoff frequency of a subwoofer is set at 90 Hz, the library may include predetermined recommended installation changes for a subwoofer that cannot produce frequencies above the 90 Hz threshold. Assuming the subwoofer has a cutoff frequency of 80 Hz, the library may include the following recommended installation change: "The subwoofer high corner frequency is too low. The audio level near the high corner frequency may be reduced, affecting the crossover performance of the subwoofer. Reflections from the nearest wall are a typical cause of this type of problem. Recommendation: Try moving the subwoofer closer to the nearest wall. Consider rotating the subwoofer so that the driver faces the wall, as this will more effectively eliminate the effects of reflections from the nearest wall. Please note that recalibration should be performed after moving the subwoofer. When doing so, leave approximately 10 cm (4 inches) of space between the subwoofer and the wall. Acoustic reflections from the side walls in the room can also cause this problem. To address this, try moving the subwoofer closer to a side wall or towards a corner."

[0054] The same advice can be given if the subwoofer experiences a dip in a certain frequency range.

[0055] As another example, if the tolerance for the level of the low frequency notch relative to the average level of the frequency response is set at -10dB, the library may include predetermined installation change recommendations for speakers with low frequency notches greater than -10dB. Assuming a full bandwidth speaker has a low frequency notch of -15dB below 200Hz, the library may include the following installation change recommendation: "We are noticing a large loss (also called a dip) in the sound level below 200Hz. This often gives the impression of insufficient or poor bass response in the system. The dip can be caused by acoustic reflections from the nearest wall (usually behind the speaker). Recommendation: To eliminate this problem, try moving the speaker closer to the wall. Doing so will increase the cancellation frequency to a value where the speaker radiates audio primarily forward, minimizing the effect of the rear wall. Alternatively, move the speaker away from the wall. This will reduce the level of the reflected audio so that the acoustic effect is less noticeable. When using this method, the speakers should be at least 1.1 meters (4 feet) away from the nearest wall. Also consider changing the listening position. This will help if the acoustic problem only occurs in a specific location in the room. If the dip is caused by acoustic reflections from the side walls, the reflection level can be reduced by adding absorbing or diffusing materials to the reflective surfaces. Note that the speakers should be recalibrated whenever they are moved or the listening position is changed. For low frequencies with longer audio wavelengths, a sufficiently thick absorption layer is required. If the dip is caused by reflections from the ceiling and floor, moving the speaker up or down may help. Helmholtz resonator absorbers are an absorption method that is very effective only for specific frequencies."

[0056] As a further example, the library may include predetermined installation change recommendations for a loudspeaker having a reverberation time (RT60) value that is greater or less than a given time for a given frequency at a specific listening volume. The RT60 tolerance may come from an existing recommendation table, such as ITU-R BS.1116. According to the ITU-R recommendation, the average value of the reverberation time Tm measured in the frequency range of 200 Hz to 4 kHz is Tm=0.25(V / V0)1 / 3, where V is the volume of the listening room and V0 is a reference volume of 100 cubic meters. The tolerances vary across the frequency spectrum. For example, at 100 Hz, the positive tolerance for RT60 is +0.3 seconds and the negative tolerance is -0.05 seconds. At 500 Hz, the tolerance for RT60 is plus or minus 0.05 seconds. At 5000 Hz, the tolerance for RT60 is plus or minus 0.1 seconds.

[0057] Assuming a full bandwidth loudspeaker has an RT60 value of 0.95 seconds at 400 Hz, the library might include the following recommended installation changes: "Long reverberation time. When reverberation time is long, the timbre and dynamics in the sound may not be heard correctly. Depending on the listening distance, more reverberant sound may be heard than direct sound. This can result in poor intelligibility of the sound and acoustic masking from reflections. Recommendation: Check the early to late sound ratio in the table below (not shown). If the early sound is more than 3dB higher than the late sound, the direct sound will dominate at that listening position, and the value of the room reverberation time may not be as important. Adding sound absorbing materials to the room can shorten the reverberation time. In doing so, the reverberation time at each frequency should remain similar. The early to late sound ratio can be improved by moving the loudspeaker closer to the listening position, which reduces the importance of the room reverberation time."

[0058] As another example, if the tolerance for the early to late sound ratio is set to 0 dB, ie the late sound level is equal to or greater than the early sound level, the library may contain predetermined installation change suggestions for loudspeakers having early to late sound ratio values ​​below 0 dB. Assuming a value of -1dB for the Early to Late Sound Ratio for a full bandwidth loudspeaker, the library may include the following recommendation for an installation change: "The late sound level in the room dominates the sound characteristics. When the Early to Late Sound Ratio is less than 3dB, the early sound, which consists mainly of direct sound, no longer determines the sound characteristics at the listening position. The reverberation time in the room then also has a large influence on how the sound sounds. When the reverberation of different frequencies is inconsistent and the sound decays more slowly at certain frequencies (called room mode resonances), this can cause severe masking, which can obscure subtle differences in the audio and change the auditory perception of the dynamics of the recorded audio. Recommendation: To resolve this issue, reduce the reverberation in the room and increase the level of direct sound. Adding sound-absorbing materials to the room can reduce reverberation. In some cases, active sound-absorbing materials can also be used. After adding sound-absorbing materials, the decay times of sounds at different frequencies should be similar. To increase the level of direct sound, try moving the loudspeakers closer."

[0059] Other parameters that can be observed include the decay time of room mode resonances, the total response of the subwoofer and full-range speaker, the -6dB point, and the transit time.

[0060] The analysis step may also use multiple parameters using AND and / or OR operators. More specifically, the analysis algorithm may use a primary parameter and a secondary parameter. For example, assuming that the early to late sound ratio is selected as the primary parameter and RT60 is selected as the secondary parameter, the user may know whether to improve the performance of the speaker system 100 by reducing the listening distance or adding damping material in the listening room. The calculation algorithm may determine:

[0061] - If the value of the primary parameter is less than the threshold and the value of the secondary parameter is greater than the threshold, the library will output the following statement: "Your RT60 is high and the early to late sound ratio is low. Please add damping material in your room to reduce RT60."

[0062] - (Otherwise) if the value of the primary parameter is less than the threshold and the value of the secondary parameter is less than the threshold, the library may output the following statement: "Your RT60 is low and the early to late sound ratio is low. Move the speakers or the listening position to shorten the listening distance. This will increase the early to late sound ratio."

[0063] - (otherwise) the library may output the following statement: "Your early to late sound ratio is acceptable".

[0064] For each non-compliant value, a non-compliance indication and associated installation change recommendations are stored (step 1037).

[0065] The results for each parameter 1...n, including those that meet and do not meet the predetermined tolerances, are compiled into a report (step 1038) and then transmitted back to the control system 200 via the communication interface 402, 202 (step 1039) and presented to the user via the user interface 203. The report may display the actual achieved results of the performance of the loudspeaker system 100, or calculated results based on mathematical approximations and / or predictions.

[0066] If all parameters are within specification, the user will receive data-based verification that the loudspeaker installation meets the standard to which the loudspeaker system 100 was tested. However, if the loudspeaker system 100 does not meet specifications in one or more parameters, the user will be informed of changes that can be made to the installation to improve performance. These suggestions are based on measured audio data and improvement scenarios predefined in the auxiliary database 405. With such a tool, the user is more likely to quickly find a well-performing setup than without such data-based assistance.

[0067] After the user has changed the physical installation of the speaker system 100 (eg, by changing the position and / or orientation of one or more speakers in the speaker system), the user may verify the effect of the setup changes by repeating the process.

[0068] As an alternative to predetermined thresholds for a set of audio parameters, a comparable approach is to base the auxiliary algorithm on historical values ​​of a selected set of audio parameters. For example, the system and method can be modified to determine which of a plurality of alternative woofer locations or which distance of a full-range speaker from a rear wall is most appropriate. Another alternative analysis step may first include providing a plurality of audio data sets, each of which represents the performance of the speaker system 100 in a corresponding plurality of different installations, such as the above-mentioned subwoofer or full-range speaker settings. The analysis phase may include extracting the value of at least one audio parameter from the plurality of audio data sets, comparing each value extracted from the plurality of audio data sets to each other and to a predetermined target value, and selecting an audio data set in which the value of at least one audio parameter is closest to the predetermined target value as a recommended installation according to the comparison step. The historical audio data may be stored locally in the speaker, control system, or computing system. The optional calibration phase, data transmission phase between systems, and output phase may be similar to the embodiments of the standard database and historical data.

[0069] Reports are the result of this process and should be understood in a broad sense. Reports can take the form of traditional documents, such as PDF summaries of comprehensive results. Alternatively, reports can take the form of iterative continuous display of information using a graphical user interface, displaying real-time or relatively real-time information. Such functionality can be incorporated into the user interface 203 of the control system 200.

[0070] It should also be noted that the analysis associated with the standard database and historical data embodiment may be performed with or without prior one or more levels of calibration. This means that the installation analysis may be performed independently of conventional room calibration of loudspeaker presets.

[0071] According to another embodiment, the microphone is incorporated into one or more speakers in the speaker system.

[0072] According to an alternative embodiment, the database may be stored locally in the control system, which may or may not perform the processing required for the analysis. In addition, the speaker may also include the processing and / or storage resources required to perform some or all of the analysis.

[0073] It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not limited to the specific structures, process steps or materials described herein, but can be extended to equivalents recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art. It should also be understood that the terms used herein are only used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to be limiting.

[0074] "One embodiment" or "embodiment" described herein means that the specific features, structures or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" appearing in many places herein do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.

[0075] In this article, multiple objects, structural parts, constituent elements and / or materials may appear in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be regarded as each element in the list can be independently regarded as a separate unique element. Thus, each element in such a list should not be regarded as the actual equivalent of any other element in the same list based only on the appearance of each element in a common group without contradictory instructions. In addition, each embodiment and embodiment of the present invention may also relate to substitutes of each component. It should be understood that these embodiments, embodiments and substitutes should not be regarded as actual equivalents of each other, but should be regarded as independent and autonomous expressions of the present invention.

[0076] In addition, the described features, structures or characteristics can be combined together in one or more embodiments by any suitable means. In this article, many specific details (such as examples of length, width, shape, etc.) are proposed to facilitate the understanding of the embodiments of the present invention. However, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be implemented without one or more specific details or with other methods, parts, materials, etc. In addition, known structures, materials or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid making various aspects of the present invention unclear.

[0077] Although the above embodiments illustrate the principles of the present invention in one or more specific applications, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made to the form, use and details of implementation without inventive effort and without departing from the principles and concepts of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.

[0078] The verbs "comprise" and "include" are used in this document as open-ended limitations, which neither exclude nor require the presence of other unlisted features. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the features listed in the dependent claims can be freely combined with each other. In addition, it should be understood that the use of "a", "an" (i.e., the singular form) in this document does not exclude the plural form.

[0079] Reference numerals list

[0080]

[0081]

Claims

1. A method of generating a report for optimizing an installation of a loudspeaker system (100), the loudspeaker system (100) comprising at least one loudspeaker (101, 102, 103) installed in a monitored space, the method comprising: providing audio data representative of the performance of the speaker system (100), An analysis is performed (1030), which includes: - extracting (1032) the value of at least one audio parameter (1...n) from the audio data, - comparing (1033) the extracted value with a standard database (404) containing tolerances for said at least one audio parameter (1...n), - if the analyzed value is within the relevant tolerance range, storing (1035) a compliance indication of the corresponding audio parameter (1 . . . n), - if the analyzed value is not within the associated tolerance range, querying (1036) a help database (405) to obtain installation advice for said value, and storing (1037) an indication of non-compliance for said corresponding audio parameter (1 . . . n) and the associated installation advice, and - editing (1038) the stored results, and The edited result is output (1039).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The analysis (1030) includes analyzing a plurality of audio parameters (1...n).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The analysis (1030) is performed at least in part in a computing system (400) external to the speaker system (100).

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein: The computing system (400) is connected to the speaker system (100) via a data communication interface (202, 402) located between the computing system (400) and the control system (200), and the control system (200) is connected to the speaker system (100).

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The method comprises a calibration step (1010) comprising: In the test signal step, an audio test signal is reproduced (1011) using at least one loudspeaker (101, 102, 103), In a listening step, a microphone (300) located in the monitoring space is used to capture (1012) the reproduced audio test signal, and The speaker system (100) is calibrated based on the captured audio test signal.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The method includes a second calibration step (1020).

7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The audio parameters (1...n) are selected from the list consisting of: Frequency response; -6dB point, Transit time, The sum of the frequency responses of multiple speakers, The high cut-off frequency of the subwoofer, Low frequency roll-off in full bandwidth speakers, The ratio of early and late sounds, decay time of room modes, The combined response of the subwoofer and full-bandwidth speaker drops dramatically. Early reflection levels, and Reverberation time (RT60).

8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The outputting step (1039) comprises displaying the compliance of each audio parameter (1...n) with respect to predetermined criteria set for these parameters.

9. A method of generating a report for optimizing an installation of a loudspeaker system (100), the loudspeaker system (100) comprising at least one loudspeaker (101, 102, 103) located in a monitored space, the method comprising: providing a plurality of audio data sets representing the performance of the loudspeaker system (100) in a corresponding plurality of different installations, An analysis is performed, which includes: - extracting a value of at least one audio parameter from the plurality of audio data sets, - comparing each value extracted from the plurality of audio data sets with each other and with a predetermined target value, - based on the comparison step, selecting as a recommended installation the audio data set having a value of at least one audio parameter closest to said predetermined target value, - edit stored results, and Output the edited results.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein: The method comprises the features recited in any one of claims 2 to 7.

11. A method for optimizing the installation of a loudspeaker system (100), the loudspeaker system (100) comprising at least one loudspeaker (101, 102, 103) located in a monitored space, the method comprising performing the steps of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: If the report includes an installation change recommendation, the recommended physical installation change is made as a reconciliation step.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein: The calculating step according to any one of claims 1 to 10 is performed in an external computing system, such as a cloud-based computing system, and the adjusting step is performed physically in the listening space.

13. A computing system (400), comprising: Processor (401), a memory (403) connected to the processor (401), the memory (403) storing a set of computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the processor (401), enable the processor (401) to perform the processing steps of any one of claims 1 to 7, a data communication interface connected to the processor (401) and configured to receive audio data from the speaker system (100), a standards database (404) directly or indirectly connected to the processor (401), wherein the standards database (404) comprises a library of tolerances of at least one audio parameter (1...n), A help database (405) is directly or indirectly connected to the processor (401), the help database (405) comprising a library of installation change suggestions for non-compliance with a plurality of preset tolerances for the at least one audio parameter (1...n).

14. The computing system (400) of claim 13, wherein: The computing system also includes an interface for outputting a report.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer-readable instructions, which, when executed by at least one processor (401), enable an apparatus to perform the processing steps of any one of claims 1 to 10.

16. A computer program configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 10 when executed on a computing unit.

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