Digital Modeling of Analog Audio Hardware Using Formant-Based Filters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for digitally modeling analog audio hardware devices are inefficient, consume excessive CPU resources, and fail to replicate the unique sonic characteristics of analog hardware, as they either replace analog devices with software models that are inefficient or offload processing to external devices, losing the real-time interaction effects.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses a computing device with an analog-to-digital converter, processor, and memory to measure baseline and waveform characteristics of analog audio hardware, creating a digital model that mimics the sonic characteristics by calculating FIR and IIR filter coefficients, allowing for efficient digital processing that replicates the analog audio hardware's sonic traits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If software models replace analog audio hardware devices, then the devices can be integrated into computer-based audio production workflows, but the CPU overhead becomes excessive and processing efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional software modeling approaches with a hardware-based measurement system that uses an analog-to-digital converter and processor to capture and analyze the electrical characteristics of analog audio devices. This substitution of the modeling mechanism with a measurement-based approach enables efficient digital representation without excessive CPU overhead.
2Productivity
If digital signal processing is offloaded to an external digital processing device, then processing load on the computer is reduced, but the unique sonic characteristics resulting from real-time interaction of electronic components are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary measurement and characterization of the analog audio device's electrical characteristics using an analog-to-digital converter and processor. By capturing the baseline impulse response and frequency response in advance, the system preserves the unique sonic characteristics in a digital model that can be processed efficiently without losing the original device's audio signature.
3Ease of manufacture
If analog audio processing devices are modeled by analyzing circuit schematics and building models based on electronic components, then the modeling process can be performed without external measurement equipment, but the unique sonic characteristics resulting from real-time interaction of components are not captured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the analog audio device to serve itself by having its own electrical characteristics measured and captured through the analog-to-digital converter and processor. The device under test becomes part of the measurement system, allowing its unique sonic characteristics to be automatically characterized without requiring external measurement equipment or manual circuit analysis.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables efficient digital modeling of analog audio hardware, reducing CPU overhead and effectively replicating the sonic characteristics of analog devices, facilitating seamless integration into computer-based audio production workflows.
Implementation Method 1
A system and method that uses a computing device with an analog-to-digital converter, processor, and memory to measure baseline and waveform characteristics of analog audio hardware
Data Source
AI summary
A system for digitally modelling analog devices having a processor executing an executable code to select a baseline calibration signal, receive a digitized audio from an analog device having parameters with incremental controls for the parameters, wherein the digitized audio is the baseline calibration signal processed with the incremental control of the first parameter set at a neutral setting, determine a baseline impulse response of the analog device, select an incremental signal, receive a plurality of incremental audios, wherein each incremental audio corresponds to the incremental signal processed by the analog device with a unique setting of the incremental control for the first parameter, derive formant-based filters for each of the incremental audios, and construct a digital model of the analog device based on the baseline impulse response of the analog device and the plurality of formant-based filter representations of the plurality of incremental audios.