Audio Calibration Gain for Consistent Simulated Reality Loudness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Simulated reality applications lack programmatic control over the loudness of virtual objects during real-world playback due to variations in audio playback hardware, and end-user adjustments can further disrupt the intended sound levels.
Innovation Solution
A software development kit (SDK) provides an application programming interface (API) that calculates and applies a total calibration gain and relative distance gain to audio signals in real-time, ensuring consistent loudness across different hardware devices and distances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the same digital audio asset is played back on different hardware devices, then the playback can be achieved, but the playback loudness varies due to different audio amplifiers, speaker drivers, and acoustic design
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts audio parameters (gain values) based on the detected hardware device characteristics. Different calibration gain values are applied depending on the audio amplifier, speaker driver, or headphone type detected, transforming the fixed audio output into an adaptive parameter-adjusted output that maintains consistent loudness across diverse hardware platforms
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the audio playback system detects the actual hardware being used and adjusts the gain accordingly. This closed-loop approach ensures that the playback loudness is continuously monitored and corrected to match the intended reference level, compensating for variations in amplifier and transducer characteristics
2Ease of operation
If end users manually adjust the volume dial, then the volume can be changed according to user preference, but the intended sound level set by the author is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration gain system acts as an intermediary layer between the author's intended sound level and the final audio output. This intermediate gain adjustment ensures that even when users make manual volume changes, the base calibration maintains the author's intended acoustic characteristics, allowing user preferences to be expressed without compromising the foundational sound level design
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies the calibration gain in advance, before the user makes any manual volume adjustments. This preliminary calibration establishes the correct sound level foundation, ensuring that subsequent user volume changes are applied on top of a properly calibrated baseline rather than disrupting the intended acoustic design
3Manufacturing precision
If the author specifies the desired sound level, then the intended loudness can be controlled, but the system complexity increases due to additional calibration calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration system performs self-service by automatically detecting the hardware device type and selecting the appropriate calibration gain values without requiring manual intervention from the author. The system self-configures based on the detected audio amplifier, speaker driver, or headphone characteristics, reducing the operational complexity while maintaining precise sound level control
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration gain values are pre-computed and stored in lookup tables during system development, before the actual playback occurs. During runtime, the system simply retrieves the appropriate pre-calculated gain values based on the detected hardware type, avoiding the need for complex real-time calculations and reducing the operational complexity of sound level control
4Adaptability or versatility
If virtual objects are positioned at different distances from the listening position, then the spatial audio experience is enhanced, but the sound level varies with distance
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the calibration gain based on the virtual distance of audio objects from the listening position. As objects move closer or farther away in the virtual 3D space, the gain values are continuously adjusted to compensate for the distance, maintaining consistent perceived loudness while preserving the spatial positioning and depth cues that create the immersive audio experience
Data Source
AI summary
An application programming interface, API, and its implementing functions provide software code that can be incorporated into a simulated reality application and that determine a total calibration gain that is to be applied during run time of the application, to the audio signal of a particular digital audio asset that has been selected by the author of the simulated reality application. The total calibration gain includes at least a loudness correction gain that is determined based on a user-specified sound level parameter indicated through the API by the author. Other aspects are also described and claimed.