Object-Based Audio Decoder Effects Without Explicit Decoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing object-oriented decoders have limited capabilities for manipulating audio objects without explicit decoding, which is costly and inefficient, and they do not allow for a wide range of manipulations.
Innovation Solution
An audio decoder that applies effects to estimated audio signals based on parametric data, allowing for various manipulations without the need for explicit object decoding, using effect means to generate modified down-mix audio signals which are then decoded and rendered, incorporating MPEG Surround standard parameters for efficient processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If explicit decoding of individual audio objects is performed to enable manipulation, then the range of manipulations is improved, but the computational cost and processing time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the down-mix signal to apply effects, rather than decoding the original audio objects. The effect is applied to a copied signal path, allowing manipulation without full decoding of individual objects. This resolves the contradiction by enabling effects through signal copying rather than expensive object decoding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies effects to the down-mix signal before the decoding stage. By performing the effect application in advance (preliminarily) on the compressed down-mix signal, the system enables manipulation capabilities without waiting for expensive decoding to occur, thus reducing computational cost while maintaining versatility.
2Productivity
If effects are applied to the down-mix signal before decoding, then computational cost is reduced, but the precision of effect application to individual objects may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies parameters of the down-mix signal (such as spatial parameters, volume, equalization) to achieve the desired effect. By changing these parameters on the compressed signal, the system maintains processing efficiency while achieving sufficient precision for the intended manipulations without requiring full object decomposition.
3Device complexity
If a limited set of manipulations is implemented in the decoder, then device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability for different audio processing needs is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal effect application mechanism that can handle multiple types of audio effects (reverb, delay, distortion, etc.) through a single processing stage. The effect means is designed to be multi-functional, accepting different effect types while maintaining a relatively simple decoder structure, thus achieving versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
An audio decoder (100) comprising: effect means, decoding means, and rendering means. The effect means (500) generate modified down-mix audio signals from received down-mix audio signals. Said received down-mix audio signals comprise a down- mix of a plurality of audio objects. Said modified down-mix audio signals are obtained by applying effects to estimated audio signals corresponding to audio objects comprised in said received down-mix audio signals. Said estimated audio signals are derived from the received down-mix audio signals based on received parametric data. Said received parametric data comprise a plurality of object parameters for each of the plurality of audio objects. Said modified down-mix audio signals based on a type of the applied effect are decoded by decoding means or rendered by rendering means or combined with the output of rendering means. The decoding means (300) are arranged for decoding the audio objects from the down-mix audio signals or the modified down-mix audio signals based on the parametric data. The rendering means (400) are arranged for generating at least one output audio signal from the decoded audio objects.