Object-Based Audio Decoding With Parametric Effect Processing
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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 rendering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If explicit decoding of individual audio objects is performed, then manipulation capabilities are improved, but computational cost and processing time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the down-mixed audio signal to apply effects, rather than decoding the original individual objects. This copy is processed through effect means while the original decoding path remains intact, enabling manipulation without explicit object decoding and thus maintaining computational efficiency while improving versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the audio processing into separate functional blocks: decoding means for extracting objects from down-mixed signal, effect means for applying manipulations, and combining means for merging results. This segmentation allows effects to be applied to the down-mixed signal copy without requiring full explicit decoding of all objects, balancing manipulation capability with computational efficiency
2Adaptability or versatility
If effects are applied to decoded audio objects, then manipulation range is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by applying effects to a copy of the down-mixed audio signal rather than directly to decoded objects. This intermediary processing path enables a wider range of manipulations including insert effects and send effects without requiring complex modifications to the core decoding structure, thus improving manipulation range while controlling device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The effect means block is designed as a universal processing unit that can handle multiple types of audio effects (insert effects, send effects, spatial effects) through a single integrated structure. This multi-functional design improves manipulation range without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same effect means can serve multiple manipulation purposes
3Ease of operation
If individual audio objects are explicitly decoded, then object manipulation is enabled, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary decoding of the down-mixed audio signal to extract individual audio objects and their parameters before applying effects. This preliminary action creates a ready-to-process structure where objects are identified and separated, enabling subsequent effect application without requiring re-decoding, thus facilitating ease of operation while minimizing additional processing time
Data Source
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.