Multichannel Audio Directional Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to effectively convey directional sound information from multichannel audio signals, especially when played back over inadequate loudspeaker systems or headphones, leading to a loss of information for users.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves receiving multichannel audio input, performing time-frequency transformations, determining directional sound activity vectors, and displaying these vectors as graphical representations within sub-divisions of space to visualize sound activity levels, allowing for intuitive sound direction inference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multichannel audio is played back over an appropriate sound system with correct loudspeaker configuration, then directional information is delivered properly to the listener, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a visualization device as an intermediary between the audio system and the user. This device processes multichannel audio signals and generates visual representations of sound directions, allowing users to perceive directional information without requiring a complex proper loudspeaker configuration. The visualization device acts as a mediator that translates acoustic spatial information into visual form that can be understood regardless of the actual loudspeaker setup.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy or representation of the acoustic field. Instead of requiring the physical presence of properly configured loudspeakers to convey directional information, the system generates visual images that replicate the spatial distribution of sound sources. This visual copy allows users to perceive sound directions even when the physical audio system is inadequate.
2Device complexity
If multichannel audio is played back over inadequate loudspeaker systems or headphones, then the system remains simple and accessible, but directional information is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The visualization device serves as an intermediary that recovers lost directional information from inadequate audio systems. It processes the audio signal to extract spatial cues and presents them visually, compensating for the information loss that occurs when multichannel audio is played back over headphones or insufficient loudspeaker systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms acoustic parameters (sound pressure levels across multiple channels) into visual parameters (brightness, position, or size of visual indicators). This parameter transformation allows directional information to be perceived through a different modality (visual instead of acoustic), making it accessible even when the acoustic delivery system is inadequate.
3Device complexity
If volume meters are used to display sound power level of each channel, then the display is simple, but precise sound direction information cannot be conveyed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional volume meters (displaying only amplitude) to two-dimensional or spatial visualizations that encode both amplitude and directional information. The visual representation incorporates spatial positioning, angular distribution, or directional vectors, adding dimensional information that allows precise sound direction to be conveyed while maintaining visual simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for visualizing a directional sound activity of a multichannel audio signal, comprising:receiving input audio channels, spatial information being associated with each one of said channel,performing a time-frequency transformation of said input audio channels,for each one of a plurality of frequency sub-bands, determining a directional sound activity vector from said transformed input audio channels,determining a contribution of each one of said directional sound activity vectors within sub-divisions of space on the basis of directivity information related to each sub-divisions of space,for each sub-division of space, determining directional sound activity level within said sub-division of space by summing said contributions within said sub-division of space,displaying a visualization of the directional sound activity of the multichannel audio signal by a graphical representation of directional sound activity level within said sub-division of space.