Multichannel Audio Signal Down-Mixing for Binaural Rendering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing binaural rendering methods face challenges in performing real-time calculations for high-quality multichannel audio signals with a large number of channels, such as 10.2 and 22.2 channels, especially on mobile terminals with limited calculation capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves down-mixing the input multichannel audio signal to a lower number of channels and then performing binaural rendering, which reduces the computational load required for binaural filtering. This can be achieved through a channel down-mixing unit and a binaural rendering unit that utilize sub-sampling based on virtual or 3D loudspeaker layouts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If binaural rendering is performed directly on high-quality multichannel audio signals with a large number of channels, then audio quality is improved, but computational complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio signal processing into two distinct stages: first down-mixing the multichannel audio signal to a lower channel configuration, then performing binaural rendering on the reduced signal. This segmentation separates the high-complexity binaural rendering operation from the high-channel-count data, reducing computational complexity while preserving audio quality through the intermediate down-mixed representation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary down-mixing action before binaural rendering to reduce the number of channels that require processing. By performing this preparatory action in advance, the subsequent binaural rendering operation operates on a simplified signal with fewer channels, significantly reducing the computational burden while maintaining the essential audio characteristics.
2Measurement precision
If the number of channels in the audio signal increases, then audio quality is improved, but real-time processing capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The processing pipeline is segmented into a down-mixing stage that handles high-channel-count signals and a binaural rendering stage that operates on reduced signals. This segmentation enables real-time processing by ensuring that the computationally intensive binaural rendering step receives input with a manageable number of channels, thus maintaining both audio quality and processing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The down-mixing operation is performed as a preliminary action before binaural rendering, reducing the channel count to a level that enables real-time processing. This preparatory step ensures that subsequent processing operations can proceed in real-time on mobile terminals with limited computational capabilities while still delivering high-quality audio output.
3Measurement precision
If binaural filtering is applied to all channels of a multichannel audio signal, then rendering accuracy is improved, but calculation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the channel processing by first reducing the total number of channels through down-mixing, then applying binaural filtering only to the reduced set of channels. This segmentation maintains rendering accuracy for the essential audio information while significantly reducing calculation time by eliminating redundant filtering operations on channels that are combined or eliminated during the down-mixing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The down-mixing operation is performed as a preliminary action that reduces the number of channels before binaural filtering is applied. This preliminary reduction in channel count directly decreases the calculation time required for subsequent binaural filtering operations, as fewer channels require processing while the essential spatial information is preserved through the down-mixing operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for processing a multichannel audio signal. A multichannel audio signal processing method may include: generating an N-channel audio signal of N channels by down-mixing an M-channel audio signal of M channels; and generating a stereo audio signal by performing binaural rendering of the N-channel audio signal.