Audio Effect Metadata Parsing for Immersive Soundfield Manipulation
Solution Overview
Problem
Current audio technologies face challenges in accurately manipulating and reproducing three-dimensional soundfields, particularly in immersive formats like object-based and scene-based codecs, where user interaction and content creator intentions are not fully supported, leading to suboptimal audio experiences.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for manipulating soundfields by parsing metadata within a bitstream to apply audio effects such as focus, zoom, rotation, and translation, allowing users to interactively modify the soundfield and enabling content creators to encode intended effects, which can be applied during production or consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If surround sound formats encode audio in 2D and/or 3D to provide immersive audio experiences, then audio reproduction quality is improved, but bit rate requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio signal into discrete audio objects, each with independent spatial parameters. This allows selective encoding of spatial information only where needed, rather than encoding entire soundfields at high resolution, thereby reducing overall bit rate while maintaining immersive audio quality for critical elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different encoding precision to different audio objects based on their importance and spatial characteristics. Critical audio objects receive higher precision spatial encoding, while less important elements use lower precision, optimizing the balance between audio reproduction quality and bit rate consumption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If object-based and scene-based codecs are used to support multi-directional and immersive reproduction, then audio immersion is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary spatial encoding and metadata generation during the audio production phase. By pre-calculating and embedding spatial parameters, transformation matrices, and effect metadata in the bitstream, the decoding device receives ready-to-render data, significantly reducing the computational complexity required at the playback end while maintaining immersive audio capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces structured metadata as an intermediary between the audio signal and the rendering process. This metadata layer carries spatial parameters, effect identifiers, and transformation information, allowing the decoder to apply complex spatial transformations without requiring complex real-time processing, thus reducing device complexity while preserving audio immersion.
3Ease of operation
If metadata is encoded and transmitted to support audio effect manipulation, then user interaction capability is improved, but data transmission requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential spatial parameters and effect metadata needed for user interaction from the full audio signal. By identifying and transmitting only the critical transformation parameters, effect identifiers, and spatial coordinates required for manipulation, rather than the complete audio data, the system enables robust user interaction capability while minimizing additional data transmission requirements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If audio effects are applied during decoding to manipulate soundfield, then audio manipulation flexibility is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary encoding of audio effects and spatial transformations during the audio production phase, embedding effect metadata and transformation parameters in the bitstream. This allows the decoding device to apply pre-planned effects efficiently without requiring complex real-time processing, thereby maintaining audio manipulation flexibility while minimizing processing time delays.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for manipulating a soundfield are presented. Some configurations include receiving a bitstream that comprises metadata and a soundfield description; parsing the metadata to obtain an effect identifier and at least one effect parameter value; and applying, to the soundfield description, an effect identified by the effect identifier. The applying may include using the at least one effect parameter value to apply the identified effect to the soundfield description.