Multi-Channel Audio Format Conversion via Direction Parameters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for converting between different multi-channel audio formats are limited to specific configurations, failing to provide a universal solution for arbitrary input and output representations, which results in degraded reproduction quality when converting between various loudspeaker setups.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that derive an intermediate representation with direction parameters for a spatial audio signal, allowing conversion between arbitrary multi-channel representations by redistributing audio signal portions based on these parameters, enabling adaptation to any loudspeaker configuration without prior knowledge of the target setup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional conversion methods are used between specific multi-channel formats, then conversion can be performed for predetermined configurations, but the system lacks universality and cannot handle arbitrary input and output representations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate representation that serves as a universal mediator between arbitrary input and output multi-channel formats. This intermediate format includes direction parameters for each audio channel, allowing any format to be converted to this universal intermediate form and then to any target format, thereby achieving universality without requiring separate conversion methods for each format pair.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation by introducing direction parameters (azimuth and elevation angles) for each audio channel in the intermediate representation. This parameter transformation allows the system to describe audio sources in a universal coordinate system, enabling conversion between any loudspeaker configurations by simply changing the mapping parameters rather than requiring complex format-specific conversion logic.
2Reliability
If format-specific conversion methods are used, then conversion can be performed for known configurations, but reproduction quality degrades when converting between arbitrary loudspeaker setups
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate representation with direction parameters acts as a quality-preserving mediator that captures the spatial information of audio sources independently of the target loudspeaker configuration. By converting to this intermediate form first, the system preserves the original spatial relationships and then accurately redistributes the audio signals to match any target configuration, maintaining high reproduction quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis to extract direction parameters (azimuth and elevation) of audio sources before conversion to the target format. This preliminary action of characterizing the spatial distribution of audio sources allows the conversion process to accurately reconstruct the spatial impression in the target configuration, ensuring high reproduction quality regardless of the input and output format differences.
3Adaptability or versatility
If arbitrary multi-channel formats are converted using a universal method, then adaptability is improved, but the computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio signal processing by separating the spatial analysis (extracting direction parameters) from the format conversion (redistributing channels based on target configuration). This segmentation allows the complex task of arbitrary format conversion to be broken down into manageable steps: analyze spatial parameters once, then apply format-specific mapping, reducing overall computational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The conversion complexity is reduced by changing to a parameter-based representation where audio sources are described by direction parameters (azimuth, elevation) rather than fixed channel assignments. This parameter transformation simplifies the conversion process to a matter of coordinate transformation and signal redistribution, which is computationally more efficient than format-specific matrix operations for arbitrary configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
An input multi-channel representation is converted into a different output multi-channel representation of a spatial audio signal, in that an intermediate representation of the spatial audio signal is derived, the intermediate representation having direction parameters indicating a direction of origin of a portion of the spatial audio signal; and in that the output multi-channel representation of the spatial audio signal is generated using the intermediate representation of the spatial audio signal.