Audio Level Mapping for Uniform Background Music Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sound provision systems in public areas like shopping centers, airports, and cruise ships often fail to maintain consistent music volume levels, leading to uneven sound distribution and localized sound intensity, causing discomfort for listeners due to conventional compression techniques and excessive loudspeaker density.
Innovation Solution
A device that regulates audio signal levels to ensure uniform volume across all music styles and genres, using an audio compressor with dynamic processing to maintain consistent sound quality and intensity, thereby optimizing the acoustic emission behavior of sources to cover larger areas with fewer loudspeakers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional compression and maximization techniques are used to increase loudness, then the perceived loudness of music tracks is improved, but the uniformity of sound provision across different areas and the pleasantness of background music deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting compression ratios, threshold levels, and attack/release times based on the musical content and desired output loudness. This allows the system to maintain pleasant background music characteristics while achieving consistent perceived loudness across different tracks and locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic processing with time-varying compression parameters that adapt to the instantaneous characteristics of the audio signal. This dynamic approach preserves the natural dynamics and pleasantness of background music while ensuring uniform loudness perception across different areas.
2Area of stationary object
If many loudspeakers are installed at close distances to achieve comprehensive sound provision, then the coverage area is improved, but the sound quality deteriorates due to overlapping sounds, agglomerations, propagation time differences, and phase shifts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-processing the audio signals with compression and maximization techniques before distribution to multiple loudspeakers. This preliminary optimization of the audio content ensures that the signals are well-suited for multi-speaker playback, reducing the negative effects of overlapping and phase shifts while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
3Illumination intensity
If peak levels of audio signals are capped to allow quieter portions to seem louder, then the overall loudness is improved, but audible distortion increases in the frequency range between 17 kHz and 20 kHz
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using multi-band compression that treats different frequency ranges differently. This allows the system to apply appropriate compression to each frequency band, maintaining overall loudness while preserving the accuracy of the frequency response, including the high-frequency range above 17 kHz.
4Stability of the object's composition
If three-band compression is used to regulate energy peaks in different frequency bands, then the loudness uniformity is improved, but audible down-pumping effects increase that are noticeable to radio listeners
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic processing with carefully optimized attack and release times that adapt to the characteristics of the audio signal. This dynamic approach maintains loudness uniformity across different bands while minimizing audible down-pumping effects by ensuring smooth transitions and avoiding excessive gain changes.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus (100) having an input (11, 12, 15, 16) and an output (13, 14, 17, 18) and having an effect device with volume-regulated audio signals from an audio file or audio source, wherein the audio signals have input levels at an input of the effect device and output levels at an output of the effect device. In order to achieve background sound which is as optimal as possible, the invention proposes that each input level is assigned to a preset output level irrespective of the content of the audio file or audio source, wherein the input level is regulated to the output level.