Audio Signal Mixing with Dynamic Attenuation to Prevent Overflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional audio-mixing technologies fail to support mixing signals of multiple channels in proportion, leading to issues such as volume loss, overflow, and frequency distortion, and are not suitable for amplifying signals.

Innovation Solution

The method involves extracting signals from each channel in frames, weighting them, adding them proportionally, and applying a variable attenuation factor to prevent overflow while preserving sound quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If signals are directly added and averaged, then overflow is prevented, but volume is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverflow preventionVSAvoidvolume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by using a variable attenuation factor that changes over time based on the maximum absolute value of the mixed signal. Instead of using a fixed attenuation factor, the system dynamically adjusts the attenuation level to prevent overflow while preserving volume, resolving the contradiction between overflow prevention and volume maintenance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of attenuation from a static value to a dynamic value that varies with the signal characteristics. By calculating the maximum absolute value of the mixed signal and using it to determine the attenuation factor, the system adapts the attenuation parameter to maintain both overflow prevention and acceptable volume levels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If signals are directly multiplied by amplification factor, then volume is preserved, but overflow occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevolumeVSAvoidoverflow prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by introducing an attenuation operation before the signal is output. The attenuation factor is calculated in advance based on the maximum absolute value of the mixed signal, and this pre-calculated attenuation is applied to prevent overflow before it can occur, while still maintaining the amplified volume

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Device complexity

If conventional audio-mixing algorithms are used, then simple processing is achieved, but proportional mixing of multiple channels is not supported

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing complexityVSAvoidproportional mixing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends dynamic adjustment to multi-channel proportional mixing by allowing different attenuation factors for different channels. The system dynamically calculates attenuation factors based on the specific requirements of each channel while maintaining the overall mixing proportion, enabling versatile proportional mixing without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3358567B1Sound-mixing processing method, apparatus and device, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2020.07.22 GUANGZHOU KUGOU COMP TECH CO LTD
  • EP3358567B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3358567B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3358567B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A sound-mixing processing method, apparatus and device, and a storage medium. The method comprises: extracting a frame signal sm(n) from a first-path signal and extracting a frame signal vm(n) corresponding to sm(n) from a second-path signal which needs to perform sound-mixing with the first-path signal, where n represents the number of sampling points (110); performing weighting processing on the signals sm(n) and vm(n) respectively, and adding the two frame signals after weighting processing to obtain a mixed signal ym(n) (120); and computing a variable attenuation factor according to a maximum value ymax of a sequence of the mixed signal ym(n), and using the variable attenuation factor to perform attenuation processing on the mixed signal ym(n) to generate an output signal Zm(n) (130).