Spatial Audio Rendering Gain Control for Smooth Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spatial audio rendering techniques struggle to smoothly transition between interior and exterior representations of audio elements, particularly when the listener is above or below the audio element's extent, leading to instability and audible artifacts due to rapid speaker system orientation changes.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining top and bottom gain values based on the vertical distance between the listener and the audio element's extent, allowing for independent attenuation of the rear, top, and bottom hemispheres of the speaker system to create a natural transition, ensuring sound appears to come from within the extent when the listener is close to its surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the speaker system orientation is changed rapidly to transition between interior and exterior representations, then the transition can be achieved, but instability and audible artifacts occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the speaker system orientation changeable and adjustable based on the listener's position relative to the audio element extent. The system dynamically transitions between interior and exterior representations by adjusting the orientation of virtual speakers, allowing smooth adaptation to different listening scenarios without fixed rigid configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters including the orientation angles of virtual speakers and gain values of speaker hemispheres based on the listener's vertical distance from the audio element. By continuously adjusting these parameters, the system achieves smooth transitions between rendering modes while maintaining stability and avoiding audible artifacts
2Productivity
If the speaker system orientation changes rapidly, then transition between interior and exterior representations is achieved, but sudden orientation changes cause audible artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through continuous monitoring of the listener's position and periodic adjustment of speaker orientation and gain parameters. This ensures smooth, controlled transitions that prevent sudden changes while maintaining responsive adaptation to the listener's movement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by gradually adjusting speaker orientation and gain values before complete transition between interior and exterior representations. This cushioning effect prevents sudden orientation changes and audible artifacts by smoothing the transition process
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the rear hemisphere is attenuated when the listener is close to the extent surface, then natural transition is achieved, but the speaker system alignment becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the speaker system alignment adjustable based on the listener's position. The system dynamically adjusts the orientation of virtual speakers and attenuation of hemispheres, allowing natural transitions while maintaining stability through continuous adaptation rather than fixed rigid alignment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters including the attenuation gain values of different speaker hemispheres and the orientation angles of virtual speakers based on the listener's vertical distance from the audio element surface. This continuous parameter adjustment enables natural transitions while preventing alignment instability
Data Source
AI summary
A method for rendering an audio element. The method includes at least one of the following steps: (1) determining a top gain value (G_top) for a top part of an interior representation of the audio element based on L and T, where L is the vertical distance between a reference plane and a listening point and T is a vertical distance between the reference plane and a topmost point of an extent of the audio element or (2) determining a bottom gain value (G_bottom) for a bottom part of the interior representation of the audio element based on L and B, where B is a vertical distance between the reference plane and a bottommost point of the extent of the audio element.