Audio Signal Attenuation via Pre-Spatialization Loudness Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital audio systems face challenges in applying dynamic compression without introducing latency when spatializing audio signals, as the loudness of the signal is unknown until after spatialization, and look ahead methods can result in undesirable artifacts.
Innovation Solution
A method that calculates the magnitude and perceived loudness of audio signals before spatialization to modify the draw-away curve, allowing for attenuation based on acoustic characteristics of the virtual space, thereby preventing hardware damage and maintaining a pleasant listening experience without latency or artifacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If look ahead dynamic compression is applied to spatialized audio signal, then loud sounds are prevented from damaging hardware and sound level is controlled, but latency is introduced and audible artifacts occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic compression to the audio signal before spatialization, using preliminary loudness estimation to predict the required attenuation. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare appropriate gain adjustments in advance, avoiding the need for look-ahead processing after spatialization and thereby eliminating latency while still protecting hardware from loud sounds
2Ease of operation
If look ahead dynamic compression is applied to spatialized audio signal, then sound level is controlled pleasantly, but audible artifacts are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary loudness estimation and applies compression adjustments before spatialization, ensuring that gain control is established in advance. This preliminary action prevents the need for aggressive look-ahead processing that would introduce audible artifacts, while still achieving pleasant sound level control through the draw-away curve modification
3Reliability
If draw-away curve is modified based on pre-spatialization loudness estimation, then hardware is protected and pleasant listening experience is provided, but additional processing complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces preliminary loudness estimation as an additional processing step before spatialization. This preliminary action enables the system to modify the draw-away curve based on estimated loudness, providing hardware protection and pleasant listening experience while maintaining manageable processing complexity through efficient algorithms
Data Source
AI summary
Spatializing audio can include determining a draw-away curve of an audio signal and modifying the draw-away curve based on a strength of the audio signal. The strength can be determined prior to spatializing the audio signal. The audio signal can be attenuated or modified based on the modified draw-away curve. The attenuated or modified audio signal can be spatialized. Other aspects are described and claimed.