Audio Spectral Shaping for Clearer Multi-Signal Mixing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional audio mixing systems often fail to ensure that all audio signals are effectively heard by listeners, as they may reduce the magnitude of certain signals, leading to incomplete comprehension or failure to detect modifications in the frequency spectrum.
Innovation Solution
Spectrally shaping audio signals by modifying their frequency spectra, specifically by reducing the magnitude of certain frequency bands in one audio signal based on the frequency bands of another signal, and adjusting the magnitude of corresponding frequency bands in the second signal to match or complement the first, thereby improving the likelihood that all signals are heard and maintaining the original acoustic level of the mixed audio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the magnitude of certain audio signals is reduced to accommodate other signals, then the mixed signal can include multiple audio signals, but the reduced signals may not be heard or comprehended by the listener
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by modifying the frequency spectrum of specific audio signals in a localized manner. Instead of uniformly reducing the magnitude of all signals, the system identifies specific frequency bands where spectral overlap occurs and applies magnitude reduction only to those particular frequency portions. This allows the mixed signal to include multiple audio signals while preserving the comprehensibility of each signal in its non-overlapping frequency regions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the magnitude of audio signals is reduced to prevent spectral overlap, then spectral compatibility is improved, but the acoustic level of the mixed signal decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the magnitude parameter of audio signals in the frequency domain. The system analyzes the frequency spectra of multiple audio signals, identifies overlapping frequency bands, and modifies the magnitude parameter only in those specific frequency regions. This selective parameter modification maintains spectral compatibility while preserving the overall acoustic level of the mixed signal, as non-overlapping frequency portions retain their original magnitudes.
3Loss of information
If spectral shaping is applied to maintain signal comprehensibility, then listener perception is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the frequency spectrum of audio signals into discrete frequency bands or frequency ranges. The system analyzes the spectrum of each audio signal, identifies specific frequency bands where spectral overlap occurs with other signals, and applies magnitude reduction only to those segmented frequency portions. This segmented approach to spectral shaping improves signal comprehensibility while managing processing complexity by focusing computational resources only on problematic frequency regions rather than processing the entire spectrum uniformly.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described herein that are capable of spectrally shaping audio signal(s) for audio mixing. Spectrally shaping an audio signal means modifying a frequency spectrum of the audio signal. A frequency spectrum of an audio signal is a representation of the audio signal in the frequency domain. For instance, a frequency spectrum may be represented using multiple frequency bands. The frequency spectrum may be modified by modifying characteristic(s) (e.g., magnitude, phase, etc.) one or more of the frequency bands.