Bass Management via Impulse Response Tuning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio systems face challenges in effectively managing bass reproduction, as the interaction between loudspeakers and the room can lead to undesirable interference phenomena that standard signal re-routing cannot address, affecting the overall bass performance.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for configuring an audio system to control bass reproduction properties by obtaining impulse responses or transfer functions of each loudspeaker channel and determining parameters for audio processing blocks, including gain factors, delays, and all-pass filters, to minimize spatial variability and ensure in-phase operation of loudspeaker channels in the bass and crossover frequency bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard signal re-routing is used to direct bass content to appropriate loudspeakers, then bass management is achieved, but undesirable interference phenomena occur due to loudspeaker and room interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by measuring the actual acoustic response of the loudspeaker system in the room using impulse responses and transfer functions, then using this measured data to adjust and optimize the bass management parameters. This closed-loop approach compensates for room interactions and interference phenomena that cannot be predicted by standard signal re-routing alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters by determining optimal parameters for audio processing blocks (such as crossover frequencies, phase alignment, and gain adjustments) based on measured impulse responses and transfer functions. This allows the system to adapt to specific room acoustics and loudspeaker characteristics, minimizing interference phenomena while maintaining reliable bass reproduction.
2Loss of information
If bass content is redirected to bass-capable loudspeakers, then directional information is preserved, but spatial variability of frequency response increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by determining parameters for audio processing blocks specifically tailored to each loudspeaker channel based on its measured impulse response and transfer function. This allows each bass-capable loudspeaker to be optimized individually for its position in the room, maintaining directional information while reducing spatial variability through localized parameter adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a method for controlling bass reproduction properties of a multichannel audio system, wherein the audio system has inputs for at least two audio input signals and includes a set of loudspeakers, including at least one bass-capable loudspeaker and at least two high-range loudspeakers, each loudspeaker being associated with a loudspeaker channel. The method includes obtaining impulse responses or transfer functions that represent the sound reproduction properties of each loudspeaker channel at a number of measurement or control positions. The method also includes tuning, when the audio system includes more than one bass-capable loudspeaker, loudspeaker channels of at least two bass loudspeakers to each other so that their sum impulse response has minimum spatial variability, and/or controlling high-range loudspeaker speaker channels to be in-phase with each other and/or with bass-capable loudspeaker channel in a crossover frequency band.