Feedback Delay Network Reverb With Low-Cost Weighted Summing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital reverberation technologies are costly and resource-intensive, making them unsuitable for cost-sensitive applications, despite offering superior sound quality, while traditional spring reverberators lack the quality of digital solutions.
Innovation Solution
A cost-effective artificial reverberation apparatus using a feedback delay network with integrated digital delay circuits, analog summing amplifiers, and weighted feedback, which reduces the number of delay lines and computational resources while maintaining high audio quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If digital electronic reverberators are used, then sound quality is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reverberation system is segmented into multiple independent delay lines (typically 3-7) with individual feedback paths. Each delay line processes a portion of the reverberation, allowing the system to achieve complex acoustic effects while using simpler, lower-cost components compared to a monolithic digital signal processor approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The delay lines are designed to be multi-functional, serving both as delay elements and as part of the feedback network. The same hardware infrastructure supports multiple reverberation algorithms and configurations, reducing overall system cost while maintaining high sound quality across different operational modes.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple filter types are employed to overcome inherent deficiencies, then sound quality is improved, but computational resources and memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple filter types (comb filters, all-pass filters, and low-pass filters) are merged into a unified delay line architecture. The feedback network integrates these different filter functions within the same hardware structure, achieving comprehensive sound quality improvement without proportionally increasing computational resource requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Feedback paths are implemented for each delay line, allowing the system to recirculate and process signals multiple times through the same hardware. This feedback mechanism enables complex reverberation effects to be achieved with simpler, less resource-intensive filter implementations, as the repeated processing through feedback compensates for the reduced complexity of individual filter stages.
3Manufacturing precision
If DSPs or microprocessors are used for high-speed arithmetic processing, then reverberation quality is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical/digital signal processing systems with an analog-based delay line architecture using operational amplifiers and passive components. This substitution eliminates the need for expensive DSPs or microprocessors while maintaining high reverberation quality through carefully designed analog feedback networks and delay elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses inexpensive, simple operational amplifier circuits and passive components (resistors, capacitors, inductors) instead of costly digital signal processors. While individual components are simple and low-cost, their strategic arrangement in feedback networks creates sophisticated reverberation effects, achieving high quality at reduced cost.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a compact, high-quality reverberation effect with minimal engineering effort and reduced memory requirements, achieving a balance between digital and analog technologies to meet the needs of both cost and sound quality.
Implementation Method 1
Artificial reverberation simulates the ambience of a sound within an enclosed space... Reverberation is commonly added to audio signals to increase the listener's perception of ambience and spaciousness
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for artificial reverberation having one or more input summing nodes receiving an input signal and which each feed a first series of delay elements and the output of which is thereafter summed, weighted, and fed back to the input summing nodes. Also, a feedback summing node which further feeds a second delay element which feeds an output with a signal which has multi-dimensional or multi-delay reverberation relative to the input signal. An alternative embodiment further feeds one or more of the first delay element outputs weighted via an output gain to an output summing node which also sums the output of the second delay element and provides a summed output having a multi-dimensional or multi-delay reverberation. The embodiment is easily and economically implemented via conventional integrated electronic circuits, a combination of analog and digital electronics, digital signal processors, microprocessors, micro-controllers, or computer algorithms.