Headphone Sound Localization for Head-Tracked Guitar Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing headphones fail to effectively control the localization of sound images for mixed musical sounds based on user head orientation, leading to suboptimal listening experiences, especially when combining real-time performance sounds with reproduced sounds.
Innovation Solution
A headphone system with integrated control parts and speakers that adjust sound image localization based on user head orientation, utilizing wireless communication for inputting different musical sounds and applying head transfer functions to simulate cabinet speaker outputs, allowing independent control of sound localization for each musical sound.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If headphones output mixed sounds from multiple sources (smartphone and musical instrument), then the quantity of sound sources increases, but the control of sound image localization becomes complex and difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sound image localization control into separate channels for each sound source. The localization control unit independently processes the smartphone sound signal and the musical instrument sound signal, applying different head transfer functions to each. This segmentation allows multiple sound sources to be handled without increasing overall system complexity, as each source is managed through its own dedicated processing path.
2Ease of operation
If the sound image localization is fixed regardless of head orientation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the listening quality deteriorates when the user moves their head
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic sound image localization that automatically adjusts according to the user's head orientation. The head orientation detection unit continuously monitors head position, and the localization control unit dynamically modifies the head transfer functions applied to each sound source based on the detected orientation. This dynamic adaptation maintains high listening quality during head movements while keeping the operation simple and automatic.
3Measurement precision
If different head transfer functions are applied to different sound sources, then the sound image localization accuracy improves, but the signal processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal head transfer function set that can be selectively applied to different sound sources based on their spatial characteristics. Rather than requiring completely separate processing chains, the system uses a shared library of head transfer functions that serve multiple purposes. The localization control unit selects and applies appropriate functions from this universal set to each sound source, achieving high localization accuracy while avoiding the complexity of entirely separate processing systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling sound signals for mixing a backing sound and a guitar sound. The method includes configuring a user terminal to: receive a first input instruction selected from a plurality of available input instructions, where the plurality of available input instructions include a first instruction to transmit a signal of the backing sound; to provide the signal of the backing sound to a wireless communication device in response to the first input instruction being the first instruction to transmit the signal of the backing sound; and to control the wireless communication device to convert the signal of the backing sound to a first wireless signal and transmit the first wireless signal to a sound output device for mixing the signal of the backing sound and a signal of the guitar sound provided from the sound output device.