Audio Mixer Reference Gain Adjustment for Echo Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conferencing systems face challenges with echo cancellation due to the need for manual gain adjustments in mixers, which are computationally intensive and prone to errors based on installer skill, leading to echo issues and poor audio quality.
Innovation Solution
A system with an automatic reference gain adjuster that dynamically adjusts the gain of a reference input channel based on echo levels, using a coherence estimator and reference gain calculator to minimize echo signals in mixed audio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual gain adjustments are used in mixers for echo cancellation, then echo can be reduced, but the system becomes computationally intensive and prone to errors based on installer skill
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment of reference gain automatically without requiring installer intervention. The reference gain adjuster continuously monitors echo levels and autonomously adjusts the reference gain parameter, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating dependency on installer expertise while maintaining effective echo cancellation
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the reference gain adjuster continuously monitors echo levels in the mixed audio signal and uses this information to automatically adjust the reference gain. This closed-loop feedback system dynamically optimizes echo cancellation without requiring manual intervention or complex computational processing
2Device complexity
If acoustic echo cancellers are placed after the mixer, then processing is simplified, but the system works poorly due to constant re-adaptation needs
Solution Approach 1:
The reference gain adjuster performs preliminary adjustment of the reference gain parameter before the audio signals are mixed and processed by the echo canceller. By pre-optimizing the reference signal level based on monitored echo conditions, the system eliminates the need for constant re-adaptation during operation, maintaining stable and reliable echo cancellation performance
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for automatically adjusting a reference gain of an audio mixer having a reference channel for receiving a far end audio signal from a remote location as a reference signal and a plurality of audio input channels for receiving audio signals captured by a plurality of microphone element. An exemplary method includes determining an echo level in an input audio signal received at a given audio input channel, and automatically determining a gain amount for the reference channel based on the echo level. An exemplary system includes a reference gain adjuster configured to automatically determine a gain amount for the reference channel based on an echo level detected in an input audio signal received at a given audio input channel.