Monitor Speaker Arrays for Performer-Specific Spatial Audio Mixes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional in-ear monitors (IEMs) used for providing monitor audio mixes to performers isolate them from ambient sounds, cause ear fatigue, potential hearing harm, and experience connectivity issues, and can fall out during events.
Innovation Solution
A system that generates monitor audio mixes using real-world monitor speaker arrays, dynamically tracks performer locations, and configures soundwaves to provide customized audio streams, employing wave field synthesis for spatial audio rendering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If in-ear monitors (IEMs) are used to provide monitor audio mixes to performers, then performers can hear customized audio mixes, but performers are isolated from ambient sounds, experience ear fatigue, and risk hearing harm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a wireless audio transmission system as an intermediary between the mixing console and the performer's ear. Instead of direct IEM insertion, the system uses wireless transmitters and receivers to deliver audio mixes, eliminating the need for physical ear canal insertion while maintaining audio delivery functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical IEM insertion system with a wireless electromagnetic transmission system. Audio signals are transmitted wirelessly through air to receivers worn by performers, substituting the mechanical contact-based IEM delivery method with a non-contact electromagnetic field-based transmission method.
2Ease of operation
If in-ear monitors (IEMs) are used to provide monitor audio mixes to performers, then performers can hear customized audio mixes, but connectivity issues disrupt the performer's ability to hear themselves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic wireless audio transmission system that can adapt to changing environmental conditions. The system includes multiple transmitters and receivers with automatic connection management, allowing seamless switching between transmission paths to maintain reliable audio delivery despite movement or interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs wireless transmission parameters that can be dynamically adjusted to optimize connectivity. The system modifies transmission power, frequency selection, and signal processing parameters in real-time to maintain stable audio delivery under varying venue conditions and performer movements.
3Ease of operation
If in-ear monitors (IEMs) are used to provide monitor audio mixes to performers, then performers can hear customized audio mixes, but the IEMs can fall out of the performer's ear during the event
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the audio reception function from the ear canal-inserted IEM and relocates it to external wearable devices. Receivers are positioned on the performer's clothing or equipment, eliminating the need for ear canal insertion while maintaining the ability to deliver customized audio mixes.
4Ease of operation
If in-ear monitors (IEMs) are used to provide monitor audio mixes to performers, then performers can hear customized audio mixes, but the ambient sounds of the audience are isolated from the performers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic audio mixing system that adjusts the balance between customized monitor mixes and ambient venue sounds in real-time. Performers can control the mix ratio between wireless transmitted audio and natural ambient sounds, allowing flexibility to hear both their customized mix and the audience environment as needed.
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
Enables performers to hear customized and balanced audio streams in real-time, enhancing performance coherence and reducing the drawbacks of IEMs.
Implementation Method 1
employing wave field synthesis for spatial audio rendering
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and apparatuses can generate one or more monitor audio mixes that are associated with an event being hosted by a real-world venue. These systems, methods, and apparatuses can determine one or more locations of one or more real-world performers within the real-world venue. These systems, methods, and apparatuses can determine one or more parameters, characteristics, and/or attributes for one or more soundwaves that need to be emitted by one or more real-world monitor speaker arrays to provide the one or more monitor audio mixes to one or more locations. These systems, methods, and apparatuses can configure the one or more soundwaves in accordance with these parameters, characteristics, and/or attributes. These systems, methods, and apparatuses can provide these soundwaves having these parameters, characteristics, and/or attributes configured to the one or more monitor speaker arrays to generate the one or more monitor audio mixes to the one or more locations of one or more real-world performers within the real-world venue.