Multi-Channel Audio Processing with Scene-Aware Down-Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional audio signal processing systems struggle to generate a three-dimensional (3D) audio signal with channels arranged in front of the listener, providing immersive sound experiences, especially in home environments, and require efficient down-mixing of reconstructed 3D audio signals to stereo formats.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that identify the audio scene type, determine down-mixing-related information, and process multi-channel audio signals by using neural networks to down-mix and reconstruct audio signals based on dialogue and sound effect types, incorporating additional weight parameters for mixing between channels, and transmit down-mixed audio signals with corresponding information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If 3D audio channel layout is arranged in front of the listener, then immersive sound experience is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic down-mixing processing that adapts to different audio scene types (dialogue, music, sound effects) in real-time. The system dynamically selects down-mixing parameters and processing methods based on the detected scene type, allowing the channel layout to transition between 3D immersive mode and 2D stereo mode as needed, thus resolving the contradiction between immersive experience and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes down-mixing parameters (weighting factors, mixing ratios) based on audio scene type detection. For dialogue scenes, different down-mixing parameters are applied compared to music or sound effect scenes. This parameter adaptation allows the system to maintain immersive 3D audio quality when needed while simplifying to 2D stereo for compatibility, resolving the complexity issue.
2Adaptability or versatility
If down-mixing processing is performed on 3D audio signals, then compatibility with stereo audio is improved, but loss of information occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary down-mixing processing specifically tailored to the detected audio scene type before final stereo conversion. By pre-processing the 3D audio signal with scene-appropriate down-mixing parameters, the system preserves critical spatial and spectral information that would otherwise be lost in generic down-mixing, thus maintaining both stereo compatibility and audio information integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different down-mixing strategies to different frequency ranges and spatial locations within the audio signal based on scene type. For example, dialogue frequencies are preserved with higher priority than background music frequencies. This localized quality preservation ensures that essential audio information is retained during the transition from 3D to 2D format.
3Measurement precision
If audio scene type identification is implemented, then processing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial scene type identification by detecting only the dominant audio scene type (dialogue, music, or sound effects) rather than analyzing all possible audio characteristics. This selective detection approach achieves sufficient processing precision for down-mixing purposes while avoiding the excessive complexity of comprehensive audio analysis, thus resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for processing audio includes at least one processor configured to obtain a down-mixed audio signal from a bitstream, to obtain down-mixing-related information from the bitstream, to de-mix the down-mixing-related information by using down-mixing-related information, and to reconstruct an audio signal including at least one frame based on the de-mixed audio signal. The down-mixing-related information is information generated in units of frames by using an audio scene type.