Multi-Band Audio Normalization for Sudden Volume Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video content distribution methods, particularly those involving broadcast networks and dynamic ad insertion, often result in sudden volume changes that can be unpleasant for individuals with PTSD, hearing aids users, and those with autism, as conventional volume adjustment techniques fail to effectively mitigate these issues without causing clipping or reducing quiet audio portions to inaudible levels.
Innovation Solution
A system that dynamically normalizes and compresses audio in video streams by splitting audio into multiple bands based on decibel levels, determining acceptable ranges using national hearing data and other standards, and generating a second audio track for playback, which can be selected by users to maintain audio integrity and reduce loud noises while enhancing quiet portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional audio processing techniques are used to reduce volume changes, then loud noises are reduced, but quiet audio portions are reduced to inaudible levels
Solution Approach 1:
The audio signal is divided into multiple frequency bands using a filter bank, allowing independent processing of different frequency ranges. This segmentation enables the system to apply different compression ratios to different bands, preserving quiet portions while reducing loud noises without affecting the entire audio spectrum uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different audio processing parameters to different frequency bands based on their specific characteristics. Each band can have its own compression ratio, attack time, and release time, allowing localized optimization that preserves important audio information while reducing harmful volume changes in specific frequency ranges.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic ad insertion is used to insert advertisements, then content distribution is improved, but sudden volume changes occur that are unpleasant for users with disabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-processes the audio signal by creating multiple frequency band components before the actual ad insertion occurs. This preliminary segmentation allows the audio normalization system to quickly apply appropriate compression settings when advertisements are inserted, reducing sudden volume changes without compromising the ability to distribute diverse content including ads.
3Ease of operation
If manual volume adjustment is used to control audio levels, then user control is improved, but the complexity of operation increases and does not effectively mitigate volume changes during ad insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The audio normalization system automatically detects and processes volume changes in real-time without requiring manual user intervention. The system self-adjusts compression parameters based on the detected audio characteristics and pre-established normalization rules, effectively mitigating sudden volume changes during ad insertion while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for improved processing audio in a video stream. A system may split audio in a frame of video content into multiple bands based on their audio levels. The system may then dynamically compress and dynamically normalize the audio level in each band. When dynamically compressing the bands, the system may determine, based on stored information, what audio level range is acceptable for an end user and may smooth and maintain the ranges of the audio to be within the acceptable range. The system may include the dynamically normalized and dynamically compressed frames as a second audio track in the video content. A computing device receiving the video content may select the second audio track during playback. If an end user selects the second audio track, the video is delivered with the modified sound of the second audio track.