Object-Based Audio Rendering with Dual Limiters Against Clipping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing object-based audio rendering technologies struggle with clipping issues due to sound volume interference between audio objects, particularly when a listener's distance affects the sound volume of one object based on another, leading to incorrect volume changes.
Innovation Solution
Implement a modified MPEG-I immersive audio renderer with multiple limiters and a mixer to allocate limiters to each audio object and render item, ensuring independent clipping prevention for each, followed by a second limiter to further safeguard against clipping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single limiter is used for object-based audio rendering, then clipping prevention is simplified, but sound volume integrity of individual audio objects is compromised due to interference from other objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the audio rendering system into multiple independent limiters, with each limiter dedicated to a specific audio object or render item. This segmentation allows each limiter to independently control the volume of its assigned audio object without interference from other objects, thereby maintaining sound volume integrity while preventing clipping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mixer as an intermediary component between the multiple limiters and the final output. The mixer combines the limited audio signals from multiple objects while preserving the independent volume control achieved by each limiter, enabling both individual object integrity and overall mixture management.
2Measurement precision
If distance-based volume adjustment is applied to audio objects, then spatial realism is improved, but clipping occurs due to volume interference between multiple objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies distance-based volume adjustment before the limiting stage. Each audio object's volume is first adjusted according to its distance from the listener, and then the dedicated limiter for that object prevents clipping. This preliminary spatial adjustment maintains realism while the subsequent limiting prevents distortion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different volume adjustments to different audio objects based on their individual distances from the listener. Each object receives localized volume treatment independent of other objects, allowing spatial realism for each object while preventing inter-object interference through dedicated limiters.
3Reliability
If multiple limiters are allocated to each audio object, then sound volume integrity is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the limiter structure universal by allocating one limiter to each audio object and render item, creating a standardized pattern that can handle any number of objects. This universal approach simplifies the overall system architecture compared to custom solutions for each object, while maintaining reliable clipping prevention for all objects simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
A rendering method of an object-based audio signal and an apparatus for performing the same are provided. The rendering method of an object-based audio signal includes obtaining a rendered audio signal, performing clipping prevention on the rendered audio signal using a first limiter, mixing a signal output by the first limiter using a mixer, and performing clipping prevention on the mixed signal using a second limiter.