Sound Signal Processing Device for Spatial Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sound field support systems for electronic musical instruments struggle to achieve desired sound field settings, particularly in environments where physical changes to acoustic spaces are not feasible, leading to limitations in sound image localization and spatial expansion.
Innovation Solution
A sound signal processing method and device utilizing a combination of directional and omnidirectional microphones, FIR filters, and a sound signal processor to generate and adjust early reflected and reverberant sound control signals, allowing for precise control of sound levels and delays to create a richer sound image and more spatial expansion, regardless of the space's shape or size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical changes are made to alter reverberation characteristics in a hall, then the acoustic characteristics can be improved, but the facility size and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical mechanical changes to the hall structure (ceiling, walls) with electronic signal processing. Instead of physically altering the acoustic space, the system uses microphones to capture sound and FIR filters to generate virtual reverberation effects, substituting mechanical/acoustic modifications with electronic processing to achieve desired acoustic characteristics without changing the physical facility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the desired acoustic environment through signal processing. By capturing the original sound field with microphones and generating synthesized reverberant sound through FIR filters, the system replicates the acoustic characteristics of an ideal hall without physically constructing such a space, effectively copying the acoustic properties through electronic means.
2Reliability
If sound field support is attempted using conventional microphone processing, then some reverberation effect can be achieved, but the desired sound image localization and spatial expansion are not realized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the reverberation effect into distinct components: early reflected sound and reverberant sound. By separately processing these components through different FIR filters with specific characteristics, the system can precisely control the timing, amplitude, and spatial distribution of sound reflections, enabling accurate sound image localization and spatial expansion that conventional unified processing cannot achieve.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality characteristics to different parts of the sound field. Early reflected sound is processed to create localized directional reflections, while reverberant sound is processed to create diffuse spatial expansion. This local differentiation of processing characteristics enables precise control over sound image positioning and spatial perception in specific regions of the sound field.
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
The solution enables effective sound image localization and spatial expansion, enhancing the subjective impression and controllability of sound fields, even in environments where physical acoustic modifications are not possible, by individually adjusting the balance between early reflected and reverberant sound signals.
Implementation Method 1
generating an early reflected sound control signal by convolving impulse response data of an early reflected sound among the obtained impulse response data into the obtained sound signal
Implementation Method 2
obtaining a sound signal; obtaining impulse response data
Data Source
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AI summary
A sound signal processing method includes: receiving a line-inputted sound signal; controlling a volume of the line-inputted sound signal; and generating an early reflected sound control signal using the line-inputted sound signal having the controlled volume.