6DoF Spatial Audio Rendering Outside Microphone Array
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spatial audio capture techniques face challenges in rendering accurate spatial audio for locations outside the microphone array's coverage area, particularly with 6 degrees of freedom systems, due to difficulties in accommodating both short and long wavelengths within a single microphone array.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus and method involve obtaining multiple audio signal sets from microphone arrays, determining a listener position, and calculating modified metadata and audio signals for a second listener position located outside the microphone array's defined region. This allows for the interpolation of audio signals and metadata to maintain spatial audio accuracy beyond the array's boundaries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a high-end microphone array like Eigenmike is used for linear spatial audio capture, then spatial audio rendering quality is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive high-end microphone arrays with inexpensive mobile phone microphones. Instead of relying on complex hardware, the solution uses software-based parametric spatial audio capture that can achieve satisfactory spatial rendering quality using simple, widely available microphones found in mobile devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical/physical complexity of large-scale microphone arrays with a computational approach. Parametric spatial audio capture uses signal processing algorithms to synthesize spatial audio characteristics, replacing the need for complex physical microphone arrangements with mathematical models and software processing.
2Measurement precision
If linear spatial audio capture is implemented, then spatial sound separation is improved, but adaptability to different microphone arrangements is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal spatial audio capture method that works across different microphone arrangements. Parametric spatial audio capture can process signals from various microphone configurations (stereo, omnidirectional, mobile phone microphones) and adaptively extract spatial parameters, making the system versatile and compatible with multiple hardware setups rather than requiring a specific microphone array geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from fixed linear spatial processing to adaptive parametric processing. Instead of applying predetermined linear transformations specific to certain microphone arrays, the system dynamically estimates spatial parameters (direction, distance, elevation) from the audio signals themselves, allowing adaptation to different microphone configurations through parameter estimation rather than fixed mathematical relationships.
3Measurement precision
If parametric spatial audio capture is used with compact microphone arrangements, then spatial audio rendering is improved for single position, but 6DoF mobility is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds the dimension of listener mobility by implementing 6DoF (six degrees of freedom) spatial audio rendering. The system processes parametric spatial audio data to enable listeners to move freely in three-dimensional space (x, y, z coordinates) and rotate their heads (azimuth and elevation angles), transforming static single-position spatial audio into dynamic multi-position 6DoF spatial audio that maintains rendering quality across different listener positions and orientations.
4Measurement precision
If microphone array size is increased to capture long wavelengths, then low frequency spatial accuracy is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the physical requirement of large microphone arrays with computational methods. Instead of using numerous widely-spaced microphones to naturally capture long wavelength acoustic information, the system uses signal processing algorithms to estimate low-frequency spatial parameters from compact microphone arrangements, substituting mathematical processing for physical array expansion.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for generating a spatialized audio output based on a listener position, the apparatus including circuitry configured to: obtain two or more audio signal sets; obtain a listener position within an audio environment, wherein the audio environment includes one or more area having one or more inside and outside regions in relation to the respective audio signal set positions; obtain metadata based on a processing of the at least two audio signals; determine, for the listener position within an audio environment outside the inside region, a second listener position; determine modified metadata for the second listener position based on the metadata; determine at least two modified audio signals for the second listener position based on the at least two audio signals; determine spatial metadata for the listener position; and output the at least two modified audio signals and the spatial metadata.