Spatially Extended Sound Source Synthesis Using Sector Variance Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current audio signal processing technologies fail to realistically reproduce spatially extended sound sources, particularly when parts of these sources are occluded or when listeners move freely in 3D environments, leading to issues like frequency damping and altered timbre.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves an apparatus and method for synthesizing spatially extended sound sources by storing and processing rendering data for limited spatial sectors, using variance and covariance data related to head-related functions, and applying selective spatial weighting to simulate the sound impression of a diffuse field, incorporating occlusion effects and distance attenuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If point source rendering is used, then device complexity is reduced, but realism of spatially extended sound sources deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spatially extended sound source is segmented into multiple elementary spatial sectors, each with its own rendering parameters. This allows the system to model complex spatial distributions while maintaining computational efficiency through sector-based processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes rendering parameters by introducing variance and covariance data for different spatial sectors, allowing dynamic adjustment of sound source characteristics based on listener position and occlusion conditions without requiring complete remodelling of the sound field.
2Device complexity
If conventional stereo or surround sound is used, then device complexity is low, but capability to render occluded spatially extended sound sources deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations of variance and covariance data for each elementary spatial sector in advance, storing these parameters for rapid retrieval during rendering. This enables real-time adaptation to occlusion conditions without computationally expensive calculations during playback.
Solution Approach 2:
Different spatial sectors are assigned different rendering characteristics based on local conditions such as occlusion and distance. This allows realistic rendering of partially occluded sound sources by applying sector-specific variance and covariance parameters to affected regions.
3Measurement precision
If variance and covariance data are stored for all spatial sectors, then rendering accuracy is improved, but data storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spatial domain is segmented into elementary sectors, allowing variance and covariance data to be stored only for discrete sector representatives rather than continuously for all possible directions. This reduces data volume while maintaining spatial rendering accuracy through sector-based interpolation.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus synthesizing a spatially extended sound source, includes: a storage for storing one or more rendering data items for different limited spatial sectors, wherein the different limited spatial sectors are located in a rendering range for a listener, wherein the one or more rendering data items for a limited spatial sector includes at least one of a left variance data item, a right variance data item, and a left-right covariance data item; a sector identification processor for identifying one or more limited spatial sectors for the spatially extended sound source within the rendering range for the listener based on spatially extended sound source data; a target data calculator for calculating target rendering data from the stored left variance data, the stored right variance data, or the stored covariance data; and an audio processor for processing an audio signal representing the spatially extended sound source using the target rendering data.