Virtual Speaker VBAP Gain Control for Wider Sound Image Sweet Spots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sound image localization techniques using VBAP can result in unstable sound image positioning, especially when users move, leading to a narrower sweet spot range due to the reliance on fewer speakers outputting sound.
Innovation Solution
A sound processing apparatus that calculates and adjusts output gains for four or more speakers to stabilize sound image localization by determining gains based on positional relationships between different combinations of speakers, ensuring all speakers contribute to maintaining the sound image at the target position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If three-dimensional VBAP is used to perform sound image localization with three speakers, then the sound image can be fixed at the target position, but only two speakers among the three speakers output sound depending on the target localization position, causing the sound image to move in a different direction from the direction of user movement, resulting in unstable localization and a narrower sweet spot range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple VBAP calculations for different speaker combinations (2-speaker and 3-speaker combinations) to determine the final output gains. By merging the results from multiple combinations, the system ensures that more speakers contribute to sound output, improving localization stability while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a universal gain determination approach that works across different speaker configurations (2-speaker and 3-speaker combinations). The gain calculating unit universally applies VBAP to multiple combinations to ensure stable localization regardless of the specific speaker configuration active at any given moment.
2Device complexity
If only two speakers output sound in three-dimensional VBAP, then the calculation is simpler, but the sweet spot range becomes narrower and localization becomes unstable when the user moves
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects and combines multiple speaker configurations (2-speaker and 3-speaker combinations) based on the target localization position. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to different positions while maintaining a wider sweet spot range and stable localization throughout the listening area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial VBAP calculations for multiple speaker combinations rather than relying on a single full 3-speaker configuration. By performing partial calculations for different combinations and combining their results, the system achieves both computational efficiency and improved localization stability across a wider area.
Data Source
AI summary
The present technology relates to a sound processing apparatus and method, and a program for enabling more stable localization of a sound image.A virtual speaker is assumed to exist on the lower side among the sides of a tetragon having its corners formed with four speakers surrounding a target sound image position on a spherical plane. Three-dimensional VBAP is performed with respect to the virtual speaker and the two speakers located at the upper right and the upper left, to calculate gains of the two speakers at the upper right and the upper left and the virtual speaker, the gains being to be used for fixing a sound image at the target sound image position. Further, two-dimensional VBAP is performed with respect to the lower right and lower left speakers, to calculate gains of the lower right and lower left speakers, the gains being to be used for fixing a sound image at the position of the virtual speaker. The values obtained by multiplying these gains by the gain of the virtual speaker are set as the gains of the lower right and lower left speakers for fixing a sound image at the target sound image position. The present technology can be applied to sound processing apparatuses.