Volumetric Audio Rendering With Distance-Dependent Gain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio renderers fail to accurately render volumetric audio sources, such as line-like sources, due to their incorrect level and frequency response variations with listening distance, leading to unnatural sound perception in XR environments.
Innovation Solution
Applying a parametric distance-dependent gain function in the rendering process, where the shape of the gain function depends on the characteristics of the volumetric audio source, such as length and coherence, to achieve physically accurate and perceptually enhanced rendering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a typical point source audio renderer is used to render volumetric audio sources, then the rendering process is simple and computationally efficient, but the level and frequency response variation with listening distance is incorrect and unnatural
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the distance-dependent gain function from the standard point source model (6 dB per distance doubling) to a volumetric source model (3 dB per distance doubling). This parameter change in the attenuation rate accurately represents the acoustic behavior of line-like volumetric sources, resolving the contradiction between rendering simplicity and acoustic accuracy.
2Manufacturing precision
If a dense collection of point sources is used to represent volumetric audio sources, then the acoustic behavior becomes more accurate, but the computational complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential acoustic characteristic of volumetric sources (the 3 dB per distance doubling attenuation) and separates it from the complex representation approaches. By taking out only the necessary parameter modification from the full dense point sources approach, the patent achieves accurate acoustic behavior without the computational complexity of rendering multiple individual sources.
3Reliability
If the sound pressure level decreases by 6 dB per distance doubling (point source model), then the rendering matches typical audio source behavior, but it does not match the physical reality of line-like volumetric sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamics by making the attenuation rate adaptive based on the source type. The system dynamically switches between point source attenuation (6 dB/doubling) for point-like sources and volumetric source attenuation (3 dB/doubling) for line-like sources. This dynamic adjustment ensures both reliability for point sources and physical accuracy for volumetric sources.
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 proposed method provides a more natural and accurate rendering of volumetric audio sources with low computational complexity, enhancing the subjective quality of XR scenes by correcting distance-dependent acoustic behavior.
Implementation Method 1
the sound pressure level of such volumetric audio sources has a different behavior as a function of listening distance. An example is a (theoretical) infinitely long line-like audio source, for which it is known that the acoustical pressure is inversely proportional to the square root of the distance
Data Source
AI summary
Providing a more natural, physically accurate rendering of the acoustic behavior of a volumetric audio source (e.g., a line-like audio source). In one embodiment, this is achieved by applying a parametric distance-dependent gain function in the rendering process, where the shape of the parametric gain function depends on characteristics of the volumetric audio source.