Configurable multi-band compressor architecture with advanced surround processing

A system for enhancing a perception of a center image in stereo audio, while maintaining a defined limit of a difference to sum ratio ((L−R)/(L+R)) based upon a threshold setting of a difference channel, the system comprising:

• a dual processing protection (DPP) processor operative to receive left (L) and right (R) signals from left (L) and right (R) audio channels, respectively, as inputs and configured to limit the audio difference to sum ratio ((L−R)(L+R)) by attenuating the audio difference signal, thereby producing an attenuated difference signal, and increasing the level of the sum signal, wherein the level of the sum signal represents center gain, wherein the DPP processor is operative to produce left and right output signals;
• a first crossover network configured to receive the left and right output signals from the DPP processor as input signals and to separate each of the left and right input signals into a plurality of frequency bands, including a high band and a low band, wherein the crossover network produces left and right output signals for each band and wherein the crossover network is configurable by a user to set a crossover frequency and filter order of the first crossover network;
• first and second compressors, wherein the first compressor is configured to receive the left and right high band output signals from the first crossover network and to produce compressed left and right high band output signals corresponding to the high band, and wherein the second compressor is configured to receive the left and right low band output signals from the first crossover network and to produce compressed left and right low band output signals corresponding to the low band, and wherein the first and second compressors are configured to limit a maximum loudness of the high and low bands;
• a two channel surround processor configurable to receive the outputs from the first and second compressors and set the amount of perceived sound field spread in multiple dimensions by calculating the attenuated difference signal (L−R) resulting from processing of the DPP processor and to generate left and right output signals;
• a stereo equalizer configured to receive the left and right audio output signals from the two channel surround processor and shape the spectral characteristics such that the overall bandwidth of the audio material is not compromised when subjected to the playback on system speakers, wherein the stereo equalizer is configured to produce left and right output signals;
• a soft clipper operative to receive as inputs compressed stereo left and right input signals, wherein the soft clipper is configured to limit the perceived distortion of left and right signals that briefly exceed a full scale output when subjected to the center gain, and dynamics of the first and second compressors, and to produce a stereo output.