Apparatus and method for estimating an inter-channel time difference

A method for estimating an inter-channel time difference between a first channel signal and a second channel signal, comprising:

• calculating a cross-correlation spectrum for a time block from the first channel signal in the time block and the second channel signal in the time block;
• estimating a spectral characteristic of a spectrum of the first channel signal for the time block or the second channel signal for the time block;
• smoothing the cross-correlation spectrum over time using the spectral characteristic to acquire a smoothed cross-correlation spectrum;
• and
• processing the smoothed cross-correlation spectrum to acquire the inter-channel time difference.

A non-transitory digital storage medium having a computer program stored thereon to perform the method for estimating an inter-channel time difference between a first channel signal and a second channel signal, comprising:

• calculating a cross-correlation spectrum for a time block from the first channel signal in the time block and the second channel signal in the time block;
• estimating a spectral characteristic of a spectrum of the first channel signal for the time block or the second channel signal for the time block;
• smoothing the cross-correlation spectrum over time using the spectral characteristic to acquire a smoothed cross-correlation spectrum;
• and
• processing the smoothed cross-correlation spectrum to acquire the inter-channel time difference,
• when said computer program is run by a computer.