Generating an audio signal associated with a virtual sound source

A method for generating an audio signal y(t) associated with a virtual sound source, the virtual sound source having a virtual shape, the method comprising:

• obtaining an input audio signal x(t):
• defining a plurality of virtual points on the virtual shape of the virtual sound source;
• generating audio signal components associated with the plurality of virtual points on the virtual shape of the virtual sound source, wherein said generating audio signal components comprises generating a first audio signal component associated with a first virtual point from the plurality of virtual points and generating a second audio signal component associated with a second virtual point from the plurality of virtual points;
• and
• generating the audio signal y(t) based on the first audio signal component and the second audio signal component,
• wherein:
• generating the first audio signal component comprises:
• modifying the input audio signal x(t) to obtain a modified first audio signal component using a first signal delay operation introducing a first time delay, the first time delay being based on a position of the first virtual point relative to the virtual shape and a speed of sound of a medium;
• and
• generating the first audio signal component based on a combination of the modified first audio signal component and at least one of:
• the input audio signal x(t);
• an inverted version of the input audio signal x(t);
• an attenuated version of the input audio signal x(t);
• and
• an amplified version of the input audio signal x(t);
• or generating the first audio signal component comprises:
• generating the first audio signal component based on a signal feedback operation that recursively adds a modified version of the input audio signal x(t) to itself, wherein the signal feedback operation comprises a signal inverting operation and a first signal delay operation introducing a first time delay, the first time delay being based on the position of the first virtual point relative to the virtual shape and the speed of sound of a medium;
• and
• wherein:
• generating the second audio signal component comprises:
• modifying the input audio signal x(t) to obtain a modified second audio signal component using a second signal delay operation introducing a second time delay different from the first time delay, the second time delay being based on a position of the second virtual point relative to the virtual shape and the speed of sound of the medium;
• and
• generating the second audio signal component based on a combination of the modified second audio signal component and at least one of:
• the input audio signal x(t);
• an inverted version of the input audio signal x(t);
• an attenuated version of the input audio signal x(t);
• and
• an amplified version of the input audio signal x(t);
• or
• generating the second audio signal component comprises:
• generating the second audio signal component using a feedback loop that recursively adds a modified version of the input audio signal x(t) to itself, wherein the feedback loop comprises a signal inverting operation and a second signal delay operation introducing a second time delay different from the first time delay, the second time delay being based on the position of the second virtual point relative to the virtual shape and a speed of sound of a medium.