Spatial audio encoding and reproduction
AssigneeDTS, Inc.
InventorsJames D. Johnston, Stephen Roger Hastings, Jean-Marc Jot
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus processes multi-channel audio by encoding, transmitting or recording “dry” audio tracks or “stems” in synchronous relationship with time-variable metadata controlled by a content producer and representing a desired degree and quality of diffusion. Audio tracks are compressed and transmitted in connection with synchronized metadata representing diffusion and preferably also mix and delay parameters. The separation of audio stems from diffusion metadata facilitates the customization of playback at the receiver, taking into account the characteristics of local playback environment.
Claims36
A method for conditioning an encoded digital audio signal, said audio signal representative of a sound, comprising the steps:
- receiving encoded metadata that parametrically represents a desired rendering of said audio signal data in a listening environment;
- said metadata including at least one parameter capable of being decoded to configure a perceptually diffuse audio effect in at least one audio channel;
- processing said digital audio signal with said perceptually diffuse audio effect configured in response to said parameter, to produce a processed digital audio signal.
A method for conditioning a digital audio input signal for transmission or recording, comprising the steps:
- Compressing said digital audio input signal to produce an encoded digital audio signal;
- Generating a set of metadata in response to user input, said set of metadata representing a user selectable diffusion characteristic to be applied to at least one channel of said digital audio signal to produce a desired playback signal;
- and
- multiplexing said encoded digital audio signal and said set of metadata in synchronous relationship to produce a combined encoded signal.
A method for encoding and reproducing a digitized audio signal for reproduction, comprising:
- encoding the digitized audio signal to produce an encoded audio signal;
- responsive to user input, encoding a set of time-variable rendering parameters in a synchronous relationship with said encoded audio signal;
- wherein said rendering parameters represent a user choice of a variable perceptual diffusion effect.
A recorded data storage medium, recorded with digitally represented audio data, comprising:
- compressed Audio data representing a multichannel audio signal formatted into data frames;
- a set of user selected, time-variable rendering parameters, formatted to convey a synchronous relationship with said compressed audio data;
- wherein said rendering parameters represent a user choice of a time-variable reverberation effect to be applied to modify said multichannel audio signal upon playback.
A configurable audio reverberator for conditioning a digital audio signal, comprising:
- a parameter decoding module, arranged to receive rendering parameters in synchronous relationship with said digital audio signal;
- and
- a configurable reverberator module, arranged to receive said digital audio signal and responsive to control from said parameter decoding module;
- Wherein said reverberator module is dynamically reconfigurable to vary a time decay constant in response to control from said parameter decoding module.
A method of receiving an encoded audio signal and producing a replica decoded audio signal, said encoded audio signal including Compressed Audio data representing a multichannel audio signal and a set of user selected, time-variable rendering parameters, formatted to convey a synchronous relationship with said compressed audio data;
- the method comprising the steps:
- receiving said encoded audio signal and said rendering parameters;
- decoding said encoded audio signal to produce a replica audio signal;
- configuring a reverberator in response to said rendering parameters;
- and
- processing said replica audio signal with said reverberator to produce a perceptually diffuse replica audio signal.
A method of reproducing multi-channel audio sound from a multi-channel digital audio signal, comprising the steps:
- reproducing a first channel of said multi-channel audio signal in a perceptually diffuse manner;
- and
- reproducing at least one further channel in a perceptually direct manner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.