Methods and systems for synthetic audio placement

A method of providing synthetic audio placement comprising:

• receiving an incoming signal over an audio connection, the incoming signal including audio input from a plurality of audio sources, the incoming signal not including information regarding relative positions of the plurality of audio sources;
• synthesizing a sound field having a synthetic position associated with each of the plurality of audio sources relative to a listener, wherein the synthetic position includes arranging the plurality of audio sources in a substantially presentation configuration towards the listener, and wherein the presentation configuration comprises an audience configuration of spaced-apart rows of the plurality of audio sources oriented towards the listener;
• processing a portion of the incoming signal, including:
• determining which one of the plurality of audio sources provided the portion of the incoming signal;
• determining the synthetic position associated with the one of the plurality of audio sources;
• generating a synthesized audio signal based on the portion of the incoming signal and the determined synthetic position of the one of the plurality of audio sources, the synthesized audio signal partially providing the listener with a sense of having a relative position with respect to the providing audio source;
• and
• emitting the synthesized audio signal to the listener.

A system of providing synthetic audio placement comprising:

• a connection port to receive a plurality of remote audio signals included in a conference call, one of the plurality of remote audio connections being a single channel audio signal;
• a processor that provides a sound field for placing the plurality of audio signals, the sound field providing synthetic audio placement of each of the plurality of remote audio signals within the sound field at a respective location in a substantially presentation configuration towards a listener, wherein the presentation configuration comprises an audience configuration of spaced-apart rows of the plurality of remote audio signals oriented towards the listener;
• and
• a rendering output that projects the plurality of remote audio signals within the sound field to a listener.

A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium comprising computer readable program code that when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a plurality of audio signals without associated location information from one or more participants in a conference call, one of the audio signals being a single channel audio signal;
• determining a focus point within a virtual sound field, wherein the focus point modifies the plurality of signals to create a simulated location for each participant within a virtual sound field, wherein the plurality of simulated locations are arranged in a substantially presentation configuration towards the focus point, and wherein the presentation configuration comprises an audience configuration of spaced-apart rows of the plurality of audio sources oriented towards the focus point;
• processing the plurality of audio signals into multi-channel signals, the multichannel signals configured to simulate each participant in a corresponding simulated location within the virtual sound field when orientated by the focus point;
• and
• rendering each processed audio signal in the sound field to the listener.