Rendering and Playback of Spatial Audio Using Channel-Based Audio Systems

A method of recovering spatial audio information rendered into a channel-based format for playback in a spatial audio environment, the channel-based format comprising a surround-sound format which includes a plurality of height speakers, the spatial audio environment comprising a system which includes the plurality of height speakers and a plurality of additional height speakers, the method comprising:

• deriving metadata defining positional information of audio elements in a spatial audio processor that generates both channel-based and object-based information of the audio elements, wherein the metadata includes a matrix suitable for up-mixing a first set of channels using the plurality of height speakers to a second set of channels using the plurality of height speakers and the plurality of additional height speakers for playback in the spatial audio environment, and wherein the matrix is also suitable for down-mixing the first set of channels to a third set of channels using no height speakers;
• incorporating the metadata in a channel-based format;
• and
• combining the metadata and channel-based information in a spatial audio decoder to facilitate playback of the audio elements in the spatial audio environment.

An apparatus for recovering spatial audio information rendered into a channel-based format for playback in a spatial audio environment, the channel-based format comprising a surround-sound format which includes a plurality of height speakers, the spatial audio environment comprising a system which includes the plurality of height speakers and a plurality of additional height speakers, the apparatus comprising a processor configured to:

• derive metadata defining positional information of audio elements in a spatial audio processor that generates both channel-based and object-based information of the audio elements, wherein the metadata includes a matrix suitable for up-mixing a first set of channels using the plurality of height speakers to a second set of channels using the plurality of height speakers and the plurality of additional height speakers for playback in the spatial audio environment, and wherein the matrix is also suitable for down-mixing the first set of channels to a third set of channels using no height speakers;
• incorporate the metadata in a channel-based format;
• and
• combine the metadata and channel-based information in a spatial audio decoder to facilitate playback of the audio elements in the spatial audio environment.

A non-transitory storage medium recording a program of instructions that is executable by a device for performing a method of recovering spatial audio information rendered into a channel-based format for playback in a spatial audio environment, the channel-based format comprising a surround-sound format which includes a plurality of height speakers, the spatial audio environment comprising a system which includes the plurality of height speakers and a plurality of additional height speakers, the method comprising:

• deriving metadata defining positional information of audio elements in a spatial audio processor that generates both channel-based and object-based information of the audio elements, wherein the metadata includes a matrix suitable for up-mixing a first set of channels using the plurality of height speakers to a second set of channels using the plurality of height speakers and the plurality of additional height speakers for playback in the spatial audio environment, and wherein the matrix is also suitable for down-mixing the first set of channels to a third set of channels using no height speakers;
• incorporating the metadata in a channel-based format;
• and
• combining the metadata and channel-based information in a spatial audio decoder to facilitate playback of the audio elements in the spatial audio environment.