Method and device for generating and playing back audio signal

An audio generation method comprising:

• receiving an audio signal through at least one microphone;
• generating an input channel signal corresponding to each of the at least one microphone based on the received audio signal;
• generating a virtual input channel signal based on the input channel signal;
• generating additional information including reproduction locations of the input channel signal and the virtual input channel signal;
• and
• transmitting a multi-channel audio signal and the additional information, the multi-channel audio signal including the input channel signal and the virtual input channel signal.

An audio reproduction method comprising:

• receiving a multi-channel audio signal and additional information including a reproduction location of the multi-channel audio signal;
• acquiring location information of a user;
• channel-separating the received multi-channel audio signal based on the received additional information;
• rendering the channel-separated multi-channel audio signal based on the received additional information and the acquired location information of the user;
• and
• reproducing the rendered multi-channel audio signal.

An audio reproduction apparatus comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a multi-channel audio signal and additional information including a reproduction location of the multi-channel audio signal;
• a location information acquirer configured to acquire location information of a user;
• a channel separator configured to channel-separate the received multi-channel audio signal based on the received additional information;
• a renderer configured to render the channel-separated multi-channel audio signal based on the received additional information and the acquired location information of the user;
• and
• a reproducer configured to reproduce the rendered multi-channel audio signal.