Multi-channel surround sound mastering and reproduction techniques that preserve spatial harmonics in three dimensions

A system for simulating a desired apparent three dimensional position of a sound in a multi-channel surround sound system, comprising:

• means for monaurally acquiring the sound;
• and
• means for directing the acquired monaural sound into individual ones of the multiple channels with a set of relative gains that is determined by solving a relationship of a declination and an azimuth of a desired apparent position of the sound with respect to a point and a set of angular positions extending around the point that correspond to expected positions of speakers driven by the individual ones of the multiple channel signals;
• where the relationship is solved in a manner that substantially preserves at least zero and first order three dimensional harmonics of the sound when reproduced through speakers at the expected positions as if the monaural sound was actually present at the apparent position.

A system for reproducing a three dimensional sound field through four or more speakers positioned around a listening area, comprising:

• means for acquiring a plurality of electrical signals representative of the sound field;
• means for processing the plurality of electrical signals to generate signals of at least zero and first order three dimensional spatial harmonics of the sound field;
• and
• means for processing the three dimensional spatial harmonic signals to determine relative gains of signals fed to individual ones of the speakers by solving a relationship that includes terms of actual positions of the speakers and, when solved, substantially preserves at least the zero and first order three dimensional harmonics of the sound field reproduced through the speakers as respectively matching the zero and first order three dimensional harmonics of the acquired sound field.

A system for processing a sound field, comprising:

• a processor configured to direct acquired sound field signals into individual ones of a plurality of channels individually feeding a corresponding plurality of speakers with a set of relative gains for the frequency range;
• where individual ones of a plurality of three dimensional spatial harmonics of the sound field is substantially preserved;
• and
• where a sound field reproduced from the speakers arranged in positions around a listening area substantially reproduces the plurality of three dimensional spatial harmonics of the acquired sound field.

A system for simulating a desired apparent three dimensional position of a sound in a multi-channel surround sound system, comprising:

• a recording medium configured to store monaurally acquired sound;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• direct the stored monaurally acquired sound into individual ones of the multiple channels with a set of relative gains that is determined by solving a relationship of a declination and an azimuth of the desired apparent position of the sound with respect to a point and a set of angular positions extending around said point that correspond to expected positions of speakers driven by individual ones of the multiple channel signals;
• and
• solve for the relationship to substantially preserves at least zero and first order three dimensional harmonics of the sound when reproduced through speakers at the expected positions as if the monaural sound was actually present at said apparent position.

A system for reproducing a three dimensional sound field through four or more speakers positioned around a listening area, comprising:

• a recording medium configured to store a plurality of electrical signals representative of the sound field;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• process the plurality of electrical signals to generate signals of at least zero and first order three dimensional spatial harmonics of the sound field;
• and
• process the three dimensional spatial harmonic signals to determine relative gains of signals fed to individual ones of the speakers by solving a relationship that includes terms of actual positions of the speakers and, when solved, substantially preserves at least the zero and first order three dimensional harmonics of the sound field reproduced through the speakers as respectively matching the zero and first order three dimensional harmonics of the sound field.