Sound reproducing apparatus and method for providing virtual sound source

A method for reproducing sounds, comprising:

• generating more than one virtual sound signal corresponding to locations and a number of target virtual sound sources on the basis of more than one inputted sound signal;
• and
• downmixing said more than one virtual sound signal to more than one virtual sound signal output corresponding to a predetermined number of output channels,
• wherein said generating more than one virtual sound signal includes:
• generating an added sound signal by adding at least two sound signals selected from among said more than one inputted sound signal;
• generating a subtracted sound signal by subtracting at least two sound signals selected from among said more than one inputted sound signal;
• and
• adjusting said more than one inputted sound signal, the added sound signal and the subtracted sound signal to optimal gains predetermined by corresponding to locations and the number of the target virtual sound sources, and
• wherein at least one of said generating more than one virtual sound signal and said downmixing said more than one virtual sound signal is performed using a processor.

A sound reproducing apparatus, comprising:

• a virtual sound signal generation unit which generates more than one virtual sound signal corresponding to locations and a number of target virtual sound sources on the basis of more than one inputted sound signal;
• and
• a virtual sound signal downmix unit which downmixes said more than one virtual sound signal to virtual sound signal outputs corresponding to a predetermined number of output chanels,
• wherein the virtual sound signal generation unit includes:
• an adder which adds at least two sound signals selected from among said more than one inputted sound signal and generates an added sound signal;
• a subtracter which subtracts at least two sound signals selected from among said more than one inputted sound signal and generates a subtracted sound signal;
• and
• a signal transfer filter unit which filters said more than one inputted sound signal, the added sound signal and the subtracted sound signal with use of optimal signal transferring filters predetermined by corresponding to the number and locations of the target virtual sound sources to thereby generate said more than one virtual sound signal.

A method for reproducing sounds, comprising:

• generating more than one virtual sound signal corresponding to locations and a number of target virtual sound sources on the basis of more than one inputted sound signal;
• and
• downmixing said more than one virtual sound signal to more than one virtual sound signal output corresponding to a predetermined number of output channels,
• wherein said generating more than one virtual sound signal includes:
• generating an added sound signal by adding at least two sound signals selected from among said more than one inputted sound signal;
• generating a subtracted sound signal by subtracting at least two sound signals selected from among said more than one inputted sound signal;
• and
• generating said more than one virtual sound signal through filtering said more than one inputted sound signal, the added sound signal and the subtracted sound signal, which are adjusted, with use of optimal signal transferring filters predetermined by corresponding to locations and the number of the target virtual sound sources,
• wherein at least one of said generating more than one virtual sound signal and said downmixing said more than one virtual sound signal is performed using a processor.