Loudness level control for audio reception and decoding equipment
AssigneeEldon Technology Limited
InventorDavid Robinson
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Abstract
The application discusses a computer implemented method and apparatus for performing audio equalization in an audio receiver device, such as an integrated receiver/decoder or set top box, or integrated TV, connected to one or more audio playback devices, such as a television unit, computer screen and speakers, amplifier or home theater equipment. The method and apparatus use an equalization process which compares audio signals received in different audio formats (e.g. MPEG-1 Layer II, AC-3 2.0, AC-3 5.1 and HE-AAC) with one another, allowing a correction gain factor to be determined for equalizing the perceived loudness of the signals when played-back at a connected playback device. The correction gain factor is then applied in the audio receiver device before output.
Claims17
A method that controls an audio receiver device to equalise loudness levels of output audio signals for playback on a connected audio reproduction device, comprising:
- outputting at least a first audio signal and a second audio signal from an audio output of the audio receiver device for playback on the audio reproduction device, the first audio signal and the second signal being encoded in different audio formats, the first audio signal being output at a first loudness level and the second audio signal being output at a second loudness level;
- detecting playback of at least one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal occurring at the audio reproduction device;
- recording, with at least one of a microphone and another input, a first recorded audio signal and a second recorded audio signal corresponding to the detected playback of the first audio signal and the second audio signal;
- analysing the first recorded audio signal and the second recorded audio signal;
- determining a value indicating the loudness of at least one of the first recorded audio signal and the second recorded audio signal;
- based on the determined value, adjusting at least one of the first loudness level and the second loudness level until the value indicates that loudness of the first recorded audio signal and loudness of the second recorded audio signal are substantially the same as each other;
- and
- saving information corresponding to the first loudness level and the second loudness level in memory for future reproduction of the audio output signals.
An audio system, comprising:
- a memory operable to store control software, wherein the control software is executable by one or more processors, and wherein the control software is operable to equalise loudness levels of audio signals output for playback on a connected audio reproduction device;
- and
- a processor, wherein the processor is operable to:
- output at least a first audio signal and a second audio signal from an audio output for playback on the audio reproduction device, the first audio signal and the second audio signal being encoded in different audio formats, wherein the first audio signal is output at a first loudness level and the second audio signal is output at a second loudness level;
- detect playback of the at least one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal occurring at the audio reproduction device;
- record with at least one of a microphone and another input, a first recorded audio signal and a second recorded audio signal corresponding to the detected playback of at least one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal;
- analyse the at least one of the first recorded audio signal and the second recorded audio signal;
- determine a value indicating the loudness of the at least one of the first recorded audio signal and the second recorded audio signal;
- based on the determined value, adjust one or more of at least the first loudness level associated with the first audio signal and the second loudness level associated with the second audio signal, until the value indicating the loudness of the first recorded audio signal and/or the second recorded audio signal indicates that they are as loud as each other;
- and
- save the loudness levels in the memory for future reproduction of the audio signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.