Systems, methods, and apparatus for equalization preference learning
AssigneeNorthwestern University
InventorsAndrew Todd Sabin, Bryan A. Pardo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for equalization preference learning for digital audio modification. A method for listener calibration of an audio signal includes modifying a reference sound using at least one equalization curve; playing the modified reference sound for a listener; accepting listener feedback regarding the modified reference sound; and generating a weighting function based on listener feedback. A listener audio configuration system includes an output providing a sound for listener review; an interface accepting listener feedback regarding the sound; and a processor programming an audio device based on listener feedback.
Claims48
A method for listener calibration of an audio signal, said method comprising:
- generating a plurality of sound/descriptor pairs, each sound/descriptor pair including a sound and an audio descriptor for the sound;
- determining a weighting function based on the plurality of sound/descriptor pairs;
- scaling the weighting function according to listener feedback;
- applying the scaled weighting function as an audio device setting for an audio signal;
- and
- mapping one or more language based descriptors associated with the plurality of sound/descriptor pairs to one or more frequency gain curves,
- wherein the one or more frequency gain curves are mapped to the weighting function, wherein a slope of a line fitted between the values of the plurality of sound/descriptor pairs is computed for each sound/descriptor pair and wherein a combination of the plurality of slopes represents the weighting function.
A tangible computer readable medium comprising computer program code which, when executed by a processor, implements an audio configuration system for individual learning and customization of a listener's subjective audio preference, said system comprising:
- an output to provide a sound for listener review;
- an interface to accept listener feedback regarding the sound, the feedback including a descriptor to associate with the sound;
- and
- a processor to program an audio device based on listener feedback, wherein the processor is to analyze the sound and associated listener feedback to generate a weighting function, the weighting function further scalable based on listener feedback, wherein the processor is to apply the weighting function as an audio device setting for the audio device to apply to an audio signal and the processor is to predict listener ratings based on a similarity between a probe curve and the weighting function.
A tangible computer readable medium comprising computer program code which, when executed by a processor, implements an audio configuration system for individual learning and customization of a listener's subjective audio preference, said system comprising:
- an output to provide a sound for listener review;
- an interface to accept listener feedback regarding the sound, the feedback including a descriptor to associate with the sound;
- an automatic synonym map relating language-based descriptors representing listener feedback;
- and
- a processor to program an audio device based on listener feedback, wherein the processor is to analyze the sound and associated listener feedback to generate a weighting function, the weighting function further scalable based on listener feedback, wherein the processor is to apply the weighting function as an audio device setting for the audio device to apply to an audio signal.
A system comprising:
- a hearing device to generate audio processed according to a frequency gain curve;
- and
- a computing device that is separate from the hearing device and that comprises one or more processing devices to execute instructions to generate a user interface for setting the frequency gain curve,
- wherein the user interface comprises a control element to enable the user to set the frequency gain curve, and
- wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to generate the frequency gain curve from a weighted combination of a set of component weighting functions, the component weighting functions comprising at least one of:
- (a) a component weighting function corresponding to a modification of a spectral tilt of the frequency gain curve, and (b) a component weighting function corresponding to a modification of a middle frequency balance of the frequency gain curve, the component weighting functions
- (i) generated based on a set of user-specific weighting functions, wherein each user-specific weighting function corresponds to an individual's audio preferences, and
- (ii) generated to account for a threshold level of variance among the set of user-specific weighting functions.
One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing instructions that are executable by one or more processing devices to perform operations comprising:
- presenting a user interface on a display of a computing device,
- wherein the user interface comprises a control element configured to receive user input for setting a frequency gain curve used in processing audio for reproduction by a hearing device in communication with the computing device, and
- wherein the frequency gain curve is derived from a weighted combination of a set of component weighting functions, the component weighting functions comprising at least one of:
- (a) a component weighting function corresponding to a modification of a spectral tilt of the frequency gain curve, and (b) a component weighting function corresponding to a modification of a middle frequency balance of the frequency gain curve, the component weighting functions
- (i) generated based on a set of user-specific weighting functions, wherein each user-specific weighting function corresponds to an individual's audio preferences, and
- (ii) generated to account for a threshold level of variance among the set of user-specific weighting functions;
- and
- causing the frequency gain curve set via the control element to be used to process the audio for reproduction by the hearing device.
A method for operating an audio device, the method comprising:
- receiving user input comprising a first user-adjustable control and a second user-adjustable control;
- and
- applying a frequency gain curve to an audio signal for reproduction by the audio device, the frequency gain curve being derived from a weighted combination of a set of component weighting functions, the component weighting functions comprising at least one of:
- (a) a component weighting function corresponding to a modification of a spectral tilt of the frequency gain curve, and (b) a component weighting function corresponding to a modification of a middle frequency balance of the frequency gain curve, the component weighting functions
- (i) generated based on a set of user-specific weighting functions, wherein each user-specific weighting function corresponds to an individual's audio preferences, and
- (ii) generated to account for a threshold level of variance among the set of user-specific weighting functions,
- wherein the first user-adjustable control corresponds to a weight of a first component weighting function from the set of component weighting functions, and
- wherein the second user-adjustable control corresponds to a weight of a second component weighting function from the set of component weighting functions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.