Abstract: A signal processing system and method is disclosed for applying time-based effects to an N-channel audio input signal for reproduction on a set of loudspeakers having a predetermined configuration. A first M-channel audio signal is produced from the N-channel audio input signal. Each channel of the first M-channel audio signal is associated with a subset of the loudspeakers. A second M-channel audio signal is produced from the first M-channel audio signal according to an M×M matrix, each element aij in the M×M matrix including a delay term. A minimum value of the delay term in each element aij is determined according to a distance between at least two loudspeakers in at least one of the i and j subsets of loudspeakers and according to minimum delay value of a time-based delay effect applied to each channel of the second M-channel audio signal. A K-channel audio signal is then produced from the or each second M-channel audio signal.

Abstract: A signal processing system and method is disclosed for applying time-based effects to an N-channel audio input signal for reproduction on a set of loudspeakers having a predetermined configuration. A first M-channel audio signal is produced from the N-channel audio input signal. Each channel of the first M-channel audio signal is associated with a subset of the loudspeakers. A second M-channel audio signal is produced from the first M-channel audio signal according to an M×M matrix, each element aij in the M×M matrix including a delay term. A minimum value of the delay term in each element aij is determined according to a distance between at least two loudspeakers in at least one of the i and j subsets of loudspeakers and according to minimum delay value of a time-based delay effect applied to each channel of the second M-channel audio signal. A K-channel audio signal is then produced from the or each second M-channel audio signal.

Abstract: A controlled array loudspeaker comprising a plurality of acoustic drivers, each acoustic driver aligned along a common path and directed at an angle of rotation from an axis of the common path at a degree corresponding to the degree of audio frequency level output relative to the position along the common path of at least a first acoustic driver for frequencies in at least the critical voice band, and at least a second and a third acoustic driver for frequencies above the voice band.

Abstract: A multi-channel audio rendering system comprises an audio renderer (113) which generates audio signals for a plurality of audio channels. A plurality of interchangeable speaker units (101-109) comprises a battery (205) and an audio transducer (207) for rendering an audio signal. A charging unit (115) is associated with a specific audio channel and comprises a charging source which can charge the battery of an attached speaker unit (101-109). A linking circuit (305) can link the speaker unit (101-109) to the first audio channel when it is attached to the charging unit (115). The system can permanently associate specific channels with charging units (or passive speaker bases that cannot charge) and interchangeable speaker units (101-109) can adapt depending on their attachment. The approach may allow a charging of a (possibly wireless) speaker unit (101-109) to be achieved simply by swapping this speaker unit (101-109) with one attached to a charging unit (115).