Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for encoding and decoding object-based audio signals. This audio decoding method includes extracting a first audio signal and a first audio parameter in which a music object are encoded on a channel basis and a second audio signal and a second audio parameter in which a vocal object are encoded on an object basis, from an audio signal, generating a third audio signal by employing at least one of the first and second audio signals, and generating a multi-channel audio signal by employing at least one of the first and second audio parameters and the third audio signal. Accordingly, the amount of calculation in encoding and decoding processes and the size of a bitstream that is encoded can be reduced efficiently.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding an object-based audio signal are provided. The method of decoding an object-based audio signal includes extracting a down-mix signal and object-based parameter information from an input audio signal, generating an object-audio signal using the down-mix signal and the object-based parameter information, and generating an object audio signal with three-dimensional (3D) effects by applying 3D information to the object audio signal. Accordingly, it is possible to localize a sound image for each object audio signal and thus provide a vivid sense of reality during the reproduction of object audio signals.

Abstract: Provided are an audio encoding method and apparatus and an audio decoding method and apparatus in which audio signals can be encoded or decoded so that sound images can be localized at any desired position for each object audio signal. The audio decoding method includes extracting a downmix signal and object-based side information from an audio signal; generating channel-based side information based on object-based side information and control information for rendering the downmix signal; processing the downmix signal using a decorrelated channel signal; and generating a multi-channel audio signal using the processed downmix signal and the channel-based side information.

Abstract: Provided are an audio encoding method and apparatus and an audio decoding method and apparatus in which audio signals can be encoded or decoded so that sound images can be localized at any desired position for each object audio signal. The audio decoding method includes extracting a downmix signal and object-based side information from an input audio signal; generating rendering information based on input control data; and generating spatial information based on the rendering information and the object-based side information.

Abstract: An audio encoding method and apparatus and an audio decoding method and apparatus are provided. The audio signal decoding method includes extracting a downmix signal and object-based side information from an audio signal; generating a modified downmix signal based on the downmix signal and extracted information which is extracted from the object-based side information; generating channel-based side information based on the object-based side information and control data for rendering the downmix signal; and generating a multi-channel audio signal based on the modified downmix signal and the channel-based side information.

Abstract: Provided are an audio encoding method and apparatus and an audio decoding method and apparatus in which audio signals can be encoded or decoded so that sound images can be localized at any desired position for each object audio signal. The audio decoding method generating a third downmix signal by combining a first downmix signal extracted from a first audio signal and a second downmix signal extracted from a second audio signal; generating third object-based side information by combining first object-based side information extracted from the first audio signal and second object-based side information extracted from the second audio signal; converting the third object-based side information into channel-based side information; and generating a multi-channel audio signal using the third downmix signal and the channel-based side information.