Abstract: A system for use with headphones provides sound imaging positioning that can accurately locate the sound image at any one of a number of points surrounding the listener and can smoothly fade the sound position from one point to the next as the apparent sound source moves relative to the listener during panning. Individual sound positioners are provided that include only scalers or delay lines are provided for each channel, so that the same sound location filters can be utilized with a number of voices or input channels.

Abstract: The illusion of distinct sound sources distributed throughout the three-dimensional space containing the listener is possible using only conventional stereo playback equipment by processing monaural sound signals prior to playback on two spaced-apart transducers. A plurality of such processed signals corresponding to different sound source positions may be mixed using conventional techniques without disturbing the positions of the individual images. Although two loudspeakers are required the sound produced is not conventional stereo, however, each channel of a left/right stereo signal can be separately processed according to the invention and then combined for playback.

Abstract: The illusion of distinct sound sources distributed throughout the three-dimensional space containing the listener is possible using only conventional stereo playback equipment by processing monaural sound signals prior to playback on two spaced-apart transducers. A plurality of such processed signals corresponding to different sound source positions may be mixed using conventional techniques without disturbing the positions of the individual images. Although two loudspeakers are required the sound produced is not conventional stereo, however, each channel of a left/right stereo signal can be separately processed according to the invention and then combined for playback.

Abstract: The game software for a video game system includes audio data and sound positioning information, in order that the audio data can be processed in accordance with the sound positioning information and played back over two spaced-apart speakers to give the player the impression that the sound is emanating from a location other than the actual speaker locations. A sound processor operates upon monaural signals from an audio synthesizer in response to the sound positioning information from the game software so that each monaural signal from the audio synthesizer is divided into two signals and at least one of the signals is passed through a transfer function to produce two-channel output signals that have a differential phase and amplitude relationship therebetween that is adjusted on a frequency dependent basis.

Abstract: A process is described to produce the illusion of distinct sound sources distributed throughout the three-dimensional space containing the listener, using conventional stereo playback equipment. The present process places an apparent image of the assumed sound source in a predetermined and highly localized position. A plurality of such processed signals corresponding to different sources and positions may be mixed using conventional techniques without disturbing the positions of the individual images. Monophonic signals, each representing an assumed sound source, are processed to produce left and right stereo signals. Resulting stereo signals may be reproduced by two loudspeakers, directly or via conventional recording and replay techniques. A listener perceives a realistic image of each source at its respective position as predetermined by the process.

Abstract: A game software for a video game system includes sound positioning information that utilizes two spaced-apart speakers to give the player the impression that the sound is emanating from a location other than the actual speaker locations, for example, to the far right or the far left of the speakers. A sound processor operates in conjunction with a sound synthesizer similar to the one normally employed in a video game system to process the synthesized sound signals in accordance with the sound location information from the software so that it can be reproduced over the two speakers. By arranging the sound processor at various locations relative to the existing sub-systems of the video game, all existing and future video game systems can be adapted to utilize sound location information contained in the game software. In addition, synthesized sound signals from video game software that does not include sound positioning information can be enhanced.