Abstract: Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to modelling a frequency response characteristic of an electro-acoustic transducer. A method includes obtaining at least one measurement of the frequency response characteristic for at least one electro-acoustic transducer of the category. A model of a frequency response characteristic specific to a category of electro-acoustic transducers is generated at least in part based on perceptual importance of a frequency band, an averaged, normalized or microphone compensated measurement such that the distortion of the model is optimized. A further method for estimating a frequency response characteristic of an electro-acoustic transducer is based on the generated model and the sensitivity of the electro-acoustic transducer or headphone. Corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for a method of rendering audio for playback through headphones comprising receiving digital audio content, receiving binaural rendering metadata generated by an authoring tool processing the received digital audio content, receiving playback metadata generated by a playback device, and combining the binaural rendering metadata and playback metadata to optimize playback of the digital audio content through the headphones.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to speakers and circuits that reflect sound off a wall surface (114) to a listening location at a distance from a speaker. The reflected sound (103) provides direct audio cues to reproduce audio objects that have direct audio components without the need for direct firing speakers. The speaker comprises sideward firing drivers (108) to reflect sound off of the wall surface (114) and represents a virtual direct speaker (116). A virtual direct filter is applied to the sideward-firing driver signal to improve the perception of direct audio transmitted by the sideward firing speaker (108) to provide optimum reproduction of the reflected sound. The virtual direct filter may be incorporated as part of a crossover circuit that separates the full band and sends high frequency sound to the sideward-firing driver (108).

Abstract: Embodiments are described for a method of rendering audio for playback through headphones comprising receiving digital audio content, receiving binaural rendering metadata generated by an authoring tool processing the received digital audio content, receiving playback metadata generated by a playback device, and combining the binaural rendering metadata and playback metadata to optimize playback of the digital audio content through the headphones.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for a system of rendering object-based audio content through a system that includes individually addressable drivers, including at least one driver that is configured to project sound waves toward one or more surfaces within a listening environment for reflection to a listening area within the listening environment; a renderer configured to receive and process audio streams and one or more metadata sets associated with each of the audio streams and specifying a playback location of a respective audio stream; and a playback system coupled to the renderer and configured to render the audio streams to a plurality of audio feeds corresponding to the array of audio drivers in accordance with the one or more metadata sets.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for rendering spatial audio content through a system that is configured to reflect audio off of one or more surfaces of a listening environment. The system includes an array of audio drivers distributed around a room, wherein at least one driver of the array of drivers is configured to project sound waves toward one or more surfaces of the listening environment for reflection to a listening area within the listening environment and a renderer configured to receive and process audio streams and one or more metadata sets that are associated with each of the audio streams and that specify a playback location in the listening environment.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for a system of rendering object-based audio content through a system that includes individually addressable drivers, including at least one driver that is configured to project sound waves toward one or more surfaces within a listening environment for reflection to a listening area within the listening environment; a renderer configured to receive and process audio streams and one or more metadata sets associated with each of the audio streams and specifying a playback location of a respective audio stream; and a playback system coupled to the renderer and configured to render the audio streams to a plurality of audio feeds corresponding to the array of audio drivers in accordance with the one or more metadata sets.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for rendering spatial audio content through a system that is configured to reflect audio off of one or more surfaces of a listening environment. The system includes an array of audio drivers distributed around a room, wherein at least one driver of the array of drivers is configured to project sound waves toward one or more surfaces of the listening environment for reflection to a listening area within the listening environment and a renderer configured to receive and process audio streams and one or more metadata sets that are associated with each of the audio streams and that specify a playback location in the listening environment.

Abstract: An audio processing system, such as an upmixer, may be capable of separating diffuse and non-diffuse portions of N input audio signals. The upmixer may be capable of detecting instances of transient audio signal conditions. During instances of transient audio signal conditions, the up-mixer may be capable of adding a signal-adaptive control to a diffuse signal expansion process in which M audio signals are output. The upmixer may vary the diffuse signal expansion process over time such that during instances of transient audio signal conditions the diffuse portions of audio signals may be distributed substantially only to output channels spatially close to the input channels. During instances of non-transient audio signal conditions, the diffuse portions of audio signals may be distributed in a substantially uniform manner.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a virtual height filter for use with or in an upward-firing speaker system that reflects sound off a ceiling to a listening location at a distance from a speaker, and that provides height cues to reproduce audio objects that have overhead audio components. A virtual height filter based on a directional hearing model is applied to the upward-firing driver signal to improve the perception of height for audio signals transmitted by the virtual height speaker to provide optimum reproduction of the overhead reflected sound. The virtual height filter is provided by any one or combination of analog or digital filter circuits, or mechanical structures including speaker grill, enclosure, or driver design or configuration.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to speakers and circuits that reflect sound off a ceiling to a listening location at a distance from a speaker. The reflected sound provides height cues to reproduce audio objects that have overhead audio components. The speaker comprises upward firing drivers to reflect sound off of the upper surface and represents a virtual height speaker. A virtual height filter based on a directional hearing model is applied to the upward-firing driver signal to improve the perception of height for audio signals transmitted by the virtual height speaker to provide optimum reproduction of the overhead reflected sound. The virtual height filter may be incorporated as part of a crossover circuit that separates the full band and sends high frequency sound to the upward-firing driver.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to upward-firing speakers that reflect sound off a ceiling to a listening location at a distance from a speaker. The reflected sound provides height cues to reproduce audio objects that have overhead audio components. A virtual height filter based on a directional hearing model is applied to the upward-firing driver signal to improve the perception of height for audio signals transmitted by the virtual height speaker to provide optimum reproduction of the overhead reflected sound. The upward firing driver is tilted at an inclination angle of approximately 20 degrees to the horizontal axis of the speaker and separate height and direct terminal connections are provided to interface to an adaptive audio rendering system.

Abstract: Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to noise level estimation. A method for noise level estimation is disclosed. The method includes, responsive to an increase of a signal level of a noise signal, calculating an impulsive noise probability of the noise signal, the impulsive noise probability indicating a likelihood that the noise signal is an impulsive noise. The method also includes determining a variable smoothing factor for noise level estimation based on the impulsive noise probability, the variable smoothing factor being associated with a previous estimated level of the noise signal. The method further includes smoothing the noise signal with the variable smoothing factor so as to determine a current estimated level of the noise signal. Corresponding system and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to modelling a frequency response characteristic of an electro-acoustic transducer. A method includes obtaining at least one measurement of the frequency response characteristic for at least one electro-acoustic transducer of the category. A model of a frequency response characteristic specific to a category of electro-acoustic transducers is generated at least in part based on perceptual importance of a frequency band, an averaged, normalized or microphone compensated measurement such that the distortion of the model is optimized. A further method for estimating a frequency response characteristic of an electro-acoustic transducer is based on the generated model and the sensitivity of the electro-acoustic transducer or headphone. Corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to signal processing. Methods for enhancing intelligibility of speech content in an audio signal are disclosed. One of the methods comprises obtaining reference loudness of the audio signal. The method further comprises enhancing the intelligibility of the speech content by adjusting partial loudness of the audio signal based on the reference loudness and a degree of the intelligibility. Corresponding systems and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for creating a head-related impulse response (HRIR) for use in rendering audio for playback through headphones comprises receiving location parameters for a sound including azimuth, elevation, and range relative to a head of a listener, applying a spherical head model to the azimuth, elevation, and range input parameters to generate binaural HRIR values, computing a pinna model using the azimuth and elevation parameters to apply to the binaural HRIR values to pinna modeled HRIR values, computing a torso model using the azimuth and elevation parameters to apply to the pinna modeled HRIR values to generate pinna and torso modeled HRIR values, and computing a near-field model using the azimuth and range parameters to apply to the pinna and torso modeled HRIR values to generate pinna, torso and near-field modeled HRIR values.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to speakers and circuits that reflect sound off a wall surface (114) to a listening location at a distance from a speaker. The reflected sound (103) provides direct audio cues to reproduce audio objects that have direct audio components without the need for direct firing speakers. The speaker comprises sideward firing drivers (108) to reflect sound off of the wall surface (114) and represents a virtual direct speaker (116). A virtual direct filter is applied to the sideward-firing driver signal to improve the perception of direct audio transmitted by the sideward firing speaker (108) to provide optimum reproduction of the reflected sound. The virtual direct filter may be incorporated as part of a crossover circuit that separates the full band and sends high frequency sound to the sideward-firing driver (108).

Abstract: Embodiments are described for a method of rendering audio for playback through headphones comprising receiving digital audio content, receiving binaural rendering metadata generated by an authoring tool processing the received digital audio content, receiving playback metadata generated by a playback device, and combining the binaural rendering metadata and playback metadata to optimize playback of the digital audio content through the headphones.

Abstract: An audio processing system, such as an upmixer, may be capable of separating diffuse and non-diffuse portions of N input audio signals. The upmixer may be capable of detecting instances of transient audio signal conditions. During instances of transient audio signal conditions, the up-mixer may be capable of adding a signal-adaptive control to a diffuse signal expansion process in which M audio signals are output. The upmixer may vary the diffuse signal expansion process over time such that during instances of transient audio signal conditions the diffuse portions of audio signals may be distributed substantially only to output channels spatially close to the input channels. During instances of non-transient audio signal conditions, the diffuse portions of diffuse portions of audio signals may be distributed in a substantially uniform manner.