Abstract: The invention improves HOA sound field representation compression. The HOA representation is analyzed for the presence of dominant sound sources and their directions are estimated. Then the HOA representation is decomposed into a number of dominant directional signals and a residual component. This residual component is transformed into the discrete spatial domain in order to obtain general plane wave functions at uniform sampling directions, which are predicted from the dominant directional signals. Finally, the prediction error is transformed back to the HOA domain and represents the residual ambient HOA component for which an order reduction is performed, followed by perceptual encoding of the dominant directional signals and the residual component.

Abstract: Soundfield signals such as e.g. Ambisonics carry a representation of a desired sound field. The Ambisonics format is based on spherical harmonic decomposition of the soundfield, and Higher Order Ambisonics (HOA) uses spherical harmonics of at least 2nd order. However, commonly used loudspeaker setups are irregular and lead to problems in decoder design. A method for improved decoding an audio soundfield representation for audio playback comprises calculating a panning function (W) using a geometrical method based on the positions of a plurality of loudspeakers and a plurality of source directions, calculating a mode matrix (?) from the loudspeaker positions, calculating a pseudo-inverse mode matrix (?+) and decoding the audio soundfield representation. The decoding is based on a decode matrix (D) that is obtained from the panning function (W) and the pseudo-inverse mode matrix (?+).

Abstract: The invention discloses rendering sound field signals, such as Higher-Order Ambisonics (HOA), for arbitrary loudspeaker setups, where the rendering results in highly improved localization properties and is energy preserving. This is obtained by a new type of decode matrix for sound field data, and a new way to obtain the decode matrix.

Abstract: Decoding of Ambisonics representations for a stereo loudspeaker setup is known for first-order Ambisonics audio signals. But such first-order Ambisonics approaches have either high negative side lobes or poor localisation in the frontal region. The invention deals with the processing for stereo decoders for higher-order Ambisonics HOA. The desired panning functions can be derived from a panning law for placement of virtual sources between the loudspeakers. For each loudspeaker a desired panning function for all possible input directions at sampling points is defined. The panning functions are approximated by circular harmonic functions, and with increasing Ambisonics order the desired panning functions are matched with decreasing error. For the frontal region between the loudspeakers, a panning law like the tangent law or vector base amplitude panning (VBAP) are used. For the rear directions panning functions with a slight attenuation of sounds from these directions are defined.

Abstract: Conventional audio compression technologies perform a standardized signal transformation, independent of the type of the content. Multi-channel signals are decomposed into their signal components, subsequently quantized and encoded. This is disadvantageous due to lack of knowledge on the characteristics of scene composition, especially for e.g. multi-channel audio or Higher-Order Ambisonics (HOA) content. An improved method for encoding pre-processed audio data comprises encoding the pre-processed audio data, and encoding auxiliary data that indicate the particular audio pre-processing. An improved method for decoding encoded audio data comprises determining that the encoded audio data had been pre-processed before encoding, decoding the audio data, extracting from received data information about the pre-processing, and post-processing the decoded audio data according to the extracted pre-processing information.

Abstract: A device for dispensing a dental material comprises a container for containing the material and an outlet which is closed by a closure. A breakable seal is arranged between the closure and the container. The device further is operable between a storage position in which the outlet is closed and an operational position in which the outlet is open. An initial operation toward the operational position causes the seal to break, whereby the closure is captured in the device. The device may provide a relatively long shelf life for the material, and may facilitate preparation of the material for use.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decompressing a Higher Order Ambisonics (HOA) signal representation is disclosed. The apparatus includes an input interface that receives an encoded directional signal and an encoded ambient signal and an audio decoder that perceptually decodes the encoded directional signal and encoded ambient signal to produce a decoded directional signal and a decoded ambient signal, respectively. The apparatus further includes an extractor for obtaining side information related to the directional signal and an inverse transformer for converting the decoded ambient signal from a spatial domain to an HOA domain representation of the ambient signal. The apparatus also includes a synthesizer for recomposing a Higher Order Ambisonics (HOA) signal from the HOA domain representation of the ambient signal and the decoded directional signal. The side information includes a direction of the directional signal selected from a set of uniformly spaced directions.

Abstract: The invention discloses rendering sound field signals, such as Higher-Order Ambisonics (HOA), for arbitrary loudspeaker setups, where the rendering results in highly improved localization properties and is energy preserving. This is obtained by a new type of decode matrix for sound field data, and a new way to obtain the decode matrix.

Abstract: Dynamic Range Control (DRC) cannot be simply applied to Higher Order Ambisonics (HOA) based signals. A method for performing DRC on a HOA signal comprises transforming the HOA signal to the spatial domain, analyzing the transformed HOA signal, and obtaining, from results of said analyzing, gain factors that are usable for dynamic compression. The gain factors can be transmitted together with the HOA signal. When applying the DRC, the HOA signal is transformed to the spatial domain, the gain factors are extracted and multiplied with the transformed HOA signal in the spatial domain, wherein a gain compensated transformed HOA signal is obtained. The gain compensated transformed HOA signal is transformed back into the HOA domain, wherein a gain compensated HOA signal is obtained.

Abstract: Sound scenes in 3D can be synthesized or captured as a natural sound field. For decoding, a decode matrix is required that is specific for a given loudspeaker setup and is generated using the known loudspeaker positions. However, some source directions are attenuated for 2D loudspeaker setups like e.g. 5.1 surround. An improved method for decoding an encoded audio signal in soundfield format for L loudspeakers at known positions comprises steps of adding (10) a position of at least one virtual loudspeaker to the positions of the L loudspeakers, generating (11) a 3D decode matrix (D?), wherein the positions ({circumflex over (?)}1 . . . {circumflex over (?)}L) of the L loudspeakers and the at least one virtual position ({circumflex over (?)}?L+1) are used, downmixing (12) the 3D decode matrix (D?), and decoding (14) the encoded audio signal (i14) using the downscaled 3D decode matrix ({tilde over (D)}). As a result, a plurality of decoded loudspeaker signals (q14) is obtained.

Abstract: Decoding of Ambisonics representations for a stereo loudspeaker setup is known for first-order Ambisonics audio signals. But such first-order Ambisonics approaches have either high negative side lobes or poor localization in the frontal region. The invention deals with the processing for stereo decoders for higher-order Ambisonics HOA. The desired panning functions can be derived from a panning law for placement of virtual sources between the loudspeakers. For each loudspeaker a desired panning function for all possible input directions at sampling points is defined. The panning functions are approximated by circular harmonic functions, and with increasing Ambisonics order the desired panning functions are matched with decreasing error. For the frontal region between the loudspeakers, a panning law like the tangent law or vector base amplitude panning (VBAP) are used. For the rear directions panning functions with a slight attenuation of sounds from these directions are defined.

Abstract: Soundfield signals such as e.g. Ambisonics carry a representation of a desired sound field. The Ambisonics format is based on spherical harmonic decomposition of the soundfield, and Higher Order Ambisonics (HOA) uses spherical harmonics of at least 2nd order. However, commonly used loudspeaker setups are irregular and lead to problems in decoder design. A method for improved decoding an audio soundfield representation for audio playback comprises calculating a panning function (W) using a geometrical method based on the positions of a plurality of loudspeakers and a plurality of source directions, calculating a mode matrix (?) from the loudspeaker positions, calculating a pseudo-inverse mode matrix (?+) and decoding the audio soundfield representation. The decoding is based on a decode matrix (D) that is obtained from the panning function (W) and the pseudo-inverse mode matrix (?+).

Abstract: A method for encoding multi-channel HOA audio signals for noise reduction comprises steps of decorrelating the channels using an inverse adaptive DSHT, the inverse adaptive DSHT comprising a rotation operation and an inverse DSHT, with the rotation operation rotating the spatial sampling grid of the iDSHT, perceptually encoding each of the decorrelated channels, encoding rotation information, the rotation information comprising parameters defining said rotation operation, and transmitting or storing the perceptually encoded audio channels and the encoded rotation information.

Abstract: Recordings from microphones that provide 1st order Ambisonics signals, so-called B-format signals, offer a limited cognition of sound directivity. Sound sources are perceived broader than they actually are, especially for off-center listening positions, and the sound sources are often located to be coming from the closest speaker positions. In a method and apparatus for enhancing the directivity of 1st order Ambisonics signals, additional directivity information is extracted (SFA) from the lower order Ambisonics input signal. The additional directivity information is used to estimate higher order Ambisonics coefficients, which are then combined with the coefficients of the input signal. Thus, the directivity of the Ambisonics signal is enhanced, which leads to an increased accuracy of spatial source localization when the Ambisonics signal is decoded to loud speaker signals. The resulting output signal has more energy than the input signal.

Abstract: A method for encoding multi-channel HOA audio signals for noise reduction comprises steps of decorrelating the channels using an inverse adaptive DSHT, the inverse adaptive DSHT comprising a rotation operation and an inverse DSHT, with the rotation operation rotating the spatial sampling grid of the iDSHT, perceptually encoding each of the decorrelated channels, encoding rotation information, the rotation information comprising parameters defining said rotation operation, and transmitting or storing the perceptually encoded audio channels and the encoded rotation information.

Abstract: The invention relates to Higher-Order Ambisonics (HOA) Content Loudness Level Adjustment. A method for adjusting a loudness level of a HOA audio signal on a transmitting side comprises steps of measuring loudness of only the W-channel of the HOA audio signal, and leveling HOA master gain for all channels of the HOA signal according to the measured loudness of the W-channel.

Abstract: An operator system for a machine, in particular for a beverage processing machine, having a mobile operator device for the machine, a signal emitter for reporting alarm and/or warning signals, and a carrying device for the operator device, wherein the operator device has a coupling element for attaching to the machine and/or to the carrying device and a transmitter for transmitting alarm and/or warning signals, wherein the signal emitter has an attachment element for attaching to an article of clothing and/or to a body part of a user and a receiver for the alarm and/or warning signals, and wherein the carrying device has a mounting element for attaching to an article of clothing and/or to a body part of the user and a receptacle for the operator device.

Abstract: Sound scenes in 3D can be synthesized or captured as a natural sound field. For decoding, a decode matrix is required that is specific for a given loudspeaker setup and is generated using the known loudspeaker positions. However, some source directions are attenuated for 2D loudspeaker setups like e.g. 5.1 surround. An improved method for decoding an encoded audio signal in soundfield format for L loudspeakers at known positions comprises steps of adding (10) a position of at least one virtual loudspeaker to the positions of the L loudspeakers, generating (11) a 3D decode matrix (D?), wherein the positions (Formula I) of the L loudspeakers and the at least one virtual position (Formula II) are used, downmixing (12) the 3D decode matrix (D?), and decoding (14) the encoded audio signal (i14) using the downscaled 3D decode matrix (Formula III). As a result, a plurality of decoded loudspeaker signals (q14) is obtained.

Abstract: The invention discloses rendering sound field signals, such as Higher-Order Ambisonics (HOA), for arbitrary loudspeaker setups, where the rendering results in highly improved localization properties and is energy preserving. This is obtained by a new type of decode matrix for sound field data, and a new way to obtain the decode matrix.

Abstract: Soundfield signals such as e.g. Ambisonics carry a representation of a desired sound field. The Ambisonics format is based on spherical harmonic decomposition of the soundfield, and Higher Order Ambisonics (HOA) uses spherical harmonics of at least 2nd order. However, commonly used loudspeaker setups are irregular and lead to problems in decoder design. A method for improved decoding an audio soundfield representation for audio playback comprises calculating a panning function (W) using a geometrical method based on the positions of a plurality of loudspeakers and a plurality of source directions, calculating a mode matrix (?) from the loudspeaker positions, calculating a pseudo-inverse mode matrix (?+) and decoding the audio soundfield representation. The decoding is based on a decode matrix (D) that is obtained from the panning function (W) and the pseudo-inverse mode matrix (?+).