Abstract: Whereas a high masking effect can be secured in a space to which a masking sound is emitted, the degree of a discomfort a person existing in the space suffers can be reduced. In superimposition processing, a CPU 21 extracts sound signals in different intervals of a sound signal X12-n of a human voice, superimposes the extracted sound signals on each other on the time axis, and outputs a resulting superimposed sound signal X13-n. In shift and addition processing, the CPU 12 interchanges a sound signal, before a reference position, of a sound signal X16-n and a sound signal, after the reference position, of the sound signal X16-n (shift processing) and outputs a sound signal X17-n obtained by adding together a shift-processed sound signal X16?-n and the original, non-shift-processed sound signal X16-n.

Abstract: In a masker sound generation apparatus, an acquisition part acquires a sound signal, and a generation part generates a masker sound signal based on the acquired sound signal. Specifically, the generation part divides the sound signal acquired by the acquisition part into a plurality of sections each having a predetermined time length, then repeats a sorting process of sorting the divided sections as a process of changing the sequence of arrangement of the sound signal, and alters a manner of sorting the sections each time the sorting process is repeated.

Abstract: There is provided a masking sound output device which prevents interference and an echo even in the case where plural apparatus output the same masking sounds. A masking sound generating unit 11 reproduces each of a disturbing sound, a background sound, and a dramatic sound repeatedly for a prescribed time each time. Return reproduction of each of the disturbing sound and the background sound is started with prescribed timing before it is reproduced fully for the prescribed time. The start timing of the return reproduction varies from one device to another. Unlike the disturbing sound and the background sound, the dramatic sound is not returned halfway; its reproduction timing is adjusted by inserting silent intervals. In particular, the silent interval length of the dramatic sound is varied randomly so that a listener does not recognize the repetition.

Abstract: Whereas a high masking effect can be secured in a space to which a masking sound is emitted, the degree of a discomfort a person existing in the space suffers can be reduced. In superimposition processing, a CPU 21 extracts sound signals in different intervals of a sound signal X12-n of a human voice, superimposes the extracted sound signals on each other on the time axis, and outputs a resulting superimposed sound signal X13-n. In shift and addition processing, the CPU 12 interchanges a sound signal, before a reference position, of a sound signal X16-n and a sound signal, after the reference position, of the sound signal X16-n (shift processing) and outputs a sound signal X17-n obtained by adding together a shift-processed sound signal X16?-n and the original, non-shift-processed sound signal X16-n.

Abstract: In a masking sound generating apparatus, a band divider divides a target sound signal into a plurality of frequency bands to generate a plurality of band signals. An envelope signal generating part generates a plurality of envelope signals representing respective envelopes of the plurality of the band signals. A signal converter segments each of the plurality of the envelope signals into a plurality of frames, then specifies frames of segmented envelope signals which have an amplitude greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold, and changes an order of the specified frames in an arrangement of the plurality of the frames. A multiplier multiplies each of the plurality of the envelope signals by a noise signal, each envelope signal having the order of the frames changed by the signal converter, and outputs the plurality of the envelope signals multiplied by the noise signal as individual band masking signals.

Abstract: In a masker sound generation apparatus, an acquisition part acquires a sound signal, and a generation part generates a masker sound signal based on the acquired sound signal. Specifically, the generation part divides the sound signal acquired by the acquisition part into a plurality of sections each having a predetermined time length, then repeats a sorting process of sorting the divided sections as a process of changing the sequence of arrangement of the sound signal, and alters a manner of sorting the sections each time the sorting process is repeated.

Abstract: In a masking sound generating apparatus, a band divider divides a target sound signal into a plurality of frequency bands to generate a plurality of band signals. An envelope signal generating part generates a plurality of envelope signals representing respective envelopes of the plurality of the band signals. A signal converter segments each of the plurality of the envelope signals into a plurality of frames, then specifies frames of segmented envelope signals which have an amplitude greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold, and changes an order of the specified frames in an arrangement of the plurality of the frames. A multiplier multiplies each of the plurality of the envelope signals by a noise signal, each envelope signal having the order of the frames changed by the signal converter, and outputs the plurality of the envelope signals multiplied by the noise signal as individual band masking signals.