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 described for a method and system of rendering and playing back spatial audio content using a channel-based format. Spatial audio content that is played back through legacy channel-based equipment is transformed into the appropriate channel-based format resulting in the loss of certain positional information within the audio objects and positional metadata comprising the spatial audio content. To retain this information for use in spatial audio equipment even after the audio content is rendered as channel-based audio, certain metadata generated by the spatial audio processor is incorporated into the channel-based data. The channel-based audio can then be sent to a channel-based audio decoder or a spatial audio decoder. The spatial audio decoder processes the metadata to recover at least some positional information that was lost during the down-mix operation by upmixing the channel-based audio content back to the spatial audio content for optimal playback in a spatial audio environment.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for a method and system of rendering and playing back spatial audio content using a channel-based format. Spatial audio content that is played back through legacy channel-based equipment is transformed into the appropriate channel-based format resulting in the loss of certain positional information within the audio objects and positional metadata comprising the spatial audio content. To retain this information for use in spatial audio equipment even after the audio content is rendered as channel-based audio, certain metadata generated by the spatial audio processor is incorporated into the channel-based data. The channel-based audio can then be sent to a channel-based audio decoder or a spatial audio decoder. The spatial audio decoder processes the metadata to recover at least some positional information that was lost during the down-mix operation by upmixing the channel-based audio content back to the spatial audio content for optimal playback in a spatial audio environment.

Abstract: A sound encoding and decoding technique for interactive content according to the present disclosure provides additional sound channels encoded in real time from 3D audio vector and level information. The additional channels are encoded into the native sound channel format for compatibility with legacy equipment. Decoding equipment compatible with the present disclosure decodes the native sound stream and extracts the additional channels to provide a more immersive interactive sound experience.

Abstract: Sound reproduction according to the present disclosure integrates an additional sound field, direct surround sound, to existing diffuse or ambient surround sound systems. Direct surround sound permits point source sounds to be located in an ambient or diffuse surround field and or to be moved within the surround field with control of the sound timbre. Sound mixing equipment may include two or more direct surround channels to permit sound designers and engineers to add, locate and move point source sounds within the surround field. The inclusion of two or more point source loudspeakers improves the surround array by providing direct sources that may be localizable and timbre matched to the screen channel speakers. This in turn provides filmmakers and other content creators a new tool they can use during the creation of content such as movie soundtracks.