Sound Acquisition via the Extraction of Geometrical Information from Direction of Arrival Estimates

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention describes an audio processing system and method that can simulate a physical microphone at any virtual position in a room by using multiple real spatial microphones placed elsewhere. By estimating the locations of sound events (such as speakers or instruments) with direction-of-arrival information from these microphones, the system computes the sound signal as if a microphone were actually placed at a desired location and orientation in the environment, without needing to physically move or install another microphone.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Remote or virtual placement of microphones in recording studios and live performances without rearranging hardware.
• Enhanced teleconferencing and telepresence systems where listeners can choose their listening 'vantage point' dynamically.
• Post-production in film or broadcast, allowing sound engineers to reposition virtual microphones in recorded environments.
• Acoustic analysis and simulation for architecture, sound design, or virtual reality, enabling interactive 3D audio experiences.
• Hearing aids or assistive devices that can spatially focus on specific sound sources in a room without visible hardware repositioning.
• Forensics and surveillance analysis, reconstructing what a microphone would have captured from a different location based on available recordings.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Eliminates the need to place or move physical microphones to a desired spot, increasing flexibility and convenience.
• Allows dynamic and post-hoc control of audio 'pickup' location and direction, greatly improving mixing and editing options.
• Reduces hardware setup complexity and intrusiveness in recording environments or live venues.
• Can create perceptually accurate spatial audio experiences, beneficial for virtual reality and immersive media.
• Enables users to achieve directional listening or selective focus in noisy or complex auditory environments, potentially improving clarity.
• Supports enhanced analysis and reproduction of spatial audio scenes, adding tools for professionals in audio engineering and research.

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Patent Abstract

An apparatus for generating an audio output signal to simulate a recording of a virtual microphone at a configurable virtual position in an environment is provided. The apparatus comprises a sound events position estimator and an information computation module (120). The sound events position estimator (110) is adapted to estimate a sound source position indicating a position of a sound source in the environment, wherein the sound events position estimator (110) is adapted to estimate the sound source position based on a first direction information provided by a first real spatial microphone being located at a first real microphone position in the environment, and based on a second direction information provided by a second real spatial microphone being located at a second real microphone position in the environment. The information computation module (120) is adapted to generate the audio output signal based on a first recorded audio input signal, based on the first real microphone position, based on the virtual position of the virtual microphone, and based on the sound source position.