A method processes an initial audio signal, having a target portion and a side portion, by receiving of the initial audio signal; modifying the received initial audio signal using a first signal modifier to obtain a first modified audio signal and modifying the received initial audio signal using a second signal modifier to obtain a second modified audio signal; comparing received initial audio signal with the first modified audio signal to obtain a first perceptual similarity value describing the perceptual similarity between the initial audio signal and the first modified audio signal; and comparing the received initial audio signal with the second modified audio signal to obtain a second perceptual similarity value describing the perceptual similarity between the initial audio signal and the second modified audio signal; and selecting the first or second modified audio signal dependent on the respective first or second perceptual similarity value.

A method processes an initial audio signal, having a target portion and a side portion, by receiving of the initial audio signal; modifying the received initial audio signal using a first signal modifier to obtain a first modified audio signal and modifying the received initial audio signal using a second signal modifier to obtain a second modified audio signal; comparing received initial audio signal with the first modified audio signal to obtain a first perceptual similarity value describing the perceptual similarity between the initial audio signal and the first modified audio signal; and comparing the received initial audio signal with the second modified audio signal to obtain a second perceptual similarity value describing the perceptual similarity between the initial audio signal and the second modified audio signal; and selecting the first or second modified audio signal dependent on the respective first or second perceptual similarity value.

A computer-implemented method for correcting muffled speech caused by facial coverings is disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes monitoring a user's speech for speech distortion. The computer-implemented method further includes determining that the user's speech is distorted. The computer-implemented method further includes determining that a cause of the user's speech distortion is based, at least in part, on a presence of a particular type of facial covering. The computer-implemented method further includes automatically correcting the speech distortion of the user based, at least in part, on the particular type of facial covering causing the speech distortion.

A computer-implemented method for correcting muffled speech caused by facial coverings is disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes monitoring a user's speech for speech distortion. The computer-implemented method further includes determining that the user's speech is distorted. The computer-implemented method further includes determining that a cause of the user's speech distortion is based, at least in part, on a presence of a particular type of facial covering. The computer-implemented method further includes automatically correcting the speech distortion of the user based, at least in part, on the particular type of facial covering causing the speech distortion.

A video quality estimation apparatus for estimating an experienced quality of a user when viewing a video includes a video quality estimation unit that estimates a video quality based on a parameter related to video quality of a high image quality region in the video and a parameter related to video quality of a low image quality region in the video, an audio quality estimation unit that estimates audio quality from a parameter related to audio quality of the video,

an audio-visual quality/quality variation integration unit that estimates audio-visual quality based on a video quality estimation value estimated by the video quality estimation unit and an audio quality estimation value estimated by the audio quality estimation unit, a degradation amount estimation unit that estimates a degradation amount of the experienced quality based on a parameter related to the stop of replay of the video, the degradation being caused by a stop of replay, and a quality integration unit that estimates the experienced quality in viewing based on the audio-visual quality estimated by the audio-visual quality/quality variation integration unit and the degradation amount caused by the stop of replay estimated by the degradation amount estimation unit.

A video quality estimation apparatus for estimating an experienced quality of a user when viewing a video includes a video quality estimation unit that estimates a video quality based on a parameter related to video quality of a high image quality region in the video and a parameter related to video quality of a low image quality region in the video, an audio quality estimation unit that estimates audio quality from a parameter related to audio quality of the video,

an audio-visual quality/quality variation integration unit that estimates audio-visual quality based on a video quality estimation value estimated by the video quality estimation unit and an audio quality estimation value estimated by the audio quality estimation unit, a degradation amount estimation unit that estimates a degradation amount of the experienced quality based on a parameter related to the stop of replay of the video, the degradation being caused by a stop of replay, and a quality integration unit that estimates the experienced quality in viewing based on the audio-visual quality estimated by the audio-visual quality/quality variation integration unit and the degradation amount caused by the stop of replay estimated by the degradation amount estimation unit.

Methods, systems, and computer program products for synchronizing audio signals captured by multiple independent devices during an audio event are described. Multiple recording devices, e.g. several smartphones, record the audio event. A computer system receives audio signals from the devices. The system determines a first delay between two audio signals based on cross-correlation of waveforms of the two audio signals. Subsequently, the system detects attacks that are present in each audio signal by computing the derivative of a respective envelope for each audio signal. The system determines a second delay between the two audio signals based on cross-correlation of attacks of the two audio signals. The system synchronizes the audio signals using the second delay upon determining that using the second delay improves sound quality over using the first delay.

Methods, systems, and computer program products for synchronizing audio signals captured by multiple independent devices during an audio event are described. Multiple recording devices, e.g. several smartphones, record the audio event. A computer system receives audio signals from the devices. The system determines a first delay between two audio signals based on cross-correlation of waveforms of the two audio signals. Subsequently, the system detects attacks that are present in each audio signal by computing the derivative of a respective envelope for each audio signal. The system determines a second delay between the two audio signals based on cross-correlation of attacks of the two audio signals. The system synchronizes the audio signals using the second delay upon determining that using the second delay improves sound quality over using the first delay.

At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a method of generating a hearing impairment compensation function to process audio reproduced by an earphone device. The compensation function includes processing the audio to compensate for frequency sensitivity to improve speech intelligibility.

At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a method of generating a hearing impairment compensation function to process audio reproduced by an earphone device. The compensation function includes processing the audio to compensate for frequency sensitivity to improve speech intelligibility.