An apparatus and method of rendering audio. A binaural signal is split on an amplitude weighting basis into a front binaural signal and a rear binaural signal, based on perceived position information of the audio. In this manner, the front-back differentiation of the binaural signal is improved.

A user listening position is estimated without imposing a burden on a user, and a sound reproduction environment suitable for listening is formed regardless of an actual speaker arrangement state. An estimation part that estimates the user listening position by using position information of N speakers that are three or more speakers, and an arrangement part that sets virtual speaker arrangement by using the user listening position are provided. Therefore, it is possible to estimate the user listening position without imposing a burden on a user and form a sound reproduction environment suitable for listening regardless of an actual speaker arrangement state.

In some examples, a system for angle modification of audio output devices includes a receiver engine to receive an input to modify an angle of the audio output device relative to an axis of a computing device that includes the audio output device, and a modify engine to modify the angle of the audio output device relative to the axis of the computing device based on the input via an electric motor.

A conversation support system supports conversation of passengers in an automobile. Seats of at least two or more rows are placed in the automobile, and the conversation support system includes a speech switching control part configured to designate a desired sound pickup and reproduce area based on designation by a first passenger sitting in a first seat, a first target speech emphasizing part configured to output a signal obtained by emphasizing speech emitted from the designated sound pickup and reproduce area to a loud speaker corresponding to the first seat, and a second target speech emphasizing part configured to output the signal obtained by emphasizing speech, which is collected with a microphone corresponding to the first seat and which is emitted from the first seat, to a loud speaker corresponding to the sound pickup and reproduce area.

An audio device includes a casing configured for operation in a first orientation and a second orientation different from the first orientation, an orientation input device disposed on the casing to detect an orientation of the casing relative to the direction of the force of gravity, and a plurality of acoustic drivers disposed on the casing and operable to form a plurality of acoustic interference arrays, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of audio channels. The acoustic drivers of the audio device operate in a first frequency range and modify at least one of the acoustic interference arrays in response to a change in the orientation detected by the orientation input device.

Described herein is a system for recalibrating an audio configuration for mobile or moving devices. The system may configure a multi-device output group to generate synchronous output audio using multiple devices. For example, the output group may include a first device generating a first portion of output audio corresponding to a first channel and a second device generating a second portion of the output audio corresponding to a second channel. If the second device detects motion and/or movement indicating a change in its location, the system may recalibrate the output group to continue generating the output audio without the second device. For example, the first device or a new device can generate the second portion of the output audio instead of the second device. When the second device returns, the system can recalibrate the output group to include the second device again.

Disclosed is a speaker array for home theater and mini theater applications. The speaker array is built around a subwoofer speaker in a cylindrical enclosure. The speaker array may provide a good trade-off between the amount of equipment used and the theatre-quality sound produced. The speaker array can be placed on the floor level as a single unit for small home living room or multiple units for a large performance space. The multiple units deployed can coordinate with each other. The speaker array can be static, static with space measurement sensors, or moving with a motion-controlled platform.

A speaker system is provided with a cabinet with a front face. At least one forward-firing driver is supported by the cabinet to project sound along a first axis that is generally perpendicular to the front face of the cabinet. At least one upward-firing driver is supported by the cabinet and arranged above the at least one forward-firing driver to project high frequency sound along a second axis that is angularly offset from the first axis at an acute splay angle. A controller is programmed to provide a mid-range frequency component of a front audio channel to the at least one forward-firing driver, and to provide a high frequency component of a top audio channel to the upward-firing driver.

An apparatus for generating a description of a combined audio scene, includes: an input interface for receiving a first description of a first scene in a first format and a second description of a second scene in a second format, wherein the second format is different from the first format; a format converter for converting the first description into a common format and for converting the second description into the common format, when the second format is different from the common format; and a format combiner for combining the first description in the common format and the second description in the common format to obtain the combined audio scene.

An apparatus for generating a description of a combined audio scene, includes: an input interface for receiving a first description of a first scene in a first format and a second description of a second scene in a second format, wherein the second format is different from the first format; a format converter for converting the first description into a common format and for converting the second description into the common format, when the second format is different from the common format; and a format combiner for combining the first description in the common format and the second description in the common format to obtain the combined audio scene.