An apparatus which allows smooth conversation with improved sound quality to be performed independently of the magnitude of noise or the like in a vehicle. A transmission system is provided, which transmits a sound signal from a first microphone provided corresponding to a first position to a speaker provided corresponding to a second position. A transmission apparatus, a transmission method, and a program include: an evaluating unit which evaluates at least one of a level of a direct sound transmitted from the first position to the second position without intervention of the first microphone and the speaker, a noise level, and an operating state of a noise source; and a delay setting unit which sets a transmission delay from the first microphone to the speaker based on an evaluation result of the evaluating unit.

Systems and methods for optimizing network microphone devices using noise classification are disclosed herein. In one example, individual microphones of a network microphone device (NMD) detect sound. The sound data is analyzed to detect a trigger event such as a wake word. Metadata associated with the sound data is captured in a lookback buffer of the NMD. After detecting the trigger event, the metadata is analyzed to classify noise in the sound data. Based on the classified noise, at least one performance parameter of the NMD is modified.

The amount of far-field noise transmitted by a primary communication device in an open-plan office environment is reduced by defining an acoustic perimeter of reference microphones around the primary device. Reference microphones generate a reference audio input including far-field noise in the proximity of the primary device. The primary device generates a main audio input including the voice of the primary speaker as well as background noise. Reference audio input is compared to main audio input to identify the background noise portion of the main audio signal. A noise reduction algorithm suppresses the identified background noise in the main audio signal. The one or more reference microphones defining the acoustic perimeter may be included in separate microphone devices placed in proximity to the main desktop phone, microphones within other nearby desktop telephone devices, or a combination of both types of devices.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for audio noise reduction from a drone are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an acoustic sensor to gather acoustic data and at least one rotational motion sensor to gather rotational motion data of a first rotor and second rotational motion data of a second rotor. The example apparatus also includes an analyzer to identify a first filter that matches the first rotational motion data and identify a second filter that matches the second rotational motion data. The analyzer also is to filter the acoustic data into filtered acoustic data with the first identified filter and the second identified filter and generate an audio signal based on the filtered acoustic data.

Examples described herein involve configuring a playback device based on distortion, such as that caused by a barrier. One implementation may involve causing the playback device to play audio content according to an existing playback configuration, determining an existing frequency response of the playback device in a given system, and determining whether a difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and a predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than a predetermined distortion threshold. If it is determined that the difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device and the predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than the predetermined distortion threshold, then the existing playback configuration of the playback device is changed to an updated playback configuration of the playback device and the playback device plays audio content according to the updated playback configuration.

Systems and methods for optimizing voice detection via a network microphone device (NMD) based on a selected voice-assistant service (VAS) are disclosed herein. In one example, the NMD detects sound via individual microphones and selects a first VAS to communicate with the NMD. The NMD produces a first sound-data stream based on the detected sound using a spatial processor in a first configuration. Once the NMD determines that a second VAS is to be selected over the first VAS, the spatial processor assumes a second configuration for producing a second sound-data stream based on the detected sound. The second sound-data stream is then transmitted to one or more remote computing devices associated with the second VAS.

A real-time audio signal processing system includes an audio signal processor configured to process audio signals using a modified generalized eigenvalue (GEV) beamforming technique to generate an enhanced target audio output signal. The digital signal processor includes a sub-band decomposition circuitry configured to decompose the audio signal into sub-band frames in the frequency domain and a target activity detector configured to detect whether a target audio is present in the sub-band frames. Based on information related to the sub-band frames and the determination of whether the target audio is present in the sub-band frames, the digital signal processor is configured to use the modified GEV technique to estimate the relative transfer function (RTF) of the target audio source, and generate a filter based on the estimated RTF. The filter may then be applied to the audio signals to generate the enhanced audio output signal.

A venue includes a display screen, a performance stage, and an audience area. The display screen has (i) an inner periphery, (ii) an outer periphery, and (iii) at least one of a non-linear or a curved cross-sectional shape that is at least partially revolved around a center point. The performance stage (i) is positioned between the inner periphery and the outer periphery of the display screen and (ii) at least partially extends along at least one of the inner periphery or the outer periphery of the display screen. The audience area is positioned between the inner periphery and the outer periphery of the display screen.

An active noise cancellation system comprising an active noise cancellation circuit connected to a microphone arranged to sense environmental noise, the active noise cancellation circuit comprising: an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) arranged to convert the sensed environmental noise to a digital environmental noise signal, a prediction filter configured for predicting a plurality D of inverted digital environmental noise samples and generating a digital inverted environmental noise signal, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to convert the digital inverted environmental noise signal to an analog inverted environmental noise signal for cancelling the environmental noise.

Systems and methods for optimizing voice detection via a network microphone device (NMD) based on a selected voice-assistant service (VAS) are disclosed herein. In one example, the NMD detects sound via individual microphones and selects a first VAS to communicate with the NMD. The NMD produces a first sound-data stream based on the detected sound using a spatial processor in a first configuration. Once the NMD determines that a second VAS is to be selected over the first VAS, the spatial processor assumes a second configuration for producing a second sound-data stream based on the detected sound. The second sound-data stream is then transmitted to one or more remote computing devices associated with the second VAS.