Embodiments of systems and methods are described for reducing undesired leakage energy produced by a non-front-facing speaker in a multi-speaker system. For example, the multi-speaker system can include an array of forward-facing speakers, one or more upward-facing speakers, and/or one or more side-facing speakers. Filters coupled to any two of the speakers in the multi-speaker system can generate audio signals output by the coupled speakers to reduce, attenuate, or cancel a portion of an audio signal output by one or more non-front-facing speakers that acoustically propagates along a direct path from the respective non-front-facing speaker to a listening position in a listening area in front of the multi-speaker system.

Audio signals are obtained and filtered. First and second audio processing tools are selected, and priorities associated with the first and second audio processing tools are assigned. In response to a higher priority associated with the first audio processing tool, the audio signal is encoded using the first audio processing tool. A multi-channel audio format for decoding the encoded may be selected and the encoded audio signal is decoded to the selected multi-channel audio format. Further, metadata associated with audio objects may be obtained. A gain level for each audio object may be determined based on the metadata and the gain level may be adjusted using the second audio processing tool. Another multi-channel audio format may be selected, and the gain level adjusted audio signal may be encoded based on the other selected multi-channel audio format. The gain level adjusted audio signal is output to be rendered via playback devices.

An acoustic system (1) for diffusing sound from N channels (Si) comprising audio frequencies, N being greater than or equal to two, the acoustic system comprising a frame (5), M loudspeakers (HPj) which are similar to each other and mounted on the frame (5), and a processing unit (20) designed to send M loudspeaker signals (SSj) to the loudspeakers respectively.

The loudspeakers are arranged at an angle about an axis (Z), two successive loudspeakers forming an angle (a) substantially equal to 360° divided by M.

The processing unit (20) comprises a splitter (28) configured to produce the loudspeaker signals (SSj), each loudspeaker signal comprising the same shared bass component (SS.sub.LF) in which audio frequencies that are higher than a first predetermined frequency (f1) are non-existent or reduced, at least two of the loudspeaker signals further comprising a specific component (SS.sub.j,MF) in addition to the shared bass component and in which the audio frequencies below the first frequency are non-existent or reduced, each specific component being obtained from at least one of the channels, and at least two of the specific components being different from each other.

An audio system can be configured to generate an audio heatmap for the audio emission potential profiles for one or more speakers, in specific or arbitrary locations. The audio heatmap maybe based on speaker location and orientation, speaker acoustic properties, and optionally environmental properties. The audio heatmap often shows areas of low sound density when there are few speakers, and areas of high sound density when there are a lot of speakers. An audio system may be configured to normalize audio signals for a set of speakers that cooperatively emit sound to render an audio object in a defined audio object location. The audio signals for each speaker can be normalized to ensure accurate rendering of the audio object without volume spikes or dropout.

Systems and methods are disclosed for modelling of individual acoustic transfer functions relative to the audition of an individual in three-dimensional space. A method is provided for modelling sets of acoustic transfer functions specific to an individual according to a multiplicity of directions in space, where a set of acoustic transfer functions specific to the individual in a given direction is determined depending on the result of a statistical analysis of a plurality of distinct stimuli emitted in the direction of the individual. A stimulus can be dependent on at least one set of predetermined acoustic transfer functions that are associated with the given direction, and on responses received from the individual to each emitted stimulus.

A method of reproducing a multi-channel audio signal including an elevation sound signal in a horizontal layout environment is provided, thereby obtaining a rendering parameter according to a rendering type and configuring a down-mix matrix, and thus effective rendering performance may be obtained with respect to an audio signal that is not suitable for applying virtual rendering. A method of rendering an audio signal includes receiving a multi-channel signal includes a plurality of input channels to be converted into a plurality of output channels; determining a rendering type for elevation rendering based on a parameter determined from a characteristic of the multi-channel signal; and rendering at least one height input channel according to the determined rendering type, wherein the parameter is included in a bitstream of the multi-channel signal.

Systems and methods for adjusting bass levels of a multi-channel audio signal include, among other features, (i) receiving the multi-channel signal via a playback device; (ii) separating, from the multi-channel signal, low-frequency signals comprising frequencies less than a threshold frequency; (iii) determining electrical energies of the low-frequency signals; (iv) determining a first energy by summing the electrical energies of the low-frequency signals; (v) consolidating the low-frequency signals into a consolidated low-frequency signal; (vi) determining a second energy by determining an electrical energy of the consolidated low-frequency signal; (vii) generating a gain-adjusted low-frequency signal by adjusting a gain of the consolidated low-frequency signal based on both (a) the first energy and (b) the second energy; (viii) generating a gain-adjusted multi-channel signal by mixing the gain-adjusted low-frequency signal back into the multi-channel signal; and (ix) using the gain-adjusted multi-channel signal to play back gain-adjusted multi-channel audio content via the playback device.

Embodiments described herein involve an auxiliary zone contributing audio to a primary zone. In an example implementation, a network media system determines that a first zone in the network media system is playing back a first type of audio content and that a second zone in the network media system is not playing back audio content. While the first zone is playing back the first type of audio content and the second zone is not playing back audio content, the network media system forms a temporarily playback configuration. In the temporary playback configuration, the first zone plays back primary audio content including full frequency range audio content and the second playback device of the second zone plays back auxiliary audio content including low frequency range audio content.

A sound output device includes a processor, the processor being configured to generate a first output signal for sound to be output from a first output device by mixing a left-channel signal and a right-channel signal based on a first ratio, generate a second output signal for sound to be output from a second output device by mixing the left-channel signal and the right-channel signal based on a second ratio, generate a third output signal for sound to be output from a third output device by mixing the left-channel signal and the right-channel signal based on a third ratio, and generate a fourth output signal for sound to be output from a fourth output device by mixing the left-channel signal and the right-channel signal based on a fourth ratio.

A vehicle audio video navigation (AVN) system may be provided that includes: a plurality of source providers which receives a sound source; a user operation unit which selects at least one of a plurality of the sound sources input from the plurality of the source providers and selects a focusing zone of the sound source; a processor which generates a sound source signal for focusing an output of the selected sound source on the focusing zone; and a multi-channel amplifier which outputs the sound source signal. As a result, the focusing zone of each sound output within a vehicle can be individually controlled. Particularly, the focusing zone of each sound can be easily selected and controlled without changing the location of the speaker within the vehicle. Also, the sound source and the focusing zone within the vehicle can be selected and controlled only by adding an external processor without replacing the AVN device provided in the vehicle.