A method of operating a headphone configured to be removed from and placed in close proximity to a user's ear can include generating an input signal by an input signal generating device. The method can also include determining whether an insertion event has occurred based on the generated input signal and causing the headphone to operate in 5 a low power mode responsive to an absence of an insertion event determination after a first period of time. The method can also include causing the headphone to operate in an ultra-low power mode responsive to the absence of an insertion event determination after a second period of time that occurs after the first period of time, the ultra-low power mode having a lower power consumption than the low power mode.

A networked speaker system automatically adjusts certain audio speaker system settings based on whether the system is inside a building or has been moved outside as may be sensed by one or capacitors on a speaker. Also, techniques are described for adjusting speaker driver direction based on walls or other barriers in a room or based on the location of a listener.

Example embodiments provide a process that includes one or more of receiving an audio signal at a feedback compressor circuit, receiving an auxiliary attenuation signal from an auxiliary attenuation source, determining a threshold power level based on a value of the auxiliary attenuation signal, determining an output power level of the audio signal exceeds the threshold power level, combining the audio signal with the auxiliary attenuation signal from the auxiliary attenuation source and a compressed attenuation signal from the feedback compressor circuit to create a combination signal, and generating an audio output signal of the feedback compressor circuit based on the combination signal.

A system and method are described herein for configuring an audio distribution system, comprising a Redis server, the Redis server adapted to store Redis data to be used in configuring the audio distribution system; a plurality of audio devices, the plurality of audio devices and Redis server interconnected to form the audio distribution system, wherein each of the plurality of audio devices comprises—at least one processor; an electronic communications interface operatively connected to the at least one processor and adapted to receive data from a user and transfer the data to the at least one processor; and a memory operatively connected with the at least one processor, wherein the memory stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor in a first audio device to execute a method for configuring the audio distribution system that comprises: establishing communications using the electronic communications interface between the user and the at least one processor of the first audio device, such that data input by the user is received by the at least one processor of the first audio device; establishing communications to each of the remaining plurality of audio devices and Redis server in the audio distribution system; obtaining information from each of the remaining plurality of audio devices with which communications have been established, such information including one or more of an audio device name, part number, serial number, internet protocol address number, and physical location; receiving configuration information from the user that pertains to a specific audio device of the plurality of audio devices in the audio distribution system that, when installed on a specific audio device, causes the specific audio device to operate in a known manner; and copying that configuration information to others of the same specific type of audio device in the audio distribution system.

In an audio encoder, for audio content received in a source audio format, default gains are generated based on a default dynamic range compression (DRC) curve, and non-default gains are generated for a non-default gain profile. Based on the default gains and non-default gains, differential gains are generated. An audio signal comprising the audio content, the default DRC curve, and differential gains is generated. In an audio decoder, the default DRC curve and the differential gains are identified from the audio signal. Default gains are re-generated based on the default DRC curve. Based on the combination of the re-generated default gains and the differential gains, operations are performed on the audio content extracted from the audio signal.

A method for a media environment driven content distribution platform includes obtaining synchronization data derived from the content and ancillary data pegged to instants in the synchronization data derived from the content, and communicating the synchronization data derived from the content and the ancillary data pegged to the instants in the synchronization data derived from the content such that subsequent alignment of the synchronization data derived from the content to the content synchronizes the ancillary data pegged to the instants in the synchronization data derived from the content to the content.

A sound output device includes: first circuitry, connected to a first audio device, that outputs sound based on sound output data via the first audio device according to first sound volume data; and second circuitry connected to a second audio device, including an amplifier that amplifies sound to be output from the second audio device according to second sound volume data. The second circuitry controls a value of the second sound volume data to be a fixed value, receives, from the first circuitry, the sound output data and the first sound volume data, and outputs sound based on the sound output data that is received, via the second audio device, according to the first sound volume data that is received.

Methods for performing dynamic range compression (DRC) on audio in a manner intended to produce output audio for playback by systems or devices with limited power handling capabilities and preferably also to reduce or prevent undesirable artifacts (e.g., pumping and/or breathing) in the output audio. Some embodiments perform the DRC so as to maximize average loudness (while preventing loss of quieter elements) during playback, and also to reduce or prevent distortion. Other aspects are systems or devices configured to perform embodiments of the method. In some embodiments, reduced DRC is applied when average loudness of the input audio approaches (or matches or exceeds) a target (e.g., a knee point for DRC, or a signal level near to a maximum playback level of the intended playback system), since such input audio is assumed to have already been compressed, and otherwise applying full DRC to the input audio.

An audio output system for a vehicle. The audio output system includes a volume setting device for setting a volume of an audio signal, an audio input for an audio input signal from an audio source, a warning tone device for providing a warning tone signal, an audio-level measuring device for measuring the audio level at the audio input, and a control unit. The audio-level measuring device is configured to limit the maximum audio level of the audio input signal to a predefined first threshold value as a function of the set volume. The control unit is configured to control an audio output signal on the basis of the warning tone signal, the audio input signal and the set volume, and to output an audible or visual notification if the audio input signal present at the audio input has no audio level.

An improved dynamics processing control system incorporates an integration release window to virtually eliminate ripple in the final control signal used to control a Voltage Controlled Amplifier in a signal processor. The input audio signal is level detected using a logarithmic level detector and filtered to provide a very fast time constant. The fast release time constant signal is clamped at a maximum level equal to the user defined threshold and filtered by a second filter providing a very long release time constant. The long release time constant is dynamically varied by the fast time constant to provide an adaptive slow time constant. The fast time constant signal modifies the adaptive slow time constant when the difference between the fast time constant and the slow time constant exceeds a predefined integration release window. The integration release window is based on a minimum number of decibels which is larger than the maximum possible ripple in the fast time constant signal. The integration release window tracks the adaptive slow time constant signal to maintain the integration release window over the entire release range of the adaptive slow time constant decay. Once the difference between the fast time constant signal and adaptive slow time constant signal is less than the integration release window, the slow release signal reverts to the un-altered slow time constant release response.