Device and method for driving a sound system and sound system

Abstract

A driving device for a sound system by loudspeaker signals, wherein the sound system has a wave field synthesis loudspeaker array and one or several supply loudspeakers arranged separate from the wave field synthesis array includes an audio input for receiving at least one audio signal from at least one sound source, a position input for receiving information on a position of the sound source, a wave field synthesis unit for calculating loudspeaker signals for the loudspeakers of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array, and a provider for providing the loudspeaker signal for the one or the several supply loudspeakers. The driving device enables a sound system by means of which sound localization becomes possible for the audience and at the same time pleasant levels can be achieved also in the first rows of the audience.

Claims

1. A method for driving a sound system by loudspeaker signals, the sound system comprising a wave field synthesis loudspeaker array and one or several supply loudspeakers arranged separate from the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array, the method comprising: receiving at least one audio signal for at least one sound source; receiving information on a position of the at least one sound source; providing one or more first loudspeaker signals for the one or several supply loudspeakers based on the at least one audio signal for the at least one sound source to generate a first sound field for a group of listeners in a space, calculating second loudspeaker signals for array loudspeakers of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array based on the position of the at least one sound source, based on the at least one audio signal and based on positions of the array loudspeakers to produce a second sound field by the array loudspeakers of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array, wherein the second sound field allows a localization of the at least one sound source by the group of listeners in the space at the position of the at least one sound source; and driving the array loudspeakers using the second loudspeaker signals and driving the one or several supply loudspeakers using the one or more first loudspeaker signals such that a second wave front of the second sound field produced by the array loudspeakers in response to the at least one audio signal for the at least one sound source in the space arrives at the group of listeners in the space before a first wave front of the first sound field produced by the one or several supply loudspeakers in response to the at least one audio signal for the at least one sound source, wherein, by use of the law of the first sound wave front, the localization of the at least one sound source by the group of listeners in the space is achieved by the second sound field produced by the array loudspeakers of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array and a sound energy supply to the group of listeners for the at least one sound source is achieved by the first sound field produced by the one or several supply loudspeakers, wherein the second loudspeaker signals are calculated to provide a pleasant sound level distribution including directional perception for listeners located close to the one or several supply loudspeakers, and wherein the one or more first loudspeaker signals are provided to supply listeners at a greater distance from the one or several supply loudspeakers with sufficient loudness.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the providing the one or more first loudspeaker signals for the one or several supply loudspeakers further comprises providing a mono signal, a stereo signal or a multi-channel signal derived by mixing from the at least one audio signal from the at least one sound source.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the providing the one or more first loudspeaker signals for the one or several supply loudspeakers further comprises delaying the one or more first loudspeaker signals for the one or several supply loudspeakers by a first delay, wherein the first delay is set dependent on a second delay of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the one or more first loudspeaker signals is delayed by the first delay, wherein the first delay is set to be greater than the second delay of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array by a delay value between 1 ms and 100 ms.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling the one or more first loudspeaker signals or controlling the second loudspeaker signals such that a second sound level caused by the array loudspeakers at the group of listeners in the space is smaller than a first sound level caused by the one or several supply loudspeakers in at least a certain region of the space.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the calculating the second loudspeaker signals further comprises calculating a second number of second loudspeaker signals, the second number of second loudspeaker signals being greater than a first number of the one or more first loudspeaker signals.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the second number of the second loudspeaker signals is at least three times as large as the first number of the one or more first loudspeaker signals.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sound system is arranged in the space, the space comprising a front edge and a left edge and a right edge, wherein the one or several supply loudspeakers comprise at least two supply loudspeakers, wherein a first supply loudspeaker of the at least two supply loudspeakers is arranged at the left edge, and wherein a second supply loudspeaker of the at least two supply loudspeakers is arranged at the right edge, and wherein the array loudspeakers of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array are arranged at the front edge.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the front edge abuts on a region for the at least one sound source.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the region is a stage or a speaker region of a lecture hall.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array is a flat array in which the array loudspeakers are positioned in a plane at predetermined distances from one another.

12. A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon instructions, which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform: driving a sound system by loudspeaker signals, the sound system comprising a wave field synthesis loudspeaker array and one or several supply loudspeakers arranged separate from the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array; wherein the instructions for driving a sound system further comprise instructions, which when executed cause the processor to perform: receiving at least one audio signal for at least one sound source; receiving information on a position of the at least one sound source; providing one or more first loudspeaker signals for the one or several supply loudspeakers based on the at least one audio signal for the at least one sound source to generate a first sound field for a group of listeners in a space, calculating second loudspeaker signals for array loudspeakers of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array based on the position of the at least one sound source, based on the at least one audio signal and based on positions of the array loudspeakers to produce a second sound field by the array loudspeakers of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array, wherein the second sound field allows a localization of the at least one sound source by the group of listeners in the space at the position of the at least one sound source; and driving the array loudspeakers using the second loudspeaker signals and driving the one or several supply loudspeakers using the one or more first loudspeaker signals such that a second wave front of the second sound field produced by the array loudspeakers in response to the at least one audio signal for the at least one sound source in the space arrives at the group of listeners in the space before a first wave front of the first sound field produced by the one or several supply loudspeakers in response to the at least one audio signal for the at least one sound source, wherein, by use of the law of the first sound wave front, the localization of the at least one sound source by the group of listeners in the space is achieved by the second sound field produced by the array loudspeakers of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array and a sound energy supply to the group of listeners for the at least one sound source is achieved by the first sound field produced by the one or several supply loudspeakers, wherein the second loudspeaker signals are calculated to provide a pleasant sound level distribution including directional perception for listeners located close to the one or several supply loudspeakers, and wherein the one or more first loudspeaker signals are provided to supply listeners at a greater distance from the one or several supply loudspeakers with sufficient loudness.

13. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions for providing the one or more first loudspeaker signals for the one or several supply loudspeakers further comprise instructions for providing a mono signal, a stereo signal, or a multi-channel signal derived by mixing from the at least one audio signal for the at least one sound source.

14. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions for providing the one or more first loudspeaker signals for the one or several supply loudspeakers further comprise instructions for delaying the one or more first loudspeaker signals for the one or several supply loudspeakers by a first delay, wherein the first delay is set dependent on a second delay of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array.

15. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 14, further storing instructions for controlling the one or more first loudspeaker signals or for controlling the second loudspeaker signals so that the one or more first loudspeaker signals are delayed by the first delay, wherein the first delay is set to be greater than the second delay of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array by a delay value between 1 ms and 100 ms.

16. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 12, further storing instructions for controlling the one or more first loudspeaker signals or for controlling the second loudspeaker signals such that a second sound level caused by the array loudspeakers at the group of listeners in the space is smaller than a first sound level caused by the one or several supply loudspeakers in at least a certain region of the space.

17. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions for calculating the second loudspeaker signals further comprise instructions for calculating a second number of second loudspeaker signals, the second number of second loudspeaker signals being greater than a first number of the one or more first loudspeaker signals.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sound source is a moving sound source, wherein the step of receiving information on a position of the at least one sound source comprises receiving a time-variable position of the at least one sound source being the moving sound source, wherein the calculating the second loudspeaker signals for the array loudspeakers of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array comprises calculating the second loudspeaker signals such that the at least one sound source being the moving sound source becomes a virtual sound source and is perceived, by the group of listeners in the space, as being moved as controlled by the time-variable position of the at least one sound source being the moving sound source.

19. An apparatus for driving a sound system by loudspeaker signals, the sound system comprising a wave field synthesis loudspeaker array and one or several supply loudspeakers arranged separate from the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array, the apparatus comprising: an audio input configured for receiving at least one audio signal for at least one sound source; a position input configured for receiving information on a position of the at least one sound source; a signal generator configured for generating one or more first loudspeaker signals for the one or several supply loudspeakers based on the at least one audio signal for the at least one sound source to produce a first sound field for a group of listeners in a space, a wave field synthesis unit connected to the audio input and the position input and configured for calculating second loudspeaker signals for array loudspeakers of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array based on the position of the at least one sound source, based on the at least one audio signal and based on positions of the array loudspeakers to produce a second sound field by the array loudspeakers of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array, wherein the second sound field allows a localization of the at least one sound source by the group of listeners in the space at the position of the at least one sound source; and a driver configured for driving the array loudspeakers using the second loudspeaker signals and for driving the one or several supply loudspeakers using the one or more first loudspeaker signals such that a second wave front of the second sound field produced by the array loudspeakers in response to the at least one audio signal for the at least one sound source in the space arrives at the group of listeners in the space before a first wave front of the first sound field produced by the one or several supply loudspeakers in response to the at least one audio signal for the at least one sound source, wherein, by use of the law of the first sound wave front, the localization of the at least one sound source by the group of listeners in the space is achieved by the second sound field produced by the array loudspeakers of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array and a sound energy supply to the group of listeners for the at least one sound source is achieved by the first sound field produced by the one or several supply loudspeakers, wherein wave field synthesis unit is configured to calculate the second loudspeaker signals to provide a pleasant sound level distribution including directional perception for listeners located close to the one or several supply loudspeakers, and wherein the signal generator is configured to generate the one or more first loudspeaker signals to supply listeners at a greater distance from the one or several supply loudspeakers with sufficient loudness.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or several supply loudspeakers are arranged above the group of listeners.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the present invention will be detailed subsequently referring to the appended drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a device for driving a sound system by loudspeaker signals; and

(3) FIG. 2 shows a design of a sound system for a space in front of a stage to be provided with sound.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) FIG. 1 shows a device for driving a sound system by loudspeaker signals, the sound system comprising a wave field synthesis loudspeaker array 10 and one or several supply loudspeakers 12 which are arranged separate from the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array 10 and in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are referred to by L for a left supply loudspeaker, R for a right supply loudspeaker and M for a mono or central loudspeaker. Depending on the embodiment, only a mono loudspeaker M may be present, or a left loudspeaker L or a right loudspeaker R.

(5) A certain arrangement of the supply loudspeakers 12 is also illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein there are only four supply loudspeakers 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, the left supply loudspeakers 12c, 12d being supplied by the L channel of the stereo signal, whereas the right loudspeakers 12b, 12c are supplied by the right stereo signal. There is no mono or central loudspeaker in, for example, FIG. 2.

(6) However, in principle any loudspeaker 12a-12d may be supplied by the mono channel M. In this case, the entire space 13 to be provided with sound would be supplied by a mono signal emitted by the four loudspeakers.

(7) In the embodiment of a sound system shown in FIG. 2, the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array 10 is arranged in front of a stage 11 on which there may be real sound sources, such as, for example, speakers, theatre actors, musicians, etc., which in FIG. 2 are generally referred to by the reference numeral 15. The wave field synthesis loudspeaker array 10 is a flat open array. This means that the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array does not extend around all four sides of the space 13 illustrated in FIG. 2 from the top to be provided with sound, but only on the one side. This side advantageously is arranged, with regard to the space to be supplied with sound, where the virtual/real sound sources typically present may be. In a theatre, for example, it can usually be assumed that the actors will only be on the stage, but not at the sides with regard to the audience or behind the audience. Thus, to be able to spatially resolve these sound sources, it is sufficient for a wave field synthesis loudspeaker array to be arranged on the side of the space 13 to be provided with sound which is opposite to the stage 11 or the area in which sound sources may really be. However, it is irrelevant whether the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array 10 is arranged between the real sound sources and the space 13 to be provided with sound, i.e. like as illustrated in FIG. 2, or whether the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array 10 is arranged behind the real sound sources, i.e. in a position 17 illustrated in FIG. 2 by broken lines.

(8) With an arrangement of the array behind the real sound sources, however, shadowings by actors, props, etc. are to be taken into consideration. Furthermore, a high sound level may develop on the stage, which may become a feedback danger. For these reasons, an arrangement in front of the stage is of advantage.

(9) The real sound sources, as are indicated in FIG. 2 on the stage 11, are mapped by the wave field synthesis unit which will be explained in greater detail below to virtual sound sources such that a sound field reconstructed by the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array will be designed such that a listener in the space 13 to be provided with sound will truly think that the sound sources he or she is listening to are at the real position on the stage, in the case of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array 10 shown in FIG. 2 behind the loudspeaker array.

(10) It is to be pointed out at this stage that the scenario of FIG. 2 may in a certain way be compared to a normal wave field synthesis setting, wherein, however, in contrast to the normal setting, the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array 10 is only arranged on one side, namely on the stage side, whereas in a normal wave field synthesis setting the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array would extend at least around the entire space 13 to be provided with sound, wherein, maybe, wave field synthesis loudspeaker arrays may even be applied in the ceiling and the ground.

(11) Using an open wave field synthesis loudspeaker array 10 and substituting the normal remaining wave field synthesis loudspeaker arrays by the supply loudspeakers 12a-12d have the result that the sources 15 which are arranged either in front of or behind the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array 10 are acoustically reconstructed almost as precisely for the space 13 to be provided with sound as if there were a continuous surrounding array. The reason for this is that the considerable contribution to reconstructing the sources 15 comes from the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array 10 which is, for example, arranged in front of the space to be provided with sound. On the other hand, the supply loudspeakers 12a-12d provide for a sufficiently high level over the entire space 13 to be provided with sound, however require considerably less expenditure and cost than a continuous wave field synthesis array.

(12) This will be all the more important when existing systems are improved by the inventive concept, since there are no additional costs for the supply loudspeakers which are already there anyway. The input signals thereof will only be post-processed by the driving device illustrated in FIG. 1, compared to the existing mixing console which has typically been present and is referred to in FIG. 1 by 14, as will be explained in greater detail below referring to FIG. 1.

(13) The driving device of FIG. 1 includes an audio input 16, via which output signals are fed from a microphone array 19 or any other audio source to an analog-to-digital converter 20. The audio input 16 in the scenario shown in FIG. 1 in which there are actually microphones, receives analog microphone signals. If, however, the microphones 19 and the analog-to-digital converter 20 are replaced by a synthetic scenario in which certain sound sources, the output signals of which have already been recorded, move in a virtual space, the audio input 16 will not receive analog output signals of a microphone array 19 butput generallyaudio signals from at least one sound source which may be in any form, exemplarily in a compressed/coded form or in the form of a sequence of sample values, as are, for example, present on a CD.

(14) The audio signal of at least one sound source is fed to a wave field synthesis unit 22 which additionally receives information on the current position of this sound source via a position input 24.

(15) Alternatively, the additional positioning signal may be fed to the control unit and not directly to the WFS unit. In thisadvantageouscase, the sources are thus positioned on the user surface or above the positioning input.

(16) If the situation illustrated in FIG. 1 is not a synthetic situation, the current position of the sound source which has been recorded before and the position of which has been determined can actually be provided directly with the audio signal of the wave field synthesis unit 22. The position of the source may also be transferred as side information of the audio signal. In this case, the audio signal input and the position input coincide.

(17) In a conference scenario in which a speaker moves, or in a theatre scenario in which an actor moves, this actor will carry one of the microphones of the microphone array 19 and also be provided with, for example, a GPS transmitter in order for his or her position to be determined currently.

(18) Different techniques, such as, for example, by means of infrared triangulation or by RF triangulation or by any other method of determining a position, are known.

(19) If the microphone array 19 has a fixed location in an audience space, the wave field synthesis unit 22 will obtain at least the natural fixed position of all the microphones via the position input 24 and perform a reconstruction starting from this.

(20) The wave field synthesis unit 22 is implemented to calculate loudspeaker signals for the loudspeakers of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array based on the position obtained via the position input 24, the audio signal obtained via the audio signal input 16, and based on the position of the loudspeakers of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array so that a sound field produced by the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array will allow localizing the at least one sound source for a listener.

(21) The down-mixed channels generated by a conventional mixing console 14 (analog or digital or a digital audio workstation), such as, for example, the left channel L, the right channel R and the center channel M or mono channel M, are also input into the inventive driving device, into means for providing the loudspeaker signal for the one or the several supply loudspeakers on the basis of the audio signal from the at least one sound source. This means may in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 include the analog-to-digital converter 20, a delay stage 24a and an amplitude manipulation stage 24b. Both stages are driven by a controller 26 advantageously present in the driving device, by delay parameters with regard to the delay stage 24a and amplification and/or attenuation parameters with regard to the amplitude manipulation stage 24b. Depending on the implementation, all the supply loudspeaker channels may be delayed and/or amplified by the same value or by different values. Advantageously, the controller 26 is operable via a user interface 28, which will typically be a graphical user interface.

(22) Depending on the implementation, the driving device will on the output side be provided with a digital-to-analog converter 30 which, on the one hand, outputs analog output signals for the loudspeakers of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array 10 and which, on the other hand, outputs loudspeaker signals for the supply loudspeakers L, R, M which in FIG. 1 are referred to by 12, wherein an additional amplifier 32 for amplifying the loudspeaker signals for the supply loudspeakers typically driven by high levels will be present, depending on the implementation.

(23) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the wave field synthesis unit 22 is implemented to provide a scalable number of wave field synthesis channels 23. Depending on the implementation, a loudspeaker of a wave field synthesis loudspeaker array receives a special loudspeaker signal. Alternatively, driving may also be such that a group of neighboring loudspeakers in the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array are driven by the same loudspeaker signal. As has been explained before, the position of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array and thus of every individual loudspeaker in the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array is known and is also used like the position input of the sound source for the wave field synthesis calculation.

(24) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the wave field synthesis unit 22 is implemented to be scalable. This means that, depending on the number of wave field synthesis loudspeaker arrays 10 connected to the wave field synthesis unit 22, it will produce a corresponding number of output channels. If, for example, an array requires ten different wave field synthesis loudspeaker signals, a second array of the same size will also require ten wave field synthesis loudspeaker channels so that the wave field synthesis unit 22 will, when two arrays of this kind are connected to it, also provide the corresponding number of loudspeaker signals. This does not only result in doubling the number of loudspeaker signals, but also in a modified calculation due to the wave field synthesis algorithm in which every loudspeaker signal of course also depends on the number and position of other loudspeakers and/or depends on whether there are other loudspeakers provided at different positions or not.

(25) Scalability may be implemented by a sensor detecting whether, for example, a fiberglass wire for a wave field synthesis loudspeaker array is connected to an output of the driving device of FIG. 1 or not. Typically, the outputs will be referred to by first array, second array, . . . , so that the driving device will automatically receive positions and numbers of additional arrays, for example by accessing a map or something similar.

(26) Alternatively, the number of channels/arrays of the wave field synthesis unit 22 may also be communicated via the graphical user interface 28 and the controller 26.

(27) For the inventive scenario, scalability is particularly valuable since only one open wave field synthesis array is used anyway, i.e. no loudspeaker bands surrounding a listener space, but only on the stage side of the listener space so that for the case in which a straight array is placed subsequent to a straight array already present, the positions of the further loudspeakers are recovered particularly favorably, exemplarily by means of accessing a map, and may be made available for the wave field synthesis unit 22 for calculating the then higher number of wave field synthesis loudspeaker signals.

(28) In an embodiment of the present invention, the controller 26 is implemented to drive the delay stage 24a such that the loudspeaker signals are delayed so that the wave front, due to the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array 10, will arrive at a listener around 2 to 10 milliseconds before the point in time when the wave front of the supply loudspeakers arrives. Thus, the law of the first sound wave front made use of in that the listener in the space will at firstrelatively softlyperceive the wave front from the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array 10 and only then the wave front from the typically louder supply loudspeakers. The user will get the impression that the sound sources are at those positions feigned by the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array, although the actual sound supply is by the supply loudspeakers.

(29) Considering the fact that for the front listener space a sound supply takes place by the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array 10 which is not perceived as a point source with greatly decreasing levels, but as an area source having a more pleasant level distribution, at least the front supply loudspeakers can then be reduced with regard to their amplitudes and/or their output levels, which may take place by the controller 26 driving the amplitude manipulation unit 24b correspondingly to either attenuate all the channels and/or only some channels and/or signals for special loudspeakers by the same magnitude or by different magnitudes.

(30) Subsequently, the wave field synthesis technique will be discussed in greater detail for an improved understanding of the present invention.

(31) An improved natural space experience and a stronger enclosure in audio reproduction can be achieved using a novel technology. The basics of this technology, the so-called wave field synthesis (WFS) were investigated at the Technical University of Delft and first presented in the late 80s (A. J. Berkhout; D. de Vries, P. Vogel: Acoustic control by Wave-field Synthesis. JASA 93, 1993).

(32) As a consequence of the enormous requirements of this method to computer performance and transfer rates, wave field synthesis has up to now only rarely been employed in practice. Only the progress in the fields of microprocessor technology and audio coding allow this technology to be used today in specific applications. First products in the professional field are expected for next year. First wave field synthesis applications for the consumer area are to be launched on the market within the next few years.

(33) The basic idea of WFS is based on applying Huygens' principle of wave theory:

(34) Every point detected by a wave is the starting point of an elementary wave propagating in a spherical and/or circular manner.

(35) Applied to acoustics, any form of an incoming wave front may be reproduced by a great number of loudspeakers arranged next to one another (in a so-called loudspeaker array). In the most simple case of a single point source to be reproduced and a linear arrangement of loudspeakers, the audio signals of every loudspeaker have to be fed with a time delay and amplitude scaling such that the sound fields emitted of the individual loudspeakers overlap correctly. With several sound sources, the contribution to every loudspeaker is calculated separately for every source and the resulting signals are added. If the sources to be reproduced are in a space with reflecting walls, reflections, too, must be reproduced as additional sources via the loudspeaker array. The calculating complexity thus is strongly dependent on the number of sound sources, the reflection characteristics of the recording space and the number of loudspeakers.

(36) The advantage of this technology particularly is that a natural spatial sound experience is possible over a large area of the reproduction space. In contrast to known techniques, direction and distances to sound sources are reproduced very precisely. To a limited extent, virtual sound sources may even be positioned between the real loudspeaker array and the listener.

(37) Although wave field synthesis works well for surroundings the qualities of which are known, anomalies occur when the quality changes and/or when wave field synthesis is performed on the basis of a quality of the surroundings not matching the actual quality of the surroundings.

(38) The quality of the surroundings may be described by the impulse response of the surroundings.

(39) This will be discussed in greater detail referring to the following example. It is assumed that a loudspeaker emits a sound signal against a wall the reflection of which is undesired. For this simple example, the spatial compensation using wave field synthesis would be to first determine the reflection of this wall to find out when a sound signal having been reflected by the wall arrives again at the loudspeaker and which amplitude this reflected sound signal has. When the reflection from this wall is undesired, wave field synthesis offers a way of eliminating the reflection from this wall by impressing on the loudspeaker a signal opposite in phase to the reflection signal having a corresponding amplitude in addition to the original audio signal so that the approaching compensation wave deletes the reflection wave such that the reflection from this wall is eliminated in the surroundings considered. This may take place by at first calculating the impulse response of the surroundings and then determining the quality and position of the wall on the basis of the impulse response of these surroundings, wherein the wall is interpreted as a mirror source, i.e. a sound source reflecting incident sound.

(40) If at first the impulse response of these surroundings is measured and then the compensation signal to be impressed on the loudspeaker superpositioning the audio signal is calculated, a deletion of the reflection from this wall will take place such that a listener in these surroundings will get a sound experience of this wall not existing at all.

(41) However, it is decisive for optimum compensation of the reflected wave that the impulse response of the space be determined precisely in order for no over- or under-compensation to arise.

(42) Thus, wave field synthesis allows correct mapping of virtual sound sources over a large reproduction region. At the same time, it offers a novel technological and creative potential for sound recordists and sound engineers when establishing complex sound scenes. The wave field synthesis (WFS or sound field synthesis), as developed at the end of the 80s at the Technological University of Delft, represents a holographic approach of sound reproduction. The Kirchhoff-Helmholtz integral serves as a basis for this. It states that any sound fields can be generated within a closed volume by means of a distribution of monopole and dipole sound sources (loudspeaker arrays) on the surface of this volume. Details of this can be found in M. M. Boone, E. N. G. Verheijen, P. F. v. Tol, Spatial Sound-Field Reproduction by Wave-Field Synthesis, Delft University of Technology Laboratory of Seismics and Acoustics, Journal of J. Audio Eng. Soc., Vol. 43, No. 12, December 1995 and Diemer de Vries, Sound Reinforcement by Wavefield Synthesis: Adaption of the Synthesis Operator to the Loudspeaker Directivity Characteristics, Delft University of Technology Laboratory of Seismics and Acoustics, Journal of J. Audio Eng. Soc., Vol. 44, No. 12, December 1996.

(43) In wave field synthesis, a synthesis signal for every loudspeaker of the loudspeaker array is calculated from an audio signal which a virtual source emits at a virtual position, wherein the synthesis signals are designed with regard to amplitude and phase such that a wave resulting from the superpositioning of the individual sound wave output by the loudspeakers in the loudspeaker array corresponds to the wave which would result from the virtual source at the virtual position if this virtual source at the virtual position were a real source having a real position.

(44) Typically, there are several virtual sources at different virtual positions. Calculating the synthesis signals is performed for every virtual source at every virtual position so that typically a virtual source results in synthesis signals for several loudspeakers. Considered from the point of view of a loudspeaker, this loudspeaker thus receives several synthesis signals going back to different virtual sources. A superposition of these sources which is possible due to the linear superposition principle, will then result in the reproduction signal actually emitted by the loudspeaker.

(45) The possibilities of wave field synthesis can be made use of the better, the larger the loudspeaker arrays, i.e. the more individual loudspeakers are provided. However, this also increases the calculating power a wave field synthesis unit has to perform since typically channel information must also be considered. This particularly means that principally there is a special transfer channel from each virtual source to each loudspeaker and that in principle it may be the case that every virtual source results in a synthesis signal for every loudspeaker and/or that every loudspeaker receives a number of synthesis signals equaling the number of virtual sources.

(46) In addition, it is pointed out here that the quality of audio reproduction increases with an increasing number of loudspeakers made available. This means that the audio reproduction quality will become the better and more realistic, the more loudspeakers there are in the loudspeaker array/s.

(47) In the above scenario, the completely rendered reproduction signals subjected to an analog-to-digital converting for the individual loudspeakers may exemplarily be transferred via two-wire lines from the wave field synthesis central unit to the individual loudspeakers. This would have the advantage that it is virtually ensured that all the loudspeakers work synchronously so that no further measures would be necessary here for synchronization purposes. On the other hand, the wave field synthesis central unit could only be produced for one special reproduction space and/or for a reproduction having a fixed number of loudspeakers. This means that a special wave field synthesis central unit which would have to perform a considerable amount of calculating power would have to be produced for every reproduction space, since in particular with regard to many loudspeakers and/or many virtual sources the calculation of the audio reproduction signals has to take place at least partly parallel and in real time.

(48) Essential aspects of the present invention will be summarized again subsequently. A front array 10 based on wave field synthesis of FIG. 1 reproduces all the sound sources recorded from the correct direction and distance so that the source will be heard where it forms. These virtual sound sources are reproduced with the shortest latency caused by the system. Essential latency sources are the wave field synthesis unit 22 and, maybe, the analog-to-digital converter 20 and/or 30. The main sound reproduces conventional mono/stereo/multi-channel signals, however is delayed by a few milliseconds compared to the front array, wherein the delay will be in the range of 2-100 milliseconds and advantageously between 3 and 8 milliseconds.

(49) The main sound by the supply loudspeakers 12 provides sound to the auditory with a sufficient level. The front array in contrast operates at a reduced level to support directional perception discreetly. If the front array is located optimally, a real directional experience will result up to the back rows, wherein a sufficient sound distribution is ensured.

(50) The driving device shown in FIG. 1 may be realized as a compact audio system on a PC or DSP basis including an audio crossbar, a delay unit, a real time rendering unit based on wave field synthesis, a controller module and terminal and operating units.

(51) The audio signals of natural sources, such as, for example, speakers, artists, etc., are conventionally made available to the summing unit and/or the mixer 14 and the wave field synthesis rendering unit.

(52) In the summing unit, the audio signals for conventional sound systems, such as, for example, stereo, mono, 5.1, etc., are generated (14) and subsequently delayed correspondingly in a delay stage 24a. In addition, in a following level stage 24b, the amplitude may be adjusted between the main sound and the directive array.

(53) On the other hand, the individual sources in the wave field synthesis rendering unit 22, as is explained, become virtual sound sources which are positioned or moved corresponding to their actual position on the stage. The wave field synthesis rendering unit 22 calculates the audio signals required for the wave field synthesis front array, thus ensuring a real directional mapping of the audio sources.

(54) In the central control unit 26 and the operating unit 28, the virtual sound sources are positioned depending on the implementation so that in this case the user interface 28 represents the position input 24 of FIG. 1 in for example the form of an indicator. In addition, the delay of the stage 24a and the level between the front array, main sound, delay line and other audio sinks is adjusted in the user interface unit and/or in the controller. Advantageously, the corresponding setups produced can each be stored so that they do not have to be set again every time but may be made available for later or different applications/scenarios.

(55) Referring to the placing of the wave field synthesis front array in conventional stage surroundings, it is of advantage for the wave field synthesis front array to be arranged at the height of the heads of the audience or above the height of the heads of the audience and be placed in front of the stage. In addition, it is of advantage to use a wave field synthesis front array 10 which is wider than the audience rows in order to avoid edge effects at the array edge.

(56) In summary, the inventive concept provides a real directional perception by representing virtual sound sources on the basis of wave field synthesis. In additional, no angular errors are made in the directional resolution. Furthermore, virtual sound sources may be placed where the actor is standing. Movements of the actors are possible without cross-fading. Static sources in contrast remain stable. The sound supply of the auditory with a sufficient sound level is still ensured by standard systems, allowing hardware already present still to be used optimally. By integrating the additional wave field synthesis front array and by providing the inventive driving device, however, the result is a system with additional positioning capability of the sources localizable.

(57) With regard to known wave field synthesis arrays, the inventive concept does not require a closed array for supplying the audible region since the supply can be ensured by means of conventional sound. The result is a moderate sound level, in particular in the first rows of the audience since the sound energy is distributed. Several loudspeakers of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array will operate, resulting in natural audio surroundings, in particular in the first rows of the audience, this being typically where persons who are of decisive importance for the survival of a theatre/auditory and thus are to be catered for particularly well are seated.

(58) In order to reduce shadowings by listeners with a non-optimum arrangement of the front array, the wave field synthesis array is positioned somewhat above the heads of the audience. Even higher-up arrangements are potentially possible, wherein too high an arrangement, however, will result in possible incorrect localizations in the vertical. It has been found out that, due to psycho-acoustical laws, incorrect vertical localizations are less problematic than incorrect horizontal localizations. Thus, it is not too problematic for a listener when he or she hears a source from somewhat too high when the left/right position on the stage in return match precisely.

(59) In order to avoid undesired interferences of both systems, i.e. of the supply loudspeakers and the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array, both loudspeaker systems are either driven synchronously or, as has been discussed, such that the wave front of the wave field synthesis loudspeaker array arrives at the listener somewhat before the wave front of the supply loudspeakers.

(60) Conference rooms are advantageous fields of application of the inventive concept. The inventive device allows localizing a speaker. Several speakers become several localizable virtual/real sound sources, which is of particularly great advantage for situations in which there may be understanding problems anyway, i.e. when persons of different nationalities are talking to one another. Here, a spatial separation of the individual speakers supports the acoustic understandability of all speakers, in particular when several persons are talking at the same time.

(61) In interpreting equipment, too, the inventive concept allows localizing the speaker not only visually but also auditively.

(62) The inventive device may be applied particularly well in the field of theatre since frequently support loudspeakers cannot be installed in the stage setting. Here, installing a continuous loudspeaker band into the edge of the stage is of particular advantage and is less conspicuous. In particular, the functionality of the inventive concept, namely that sound sources can move and correspondingly also be moved acoustically, is of particular advantage for theatre applications relying on the actors moving.

(63) For concert venues, too, the inventive concept provides a resolution of individual instruments by virtual sound sources, whereas nevertheless an overall supply with the usual level is possible, which is of particularly high importance for popular music concerts.

(64) Depending on the circumstances, the inventive method may be implemented in either hardware or software. The implementation may be on a digital storage medium, in particular on a disc or CD having control signals which may be read out electronically which can cooperate with a programmable computer system such that the method will be executed. Generally, the invention thus also is in a computer program product having a program code stored on a machine-readable carrier for performing the inventive method when the computer program product runs on a computer. Put differently, the invention may thus also be realized as a computer program having a program code for performing the method when the computer program runs on a computer.

(65) While this invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents which fall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and compositions of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.