JP2017085619A - Channel number converting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a channel number converting device that improves inconvenience when converting channel numbers of sound signals with a plurality of sound channels that exceed, for example, 5.1 channels.SOLUTION: A channel number converting device converts a channel number of a sound signal with a first channel number to the channel number of a sound signal with a second channel number. The sound signal with the first channel number includes each channel of 22.2 channels. The sound signal with the second channel number includes each channel with 5.1 channels. The channel number converting device converts a channel number according to a predetermined relational expression defined by including a predetermined coefficient.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a channel number conversion apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus for converting the number of channels of a multi-channel audio signal (acoustic signal) exceeding, for example, 5.1 ch.

  In recent years, an acoustic system has been proposed that realizes highly realistic sound reproduction such as three-dimensional sound by using a large number of audio channels (see Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 1). For example, a home theater system using an acoustic system such as 5.1ch surround has appeared for home use. For example, in Super Hi-Vision (SHV) broadcasting, 22.2 ch multi-channel sound is adopted.

  However, assuming use in homes, it is assumed that the number of speakers installed in each home is mostly smaller than the number of channels constituting the 22.2 ch multi-channel sound system.

  For this reason, in order to reproduce multi-channel sound such as 22.2ch at home, a technique for converting the number of channels to be small, such as downmixing, is required. Conventionally, a method for converting 5.1ch surround to 2ch stereo has been proposed (see Non-Patent Document 2, for example). However, the practical use of a method for converting the number of channels of a multi-channel acoustic system exceeding 5.1 ch is still desired.

  In general, the number of speakers installed in each home is not fixed. Further, as described above, the number of speakers installed in each home is usually not compatible with the 22.2 ch multi-channel sound system. For this reason, for example, when reproducing sound (sound) based on a multi-channel audio signal exceeding 5.1 ch, it is necessary to convert the number of channels of the audio signal in accordance with the number of installed speakers.

JP 2009-77379 A

IEICE Fundamentals Review Vol.3, No.4 (2010), pp.33-46 "Highly realistic acoustic technology and its theory" Akio Ando ARIB STD-B21 “Digital Broadcasting Receiver (Preferred Specifications)”

  However, if the number of channels is uniquely converted without depending on the provided content, various inconveniences are assumed.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a channel number conversion device that improves the disadvantages of converting the number of audio signal channels of a plurality of audio channels exceeding 5.1 ch, for example.

に従ってチャンネル数を変換する。 The invention according to the first aspect to achieve the above object is
A channel number conversion device for converting the number of channels of an audio signal having a first channel number into a second channel number,
The first channel number audio signals are FC, FLc, FRc, FL, FR, SiL, SiR, BL, BR, BC, LFE1, LFE2, TpFC, TpFL, TpFR, TpSiL, TpSiR, TpC, TpBL, TpBR. , TpBC, BtFC, BtFL, and BtFR channels,
The audio signal of the second number of channels includes C, L, R, LS, RS, and LFE channels,
Each of g1, g2, g3, g4, g5, and g6 is a predetermined coefficient,

Convert the number of channels according to.

  The first channel number may be 22.2 ch.

  The second channel number may be 5.1 ch.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a channel number conversion device that improves the inconvenience when converting the number of audio signal channels of a plurality of audio channels exceeding 5.1 ch, for example.

It is a functional block diagram explaining schematic structure of the channel number converter which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining conversion of the number of channels in the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As described above, for example, various inconveniences are assumed when the number of audio signal channels of a plurality of audio channels exceeding 5.1 ch is uniquely converted without depending on the provided content.

  For example, when such conversion of the number of channels is performed, a change occurs in the loudness in the audio signal, so the loudness must be adjusted. In particular, when the number of channels is converted as described above, there is a problem that the level is over when adding audio signals. For this reason, in channel number conversion processing such as downmixing, it is common to perform downmixing after multiplying the audio signal before channel number conversion by a coefficient smaller than 1 so that the signal level does not overflow.

  However, if this is done, the loudness is greatly reduced, and there is a problem that the loudness is changed by changing the number of channels.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when converting the number of channels of an acoustic system having a plurality of audio channels, the loudness in the audio signal before conversion is maintained after the conversion.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a channel number conversion apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the channel number conversion device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 10 and a storage unit 20. When an audio signal of a plurality of channels is input, the control unit 10 outputs a signal obtained by converting the number of channels of the audio signal. In FIG. 1, an audio signal of 22.2 ch is input from the left side of the channel number conversion device 1, and an audio signal with the channel number converted, such as 5.1 ch, is output from the left side of the channel number conversion device 1. It shows how it is done.

  Hereinafter, description will be made assuming that the channel number conversion apparatus 1 according to the present invention includes the control unit 10 and the storage unit 20. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, various configurations such as a configuration in which the control unit 10 includes the storage unit 20, or the channel number conversion device 1 is configured as a system-on-chip (SoC) having the functions of the control unit 10 and the storage unit 20. Can be assumed.

  The control part 10 can be comprised including arbitrary processing apparatuses, such as a processor or a microcomputer, for example. In this embodiment, the control part 10 analyzes the said data based on the input of the various data containing an audio | voice signal, or performs various arithmetic processing. Moreover, the control part 10 can memorize | store various analysis results in the memory | storage part 20 as needed, and can read the various information memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 20 as needed. In particular, in the present embodiment, when an audio signal of a plurality of channels is input, the control unit 10 performs a process of converting the number of channels of the audio signal. In the present embodiment, the control unit 10 also performs various processes related to the conversion of the number of channels. The processing performed by the control unit 10 in the present embodiment will be further described later.

  The storage unit 20 can be configured to include any memory device. The storage unit 20 also stores an algorithm used when the control unit 10 performs data analysis and various arithmetic processes as described above, and various reference tables such as a lookup table (LUT).

  As described above, the channel number conversion device 1 according to the present embodiment converts the number of channels of the audio signal based on the input of the audio signals of a plurality of channels and outputs the converted signal. Here, the number of channels of the audio signal handled by the channel number conversion apparatus 1 is not particularly limited, and any number of channels can be used. However, the channel number conversion device 1 according to the present embodiment is particularly suitable for handling multi-channel audio signals exceeding 5.1 ch. In the following description, the case where the audio signal input to the channel number conversion apparatus 1 is, for example, a 22.2 ch surround audio signal employed in SHV will be described. Here, the 22.2 ch audio signal input to the channel number conversion device can be a signal of various formats such as a PCM signal or a compression-coded signal.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the position where the speaker is arranged in the acoustic system that reproduces audio based on the 22.2 ch audio signal is defined in the standard SMPTE ST2036-2-2-2008. In the SHV acoustic system, in a three-dimensional space centered at the listening position, ten speakers are arranged in the middle layer of ch1-12, nine speakers are arranged in the upper layer (Top) of ch13-21, and ch22 Three speakers are arranged in the lower layer (Bottom) of ˜24. Note that channels 4 and 10 are channels for low-frequency sound effects (LFE). In this way, in the 22.2 ch acoustic system, audio based on the audio signals of a total of 24 ch channels is reproduced.

  Next, in the channel number conversion apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, processing when converting the number of channels based on input of audio signals of a plurality of channels will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the conversion of the number of channels in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows the flow of processing when the channel number conversion apparatus 1 receives audio signals of a plurality of audio channels, converts the number of channels of the audio signals, and outputs the converted audio signals, from left to right. ing.

  When the 22.2 ch audio signal is input to the channel number converter 1, the control unit 10 measures the loudness value of the input 22.2 ch audio signal (step S11).

  Here, the method for measuring the loudness of an acoustic system having a plurality of audio channels can be any method such as the current measurement method for 5.1ch or a method that takes into account the direction-specific loudness. A conventional method for calculating a loudness value from a 5.1ch audio signal is defined in ARIB Technical Document TR-B32 (Radio Industry Association “Loudness Operation Rules for Digital Television Broadcasting Programs”).

  Moreover, when measuring the loudness of a multi-channel audio signal exceeding 5.1 ch, the method defined in the above-mentioned ARIB technical document TR-B32 can be simply expanded. A loudness value may be calculated in consideration of the direction of sound arrival. Since the loudness measurement in consideration of the sound arrival direction is disclosed in the specification of the previous patent application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-32190) by the present applicant, the detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  In step S11, the control unit 10 may not supply the loudness value of the 22.2ch sound signal, but may supply loudness information from the outside of the channel number converter 1.

  When the loudness of the audio signal is measured in step S11, the control unit 10 converts the number of channels of the 22.2ch audio signal (step S12). In this embodiment, in step S12, the number of 22.2 ch channels is converted to 5.1 ch based on a predetermined channel number conversion method.

  In step S12, the 22.2ch audio signal can be downmixed to 5.1ch by using, for example, the following equations (1) to (6). In particular, when the channel number conversion apparatus 1 does not have a function of sequentially controlling the loudness, or when a loudness control signal cannot be acquired from the outside, the number of channels is determined using the following fixed downmix coefficient. It is advantageous to perform the conversion.

By using this coefficient, it is possible to convert the number of channels to 5.1ch without significantly impairing the sound balance at the time of the 22.2ch signal and without causing a significant change in loudness. When the coefficients in the following conversion equations are converted to dB, ^{1/2 1/2} corresponds to −3 dB, ^{1/2 3/4} corresponds to −4.5 dB, and ^1/2 corresponds to −6 dB. This relationship is not completely coincident in the true number display, but a certain amount of deviation, such as a range of about ± 0.01, is included in the relationship defined in this equation. In such channel number conversion, the overall level may be raised or lowered by shifting the level of all channels while maintaining the coefficient ratio between the channels.

When the 22.2 ch audio signal is downmixed to 5.1 ch as described above, the following formulas (7) to (12) are used instead of the above formulas (1) to (6). May be. By using the fixed downmix coefficients shown in these equations, the number of channels can be more suitably converted to 5.1ch without impairing the sound balance at the time of 22.2ch signal.

Further, when the 22.2 ch audio signal is downmixed to 5.1 ch as described above, the following formula is used instead of the formula (1) to (6) or the formulas (7) to (12). (13) to (18) may be used. By performing the downmix while maintaining the relationship between the coefficients g _{1 to} g ₅ and g _LFE shown in these equations, the level and loudness of the 5.1 ch signal are not significantly impaired without significantly degrading the audio balance at the 22.2 ch signal. The adjustment range can be expanded. For this reason, the number of channels can be more preferably converted to 5.1 ch. Each coefficient can be set to an equal value.

  Note that the channel number conversion in step S12 is a method of rendering a three-dimensional channel arrangement into a desired channel arrangement / number in addition to channel number conversion using a fixed downmix coefficient similar to 5.1ch (for example, A Ando and K. Hamasaki, “Sound intensity based three-dimensional panning,” AES Convention, Convention Paper 7675 (2009), etc.) can be used.

  When the number of channels is converted in step S12, the control unit 10 measures again the loudness of the audio signal after the number of channels conversion (step S13). In step S13, when the channel number conversion method is known, the control unit 10 does not measure the loudness value of the 22.2ch sound signal, but the loudness information is supplied from the outside of the channel number conversion device 1. You may make it do. In this case, these pieces of information may be supplied as information accompanying content information supplied from the outside of the channel number conversion apparatus 1.

  When the loudness of the audio signal is measured in step S13, the control unit 10 adjusts the loudness of the audio signal based on the loudness measured in steps S11 and S13 (step S14). Specifically, in step S14, the control unit 10 adjusts the signal level so that the loudness value measured in step S14 approaches the loudness value measured in step S11.

  The accuracy of the signal level adjustment in step S14 is various indicators that match the required accuracy of the content, such as following the accuracy of the momentary value, or adjusting when the signal level difference exceeds 1LKFS. Can be adopted. Further, the level adjustment in step S14 can be appropriately performed not only using a compressor, limiter, makeup (gain adjustment), but also using a technique using EQ or phase shift.

  When the loudness of the audio signal is adjusted in step S14, the channel number conversion device 1 can output the audio signal obtained by converting the number of channels.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the channel number conversion apparatus 1 converts the number of audio signal channels of a plurality of audio channels (for example, 22.2 ch) (for example, to a small number of channels such as 5.1 ch). Here, the control unit 10 adjusts the loudness after converting the number of channels of the audio signal based on the loudness before and after converting the number of channels of the audio signals of the plurality of audio channels. Further, it is preferable that the control unit 10 adjust the loudness after converting the number of channels of the audio signal so as to approach the loudness before converting the number of channels of the audio signal.

  Further, as described above, in the present embodiment, the control unit 10 at least one of the loudness before converting the number of channels of the audio signals of the plurality of audio channels and the loudness after converting the number of channels of the audio signals. May be configured to measure. Further, the control unit 10 converts at least one of loudness information before converting the number of audio signal channels of a plurality of audio channels and loudness information after converting the number of channels of the audio signal into a channel number conversion device. 1 may be supplied from the outside.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the loudness value before the conversion of the number of channels is measured and is used at the time of conversion of the number of channels, thereby adjusting the loudness.

  Therefore, according to the channel number conversion apparatus according to the present embodiment, when converting the number of channels of an acoustic system having a plurality of audio channels, the loudness of the audio signal before conversion can be maintained after the conversion.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily make various changes and modifications based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these variations and modifications are included in the scope of the present invention. For example, the functions included in each functional unit, each means, each step, etc. can be rearranged so that there is no logical contradiction, and a plurality of functional units, steps, etc. are combined or divided into one. It is possible. Further, the above-described embodiments of the present invention are not limited to being implemented faithfully to the embodiments described above, and may be implemented by appropriately combining the features or omitting some of them. it can.

  In the above-described embodiment, an apparatus for converting a 22.2 ch multi-channel audio signal employed in SHV into a small number of channels has been described, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. The present invention can be implemented not only in the 22.2 channel multi-channel adopted in SHV but also in other channel-based stereophonic audio formats. Further, the present invention can be applied to an object-based method such as Dolby ATMOS or a scene-based method such as higher-order ambisonics, in addition to the above-described channel-based method such as 22.2ch.

  In the above-described embodiment, the measurement of the signal level in step S11 and step S13 has been described in the form of measuring the loudness using the loudness value as an index. However, the signal level measurement in step S11 and step S13 in the present invention is not limited to the loudness measurement. For example, it is possible to appropriately change the reference index according to the purpose of use, such as a signal level ratio limited to a formant component band that is important for a dialog, or a signal level ratio focused only on the vicinity of 4 kHz that is sensitive to auditory psychology. it can.

  In the above-described embodiment, the aspect in which the control unit 10 performs the loudness measurement in Step S11 and Step S13 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various types of information may be appropriately supplied from the outside. For example, the control unit 10 does not measure at least one of the signal level before converting the number of channels of the distributed audio signal and the signal level after converting the number of channels of the distributed audio signal. Information on the signal level (loudness) may be supplied from the outside of the channel number converter 1.

1 Channel Number Conversion Device 10 Control Unit 20 Storage Unit

Claims (3)

A channel number conversion device for converting the number of channels of an audio signal having a first channel number into a second channel number,
The first channel number audio signals are FC, FLc, FRc, FL, FR, SiL, SiR, BL, BR, BC, LFE1, LFE2, TpFC, TpFL, TpFR, TpSiL, TpSiR, TpC, TpBL, TpBR. , TpBC, BtFC, BtFL, and BtFR channels,
The audio signal of the second number of channels includes C, L, R, LS, RS, and LFE channels,
Each of g1, g2, g3, g4, g5, and g6 is a predetermined coefficient,

Channel number conversion device that converts the number of channels according to the above.   The channel number conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the first channel number is 22.2 ch. The channel number conversion device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second channel number is 5.1ch.

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