JPH10271599A - Sound field control device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a sound field control device that allows a listener to directly input a spatial impression, which is a psychological quantity of a person, and accurately realize a desired spatial impression. SOLUTION: When a listener inputs a desired representative space from a spatiality input unit 13, the sound data is selected from a storage unit 15. Also, a spatial impression in the space is input at the same time. The calculating means 14 calculates new acoustic data from the physical parameters corresponding to the impression and the acoustic data selected from the storage unit 15. The input audio signal is subjected to signal processing using the calculated new acoustic data.
7 reproduces a sound having a desired atmosphere.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sound field control device for performing signal processing on an audio signal and controlling an acoustic impression based on a listener's intention.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a conventional sound field control device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-222297. FIG. 6 shows the configuration. This sound field control device includes signal input means 6
1, a signal processing means 62, a parameter control means 63, an input means 64, an amplifier 65, and a speaker 66.

When a listener 67 inputs parameters to be calculated by the signal processing means 62 through the input means 64,
The physical parameters used in the signal processing unit 62 are controlled by the parameter control unit 63. On the other hand, the audio signal input to the signal input means 61 is signal-processed by the signal processing means 62,
More sound is reproduced. In such a configuration, the listener 67 controls the spatial impression by directly controlling the physical parameters used in the signal processing means 62.

[0004]

However, the parameter control means having the above configuration divides the sound amplification / reproduction band into a plurality of sub-bands and sets the gain in each sub-band. It often controls the frequency characteristics of the entire audible band of the sound. In such a control means, when the number of small bands to be controlled is N and the number of set levels of each small band is M, the control combination is
There will be M ^N ways.

Therefore, from the frequency characteristics set so far,
When setting a new acoustic space and an impression by adjusting the frequency characteristics, the listener needs to repeat thought and error, and it takes time to obtain the desired characteristics. As described above, the conventional sound field control device has a problem that it is difficult to realize a spatial impression desired by a listener in a short time. In particular, when the audio reproducing device is a car audio, it is substantially impossible to make such a troublesome setting during driving of the vehicle.

[0006] The spatial impression that a person perceives when listening to a sound, such as "spread considerably" or "slightly resonating",
In most cases, impressions are expressed as words. Therefore, for example, in the case of “I want a considerable spread”, the listener often does not know how much to control the physical parameters, and feels confused about the control of the physical parameters.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and allows a listener to directly input a spatial impression, which is a psychological quantity of a human sound, to obtain a desired space. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sound field control device capable of realizing a proper impression accurately and in a short time.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application provides a spatial input means for inputting the type and spatial impression of an acoustic space, and a plurality of acoustic spaces. A storage unit for storing acoustic data, and a physical parameter corresponding to the spatial impression input by the spatial input means and acoustic data of the acoustic space, for realizing a predetermined acoustic space and a spatial impression. A computing unit for computing acoustic data; an audio signal inputting unit for inputting an audio signal; and a signal processing unit for performing signal processing on the input audio signal based on the computation result computed by the computing unit. It is assumed that.

In the invention according to claim 2 of the present application, the signal processing means includes: an FIR filter for converting an input audio signal into a reflected sound; a band emphasis attenuation type filter for controlling a frequency characteristic of the input audio signal; And an adder for adding an output signal of the FIR filter and an output signal of the band emphasis attenuation filter.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3 of the present application, the arithmetic means changes the delay time interval of the reflected sound by a similar type, when the level of the reflected sound is changed at a constant level,
The sound data for achieving at least one function when the level of the reflected sound is varied in accordance with the reflected sound delay time is calculated.

Further, in the invention according to claim 4 of the present application, the physical parameters used in the calculation means are determined based on a psychological evaluation experiment in which a spatial impression is evaluated using a plurality of evaluation scales. Things.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spatial input means for inputting a type and a spatial impression of an acoustic space, a storage unit for storing acoustic data of a plurality of acoustic spaces, and the spatial input means. Using a physical parameter corresponding to the spatial impression input in the above and acoustic data of the acoustic space, computing means for computing acoustic data for realizing a predetermined acoustic space and a spatial impression, and an audio signal Audio signal input means, signal processing means for performing signal processing on an input audio signal based on the calculation result calculated by the calculation means, and a delay unit for delaying the audio signal processed by the signal processing means for a predetermined time, It is characterized by having.

Further, in the invention according to claim 6 of the present application, the signal processing means includes: an FIR filter for converting an input audio signal into a reflected sound; a band emphasis attenuation type filter for controlling a frequency characteristic of the input audio signal; And an adder for adding an output signal of the FIR filter and an output signal of the band emphasis attenuation filter.

[0014] In the invention according to claim 7 of the present application, the arithmetic means varies the interval of the delay time of the reflected sound in a similar manner, and varies the level of the reflected sound at a constant level.
The sound data for achieving at least one function when the level of the reflected sound is varied in accordance with the reflected sound delay time is calculated.

Further, in the invention according to claim 8 of the present application, the physical parameters used in the calculation means are determined based on a psychological evaluation experiment in which a spatial impression is evaluated using a plurality of evaluation scales. Things.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(Embodiment 1) A sound field reproducing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a sound field reproduction device 10 according to the present embodiment.
The sound field reproducing device 10, the signal input means 11, the signal processing means 12, the spatiality input means 13, the arithmetic means 14, the storage unit 1
5, including an amplifier 16 and a speaker 17. The sound reproducing device incorporating the sound field reproducing device 10 has the speakers 47 only on the front left and right of the listener 18.

It is assumed that, for example, a hall, a disco, a church, and the like are set in advance as a typical acoustic space (hereinafter, referred to as a space), and their acoustic data are stored in the storage unit 15. The listener receives, via the spatiality input means 13,
When a desired representative space name is input, the sound data is selected from the storage unit 15. When the listener simultaneously inputs a spatial impression, which is a feeling of sound spreading in the space, physical parameters corresponding to the impression are stored in the storage unit 15.
Is selected from Then, new acoustic data including a spatial impression is computed by the computing means 14 from the acoustic space data. Then, the audio signal input by the signal input means 11 is signal-processed by the signal processing means 12 using the calculated new acoustic data. Then, a desired sound is reproduced from the speaker 17 through the amplifier 16.

Next, the spatial impression input by the spatiality input means 13 will be described in detail. FIG. 2 shows an example of the spatiality input means 13. The input section 21 is a section for selecting a representative space name, and the input section 22 is a section for inputting a spatial impression. These input units 21 and 22
It also operates as a menu that displays its contents. The listener first selects one from a plurality of menus 21 as a representative space. Then, the user selects the size of the spatial impression in the selected space by looking at the menu 22. Here, the magnitude of the spatial impression is expressed in terms of words such as "spread,""reverberant," and "wrapped up," using a multi-step scale. Things. In FIG. 2, the impression that “there is spread” is input on a seven-point scale, and it is assumed that the larger the number in the menu 22, the greater the sense of spread.

Next, the operation means 14 will be described in detail. The calculating means 14 selects a physical parameter corresponding to the spatial impression data input by the spatiality input means 13 based on the data. Then, the representative acoustic space data is modified using the physical parameters to change the spatial impression. Here, the calculation using the physical parameter includes: (a) changing the time pattern of the reflected sound as a similar shape; (b) changing the level of the reflected sound by a fixed amount; Is set when changing the level with a certain inclination.

Equation (1) shows an arithmetic expression when the time pattern of the reflected sound is changed in a similar manner. Rt (i) = Rtd (i) × a (1) Rt (i): delay time of i-th reflected sound Rtd (i): delay time of default i-th reflected sound

The sound output from the sound source is repeatedly reflected in the acoustic space, and the reflected sound returns to the position of the listener in a cluster. This means that a reflected sound signal can be generated by adapting a predetermined impulse response to the sound signal of the sound source. I in the expression (1) is the number of the impulse response for generating the i-th reflected sound.

As can be seen from equation (1), when the value of a is 1 or more, the time pattern of the reflected sound is widened, and when a is less than 1, the time pattern of the reflected sound is narrowed.

Next, an arithmetic expression for changing the reflected sound level by a constant amount is shown by Expression (2). Rl (i) = Rld (i) + b (2) Rl (i): Level of i-th Reflected Sound Rld (i): Default Level of i-th Reflected Sound As can be seen from the equation (2). , B are positive, the level of the reflected sound is high, and conversely, if the value is negative, the level of the reflected sound is low.

An arithmetic expression for changing the level of the reflected sound in accordance with the delay time of the reflected sound is shown in equation (3). Rl (i) = Rld (i) + tan (c) × Rtd (i) (3) Rl (i): Level of i-th Reflected Sound Rld (i): Default Level of i-th Reflected Sound Rtd (i): Default delay time of the i-th reflected sound As can be seen from Expression (3), the level of the reflected sound increases when the value of c is positive, and the level of the reflected sound when the value of c is negative. Becomes smaller. Also, the level changes greatly as the reflected sound has a longer delay time.

The values of the above parameters a, b, and c are determined based on a psychological evaluation experiment using an expression word relating to a spatial impression (for example, "no spread-has spread"). In a psychological evaluation experiment, for example, a method is generally used in which a sound is reproduced by changing the value of a at random, and a subject listens to the sound and evaluates it based on a seven-stage psychological evaluation scale as shown in FIG. Used. As a result, a = 0.25 for "very little spread", a = 0.50 for "very little spread", a = 0.75 for "somewhat spread",
A = 1.0 for "normal", a = 1.25 for "slightly wide", a = 1.5 for "very wide",
In the case of "extremely wide", physical parameters corresponding to each scale are determined, such as a = 2.0. b,
The case of c is also correlated by a similar psychological evaluation experiment.

The arithmetic means 14 may use the above parameters alone, but when used in combination, the spatial impression can be changed more greatly.

As described above, since the user of the sound reproducing apparatus can directly input a spatial impression, a desired spatial impression can be easily realized. In addition, since the spatial impression and the physical parameter are associated with each other by a psychological evaluation experiment, accurate control can be performed. Although the speaker 17 is installed in front of the listener 18 here, it may be installed behind and reproduce a signal that has undergone similar processing.

Embodiment 2 A sound field reproducing apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the signal processing means 12 of the sound field reproducing device according to the present embodiment. The sound field reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment is provided with a signal input unit 11, a spatial input unit 13, a calculation unit 14, a storage unit 15, an amplifier 16, and a speaker 17 in addition to the signal processing unit 12. , And FIG.

The signal processing means 12 shown in FIG. 4 comprises an FIR filter 31, a graphic equalizer 32, and an adder 33. The filter coefficient of the FIR filter 31 is set based on the result of the calculation means 14. Then, the input audio signal is subjected to a convolution operation by the FIR filter 31 to generate a reflected sound. On the other hand, the audio signal that has passed through the graphic equalizer 32 is sound-quality-adjusted, and this is a direct sound. Here, the sound quality adjustment can be freely changed according to the listener's preference. And
The direct sound and the reflected sound are added by the adder 33 to output a sound.

As described above, the sound quality can be adjusted without changing the spatial impression by performing the sound quality adjustment only on the direct sound without performing the sound quality adjustment on the reflected sound.

(Embodiment 3) Next, a sound field reproducing apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the sound field reproduction device 50 according to the present embodiment. The sound field reproducing device 50 includes a signal input unit 5
1. Signal processing means 52, spatial input means 53, arithmetic means 54, storage unit 55, amplifier 57c, front speaker 58
a, 58b, a delay unit 56a, 56b, an amplifier 5
7a and 57b and rear speakers 59a and 59b.

The sound reproducing device incorporating the sound field reproducing device 50 is provided with speakers at the front left and right and the rear left and right of the listener 18, respectively. Front speakers 58a, 58b
, The same processing as in the first and second embodiments is performed. Also, the rear speakers 59a, 5
Regarding the signal reproduced in 9b, the same processing as in the first and second embodiments is performed until the signal processing means 52 performs the convolution operation. However, the delay unit 5
6a and 58b, and are delayed by amplifiers 57a and 5b.
7b.

Therefore, the signal reproduced by the rear speakers 59a and 59b arrives at the listener 18 later in time than the signal reproduced by the front speakers 58a and 58b. As described above, when there are a plurality of signals delayed in time, the listener 18 perceives the position of the sound image in the direction of the signal that has reached the ear earlier. This psychoacoustic phenomenon is called the Haas effect. Therefore, by applying a time delay to the signal to be reproduced at the rear, the sound image can be perceived forward even when the sound is received at the rear position such as in the listening room or the vehicle, and a good spatial impression is obtained. be able to. This is particularly effective when listening in the rear seats of the passenger compartment or when a plurality of persons simultaneously listen in the listening room.

[0034]

As described above, according to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, a listener can directly input a spatial impression, so that a desired spatial impression can be easily realized. In addition, since the spatial impression and the physical parameter are associated with each other by a psychological evaluation experiment, accurate control can be performed.

According to the second and third aspects of the present invention,
By performing sound quality adjustment only on direct sound without performing sound quality adjustment on the reflected sound, sound quality adjustment can be performed without changing the spatial impression.

Further, according to the inventions described in claims 5 to 8, by giving a time delay to a signal reproduced at the rear, a sound image can be perceived forward even when listening at a rear position. A spatial impression can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a sound field control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example showing an input method of a spatial input unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an example of an evaluation scale in a sound quality evaluation experiment.

FIG. 4 is a partial configuration diagram of a sound field control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a sound field control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a conventional sound field control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 50 sound field control device 11, 51 signal input means 12, 52 signal processing means 13, 53 spatial input means 14, 54 arithmetic means 15, 55 storage units 16, 57a, 57b, 57c amplifiers 17, 58a, 58b, 59a, 59b Speaker 18 Listener 31 FIR filter 32 Graphic equalizer 33 Adder 56a, 56b Delayer

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI H03G 5/24 H04S 1/00 K H03H 17/02 601 G10H 7/00 531 H04S 1/00 G10K 15/00 B L

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A spatial input means for inputting a type and a spatial impression of an acoustic space, a storage unit for storing acoustic data of a plurality of acoustic spaces, and a spatial impression input by the spatial input means Using the obtained physical parameters and the acoustic data of the acoustic space,
A calculating means for calculating sound data for realizing a predetermined sound space and a spatial impression; an audio signal input means for inputting an audio signal; and an input audio signal based on the calculation result calculated by the calculating means. And a signal processing unit for processing. 2. An FIR filter for converting an input audio signal into a reflected sound, a band emphasis attenuation filter for controlling a frequency characteristic of the input audio signal, an output signal of the FIR filter, and the band emphasis. 2. The sound field control device according to claim 1, further comprising: an adder for adding an output signal of the attenuation type filter. 3. The computing means according to claim 1, wherein the delay time interval of the reflected sound is varied in a similar manner, the level of the reflected sound is varied at a constant level, and the level of the reflected sound is varied according to the reflected sound delay time. 2. The sound field control device according to claim 1, wherein the sound data for achieving at least one function in the case of being variable is calculated. 4. The sound according to claim 1, wherein the physical parameters used in the calculation means are determined based on a psychological evaluation experiment in which a spatial impression is evaluated using a plurality of evaluation scales. Field control device. 5. A spatial input means for inputting a type and a spatial impression of an acoustic space, a storage unit storing acoustic data of a plurality of acoustic spaces, and a spatial impression input by the spatial input means. Using the obtained physical parameters and the acoustic data of the acoustic space,
A calculating means for calculating sound data for realizing a predetermined sound space and a spatial impression; an audio signal input means for inputting an audio signal; and an input audio signal based on the calculation result calculated by the calculating means. A sound field control device comprising: signal processing means for processing; and a delay unit for delaying the audio signal processed by the signal processing means for a predetermined time. 6. An FIR filter for converting an input audio signal into a reflected sound, a band emphasis attenuation filter for controlling a frequency characteristic of the input audio signal, an output signal of the FIR filter and the band emphasis. 6. The sound field control device according to claim 5, further comprising an adder for adding an output signal of the attenuation filter. 7. The calculating means according to claim 1, wherein when the delay time interval of the reflected sound is varied in a similar manner, when the level of the reflected sound is varied at a constant level, the level of the reflected sound is changed according to the reflected sound delay time. 6. The sound field control device according to claim 5, wherein acoustic data for achieving at least one function in the case of being variable is calculated. 8. The sound according to claim 5, wherein the physical parameters used in the calculation means are determined based on a psychological evaluation experiment in which a spatial impression is evaluated using a plurality of evaluation scales. Field control device.