Sound output device, sound output method, and storage medium

1 . A sound output device comprising:

an outer balancing circuit;

an inner balancing circuit; and

a processor controlling the outer balancing circuit and the inner balancing circuit, the processor being configured to:

generate a first output signal for sound to be output from a first output device by mixing a left-channel signal and a right-channel signal based on a first ratio;

generate a second output signal for sound to be output from a second output device by mixing the left-channel signal and the right-channel signal based on a second ratio;

generate a third output signal for sound to be output from a third output device by mixing the left-channel signal and the right-channel signal based on a third ratio; and

generate a fourth output signal for sound to be output from a fourth output device by mixing the left-channel signal and the right-channel signal based on a fourth ratio,

wherein:

the first and fourth output devices are outer speakers and the second and third output devices are inner speakers in a linear speaker array,

the first and fourth output devices are balanced by the outer balancing circuit, and the second and third output device are balanced by the inner balancing circuit,

the processor independently and variably sets the first through fourth ratios in accordance with user-settable Mid (m) and Side (s) component parameter values that are input according to a user designation of a first m/s ratio for a pair of the first and fourth sound output devices constituting the outer speakers of the linear speaker array and a user designation of a second m/s ratio for a pair of the second and third sound output devices constituting the inner speakers of the linear speaker array, and that control relative contribution of Mid and Side signal components to the first through fourth output signals, where the Mid and Side signal components are derived from the left-channel signal and the right-channel signal,

the first to fourth ratios are set in accordance with the designated m/s ratio for each pair such that left/right sound localization of the original left-channel signal and right-channel signal is maintained within the corresponding pair and such that Mid/Side balance for one pair is independently adjustable from Mid/Side balance of the other pair,

the Mid signal component comprises the sum of the left-channel and right-channel signals, and the Side signal component comprises the difference of the left-channel and right-channel signals, and

the first output signal L 1 , the second output signal L 2 , the third output signal R 3 , and the fourth output signal R 4 output from the outer balancing circuit and the inner balancing circuit are expressed by the following formulas:

L 1= L +( m out− s out)/2* R

L 2= L +( m in− s in)/2* R

R 3= R +( m in− s in)/2* L

R 4= R +( m out− s out)/2* L

where:

m out is a component adjustment parameter of the Mid component for the pair of the first and fourth output devices, and s out is a component adjustment parameter of the Side component for the pair of the first and fourth output devices, and

m in is a component adjustment parameter of the Mid component for the pair of the second and third output devices, and s in is a component adjustment parameter of the Side component for the pair of the second and third output devices.

2 . The sound output device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor sets the first ratio, the second ratio, the third ratio, and the fourth ratio.

3 . The sound output device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor outputs:

the first output signal to the first output device;

the second output signal to the second output device;

the third output signal to the third output device; and

the fourth output signal to the fourth output device.

4 . The sound output device according to claim 1 , wherein

a first output position of the first output device outputting sound in accordance with the first output signal is on a left side with respect to a second output position of the second output device outputting sound in accordance with the second output signal, as viewed from a listener, and

a third output position of the third output device outputting sound in accordance with the third output signal is on a left side with respect to a fourth output position of the fourth output device outputting sound in accordance with the fourth output signal, as viewed from the listener.

5 . The sound output device according to claim 4 , wherein the third output position is on a right side with respect to the second output position, as viewed from the listener.

6 . The sound output device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first ratio and the fourth ratio establish a mutually reciprocal relationship.

7 . The sound output device according to claim 1 , wherein

the second ratio and the third ratio establish a mutually reciprocal relationship.

8 . The sound output device according to claim 1 , wherein

each of a first proportion corresponding to the first ratio and a second proportion corresponding to the second ratio is a proportion that falls within a range of 1:1 to 1:1, including 1:0, and

each of a third proportion corresponding to the third ratio and a fourth proportion corresponding to the fourth ratio is a proportion that falls within a range of 1:1 to 1:1, including 0:1.

9 . A sound output method implemented by a processor of a sound output device, the sound output device comprising an outer balancing circuit and an inner balancing circuit, the processor controlling the outer balancing circuit and the inner balancing circuit, and the method comprising:

generating a first output signal for sound to be output from a first output device by mixing a left-channel signal and a right-channel signal based on a first ratio;

generating a second output signal for sound to be output from a second output device by mixing the left-channel signal and the right-channel signal based on a second ratio;

generating a third output signal for sound to be output from a third output device by mixing the left-channel signal and the right-channel signal based on a third ratio; and

generating a fourth output signal for sound to be output from a fourth output device by mixing the left-channel signal and the right-channel signal based on a fourth ratio,

wherein:

the first and fourth output devices are outer speakers and the second and third output devices are inner speakers in a linear speaker array,

the first and fourth output devices are balanced by the outer balancing circuit, and the second and third output device are balanced by the inner balancing circuit,

the method comprises independently and variably setting the first through fourth ratios in accordance with user-settable Mid (m) and Side (s) component parameter values that are input according to a user designation of a first m/s ratio for a pair of the first and fourth sound output devices constituting the outer speakers of the linear speaker array and a user designation of a second m/s ratio for a pair of the second and third sound output devices constituting the inner speakers of the linear speaker array, and that control relative contribution of Mid and Side signal components to the first through fourth output signals, where the Mid and Side signal components are derived from the left-channel signal and the right-channel signal,

the first to fourth ratios are set in accordance with the designated m/s ratio for each pair such that left/right sound localization of the original left-channel signal and right-channel signal is maintained within the corresponding pair and such that Mid/Side balance for one pair is independently adjustable from Mid/Side balance of the other pair,

the Mid signal component comprises the sum of the left-channel and right-channel signals, and the Side signal component comprises the difference of the left-channel and right-channel signals, and

the first output signal L 1 , the second output signal L 2 , the third output signal R 3 , and the fourth output signal R 4 output from the outer balancing circuit and the inner balancing circuit are expressed by the following formulas:

L 1= L +( m out− s out)/2* R

L 2= L +( m in− s in)/2* R

R 3= R +( m in− s in)/2* L

R 4= R +( m out− s out)/2* L

where:

m out is a component adjustment parameter of the Mid component for the pair of the first and fourth output devices, and s out is a component adjustment parameter of the Side component for the pair of the first and fourth output devices, and

m in is a component adjustment parameter of the Mid component for the pair of the second and third output devices, and s in is a component adjustment parameter of the Side component for the pair of the second and third output devices.

10 . The sound output method according to claim 9 , wherein the processor sets the first ratio, the second ratio, the third ratio, and the fourth ratio.

11 . The sound output method according to claim 9 , wherein the processor outputs:

the first output signal to the first output device;

the second output signal to the second output device;

the third output signal to the third output device; and

the fourth output signal to the fourth output device.

12 . The sound output method according to claim 9 , wherein

a first output position of the first output device outputting sound in accordance with the first output signal is on a left side with respect to a second output position of the second output device outputting sound in accordance with the second output signal, as viewed from a listener, and

a third output position of the third output device outputting sound in accordance with the third output signal is on a left side with respect to a fourth output position of the fourth output device outputting sound in accordance with the fourth output signal, as viewed from the listener.

13 . The sound output method according to claim 12 , wherein the third output position is on a right side with respect to the second output position, as viewed from the listener.

14 . The sound output method according to claim 9 , wherein

the first ratio and the fourth ratio establish a mutually reciprocal relationship.

15 . The sound output method according to claim 9 , wherein

the second ratio and the third ratio establish a mutually reciprocal relationship.

16 . The sound output method according to claim 9 , wherein

each of a first proportion corresponding to the first ratio and a second proportion corresponding to the second ratio is a proportion that falls within a range of 1:1 to 1:1, including 1:0, and each of a third proportion corresponding to the third ratio and a fourth proportion corresponding to the fourth ratio is a proportion that falls within a range of 1:1 to 1:1, including 0:1.

17 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program thereon, the program being executable by a processor of a sound output device, the sound output device comprising an outer balancing circuit and an inner balancing circuit, the processor controlling the outer balancing circuit and the inner balancing circuit, and the program being executable by the processor to control the processor to:

generate a first output signal for sound to be output from a first output device by mixing a left-channel signal and a right-channel signal based on a first ratio;

generate a second output signal for sound to be output from a second output device by mixing the left-channel signal and the right-channel signal based on a second ratio;

generate a third output signal for sound to be output from a third output device by mixing the left-channel signal and the right-channel signal based on a third ratio; and

generate a fourth output signal for sound from a fourth output device by mixing the left-channel signal and the right-channel signal based on a fourth ratio,

wherein:

the first and fourth output devices are outer speakers and the second and third output devices are inner speakers in a linear speaker array,

the first and fourth output devices are balanced by the outer balancing circuit, and the second and third output device are balanced by the inner balancing circuit,

the program causes the processor to independently and variably set the first through fourth ratios in accordance with user-settable Mid (m) and Side (s) component parameter values that are input according to a user designation of a first m/s ratio for a pair of the first and fourth sound output devices constituting the outer speakers of the linear speaker array and a user designation of a second m/s ratio for a pair of the second and third sound output devices constituting the inner speakers of the linear speaker array, and that control relative contribution of Mid and Side signal components to the first through fourth output signals, where the Mid and Side signal components are derived from the left-channel signal and the right-channel signal,

the first to fourth ratios are set in accordance with the designated m/s ratio for each pair such that left/right sound localization of the original left-channel signal and right-channel signal is maintained within the corresponding pair and such that Mid/Side balance for one pair is independently adjustable from Mid/Side balance of the other pair,

the Mid signal component comprises the sum of the left-channel and right-channel signals, and the Side signal component comprises the difference of the left-channel and right-channel signals, and

the first output signal L 1 , the second output signal L 2 , the third output signal R 3 , and the fourth output signal R 4 output from the outer balancing circuit and the inner balancing circuit are expressed by the following formulas:

L 1= L +( m out− s out)/2* R

L 2= L +( m in− s in)/2* R

R 3= R +( m in− s in)/2* L

R 4= R +( m out− s out)/2* L

where:

m out is a component adjustment parameter of the Mid component for the pair of the first and fourth output devices, and s out is a component adjustment parameter of the Side component for the pair of the first and fourth output devices, and

m in is a component adjustment parameter of the Mid component for the pair of the second and third output devices, and s in is a component adjustment parameter of the Side component for the pair of the second and third output devices.

18 . The storage medium according to claim 17 , wherein

a first output position of the first output device outputting sound in accordance with the first output signal is on a left side with respect to a second output position of the second output device outputting sound in accordance with the second output signal, as viewed from a listener,

a third output position of the third output device outputting sound in accordance with the third output signal is on a left side with respect to a fourth output position of the fourth output device outputting sound in accordance with the fourth output signal is output, as viewed from the listener,

the third output position is on a right side with respect to the second output position, as viewed from the listener.

19 . The storage medium according to claim 17 , wherein

the first ratio and the fourth ratio establish a mutually reciprocal relationship, and

the second ratio and the third ratio establish a mutually reciprocal relationship.

20 . The storage medium according to claim 17 , wherein

each of a first proportion corresponding to the first ratio and a second proportion corresponding to the second ratio is a proportion that falls within a range of 1:1 to 1:1, including 1:0, and each of a third proportion corresponding to the third ratio and a fourth proportion corresponding to the fourth ratio is a proportion that falls within a range of 1:1 to 1:1, including 0:1.