Audio equalization metadata
Introduced here are systems and methods to enable recording artists and engineers to specify exactly how the audio track should be played as well as perceived by the user in the case where the frequency transfer functions of the sound playback system and/or listening mechanisms (user's own hearing) can be measured and compensated for. For example, the acoustic environment during recording and mastering can be measured, and the measurements can be recorded in an inaudible portion of an audio track. The acoustic environment can include speaker frequency, distortion, reverberation, channel separation, room acoustics, etc. In addition, a hearing profile of the audio creator, such as the recording artist, sound engineer, mastering person, etc., can be included within the inaudible data. Further, the acoustic environment and/or the hearing profile of the audio consumer can also be used to modify the audio prior to reproducing the audio to the audio consumer.
1 . A method comprising:
receiving an audible data and an inaudible data associated with the audible data, wherein the audible and inaudible data is received from a headphone system including a headband, earcups connected with the headband, and earbuds included within the earcups;
decoding, from the inaudible data, a hearing profile of an audio creator, wherein the hearing profile of the audio creator is generated based on a measured otoacoustic emission at a same location automatically where the audible data was created by the audio creator;
identifying one or more hearing impairment of the audio creator from the hearing profile of the audio creator;
measuring an acoustic environment of the audio creator based on a height of the audio creator;
modifying the audible data based on the hearing profile and the acoustic environment of the audio creator to adjust for the identified one or more hearing impairment of the audio creator; and
providing the modified audible data to an audio consumer, such that the audio consumer perceives a consumer audio experience substantially similar to a creator audio experience of the audio creator, wherein the modified audible data prevents the one or more hearing impairment of the audio creator from affecting the consumer audio experience.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining an acoustic environment of the audio consumer, wherein audible data is further modified based on the acoustic environment of the audio consumer.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein measuring the acoustic environment of the audio consumer further comprises:
measuring a distance between at least one audio device proximate to the audio consumer and the audio consumer.
4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprises:
measuring an acoustic profile of at least one audio device proximate to the audio consumer;
continuously monitoring an ambient noise surrounding the audio consumer; and
adjusting an amplitude of the audible data to mask the ambient noise.
5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
adjusting a frequency, an amplitude, or a phase of a portion of the audible data emitted through the at least one audio device.
6 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
determining an acoustic profile of an audio emitter by sending a first audio signal, measuring a second audio signal emitted by the audio emitter, and comparing the first audio signal and the second audio signal.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the audible data further comprises:
adjusting an amplitude of at least a portion of the audible data prior to providing at least the portion of the audible data to the audio consumer.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining an hearing profile of the audio consumer by:
emitting an audio signal;
measuring a response to the audio signal associated with the audio consumer;
measuring an otoacoustic emission generated in response to the audio signal; and
creating the hearing profile of the audio consumer based on the measured otoacoustic emission.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring the acoustic environment of the audio creator is further based on
at least one personal measurement of the audio creator including a height of ears, or a distance between the ears.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the audible data further comprises:
adjusting an amplitude or a frequency associated with the audible data in inverse relation to the hearing profile of the audio creator.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the audible data further comprises:
adjusting an amplitude or a frequency associated with the audible data in proportion to the hearing profile of the audio consumer.
12 . A system for enabling audio consumers to perceive audible data based on how audio producers perceive audible data, the system comprising one or more hardware processors configured to:
receive a hearing profile of an audio creator, wherein the hearing profile is based on an objective measurement from an otoacoustic emission;
receive audible data corresponding to a content created by the audio creator, wherein a listening experience of the content was adjusted by the audio creator, wherein the objective measurement from the otoacoustic emission is performed at a same location automatically where the content was created by the audio creator, wherein the hearing profile is received from earbuds embedded within earcups of a headphone system including a headband that connects the earcups;
measure an acoustic environment of the audio creator based on a height of the audio creator;
identify one or more hearing impairment of the audio creator from the hearing profile of the audio creator; and
adjust the received audible data based on the identified one or more hearing impairment and the acoustic environment, thereby preventing the listening experience of the content to be affected by the one or more hearing impairment.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more hardware processors are further configured to adjust the audible data based on a hearing profile of an audio consumer.
14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the adjustment comprises lowering an amplitude at a frequency corresponding to the one or more hearing impairment.
15 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising an earbud including at least two microphones and two speakers, wherein the earbud is configured to conduct the objective measurement using the otoacoustic emission.
16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more hearing impairment can be across a plurality of frequencies.