Methods and systems for generating and interactively rendering object based audio
Methods for generating an object based audio program, renderable in a personalizable manner, and including a bed of speaker channels renderable in the absence of selection of other program content (e.g., to provide a default full range audio experience). Other embodiments include steps of delivering, decoding, and/or rendering such a program. Rendering of content of the bed, or of a selected mix of other content of the program, may provide an immersive experience. The program may include multiple object channels (e.g., object channels indicative of user-selectable and user-configurable objects), the bed of speaker channels, and other speaker channels. Another aspect is an audio processing unit (e.g., encoder or decoder) configured to perform, or which includes a buffer memory which stores at least one frame (or other segment) of an object based audio program (or bitstream thereof) generated in accordance with, any embodiment of the method.
1. A method of rendering audio content for an audio program, wherein the program includes at least one object channel and metadata, wherein the metadata is indicative of at least one selectable predetermined mix of content including the at least one object channel, wherein the metadata includes rendering parameters for each said predetermined mix, said method including steps of:
(a) receiving the object channel and metadata of the program;
(b) providing to a controller a set of selectable predetermined mixes of audio content of the program including the predetermined mix of content, wherein the controller is configured to provide an interface menu of mixes which are available for selection;
(c) receiving from the controller a selection of the predetermined mixes, wherein the selection indicates a selected subset of the set of selectable predetermined mixes of audio content of the program; and
(d) rendering the at least one object channel based on at least some of the metadata that indicates the selected subset of the set of selectable predetermined mixes of audio content of the program, wherein the rendering includes selecting and mixing content of the at least one object channel in response to the at least some of the metadata that indicates the selected subset of the set of selectable predetermined mixes of audio content of the program.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the metadata is indicative of a mix graph, and the mix graph is indicative of selectable mixes of the audio content of the program.
3. An audio processing unit configured to render audio content for an audio program, wherein the program includes at least one object channel and metadata, wherein the metadata is indicative of at least one selectable predetermined mix of content including the at least one object channel, and the metadata includes rendering parameters for each said predetermined mix, said audio processing unit including:
a first subsystem configured to receive the object channel;
a second subsystem coupled to the first subsystem and configured to provide to a controller a set of selectable predetermined mixes of audio content of the program including the predetermined mix of content, wherein the controller is configured to provide an interface menu of mixes which are available for selection;
a third subsystem coupled to the second subsystem and configured to receive from the controller a selection of the predetermined mixes, wherein the selection indicates a selected subset of the set of selectable predetermined mixes of audio content of the audio program; and
a rendering subsystem, coupled to the first subsystem and the third subsystem, and configured to render the at least one object channel based on at least some of the metadata that indicates the selected subset of the set of selectable predetermined mixes of audio content of the audio program, wherein the rendering includes selecting and mixing content of the at least one object channel in response to the at least some of the metadata that indicates the selected subset of the set of selectable predetermined mixes of audio content of the audio program.
4. The audio processing unit claim 3 , wherein at least some of the metadata is indicative of a mix graph, and the mix graph is indicative of selectable mixes of the audio content of the program.
5. A computer-readable medium which is a non-transitory medium, and on which is stored instructions for performing the method of claim 1 .