IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,674,302
Granted Patent B2
US 10,674,302 · App. 16/505,448 · Granted Jun 2, 2020

Loudness adjustment for downmixed audio content

Inventors: Michael Ward (Orinda, CA); Jeffrey Riedmiller (Novato, CA); Scott Gregory Norcross (San Rafael, CA); Alexander Stahlmann (Bubenreuth, DE)
Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation; Dolby International AB
H04S7/30G10L19/008G10L21/0324H04S1/002H04S1/007H04S2400/03H04S2400/13
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,674,302
App. No.
16/505,448
Granted
Jun 2, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Audio content coded for a reference speaker configuration is downmixed to downmix audio content coded for a specific speaker configuration. One or more gain adjustments are performed on individual portions of the downmix audio content coded for the specific speaker configuration. Loudness measurements are then performed on the individual portions of the downmix audio content. An audio signal that comprises the audio content coded for the reference speaker configuration and downmix loudness metadata is generated. The downmix loudness metadata is created based at least in part on the loudness measurements on the individual portions of the downmix audio content.

Claims (22)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an encoded audio bitstream, the encoded audio bitstream including audio data and metadata audio signal including one or more sets of downmix loudness parameters;

determining if a first downmix loudness parameter indicates whether downmix loudness offset data exists, and if the downmix loudness offset data does exist, adjusting a difference between an expected loudness of a downmix audio signal and a measured loudness of the downmix audio signal based upon a second downmix loudness parameter; and

wherein the second downmix loudness parameter indicates whether there is a difference between the expected loudness of a 2-channel downmix output and an actual measured loudness.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, the first downmix loudness parameter is a one-bit data field denoted as “dmixloudoffste” and the second downmix loudness parameter is a five-bit field denoted as “dmixloudoffst.”

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the dmixloudoffst indicates whether there is a difference between the expected loudness of the 2-channel downmix output from an AC-3 or Enhanced AC-3 decoder, and the actual measured loudness, with all gain adjustments due to dialogue normalization, dynamic range compression and/or fixed attenuation to protect against downmix overload having been applied prior to measurement.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a program loudness data conveys data about program loudness, including measured loudness values for the program, and indication as to whether the loudness of the program has been corrected prior to AC-3 or Enhanced AC-3 encoding.

5. An audio processing apparatus comprising:

a buffer for storing at least a portion of an encoded audio bitstream, the encoded audio bitstream including audio data and metadata including one or more sets of downmix loudness parameters;

a demultiplexer for parsing the portion of the encoded audio bitstream; and

an audio decoder for decoding the audio data,

wherein the metadata includes a first downmix loudness parameter indicating whether downmix loudness offset data exists, and if the downmix loudness offset data does exist, a second downmix loudness parameter indicating whether there is a difference between an expected loudness of a 2-channel downmix of the audio data and an actual measured loudness of the 2-channel downmix of the audio data.

6. The audio processing apparatus of claim 5 , wherein, a first downmix loudness parameter is a one-bit data field denoted as “dmixloudoffste” and the second downmix loudness parameter is a five-bit field denoted as “dmixloudoffst.”

7. The audio processing apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the dmixloudoffst indicates whether there is a difference between the expected loudness of a 2-channel downmix output from an AC-3 or Enhanced AC-3 decoder, and an actual measured loudness, with all gain adjustments due to dialogue normalization, dynamic range compression and/or fixed attenuation to protect against downmix overload having been applied prior to measurement.

8. The audio processing apparatus of claim 5 , wherein a program loudness data conveys data about program loudness, including measured loudness values for the program, and indication as to whether the loudness of the program has been corrected prior to AC-3 or Enhanced AC-3 encoding.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising machine executable instructions which, when executed, cause the machine to perform steps of:

receiving an encoded audio bitstream, the encoded audio bitstream including audio data and metadata audio signal including one or more sets of downmix loudness parameters;

determining if a first downmix loudness parameter indicates whether downmix loudness offset data exists, and if the downmix loudness offset data does exist, adjusting a difference between an expected loudness of a downmix audio signal and a measured loudness of the downmix audio signal based upon a second downmix loudness parameter; and

wherein the second downmix loudness parameter indicates whether there is a difference between the expected loudness of a 2-channel downmix output and an actual measured loudness.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein, the first downmix loudness parameter is a one-bit data field denoted as “dmixioudoffste” and the second downmix loudness parameter is a five-bit field denoted as “dmixioudoffst.”

11. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the dmixloudoffst indicates whether there is a difference between the expected loudness of the 2-channel downmix output from an AC-3 or Enhanced AC-3 decoder, and the actual measured loudness, with all gain adjustments due to dialogue normalization, dynamic range compression and/or fixed attenuation to protect against downmix overload having been applied prior to measurement.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein a program loudness data conveys data about program loudness, including measured loudness values for the program, and indication as to whether the loudness of the program has been corrected prior to AC-3 or Enhanced AC-3 encoding.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2019
From: WARD, MICHAEL; RIEDMILLER, JEFFREY; NORCROSS, SCOTT GREGORY; STAHLMANN, ALEXANDER
To: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION; DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
Reel/Frame 050792/0661 →
Continuity (9)
Division 16115292 · Aug 28, 2018
Continuation 15625749 · Jun 16, 2017
Continuation 15091366 · Apr 5, 2016
Continuation 14916522
Provisional Application 61877230 · Sep 12, 2013
Provisional Application 61891324 · Oct 15, 2013
Provisional Application 61892313 · Oct 17, 2013
Provisional Application 61938043 · Feb 10, 2014
Related Publication 20190335285A1 · Oct 31, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,369,005