DVD audio encoding using environmental audio tracks

• US 20040252851A1
• Filed: 02/12/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: MX Entertainment, Inc.
• Inventors: Braun, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,027,482 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/101
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/008 in which the audio signals are in digital form, i.e. employing more than two discrete digital channels data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02

Abstract

Audio tracks including environmental information are recorded on a DVD, or other playback medium using microphones, vibration sensors, or other devices that capture ambient sound from the original environment in which a performance, presentation or other sound is created. For example, environmental audio tracks can be obtained by placing microphones on the floor, ceiling and walls of an amphitheater during a pop music performance. Any object, item or surface can be a candidate from, or within, which to capture an ambient sound. Sounds can be obtained from sensors mounted to musicians, audience members, theater seats, various rooms within a building, etc. The environmental audio tracks (EATs) can be provided individually or mixed together with one or more other EATs, one or more standard recorded tracks, or otherwise mixed or combined with other sounds. Or the EATs can be processed, effected, etc., as desired. The original or modified EATs are then encoded onto a DVD (or other medium) so that a listener can selectively hear the EATs alone, or in combination with, other audio tracks on the DVD.

Claims

1. A method for providing acoustic environment modeling information, the method comprising

obtaining environmental information about a room'"'"'s acoustic characteristics;

including the obtained environmental information in a recordable medium;

including one or more standard audio tracks recorded during a live performance in the room on the recordable medium; and

using the obtained environmental information during playback of the standard audio tracks to alter an audio presentation of the standard audio tracks to a human listener.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining environmental information includes substeps of

generating audio tones within the room;

sensing the audio tones; and

using the sensed audio tones to derive modeling characteristics of the room.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental information comprises an environmental audio track.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of using the obtained environmental information includes a substep of

combining the environmental audio track with one or more audio tracks.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of using the obtained environmental information includes a substep of

processing one or more standard audio tracks in accordance with at least a portion of the obtained environmental information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the recordable medium includes a DVD.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the recordable medium includes a CDROM.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein audio tracks are provided over a communications network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein audio tracks are provided via a cable system.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein audio tracks are provided via a satellite system.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein audio tracks are provided via an Internet connection.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein audio tracks are streamed over a network.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more characteristics of a room in which the playback occurs are obtained, the method further comprising

using the one or more characteristics to modify playback.

14. A method for providing audio content on a medium, the method comprising

recording a physical effect at a point in a structure during a live performance, wherein the physical effect is a response to an acoustic vibration caused by the live performance;

including the recorded physical effect in the medium; and

including a direct recording of the live performance as a separate track in the medium.

15. A medium including digital information, comprising

one or more standard audio tracks;

and

environmental modeling information of a room in which one or more of the standard audio tracks were recorded.

16. A method for creating a readable digital medium, the method comprising

including one or more standard audio tracks in the readable digital medium;

and

including environmental modeling information of a room in which one or more of the standard audio tracks were recorded onto the readable digital medium.

17. A playback system for playing audio information included on a readable medium, the playback system comprising

a processor for modifying the audio information in the standard audio tracks according to at least a portion of the environmental modeling information.