Dynamic audio ducking
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- selecting a primary media item for playback on an electronic device;
selecting a secondary media item for playback on the electronic device; and
ducking the primary media item by a ducking value while the second media item is played based upon a desired relative loudness difference, such that the relative loudness difference is substantially maintained and such that the primary media item is played at a ducked loudness level during an interval of concurrent playback in which the primary and secondary media items are both played back simultaneously on the electronic device, wherein the primary media item is associated with a plurality of loudness values corresponding to a plurality of respective discrete time samples of the primary media item, and wherein the time at which the concurrent playback interval begins is determined based on a time sample corresponding to the selection of an optimal loudness value from the plurality of loudness values.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various dynamic audio ducking techniques are provided that may be applied where multiple audio streams, such as a primary audio stream and a secondary audio stream, are being played back simultaneously. For example, a secondary audio stream may include a voice announcement of one or more pieces of information pertaining to the primary audio stream, such as the name of the track or the name of the artist. In one embodiment, the primary audio data and the voice feedback data are initially analyzed to determine a loudness value. Based on their respective loudness values, the primary audio stream may be ducked during the period of simultaneous playback such that a relative loudness difference is generally maintained with respect to the loudness of the primary and secondary audio streams. Accordingly, the amount of ducking applied may be customized for each piece of audio data depending on its loudness characteristics.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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selecting a primary media item for playback on an electronic device; selecting a secondary media item for playback on the electronic device; and ducking the primary media item by a ducking value while the second media item is played based upon a desired relative loudness difference, such that the relative loudness difference is substantially maintained and such that the primary media item is played at a ducked loudness level during an interval of concurrent playback in which the primary and secondary media items are both played back simultaneously on the electronic device, wherein the primary media item is associated with a plurality of loudness values corresponding to a plurality of respective discrete time samples of the primary media item, and wherein the time at which the concurrent playback interval begins is determined based on a time sample corresponding to the selection of an optimal loudness value from the plurality of loudness values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. One or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage media having instructions encoded thereon for execution by a processor, the instructions comprising:
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a routine for selecting a primary media item for playback on an electronic device, the primary media item having an associated loudness value; a routine for selecting a secondary media item for playback on the electronic device; a routine for comparing the loudness value of the primary media item to a ducking threshold value; and a routine for ducking one of the primary and secondary media items based upon the comparison, such that a desired relative loudness difference is substantially maintained during an interval of concurrent playback, wherein ducking one of the primary and secondary media items comprises ducking the primary media item if the loudness value is greater than the ducking threshold value, or else ducking the secondary media item if the loudness value is less than the ducking threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. An electronic device, comprising:
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a processor; a storage device configured to store a plurality of media items and their associated loudness values; a memory device communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to store a media player application executable by the processor, wherein the media player application is configured to provide for the playback of one or more of the plurality of media items; an audio processing circuit comprising; a mixer configured to mix a plurality of audio input streams during an interval of concurrent playback to produce a composite mixed audio output stream, wherein the plurality of audio input streams includes a primary audio stream corresponding to a primary media item and a secondary audio stream corresponding to a secondary media item; and audio ducking logic configured to duck the primary audio stream by a determined ducking value while the second media item played based upon a desired relative loudness difference, such that the relative loudness difference is substantially maintained during the concurrent playback interval, wherein the primary media item is associated with a plurality of loudness values corresponding to a plurality of respective discrete time samples of the primary media item, and wherein the audio ducking logic is configured to select an optimal time at which the concurrent playback interval begins by selecting an optimal loudness value from the plurality of loudness values; and an audio output device configured to output the composite audio stream. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method, comprising:
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selecting a primary media item for playback on an electronic device; selecting a secondary media item for playback on the electronic device; and
ducking the primary media item by a ducking value while the second media item is played based upon a desired relative loudness difference, such that the relative loudness difference is substantially maintained and such that the primary media item is played at a ducked loudness level during an interval of concurrent playback in which the primary and secondary media items are both played back simultaneously on the electronic device, wherein ducking the primary media item comprises;ducking in the primary media item prior to the concurrent playback interval; and ducking out the primary media item following the concurrent playback interval, wherein the rate at which the primary media item is ducked in and ducked out is variable depending on one or more characteristics of the primary media item.
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Specification