JP2003009296A - Sound processing device and sound processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a sound processing device and a sound processing method that enable a listener to perform fine adjustment of sound image localization and search for a listening point in a virtual sound space with high accuracy and speed. SOLUTION: A control means 103 for controlling sound image localization processing of a sound image localization means 101 for generating a virtual acoustic space by headphone reproduction and for reading parameters.
An operation means 102 for the control means 103 is provided to enable the listener to finely adjust the sound image localization.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an acoustic processing device and an acoustic processing method for performing multi-channel three-dimensional sound localization with headphones.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, many documents have been published on the principle of localizing a sound image. Among them, "Spatial Acoustics" by Brauert, Morimoto, and Goto, published by Kashima Publishing, is a well-known document. . From these documents,
Sound source signals and HRIR (He
It is a well-known fact that a convolution process of ad-Related Impulse Response (head impulse response) allows a sound image to be localized at an arbitrary position outside the head despite being heard by headphones.

This processing method will be described with reference to FIG. The input sound source signal has a convolution procedure 1201.
HRIR convolution is performed at. As many convolution steps 1201 as the number of input sound source signals are prepared. For simplification, FIG. 12 shows only a part of the convolution procedure. The convolution procedure 1201 includes a left ear HRIR and a right ear HRIR, and a sound reaching the right ear and a sound reaching the left ear are generated for one sound source signal. HRIR is HRTF (Head
-Related Transfer Function), the convolution procedure 1201 is
This corresponds to acoustic simulation of space for monaural sound source signals. The acoustic signals as the arrival sound to the left and right ears obtained from all the sound source signals are added in the addition procedure 1202A, 1
202B adds them respectively, and finally outputs a sound signal for two channels of a synthesized sound reaching the right ear and a synthesized sound reaching the left ear.

With the above method, the sound images of a plurality of sound source signals can be localized at arbitrary positions in the virtual acoustic space, and the listener can experience the out-of-head localization of the multiple sound images only with the sound reproduced by the headphones. You can

Needless to say, the headphones here include so-called stereo earphones in which the sounding section is placed over the ear wing, and so-called stereo earphones in which the sounding section is inserted into the outer ear entrance.

[0006]

However, in such a conventional headphone out-of-head sound image localization apparatus and method, variations in localization sensation due to individual differences in HRTFs are severe, and when the headphones are worn, they may not be heard. The sound image is perceived at different positions for each person, so-called sound image blurring that spreads the width of the sound image occurs, or the sound image is separated for each band of the reproduced signal because of the change every time. There was a problem of sound image localization accuracy.

In the listening point search in the actual listening room, the state of the sound image often changes just by slightly shifting the position of the head in the vicinity of the listening point. In this case, even if the physical change is small, it is auditory. It can be said that the psychological impact is large. In order to do the same thing in a virtual acoustic space, a mechanism for finely adjusting the sound image localization is required.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and acoustic processing that enables a listener to search for a listening point in a virtual acoustic space generated by out-of-head sound localization by headphones. An apparatus and a sound processing method are provided.

[0009]

The sound processing apparatus of the present invention includes a sound image localization means for finely adjusting the sound image localization and a sound image generated by a reproduced sound from headphones for searching a listening point in a virtual acoustic space. The configuration is characterized by including control means for controlling the parameters of the sound image localization means, and operation means for operating the sound image localization means via the control means.

With this configuration, when the signal processing contents of the sound image localization means are changed by the signal from the operation means, the generated acoustic signal is changed immediately and the reproduced sound is not interrupted. The sound image localization state of the listener can be sequentially adjusted by the operation of the operation means while listening to the reproduced sound reproduced from the headphones after the localization processing. As a result, it is possible to improve the localization of the virtual sound source by the listener, determine the localization position of the virtual sound source, and adjust the sound image localization such as the listening point search in the virtual listening room.

In the sound processing apparatus of the present invention, the control means comprises a parameter operating means for performing parameter control on the sound image localization means.

With this configuration, the listener can operate the parameters of the sound processing section.

In the sound processing apparatus of the present invention, the control means controls the parameter of the sound image localization means by a parameter operating means, and the parameter operating means simultaneously changes a plurality of specific parameters. Means and means.

With this configuration, the listener can perform an intuitive operation regarding sound image localization, such as the position information of the sound image and the degree of blurring of the sound image.

Further, the sound processing method of the present invention has the same characteristics as described above. Therefore, also in the sound processing method of the present invention, the same effect can be obtained.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1)

First, the sound processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, a sound processing apparatus 100 includes a sound image localization means 1 for performing sound image localization processing and correction of headphone characteristics on an input sound source signal of each channel.
01, operation means 102 for adjusting the sound image localization state by the listener, control means 103 for controlling the sound image localization means 101 based on a signal from the operation means 102, and information based on the control means 103. And a display unit 104 for displaying information of the sound image localization unit 101.

FIG. 2 shows a sound image localization means 201 which is an embodiment of the sound image localization means 101.

In FIG. 2, the sound image localization means 201 uses the HRIR for each input sound source signal of each channel.
Is composed of an HRIR convolution means 202 for convolving the R, an addition means 203 for respectively adding the left channel signal and the right channel signal generated by the HRIR convolution means 202, and a correction means 204 for correcting the characteristics of the reproduction system including headphones. ing.

The HRIR convolution means 202 for convolving the HRIR with respect to each input signal is composed of an HRIR convolver 202A having the number of channels of the input signal, but only a part of the convolver is shown in FIG. 2 for simplicity. The convolver 202A performs convolution of two HRIRs and an input signal, that is, HRIR to the right ear and HRIR to the left ear for one input signal.

The adding means 203 is composed of two adders 203B and 203C for both left and right channels, and a plurality of variable attenuators 203A for attenuating each signal input to these adders. In FIG. 2, these variable attenuators 203
For simplicity, only part of A is shown. In the adding means 203, each of the output signals from the convolution means 202 is attenuated by the variable attenuator 203A, and then each of the signal to the left ear and the signal to the right ear is added by the adder 203.
B, 203C are added.

The correction means 204 corrects the acoustic characteristics of the reproduction system with respect to the input signals to the right and left ears and each ear outputted from the addition means 203 by convolution of an inverse characteristic filter. After that, the signal is output to the headphones.

Next, the operation of the sound processing apparatus 100 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

First, the input multi-channel sound source signals are subjected to convolution processing in the convolver 202A of the HRIR convolution means 202 in the sound image localization means 101, and signals for both left and right channels are generated for each input signal. .

In the adding means 203, the HRIR convolution means 2
The left channel signal and the right channel signal generated in 02 are added, and then input to the correction unit 204 that corrects the characteristics of the reproduction system including headphones. In the adding means 203, the left channel signal and the right channel signal generated by the HRIR convolution means 202 are attenuated through the respective attenuators 203A, and then the left channel adder 203B and the right channel adder 203C are added. Are input to, and signals for two left and right channels are generated and output. The signals for the left and right two channels are output to the headphones after the acoustic characteristics of the reproduction system have been corrected by the correction means 204.

From the operation means 102, a signal including information on the operation amount is output and input to the control means 103. The control unit 103 controls the sound image localization unit 101 based on the signal from the operation unit 102, and the convolution unit 2
02, the attenuation value of each variable attenuator 203A of the adding means 203, the updating of the filter coefficient in the correcting means 204, and the like. This sound image localization means 1
The updating of each parameter by the control means 103 for 01 is not performed instantaneously, but is performed smoothly in time.

When each parameter is updated by the control of the control means 103 for the sound image localization means 101, the convolution means 202 of the sound image localization means 101 is updated.
The sound image localization means 101 notifies the control means 103 of the filter coefficient information of each HRIR, the attenuation value of each variable attenuator 203A in the adding means 203, and the value of the filter coefficient of the correcting means 204. Based on this, the control means 103
Then, holding the coefficient information of the filter and
Is held, the filter coefficients are converted into frequency domain information by fast Fourier transform processing, and these are held, and the information displayed on the display means 104 is processed.

On the display means 104, information such as internal states of the control means 103 and the sound image localization means 101 and each parameter is displayed based on the signal output from the control means 103.

Since the above operation is performed at any time during the operation of the sound processing apparatus 100, the output signal is not interrupted by the waiting time for the state transition and the parameter update.

Regarding the control of the sound image localization means 101, an explanatory diagram of the sound image localization control is shown in FIG.

The azimuth angle θ, the rising angle ψ, and the distance L can be considered as elements for controlling the sound image localization position by the control means 103. The azimuth angle θ can be controlled by the interaural time difference and the interaural level difference. As a specific method by adding the interaural time difference, the difference in delay time is relatively shifted in the time direction between the filter coefficients of the right channel filter and the left channel filter of the convolution unit 202A that is a left-right pair in the convolution unit 202. And a method of adding a difference to the interaural level by operating the attenuation value of the variable attenuator in the adding means 203. In order to add a more natural binaural level difference, each convolution unit 202A in the convolution unit 202 is provided.
It is necessary to change the amount of signal attenuation for each frequency band of the output signal, but this can be done by updating the filter coefficient in the convolution means 202 and the correction means 203.

The rising angle ψ can be controlled by operating a frequency band having a spectral cue. Further, it is possible to control the sense of distance by applying a low-cut filter to the signal or adding reverberant sound in the virtual acoustic space to the signal.

FIG. 4 shows a control means 401 showing an embodiment of the control means 103. In FIG. 4, the control means 401 comprises a parameter operating means 402 for directly operating the parameter value.

The parameter operating means 402 is the operating means 1
Based on the operation information from 02, the sound image localization means 101 is controlled, such as changing parameters. Further, the control unit 401 also performs parameter acquisition from the sound image localization unit 101, processing and holding of information displayed on the display unit 104, etc., but is omitted in FIG. 4 for simplicity.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention as described above, the sound image localization apparatus 101 is operated by the operation means 102 during operation.
The internal parameter value of the sound image localization means 101 can be changed smoothly by the operation of, and a mechanism that does not interrupt the reproduced sound at the time of operation allows the listener to feel the localization of the sound image while listening to the reproduced sound. Precisely adjust and search listening points in virtual acoustic space,
It can also be done quickly.

Further, the control means 103 uses the acoustic localization means 1
By including the parameter operating means 402 for directly operating the parameter value in 01, when the listener adjusts the sound image localization, the parameter of the sound image localization means 101 can be directly operated by operating the operating means 102. (Embodiment 2)

FIG. 5 shows a control means of the sound processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The sound processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is similar to the sound processing apparatus according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.
In addition to the control means 501 shown in FIG. 1, the control means 501 includes a parameter operation means 502 and a plurality of parameter control means 503.
It is composed of

The plural parameter control means 503 is operated by the operation means 102 such as the value of the azimuth angle θ of the sound image, the value of the rising angle ψ of the sound image, the degree of attenuation of the sound image in the low sense of distance, the degree of spread of the sound image, and the like. An operation signal about the content related to the sound image localization information itself is received. To perform these controls,
It is necessary to control and operate a plurality of parameters in the sound image localization means 101 at the same time.
By controlling the parameter operating means 502 by
The control unit 501 performs the processing necessary for the operation of the content directly related to the sound image localization information itself.

Information regarding a control method for controlling a plurality of parameters at the same time is described in a plurality of parameter control means 503.
Held in. The control unit 501 also acquires parameters from the sound image localization unit 101 and processes and holds information to be displayed on the display unit 104, but is omitted in FIG. 5 for simplicity.

As described above, the control means 501 controls the plurality of parameters at the same time.
With the provision of 3, it is possible to provide an acoustic processing device that allows the listener to perform a more intuitive operation when adjusting the sound image localization.

Also, since the listener can adjust the sound image localization more intuitively, the listener can quickly make fine adjustments regarding the feeling of sound image localization and search for listening points in the virtual acoustic space. (Embodiment 3)

FIG. 6 shows an audio player according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

The audio player 601 is a CD or DV.
A signal detection unit 602 that detects an acoustic signal from a recording medium such as D, a sound processing unit 603 that performs localization control of sound image localization, a display unit 604 that displays parameters and graphics relating to localization, headphones 605,
The recording means 607 stores the parameter values in the sound processing means 603. The acoustic processing means 6
The operation of 03 is the same as the operation of the acoustic processing device of the first or second embodiment.

Next, the operation of the audio player according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Signal detection means 60
Reference numeral 2 detects an acoustic signal and a localization signal containing localization information from an acoustic signal recording medium such as a CD or a DVD, or the Internet or radio waves. The localization signal, which is the sound image localization information recorded on the acoustic signal recording medium, is processed by the acoustic processing unit 6.
In 03, it is treated as an initial value for sound image localization.
The acoustic processing means 603 performs sound image localization processing on these acoustic signals using localization signals.

The sound image localization processing by the localization signal in the sound processing means 603 is limited to the beginning of the music or the insertion of the recording medium, and after the reproduction of the music starts, only the operation of the sound processing means 603 by the listener is performed. The received status is sequentially displayed on the display unit 604.

Further, each parameter in the sound processing means 603 for the recording medium and the music for which the listening point has been adjusted is stored in the recording means 607 and is called and used as necessary. When the localization signal is not recorded on the acoustic signal recording medium, the acoustic processing unit 603.
A localization signal for a musical piece for which there is no localization signal prepared in advance in the recording means 607 is input to the.

As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the listener can listen to the music including the information of the sound image localization and can finely adjust the sound image localization. , It is possible to quickly obtain a listening state suitable for an individual when listening. In addition, the headphones 60 have the same effect as that of obtaining an optimum listening state by trying various speaker arrangements in the listening room.
The listener can easily obtain the optimal listening environment because the listening can be performed only by the listening by 5 and the localization information by the display unit 604. (Embodiment 4)

FIG. 7 shows a mobile phone according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

The cellular phone 701 has a receiving means 702 for detecting an acoustic signal and a localization signal from an inputted wireless signal, an acoustic processing means 703 for controlling localization of a sound image localization, and a display for displaying parameters and graphics concerning localization. Means 704, headphones 705, transmission means 707 for transmitting a radio signal, and a microphone 708. The operation of the sound processing means 703 is similar to the operation of the sound processing device of the first, second or third embodiment.

Next, the operation of the mobile phone according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The received signal received by the mobile phone 701 is
First, the receiving unit 702 detects an acoustic signal and a localization signal. These signals are processed by the acoustic processing means 703.
Then, the sound image localization processing is performed on the acoustic signal and the sound is reproduced from the headphones. The listener finely adjusts the listening state by operating the sound processing unit 703 and confirming the display regarding localization by the display unit 704 at the time of listening, and finely adjusts the localization state of the sound image.

The voice of the listener is input to the transmitting means 707 from the microphone 708 and then transmitted from the portable telephone 701 as a transmission signal. In the transmitting means 707, the localization signal itself is not generated. The localization signal included in the received signal is added by the base station that receives the radio waves of the mobile phone. This adjusts the virtual sound image positional relationships so as not to be inconsistent with each other in the other-party call by the plurality of mobile phones 701.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, in a call using a mobile phone, the sound images of each other are localized out of the head during a one-to-one call, thereby making a call with a sense of presence. be able to.

Further, since the listener can finely adjust the sound image of the other party, the sound image localization state can be obtained quickly and accurately. Since the localization signal is managed not by the mobile phone 701 but by the equipment including the base station, there is no contradiction between the positional relationships of the sound images of the listeners during a simultaneous call by a large number of people, and the listener does not actually receive the sound. You can get a sense of realism like a conversation with a large number of people.

Further, since it is possible to create a new sound image that does not cause a contradiction for all callers during a call, it is possible to make a call while playing sounds such as music and news in addition to the call content. In a call in which the sound image localization processing is not performed, these sounds hinder the call, but in a call in the mobile phone 701 in which the sound image processing is performed, these sounds are less likely to hinder the call. (Embodiment 5)

FIG. 8 shows a conference device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

The conferencing device 801 receives the received signal and detects the acoustic signal, the localization signal and the video signal by the receiving means 80.
2 and acoustic processing means 80 for performing sound image localization processing on the acoustic signal
3, control means 804 for performing control relating to sound image control for the sound processing means 803, display means 805 for displaying information regarding sound image localization and the received video signal,
It is composed of headphones 806 for the listener to listen to the voice, a voice signal from the microphone 809, a video signal from the camera 810, and a transmitting means 808 for transmitting a localization signal from the control means 804. The operation of the sound processing means 803 is similar to the operation of the sound processing device of the first or second embodiment.

Next, the operation of the conference apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The reception signal received by the conference device 801 is first subjected to signal detection by the receiving means 802, and an acoustic signal, a localization signal and a video signal are detected. The acoustic signal is input to the acoustic processing unit 803, and sound image localization processing is performed. After the display position of the received video signal is controlled by the control unit 804,
Display is performed on the display means 805.

The detected localization signal is used by the control means 804 to identify the communication partner, control the parameters of the sound image localization based on it, and control the display position of the video information.
By the sound image localization parameter control, the parameter control by the control means 804 to the acoustic processing means 803 is performed,
The display position control of the image information controls the image display on the display unit 805 by the control unit 804, and the sound image localization parameter control by the control unit 804 on the sound processing unit 803 is performed when the communication is started and when the display unit 805. It is performed only when the display position of the communication partner in is changed. The acoustic signal subjected to the sound image localization processing in the acoustic processing unit 803 is reproduced from the headphones 806.

The listener adjusts the localization state of the sound image by operating the sound processing means 803 while listening to the sound from the headphones 806.

Audio signal from microphone 809 and camera 81
The video signal from 0 is input to the transmission means 808. In addition, the localization signal from the control unit 804 is also input to the transmission unit 808. This localization signal is generated based on the sound image localization information of the listener using the conference device 801.
This is sound image localization information that the communication partner should obtain about the voice of the listener. The transmission unit 808 generates a transmission signal including information of these audio signal, video signal, and localization signal,
It is transmitted from the conference device 801.

As described above, according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, since the speaker is not used in the conference held by the conference device 801, the signal output from the speaker is input to the microphone. This has an effect that a comfortable conference can be held without the occurrence of acoustic echo. The conference held by the conference device 801 can be conducted by a plurality of people, and the sound image heard by each person is localized in the virtual acoustic space so that there is no contradiction as a whole. There is an effect that the sound images do not overlap with each other and the clarity of the conversation is improved when a plurality of people speak at the same time. Further, for the same reason as above, there is an effect that the conference participants can hold a realistic conference.

Further, due to the feature of having the acoustic processing means 803, when the localization of the sound image is insufficient among the conference participants, the localization of the sound image can be adjusted quickly and accurately during the conference. Has the effect. (Embodiment 6)

FIG. 9 shows an information terminal which is the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

The information terminal 901 is an information terminal such as a personal computer, a PDA, a portable terminal, etc., and receives a signal from the outside to separate a video signal, an audio signal and a localization signal, and a video display. A video display means 903 for performing sound localization processing, and a sound processing means 904 for performing sound image localization processing,
Headphones 905 for the listener to hear the sound, control means 907 for controlling the sound processing means 904,
The recording medium 909 stores a video signal, an audio signal, and a localization signal, and a signal detecting unit 908 that detects a signal from the recording medium 909. The operation of the sound processing means 904 is the same as the operation of the sound processing device of the first or second embodiment.

Next, the operation of the information terminal according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Received signals obtained from wireless communication or the Internet are separated into video signals, audio signals and localization signals by the receiving means 902. The information recorded on the recording medium 909 is detected by the signal detection means 908 and separated into a video signal, an audio signal and a localization signal. Image display means 9
In 03, the video signal from the receiving unit 902 and the signal detecting unit 908 and the video signal regarding the sound image localization from the acoustic processing unit 904 are input, and these videos are displayed. The acoustic signal from the receiving unit 902 and the signal detecting unit 908 is input to the acoustic processing unit 904, the sound image localization processing is performed on the acoustic signal, and the acoustic signal is output to the headphones 905. The control means 907 receives localization signals from the reception means 902 and the signal detection means 908, and controls the acoustic processing means 904 based on these signals.

The listener adjusts the sound image localization by operating the acoustic processing means 904 while listening to the sound.
The control means 907 controls the acoustic processing means 904 by the received signal or the localization signal recorded in the recording medium 909 for sound image localization. This control is always performed while the listener is listening. It doesn't mean that when you start playing a song or when switching between game scenes,
It is performed only when it is necessary to update the sound image localization information in the sound processing unit 904. Further, the listener can adjust the sound image by operating the sound processing means 904 without stopping the reproduced sound during listening.

As described above, according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, by these operations, the listener can enjoy a movie, a music game, etc. on the information terminal, and obtain the signal obtained through the Internet or the like. The direction of the sound image is controlled so that headphones or stereo earphones can be optimally listened to according to the signal recorded on the recording medium or the recording medium, so that there is an effect that a realistic reproduction can be performed regardless of the listening position. Further, there is an effect that the listener can adjust the state of sound image localization when reproducing the voice. (Embodiment 7)

FIG. 10 shows a game machine according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

The game machine 1001 stores a signal detecting means 1002 for detecting a video signal, an audio signal and a localization signal from a storage medium such as a CD or a DVD, the Internet or a radio signal, and information regarding the detected video signal and sound image localization. Display means 1005 for displaying, acoustic processing means 1006 for performing sound image localization processing, and acoustic processing means 1006
Control unit 1004 for performing parameter control for the listener, headphones 1009 for the listener to hear the voice, and a controller 100 for the listener to operate the state of sound image localization.
7 and a storage unit 1010 that stores internal parameters of the sound processing unit 1006. Sound processing means 1
The operation of 006 is the same as the operation of the sound processing device of the first or second embodiment.

Next, the operation of the seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the signal detecting means 1002, signals are detected from a recording medium on which game software, video information and audio information are recorded, data from the Internet, data from radio signals, etc., and video signals and audio signals are detected. The localization signal is separated. In the control means 1004,
Based on the localization signal input from the signal detection unit 1002, parameters for sound image localization are set in the acoustic processing unit 1006. The sound processing unit 1006 performs sound image localization processing on the sound signal input from the signal detection unit 1002, and reproduces sound from the headphones 1009.
The display unit 1005 displays the video signal from the signal detection unit 1002 and the information about the sound image localization from the sound processing unit 1006.

The signal detected by the signal detecting means 1002 includes localization information corresponding to the acoustic signal reproduced during the game, and the game player who is the listener is
Before starting the game, it is adjusted by operating the controller 1007 while listening to the headphones 1009 as to whether or not these sound image localizations have been successfully performed.

In the storage means 1010, the sound processing means 10
The value of the parameter at 06 can be retained.
The parameters of the sound processing means 1006 regarding the sound image localization adjusted by the game player are stored in the storage means 1010.
It can be stored in and can be called and used as needed.

As described above, according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention, the listener performs the sound effect processing in the virtual sound space only by the sound reproduction by the headphones without performing the sound reproduction by the speaker. There is an effect that a realistic game can be enjoyed, and the listening state that suits the listener individually can be adjusted accurately and quickly before the game starts. (Embodiment 8)

The sound processing method according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 11, the sound processing method is schematically represented by a block diagram like the sound processing method 1100.

The acoustic processing method 1100 includes a sound image localization procedure 1101 for performing sound image localization processing and correction of headphone characteristics for an input sound source signal of each channel, and a sound image localization procedure 1101 based on an operation by an operator or the like. And a control procedure 1103 for controlling. In the display procedure 1104, information regarding the processing in the sound image localization procedure 1101 is displayed based on the information from the control procedure 1103.

Next, the acoustic processing method 1100 as described above is performed.
The operation will be described with reference to FIG.

The input multi-channel sound source signals are subjected to sound image localization processing in a sound image localization procedure 1101 and reproduced from headphones. Control procedure 1103
When the operation is performed, the control procedure 1103 controls the sound image localization procedure 1101 based on the control such as parameter updating.

The updating of each parameter is not performed instantaneously but smoothly in time. Also, when each parameter is updated under the control of the control procedure 1103 for the sound image localization procedure 1101, each parameter in the sound image localization procedure 1101 is notified to the control procedure 1103. Based on this, in the control procedure 1103, the information displayed in the display procedure 1104 is processed and output.

The display procedure 1104 includes the control procedure 1
By the control from 103, the internal state and each parameter in the control procedure 1103 are also displayed. Since the above operation is performed at any time during the processing of the acoustic processing method 1100, the output signal is not interrupted due to the state transition or the waiting time for parameter update.

As described above, according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention, the sound processing method 1100 has a mechanism in which the parameter value is smoothly changed by the operation during operation and the reproduced sound is not interrupted. This has the effect that the listener can adjust the sense of localization of the sound image and search the listening point in the virtual acoustic space accurately and quickly while listening to the reproduced sound.

[0087]

As described above, according to the present invention, the sound image localization processing is performed by including the sound image localization means for generating a sound image by the reproduced sound from the headphones and the operation means for operating the sound image localization means. After that, while listening to the playback sound that is played back from the headphones, the sound image localization state of the listener can be adjusted sequentially by operating the operating means, improving the localization of the virtual sound source by the listener and the localization position of the virtual sound source. It is possible to provide an acoustic processing device and an acoustic processing method having an excellent effect that adjustment regarding sound image localization such as determination and search of a listening point in a virtual listening room can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an acoustic processing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the operation of the sound image localization means in the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a sound image localization control method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of control means according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of control means according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an audio player according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a mobile phone according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a conference device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an information terminal according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a game machine according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an acoustic processing method according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a conventional sound image localization process.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 sound processing device 101 sound image localization means 102 operation means 103 control means 104 display means 201 Sound image localization means 202 Folding means 202A convolver 203 addition means 203A variable attenuator 203B adder 203C adder 204 correction means 401 control means 402 Parameter operating means 501 control means 502 Parameter operating means 503 Multiple parameter control means 601 audio player 602 signal detection means 603 sound processing means 604 display means 605 headphones 607 recording means 701 mobile phone 702 Receiving means 703 Sound processing means 704 display means 705 headphones 707 Transmission means 708 microphone 801 conference equipment 802 Receiving means 803 Sound processing means 804 Control means 805 display means 806 headphones 808 Transmission means 809 Mike 810 camera 901 Information terminal 902 receiving means 903 Image display means 904 Sound processing means 905 headphones 907 Control means 908 signal detection means 909 recording medium 1001 game console 1002 signal detection means 1004 control means 1005 display means 1006 sound processing means 1007 controller 1009 headphones 1010 storage means 1100 Sound processing method 1101 Sound image localization procedure 1103 Control procedure 1104 Display procedure 1201 Folding procedure 1202A addition procedure 1202B addition procedure

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A sound image localization means for generating a sound image by a reproduced sound from headphones for finely adjusting the sound image localization and exploring a listening point in a virtual acoustic space, and a control means for controlling parameters of the sound image localization means. An acoustic processing device comprising: an operating unit that operates the sound image localization unit via the control unit. 2. The sound processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means comprises a parameter operating means for performing parameter control for the sound image localization means. 3. The parameter operating means for controlling the sound image localization means by the control means,
The sound processing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of parameter operating means for simultaneously changing a plurality of specific parameters with respect to the parameter operating means. 4. A sound image localization procedure in which a sound image is generated by a reproduced sound from headphones that performs fine adjustment of sound image localization and a search for a listening point in a virtual acoustic space, and a control procedure for controlling parameters in this sound image localization procedure. An audio processing method, wherein the control procedure includes an operation procedure for performing an operation for controlling the sound image localization procedure. 5. The sound processing method according to claim 4, wherein the control procedure includes a parameter operation procedure for performing parameter control for the sound image localization procedure. 6. The parameter operation procedure, wherein the control procedure performs parameter control for the sound image localization procedure,
The sound processing method according to claim 4, comprising a plurality of parameter operating procedures for simultaneously changing a plurality of specific parameters in response to the parameter operating procedures.