New Enhancements to Immersive Sound Field Rendition (ISR) System

Consumer audio applications such as satellite radio broadcasts, multi-channel audio streaming and playback systems coupled with the need to meet stringent bandwidth requirements are eliciting newer challenges in parametric multi-channel audio coding schemes. This paper describes the continuation of our research concerning the Immersive Soundfield Rendition (ISR) system and the different enhancements in various algorithmic components. The need to maintain a constant bit rate for many applications requires a rate control mechanism. The various strategies utilized in the rate control mechanism are presented. In addition, an innovative phase compensated down-mixing scheme has been incorporated in the ISR system so as to generate a high quality carrier signal. Enhancements have been made to the blind up-mixing scheme and to considerable gains have been made in terms of acoustic diversity. The various enhancements of the ISR system and its performance are detailed. Audio demonstrations are available at http://www.atc-labs.com/isr.