DETECTION OF AUDIO PANNING AND SYNTHESIS OF 3D AUDIO FROM LIMITED-CHANNEL SURROUND SOUND

A method includes receiving a multi-channel audio signal (101) including multiple input audio channels (102, 104, 106, 108) that are configured to play audio from multiple respective locations relative to a listener. One or more spectral components that undergo a panning effect (1001, 1002, 1003) are identified in the multi-channel audio signal among at least some of the input audio channels. One or more virtual channels (1100, 1200, 1300) are generated, which together with the input audio channels form an extended set (111) of audio channels that retain the identified panning effect. A reduced set (222) of output audio signals, fewer in number than the input audio signals, is generated from the extended set, including recreating the panning effect in the output audio signals. The reduced set of output audio signals is outputted to a user.