Apple patents audio coding that turns 3D sound objects into Ambisonics
Apple describes a method for processing 3D audio by converting individual sound objects into Ambisonics, a format that captures sound from all directions. The system splits the data into two streams: one for the audio itself and another for the spatial information needed to place sounds in 3D space.
In the filing’s own words
In one aspect, a computer-implemented method, includes obtaining object audio and metadata that spatially describes the object audio, converting the object audio to Ambisonics audio based on the metadata, encoding, in a first bit stream, the Ambisonics audio, and encoding, in a second bit stream, at least a subset of the metadata. Other aspects are also described and claimed.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A system for encoding object audio, the system comprising a processor configured to: obtain object audio and metadata that spatially describes the object audio, wherein the object audio and the metadata characterize an original audio scene; convert the object audio to Ambisonics audio based on the metadata; encode, in a first bit stream, the Ambisonics audio; encode, in a second bit stream, at least a subset of the metadata; and transmit the first bit stream and the second bit stream to a decode side where the first and second bit streams are then decoded and the Ambisonics audio is rendered into a plurality of audio channels that characterize the original audio scene.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Object Audio Coding
- Publication number
- US20260270640A1
- Application number
- 19661358
- Filed
- Apr 28, 2026
- Published
- Sep 10, 2026
- Inventors
- 6
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04S 7/303 Electricity & electronicsG10L 19/008 Physics & computingG10L 19/167 Physics & computingG10L 25/03 Physics & computingH04S 3/008 Electricity & electronicsH04S 2420/11 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in Audio & voice
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.