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SonyPatent applicationAudio & voiceInterest 4/10

Sony patents tool to visualize how sounds hide other sounds

Sony describes a software tool that calculates how one sound in a mix covers up or hides other sounds at specific frequencies. It uses the position and frequency data of different audio elements to create a visual map of this masking effect for producers.

Why it mattersThis helps audio engineers quickly see which parts of a soundscape are being drowned out, potentially speeding up the process of mixing music or movie soundtracks.

In the filing’s own words

The present technology relates to an information processing apparatus and method, an encoding apparatus, an audio reproducing apparatus, and a program that enable content to be produced in a shorter time. An information processing apparatus includes a masking information calculation unit that calculates an auditory masking amount at each frequency of a target object with other objects as an inter-object masking frequency characteristic on the basis of a frequency spectrum and object position information of the target object and the frequency spectrum and the object position information of the other objects different from the target object, and a display control unit that displays the frequency spectrum of the target object and the inter-object masking frequency characteristic. The present technology can be applied to an information processing apparatus.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An information processing apparatus comprising: a masking information calculation unit that calculates, as an inter-object masking frequency characteristic, an auditory masking amount at each frequency of a target object with one or more other objects on a basis of a frequency spectrum and object position information of the target object, and the frequency spectrum and the object position information of the one or more other objects different from the target object; and a display control unit that displays the frequency spectrum of the target object and the inter-object masking frequency characteristic.

Facts

Company
Sony (Sony Group Corporation)
Official title
INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD, ENCODING APPARATUS, AUDIO REPRODUCING APPARATUS, AND PROGRAM
Publication number
US20260281644A1
Application number
18996361
Filed
Jul 10, 2023
Published
Sep 17, 2026
Inventors
2
Claims
20

Classified under

H04S 7/30 Electricity & electronicsG10L 19/008 Physics & computingG10L 19/035 Physics & computingH04S 7/40 Electricity & electronicsH04S 2400/11 Electricity & electronics

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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.