Systems and methods are provided for automatically adjusting a reference gain of an audio mixer having a reference channel for receiving a far end audio signal from a remote location as a reference signal and a plurality of audio input channels for receiving audio signals captured by a plurality of microphone element. An exemplary method includes determining an echo level in an input audio signal received at a given audio input channel, and automatically determining a gain amount for the reference channel based on the echo level. An exemplary system includes a reference gain adjuster configured to automatically determine a gain amount for the reference channel based on an echo level detected in an input audio signal received at a given audio input channel.

Systems and methods are provided for automatically adjusting a reference gain of an audio mixer having a reference channel for receiving a far end audio signal from a remote location as a reference signal and a plurality of audio input channels for receiving audio signals captured by a plurality of microphone element. An exemplary method includes determining an echo level in an input audio signal received at a given audio input channel, and automatically determining a gain amount for the reference channel based on the echo level. An exemplary system includes a reference gain adjuster configured to automatically determine a gain amount for the reference channel based on an echo level detected in an input audio signal received at a given audio input channel.

A content reproducing electronic apparatus includes a communicator including circuitry, an audio output device, and a processor configured to receive state information indicating a state of an external electronic apparatus from the external electronic apparatus located around the electronic apparatus via the communicator, obtain noise information corresponding to the received state information, and control the audio output device to output an audio signal of a content based on a volume corresponding to the obtained noise information.

A content reproducing electronic apparatus includes a communicator including circuitry, an audio output device, and a processor configured to receive state information indicating a state of an external electronic apparatus from the external electronic apparatus located around the electronic apparatus via the communicator, obtain noise information corresponding to the received state information, and control the audio output device to output an audio signal of a content based on a volume corresponding to the obtained noise information.

Frequency domain compensation is provided for spectral impairment resulting from the audio path characteristics for a given audio device in a given listening space. Selected segments of an audio stream are recorded at a listener position to measure degradation in the audio path and to update compensation filter characteristics of the audio device. Recorded transmitted and received audio sequences are aligned based and compared in the frequency domain. The difference between the aligned transmitted and received sequences represents the frequency domain degradation along the acoustic path due to the speaker, the physical attributes of the room, and noise. A dynamically updated noise model is determined for adjusting compensation filter characteristics of the audio device, which can be updated during use of the audio device. A compensation curve is derived which can adapt the equalization of the audio device passively during normal usage.

Frequency domain compensation is provided for spectral impairment resulting from the audio path characteristics for a given audio device in a given listening space. Selected segments of an audio stream are recorded at a listener position to measure degradation in the audio path and to update compensation filter characteristics of the audio device. Recorded transmitted and received audio sequences are aligned based and compared in the frequency domain. The difference between the aligned transmitted and received sequences represents the frequency domain degradation along the acoustic path due to the speaker, the physical attributes of the room, and noise. A dynamically updated noise model is determined for adjusting compensation filter characteristics of the audio device, which can be updated during use of the audio device. A compensation curve is derived which can adapt the equalization of the audio device passively during normal usage.

A personal listening system and a method of using the personal listening system to enhance speech intelligibility of audio playback, are described. The method includes determining a speech intelligibility metric, such as a speech reception threshold, of a user. Based on the speech intelligibility metric, a tuning parameter is applied to an audio input signal. The speech reception threshold is compared to an environmental signal-to-noise ratio to determine whether enhancement of the audio input signal is warranted. Application of the tuning parameter to the audio input signal generates an audio output signal having reduced noise, making playback of the audio output signal more intelligible to the user. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

Method and apparatus for automatic gain control utilizing sound source position information in a shared space having a plurality of microphones and a plurality of sound sources. Sound signals are received from the microphones. One or more processors locate position information corresponding to each of the sound sources. The processor(s) determine the distance to each of the sound sources from each of the microphones. The processor(s) define a predetermined gain weight adjustment for each of the microphones. The processor(s) apply the defined weight adjustments to the microphones to achieve a consistent volume of the desired plurality of sound sources. The processor(s) maintain a consistent ambient sound level regardless of the position of the sound sources and the applied gain weight adjustments. The processor(s) output a summed signal of the sound sources at a consistent volume with a constant ambient sound level across the plurality of sound source positions.

An audio system includes at least one sound generation device having at least an acoustic transducer; and an electronic integrated circuit. A communication bus is connected to the at least one sound generation device and is configured to communicate a digital signal comprised of one or more audio streams and control signals. A power bus is connected to the at least one sound generation device. The acoustic transducer includes at least one of the following groups: a membrane and an acoustic modulator; or a membrane, acoustic resonator, and acoustic coupler. The electronic integrated circuit is constructed and arranged to receive the digital signal and generate an analog electric signal to operate the acoustic transducer to generate an audio signal in accordance with the control signal.

An audio system includes at least one sound generation device having at least an acoustic transducer; and an electronic integrated circuit. A communication bus is connected to the at least one sound generation device and is configured to communicate a digital signal comprised of one or more audio streams and control signals. A power bus is connected to the at least one sound generation device. The acoustic transducer includes at least one of the following groups: a membrane and an acoustic modulator; or a membrane, acoustic resonator, and acoustic coupler. The electronic integrated circuit is constructed and arranged to receive the digital signal and generate an analog electric signal to operate the acoustic transducer to generate an audio signal in accordance with the control signal.