Technical Field

Embodiments according to the invention are related to an audio processor for providing loudspeaker signals. Further embodiments according to the invention are related to a method for providing loudspeaker signals. Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to audio processors for audio rendering in which a sound follows a listener.

Background of the invention

The general problem in audio reproduction with loudspeakers is that usually reproduction is optimal only within one or a small range of listener positions, within the“sweet spot area”.

This problem has been addressed by previous publications, including [2] by tracking a listener’s position. The in [2] proposed systems aim at optimizing the perceived sound image in a specific user-dependent point, or within a certain area in which the listener is allowed to move.

Usually this area is bound by the layout of the loudspeaker setup, since as soon as a listener moves outside the loudspeaker setup, sound cannot be reproduced as intended anymore.

Another trend in sound reproduction are multi-room playback systems. With those, for example, one or multiple playback sources can be routed to different loudspeakers that are spread out over an area, e.g. in different rooms of a house.

Accordingly, there is a need for an audio processor for providing a plurality of loudspeaker signals, which provide a better tradeoff between complexity and the audio experience of a listener.

Summary of the Invention

An embodiment according to the invention is an audio processor for providing a plurality of loudspeaker signals, or loudspeaker feeds, on the basis of a plurality of input signals, like channel signals and/or object signals. The audio processor is configured to obtain an information about the position of a listener. The audio processor is further configured to obtain an information about the position of a plurality of loudspeakers, or sound transducers, which may, for example, be placed within the same containment, e.g. a soundbar. The audio processor is further configured to select one or more loudspeakers for a rendering of the objects and/or of the channel objects and/or of the adapted signals, derived from the input signals, like channel signals or channel objects, or like upmixed or downmixed signals. The selection of the one or more loudspeakers depends on the information about the position of the listener, on the information about the positions of the loudspeakers and takes into consideration the information about one or more acoustic obstacles. An acoustic obstacle may be every object which influences or disturbs an acoustic propagation. It may be, for example, walls, furniture, doors, curtains, lamps, plants, etc. .

For example, the audio processor can select a subset of loudspeakers for usage, in dependence on, for example, the effective distance between the listener and the loudspeakers, meaning, the distance between the listener and the loudspeakers may be corrected by, for example, an acoustical transmission coefficient of the acoustical obstacles between the listener and the loudspeaker. In other words, the audio processor decides which loudspeakers should be used in the rendering of the different channel objects or adapted signals, taking into consideration, for example, the attenuation of the sound between the loudspeaker and the listener or an elongation of an acoustic path between a loudspeaker and the listener due to the properties of the obstacle. The audio signal processor is further configured to render the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener and in dependence on the information about positions of the loudspeakers, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals, such that a rendered sound follows a listener, when the listener moves or turns.

In other words, the audio processor uses knowledge about the position of loudspeakers and the position of the listener, or listeners, in order to optimize the audio reproduction and render the audio signals by using the already available loudspeakers. For example, one or more listeners can freely move within a room or an area in which different audio playback means, like passive loudspeakers, active loudspeakers, smartspeakers, soundbars, docking stations, television sets are located at different positions. The invented system facilitates that the listener can enjoy the audio playback as he/she would be in the center of the loudspeaker layout, given the current loudspeaker installment in the surrounding area.

In a preferred embodiment, the audio processor is configured to obtain an information, like an absolute position or a position with respect to the loudspeakers, or such as an acoustic characteristics, for example an absorption coefficient or a reflection characteristics of the acoustic obstacles, such as walls, furniture, etc., in the environment around the loudspeaker(s).

In a preferred embodiment, the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about an orientation of the listener. The audio signal processor is further configured to dynamically allocate loudspeakers for playing back an object and/or a channel object and/or of adapted signals, like adapted channel signals, derived from the input signals, like channel signals or channel objects, or like upmixed or downmixed signals, in dependence on the information about the orientation of the listener. The audio signal processor is further configured to render the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the orientation of the listener, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals, such that the rendered sound follows the orientation of the listener.

Rendering the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals according to the orientation of the listener is, for example, a loudspeaker analogy of headphone behavior for a listener’s head rotation. For example, the position of perceived sources stays fixed in relation to the listener’s head orientation while the listener is rotating his view direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about an orientation and/or about an acoustical characteristic and/or about a specification of the loudspeakers. The audio processor is further configured to dynamically allocate loudspeakers for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or of adapted signals, like adapted channel signals, derived from the input signals, like channel signals or channel objects, or like upmixed or downmixed signals, in dependence on the information about an orientation and/or about characteristics and/or about a specification of the loudspeakers. The audio processor is further configured to render the object and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about an orientation and/or about a characteristic and/or about specification of the loudspeakers, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals such that the rendered sounds follow the listener and/or the orientation of the listener when the listener moves or turns. An example for the characteristic of the loudspeaker can be information, whether the loudspeaker is part of a speaker array or not, or whether the loudspeaker is an array speaker or not, or whether the loudspeaker can be used for beamforming or not. A further example for the characteristics of the loudspeaker is its radiation behavior, e.g. how much energy it radiates into different directions for different frequencies.

Obtaining information about an orientation and/or about characteristics and/or about a specification of the loudspeakers can improve the listener’s experience. For example, the allocation can be improved by choosing the loudspeakers with the correct orientation and characteristics. Or, for example, the rendering can be improved by correcting the signal according to the orientation and/or the characteristics and/or the specification of the loudspeakers.

In a preferred embodiment, the audio processor is configured to smoothly and/or dynamically change an allocation of loudspeakers for playing back an object, or of a channel object, or of adapted signals, like adapted channel signals, derived from the input signals, like channel signals or channel objects, or like upmixed or downmixed signals, from a first situation to a second situation. In the first situation the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals of an input signal are allocated to a first loudspeaker setup, like for example 5.1 , corresponding to a channel-based input signal, and/or the channel configuration, like for example 5.1 , of a channel-based input signal. In other words, in the first situation, there is a one-to-one allocation of channel objects to loudspeakers. In the second situation the objects and/or channel objects and/or the adapted signals of the channel-based input signal are allocated to a true subset of the loudspeakers of the first loudspeaker setup and to at least one additional loudspeaker, which does not belong to the first loudspeaker setup.

In other words, the listener’s experience could be improved, for example by allocating the nearest subset of the loudspeakers of a given setup and at least one additional loudspeaker which happens to be nearby, or closer than other loudspeakers of the loudspeaker setup. Accordingly, it is not necessary to render an input signal which has a given channel configuration to a set of loudspeakers having a fixed association to that channel configuration.

In a preferred embodiment, the audio processor is configured to smoothly and/or dynamically change an allocation of loudspeakers for playing back the objects and/or of channel objects and/or of adapted signals, like adapted channel signals, derived from the input signals, like channel signals or channel objects, or like upmixed or downmixed signals, from a first situation to a second situation. The first loudspeaker setup and the second loudspeaker setup may be, for example, separated by an acoustic obstacle or by acoustic obstacles. In the first situation the objects and/or channel objects and/or the adapted signals of an input signal are allocated to a first loudspeaker setup, like 5.1 , corresponding to the channel configuration, like 5.1 , of a channel-based input signal with a first loudspeaker layout. In other words, for example, in the first situation there is a one-to-one allocation of channel objects to loudspeakers with a first loudspeaker layout. In the second situation the objects and/or channel objects and/or the adapted signals of the input signal are allocated to a second loudspeaker setup, like 5.1 , which corresponds to a channel-based channel configuration, like 5.1 , of the input signal with a second loudspeaker layout. In other words, in the second situation there is a one-to-one allocation of channel objects to loudspeakers with a second loudspeaker layout.

The experience of the listener can be improved by adapting the allocation and rendering between two loudspeaker setups with different loudspeaker layouts. For example, the listener moves from a first loudspeaker setup with a first loudspeaker layout, where the listener is oriented towards the center loudspeaker, to a second loudspeaker setup with a loudspeaker layout, where, for example, the listener is oriented towards one of the rear loudspeakers. In this exemplary case, the orientation of the sound field follows the listener, wherein the allocation of channels of the input signal to loudspeakers may deviate from a standard or a“natural” allocation.

In a preferred embodiment, the audio signal processor is configured to smoothly and/or dynamically allocate loudspeakers of a first loudspeaker setup for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals, like adapted channel signals, derived from the input signals, like channel signals or channel objects, or like upmixed or downmixed signals, according to a first allocation scheme, in agreement with the first loudspeaker layout. The audio processor is further configured to dynamically allocate loudspeakers of a second loudspeaker setup for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals derived from the input signals, according to a second allocation scheme, which differs from the first allocation scheme, in agreement with a second loudspeaker

layout. In other words, the audio signal processor is capable of smoothly allocating objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals between, for example, different loudspeaker setups with different loudspeaker layouts. As, for example, the listener moves from the first loudspeaker setup to the second loudspeaker setup, the audio image follows the listener. The audio processor is configured to, for example, allocate objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals, even if the loudspeaker setups are different (e.g. comprise a different number of loudspeakers), for example the first loudspeaker setup is 5.1 audio system, and the second loudspeaker setup is a stereo system. The first loudspeaker setup and the second loudspeaker setup may be, for example, separated by an acoustic obstacle or by acoustic obstacles.

In a preferred embodiment, the loudspeaker setup corresponds to a channel configuration, like 5.1 , of the input signals. The audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate loudspeakers of the loudspeaker setup for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals, such that the allocation deviates from the correspondence, in response to a difference between the listener’s position and/or orientation from a default, or standard, listener’s position and/or orientation associated with the loudspeaker setup and taking into consideration an information about one or more acoustic obstacles.

In other words, for example, the audio processor can change the orientation of the sound image, such that the channel objects are not allocated to those loudspeakers to which they would be allocated normally in accordance with the default or standardized correspondence between channel signals and loudspeakers, but to different loudspeakers. For example, if the orientation of the listener is different from the orientation of the loudspeaker layout of the loudspeaker setup, the audio processor can, for example, allocate the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals to loudspeakers of the loudspeaker setup, in order to, for example, correct the orientation difference between the listener and the loudspeaker layout, thus resulting in a better audio experience of the listener.

In a preferred embodiment, the first loudspeaker setup corresponds to a channel configuration, like 5.1 , according to a first correspondence. The audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate loudspeakers of the first loudspeaker setup for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals to the according to this first correspondence. That means, for example, a default or standardized allocation of audio signals or channels complying with a given audio format, like 5.1 audio format, to loudspeakers of a loudspeaker setup complying with the given audio format. The second

loudspeaker setup corresponds to a channel configuration according to a second correspondence. The audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate loudspeakers of the second loudspeaker setup for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals , such that the allocation to loudspeakers deviates from this second correspondence. The first loudspeaker setup and the second loudspeaker setup may be, for example, separated by an acoustic obstacle or by acoustic obstacles.

In other words, for example, the audio processor is configured to keep the orientation of the sound image between loudspeaker setups, even if the orientation of the loudspeaker setups or loudspeaker layouts are different from each other. If, for example, the listener moves from a first loudspeaker setup, where the listener is oriented towards the center loudspeaker, to a second loudspeaker layout, where the listener is oriented towards a rear loudspeaker, the audio processor adapts the allocation of the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals to the loudspeakers of the second loudspeaker setup, such that the orientation of the sound image remains.

In a preferred embodiment, the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate a subset of all the loudspeakers of all the loudspeaker setups for playing back objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals, like adapted channel signals, derived from the input signals, like channel signals or channel objects, or like upmixed or downmixed signals.

For some situations, it is advantageous that the audio processor is configured to, for example, allocate objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals to a subset of all the loudspeakers, based on, for example, the orientation of the loudspeakers or the distance between the loudspeakers and the listener, thus allowing, for example, an audio experience in areas between loudspeaker setups. For example, if a listener is between the first and the second loudspeaker setups, the audio processor can, for example, allocate only the rear loudspeakers of the two loudspeaker setups.

In a preferred embodiment the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate a subset of all the loudspeaker setups for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals, like adapted channel signals, derived from the input signals, like channel signals or channel objects, or like upmixed or downmixed signals, such that the subset of the loudspeakers surround the listener.

In other words, for example, the audio processor is selecting a subset of all available loudspeakers, such that the listener is located between or amongst the selected loudspeakers. The selection of the loudspeakers can be based, for example, on the distance between the loudspeakers and the listener, on the orientation of the loudspeakers, and on the position of the loudspeakers. The audio experience of the listener is considered better if, for example, the listener is surrounded with the loudspeakers.

In a preferred embodiment, the audio processor is configured to render the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals derived from the input signals, like channel signals or channel objects, or like upmixed or downmixed signals, with defined follow-up times, such that, the sound image follows the listener in a way that the rendering is adapted smoothly over time. In some cases it can be advantageous, if the sound image does not follow the listener immediately, but with a time constant.

In a preferred embodiment, the audio processor is configured to identify loudspeakers in a predetermined environment of the listener. The audio processor is further configured to adapt a configuration, the number of signals available for the rendering, of the input signals, like channel signals and/or object signals, to the number of identified loudspeakers, that means adapting signals via upmix and/or downmix. The audio processor is further configured to dynamically allocate the identified loudspeakers for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals. The audio processor is further configured to render objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals to loudspeaker signals of associated loudspeakers in dependence on position information of objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals and in dependence on the default or standardized loudspeaker position.

In other words, the audio processor selects loudspeakers according to a predetermined requirement, for example, based on the orientation of the loudspeaker and/or the distance between the listener and the loudspeaker. The audio processor adapts the number of channels to which the input signals are upmixed or downmixed (to obtain adapted signals) to the number of selected loudspeakers. The audio processor allocates the adapted signals to the loudspeakers, based on, for example, the orientation of the listener and/or the orientation of the loudspeaker. The audio processor renders the adapted signals to loudspeaker signals of allocated loudspeakers based on, for example, the default or standardized loudspeaker position and/or on the position information about the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals.

The audio processor improves the listener’s audio experience by, for example, choosing the loudspeakers around the listener, adapting the input signal to the chosen loudspeakers, allocating the adapted signals to the loudspeakers based on the orientation of the loudspeaker and the listener, and rendering the adapted signals based on the position information or the default loudspeaker position. Thus, for example, a situation can result where the listener, surrounded by different loudspeaker setups, is experiencing the same sound image while the listener is moving from one loudspeaker setup to another loudspeaker setup and/or moving between the loudspeaker setups, even if, for example, the loudspeaker setups are oriented differently and/or have a different number of channels.

In a preferred embodiment, the audio processor is configured to compute a position or an absolute position of the objects and/or channel objects on the basis of information about the position and/or the orientation of the listener. Calculating the positions of objects and/or channel objects improves the listener experience further by, for example, allocating the objects to the nearest loudspeaker with respect to, for example, the orientation of the listener.

According to an embodiment, the audio processor is configured to physically compensate the rendered objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals in dependence on the default loudspeaker position, on the actual loudspeaker position, and on the relationship between a sweet spot and the listener’s position. The audio experience can be improved by, for example, adjusting the volume and the phase-shift of the loudspeakers, if, for example, the listener is not in a sweet spot of the default or standard loudspeaker setup.

According to an embodiment, the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate one or more loudspeakers for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals, in dependence on the distances between the position of the objects and/or of the channel objects and/or of the adapted signals and the loudspeakers.

According to a further embodiment, the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate one or more loudspeakers having a smallest distance or smallest distances from the absolute position of the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals. In an exemplary situation, the object and/or channel object can be positioned within a predefined range of one or more loudspeakers. In this example, the audio processor is able to allocate the object and/or channel object to all of this/these loudspeakers.

According to a further embodiment, the input signal has an ambisonics and/or higher order ambisonics and/or binaural format. The audio processor is able to handle, for example, audio formats which includes positional information as well.

According to further embodiments, the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate loudspeakers for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals such that a sound image of the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals follows a translational and/or orientation movement of the listener. Whether, for example, the listener is changing position and/or orientation, the sound image is following the listener.

In a further embodiment, the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate loudspeakers for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals, such that a sound image of the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals follow a change of the listener’s position and a change of a listener’s orientation. In this rendering mode the audio processor is capable of, for example, imitating headphones, such that the sound objects are having the same position relative to the listener, even if the listener moves around.

According to a further embodiment, the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate loudspeakers for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals following a change of the listener’s position, but remains stable against changes of the listener’s orientation. This rendering mode can result in a sound experience, in which the sound objects in the sound field have a fixed direction but still follow the listener.

In a preferred embodiment, the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate loudspeakers for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals in dependence on information about positions of two or more listeners, such that the sound image of the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals is adapted depending on a movement or a turn of two or more listeners, considering the one or more acoustic obstacles. For example, the listeners can move independently, such that, for example, a single sound image can be rendered to split up into two or more sound images, for example using different subsets of loudspeakers. If, for example, the first listener is moving towards the first loudspeaker setup and the second listener is moving towards the second

loudspeaker setup starting from the same position, then, for example, both of them can be followed by the same sound image.

In a preferred embodiment, the audio processor is configured to track the position of the one or more listener in close to real time. Real-time or close to real-time tracking allows, for example, a faster speed for the listener, or a smoother movement of the sound image following the listener.
Claims

1 , An audio processor (110, 710, 910, 1010, 1410, 1510, 1610, 1710, 1810) for providing a plurality of loudspeaker signals (160, 760, 960, 1060, 1460, 1560, 1660, 1760, 1860) on the basis of a plurality of input signals (140, 740, 1440, 1540, 1640, 1740,1840),

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about a position of a listener (155, 755, 955, 1055, 1455, 1555, 1655, 1755, 1855);

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about positions of a plurality of loudspeakers (135, 735, 935, 1035, 1435, 1535, 1635, 1735, 1835);

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to select one or more loudspeakers (730, 930, 1430, 1730, LSS1J , LSS1_2, LSS1_3, LSS1_4, LSS1_5, LSS2_1 , LSS2_2, LSS3_1 , LSS1_L, LSS1_C, LSS1_R, LSS1_SL, LSS1_SR, LSS2_L, LSS2_C, LSS2_R, LSS2_SL, LSS2_SR) for a rendering of the objects (943, 1043, 1443, 1743, S_1 , S_2) and/or of the channel objects (946, 1046, 1446,1746) and/or of the adapted signals (807a, 807b, 807c , 1449, 1749) derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener, in dependence on an information about positions of the loudspeakers and taking into consideration an information about one or more acoustic obstacles (965, 1065, 1775, 1870, 1910, 2010);

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to render (913, 1070, 1520, 1620, 1820) the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener and in dependence on the information about positions of the loudspeakers, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals such that a rendered sound follows a listener (410, 510, 1 110, 1210, 1310, 1410, 1710) when the listener moves or turns.

2. The audio processor according to claim 1 , wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about positions and/or acoustic characteristics of acoustic obstacles (230, 350, 640, 1770, 1970, 2070) in the environment around the loudspeaker(s).

3. The audio processor according to the claim 1 or 2,

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about an orientation of a listener (155, 755, 955, 1055, 1455, 1555, 1655, 1755, 1855);

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to dynamically allocate (1040, 1550, 1650, 1850) loudspeakers for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or of adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the orientation of the listener;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to render the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the orientation of the listener, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals such that the rendered sound follows the orientation of the listener.

4. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 3,

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about an orientation and/or about a characteristic and/or about a specification of the loudspeakers;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to dynamically allocate loudspeakers for playing the objects and/or channel objects and/or of adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about an orientation and/or about a characteristic and/or about a specification of the loudspeakers;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to render the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about an orientation and/or about a characteristic and/or about a specification of the loudspeakers, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals such that the rendered sound follows the listener and/or the orientation of the listener when the listener moves or turns.

5. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 4,

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to dynamically change an allocation of loudspeakers for playing back the of objects, channel objects, or of adapted signals derived from the input signals

from a first situation in which the objects and/or channel objects and/or the adapted signals of an input signal are allocated to a first loudspeaker setup (210, 220, 310, 320, 610, 620, 630, 920, 1420a, 1420b, 1420c, 1720a, 1720b, 1720c) corresponding to the channel configuration of a channel-based input signal

to a second situation in which the objects and/or channel objects and/or the adapted signals of the input signal are allocated to a subset of the loudspeakers of the first loudspeaker setup and to at least one additional loudspeaker.

6. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 5,

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to dynamically change an allocation of loudspeakers for playing back the objects and/or of channel objects and/or of adapted signals derived from the input signals

from a first situation in which the objects and/or channel objects and/or the adapted signals of an input signal are allocated to a first loudspeaker setup corresponding to the channel configuration of a channel-based input signal with a first loudspeaker layout

to a second situation in which the objects and/or channel objects and/or the adapted signals of the input signal are allocated to a second loudspeaker setup, which correspond to the channel configuration of a channel-based input signal, with a second loudspeaker layout, and

wherein the first loudspeaker setup and the second loudspeaker setup are separated by an acoustic obstacle or acoustic obstacles.

7. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 6,

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to dynamically allocate loudspeakers of a first loudspeaker setup for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals derived from the input signals, according to a first allocation scheme, in agreement with the first loudspeaker layout, and

wherein the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate loudspeakers of a second loudspeaker setup for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals derived from the input signals, according to a second allocation scheme, which differs from the first allocation scheme, in agreement with the second loudspeaker layout, and

wherein the first loudspeaker setup and the second loudspeaker setup are separated by an acoustic obstacle or acoustic obstacles.

8. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 7,

wherein the loudspeaker setup corresponds to a channel configuration of the input signal, and

wherein the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate loudspeakers of the loudspeaker setup for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals , such that the allocation deviates from the correspondence, in response to a difference between the listener’s position and/or orientation from a default listener’s position and/or orientation associated with the loudspeaker setup and taking into consideration an information about one or more acoustic obstacles.

9. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 8,

wherein the first loudspeaker setup corresponds to a channel configuration according to a first correspondence, and

wherein the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate loudspeakers of the first loudspeaker setup for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals, according to this first correspondence, and

wherein the second loudspeaker setup corresponds to a channel configuration according to a second correspondence, and

wherein the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate loudspeakers of the second loudspeaker setup for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals to , such that the allocation to loudspeakers deviates from this second correspondence, and

wherein the first loudspeaker setup and the second loudspeaker setup are separated by an acoustic obstacle.

10. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate a subset of all the loudspeakers of all the loudspeaker setups for playing objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals derived from the input signals.

11. The audio processor according to claim 10, wherein the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate a subset of all the loudspeakers of all the loudspeaker setups for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals derived from the input signals, , such that the subset of the loudspeakers surrounds the listener.

12. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 1 1 , wherein the audio processor is configured to render the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals derived from the input signals with defined follow times, such that, the sound image follows the listener in a way that the rendering is adapted smoothly over time .

13. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 12, wherein the audio processor is configured

to identify loudspeakers (1020, 1670) in a predetermined environment of the listener, and

to adapt a configuration of the input signals to the number of identified speakers, and to dynamically allocate the identified loudspeakers for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals , and

to render objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals to loudspeaker signals of associated loudspeakers in dependence on position information of objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals and in dependence on the default loudspeaker position and taking into consideration information about one or more acoustic obstacles.

14. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 13, wherein the audio processor is configured to compute a position (1630) of objects and/or channel objects on the basis of information about the position and/or the orientation of the listener.

15. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 14, wherein the audio processor is configured to physically compensate (916, 1690) the rendered objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals in dependence on the default loudspeaker position, on the actual loudspeaker position, and on the relationship between a sweet spot and the listener’s position and taking into consideration information about one or more acoustic obstacles.

16. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 15, wherein the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate one or more loudspeakers for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals, in dependence on the distances between the position of the objects and/or of the channel objects and/or of the adapted signals and the loudspeakers.

17. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 16, wherein the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate one or more loudspeakers having a smallest distance or smallest distances from the absolute position of the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals.

18. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 17, wherein the input signal is having an ambisonics and/or Higher Order Ambisonics and/or Binaural format.

19. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 18, wherein the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate loudspeakers for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals, such that a sound image of the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals follow a movement of the listener.

20. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 19, wherein the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate loudspeakers for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals , such that a sound image of the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals follow a change of the listener’s position and a change of a listener’s orientation.

21. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 20, wherein the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate loudspeakers for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals , such that a sound image of the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals follows a change of the listener’s position, but remains stable against changes of the listener’s orientation.

22. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 21 , wherein the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate loudspeakers for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals, in dependence on information about positions of two or more listeners, such that the sound image of the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals is adapted depending on a movement or turn of two or more listeners , considering the one or more acoustic obstacles.

23. The audio processor according to claim 22, wherein the audio processor is configured to track the position of the one or more listeners in real-time.

24. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 23, wherein the audio processor is configured to fade the sound image between two or more loudspeaker setups in dependence on the positional coordinates of the listener, such that the actual fading ratio is dependent on the actual position of the listener or on an actual movement of the listener, and

wherein the two or more loudspeaker setups are separated by acoustic obstacles.

25. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 24, wherein the audio processor is configured to transit the sound image from a first loudspeaker setup to a second loudspeaker setup, wherein a number of loudspeakers of the second loudspeaker setup is different from a number of loudspeakers of the first loudspeaker setup, and

wherein the first loudspeaker setup and the second loudspeaker setup are separated by one or more acoustic obstacles.

26. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 25, wherein the audio processor is configured to adaptively upmix or downmix (800a, 800b, 800c, 1680) the objects and/or channel objects, in dependence on the number of the objects and/or channel object in the input signal and in dependence on the number of allocated loudspeakers, in order to obtain dynamically adapted signals.

27. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 26, wherein the audio processor is configured to transition

from a first state, in which a audio content is rendered to a first loudspeaker setup,

to a second state in which an ambient sound of the audio content is rendered to the first loudspeaker setup, or to one or more loudspeakers of the first loudspeaker setup, while directional components of the audio content are rendered to the second loudspeaker setup, and

wherein the first loudspeaker setup and the second loudspeaker setup are separated by acoustic obstacles.

28. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 27, wherein the audio processor is configured to transition

from a first state, in which an audio content is rendered to a first loudspeaker setup, to a second state in which an ambient sound of the audio content and directional components of the audio content are rendered to different loudspeakers in the second loudspeaker setup, and

wherein the first loudspeaker setup and the second loudspeaker setup are separated by acoustic obstacles.

29. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 28, wherein the audio processor is configured to associate a position information to an audio channel of a channel-based audio content, in order to obtain a channel object, wherein the position information represents a position of a loudspeaker associated with the audio channel.

30. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 29, wherein the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate a given single loudspeaker for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals , which comprises a best acoustic path to the listener, as long as a listener is within a predetermined distance range from the given single loudspeaker.

31. The audio processor according to claim 30, wherein the audio processor is configured to fade out a signal of the given single loudspeaker, in response to a detection that the listener leaves the predetermined range and/or is shadowed from the loudspeaker by an obstacle.

32. The audio processor according to one of the claims 1 to 31 , wherein the audio processor is configured to decide, to which loudspeaker signals the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals are rendered in dependence on a distance of two loudspeakers and/or in dependence on an angle between the two loudspeakers from a listener’s position and taking into consideration information about one or more acoustic obstacles.

33. A method for providing a plurality of loudspeaker signals on the basis of a plurality of input signals,

wherein the method comprises obtaining an information about a position of a listener; wherein the method comprises obtaining an information about positions of a plurality of loudspeakers;

wherein one or more loudspeakers are selected for rendering the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on an information about the position of the listener, in dependence on an information about positions of the loudspeakers and taking into consideration an information about one or more acoustic obstacles;

wherein the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals are rendered, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener and in dependence on the information about positions of the loudspeakers, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals such that the rendered sound follows a listener.

34. Computer program with a program code for performing the methods according to claim 33, when the computer program runs on a computer.

35. An audio processor for providing a plurality of loudspeaker signals on the basis of a plurality of input signals,

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about a position of a listener;

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about positions of a plurality of loudspeakers;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to dynamically select one or more loudspeakers for a rendering of the objects and/or of the channel objects and/or of the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the current position of the listener, in dependence on an information about positions of the loudspeakers and taking into consideration an information about one or more acoustic obstacles;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to render the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in

dependence on the information about the position of the listener and in dependence on the information about positions of the loudspeakers, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals such that a rendered sound follows a listener when the listener moves or turns.

36. An audio processor for providing a plurality of loudspeaker signals on the basis of a plurality of input signals,

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about a position of a listener;

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about positions of a plurality of loudspeakers;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to select one or more loudspeakers for a rendering of the objects and/or of the channel objects and/or of the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener, in dependence on an information about positions of the loudspeakers and taking into consideration an information about one or more acoustic obstacles;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to render the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener and in dependence on the information about positions of the loudspeakers, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals such that a rendered sound follows a listener when the listener moves or turns;

wherein the audio processor is configured to render the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals derived from the input signals with defined follow times, such that, the sound image follows the listener in a way that the rendering is adapted smoothly over time.

37. An audio processor for providing a plurality of loudspeaker signals on the basis of a plurality of input signals,

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about a position of a listener;

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about positions of a plurality of loudspeakers;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to select one or more loudspeakers for a rendering of the objects and/or of the channel objects and/or of the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener, in dependence on an information about positions of the loudspeakers and taking into consideration an information about one or more acoustic obstacles;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to render the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener and in dependence on the information about positions of the loudspeakers, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals such that a rendered sound follows a listener when the listener moves or turns; and

wherein the audio processor is configured

to identify loudspeakers dynamically in a predetermined environment of the listener based on a distance between the listener and the loudspeaker, and

to adapt a configuration of the input signals to the number of identified speakers using an upmix or downmix, and

to dynamically allocate the identified loudspeakers for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals , and

to render objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals to loudspeaker signals of associated loudspeakers in dependence on position information of objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals and in dependence on the default loudspeaker position and taking into consideration information about one or more acoustic obstacles.

38. An audio processor for providing a plurality of loudspeaker signals on the basis of a plurality of input signals,

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about a position of a listener;

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about positions of a plurality of loudspeakers;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to select one or more loudspeakers for a rendering of the objects and/or of the channel objects and/or of the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener, in dependence on an information about positions of the loudspeakers and taking into consideration an information about one or more acoustic obstacles;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to render the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener and in dependence on the information about positions of the loudspeakers, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals such that a rendered sound follows a listener when the listener moves or turns;

wherein the audio processor is configured to compute a position of objects and/or channel objects on the basis of information about the position and/or the orientation of the listener; and

wherein the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate one or more loudspeakers for playing back the objects and/or channel objects, in dependence on the distances between the position of the objects and/or of the channel objects and the loudspeakers.

39. An audio processor for providing a plurality of loudspeaker signals on the basis of a plurality of input signals,

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about a position of a listener;

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about positions of a plurality of loudspeakers;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to select one or more loudspeakers for a rendering of the objects and/or of the channel objects and/or of the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener, in dependence on an information about positions of the loudspeakers and taking into consideration an information about one or more acoustic obstacles;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to render the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener and in dependence on the information about positions of the loudspeakers, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals such that a rendered sound follows a listener when the listener moves or turns;

wherein the audio processor is configured to separate the audio content into a directional component and an ambient component; and

wherein the audio processor is configured to render the different components, the directional component and the ambient component, to different loudspeakers or different loudspeaker setups of the plurality of loudspeakers.

40. An audio processor for providing a plurality of loudspeaker signals on the basis of a plurality of input signals,

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about a position of a listener;

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about positions of a plurality of loudspeakers;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to select one or more loudspeakers for a rendering of the objects and/or of the channel objects and/or of the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener, in dependence on an information about positions of the loudspeakers and taking into consideration an information about one or more acoustic obstacles;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to render the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener and in dependence on the information about positions of the loudspeakers, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals such that a rendered sound follows a listener when the listener moves or turns; and

wherein the audio processor is configured to transition

from a first state, in which an audio content is rendered to a first loudspeaker setup,

to a second state in which an ambient sound of the audio content is rendered to the first loudspeaker setup, or to one or more loudspeakers of the first loudspeaker setup, while directional components of the audio content are rendered to one or more different loudspeakers, which are different from the loudspeakers to which the ambient sound of the audio content is rendered , and

wherein the first loudspeaker setup and the second loudspeaker setup are separated by acoustic obstacles.

41 An audio processor for providing a plurality of loudspeaker signals on the basis of a plurality of input signals,

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about a position of a listener;

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about positions of a plurality of loudspeakers;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to select one or more loudspeakers for a rendering of the objects and/or of the channel objects and/or of the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener, in dependence on an information about positions of the

loudspeakers and taking into consideration an information about one or more acoustic obstacles;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to render the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener and in dependence on the information about positions of the loudspeakers, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals such that a rendered sound follows a listener when the listener moves or turns; and

wherein the audio processor is configured to transition

from a first state, in which an audio content is rendered to a first loudspeaker setup,

to a second state in which directional components of the audio content are no longer rendered by the first loudspeaker setup, while ambient sound of the audio content is still rendered to one or more loudspeakers of the first loudspeaker setup.

42. An audio processor for providing a plurality of loudspeaker signals on the basis of a plurality of input signals,

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about a position of a listener;

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about positions of a plurality of loudspeakers;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to select one or more loudspeakers for a rendering of the objects and/or of the channel objects and/or of the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener, in dependence on an information about positions of the loudspeakers and taking into consideration an information about one or more acoustic obstacles;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to render the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener and in dependence on the information about positions of the loudspeakers, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals such that a rendered sound follows a listener when the listener moves or turns; and

wherein the audio processor is configured to transition

from a first state, in which an audio content is rendered to a first loudspeaker setup,

to a second state in which an ambient sound of the audio content is rendered to the first loudspeaker setup, or to one or more loudspeakers of the first loudspeaker setup, while directional components of the audio content are rendered to the second loudspeaker setup, and

wherein the first loudspeaker setup and the second loudspeaker setup are separated by acoustic obstacles.

43. An audio processor for providing a plurality of loudspeaker signals on the basis of a plurality of input signals,

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about a position of a listener;

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about positions of a plurality of loudspeakers;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to select one or more loudspeakers for a rendering of the objects and/or of the channel objects and/or of the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener, in dependence on an information about positions of the loudspeakers and taking into consideration an information about one or more acoustic obstacles;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to render the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener and in dependence on the information about positions of the loudspeakers, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals such that a rendered sound follows a listener when the listener moves or turns; and

wherein the audio processor is configured to transition

from a first state, in which an audio content is rendered to a first loudspeaker setup,

to a second state in which an ambient sound of the audio content and directional components of the audio content are rendered to different loudspeakers in the second loudspeaker setup, and

wherein the first loudspeaker setup and the second loudspeaker setup are separated by acoustic obstacles.

44. An audio processor for providing a plurality of loudspeaker signals on the basis of a plurality of input signals,

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about a position of a listener;

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about positions of a plurality of loudspeakers;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to select one or more loudspeakers for a rendering of the objects and/or of the channel objects and/or of the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener, in dependence on an information about positions of the loudspeakers and taking into consideration an information about one or more acoustic obstacles;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to render the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener and in dependence on the information about positions of the loudspeakers, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals such that a rendered sound follows a listener when the listener moves or turns; and

wherein the audio processor is configured to associate a position information to an audio channel of a channel-based audio content, in order to obtain a channel object, wherein the position information represents a position of a loudspeaker associated with the audio channel.

45. An audio processor for providing a plurality of loudspeaker signals on the basis of a plurality of input signals,

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about a position of a listener;

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about positions of a plurality of loudspeakers;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to select one or more loudspeakers for a rendering of the objects and/or of the channel objects and/or of the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener, in dependence on an information about positions of the loudspeakers and taking into consideration an information about one or more acoustic obstacles;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to render the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener and in dependence on the information about positions of the loudspeakers, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals such that a rendered sound follows a listener when the listener moves or turns;

wherein the audio processor is configured to associate a position information to an audio channel of a channel-based audio content, in order to obtain a channel object; and

wherein the audio processor is configured to render both channel-based audio content and object-based audio content to the same plurality of loudspeakers or to the same setup of the plurality of loudspeakers.

46. An audio processor for providing a plurality of loudspeaker signals on the basis of a plurality of input signals,

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about a position of a listener;

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about positions of a plurality of loudspeakers;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to select one or more loudspeakers for a rendering of the objects and/or of the channel objects and/or of the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener, in dependence on an information about positions of the loudspeakers and taking into consideration an information about one or more acoustic obstacles;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to render the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener and in dependence on the information about positions of the loudspeakers, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals such that a rendered sound follows a listener when the listener moves or turns;

wherein the audio processor is configured to dynamically allocate a given single loudspeaker for playing back the objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals , which comprises a best acoustic path to the listener, as long as a listener is within a predetermined distance range from the given single loudspeaker; and

wherein the audio processor is configured to fade out a signal of the given single loudspeaker, in response to a detection that the listener leaves the predetermined range and/or is shadowed from the loudspeaker by an obstacle.

47. An audio processor for providing a plurality of loudspeaker signals on the basis of a plurality of input signals,

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about a position of a listener;

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about positions of a plurality of loudspeakers;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to select one or more loudspeakers for a rendering of the objects and/or of the channel objects and/or of the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener, in dependence on an information about positions of the loudspeakers and taking into consideration an information about one or more acoustic obstacles;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to render the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener and in dependence on the information about positions of the loudspeakers, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals such that a rendered sound follows a listener when the listener moves or turns; and

wherein the distance between the listener and the loudspeakers may be corrected by the acoustic characteristics of the acoustic obstacles between the listener and the loudspeakers.

48. An audio processor for providing a plurality of loudspeaker signals on the basis of a plurality of input signals,

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about a position of a listener;

wherein the audio processor is configured to obtain an information about positions of a plurality of loudspeakers;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to select one or more loudspeakers for a rendering of the objects and/or of the channel objects and/or of the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener, in dependence on an information about positions of the loudspeakers and taking into consideration an information about one or more acoustic obstacles;

wherein the audio signal processor is configured to render the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener and in dependence on the information about positions of the loudspeakers, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals such that a rendered sound follows a listener when the listener moves or turns; and

wherein an attenuation of the sound between the loudspeakers and the listener or an elongation of an acoustic path between the loudspeakers and the listener due to the properties of the acoustic obstacle might be taken into consideration.