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  • #46
    I have a patent on "content aware" EQ, applied for in 1997 and granted in 2002:
    US6341166B1 - Automatic correction of power spectral balance in audio source material - Google Patents
    https://patents.google.com/patent/US6341166
    An audio system that automatically corrects for variations in spectral balance in audio source material. The audio system comprises a power spectrum analyzer and a source correction equalizer unit coupled to receive an audio input signal, and an index control unit coupled to a spectral balance correction data memory. A reference spectral balance may initially be established by playing a reference source medium with desired sound attributes. The power spectrum analyzer characterizes the spectral balance of the reference source medium, storing the results in non-volatile memory. When a particular source medium is played for the first time, the index control unit reads an identifying parameter from the particular source medium. Because there is no entry for the identifying parameter in spectral balance correction data memory, the particular source medium has not been previously played on the audio system. The particular source medium is then played in its entirety, with the index control unit signaling the power spectrum analyzer to characterize the spectral balance of the particular source medium. When the particular source medium is finished playing, an equalizer settings compute unit compares the reference spectral balance and the spectral balance for the particular source medium and calculates equalizer correction settings, which are then stored in spectral balance correction data memory. These settings can be used to adjust the spectral balance of the particular source medium to match that of the reference source medium. When the particular source medium is subsequently played, the identifying parameter may be used to recall these desired equalizer settings.


    I've probably mentioned it 3 or 4 times in the last 20 years or so.

    It was completely re-written and mangled by the patent attorney who handled it, LOL!
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    • #47
      Originally posted by Pete Basel View Post
      I have a patent on "content aware" EQ, applied for in 1997 and granted in 2002:
      US6341166B1 - Automatic correction of power spectral balance in audio source material - Google Patents
      https://patents.google.com/patent/US6341166
      An audio system that automatically corrects for variations in spectral balance in audio source material. The audio system comprises a power spectrum analyzer and a source correction equalizer unit coupled to receive an audio input signal, and an index control unit coupled to a spectral balance correction data memory. A reference spectral balance may initially be established by playing a reference source medium with desired sound attributes. The power spectrum analyzer characterizes the spectral balance of the reference source medium, storing the results in non-volatile memory. When a particular source medium is played for the first time, the index control unit reads an identifying parameter from the particular source medium. Because there is no entry for the identifying parameter in spectral balance correction data memory, the particular source medium has not been previously played on the audio system. The particular source medium is then played in its entirety, with the index control unit signaling the power spectrum analyzer to characterize the spectral balance of the particular source medium. When the particular source medium is finished playing, an equalizer settings compute unit compares the reference spectral balance and the spectral balance for the particular source medium and calculates equalizer correction settings, which are then stored in spectral balance correction data memory. These settings can be used to adjust the spectral balance of the particular source medium to match that of the reference source medium. When the particular source medium is subsequently played, the identifying parameter may be used to recall these desired equalizer settings.


      I've probably mentioned it 3 or 4 times in the last 20 years or so.
      As a matter of interest, has anyone made this commercially? 

      Geoff

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      • #48
        Good question, I've not been in touch with LSI Logic who originally owned the patent, however,
        I asked the VP legal dude who asked us to produce patents if they would ever build it and he
        said probably not, they just wanted as many patents as possible in their portfolio in case of
        patent wars.

        I've never tried to find out if anyone implemented it.

        It was cited in 59 new patents so there seems to be a lot of interest.

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        • #49
          This article provided some ideas for that patent:
          AES E-Library » Restoration of Old Acoustic Recordings By Means Of Digital Signal Processing
          http://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=1850
          Recent research into the problem of eliminating blur and reverberations from digital signals has led to the invention of a statistical deconvolution method based on the theory of homomorphic filtering. The application described here involves the removal of recording horn resonances from old acoustic discs. The major distortion factors in these discs are surface noise, severely non-flat frequency response produced by the resonances and reverberation characteristics of the recording horn, and...

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          • #50
            Hey Pete, is it possible to explain in a few non techno terms how your method worked?

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            • #51
              I'll try to get to this in the next few days.

              My motivation for wanting "content aware" EQ was the frustration with voicing my speaker designs
              to sound good on the majority of recordings - I found, banging my head against the wall, that it was
              not possible. So I just chose 10 or so of the best recordings for voicing, then the idea for content
              aware EQ came to me.
              It even drove me to purchase really excellent commercial speakers to use as a reference, if a CD
              sounded bad on my speakers I got another opinion on the reference and headphones.

              Comment

              • #52
                Originally posted by Pete Basel View Post
                I'll try to get to this in the next few days.

                My motivation for wanting "content aware" EQ was the frustration with voicing my speaker designs
                to sound good on the majority of recordings - I found, banging my head against the wall, that it was
                not possible. So I just chose 10 or so of the best recordings for voicing, then the idea for content
                aware EQ came to me.
                It even drove me to purchase really excellent commercial speakers to use as a reference, if a CD
                sounded bad on my speakers I got another opinion on the reference and headphones.
                I have a feeling this is going to be hugely educational for me.

                Comment

                • #53
                  Originally posted by Pete Basel View Post
                  I'll try to get to this in the next few days.

                  My motivation for wanting "content aware" EQ was the frustration with voicing my speaker designs
                  to sound good on the majority of recordings - I found, banging my head against the wall, that it was
                  not possible.
                  You should give the software I suggested a try. The results were pretty impressive, for the brief time that I tried it.
                  Brian Steele
                  www.diysubwoofers.org

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