Apple has filed for a patent (number 20210084414) for a “system to move sound into and out of a listener’s head using a virtual acoustic system” that involves the Spatial Audio features of the AirPods Max.
It could also involve enhanced features in upcoming versions of the over-the-head headset. Though, hopefully, any enhancements would come via a firmware update considering the price (US$550) of the AirPods Max.
A virtual acoustic system is an audio system (e.g., a digital audio signal processor that renders a sound program into speaker driver signals that are to drive a number of speakers) that gives a listener the illusion that a sound is emanating from somewhere in space when in fact the sound is emanating from loudspeakers placed elsewhere. Apple’s Spatial Audio feautre makes it sounds like audio is coming from every direction.
Here’s the summary of the patent data: “In a device or method for rendering a sound program for headphones, a location is received for placing the sound program with respect to first and second ear pieces. If the location is between the first ear piece and the second ear piece, the sound program is filtered to produce low-frequency and high-frequency portions. The high-frequency portion is panned according to the location to produce first and second high-frequency signals.
“The low-frequency portion and the first high-frequency signal are combined to produce a first headphone driver signal to drive the first ear piece. A second headphone driver signal is similarly produced. The sound program may be a stereo sound program. The device or method may also provide for a location that is between the first ear piece and a near-field boundary. Other aspects are also described.”
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