FIELD: physics.
SUBSTANCE: audio signal is divided into auditory events, each perceived as separate and distinct, by detecting changes in spectral composition with respect to time. Said dividing involves detecting the location and strength of auditory event boundaries in the audio signal and obtaining a dynamically-changing measure of the spectral skewness of said audio signal. Spectral skewness is a statistical measure of asymmetry of the probability distribution of the audio signal spectrum. Further, the strength of auditory event boundaries is modified in response to said measure, such that the less the spectrum is skewed at the location of an auditory event boundary, the more the strength of the auditory event boundary is reduced. Signal processing is controlled in response to the location and skewness-modified strength of said auditory event boundaries.
EFFECT: method of controlling loudness of auditory events in an audio signal, which enables to differentiate or detect audio signals perceived as quieter, regardless of the absolute level of the audio signal.
10 cl, 5 dwg
