Upmixing stereo audio into 5.1 channel audio for improving audio realism

Abstract

In this paper, we address issues associated with upmixing stereo audio into 5.1 channel audio in order to improve audio realism. First, we review four different upmixing methods, including a passive surround decoding method, a least-mean-square based upmixing method, a principal component analysis based upmixing method, and an adaptive panning method. After that, we implement a simulator that includes the upmixing methods and audio controls to play both stereo and upmixed 5.1 channel audio signals. Finally, we carry out a MUSHRA test to compare the quality of the upmixed 5.1 channel audio signals to that of the original stereo audio signal. It is shown from the test that the upmixed 5.1 channel audio signals generated by the four different upmixing methods are preferred to the original stereo audio signals. © 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.