AES Show 2024 NY

Coherent sound wave interference is a persistent challenge in live sound reinforcement, where phase differences between multiple loudspeakers lead to destructive interference, resulting in inconsistent audio coverage. This review paper presents a modern solution: Diffuse Signal Processing (DiSP), which utilizes Temporally Diffuse Impulses (TDIs) to mitigate phase cancellation. Unlike traditional methods focused on phase alignment, DiSP manipulates the temporal and spectral characteristics of sound, effectively diffusing coherent wavefronts. TDIs, designed to spread acoustic energy over time, are synthesized and convolved with audio signals to reduce the likelihood of interference. This process maintains the original sound’s perceptual integrity while enhancing spatial consistency, particularly in large-scale sound reinforcement systems. Practical implementation methods are demonstrated, including a MATLAB-based workflow for generating TDIs and optimizing them for specific frequency ranges or acoustic environments. Furthermore, dynamic DiSP is introduced as a method for addressing interference caused by early reflections in small-to-medium sized rooms. This technique adapts TDIs in real-time, ensuring ongoing decorrelation in complex environments. The potential for future developments, such as integrating DiSP with immersive audio systems or creating dedicated hardware for real-time signal processing, is also discussed.