5.1 to 2.0 Audio Downmix Algorithm

IRT developed a new downmix algorithm which is based on comprehensive investigations on quality aspects in downmixing a 5.1 to a 2.0 format. With this new algorithm it is possible to prevent or to compensate to a high extent the effects which usually lead to impairments of the acoustic stereo-downmix quality.

When developing the algorithm the following requirements were of immediate importance:

• Avoidance of typical changes in timbre through comb filter effects

• Generation of a dual channel stereo version which reproduces a meaningful image of the multichannel audio

• The result shall give the listener the impression of a sound as similar to the original as possible

• The downmix shall preserve the spatiality of the original as far as possible with 2.0

• The downmix shall secure the compatibility of multichannel to dual channel stereophony