Introduction to echo removal by deconvolution

Introduction to echo removal by wiener deconvolution

The problem:

Acoustical engineers constantly strive to create “perfect” environments for audio recordings. Some factorsthat they examine include:

• Dimensions and shape
• Wall surfaces
• Positioning of objects inside the environment (such as the performers themselves)
• Microphone positioning
• Background Noise

Many times such perfect conditions cannot be achieved, and the recording includes unwanted distortion from theenvironment.

Proposed solution:

The impulse response of a recording environment can be found by using deconvolution on a test signal.Once the impulse response of a recording environment is found, deconvolution can then be used again to remove its effects on ourrecorded signal. Due to the noise sensitive nature of deconvolution, Wiener deconvolution should be used when everpossible to recover a more accurate version of the original signal. Audio engineers can then apply desired digital effects (reverb,etc.) to the recovered signal, without having to worry about the recording environment itself.