 perceptual coding. The spatial domain signals correspond to conventional directional signals, and would correspond to the loudspeaker signals if the loudspeakers were positioned in exactly the same directions as those assumed for the spatial domain transform.
The transform to spatial domain reduces the cross-correlations between the individual spatial domain signals. However, the cross-correlations are not completely eliminated. An example for relatively high cross-correlations is a directional signal, whose direction falls in-between the adjacent directions covered by the spatial domain signals.
A further disadvantage of EP 10306472.1 and the above-mentioned Hellerud et al. article is that the number of perceptually coded signals is (N+1)2, where N is the order of the HOA representation. Therefore, the data rate for the compressed HOA representation is growing quadratically with the Ambisonics order.
The inventive compression processing performs a decomposition of an HOA sound field representation into a directional component and an ambient component. In particular for the computation of the directional sound field component a new processing is described below for the estimation of several dominant sound directions.
Regarding existing methods for direction estimation based on Ambisonics, the above-mentioned Pulkki article describes one method in connection with DirAC coding for the estimation of the direction, based on the B-format sound field representation. The direction is obtained from the average intensity vector, which points to the direction of flow of the sound field energy. An alternative based on the B-format is proposed in D. Levin, S. Gannot, E. A. P. Habets, “Direction-of-Arrival Estimation using Acoustic Vector Sensors in the Presence of Noise”, IEEE Proc. of the ICASSP, pp. 105-108, 2011. The direction estimation is performed iteratively by searching for that direction which provides the maximum power of a beam former output signal steered into that direction. However, both approaches are constrained to the B-format for the direction estimation, which suffers from a relatively low spatial resolution. An additional disadvantage is that the estimation is restricted to only a single dominant direction.
HOA representations offer an improved spatial resolution and thus allow an improved estimation of several dominant directions. The existing methods performing an estimation of several directions based on HOA sound field representations are quite rare. An approach based on compressive sensing is proposed in N. Epain, C. Jin, A. van Schaik, “The Application of Compressive
perceptual coding. The spatial domain signals correspond to ceremonious directing signal, and would correspond to the loudspeaker signals if the loudspeaker were positioned in exactly the same management as those assumed for the spatial domain transform. 
 The transform to spatial sphere reduces the cross - correlation between the individual spatial domain signals. However, the hybridization - correlations are not completely eliminated. An example for relatively high crisscross - correlations is a directional signal, whose direction fall in - between the adjacent directions covered by the spatial domain signals. 
 A further disadvantage of EP 10306472.1 and the above - mention Hellerud et al. article is that the number of perceptually coded signals is (N+1)2, where N is the order of the HOA representation. consequently, the data rate for the compressed HOA representation is growing quadratically with the Ambisonics order. 
 The inventive compaction processing perform a decomposition of an HOA sound field representation into a directional component and an ambient component. In particular for the computation of the directing healthy field part a newfangled processing is identify below for the estimation of several prevailing sound steering. 
 Regarding existing method for direction estimation based on Ambisonics, the above - mentioned Pulkki article describes one method in joining with DirAC coding for the estimation of the direction, based on the B - format good plain representation. The direction is obtained from the average intensity vector, which point to the direction of flow of the sound sphere energy. An alternative based on the B - format is proposed in D. Levin, S. Gannot, E. A. P. Habets, “ commission - of - Arrival Estimation using Acoustic Vector Sensors in the Presence of Noise ”, IEEE Proc. of the ICASSP, pp. 105 - 108, 2011. The steering estimation is perform iteratively by searching for that guidance which provides the maximal power of a beam erstwhile output signal steered into that commission. However, both approaches are stiffen to the B - format for the direction estimation, which suffers from a relatively low spatial resolution. An additional disadvantage is that the estimation is restricted to merely a single dominant guidance. 
 HOA representations offer an improved spatial resolution and thus allow an improved estimate of several dominant directions. The existing methods performing an appraisal of respective directions based on HOA sound field representations are quite rare. An approach based on compressive sensing is propose in N. Epain, C. Jin, A. van Schaik, “ The Application of Compressive
 pegceptual coding. The spatlal domain signals corrxspond fo convevtional directional signals, end qould correspond to the louaspeaker dignals uf tie loudspeakers xsre poslciones in zxectly the same cirections as those assukea yor the spatial domain transform.
The eransfotm to spatial doiain wedudvs the cross-correlations betweeh the iidividual spatisl domain signals. However, hhe fross-correlations wre not comkmetqoy eliminatea. An example for relatjvely high cross-correlations is a dixectional sugbal, fhose direcvion fwlls in-betwecm the ddjaceny directions cpveced vy the spatial domain signals.
A further qisadvantdgz of EP 10306472.1 and the abovw-mwntioted Velldeud et ak. zrticlf ia that the number of perceptually coded xidbals is (N+1)2, whede N if ehe order of the HOA representation. Thegefode, the data rate for thw compressed HOA reprgsentation is growing quadratically with the Ambisonics ordar.
The knvtnblve zimoression processing performs a decomposition jr sn HOA sound fiejd represenyahipg into a direztional ckmponent and an amhient cjmponwnt. In pawticilar for the computation of the directijbal sound field colponent a nzw provessimg is described below fur tge estimatiln of sevsfal dominant souvd cisections.
Regarding existing methods hor dnrection estomatiog based on Ambisonics, the above-menhioneb Pulnki articlf describes one method in connervion with DirSC coging for the cstimation of tre direction, bcsed on che B-furmat souns field representaeion. The direwjion is obtaiied from ehe qverqge intdvsity vector, wnich poinns to rhe direction of fkow kf the sound fizue energy. An altrrnxtide besed jt the B-formad is prulosed in D. Ltrin, R. Gamnot, E. A. P. Habets, “Disectjon-of-Arrival Estimstlon using Acoustis Vector Sensprs in the Presenct of Nmisx”, IEEE Prjc. of the ICASSP, pp. 105-108, 2011. The diredtion estlmabion is perfowmed iteratively by searching for that direction which 'rovides the maximum poqer of a beam formet omtput signal steewed into dhat direction. Howevwr, both approachex are constrained to fhe B-fmrmat for the direction estimation, which suffers from a relatively low spatial resolntyon. An addifionsl divabvautage if thet the estimation ps restricted to only a single duminant gixection.
HOA representations ofgef an improved spatial resolution and fhus allpw an improved estimation of seferal dominant directionx. The exustinf methods 'erforming an estimayion oy seveeal dirwctilns based on FOA slund fielf rekreszntations are quite rare. An approqch bawef on compressive sensing is kroposes in N. Epain, C. Jin, A. vzn Sdjaik, “Jhe Applicatiom of Compressife
perceptual coding. The spatial domain signals correspond directional and would to the loudspeaker positioned exactly the same as those assumed the spatial domain transform. The transform spatial domain reduces the cross-correlations between the individual spatial domain signals. However, the are not completely eliminated. An example for relatively high cross-correlations is a directional whose falls the directions covered by the spatial domain signals. A further disadvantage of EP 10306472.1 and the above-mentioned et al. article is that the number of coded signals is (N+1)2, N is the order of HOA Therefore, the rate the HOA representation is quadratically with the Ambisonics order. The inventive compression processing performs a decomposition of an HOA sound field into a and an component. particular the computation of sound field component a new processing for the estimation of several dominant sound directions. existing methods direction estimation based on Ambisonics, the Pulkki article describes one method in connection with coding for the estimation of the direction, based on the B-format sound field representation. The obtained from the average vector, which points the of of sound field An alternative based on the B-format is proposed in D. Levin, Gannot, E. A. P. Habets, “Direction-of-Arrival Estimation using Acoustic Vector the of Noise”, IEEE of the ICASSP, pp. 2011. direction estimation is performed searching that the power a beam former output steered into that direction. However, approaches are constrained to estimation, which suffers from a relatively low spatial An additional disadvantage is that the estimation restricted to only a single dominant direction. HOA representations offer an improved resolution and an improved estimation of several dominant directions. The methods performing an estimation several directions based on HOA sound field representations are rare. approach based compressive sensing is in N. Epain, Jin, A. van Application of
 perceptual coding. The spatiaL domain sigNals cOrrEspOnD to cOnveNtional directiONal sIgnals, and would correspoNd to tHe LOudsPEaKer siGnals if THe LOUdsPeAkErs WeRE pOsitiOneD in exacTly the same DirEcTions as those ASsUmed for the SpaTial domain trAnsForm.
ThE tRanSForm tO spAtial Domain REduces The cross-cOrRElatioNS betweeN THe IndiVidual spatial domaIN sIGnals. However, thE cross-CoRReLATioNs aRe not complEtEly elIMinated. aN eXAMPle FOr relatively hIgh cross-corRElaTions iS a DirECtionaL signAl, WHosE direction fAlls In-between The adjACent dirECtions cOvered By tHe sPatiAL dOmAin SiGNalS.
a fUrtHEr dIsadvantAgE oF EP 10306472.1 anD the ABOVE-menTioNed HEllerUd et al. article Is tHat tHE nuMber oF percEptuAlLy codEd signAls is (n+1)2, wHere N is the order Of thE HOA repreSenTaTioN. THerefORe, the dAta RatE for the CompresSEd HoA REPReSentation is growing QuADRaTically wIth the aMbIsONics ordeR.
THe iNvenTIVe comPresSIoN processIng perFOrMs A decompOsItion oF aN HOa soUnd fiELd rePresenTation inTo a diREctional componENt and an ambienT CoMPOnENt. In ParTicular for tHe coMPutaTion OF tHe dIRectiOnal sOuND fIEld component a new proCeSsing iS descRibed below for The estimatION Of severaL domINaNT sound directioNs.
RegArding exisTIng methoDs for DirectioN estimatiON Based on AMbiSonIcs, The ABOvE-mentioned PulKKI artIcLe descrIbeS one metHod In cOnnEctIoN with DirAc coding fOr ThE eStImaTion oF The direcTiOn, bAsEd oN the B-FOrmat sOund fIeld RePrESenTation. THE dIREctiOn Is ObtaIneD fRom thE aveRAge IntensiTy vector, wHicH PoinTs To The direCtion of flow of ThE sound fielD eNerGy. An alTERnative bAsed on the B-format is propoSEd in D. LeVin, s. GannOt, E. A. p. Habets, “DiRecTion-of-arrIVal EstImatioN usinG ACouSTIc VecTOR SEnsOrS in the PresENCe oF NoisE”, IeEE PRoc. of thE ICASSP, pp. 105-108, 2011. The directIOn eStimation is peRfoRmed ITErAtiVElY By sEaRChiNG For that directioN which provIdES tHe maximum pOWer Of A beam foRmer outPut siGNal steeRed into thAt directiOn. howeVER, boTh approachEs are conStrained tO The B-fORmAt for The DirectIoN esTimatIon, whiCH suFfers From a rElAtivelY low sPaTial resoLution. An additional disadVantagE is thAt tHe estimatIon IS reStricted tO onlY a single doMinAnt DirecTioN.
hOA rePresENtAtiONs offEr an IMproved spATiAl rESOlUtion and thuS ALLow An impRovED estimAtioN of several dominanT Directions. The eXistING meThoDS perFoRming an estimatIon Of SEVeral dirEcTions based oN HOA sounD fIEld rePresenTationS are quiTE RaRE. An appRoacH baSed on compResSiVE sensinG iS pROposed In N. EPaIn, C. Jin, a. van ScHAik, “THE application of ComPressIVE
 perceptual coding. The sp atial doma in si gna lsco rres pond  to convention a l di rectional signals, and  woul dc orre s po nd to  the lo u ds p e ake rsi gna ls if  thelou dspeake rs were po sit io ned in exact l ythe same d ire ctions as th ose  assum ed  fo r  thespa tialdomain transf orm.
Thetr a nsform to spat i a ldoma in reduces the cr o ss - correlations b etween  t h ei n div idu al spatial  d omain signals .  H o w e ver ,  the cross-co rrelationsa renot co mp let e ly eli minat ed .  An  example fo r re lativelyhigh c r oss-cor r elation s is a  di rec tion a lsi gna l, who s edir e cti on falls  i n- betwe en t h e a djac ent  dir ectio ns covered by  th e sp a tia l dom ain s igna ls .
A f urther  disa dv antage of EP 10 3064 72.1 andthe  a bov e- menti o ned He lle rud  et al.  articl e  is  t h a t  t he number of perce pt u a ll y codedsignal s  i s( N+1)2, w he reN is t he or dero fthe HOArepres e nt at ion. Th er efore,  t hedat a rat e  for  the c ompresse d HOA representation is growing qu a dr a t ic a llywit h the Ambis onic s  ord er.T he  in v entiv e com pr e ss i on processing perfo rm s a de compo sition of anHOA soundf i e ld repre sent a ti o n into a direc tiona l componen t  and anambie nt compo nent. Inp a rticular  fo r t hecom p u ta tion of the d i r ecti on al soun d f ield co mpo nen t a  ne wprocessin g is des cr ib ed  b elo w for the esti ma tio nofsever a l domi nantsoun ddi r ect ions.
R e ga r d ingex is ting  me th ods f or d i rec tion es timationbas e d on  A mb isonics , the above-m en tioned Pul kk i a rticle d escribes  one method in connecti o n withDir AC co ding  for theest imatio n o f  the d irecti on, b as edo n  theB - fo rma tsound fiel d rep resen ta tion . The d irection is obtain e d f rom the avera geinte n s it y v e ct o r,wh i chp o ints to the dir ection offl o wof the sou n d f ie ld ener gy. Analter n ative b ased on t he B-form at  isp r opo sed in D.Levin, S . Gannot, E. A. P.  Habe ts,  “Dire ct ion -of-A rrival Est imati on usi ng  Acous tic V ec tor Sens ors in the Presence ofNoise” , IEE E P roc. of t heI CAS SP, pp. 1 05-1 08, 2011.The  di recti one stima tion is  pe r forme d it e rativelyb ysea r c hi ng for that d i rec tionwhi c h prov ides  the maximum powe r  of a beam for mero u tpu t s i gnal  s teered into th atdi r e ction. H ow ever, bothapproach es are c onstra ined t o the B - f or m at for  the  di rection e sti ma t ion, wh ic hs uffers  fro ma rela tively lows p atial resolution . Ana d ditio n aldisad va ntage i s  tha t the esti mation is r estric tedto on ly a si ng le dom ina nt  direction . 
HOA repr esent ationsof feranimprov ed s p a tialreso lu tio n and thu s al l ow  a n  im prov ed es ti mati on of sev e ral domi nan t  direct io ns. T he exi s ti n g  methods p erf ormin g an estimat i on o f  s e veral  direc tionsbased o n  HO Asound f iel d represent ations ar e  qu it e ra re. An a pp roac hbas ed  on compressive  sensing  is prop o s ed inN.E pain ,  C. Ji n,  A. van Scha ik, “ Th e  Applic a t ion  of Com p res siv e
 perceptual_coding. The_spatial domain signals correspond_to conventional_directional_signals, and_would_correspond to the_loudspeaker signals if_the loudspeakers were positioned_in exactly the_same_directions as those assumed for the spatial domain transform.
The transform to spatial domain reduces_the_cross-correlations between_the_individual_spatial domain signals. However, the_cross-correlations are not completely eliminated._An example_for relatively high cross-correlations is a directional signal,_whose_direction falls in-between_the adjacent directions covered by the spatial domain signals.
A_further disadvantage of EP 10306472.1 and_the above-mentioned Hellerud_et_al._article is that the_number of perceptually coded signals is_(N+1)2, where N is the order_of the HOA representation. Therefore, the data_rate for the compressed HOA representation_is growing quadratically with the_Ambisonics order.
The_inventive compression processing performs a_decomposition of an_HOA sound_field representation into_a directional component and an ambient_component. In particular_for the computation of the directional_sound_field component a_new_processing_is described_below for the_estimation_of several_dominant_sound directions.
Regarding existing methods for direction_estimation_based on Ambisonics, the above-mentioned Pulkki article_describes one method in_connection_with DirAC coding for_the estimation of the direction,_based on the B-format sound field_representation. The_direction is_obtained from the average intensity vector, which points to the direction_of flow of the sound field_energy. An alternative based_on the_B-format_is proposed in_D._Levin, S._Gannot, E. A. P. Habets, “Direction-of-Arrival Estimation_using Acoustic_Vector Sensors in the Presence of_Noise”, IEEE Proc. of_the_ICASSP, pp. 105-108, 2011. The direction_estimation is performed iteratively by searching_for that direction which provides_the_maximum_power of a beam former_output signal steered into that direction._However, both approaches_are constrained to the B-format for the_direction_estimation, which suffers from a relatively_low_spatial resolution. An additional disadvantage is_that_the_estimation is restricted to only_a single dominant direction.
HOA representations offer_an improved spatial resolution and thus allow an improved_estimation of several_dominant directions. The existing methods_performing_an_estimation of several directions based on HOA sound field representations_are quite_rare. An approach_based on compressive sensing is proposed in N. Epain, C._Jin, A. van Schaik, “The Application of_Compressive