FoleyDirector: Fine-Grained Temporal Steering for Video-to-Audio Generation via Structured Scripts
Abstract
Recent Video-to-Audio (V2A) methods have achieved remarkable progress, enabling the synthesis of realistic, high-quality audio. However, they struggle with fine-grained temporal control in multi-event scenarios or when visual cues are insufficient, such as small regions, off-screen sounds, or occluded or partially visible objects. In this paper, we propose FoleyDirector, a framework that, for the first time, enables precise temporal guidance in DiT-based V2A generation while preserving the base model's audio quality and allowing seamless switching between V2A generation and temporally controlled synthesis. FoleyDirector introduces Structured Temporal Scripts (STS), a set of captions corresponding to short temporal segments, to provide richer temporal information. These features are integrated via the Script-Guided Temporal Fusion Module, which employs Temporal Script Attention to fuse STS features coherently. To handle complex multi-event scenarios, we further propose Bi-Frame Sound Synthesis, enabling parallel in-frame and out-of-frame audio generation and improving controllability. To support training and evaluation, we construct the DirectorSound dataset and introduce VGGSoundDirector and DirectorBench. Experiments demonstrate that FoleyDirector substantially enhances temporal controllability while maintaining high audio fidelity, empowering users to act as Foley directors and advancing V2A toward more expressive and controllable generation.
The following analysis is generated by AI and may contain errors. It is separate from the authors’ abstract and is not peer review.
Research summary
FoleyDirector introduces a novel framework for fine-grained temporal control in video-to-audio generation, significantly advancing the state-of-the-art in this domain. The combination of innovative methodologies and comprehensive experimental validation positions this work as a meaningful contribution to the field of machine learning and audio synthesis.
Methodology
The methodology presented in FoleyDirector is innovative, particularly with the introduction of Structured Temporal Scripts (STS) and the Script-Guided Temporal Fusion Module. These components allow for fine-grained temporal control in video-to-audio generation, addressing a significant gap in existing methods that struggle with complex audio generation scenarios. The integration of Bi-Frame Sound Synthesis further enhances the capability to manage both in-frame and out-of-frame audio, showcasing a thoughtful approach to improving controllability in audio synthesis. The methodology is well-structured and provides a clear framework for implementation.
Results & evaluation
The experimental section demonstrates a robust evaluation of the proposed framework. The construction of the DirectorSound dataset and the introduction of evaluation benchmarks (VGGSoundDirector and DirectorBench) are commendable, as they provide necessary resources for training and evaluation. The experiments effectively illustrate the improvements in temporal controllability and audio fidelity, with results that substantiate the claims made in the paper. However, details on the evaluation metrics used and their significance could be elaborated further to enhance clarity.
Reproducibility
While the paper outlines the methodology and experiments, it lacks explicit details regarding the implementation and availability of the code or datasets, which could hinder reproducibility. Providing a link to a project repository or supplementary materials would greatly enhance the paper's reproducibility and allow other researchers to build upon this work.
Limitations
One limitation is the potential complexity in user interaction with the system, as fine-grained control may require a steep learning curve for users unfamiliar with audio synthesis. Additionally, the paper does not address the scalability of the framework in real-world applications or the computational resources required for training and inference.
Broader impact
The advancements made in FoleyDirector have significant implications for various applications, including film production, video game development, and virtual reality, where precise audio generation is critical. By empowering users to act as Foley directors, the framework can enhance the creative process in multimedia content creation, potentially leading to more immersive experiences. FoleyDirector introduces a novel framework for fine-grained temporal control in video-to-audio generation, significantly advancing the state-of-the-art in this domain. The combination of innovative methodologies and comprehensive experimental validation positions this work as a meaningful contribution to the field of machine learning and audio synthesis.
Author of this paper? Send a correction.