Enhancing Smart TV Camera Audio for Stereo Recording and Dynamic Mode Switching

1. Context

This initiative focused on improving audio capture and playback for a smart TV singing application (app), ensuring that recordings were captured in stereo mode using at least two built-in microphones. The goal was to enhance sound clarity so that vocals and instrumental backing tracks were well-separated, producing a richer and more immersive audio experience for users.

Additionally, the project introduced dynamic mode switching, allowing the TV to automatically switch to Music Mode when the application was in use and revert to the previously selected audio mode when the app was exited. This was essential to differentiate music playback settings from other standard TV modes like Cinema Mode or Auto Mode.

2. Challenge

Key challenges included:

• Implementing stereo recording while avoiding disruption to other apps: Stereo recording was essential for this smart TV singing app to capture high-quality vocals and backing tracks. The challenge was to enable it exclusively for this app without disrupting other applications while ensuring it remained a scalable capability for future use.
• Automatic mode-switching complexities: TV audio settings needed to shift to Music Mode dynamically. Multiple scenarios had to be handled, such as:
  • Handling pre-existing audio modes like Cinema Mode, Auto Mode, or custom settings before launching the app.
  • Deciding whether the app should override existing settings or prompt users before making changes.
  • Ensuring that the TV correctly reverted to the previous settings after the app was closed.
• Cross-functional roadmap alignment: The feature required collaboration across multiple teams and product roadmaps to ensure smooth integration.
• Process-heavy implementation: The solution had to pass through multiple platform integration processes, requiring careful coordination to stay on schedule.

3. Approach

To successfully implement stereo recording and dynamic mode switching, I took a structured and cross-functional approach:

• Strategic roadmap integration: Ensured the feature was embedded into the application, platform, and smart TV development plans, securing alignment across all teams.
• Cross-functional collaboration: Worked closely with PMO teams, audio engineers, platform owners, and technical teams to scope, develop, and test the feature effectively.
• Pre-launch functional testing: Conducted early-stage testing to validate improvements before formal engineering QA and identified potential audio tuning refinements before final deployment.
• User journey scenario mapping: Created detailed user stories to define expected behavior, ensuring:
  • Automatic switching to Music Mode when the app launched.
  • Reversion to the previous audio mode when the app was closed.
  • Seamless background app handling without disrupting system settings.

4. Role & Achievements

As a Senior Product Manager, I:

• Led the end-to-end implementation process: Aligned with multiple product and technology teams.
• Ensured compliance with platform integration processes: Kept the feature on track while managing input from multiple stakeholders, ensuring alignment despite the time-intensive nature of the process, and successfully meeting the right market window.
• Drove early-stage audio testing: Captured real-world insights that helped refine stereo recording performance.
• Developed a scalable approach: Enabled other applications to leverage stereo recording and dynamic mode switching efficiently.

5. Results

• The feature was successfully deployed on schedule.
• Stereo recording and automatic Music Mode switching became fully operational within the application.
• The scalable approach established in this project allowed future applications with similar audio requirements to integrate enhancements seamlessly.