Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Digital audio data processing system
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-18
2002-04-23
Mei, Xu (Department: 2644)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Digital audio data processing system
C381S104000, C381S107000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06377862
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an audio signal processing and reproducing method for processing and reproducing an audio signal while adjusting a sound quality of a music reproduced by the audio signal, an audio signal processing apparatus for processing an audio signal with sound quality controlling information indicating various sound qualities of a music reproduced by the audio signal, a recording medium for recording an audio signal with sound quality controlling information indicating various sound qualities of a music reproduced by the audio signal, and an audio signal reproducing apparatus for reproducing an audio signal while adjusting a music reproduced by the audio signal to a desired sound quality.
Also, the present invention relates to an audio signal processing and reproducing method for processing and reproducing an audio signal while reducing a volume of data indicating the audio signal, an audio signal processing apparatus for processing an audio signal while reducing a volume of data indicating the audio signal, a recording medium for recording an audio signal in which a volume of data indicating the audio signal is reduced, and an audio signal reproducing apparatus for reproducing an audio signal processed to reduce a volume of data indicating the audio signal. Also, the present invention relates to an audio signal processing and reproducing method for processing and reproducing an audio signal while adjusting an output level of the audio signal, an audio signal processing apparatus for processing an audio signal with a test tone signal to automatically mute an output sound of the test tone signal in a reproducing operation of the audio signal, a recording medium for recording an audio signal with a test tone signal, and an audio signal reproducing apparatus for reproducing an audio signal with a test tone signal while adjusting an output level of the audio signal and muting an output sound of the test tone signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
2.1. First Previously Proposed Art
In general, in cases where an audio signal recorded in a recording medium such as a compact disk (or disc) (CD) or a digital versatile disk (or disc) (DVD) is reproduced by using a speaker, a user can entertain a music reproduced by the audio signal at a desired sound quality when the user manually operates an equalizer of an audio signal reproducing apparatus to appropriately adjust a level of each frequency band such as a low tone or a high tone, a balance of levels of frequency bands, a level balance of speakers of five channels (or right and left channels) and reverberation.
2.2. Second Previously Proposed Art
In a first conventional audio signal reproducing method, when a digital audio signal is written in a CD or DVD as an original signal, a level of the original signal is generally heightened to improve a sound
oise (S/N) ratio in the original signal. Also, in cases where a level of an original signal read out from the CD or DVD is too high, the level of the original signal is lowered in a reproducing operation to prevent the original signal from giving an unpleasant feeling to a listener or to prevent a speaker from being broken. In this case, a user can reproduce the original signal at a desired level by manually adjusting the level of the original signal in the reproducing operation.
Also, in a second conventional audio signal reproducing method, when a test tone recorded in a disk (or disc) at a maximum level for each channel of a stereo or multichannel is reproduced, an operator manually mutes an output sound including the test tone and manually adjusts the balance of levels of the test tones in a plurality of channels while observing the levels indicated in a level meter.
2.3. Problems to be Solved by the Invention
However, when the user entertains a music at a desired sound quality, the user is required to manually operate many buttons for appropriately adjusting a level of each frequency band, a balance of levels of frequency bands, a level balance of speakers of five channels and reverberation. Also, to appropriately adjust the buttons, a skillful person having a superior keen sense of hearing such as a professional mixer is required. Therefore, the user cannot hear a music at a desired sound quality.
Also, in the first conventional audio signal reproducing method, because a level of an original digital audio signal is shifted and the signal is recorded, the user is required to adjust the level of the signal when the user reproduces the signal at an original level thereof. Therefore, there is a drawback that the digital audio signal cannot be automatically reproduced at the original level.
Also, in the second conventional audio signal reproducing method, because it is required to record one test tone in each of all recording blocks of a disk (or disc), a recording area of the disk (or disc) cannot be efficiently used for digital recording signals. To prevent this drawback, there is an idea that each of test tones is recorded in an area of the disk (or disc) with a mute flag and an output of an audio signal for which one mute flag is set is muted. In this idea, the burden for watching the mute flags is increased in an audio signal reproducing apparatus when an occurrence frequency of the mute flags is heightened. For example, one mute flag is set for each frame ({fraction (1/600)} second). Also, when an occurrence frequency of the mute flag is lowered, a fine mute control for the audio signal cannot be performed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide, with due consideration to the drawbacks of such a conventional audio signal reproducing method, an audio signal processing and reproducing method in which an audio signal is reproduced at a simple operation on condition that a sound quality of a music indicated by the audio signal is appropriately set, an audio signal processing apparatus in which an audio signal is processed to be reproduced at a desired sound quality, a recording medium in which an audio signal processed by the audio signal processing apparatus is recorded, and an audio signal reproducing apparatus in which an audio signal processed by the audio signal processing apparatus is reproduced at a desired sound quality.
A second object of the present invention is to provide an audio signal processing and reproducing method in which an audio signal is processed at reduced data volume and is automatically reproduced at an original level, an audio signal processing apparatus in which an analog audio signal is processed while reducing a volume of data indicating the analog audio signal, a recording medium in which digital audio signal expressing an analog audio signal at a reduced data volume is recorded and an audio signal reproducing apparatus in which an analog audio signal expressed at a reduced data volume is reproduced.
A third object of the present invention is to provide an audio signal processing and reproducing method in which an audio signal is processed with a test tone signal and the audio signal is easily reproduced at an output level adjusted according to the test tone signal without giving an unpleasant feeling based on an output sound of the test tone signal to a user, an audio signal processing apparatus in which an audio signal is processed with a test tone signal to be reproduced without giving an unpleasant feeling based on an output sound of the test tone signal to a user, a recording medium in which an audio signal processed with a test tone signal is recorded and an audio signal reproducing apparatus in which an audio signal processed with a test tone signal is easily reproduced without giving an unpleasant feeling based on an output sound of the test tone signal to a user.
The first object is achieved by the provision of an audio signal processing and reproducing method, comprising the steps of:
converting an analog audio signal of a channel into a digital audio signal composed of a plurality of pieces of audio data;
adding a plurality of
Naruki Hidetoshi
Ueno Shoji
Anderson Kill & Olick
Lieberstein Eugene
Mei Xu
Meller Michael
Victor Company of Japan Ltd.
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