GB2380850A

GB2380850A - Digital recording medium or downloadable data file comprising audio recordings

Info

Publication number: GB2380850A
Application number: GB0124547A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gavin Morgan; Lee Wright; Tim Wright
Original assignee: MORGAN COMPUTING Ltd
Current assignee: MORGAN COMPUTING Ltd
Priority date: 2001-10-13
Filing date: 2001-10-13
Publication date: 2003-04-16
Also published as: AU2002334168A1; WO2003034401A3; GB0124547D0; WO2003034401A2

Abstract

A digital recording medium or a downloadable file is disclosed which comprises two differently encoded pieces of music. The first is in suitable format for playback through a domestic audio player. The second is a re-mixable version which can be manipulated using a sequencer implemented on a computer or games console and comprises a set of riffs, each of which corresponds to an interval (eg. one bar) of a component track of the music, such that the music can be played back by playing the riffs in appropriate combination and order. The invention provides a format for publication of musical or other recordings which is highly flexible and interactive. The medium or file may further comprise sequencer software.

Description

DIGITAL RECORDING MEDIUM OR DOWNLOADABLE DATA FILE COMPRISING AUDIO RECORDINGS The present invention is concerned with audio recordings and more specifically with digital recording media and downloadable data files bearing audio recordings.

Commercially, music recordings are edited and mixed using a digital sequencer. A set of tracks recorded from different vocalists or instruments, or synthesized electronically, is digitally manipulated using the sequencer to create a version of a song or other piece of music for publication. The equipment required has in the past been sophisticated and expensive.

Existing software for games consoles such as the Sony Playstation (registered trade mark) provides the general public with a simple form of sequencer and hence the means to create and mix digitally encoded audio recordings. MUSIC 2000 (trade mark) published by Codemasters (registered trademark) is provided on CD for use in a Sony Playstation. It comprises a pre-recorded data library of"riffs"and software enabling the user, through a graphical interface, to assemble a set of riffs to form an audio track. The software has been commercially successful.

An aim of the present invention is to increase the utility and range of applications of such software.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is a digital recording medium, or a downloadable file, comprising two differently encoded versions of a piece of music, the first being in suitable format for playback through

a domestic audio player and the second being a re-mixabie version comprising a set of riffs each of which corresponds to an interval of a component track of the music, such that the music can be played back by playing the riffs in appropriate order and combination and such that the music can be re-mixed by manipulating the riffs using a sequencer implemented on a games console or computer.

The term"music"must be understood in this context to cover any type of audio recording which can be broken down rhythmically, and certainly includes speech, for example.

By recording the music in two different formats, a highly attractive and flexible product is provided. Because the music can be played through a conventional audio player, the invention provides a means for publishing music which is suited to the purchaser who simply requires ordinary playback. For example the recording medium may be a compact disc ("CD") or mini-disc, in which case playback could be carried out using a CD player or mini-disc player. The music could alternatively be published in the form of a file for downloading from the Internet and could be in a data compression format such as MP3, again for playback through a conventional (MP3) player. In ether case the recording can be treated in essentially the same manner as a conventional audio recording. New music releases can conveniently be published in the format according to the invention.

However by virtue of the provision of the second version of the music, the purchaser is provided with the additional option of re-mixing it. Aside from the improved flexibility and customer appeal, the invention makes possible various commercial spin-offs such as competitions to find the best re-mix of a song or piece

of music.

To further increase the flexibility provided to the user, the riffs used in the music may be a sub-set of a library of riffs, so that the user can introduce other riffs from the library into the music using the sequencer. Hence the user can for example change the type of instrument playing a melody, introduce a different base line etc.

The options and possibilities are in fact very diverse and numerous.

The software for implementing the sequencer may be provided on the recording medium or in the downloadable file along with the two versions of the music. In some respects this is convenient for the user. It has the disadvantage that for compatibility with different platforms it becomes necessary to issue the music in multiple formats-one with software to be run on a personal computer and one (or more) for games consoles. The alternative is to publish, separately from the music itself, multiple versions of the sequencer software compatible with the various platforms and accepting the re-mixable music data in a common format so the music itself, sold separately from the software, need only be published in one format.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Fig. I is a first screen dump taken during running of the software used in implementing the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a second screen dump taken during running of the same software showing a window for selection of a riff from a library.

Embodiments of the present invention will in commercial practice typically be offered to the public on a digital recording medium, and more specifically on a

medium which can be read both by a conventional audio player and by a computer or games console. Current games consoles and personal computers frequently utilize compact disc readers and current embodiments of the invention take the form of CDS. Other media, including mini-discs and DVDs. are likely to be used in future embodiments. The invention could also be provided to the user in the form of a file for downloading from the Internet.

A specific embodiment of the invention to be considered herein comprises a CD packaged as a music album. It stores a set of audio recordings (e. g. a set of songs on the album) in standard format which can be played through a conventional domestic compact disc player. However, one of the items on the CD (typically item 1, although another position may be used) comprises data representing a re-mixable version of all or part of the set of audio recordings. In the present embodiment this item further contains software to be run on a games console or personal computer to provide the user with the facilities of a simple sequencer.

The re-mixable version of the audio recording is built up from a set of"riffs".

As used herein, the word"riff'refers to a short extract from one of the tracks making up the recording.

In this embodiment the duration of each riff corresponds to one musical bar.

Thus if the recording is of a song, the lead vocal is stored in a set of bar-long riffs. Backing vocals may be stored in a separate set of riffs. A guitar melody can be stored as yet another set of riffs, and so on. Repetitive elements such as drums and bass can be built up from a small number of riffs, or indeed a single riff, repeated as necessary.

Looking at Fig. 1, it will be seen that one element of the interface provided to the user on running the software is a grid of tracks. Horizontal rows, labelled with numerals 01-15 in the left-hand column, correspond to different tracks. Further tracks are in fact provided and these can be revealed by scrolling vertically. Each track is broken down on the screen into a row of squares each of which corresponds to a given time interval, in this case one musical bar, whose duration is equal to that of one riff. Icons in these squares such as the hammer 20 represent a riff to be played in the relevant time interval. Icons of different types represent different types of sound-e. g. keyboard 22, castanets 24 (representing percussion) etc. The set of drum icons 26 in row 04 is a repeated drum beat. During playback each sound represented by the icon in a given column is played concurrently, working rightwards from the first column. By default, the left-most column is played first, but the user can commence playback in any chosen column-ie. at the start of any bar in the music.

A cursor 28 is used to position riffs, represented by the icons, in the grid under control of a pointing device such as a mouse. Various editing operations can be selected from a tool bar 30-in the illustration the current operation is "paste riff' (ie. insert a chosen riff at the cursor location) as indicated toward the top left of the screen. The illustrated portion of the grid represents only a few bars. Arrows in the bottom left and bottom right allow the user to scroll horizontally, moving forwards or backwards in time through the piece of music.

To select riffs for insertion in the grid, the user calls down a menu, seen at 32 in Fig. 2, showing a list of riffs and makes a selection in conventional manner by pointing with the cursor and clicking. Left and right arrows at the bottom of window

32 are used to display any of a large set of such lists, together making up a"library" of riffs. Up and down arrows to the right of the window allow for scrolling through individual lists.

The software also provides for manipulation of individual riffs. A riff editor window allows the waveform of a riff to be inspected and altered, e. g. by splicing two different sounds together. The pitch of a riff may also be altered. Sounds from other sources-eg. a microphone or instrument-can be sampled, edited and used as new riffs.

According to the present invention, the riff library comprises a set of riffs which, when played in the appropriate order and combinations, make up the songs on the album. The data stored on the CD further comprises data representing the grid required to play each of the songs. Hence the user can call up the relevant grid and play the song, on a computer or console, in a form determined by the publisher.

Typically this corresponds to the version of the song recorded separately in conventional format. The two versions need not be identical however.

The present invention offers the user the facility to alter the mix of the song at will. The user may begin with the pre-determined version of the song and re-mix using the editing facilities referred to above.

Note that the riff library may, in addition to the riffs making up the predetermined version of the songs, include numerous other sounds-different drum beats, bass lines, synthesizer sounds etc.-so that the user can introduce any of a range of different sounds to the mix. Melodies can be altered by changing the pitch or the order of the riffs. Tempo can also be adjusted, changing the duration of each

riff.

The user can record re-mixed versions of any song, e. g. on the hard disc drive of a computer or games console.

The present invention makes it possible to publish music (or conceivably even other audio material) in a format which allows reproduction through a conventional audio system as well as allowing the user to re-mix the music. In this way customer appeal is greatly increased.

The CD (or other recording medium) may, store video footage as well as audio material.

Claims

1. A digital recording medium, or a downloadable file, comprising two differently encoded versions of a piece of music, the first being in suitable format for playback through a domestic audio player and the second being a re-mixable version comprising a set of riffs each of which corresponds to an interval of a component track of the music, such that the music can be played back by playing the riffs in appropriate order and combination and such that the music can be re-mixed by manipulating the riffs using a sequencer implemented on a games console or computer.

2. A digital recording medium or a downloadable data file as claimed in claim 1 in which the riffs used in the piece of music are a sub-set of a library of riffs, so that the user can introduce other riffs from the library into the music using the sequencer.

3. A digital recording medium or downloadable file as claimed m claim I or claim 2 which is for optical reading.

4. A digital recording medium or downloadable file as claimed m any preceding claim, further comprising software for implementing a sequencer for remixing the recorded music.

5. A digital recording medium or downloadable file as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sequencer provides a user interface in which audio channels and time intervals are represented on different axes of a gnd, with editing facilities for inserting and manipulating riffs placed in the grid.

6. A digital recording medium or downloadable file as claimed in any preceding claim which is an album of music.

7. A digital recording medium as claimed in any preceding claim, formed as a compact disc or mini disc.

8. A digital recording medium or downloadable file substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.