JP2000339823A - Pre-mastering device for mini-disk - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pre-mastering device which can perform pre-mastering of a mini-disk with a low cost. SOLUTION: A digital voice signal of a non-compression type is inputted to a compact disk reading device 22 or the like, ATRAC(adaptive transform acoustic coding) compression is performed for this digital voice signal by a program stored in a central processing unit 25, and the digital voice signal in which the ATRAC compression is already finished is outputted by a compact disk recordable writing device 26 or the like. Therefore, a general computer can be used as a pre-mastering device 21, an exclusive device is not required, the ATRAC compression can be performed without being limited in input speed and output speed by the exclusive device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mini-disk premastering device for outputting a digital audio signal subjected to ATRAC compression.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a minidisc (MD), despite its very small diameter of 64 mm, ATRAC (Adap
The same recording time as a compact disc (CD) having a diameter of 120 mm is realized by a special audio signal compression processing technique called tive TRansform Acoustic Coding (compression).

[0003] In order to mass-produce a mini disc on which music and the like are recorded from the beginning, a digital audio signal that has been subjected to ATRAC compression, format conversion, EFM (Eight to Fourteen Modulation) modulation, or the like is recorded as a signal hole. First, a mini disc master is manufactured. Then, a metal master, a metal mother, and a stamper are sequentially manufactured from the minidisk master by a plating process, and the minidisk is mass-produced by a pressing process using the stamper.

A signal hole in a mini-disc master is generally formed by optical cutting using a laser beam recorder or the like. Due to its nature, a digital audio signal is recorded from the inner circumference to the outer circumference of the mini-disc master. During this time, the digital audio signal needs to be continuously input at a constant speed without interruption.

[0005] Therefore, in order to manufacture a mini disc master, generally, a master medium on which a digital audio signal subjected to ATRAC compression is recorded is prepared in advance, and a digital medium recorded on the master medium is prepared. An audio signal is reproduced at a constant speed, and a digital audio signal obtained by subjecting the reproduced digital audio signal to format conversion, EFM modulation, or the like is transmitted to a laser beam recorder or the like.

FIG. 3 shows a conventional example of a premastering device for creating such a master medium. The conventional premastering apparatus 11 uses so-called U-matic tapes 12 and 13 which are cassette type 3/4 inch tapes used in a two-head helical video tape recorder as input / output media.

[0007] U-matic tape 13 as a master medium
In order to create a digital audio signal, a PCM-modulated digital audio signal recorded on a U-matic tape 12 in an uncompressed format is reproduced by a U-matic tape recording / reproducing device 14 and a PCM signal processing device 15, and the reproduced digital audio signal is reproduced. AT signal
The digital audio signal compressed by the RAC compression converter 16 and compressed is recorded on the U-matic tape 13 by the U-matic tape recording / reproducing device 14.

[0008]

However, a U-matic tape recording / reproducing device 14, a PCM signal processing device 15, and an ATR constituting a premastering device 11 of a conventional example.
Since neither of the AC compression converters 16 is an unusual dedicated device, the premastering device 11 is expensive, and the U-matic tapes 12 and 13 as input / output media are also not commonly used media. Expensive. Moreover, the production of the U-matic tape recording / reproducing device 14 and the PCM signal processing device 15 has already been terminated. Further, since the U-matic tape recording / reproducing apparatus 14 can record and reproduce a digital audio signal only at the same speed as the audio reproducing speed, ATRAC compression cannot be performed at a high speed.

For these reasons, it is difficult for the above-described conventional premastering apparatus 11 to perform low-cost premastering for producing the U-matic tape 13 as a master medium for manufacturing a master minidisk. Was.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a mini-disk premastering device that can execute pre-mastering of a mini-disc at low cost.

[0010]

According to the pre-mastering apparatus for a mini disc according to the first aspect of the present invention, the program incorporated in the processing means converts an uncompressed digital audio signal into an audio signal.
Apply TRAC compression. For this reason, a general computer can be used as the pre-mastering device for the mini-disc, no special device is required, and the ATR is not restricted by the input speed and output speed of the special device.
As long as the format and the medium can be subjected to AC compression and can be input and output by the input means and the output means, the format of the uncompressed digital audio signal and the format of the ATRAC-compressed digital audio signal are Any form and medium can be used as the medium.

In the mini-master premastering device according to the second aspect, at least one of the format of the uncompressed digital audio signal and the medium for inputting the digital audio signal includes a plurality of different input means. The format and medium of the digital audio signal in uncompressed format can be selected from a plurality of formats and media.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pre-mastering apparatus for a mini-disc having a plurality of output means different from each other in at least one of a format of a digital audio signal subjected to ATRAC compression and a medium for outputting the digital audio signal. Therefore, the format and medium of the ATRAC-compressed digital audio signal can be selected from a plurality of formats and media.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a premastering device 21 of the present embodiment. The premastering device 21 is a general personal computer, and includes a compact disk reader 22 as input means, a network interface card 23
And a digital audio signal interface card 24 is connected to the central processing unit 25.

Further, a compact disk recordable writing device 26 as an output means, a network interface card 27, and a temporary storage device 28 such as a hard disk drive device are also connected to the central processing unit 25. The central processing unit 25 has a built-in program for performing ATRAC compression on an uncompressed digital audio signal.

The compact disk reader 22, the network interface card 23, and the digital audio signal interface card 24 receive digital audio signals of respective types from the compact disk 31, the network 32, the coaxial cable 33, and the like. The compact disk recordable writing device 26 and the network interface card 27 output digital audio signals of the respective formats to the compact disk recordable 34 and the network 36, respectively.

FIG. 2 shows the flow of processing by the premastering device 21 as described above. In order to execute premastering using the premastering device 21, first, an input / output medium or interface is selected by manual operation, control by an external signal, or the like. Then, the central processing unit 25 inputs the uncompressed digital audio signal via the input means corresponding to the selected input medium or interface, and holds the digital audio signal in the temporary storage device 28 as necessary. I do.

Next, the central processing unit 25 performs ATRAC compression on the uncompressed digital audio signal, and holds the ATRAC-compressed digital audio signal in the temporary storage device 28 as necessary. Then, the central processing unit 25
Converts the format of the TRAC-compressed digital audio signal into a format that is optimal for the selected output medium and interface. For example, when outputting to the compact disk recordable 34, the data is converted into the format of the compact disk ROM mode 1.

After that, the central processing unit 25 outputs the digital audio signal whose format has been converted via the output means corresponding to the selected output medium or interface. In addition,
The pre-mastering device 21 according to the above embodiment includes three input units and two output units.
Other input means and output means may be provided.

[0019]

According to the pre-mastering device for a mini-disc according to the first aspect, a general computer can be used as the pre-mastering device for a mini-disc, and no special equipment is required. Also, ATRAC compression can be performed without being restricted by the input speed and output speed of the dedicated device.
TRAC compression can be performed at high speed. Therefore, pre-mastering of the mini-disc can be executed at low cost.

If the input means and the output means can input and output the format and the medium, the format and the medium of the uncompressed digital audio signal and the ATRAC-compressed digital audio signal are arbitrary. Formats and media can be used. Therefore, the degree of freedom in these types and media is high, and it is possible to cope with new types and media in the future. In addition, due to the high degree of freedom in media, pre-mastering of a minidisk can be performed at low cost. be able to.

In the pre-mastering device for a mini-disc according to the second aspect, the format and the medium of the uncompressed digital audio signal can be selected from a plurality of formats and the media, so that the degree of freedom of the pre-mastering of the mini-disc is increased. high.

In the pre-mastering device for a mini-disc according to the third aspect, the format and the medium of the ATRAC-compressed digital audio signal can be selected from a plurality of formats and media, so that the mini-disc pre-mastering is free. High degree.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of premastering according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

21: Premastering device, 22: Compact disk reader (input means), 23: Network interface card (input means), 24: Digital audio signal interface card (input means), 25: Central processing unit (processing means), 26 ... Compact disk recordable writing device (output means), 27 ... Network interface card (output means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An input means for inputting a digital audio signal in an uncompressed format, a processing means having a program for performing ATRAC compression on the digital audio signal input by the input means, and an input means for applying the ATRAC compression Output means for outputting the digital audio signal obtained as described above. 2. The mini-disk premastering according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a format of the uncompressed digital audio signal and a medium for inputting the digital audio signal includes a plurality of input means different from each other. apparatus. 3. The mini-disc according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a format of the ATRAC-compressed digital audio signal and a medium for outputting the digital audio signal includes a plurality of output units different from each other. Premastering device.