JP2006079741A - Device, method and program for processing information - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to check the music of DSD data stored in a file even in a personal computer having no DSD device. <P>SOLUTION: When there is prepared no device capable of reproducing DSD data, and a device capable of reproducing PCM data is only prepared, during the fetching of DSD data recorded in an optical disk 4, the DSD data is converted into PCM data by a personal computer 1. The PCM data obtained by the conversion is supplied as audio data for previewing to a PCM device 2, and reproducing is executed by the PCM device 2. The invention can be applied to a personal computer or the like capable of fetching DSD data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and a program, and in particular, what kind of music the DSD data stored in a file belongs to even if it does not have a DSD (Direct Stream Digital) device. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method that allow a user to check, and a program.

  In recent years, audio signals from analog sound sources such as records and cassette tapes and digital audio data from digital sound sources such as CD (Compact Disk) and DAT (Digital Audio Tape) have been imported into personal computers, and various effects and arrangements have been made. So-called DTM (Desk Top Music), which creates your favorite audio data by editing, is gaining popularity.

  In such a DTM, there is a high demand for higher sound quality. For example, audio data of a 44.1 KHz / 16-bit music CD (audio data encoded by the PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) method) is 96 KHz or higher. Upsampling is performed at a sampling frequency of 20 or 24 bits, and requantization is performed using a number of qubits such as 20 bits and 24 bits. Thus, basically, audio data with higher sound quality than that of a music CD can be obtained.

  By the way, there is a SACD (Super Audio CD) format as a format of audio data having higher sound quality than a music CD, and a DSD method is adopted as an encoding method of audio data recorded in the SACD.

  Here, the DSD method will be briefly described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the DSD system represents an audio signal with a sampling frequency of 44.1 KHz (hereinafter referred to as 1 fs as appropriate) and a qubit number of 16 bits. This is a coding method that represents a sound signal with 1-bit data at a sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz × 64 = 2.8224 MHz (64 fs). One block in FIG. 1 represents 1-bit data.

  According to the DSD method, the level of the audio signal can be expressed by the density of the pulse waveform (1, 0), so that a waveform close to the sound wave itself that transmits the space can be expressed, and a reproduction band exceeding 100 KHz. It is possible to secure a high dynamic range.

  DSD is disclosed in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for converting audio data which is multi-bit data (16 bits) taken from a CD into DSD data (audio data encoded by the DSD method). Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151867 discloses a technique that enables processing of amplitude components such as fade-in / out on DSD data.

JP-A-6-232755 JP-A-9-261071 JP-A-8-274644

  By the way, at present, there are few DSD devices, which are devices capable of reproducing DSD data, prepared in personal computers.

  Therefore, for example, even when a DSD file (a file storing DSD data) created by a user performing DTM as described above is received, the DSD device is stored in the personal computer of the user who has received the DSD file. Is not prepared, the user cannot confirm what kind of music the DSD data stored in the DSD file belongs to.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and even on a personal computer that does not have a DSD device, the user confirms what kind of music the DSD data stored in the file belongs to. It is something that can be done.

  The information processing apparatus of the present invention is an information processing apparatus that processes a file in which DSD data is generated, generated by another device, and an evaluation unit that evaluates the performance of the information processing apparatus itself, and DSD data, Conversion means for converting the data amount according to the performance evaluated by the evaluation means into reproducible encoding format audio data, and storing the DSD data in the built-in storage medium for the audio data obtained by the conversion means Reproducing means for reproducing as the data for the previous preview is provided.

  The audio data can be data encoded by the PCM method.

  The information processing method of the present invention is an information processing method for processing a file in which DSD data is generated, generated by another device, an evaluation step for evaluating the performance of the information processing apparatus itself, and DSD data, A conversion step that converts the data amount according to the performance evaluated in the evaluation step into audio data of a reproducible encoding method, and the audio data obtained by the conversion step processing is stored in the DSD data. And a reproduction step of reproducing as preview data before being stored in the medium.

  The program of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to process a file in which DSD data is generated, generated by another device, an evaluation step for evaluating the performance of the information processing apparatus itself, and DSD data, A conversion step that converts the data amount according to the performance evaluated in the evaluation step into audio data of a reproducible encoding method, and the audio data obtained by the conversion step processing is stored in the DSD data. And a reproduction step of reproducing as preview data before being stored in the medium.

  In the information processing apparatus, method, and program of the present invention, the performance of the information processing apparatus itself is evaluated, and DSD data is converted into reproducible encoding-format audio data having a data amount corresponding to the evaluated performance. Is done. Also, the audio data obtained by the conversion is reproduced as preview data before the DSD data is stored in the built-in storage medium.

  According to the present invention, even in a personal computer that does not have a DSD device, the user can confirm what kind of music the DSD data stored in the file belongs to.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. The correspondence relationship between the invention described in this specification and the embodiments of the invention is exemplified as follows. This description is intended to assure that embodiments supporting the claimed invention are described in this specification. Therefore, although there is an embodiment which is described in the embodiment of the invention but is not described here as corresponding to the invention, it means that the embodiment is not It does not mean that it does not correspond to the invention. Conversely, even if an embodiment is described herein as corresponding to an invention, that means that the embodiment does not correspond to an invention other than the invention. Absent.

  Further, this description does not mean all the inventions described in this specification. In other words, this description is for the invention described in the present specification and not claimed in this application, i.e., the existence of an invention that will be filed in the future or added by amendment. There is no denial.

  The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 is an information processing apparatus that processes a file that is generated by another device and stores DSD data, and that is an evaluation unit that evaluates the performance of the information processing apparatus itself (for example, 4, and conversion means (for example, FIG. 4) that converts the DSD data into reproducible encoding-format audio data having a data amount corresponding to the performance evaluated by the evaluation means. LPF 42) and reproduction means (for example, reproduction control unit 45 in FIG. 4) for reproducing the audio data obtained by the conversion means as preview data before the DSD data is stored in a built-in storage medium. It is characterized by providing.

  An information processing method according to claim 3 is an information processing method for processing a file in which DSD data is generated, which is generated by another device, and an evaluation step for evaluating the performance of the information processing device itself (for example, 6, and a conversion step (eg, FIG. 6) for converting the DSD data into reproducible encoding-format audio data having a data amount corresponding to the performance evaluated by the evaluation step. Step S12) and a reproduction step (for example, Step S13 in FIG. 6) of reproducing the audio data obtained by the conversion step as preview data before storing the DSD data in a built-in storage medium. ).

  Also in the program according to the fourth aspect, the embodiment (however, an example) to which each step corresponds is the same as the information processing method according to the third aspect.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a recording / playback system to which the present invention is applied.

  The recording / playback system of FIG. 2 is configured by connecting a personal computer 1 and a PCM device 2 via, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable 3.

  For example, the personal computer 1 captures DSD data (audio data encoded by the DSD method) from the optical disk 4 and stores the captured DSD data in a built-in HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The DSD data stored in the HDD is appropriately edited by the user for the data.

  Further, the personal computer 1 controls the PCM device 2 via the USB cable 3 and reproduces the PCM data (audio data encoded by the PCM method) output to the PCM device 2. As described above, in the example of FIG. 2, the personal computer 1 has a device capable of reproducing PCM data, but does not have a device capable of reproducing DSD data.

  The PCM device 2 is an audio device capable of reproducing PCM data, and is driven according to control performed by the personal computer 1 via the USB cable 3. For example, the PCM device 2 reproduces PCM data supplied from the personal computer 1 and outputs sound corresponding to an audio signal obtained by the reproduction from a speaker (not shown).

  For example, a DSD file storing DSD data generated by another personal computer (not shown) is recorded on the optical disc 4.

  In such a recording / playback system composed of each device, for example, when DSD data recorded on the optical disc 4 is captured, the DSD data to be captured is converted into PCM data by the personal computer 1, and the obtained PCM data is obtained. Are used as audio data for preview (hereinafter referred to as preview PCM data as appropriate).

  That is, since the personal computer 1 cannot reproduce the DSD data as it is, PCM data generated based on the DSD data is supplied from the personal computer 1 to the PCM device 2 as PCM data for preview, and the PCM device. According to 2, the reproduction is performed.

  As a result, even if a device capable of reproducing DSD data is not prepared in the personal computer 1, the user confirms what kind of music the DSD data to be captured and edited from now on belongs to. (Can be taken in after confirmation)

  For preview use, it is sufficient if a certain level of sound quality is ensured. Generally, since real-time performance is required rather than sound quality during preview, PCM data generated based on DSD data is The amount of data according to the hardware performance of the personal computer 1 is easy to reproduce for the personal computer 1.

  For example, when the performance of the personal computer 1 is low, PCM data with a small amount of data that can be easily reproduced is generated as preview PCM data based on the DSD data. When PCM data having a large amount of data is used as PCM data for previewing, depending on the low-performance personal computer 1, it cannot be played back easily, sound quality can be ensured, but real-time performance is impaired. .

  Here, the performance of the personal computer 1 is determined, for example, by the performance of the CPU (Central Processing Unit) of the personal computer 1 (clock frequency, cache memory capacity, etc.), memory capacity, and the like. Further, whether the amount of preview PCM data is large or small is determined based on, for example, the sampling frequency, the number of quantization bits, and the like.

  The processing of the personal computer 1 using the PCM data obtained by converting the DSD data as described above as the PCM data for preview will be described later with reference to a flowchart.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the personal computer 1 of FIG.

  The CPU 11 executes various processes according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12 or a program loaded from the HDD 18 to a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13. The RAM 13 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 11 to execute various processes.

  The CPU 11, ROM 12, and RAM 13 are connected to each other via a bus 14. An input / output interface 15 is also connected to the bus 14.

  An input unit 16, a display unit 17, an HDD 18, a communication unit 19, and a USB interface 20 are connected to the input / output interface 15.

  The input unit 16 includes a keyboard and a mouse, and the display unit 17 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).

  The HDD 18 stores various data such as DSD data in a built-in hard disk. In the example of FIG. 3, the audio data processing application 31 is also stored in the HDD 18. The audio data processing application 31 is executed by the CPU 11 and realizes various functions related to processing of audio data such as DSD data and PCM data.

  The communication unit 19 performs communication processing via a network, and the USB interface 20 performs communication with the PCM device 2 via the USB cable 3. As described above, the PCM data for preview generated based on the DSD data is supplied from the USB interface 20 to the PCM device 2.

  A drive 21 is connected to the input / output interface 15 as necessary. The drive 21 is appropriately equipped with a removable medium 22 composed of a magnetic disk, an optical disk (including the optical disk 4 in FIG. 2), a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, and a computer program read from the removable medium 22 is necessary. Is installed in the HDD 18 accordingly.

  In the example of FIG. 3, the DSD file 32 is recorded on the removable medium 22. For example, when the DSD data stored in the DSD file 32 is captured, preview reproduction based on the preview PCM data is performed.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the personal computer 1. Each functional unit of the personal computer 1 shown in FIG. 4 is realized by the audio data processing application 31 being executed by the CPU 11 of FIG.

  For example, when the DSD file 32 of the removable medium 22 is selected by the user as a file in which the DSD data to be captured is stored, the capturing unit 41 captures the DSD data (64 fs / 1 bit) and converts the captured DSD data into the LPF 42. Output to.

  Further, the import unit 41 stores the DSD data imported from the DSD file 32 in the HDD 18 at a predetermined timing, thereby realizing the import of the DSD data. The imported DSD data is appropriately edited by the user for that data.

  The LPF 42 adjusts the data amount by changing the number of taps of the filter used for generating the PCM data according to the evaluation result of the performance of the personal computer 1 by the evaluation unit 43, and the DSD supplied from the capture unit 41. Generate PCM data based on the data. In the example of FIG. 4, 32-bit (1 fs / 32-bit) PCM data is generated by the LPF 42, and the generated PCM data is output to the noise shaper 44. The LPF 42 may be, for example, an Intel Performance Primitive (IPP) LPF.

  The evaluation unit 43 evaluates the hardware performance of the personal computer 1 by referring to, for example, the clock frequency of the CPU 11 and the capacity of the RAM 13 and outputs the evaluation result to the LPF 42.

  The noise shaper 44 generates, for example, 16-bit PCM data from the 32-bit PCM data supplied from the LPF 42. For this conversion, for example, SBM (Super Bit Mapping) that reduces only the number of quantization bits while maintaining the sound quality of the conversion source PCM data is used. If real-time characteristics are important, SBM or the like may not be performed, and simple data thinning may be performed. The PCM data generated by the noise shaper 44 is supplied to the reproduction control unit 45 as preview PCM data.

  The reproduction control unit 45 supplies the PCM data for preview supplied from the noise shaper 44 to the PCM device 2 via the USB cable 3 to reproduce the PCM data for preview.

  Next, the operation of the personal computer 1 having the above configuration will be described.

  First, processing of the personal computer 1 that imports DSD data will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  This process is performed, for example, when the audio data processing application 31 is executed with the PCM device 2 connected to the personal computer 1.

  In step S1, the capturing unit 41 sets the mode of the audio data processing application 31 to the PCM mode, for example, in accordance with an operation by the user. At this time, the user can preview the DSD data by using the preview PCM data generated based on the DSD data.

  In step S2, the capturing unit 41 selects, for example, a DSD file that stores DSD data to be imported in accordance with a user operation, and proceeds to step S3 to perform a preview reproduction process. In the preview reproduction process, basically, preview PCM data is generated and reproduced. Details of the preview reproduction process performed in step S3 will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  For example, when the preview reproduction process is performed and the user instructs to import the DSD data, the capturing unit 41 captures the DSD data from the removable medium 22 and stores the captured DSD data in the HDD 18.

  Next, the preview reproduction process performed in step S3 of FIG. 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 11, the evaluation unit 43 evaluates the hardware performance of the personal computer 1 and outputs the evaluation result to the LPF 42.

  In step S <b> 12, the LPF 42 is based on the DSD data supplied from the capturing unit 41 with a predetermined amount of PCM data by changing the number of taps according to the evaluation result of the performance of the personal computer 1 by the evaluation unit 43. The generated PCM data is output to the noise shaper 44. The noise shaper 44 generates preview PCM data by reducing the number of quantization bits of the PCM data supplied from the LPF 42 and outputs the generated preview PCM data to the reproduction control unit 45.

  In step S13, the reproduction control unit 45 supplies the PCM data for preview supplied from the noise shaper 44 to the PCM device 2 via the USB cable 3, and reproduces the PCM data for preview.

  Through the above processing, even if the user of the personal computer 1 does not have a device capable of reproducing DSD data in the personal computer 1, what kind of music is stored in the DSD data recorded on the removable medium 22. Can be imported and confirmed.

  In the above, the case where the audio data generated based on the DSD data is PCM data has been described. For example, ATRAC (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding) 3, MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer-3), WMA (Windows (registered) Data compressed in a predetermined format reproducible by the personal computer 1 such as (trademark) Media Audio) may be generated as preview data based on the DSD data.

  In the above, the generation of PCM data based on the DSD data is performed for the preview before the DSD data is imported. For example, the personal computer 1 that does not have a DSD device is used. This may be performed in order for the user to listen to the music of the DSD data.

  In this case, for example, when a DSD device capable of reproducing DSD data is prepared in the personal computer 1, the DSD data is reproduced as it is by the DSD device, and no DSD device capable of reproducing DSD data is prepared. When only a PCM device capable of reproducing PCM data is prepared, PCM data obtained by converting DSD data is reproduced by the PCM device. Thus, the user can edit the DSD data and the like using the personal computer 1 for which no DSD device is prepared while listening to the reproduction sound of the PCM data.

  As described above, the PCM data generated based on the DSD data can be used for various purposes.

  The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware, but can also be executed by software.

  When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software may execute various functions by installing a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware or various programs. For example, it is installed from a network or a recording medium into a general-purpose personal computer or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the recording medium is distributed to provide a program to the user separately from the apparatus main body, and includes a magnetic disk (including a flexible disk) on which the program is recorded, an optical disk (CD- ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory), DVD (including Digital Versatile Disk)), magneto-optical disk (including MD (registered trademark) (Mini-Disk)), or removable media 22 made of semiconductor memory, etc. In addition, it is configured by a ROM 12 on which a program is recorded, a hard disk included in the HDD 18, and the like provided to the user in a state of being incorporated in the apparatus main body in advance.

  In the present specification, each step includes not only processing performed in time series according to the described order but also processing executed in parallel or individually, although not necessarily performed in time series.

  Further, in this specification, the system represents the entire apparatus constituted by a plurality of apparatuses.

It is a figure which shows the example of sampling of PCM data and DSD data. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the recording / reproducing system to which this invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the personal computer in FIG. 2. It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of a personal computer. It is a flowchart explaining the import process of a personal computer. 6 is a flowchart for explaining preview reproduction processing performed in step S3 of FIG. 5.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Personal computer, 2 PCM device, 3 USB cable, 4 Optical disk, 31 Audio data processing application, 41 Capture part, 42 LPF, 43 Evaluation part, 44 Noise shaper, 45 Playback control part

Claims (4)

In an information processing device that processes files containing DSD (Direct Stream Digital) data generated by other devices,
Evaluation means for evaluating the performance of the information processing apparatus itself;
Conversion means for converting the DSD data into reproducible encoding-format audio data having a data amount corresponding to the performance evaluated by the evaluation means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: reproduction means for reproducing the audio data obtained by the conversion means as preview data before the DSD data is stored in a built-in storage medium. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the audio data is data encoded by a PCM method. In an information processing method for processing a file containing DSD (Direct Stream Digital) data generated by another device,
An evaluation step for evaluating the performance of the information processing apparatus itself;
A conversion step of converting the DSD data into audio data of a reproducible encoding method with a data amount corresponding to the performance evaluated by the processing of the evaluation step
A reproduction step of reproducing the audio data obtained by the process of the conversion step as preview data before the DSD data is stored in a built-in storage medium. In a program that causes a computer to process a file containing DSD (Direct Stream Digital) data generated by another device,
An evaluation step for evaluating the performance of the information processing apparatus itself;
A conversion step of converting the DSD data into audio data of a reproducible encoding method with a data amount corresponding to the performance evaluated by the processing of the evaluation step
A reproduction step of reproducing the audio data obtained by the process of the conversion step as preview data before the DSD data is stored in a built-in storage medium.

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