JP2008077789A - Data reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data reproducing device which temporarily records a plurality of pieces of data whose recording level is unknown, does not give sense of incongruity and displeasure to a user by adjusting a difference in an output level between data to be continuously output when reproducing/outputting the plurality of pieces of data, is easily operated and has a simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: When the user uses a level adjusting part 5 to adjust an output level of the plurality of pieces of data that are continuously reproduced from a data reproducing means 3 within a preset time from data switching, a CPU 7 stores the amount of the adjustment in a memory 8 and controls the level adjusting part 5 so as to adjust an output level as much as the amount of the adjustment stored in the memory 8 to output the data when reproducing the data in the next and succeeding times. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

In the present invention, an audio signal is recorded linearly or after being subjected to compression processing as data on a recording medium such as a disc-shaped recording medium or a semiconductor memory, and the recorded data is reproduced and output from the recording medium. The present invention relates to a data reproducing apparatus.
In particular, when data related to a plurality of sounds is recorded on the same recording medium at an arbitrary recording level and consequently different recording levels, and the recorded plurality of data is reproduced and continuously output. In addition, even if there is a difference in the reproduction output level of each data, the present invention relates to an improvement to prevent a great sense of discomfort and discomfort from occurring in the connection of continuous data.

Today, compact discs (hereinafter referred to as “CD”), minidiscs (hereinafter referred to as “MD”), semiconductor memories, and the like are used as recording media for recording data relating to sound. In addition, methods and apparatuses for recording data are associated with these recording media.
On the other hand, in recent years, personal computers (hereinafter referred to as “PCs”) have become widespread. With the spread of PCs, users personally use MP3 (MPEG1 AUDIO LAYER3) data compression function to import audio data from CDs into the PC's hard disk, and store the audio data imported into those hard disks. Create a library and record the audio data captured on the hard disk of this PC on a portable audio playback device via a USB (Universal Serious Bus) or memory card. Playing, that is, listening to playback music, for example, is performed.

Here, the level of data reproduced by the portable audio reproducing apparatus corresponds to the recording level when data is recorded from the original CD or MD unless the level adjustment signal processing is performed. In addition, the reproduction / output level varies among the data.
In particular, in recent years, in order to effectively use the dynamic range of a CD, there is a tendency to perform CD mastering by increasing the recording level by soft clipping near the maximum level. There is a tendency for the output level to vary greatly.

On the other hand, in the data reproducing apparatus, the level of the data to be reproduced is uniquely determined by the volume provided in the output stage. Therefore, a plurality of data having different recording levels at the time of recording data can be reproduced and In the case of outputting, every time the data to be reproduced is switched, the recording level difference appears as a reproduction level difference.
In such a case, the user adjusts the volume every time the data being reproduced / output is switched in order to fill the level difference appearing at the time of reproduction so that the reproduced sound is at a constant level. . Therefore, since it is necessary to adjust the volume each time data is switched, there is a problem that the operation is complicated for the user.

In particular, for example, when the data spans a plurality of album titles and these data are played back continuously at random, it is necessary to frequently adjust the volume to fill the level difference, The problem was even more serious.
In the following, when a plurality of data recorded at different levels at the time of data recording are continuously reproduced and output, even if there is a level difference when recording the data, the connection between the data and the data is particularly important at the time of reproduction. The following documents are known as techniques for reproducing data while suppressing discomfort and discomfort to the listener who listens to the eyes.

JP 2003-162883 A

An audio data storage device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-162883 (hereinafter referred to as “prior invention”) detects a volume level of a signal input by a level detection unit, and detects the level when recording data. In the invention, the volume level is recorded together as additional information, and the reproduction level is controlled based on the additional information during data reproduction.
In the prior invention with such a configuration, in principle, the level at the time of reproduction corresponds to the level at the time of data input. Therefore, even if a plurality of data having different levels at the time of input are reproduced / output continuously. Since it corresponds to the level at the time of input of each data, a certain level of reproduced sound is obtained, and there is no sense of incongruity or discomfort with respect to the output sound even at the connection between data and data.

However, in order to realize the prior invention, it is necessary to detect the level of the input audio signal with high accuracy as a premise, and for detecting the audio signal with high accuracy, a complicated algorithm and a processing circuit for processing the algorithm are required. There is a problem that it is necessary and the entire apparatus becomes large.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. When a plurality of data is recorded on a recording medium at different levels, the plurality of data are continuously reproduced from the recording medium and output. There is no significant difference in output level between consecutive data, so there is no sense of incongruity or discomfort at the joint between data, and the device requires complex algorithms and processing circuits. It is an object of the present invention to provide a data reproducing apparatus having a simple configuration that does not occur.

  According to the present invention, when a plurality of pieces of data are continuously reproduced, a certain amount of data and the amount of level adjustment performed on the data continuous to the data are stored, and based on the amount stored at the next reproduction. A data reproducing apparatus configured to adjust the level.

The detailed configuration includes a data reproducing means for temporarily recording and reproducing a plurality of data whose recording levels are unknown, and a user operating the level of data reproduced and output by the data reproducing means to a desired value. Level adjusting means for adjusting to, and storage means for storing the amount of adjustment to the level adjusting means,
The amount of data adjusted by the level adjusting means within the preset time after the data reproducing means performs a reproducing function and the data to be reproduced is switched from continuous one data to second data. Is stored in the storage means in association with each other, and the level adjustment means is controlled based on the stored adjustment amount at the next reproduction.

  In the present invention, when a plurality of data whose recording levels are unknown are continuously reproduced, and the level adjustment is performed by operating so as to fill in the level difference between certain data and subsequent data, the amount of the adjustment In the next reproduction, the level control is automatically performed based on the stored adjustment amount, so that there is a level difference at the time of recording among the plurality of data from the data reproduction means. Moreover, even if these multiple data are reproduced continuously, there is no sense of incongruity between the data, so there is no need to adjust the volume each time the data changes from one data to the next data. This is a data reproducing apparatus that requires no means and is simple in configuration and easy to operate.

The present invention will be described in detail below based on the best mode shown in the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited by this form.
As shown in FIG. 1, the data reproduction apparatus 1 includes a data input unit 2, a data reproduction unit 3, a signal processing unit 4, a level adjustment unit 5, an operation unit 6, a CPU 7, a memory 8, and a display unit 9. Is provided.

The data input unit 2 is for capturing data relating to sound from an external device such as a PC in order to construct the data reproducing means 3 into data. The data input unit 2 has an external interface function in order to capture data from an external device.
The data reproducing means 3 temporarily records a plurality of data with unknown recording levels input from the data input unit 2, and reproduces and outputs the data based on the user's desire. The data reproducing means 3 is provided with a hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as “HDD”, not shown) for recording and reproducing a plurality of data.

The data is stored in the HDD in a file format, a directory is formed for each album, and is managed by a management file that manages these directories.
The signal processing unit 4 is reproduced and output from the data reproducing means 3 under the control of the CPU 7 and demodulates the data input via the CPU 7 to convert it into an audio signal.
The level adjustment unit 5 is provided with a volume (not shown), is connected to the subsequent stage of the signal processing unit 4, and adjusts the level of the audio signal from the signal processing unit 4 based on control from the CPU 7. .

The operation unit 6 includes switches, operation keys, and the like, and interface means for converting the signals into predetermined signals when the user operates those switches, operation keys, etc., and sending them to the CPU 7. This is transmitted to the CPU 7.
Based on a control signal from the operation unit 6, the CPU 7 controls capturing of data from the data input unit 2 from the outside, stopping of capturing, and the like.

Further, based on the control signal from the operation unit 6, the CPU 7 temporarily records data taken in from the outside by the data input unit 2 to the data reproduction unit 3 and reproduces / reproduces the temporarily recorded data from the data reproduction unit 3. It controls the output.
Further, the CPU 7 controls the function of the signal processing unit 4 and the level adjustment of the reproduction signal in the level adjustment unit 5 based on the control signal from the operation unit 6.

In addition, the CPU 7 controls the level adjusting unit 5 from the operation unit 6 via the CPU 7 within a predetermined time, for example, 30 seconds after the data is changed to other data by the data output from the data reproducing means 3. Is performed, the amount of level adjustment at that time is stored in the memory 8 in association with the data change.
Then, based on the amount of data change and level adjustment stored in the memory 8, the CPU 7 stores the plurality of continuous data reproduced / output by the data reproducing means 3 after the storage. The level adjusting unit 5 is controlled by the amount of the level.

The memory 8 stores information necessary for the CPU 7 to execute a program in response to a control signal from the control unit 6 in addition to the level adjustment amount in the level adjustment unit 5 corresponding to the data change described above. ing.
The display unit 9 displays the current state of each function of the apparatus, displays the operation content on the operation unit 6, displays information related to input data in the data input unit 2, that is, displays the input song name, and reproduces from the data reproduction means 3.・ Displays information related to the output data, that is, the name of the song being played.

The data reproducing apparatus 1 is configured as described above. Hereinafter, the function of the data reproducing apparatus 1 will be described based on the flowchart of the operation procedure shown in FIG.
The user operates the operation unit 6 to turn on the main power switch to start the apparatus, that is, start the apparatus function. Here, the user operates the control unit 6 to take in data related to voice (music) from the data input unit 2 and record it in the data reproduction means 3.

When recording of data in the data reproducing unit 3 is completed, the data reproducing unit 3 can reproduce and output the data.
Here, the user operates the operation unit 6 so that data is reproduced / output from the data reproducing means 3 (start of FIG. 2).
At this time, the CPU 7 determines whether or not the data reproducing means 3 is reproducing data (STEP 1 in the figure). If the data is not being reproduced, the process returns to STEP 1 in FIG. If playback is in progress, “YES” advances to STEP 2 in FIG.

When the data reproduction means 3 is reproducing data, the CPU 7 proceeds to STEP 2 in the figure, and determines whether or not the user has performed an operation from the operation unit 6 to the level adjustment unit 5 via the CPU 7. Done.
When the operation to the level adjusting unit 5 is not performed, “NO” returns to STEP 1 in FIG.
On the other hand, when the operation to the level adjusting unit 5 is performed, “YES” is determined, and the process proceeds to STEP 3 in FIG. When this operation is performed, the difference between the adjustment value of the level adjustment unit 5 before the operation to the level adjustment unit 5 and the value after the adjustment operation is the output level performed by the level adjustment unit 5. The difference is stored in the memory 8.

In STEP 3 of the figure, when the CPU 7 determines that the user has operated the level adjusting unit 5 in STEP 2 of the figure, the operation is within 30 seconds from the start of certain data, that is, the beginning of certain music. It is determined whether or not there is.
Here, this determination processing adjusts the difference in level between a certain data and the data following it, that is, there is a difference in output level between a certain song and the next song. When the user operates the level adjuster 5 for the purpose, the adjustment of the difference between the output levels is usually performed immediately after the switching of the music, so that the user does not operate the level adjuster 5 for other purposes. I don't think so.

In STEP 3 of the figure, if the operation to the level adjusting unit 5 is within 30 seconds from the beginning of the song, “YES” is indicated, that is, the CPU 7 switches the song and the user switches to the output level. Assuming that there is a difference and adjusting so as to fill the difference in the output level, the process proceeds to STEP 4 in FIG.
On the other hand, if more than 30 seconds have elapsed since the beginning of the song for the operation of the level adjuster 5, the user did not recognize the output level difference immediately after the song switching and did not adjust the output level difference. As a result, “NO” is returned to STEP 1 in FIG.

In STEP 4 of the figure, the display unit 9 reads “Set level? If you want to do this, press the ENTER key. ”Is displayed.
Subsequently, in STEP 5 in the figure, it is determined whether or not the user has operated the display contents of the display unit 9, that is, whether or not the user has pressed the ENTER key. If it is not pressed, “NO” is determined, the process proceeds to STEP 8 in the figure, and the passage of time is determined.

If the elapsed time is within 5 seconds in STEP 8 in the figure, the process returns to STEP 4 in the figure to form a loop “LOOP1”.
On the other hand, if the elapsed time exceeds 5 seconds in STEP 8 of FIG. 10, that is, if the user determines that the display content of the display unit 9 is not operated and the time exceeding 5 seconds elapses. Returning to STEP 1 in FIG. 4, another loop is formed.

On the other hand, when the user presses the ENTER key in response to the display question in STEP 4 in the figure, the CPU 7 determines that there is a key input from the user in STEP 5 in the figure. In STEP 5 of the figure, “YES” is set and the process proceeds to STEP 6 of the figure.
In STEP 6 in the figure, the CPU 7 determines the output level based on the amount adjusted by the level adjustment unit 5 stored in the memory 8 in STEP 2 in the figure (the difference level of the output level).

Here, the amount of adjustment of the output level will be described.
In the data reproducing apparatus 1, it is considered that the overall width whose level should be adjusted with respect to the practical maximum output level adjustment width falls within the range of -7 dB to 7 dB, and the range is divided into 7 stages every 2 dB. Yes.
For the seven stages, as shown in FIG. 3, the level adjustment amount is associated with each stage (determination value).

It should be noted that how to adjust the output level adjustment, the number of division stage settings, and the amount of output level adjustment for each stage are related to the user's preference, usability, data type, and sound to be reproduced / output. It is desirable to set appropriately according to the conditions of the place.
That is, for example, in the correspondence table of FIG. 3, the range (overall width) of −7 dB to 7 dB is divided into 7 levels every 2 dB, but may be divided into 13 levels every 1 dB.

3, for example, when the output level is adjusted in STEP 2 in FIG. 3 and the difference in the output level stored in the memory 8 by the CPU 7 is −1.6 dB, −1. The value of 6 dB corresponds to the range of “−1. 1 dB to −3.0 dB” in the amount of adjustment of the output level in FIG. 3, and the determination value is “5”.
Here, when the level adjustment amount is determined, the process proceeds to STEP 7 in FIG.

In STEP 7 in the figure, the output level is set. The setting of the output level performed here means that when the value obtained in the determination performed in STEP 6 in the figure receives a control signal from the CPU 7, all the audio data constructed in the HDD of the data reproducing means 3 is converted. It is stored in the management file to be managed for each song or each album constructed as a directory.
On the other hand, if it is determined as “NO” in STEP 5 in the figure, that is, if the user does not press the ENTER key for setting the level, the process proceeds to STEP 8 in the figure to determine the elapse of 5 seconds. .

In STEP 8 in the figure, if the time of 5 seconds has not elapsed, return to STEP 4 in the figure and select “Do you want to set the level? The user makes a decision in response to the inquiry “Please press the ENTER key to do this”. Depending on the user's judgment, there is a possibility of proceeding to STEP 6 and Level 7 in FIG.
On the other hand, when a time exceeding 5 seconds elapses in STEP 8 in the figure, the process returns to STEP 1 in the figure. That is, the user does not determine and set the output level, and is output as it is without adjusting the level between two consecutive data (music pieces).

In the following, it will be described how the reproduction output level is adjusted after the output level is set in accordance with the determination value set in the above-described management file of the data reproduction apparatus 1.
When the user operates the operation unit 6 to perform a reproduction operation for adjusting the output level to the data reproduction apparatus 1, the CPU 7 reads out the management file stored in the HDD of the data reproduction means 3 and reproduces the reproduction object. The level judgment value related to the data (audio file) is read out.
Specifically, for example, when the determination value of the output level added to the data to be reproduced is “5”, the output level to be controlled corresponding to the determination value shown in FIG. Is “−2 dB”, a value to be controlled corresponding to the value is set in the level adjuster 5.

At this time, the level adjusting unit 5 is controlled based on a control signal from the CPU 7 so as to be a value obtained by adding the control amount of the volume to the current adjustment value, that is, an adjustment value.
Here, for this data, the CPU 7 sends a control signal to start the reproduction of the data reproducing means 3. The data reproducing means 3 reproduces and outputs the data to be reproduced, and sends the signal to the signal processing unit 4 via the CPU 7.

When the signal processing unit 4 receives the data via the CPU 7, it performs predetermined signal processing and then sends it to the level adjustment unit 5.
The level adjustment unit 5 outputs the signal from the signal processing unit 4 while controlling the output level by the amount of “−2 dB” described above with respect to the level up to that point.
As a result, the user can obtain the output of the song (data) whose output level is adjusted by -2 dB with respect to the previous song (data) without any operation. Yes.

When the currently reproduced / output music is finished, the CPU 7 functions to the level adjuster 5 to adjust the volume of the level adjuster 5 with respect to the finished song level as described above. Control is performed so that the value to be controlled is added.
The output level of the new music (data) reproduced by the data reproducing means 3 is adjusted and output by the amount of adjustment of the output level obtained by this new control.
In the same way as for the third and subsequent levels, a signal whose level is adjusted by the level adjusting unit 5 is output.

In the data reproducing apparatus 1, even when the level is adjusted at the beginning, when the user feels that the sensitivity level at that time or the user itself changes, it is necessary to change the output level of the current reproduction / output song. When the output level is changed from the operation unit 6 with respect to the output level at that time, the new output level is adjusted in the same process as described above in the subsequent reproduction / output.
In other words, the data reproducing apparatus 1 can arbitrarily adjust the output level as necessary or desired, and automatically reproduces the sound having the adjusted output level when reproducing the data after adjusting the output level. It is possible.

As described above, the data reproducing apparatus 1 is configured such that the user adjusts the output level of a plurality of continuous sounds that are reproduced and output, and thus the structure of the apparatus is complicated and large. Rather, since the output level is determined to a desired value with a single adjustment, handling is simple and not complicated.
The data reproducing apparatus 1 has a determination criterion of STEP 8 in FIG. 2 set to 5 seconds. However, the data reproducing apparatus 1 may be configured to be set at a desired time by an operation from the operation unit 6.

It is a block diagram explaining the structure of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the order at the time of functioning embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between determination values corresponding to an operation amount for adjusting an output level in the function of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relationship between volume control amounts to be adjusted for output levels corresponding to determination values in the function of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

1: Data reproducing device 3: Data reproducing means 5: Level adjusting unit 7: CPU
8: Memory

Claims (2)

Data reproducing means for temporarily recording and reproducing a plurality of data whose recording levels are unknown, and level adjusting means for the user to adjust the level of data reproduced and output by the data reproducing means to a desired value And storage means for storing the amount of adjustment to the level adjustment means,
The amount of data adjusted by the level adjusting means within the preset time after the data reproducing means performs a reproducing function and the data to be reproduced is switched from continuous one data to second data. A data reproducing apparatus configured to store the level adjusting means on the basis of the amount of adjustment stored at the time of next reproduction.
2. A data reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data reproducing means comprises a hard disk drive.

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