JP2010192995A - Acoustic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate setting up the quality of sound according to the preference of the user. <P>SOLUTION: The acoustic apparatus includes an equalizer processing means, a reproducing means, and a control means. The equalizer processing means changes the quality of sound for a sound signal to be reproduced and generates a plurality of sound signals of different qualities of sound as selection candidates (step S2). The reproducing means performs switching of the selection candidates generated by the equalizer processing means, and reproduces them sequentially (step S3). The control means calculates statistics for a setting value of quality of sound for a selection candidate selected by the user from a plurality of selection candidates reproduced by the reproducing means (steps S5 and S6), and sets up a value obtained by the statistics as a setting value of the quality of sound for the sound signal to be reproduced (step S10). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an acoustic device.

  An acoustic device equipped with an equalizer function can adjust sound quality such as frequency characteristics and delay time of a reproduced sound signal. For example, for each genre such as “POPS”, “ROCK”, and “JAZZ”, preset values obtained by combining setting values for sound quality items such as frequency characteristics are determined in advance, and presets of the genre selected by the user are set. A technique for changing sound quality using a value is disclosed (for example, Patent Document 1). When more detailed settings are desired, the user can manually set the sound quality items to arbitrary setting values.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-284185

  When the sound quality is adjusted by the preset value, the set value of the sound quality is fixed on the manufacturer side, so that the range in which the user can change the sound quality is limited, and the user's preference cannot be met.

  On the other hand, according to the manual setting, since the user can freely determine the set value, the sound quality close to the user's preference can be obtained. The more sound quality items that can be manually set, the wider the user preference. However, adjustment of sound quality also requires specialized knowledge. If there are many items of sound quality, setting is difficult and inconvenient for inexperienced users. Also, every time you adjust the setting value for one item, the sound quality of the sound you are listening to changes, so when you finish adjusting all the items, you will not know whether the sound quality was originally intended. In some cases, it is not easy to adjust to a desired sound quality.

  An object of the present invention is to enable easy setting of sound quality according to user's preference.

According to the invention of claim 1,
An equalizer processing means for changing a sound quality of a sound signal to be reproduced and generating a plurality of sound signals having different sound qualities as selection candidates;
Playback means for sequentially switching and playing the selection candidates generated by the equalizer processing means;
The setting value of the sound quality of the selection candidate selected by the user from among the plurality of selection candidates reproduced by the reproducing means is statistically calculated, and the setting value obtained by the statistics is set as the sound quality setting value of the sound signal to be reproduced. Control means to set as
Is provided.

According to invention of Claim 2,
A plurality of selection candidates having different sound qualities are generated by the equalizer processing means, the reproduction means reproduces the selection candidates, and the control means cumulatively adds the sound quality setting values of the selected selection candidates among them, and stores them in the storage means. Repeat the process to memorize several times,
2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit sets a cumulative value of the sound quality of each selection candidate stored in the storage unit by the processing repeated a plurality of times as a sound quality setting value of the sound signal to be reproduced. Audio equipment is provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily set the sound quality according to the user's preference.

It is a figure which shows the functional structure of the audio equipment in this Embodiment. It is an example of the database used for sound quality adjustment. It is a flowchart which shows the process performed by an audio equipment at the time of adjustment of sound quality. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting value of the sound quality of two selection candidates. It is a figure which shows the example of a database by which the setting value of the sound quality of the selected selection candidate was cumulatively added. It is a figure explaining selection of a selection candidate and a set value obtained by the selection.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a main functional configuration of an audio device 1 according to the present embodiment.
The acoustic device 1 has an equalizer function capable of changing the sound quality when reproducing the sound signal. Examples of the audio device 1 include an audio system that reproduces sound stored in a medium such as a CD (Compact Disk), a car stereo system mounted on a vehicle, a portable music player, and the like. It is not limited to these as long as it is an acoustic device having a function.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the acoustic device 1 includes a microcomputer 10, an operation unit 20, a display unit 30, a CD mechanical unit 40, a tuner unit 50, an external I / F 60, an equalizer processing unit 70, and a playback unit 80. ing.

The microcomputer 10 includes a control unit 11 and a storage unit 12.
The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The control unit 11 executes various processes in cooperation with a program stored in the storage unit 12 and performs various calculations. Control.

  For example, when adjusting the sound quality, the control unit 11 statistics the setting value of the sound quality of the selection candidate selected by the user among the selection candidates that are generated from one sound source and are a plurality of sound signals having different sound qualities. The control unit 11 sets the set value obtained from the statistics as the set value of the sound quality of the sound signal to be reproduced.

  In addition to various programs, the storage unit 12 stores files, databases, and the like necessary for program execution. As the storage unit 12, a hard disk, a flash memory, or the like can be used. The storage unit 12 may store a digital sound source to be reproduced.

  The storage unit 12 stores a database used when adjusting the sound quality. The database T shown in FIG. 2 is an example. As shown in FIG. 2, the database T stores a cumulative value for each adjustable sound quality item. Item numbers 1 to n are assigned to the sound quality items. Examples of the sound quality include items such as a fader, a balance, and a delay time in addition to items related to frequency characteristics such as a frequency band 1 in a low frequency range and a frequency band 2 in a low frequency range. The cumulative value is a value obtained by cumulatively adding the set values of the sound quality selected by the user when adjusting the sound quality.

  The operation unit 20 includes a remote controller in addition to various operation keys such as a reproduction key, a stop key, and a selection key. The operation unit 20 generates operation signals according to these operations and outputs them to the control unit 11.

  The display unit 30 displays an operation screen or the like on the display according to display control of the control unit 11.

The CD mechanical unit 40 reads a digital sound source stored in the CD as a sound signal, and outputs the read analog sound signal to the equalizer processing unit 70.
The tuner unit 50 receives a broadcast signal, converts it into an analog sound signal, and outputs the converted sound signal to the equalizer processing unit 70.
The external I / F 60 inputs an analog sound signal from an external device via a USB cable or the like, and outputs the input sound signal to the equalizer processing unit 70.

The equalizer processing unit 70 adjusts the volume and sound quality of the input analog sound signal according to the control of the control unit 11. For example, the equalizer processing unit 70 performs signal processing on a sound signal input as a reproduction target, and changes the sound quality to the set value set by the control unit 11. The sound signal whose sound quality has been changed is output to the playback unit 80.
The reproduction unit 80 amplifies the sound signal input from the equalizer processing unit 70 and outputs the amplified sound signal to the speaker group 81. The speaker group 81 outputs an analog sound signal as a sound wave.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the acoustic device 1 when adjusting the sound quality. This process is started when the sound quality adjustment mode is selected from the menu by the user.
As shown in FIG. 3, first, the control unit 11 initializes the database T and resets the accumulated value stored in the database T to 0. Further, the control unit 11 initializes the item number n of the item to be adjusted for sound quality and sets n = 1 (step S1). Next, the equalizer processing unit 70 changes the sound quality of the item number n of the sound signal to be reproduced and generates two sound signals having different sound quality (step S2). These two sound signals are set as selection candidates A and B. The sound signal to be reproduced may be a sound signal acquired from the CD mechanical unit 40, the tuner unit 50, or the external I / F, or may be a sound signal stored in the storage unit 12.

  The control unit 11 sets the sound quality setting values of the two selection candidates A and B. For example, the item number n = 1 is an item of the frequency band 1 in the low frequency range as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 11 sets the setting value of the frequency band 1 of the selection candidate A to 5, and sets the setting value of the frequency band 1 of the selection candidate B to 10 by providing a difference from the setting value 5 by a predetermined value 5. The set values of items other than the frequency band 1 are set to 0. The equalizer processing unit 70 does not change the sound quality of items whose setting values are 0 in the selection candidates A and B. The sound quality is changed for items whose set value exceeds 0. For example, the selection candidate A having a setting value 5 in the frequency band 1 is a sound signal in which the low frequency region is emphasized by +5 level from the sound signal of the original sound source. No change has been made to the sound quality of other items whose setting value is 0.

  The generated selection candidates A and B are each output to the reproduction unit 80. The reproduction unit 80 reproduces the selection candidates A and B by alternately switching them every predetermined time, for example, every 5 seconds, according to the reproduction control of the control unit 11 (step S3). The user listens to the sound to be played back, and can select a selection candidate of a desired sound quality among the selection candidates A and B by the operation unit 20. For example, the determination key may be operated when a selection candidate of a desired sound quality is being reproduced.

  When the selection candidate A is selected (step S4; Y), the control unit 11 adds the sound quality setting value of the selection candidate A to the accumulated value of the database T and performs statistics (step S5). The selection candidate A is a sound signal in which only the sound quality of the item number n is changed as described above, and the setting values of the items other than the item number n are all zero. As a result, the set value of the sound quality of the item number n of the selected selection candidate A is cumulatively added to the cumulative value of the item number n in the database T, and the cumulative value is changed for items other than the item number n. There will be no. Immediately after the initialization of the database T, the total value of each item of the database T is all zero. Therefore, when the selection candidate A shown in FIG. 4 is selected immediately after the initialization of the database T, the set value 5 of the frequency band 1 of the selection candidate A is cumulatively added to the cumulative value 0 of the frequency band 1 of the database T. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the cumulative value of the frequency band 1 of the database T is updated to 0 + 5 = 5.

  When selection candidate B is selected instead of selection candidate A (step S4; N), similarly, control unit 11 cumulatively adds the sound quality setting value of selection candidate B to the accumulated value of database T and performs statistics ( Step S6). In the case of the selection candidate B shown in FIG. 4, the setting value of the frequency band 1 of the selection candidate B is 10 and the setting values of the other items are 0, so the database T updates only the cumulative value of the frequency band 1 to 0 + 10 = 10 Is done.

  Next, the control unit 11 stops the reproduction by the reproduction unit 80 (step S7), and determines whether or not the processing of steps S2 to S6 has been completed for all items of item numbers 1 to n (step S8). When the process has not been completed for all items (step S8; N), the control unit 11 increments the item number n by +1 (step S9). Thereafter, the processing returns to step S2, and the processing of steps S2 to S7 is repeated for the sound quality of the item number n incremented by +1. By repeating the processes of steps S2 to S7, as shown in FIG. 6, for each item of item numbers 1 to n, the equalizer processing unit 70 generates two selection candidates An and Bn whose sound quality has been changed, and the playback unit 80 is reproduced, and the control unit 11 repeats the process of cumulatively adding the sound quality setting value of the selection candidate selected by the user to the database T and performing statistics.

  When the processing of steps S2 to S6 is completed for all items of item numbers 1 to n (step S8; Y), the control unit 11 reads the cumulative value corresponding to each item of sound quality from the database T, and uses the cumulative value as the sound quality. Is set as a set value (step S10). The cumulative value is a setting value obtained by statistically calculating the sound quality setting value of the selected selection candidate. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, by repeatedly selecting the selection candidates An and Bn, the sound quality setting value preferred by the user is statistically determined and determined as the final sound quality setting value.

  Using the set value set by the control unit 11, the equalizer processing unit 70 changes the sound quality of the sound signal to be reproduced. The sound signal whose sound quality has been changed is output to the reproduction unit 80, and the reproduction unit 80 reproduces the sound signal (step S11).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the equalizer processing unit 70 changes the sound quality of the sound signal to be reproduced, and generates two sound signals having different sound quality as selection candidates. The reproduction unit 80 switches the generated selection candidates and sequentially reproduces them, and the control unit 11 cumulatively adds the sound quality setting value of the selection candidate selected by the user among the two reproduced reproduction candidates to the database T and performs statistical analysis. To do. This process is repeated a plurality of times for each sound quality item, and as a result, the control unit 11 sets the sound quality setting value of each selection candidate stored in the database T as the sound quality setting value of the sound signal to be reproduced.

  By statistically analyzing the user's selection results in this way, it is possible to analyze the user's favorite sound quality and obtain a sound quality setting value that matches the taste. The user can set the desired sound quality by simply performing a simple operation of listening to and selecting a selection candidate without having expertise in sound quality adjustment, and can enjoy the reproduction of the sound with the sound quality adjusted. Since the operation at the time of sound quality adjustment is simple, it is possible to adjust the sound quality during other work, which is particularly effective when the audio device 1 integrated with the car navigation device is mounted on the vehicle. is there.

  Since the selection candidate is one of two choices, it is easy to distinguish the difference in sound quality and the selection operation is also easy.

In addition, the said embodiment is a suitable example of this invention, and is not limited to this.
For example, in the above embodiment, selection of sound quality is performed once for each item, and statistics are performed. However, statistics may be performed by performing each item multiple times. The sound quality setting value of the selected selection candidate is cumulatively added to the database T for statistics, and the cumulative value is set as the sound quality setting value of the sound to be reproduced.

For example, for the item of frequency band 1 of item number 1, selection candidate A ₍₁₎ (setting value of frequency band 1 is 5) and selection candidate B ₍₁₎ (setting value of frequency band 1 is 10) After selection, the _second selection of selection candidate A ₍₂₎ (frequency band 1 setting value is 10) and selection candidate B ₍₂₎ (frequency band 1 setting value is 15) is repeated. When selection candidate B ₍₁₎ is selected by the first selection and selection candidate A ₍₂₎ is selected by the _second selection, the cumulative value of the frequency band 1 item in the database T is set to selection candidate B (1). The value “10” and the set value “10” of the selection candidate A ₍₂₎ are “20” obtained by cumulative addition. Therefore, the sound quality of the frequency band 1 out of the sound quality of the sound to be reproduced is set to the set value “20”.

  In this way, by repeating the selection multiple times for each item and statistically analyzing the setting value of that item, it is possible to analyze the tendency of the user's favorite sound quality in detail, and to set the sound quality setting value according to the user's preference You can get closer.

  In the above-described embodiment, the selection candidates are selected from two options so that the user can easily select. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and two or more selection candidates are provided, and one or more selections are selected from the selection candidates. It is good also as a structure which can select a candidate. For example, a configuration in which one of three selection candidates whose setting values have been changed in three stages can be selected, or two of five selection candidates that have been changed in five stages, can be selected. Good. The control unit 11 cumulatively adds the sound quality setting value of the selected selection candidate to the database T.

  In addition, the sound quality setting value and the digital sound source of the sound signal to be played can be stored in a server on the network, and the sound quality setting value and the digital sound source can be acquired from the server. Good. Thereby, each user's preference can be grasped.

Further, the selection candidates A and B are alternately switched and reproduced at predetermined time intervals. This reproduction time may be a time set in advance in the audio device 1 or a time set by the user. Also good.
Further, the selection candidates A and B may be reproduced through one song from the beginning, or several phrases of the selection candidates A and B may be reproduced repeatedly.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Audio equipment 10 Microcomputer 11 Control part 12 Storage part 20 Operation part 30 Display part 70 Equalizer process part 80 Playback part

Claims (2)

An equalizer processing means for changing a sound quality of a sound signal to be reproduced and generating a plurality of sound signals having different sound qualities as selection candidates;
Playback means for sequentially switching and playing the selection candidates generated by the equalizer processing means;
The setting value of the sound quality of the selection candidate selected by the user from among the plurality of selection candidates reproduced by the reproducing means is statistically calculated, and the setting value obtained by the statistics is set as the sound quality setting value of the sound signal to be reproduced. Control means to set as
An audio device comprising: A plurality of selection candidates having different sound qualities are generated by the equalizer processing means, the reproduction means reproduces the selection candidates, and the control means cumulatively adds the sound quality setting values of the selected selection candidates among them, and stores them in the storage means. Repeat the process to memorize several times,
2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit sets a cumulative value of the sound quality of each selection candidate stored in the storage unit by the processing repeated a plurality of times as a sound quality setting value of the sound signal to be reproduced. Acoustic equipment.

Images