JP4560429B2 - SOUND QUALITY ADJUSTING DEVICE AND SOUND QUALITY ADJUSTING METHOD - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sound quality adjustment device that adjusts the sound quality of an output audio signal, such as a tone controller or graphic equalizer mounted on an audio device, and a sound quality adjustment method that is performed by the sound quality adjustment device.

  A sound quality adjusting device such as a tone controller or a graphic equalizer is a device that increases and decreases a sound pressure level in a predetermined frequency band of an input audio signal based on the sound quality adjustment content input by an operator. A typical conventional sound quality adjustment apparatus is configured such that when an operator operates a sound quality adjustment knob and inputs a sound pressure level enhancement amount or attenuation amount as a sound quality adjustment instruction content, for example, a predetermined frequency band of the input audio signal is obtained. The sound pressure level is increased or decreased by the amount of sound pressure level obtained based on the input enhancement amount or attenuation amount. The amount of sound pressure level to be changed is determined by the product of the input enhancement amount and a predetermined increase rate or the product of the input attenuation amount and a predetermined decrease rate. The increase rate and the decrease rate are set to the same value.

  There is also a sound quality adjustment device that outputs a sound pressure level of a plurality of frequency bands of an input audio signal by increasing or decreasing each. When the operator inputs a frequency band that the operator wants to change as a sound quality adjustment instruction and an amount of sound pressure level enhancement or attenuation, the sound pressure level of the specified frequency band in the input audio signal Is increased or decreased by the amount of sound pressure level determined based on the input enhancement amount or attenuation amount. As described above, the sound pressure level to be changed is obtained by the product of the input enhancement amount and the predetermined increase rate or the product of the input attenuation amount and the predetermined decrease rate. The increase rate and the decrease rate are set to the same value in all frequency bands.

In order to more effectively adjust the sound quality, a technique for adjusting the sound quality in consideration of human psychoacoustic sense has been proposed. For example, in Patent Document 1, a signal having a harmonic train is generated for each fundamental frequency in the low frequency range, and the loudness matching attribute between the residual harmonic signal and the low frequency signal is substantially achieved. Discloses a bass enhancement method that applies loudness matching to residual harmonic signals to efficiently give a pseudo low-frequency psychoacoustic sensation to the listener.
Special Table 2000-505277

  According to psychoacoustics, when a sound signal whose sound quality has been adjusted by a sound quality adjusting device is played (acousticized), the sound pressure that increases or decreases when the sound pressure level in a certain frequency band is increased or decreased in the human audible frequency band. Even if the level is the same, the decrease in sound pressure level felt by humans when the sound pressure level is lowered is smaller than the increase in sound pressure level felt by humans when the sound pressure level is increased. It is known. In a typical conventional sound quality adjusting device, the increase rate and the decrease rate when changing the sound pressure level in a certain frequency band are set to the same value. Even if it is the same, in the psychoacoustic sense of the operator, the lowering level of the sound pressure level is felt smaller than the rising level of the sound pressure level.

According to psychoacoustics, it is known that human hearing is most sensitive to changes in sound pressure level, for example, in a frequency band centered on 1 kilohertz (referred to as 1 kilohertz band). On the other hand, a frequency band lower than 1 kHz (for example, 250 Hz or 5
In the frequency band centered on 00 Hz) and higher than 1 kilohertz band (for example, frequency band centered on 2 kilohertz or 4 kilohertz), the human hearing is at a sound pressure level compared to the 1 kilohertz band. It becomes insensitive to changes in the frequency (reference: Robinson-Daddson curve). In a typical conventional sound quality adjusting device, the rate of change (increase rate and decrease rate) when changing the sound pressure level is set to the same value in all frequency bands. For example, the enhancement amount input by the operator Even if the sound pressure level is the same, the operator feels that the sound pressure level in the band other than the 1 kilohertz band is lower than the sound pressure level in the 1 kilohertz band.

  As described above, in the conventional sound quality adjusting device, there is a difference between the sound quality adjustment instruction (enhancement amount or attenuation amount and frequency band) input by the operator and the sound quality change (psychoacoustic sensation) actually felt by the operator. There is a problem that will occur.

  In Patent Document 1 described above, sound quality adjustment is performed in consideration of psychoacoustic sensation. However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 is a technique for improving psychoacoustic sensation with respect to low frequencies. Yes, it is not a technique for improving the psychoacoustic sense of changes in sound pressure levels.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a sound quality adjusting apparatus and a sound quality adjusting method capable of performing sound quality adjustment in which the contents of sound quality adjustment instructions input by an operator and psychoacoustic senses are matched.

The invention according to claim 1 is a sound quality adjusting device that enhances or attenuates a predetermined frequency band of an input audio signal,
Input means for inputting an instruction to increase or attenuate the predetermined frequency band;
A sound quality adjusting apparatus characterized in that, based on an instruction input from the input means, the predetermined frequency band is enhanced or attenuated, and a decrease rate at the time of attenuation is set to a value larger than an increase rate at the time of enhancement. It is.

The invention according to claim 9 is a sound quality adjustment method for enhancing or attenuating a predetermined frequency band of an input audio signal,
A sound quality characterized by increasing or attenuating the predetermined frequency band based on an instruction to increase or attenuate the predetermined frequency band, and setting a decreasing rate at the time of attenuation to a value larger than an increasing rate at the time of enhancement. It is an adjustment method.

  According to the present invention, when the operator inputs an enhancement or attenuation instruction from the input means, a predetermined frequency band of the input audio signal is enhanced or attenuated based on the instruction content and output. In the present invention, since the decrease rate when the audio signal is attenuated is set to a value larger than the increase rate at the time of enhancement, the sound pressure energy increases even when the enhancement amount and the attenuation amount input by the operator are the same. The amount of reduced energy is greater than the amount of energy. As described above, even if the enhancement amount and the attenuation amount input by the operator are the same, the decrease energy amount when the audio signal is attenuated is larger than the increase energy amount when the sound signal is increased. In the psychoacoustic sense, the sound pressure level rises and falls in the same degree.

  The invention according to claim 2 and claim 10 is provided with a plurality of predetermined frequency bands, wherein each of the frequency bands is enhanced or attenuated, and the decrease rate and the increase rate can be set for each frequency band. It is a feature.

According to the present invention, when the operator inputs the type of frequency band to be amplified and an instruction to increase or attenuate from the input means, the specified frequency band in the input audio signal is increased or attenuated and output. Only one type of frequency band type may be input, two or more types may be input, or all types may be input. In the present invention, a decrease rate and an increase rate can be set for each frequency band.

  For example, if the increase rate in the low frequency band and the increase rate in the high frequency band are set to a value larger than the increase rate in the standard frequency band, even if the enhancement amount of each frequency band input by the operator is the same, the sound Regarding the pressure energy, the increased energy amount in the low frequency band and the increased energy amount in the high frequency band are larger than the increased energy amount in the standard frequency band. In this way, even if the amount of enhancement of each frequency band input by the operator is the same, the amount of increased energy when enhancing the low frequency band and the high frequency band is the amount of increased energy when enhancing the standard frequency band. Therefore, in the psychoacoustic sense of the operator, the degree of increase in the sound pressure level in the three frequency bands of the low frequency band, the standard frequency band, and the high frequency band can be felt to the same extent. .

  Also, if the reduction rate in the low frequency band and the reduction rate in the high frequency band are set to a value larger than the reduction rate in the standard frequency band, even if the attenuation amount of each frequency band input by the operator is the same, the sound Regarding the pressure energy, the amount of energy reduced in the low frequency band and the amount of energy reduced in the high frequency band are larger than the amount of energy reduced in the standard frequency band. As described above, even if the attenuation amount of each frequency band input by the operator is the same, the amount of energy reduced when the low frequency band and the high frequency band are attenuated is the amount of energy reduced when the standard frequency band is attenuated. Therefore, in the psychoacoustic sense of the operator, the degree of decrease in the sound pressure level in the three frequency bands of the low frequency band, the standard frequency band, and the high frequency band can be felt to the same extent. .

The invention according to claims 3 and 11 is characterized in that the increase rate and the decrease rate are set so that the frequency becomes larger as the frequency becomes lower.
According to the present invention, since each increase rate in the plurality of frequency bands is set to a larger value as the frequency becomes lower, even if the enhancement amount input by the operator is the same, the frequency for sound pressure energy is the same. The amount of increased energy is greater in the lower band. In this way, even if the amount of enhancement input by the operator is the same, the amount of increased energy when enhancing the frequency band is larger in the lower frequency band, so the psychoacoustic sense of the operator In this case, the increase in sound pressure level in a plurality of frequency bands can be felt to the same extent. In addition, since the decrease rate in each of the plurality of frequency bands is also set to a larger value as the frequency becomes lower, even if the attenuation amount input by the operator is the same, the sound pressure energy has a lower frequency. However, the amount of reduced energy is larger. Thus, even if the attenuation amount input by the operator is the same, the amount of energy to be reduced when the frequency band is attenuated is larger in the low frequency band. In this case, the sound pressure level drops in a plurality of frequency bands are felt to the same extent.

The invention according to claim 4 and claim 12 is characterized in that the increase rate and the decrease rate are set so that the frequency becomes larger as the frequency becomes higher.
According to the present invention, when there are a plurality of frequency bands, each increase rate in the plurality of frequency bands is set to a larger value as the frequency becomes higher, so even if the amount of enhancement input by the operator is the same As for the sound pressure energy, the amount of increased energy is larger in the higher frequency band. In this way, even if the amount of enhancement input by the operator is the same, the amount of increased energy when the frequency band is enhanced is larger in the higher frequency band. In this case, the increase in sound pressure level in a plurality of frequency bands can be felt to the same extent. In addition, since the reduction rate in each of the plurality of frequency bands is set to a larger value as the frequency becomes higher, even if the attenuation input by the operator is the same, the sound pressure energy has a higher frequency. However, the amount of reduced energy is larger. In this way, even if the attenuation amount input by the operator is the same, the amount of energy to be reduced when the frequency band is attenuated is larger in the high frequency band. In this case, the sound pressure level drops in a plurality of frequency bands are felt to the same extent.

The invention according to claim 5 is a sound quality adjusting device for enhancing or attenuating a predetermined frequency band of an input audio signal,
Input means for inputting an instruction to increase or attenuate the predetermined frequency band;
The sound quality adjusting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined frequency band is enhanced or attenuated based on an instruction input from the input means, and the attenuation Q value is set to a value smaller than the enhancement Q value. .

The invention according to claim 13 is a sound quality adjustment method for enhancing or attenuating a predetermined frequency band of an input audio signal,
A sound quality adjusting method characterized by increasing or attenuating the predetermined frequency band based on an enhancement or attenuation instruction for the predetermined frequency band, and setting an attenuation Q value to a value smaller than the Q value for enhancement. It is.

  According to the present invention, when the operator inputs an enhancement or attenuation instruction from the input means, a predetermined frequency band of the input audio signal is enhanced or attenuated based on the instruction content and output. In the present invention, since the attenuation Q value is set to a value smaller than the enhancement Q value, even when the enhancement amount and attenuation amount input by the operator are the same, the sound pressure energy is decreased from the increased energy amount. The amount of energy is greater. In this way, even if the amount of enhancement and the amount of attenuation input by the operator are the same, the amount of decrease in sound pressure energy when the sound signal is attenuated is greater than the amount of increase when the operator is augmented. In the psychoacoustic sense, the sound pressure level rises and falls to the same extent.

  In the inventions according to claims 6 and 14, a plurality of predetermined frequency bands are provided, each of the frequency bands is enhanced or attenuated, and the attenuation Q value and the enhancement Q value can be set for each frequency band. It is characterized by being.

  According to the present invention, when the operator inputs the type of frequency band to be amplified and an instruction to increase or attenuate from the input means, the specified frequency band in the input audio signal is increased or attenuated and output. Only one type of frequency band type may be input, two or more types may be input, or all types may be input. In the present invention, the attenuation Q value and the enhancement Q value can be set for each frequency band.

  For example, if the enhancement Q value in the low frequency band and the enhancement Q value in the high frequency band are set to values smaller than the enhancement Q value in the standard frequency band, the enhancement amount of each frequency band input by the operator Even in the same case, the sound pressure energy is larger in the increased energy amount in the low frequency band and the increased energy amount in the high frequency band than in the standard frequency band. Thus, even if the amount of enhancement of each frequency band input by the operator is the same, the amount of increased energy when enhancing the low frequency band and the high frequency band is greater than the amount of increasing energy when enhancing the standard frequency band. Therefore, in the psychoacoustic sense of the operator, the degree of increase in the sound pressure level in the three frequency bands of the low frequency band, the standard frequency band, and the high frequency band can be felt to the same extent.

Further, if the attenuation Q value in the low frequency band and the attenuation Q value in the high frequency band are set to values smaller than the attenuation Q value in the standard frequency band, the attenuation amount of each frequency band input by the operator Even in the same case, the sound pressure energy is larger in the reduced energy amount in the low frequency band and the reduced energy amount in the high frequency band than in the standard frequency band. Thus, even if the attenuation amount of each frequency band input by the operator is the same, the amount of energy reduced when the low frequency band and the high frequency band are attenuated is smaller than the amount of energy reduced when the standard frequency band is attenuated. Therefore, in the psychoacoustic sense of the operator, the degree of decrease in the sound pressure level in the three frequency bands of the low frequency band, the standard frequency band, and the high frequency band can be felt to the same extent.

The inventions according to claims 7 and 15 are characterized in that the enhancement Q value and the attenuation Q value are set so as to become smaller as the frequency becomes lower.
According to the present invention, when there are a plurality of frequency bands, the Q value for enhancement in each of the plurality of frequency bands is set to a smaller value as the frequency becomes lower, so that the amount of enhancement input by the operator is the same. Even in the case of the sound pressure energy, the amount of increased energy is greater in the lower frequency band. In this way, even if the amount of enhancement input by the operator is the same, the amount of increased energy when enhancing the frequency band is greater in the lower frequency band, so the psychoacoustic sense of the operator In this case, the increase in sound pressure level in a plurality of frequency bands can be felt to the same extent. In addition, since the attenuation Q values in a plurality of frequency bands are also set to a larger value as the frequency becomes lower, the frequency of sound pressure energy is low even when the attenuation amount input by the operator is the same. The amount of reduced energy is greater in the band. In this way, even if the attenuation amount input by the operator is the same, the amount of energy to be reduced when the frequency band is attenuated is larger in the lower frequency band, so that the psychoacoustic sense of the operator is greater. In this case, the sound pressure level drops in a plurality of frequency bands are felt to the same extent.

The inventions according to claims 8 and 16 are characterized in that the enhancement Q value and the attenuation Q value are set so as to become smaller as the frequency becomes higher.
According to the present invention, when there are a plurality of frequency bands, the Q value for enhancement in the plurality of frequency bands is set to a smaller value as the frequency becomes higher, so that the amount of enhancement input by the operator is the same. Even in the case, the sound energy has a larger amount of energy in the higher frequency band. In this way, even if the amount of enhancement input by the operator is the same, the amount of increased energy when enhancing the frequency band is greater in the higher frequency band, so the psychoacoustic sense of the operator In this case, the increase in sound pressure level in a plurality of frequency bands can be felt to the same extent. In addition, since the attenuation Q value in each of a plurality of frequency bands is also set to a smaller value as the frequency becomes higher, the frequency of sound pressure energy is high even when the attenuation amount input by the operator is the same. The amount of reduced energy is greater in the band. In this way, even if the attenuation amount input by the operator is the same, the amount of energy to be reduced when the frequency band is attenuated is larger in the high frequency band. In this case, the sound pressure level drops in a plurality of frequency bands are felt to the same extent.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the sound quality adjustment which the instruction content of the sound quality adjustment input by the operator and the sound quality change (psychoacoustic sense) actually felt by the operator can be performed. Thereby, sound quality adjustment suitable for human hearing can be easily performed. Therefore, even an operator who is unfamiliar with the operation can easily adjust the sound quality suitable for human hearing.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a sound quality adjusting apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an external appearance of the sound quality adjusting apparatus 1. The sound quality adjusting device 1 includes, for example, a reading device 10 that reads an audio signal recorded on a recording medium, and a tuner 1 that receives and demodulates radio waves including the audio signal.
1 and an audio device including a speaker 12. The sound quality adjusting device 1 is a device that adjusts the sound quality of the audio signal read by the reading device 10 and the audio signal demodulated by the tuner 11, and is realized by a sound quality adjusting device such as a tone controller or a graphic equalizer. . The recording medium on which the audio signal is recorded is not limited to the compact disc (CD), mini disc (MD) and hard disc (HDD) shown in FIG. 1, but may be a digital versatile disc (DVD), for example. Good.

  The sound quality adjustment apparatus 1 includes an input selection unit 2, an equalizer unit 3, an amplifier 4, an operation input unit 5, a display unit 6, a control microcomputer 7, and a coefficient storage unit 8. The input selection unit 2 selects any one of the reading device 10 and the tuner 11, inputs an audio signal output from the selected one, and gives it to the equalizer unit 3.

  The equalizer unit 3 performs spectrum analysis on the audio signal from the input selection unit 2, amplifies a predetermined frequency band in the audio signal, and supplies the amplified frequency band to the amplifier 4. The amplifier 4 amplifies the audio signal amplified by the equalizer unit 3 and supplies the amplified audio signal to the speaker 12.

  The operation input unit 5 which is an input means is operated by an operator and inputs sound quality adjustment contents including the amount of enhancement or attenuation of the sound pressure level of the input sound signal and the type of frequency band to be amplified. The contents are given to the control microcomputer 7. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the operation input unit 5 includes an UP button 5a, a DOWN button 5b, and two frequency switching buttons 5c and 5d.

  The frequency switching buttons 5c and 5d are buttons that are operated to select a frequency band to be amplified from a plurality of frequency bands, and are amplified by selecting one center frequency from the center frequencies of each frequency band. The desired frequency band is selected. Here, the center frequencies of the plurality of frequency bands are 250 Hz, 1 kHz, and 4 kHz. A frequency band having a center frequency of 1 kilohertz is a standard frequency band (represented by “Mid” in FIG. 3), and a frequency band having a center frequency of 250 hertz lower than 1 kilohertz is a low frequency band (in FIG. The frequency band having a center frequency of 4 kilohertz higher than 1 kilohertz is defined as a high frequency band (represented by “Treb” in FIG. 3). In the initial state, for example, a center frequency located at the center of a plurality of center frequencies, here, 1 kilohertz is selected.

  When the operator presses one of the frequency switching buttons 5c, a command to select a center frequency that is one step lower than the center frequency selected at that time is given to the control microcomputer 7. For example, when the frequency switching button 5c is pressed in an initial state in which 1 kilohertz is selected as the center frequency, a command for selecting 250 hertz as the center frequency is given to the control microcomputer 7.

  When the operator presses the other frequency switching button 5d, a command for selecting a center frequency one step higher than the center frequency selected at that time is given to the control microcomputer 7. For example, when the frequency switching button 5d is pressed in an initial state where 1 kilohertz is selected as the center frequency, a command to select 4 kilohertz as the center frequency is given to the control microcomputer 7.

The UP button 5a and the DOWN button 5b are buttons operated to input an amount of enhancement or attenuation when amplifying a frequency band including a selected center frequency (hereinafter referred to as a selected frequency band). In the initial state, the enhancement amount or attenuation amount is set to “0”, for example. When the operator presses the UP button 5a from the initial state, a command to increase the selected frequency band by one step (sometimes referred to as “1 step”) is given to the control microcomputer 7. To increase by one step means to increase the sound pressure level in the frequency band by an increase amount obtained based on a predetermined increase rate. The increase rate is a numerical value indicating the increase amount of the sound pressure level for each stage. Therefore, each time the operator presses the UP button 5a, the number of steps for enhancing the selected frequency band (enhancement amount) increases by 1 such as 0 → + 1 step → + 2 step → + 3 step →. Here, “+” is a symbol indicating that the frequency band is enhanced.

  When the operator presses the DOWN button 5b from the initial state, a command to attenuate the selected frequency band in the input audio signal by 1 step is given to the control microcomputer 7. “1 step attenuation” means that the sound pressure level in the frequency band is decreased by an increase obtained based on a predetermined decrease rate. The decrease rate is a numerical value indicating the decrease amount of the sound pressure level for each stage. Therefore, each time the operator presses the DOWN button 5b, the number of steps (attenuation amount) for attenuating the selected frequency band decreases by 1 such as 0 → −1 step → −2 step → −3 step. . Here, “−” is a symbol indicating that the frequency band is attenuated.

  The display unit 6 displays how the audio signal is amplified, and displays the result of spectrum analysis by the equalizer unit 3 as a bar graph and a curve. The control microcomputer 7 is realized by a microcomputer, and comprehensively controls the sound quality adjusting device 1. The coefficient storage unit 8 is realized by, for example, a volatile memory and a nonvolatile memory, and stores an increase rate and a decrease rate in a plurality of frequency bands.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a sound adjustment mode by the sound quality adjusting apparatus 1. The vertical axis in FIG. 3 represents the amount of change in the sound pressure level by the sound quality adjusting device 1, and the horizontal axis represents the frequency.
First, when the operator presses the frequency switching buttons 5c and 5d of the operation input unit 5 to select a desired center frequency, the selected center frequency is given to the control microcomputer 7. Here, a case where 1 kilohertz is selected as the center frequency and the standard frequency band is the selected frequency band will be described. Next, when the operator presses the UP button 5a of the operation input unit 5 and inputs +1 step, the control microcomputer 7 is given a command to increase the sound pressure level in the selected frequency band by 1 step. Based on this command, the control microcomputer 7 gives a command to the equalizer unit 3 to increase the sound pressure level in the selected frequency band by an increase obtained based on a predetermined increase rate, for example, a command to amplify the selected frequency band by +1 dB. give. Here, the increasing rate is 1 dB / 1 step.

  Based on a command from the control microcomputer 7, the equalizer unit 3 increases the sound pressure level of the selected frequency band in the audio signal from the input selection unit 2 by the obtained increase amount, that is, here +1 decibel amplification, and the amplifier 4 To give. For example, when the high frequency band is amplified by +1 dB, as shown in FIG. 3, the amount of increase in the sound pressure level gradually increases from the lowest frequency of the selected frequency band toward the center frequency, and the sound pressure level at the center frequency increases. The sound pressure level in the selected frequency band is increased according to a change curve a1 in which the amount is a maximum value of 1 decibel and the sound pressure level increases gradually from the center frequency toward the highest frequency. Say. Therefore, when the operator presses the UP button 5a of the operation input unit 5 to increase the enhancement amount by 1 step, the amplification amount in the selected frequency band increases by +1 dB. The sound pressure level is changed according to the change curve a2 when +2 decibel amplification is performed, the sound pressure level is changed according to the change curve a3 when +3 decibel amplification is performed, and the sound pressure level is changed according to the change curve b1 when amplifying -1 decibel. When the -2 dB amplification is performed, the sound pressure level is changed according to the change curve b2, and when the -3 dB amplification is performed, the sound pressure level is changed according to the change curve b3.

On the other hand, when the operator presses the DOWN button 5b of the operation input unit 5 and inputs -1 step, the control microcomputer 7 is instructed to attenuate the sound pressure level in the selected frequency band by 1 step. Based on this command, the control microcomputer 7 receives a command for attenuating the sound pressure level in the selected frequency band by a reduction amount determined based on a predetermined reduction rate, for example, a command for amplifying the selected frequency band by -2 dB. To give. Here, the reduction rate is 2 dB / 1 step.

  Based on a command from the control microcomputer 7, the equalizer unit 3 attenuates the sound pressure level of the selected frequency band in the audio signal from the input selection unit 2 by the calculated reduction amount, that is, here -2 dB amplification, Give to 4. -2 dB amplification means that, as shown in FIG. 3, the amount of decrease in the sound pressure level gradually increases from the lowest frequency of the selected frequency band toward the center frequency, and the amount of decrease in the sound pressure level at the center frequency is the maximum value. In this case, the sound pressure level in the selected frequency band is decreased according to a change curve in which the amount of decrease in the sound pressure level gradually decreases from the center frequency toward the highest frequency. Accordingly, when the operator presses the DOWN button 5b of the operation input unit 5 to increase the decrease amount by 1 step, the amplification amount of the selected frequency band increases by -2 decibels.

  The standard frequency band is selected even when 250 Hz is selected as the center frequency and the low frequency band is the selected frequency band, and when 4 kHz is selected as the center frequency and the high frequency band is the selected frequency band. Since the same control as in the case of the band is performed, the description is omitted.

  Thus, in this embodiment, when the control microcomputer 7 amplifies the selected frequency band according to the enhancement amount or attenuation amount input by the operator, the attenuation rate for obtaining the decrease amount of the sound pressure level from the attenuation amount, It is set to a value larger than the increase rate for obtaining the increase amount of the sound pressure level from the enhancement amount. Therefore, the amount of decrease in the sound pressure level when the selected frequency band is attenuated by 1 step is larger than the amount of increase in the sound pressure level when the selected frequency band is increased by 1 step. Specifically, when the UP button 5a is pressed and the amount of increase increases from 0 to 1 step, the amount of amplification increases by 1 decibel, and when the DOWN button 5b is pressed and the amount of attenuation increases from 0 to 1 step The amount of amplification increases by -2 dB. In other words, when the control microcomputer 7 amplifies the selected frequency band in accordance with the enhancement amount or attenuation amount input by the operator, the control microcomputer 7 determines the attenuation rate for obtaining the decrease amount of the sound pressure energy from the attenuation amount from the enhancement amount. That is, it is set to a value larger than the increase rate for obtaining the increase amount of the pressure energy. This is because the sound pressure energy of the sound signal changes if the sound pressure level of the sound signal is changed. Therefore, the control microcomputer 7 controls the equalizer unit 3 so that the decrease amount of the sound pressure energy when the selected frequency band is attenuated by 1 step is larger than the increase amount of the sound pressure energy when the selected frequency band is increased by 1 step. is doing.

  Here, the amount of change (increase or decrease) in the sound pressure energy is the area of the portion surrounded by the sound pressure level change curve and the horizontal axis shown in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 3, when the selected frequency band in the audio signal is amplified, the area surrounded by the change curve when the selected frequency band is attenuated by 1 step and the horizontal axis enhances the selected frequency band by 1 step. It can be seen that the area is larger than the area surrounded by the change curve and the horizontal axis. This relationship holds in the same way when 2 steps are attenuated and when 2 steps are enhanced, and when 3 steps are attenuated and 3 steps are enhanced.

According to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) According to the first embodiment, the operator presses the DOWN button 5b rather than the increase amount of the sound pressure energy when the operator presses the UP button 5a to increase the increase amount by 0 to 1 step. Thus, the amount of decrease in sound pressure energy when the attenuation is increased from 0 to 1 step is larger. Therefore, the operator can feel the same degree of increase in the sound pressure level when the selected frequency band is increased by 1 step and the decrease in sound pressure level when the selected frequency band is attenuated by 1 step. As a result, it is possible to perform sound quality adjustment that matches the sound quality adjustment content input by the operator and the sound quality change (psychoacoustic sensation) of the actual audio signal felt by the operator. Therefore, even an operator who is unfamiliar with the operation can easily adjust the sound quality suitable for human hearing.

Note that the first embodiment may be modified as follows.
In the above embodiment, the increase rate of the sound pressure level at the time of enhancement is 1 decibel / 1 step and the decrease rate of the sound pressure level at the time of attenuation is 2 decibel / 1 step, but the sound pressure level at the time of attenuation is The decrease rate should be larger than the increase rate of the sound pressure level when increasing.

  In the above embodiment, although three frequency bands to be subjected to sound quality adjustment are set, four or more frequency bands may be set, or two frequency bands may be set. Further, only one frequency band to be subjected to sound quality adjustment may be set.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, since 2nd Embodiment is the structure which changed the sound quality adjustment aspect of 1st Embodiment, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted about the same part. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a sound adjustment mode according to the second embodiment. The vertical axis in FIG. 4 represents the amount of change in the sound pressure level by the sound quality adjusting apparatus 1, and the horizontal axis represents the frequency.

  In the second embodiment, the increase rate of the sound pressure level is set such that the increase rate in the low frequency band and the increase rate in the high frequency band are larger than the increase rate in the standard frequency band, and the decrease in the sound pressure level. Regarding the rate, the reduction rate in the low frequency band and the reduction rate in the high frequency band are set to values larger than the reduction rate in the standard frequency band. Further, the increase rate and the decrease rate in each frequency band are set to values larger than the increase rate.

(1) When amplifying the standard frequency band First, when the operator presses the frequency switching buttons 5c and 5d of the operation input unit 5 to select 1 kilohertz as the center frequency, 1 kilohertz is selected as the center frequency. A command is given to the control microcomputer 7. Next, when the operator presses the UP button 5a of the operation input unit 5 and inputs +1 step, the control microcomputer 7 is given a command to increase the sound pressure level in the standard frequency band by 1 step. Based on this command, the control microcomputer 7 sends a command to the equalizer unit 3 to increase the sound pressure level in the standard frequency band by an increase obtained based on a predetermined increase rate, for example, a command to amplify the standard frequency band by +1 dB. give. Here, the increasing rate is 1 dB / 1 step.

  Based on a command from the control microcomputer 7, the equalizer unit 3 increases the sound pressure level in the standard frequency band in the audio signal from the input selection unit 2 by the obtained increase amount, that is, here +1 decibel amplification, and the amplifier 4 To give. Therefore, when the operator presses the UP button 5a of the operation input unit 5 to increase the enhancement amount by 1 step, the amplification amount of the standard frequency band in the audio signal from the input selection unit 2 increases by +1 dB.

  On the other hand, when the operator presses the DOWN button 5b of the operation input unit 5 and inputs -1 step, the control microcomputer 7 is given a command to attenuate the sound pressure level in the standard frequency band by 1 step. Based on this command, the control microcomputer 7 receives a command for attenuating the sound pressure level in the standard frequency band by a reduction amount determined based on a predetermined reduction rate, for example, a command for amplifying the standard frequency band by -2 dB. To give. Here, the reduction rate is 2 dB / 1 step.

Based on a command from the control microcomputer 7, the equalizer unit 3 attenuates the sound pressure level in the standard frequency band in the audio signal from the input selection unit 2 by the calculated reduction amount, that is, here -2 dB amplification, Give to 4. Therefore, when the operator presses the DOWN button 5b of the operation input unit 5 to increase the attenuation amount by 1 step, the amplification amount of the standard frequency band in the audio signal from the input selection unit 2 is increased by -2 dB.

(2) When amplifying the low frequency band First, when the operator presses the frequency switching buttons 5c and 5d of the operation input unit 5 and selects 250 Hz as the center frequency, 250 Hz is selected as the center frequency. A command is given to the control microcomputer 7. Next, when the operator presses the UP button 5a of the operation input unit 5 and inputs +1 step, the control microcomputer 7 is instructed to increase the sound pressure level in the low frequency band by 1 step. Based on this command, the control microcomputer 7 gives a command to the equalizer unit 3 to increase the sound pressure level in the low frequency band by an increase obtained based on a predetermined increase rate, for example, a command to amplify the low frequency band by +2 dB. give. Here, the increase rate is 2 dB / 1 step.

  Based on a command from the control microcomputer 7, the equalizer unit 3 increases the sound pressure level in the low frequency band in the audio signal from the input selection unit 2 by the obtained increase amount, that is, here +2 dB amplification, and the amplifier 4 To give. Therefore, when the operator presses the UP button 5a of the operation input unit 5 to increase the enhancement amount by 1 step, the amplification amount of the low frequency band in the audio signal from the input selection unit 2 increases by +2 dB.

  On the other hand, when the operator presses the DOWN button 5b of the operation input unit 5 to input -1 step, the control microcomputer 7 is given a command to attenuate the sound pressure level in the low frequency band by 1 step. On the basis of this command, the control microcomputer 7 receives a command for attenuating the sound pressure level in the low frequency band by a reduction amount determined based on a predetermined reduction rate, for example, a command for amplifying the low frequency band by -3 dB. To give. Here, the reduction rate is 3 dB / 1 step.

  Based on a command from the control microcomputer 7, the equalizer unit 3 attenuates the sound pressure level in the low frequency band in the audio signal from the input selection unit 2 by the calculated reduction amount, that is, -3 dB in this case, Give to 4. Therefore, when the operator presses the DOWN button 5b of the operation input unit 5 to increase the attenuation amount by 1 step, the amplification amount of the low frequency band in the audio signal from the input selection unit 2 is increased by -3 dB.

(3) When amplifying the high frequency band When increasing the high frequency band, except that the operator presses the frequency switching buttons 5c and 5d of the operation input unit 5 and selects 4 kilohertz as the center frequency, Since the same control as in the case of amplifying the low frequency band is performed, the description is omitted.

  The relationship between the amount of enhancement and attenuation in each frequency band and the amount of amplification is as shown in Table 1 below.

このように本実施形態では、制御マイコン７は、操作者が入力した増強量に基づいて音圧レベルの増加量を求めるための増加率について、低周波数帯域の増加率と高周波数帯域の増加率とを、標準周波数帯域の増加率よりも大きい値に設定している。また、制御マイコン７は、操作者が入力した減衰量に基づいて音圧レベルの減少量を求めるための減少率について、低周波数帯域の減少率と高周波数帯域の減少率とを、標準周波数帯域の減少率よりも大きい値に設定している。

As described above, in this embodiment, the control microcomputer 7 increases the low frequency band increase rate and the high frequency band increase rate for the increase rate for obtaining the increase amount of the sound pressure level based on the increase amount input by the operator. Are set to a value larger than the increase rate of the standard frequency band. In addition, the control microcomputer 7 determines the reduction rate for obtaining the reduction amount of the sound pressure level based on the attenuation amount input by the operator, and sets the reduction rate in the low frequency band and the reduction rate in the high frequency band as the standard frequency band. It is set to a value larger than the rate of decrease.

  Specifically, when the standard frequency band is selected, when the UP button 5a is pressed and the amount of increase increases from 0 to 1 step, the amount of amplification increases by +1 dB, and the DOWN button 5b is pressed. When the attenuation increases from 0 to 1 step, the amplification increases by -2 decibels. On the other hand, when the low frequency band or the high frequency band is selected, when the UP button 5a is pressed and the amount of increase increases by +1 step, the amount of amplification increases by +2 dB, and the DOWN button 5b is pressed. When the amount of attenuation increases from 0 to 1 step, the amount of amplification increases by -3 dB.

  In other words, the control microcomputer 7 increases the amount of increase in sound pressure energy when the low frequency band and the high frequency band are increased by 1 step so as to be larger than the amount of increase in sound pressure energy when the standard frequency band is increased by 1 step. The equalizer unit 3 is controlled. The control microcomputer 7 also equalizes the equalizer so that the amount of decrease in sound pressure energy when the low frequency band and the high frequency band are attenuated by 1 step is larger than the amount of decrease in sound pressure energy when the standard frequency band is attenuated by 1 step. The unit 3 is controlled.

  Here, the amount of change (increase or decrease) in the sound pressure energy is the area of the portion surrounded by the sound pressure level change curve and the horizontal axis shown in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the area surrounded by the change curves a11, a12 and the horizontal axis when the low frequency band and the high frequency band are enhanced by 1 step is the change curve a13 when the standard frequency band is enhanced by 1 step. It can be seen that the area is larger than the area surrounded by the horizontal axis. This relationship is also established when enhancing 2 steps and enhancing 3 steps. Further, even when attenuating, the area surrounded by the change curve and the horizontal axis in the low frequency band and the high frequency band is larger than the area surrounded by the change curve and the horizontal axis in the standard frequency band.

Further, in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the control microcomputer 7 calculates the decrease amount of the sound pressure level from the attenuation amount when the selected frequency band is amplified according to the enhancement amount or attenuation amount input by the operator. The attenuation rate for obtaining is set to a value larger than the increase rate for obtaining the increase amount of the sound pressure level from the enhancement amount. Therefore, the amount of decrease in the sound pressure level when the selected frequency band is attenuated by 1 step is larger than the amount of increase in the sound pressure level when the selected frequency band is increased by 1 step.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the low frequency band and the high frequency band are enhanced rather than the increase amount of the sound pressure energy when the operator increases the enhancement amount by 0 to 1 step in order to enhance the standard frequency band. Therefore, the amount of increase in sound pressure energy when the enhancement amount is increased from 0 to 1 step is larger. Further, the attenuation amount is reduced to 0 to attenuate the low frequency band and the high frequency band, rather than the decrease amount of the sound pressure energy when the attenuation amount is increased from 0 to 1 step to attenuate the standard frequency band. The amount of decrease in sound pressure energy when increasing by one step from is larger.

  Therefore, the operator feels the same level of sound pressure level when the standard frequency band is increased by 1 step and the sound pressure level when the low frequency band and high frequency band are increased by 1 step. be able to. Similarly, the operator has the same degree of decrease in the sound pressure level when the standard frequency band is attenuated by 1 step and the decrease in sound pressure level when the low frequency band and the high frequency band are attenuated by 1 step. I can feel it.

  As in the first embodiment, in each frequency band, the operator DOWN is less than the amount of increase in sound pressure energy when the operator presses the UP button 5a to increase the amount of increase by 0 to 1 step. The amount of decrease in sound pressure energy when the amount of attenuation is increased from 0 to 1 step by pressing the button 5b becomes larger. Therefore, the operator can feel the same degree of increase in the sound pressure level when the selected frequency band is increased by 1 step and the decrease in sound pressure level when the selected frequency band is attenuated by 1 step.

As described above, also in the second embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.
Note that the second embodiment may be modified as follows.

  In the above embodiment, when the standard frequency band is selected, the sound pressure level increase rate is 1 dB / 1 step and the sound pressure level decrease rate is 2 dB / 1 step. The rate should be larger than the rate of increase of the sound pressure level. Similarly, when the low frequency band and the high frequency band are selected, the sound pressure level increase rate is 2 dB / 1 step and the sound pressure level decrease rate is 3 dB / 1 step. It is sufficient that the decrease rate is larger than the increase rate of the sound pressure level.

  In the above embodiment, although three frequency bands to be subjected to sound quality adjustment are set, four or more frequency bands may be set, or two frequency bands may be set. Further, only one frequency band to be subjected to sound quality adjustment may be set.

・ When two or more low frequency bands and high frequency bands are set, set the sound pressure level increase rate so that it increases as the frequency band moves away from the standard frequency band. What is necessary is just to set so that it may become a large value as it goes away from a standard frequency band. Thus, more effective sound quality adjustment can be performed. For example, in the standard frequency band with a center frequency of 1 kilohertz, the increase rate at the time of enhancement is 1 decibel / 1 step, the decrease rate at the time of attenuation is 2 decibels / 1 step, and the center frequency is a low frequency band of 250 hertz and 500 hertz. In the high frequency band with center frequencies of 2 kHz and 4 kHz, the increase rate at the time of enhancement is +1.5 dB / 1 step, the decrease rate at the time of attenuation is 2.5 dB / 1 step, and the center frequency is 63 Hz and 125 Hz. In the ultra-low frequency band and the ultra-high frequency band of which the center frequency is 8 kHz and 16 kHz, the increase rate at the time of enhancement is 2 dB / 1 step, and the decrease rate at the time of attenuation is 3 dB / 1st.
It may be ep.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, since 3rd Embodiment is the structure which changed the sound quality adjustment aspect of 1st Embodiment, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted about the same part.

  In the third embodiment, the sound pressure level increase rate and decrease rate are set to increase as the number of steps (amount of enhancement or attenuation) from 0 as the reference value increases. Furthermore, regarding the increase rate and decrease rate of the sound pressure level, the decrease rate is set to a value larger than the increase rate. Table 2 below shows an example of the relationship between the amount of enhancement and attenuation in the standard frequency band and the amount of amplification.

上記の表２に示す音質調整態様では、＋１ｓｔｅｐを入力すると＋１デシベル増幅され、＋２ｓｔｅｐを入力すると＋３デシベル増幅され、＋３デシベルを入力すると＋６デシベル増幅される。また、−１ｓｔｅｐを入力すると−２デシベル増幅され、−２ｓｔｅｐを入力すると−６デシベル増幅され、−３ｓｔｅｐを入力すると−１２デシベル増幅される。

In the sound quality adjustment mode shown in Table 2, when +1 step is input, +1 decibel amplification is performed, when +2 step is input, +3 decibel amplification is performed, and when +3 decibel is input, +6 decibel amplification is performed. When -1 step is input, -2 decibel amplification is performed, when -2 step is input, -6 decibel amplification is performed, and when -3 step is input, -12 decibel amplification is performed.

  The same relationship as that of the standard frequency band is established in the low frequency band and the high frequency band. As described above, also in the third embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, since 4th Embodiment is the structure which changed the sound quality adjustment aspect of 1st Embodiment, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted about the same part.

  In the fourth embodiment, the sound pressure level decrease rate is set to a value larger than the sound pressure level increase rate. That is, the decrease rate of the sound pressure level when the DOWN button 5b is pressed once and attenuated by 1 step is set to a value larger than the increase rate of the sound pressure level when the UP button 5a is pressed once and increased by 1 step.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing procedure at the time of sound quality adjustment, and FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing the processing procedure at the time of sound quality adjustment. In step n1, the control microcomputer 7 determines whether or not the UP button 5a has been pressed. If it is determined that the UP button 5a has been pressed, the process proceeds to step n2. In step n2, the control microcomputer 7 gives a command to the equalizer unit 3 to increase the amplification amount by 1 decibel. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, at the timings t1, t2, t3, t7, and t8 when the UP button 5a is pressed, the amplification amount of the equalizer unit 3 increases by 1 decibel, respectively. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step n3.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step n2 that the UP button 5a has not been pressed, the process proceeds to step n4. In step n4, the control microcomputer 7 determines whether or not the DOWN button 5b has been pressed. If it is determined that the DOWN button 5b has been pressed, the process proceeds to step n5. If it is determined that the DOWN button 5b has not been pressed, the process returns to step n1. In step n5, the control microcomputer 7 gives an instruction to the equalizer unit 3 to decrease the amplification amount by 2 decibels. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, at the timings t4, t5, t6, and t9 when the DOWN button 5b is pressed, the amplification amount of the equalizer unit 3 decreases by 2 decibels. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step n3.

  In step n3, the control microcomputer 7 determines whether or not the sound quality adjustment has been completed. Whether or not the sound quality adjustment is completed is determined based on the input content from the operation input unit 5. If it is determined that the sound quality adjustment has not ended, the process returns to step n1, and if it is determined that the sound quality adjustment has ended, the process ends. As described above, also in the fourth embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Sixth embodiment)
Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, since 6th Embodiment is the structure which changed the sound quality adjustment aspect of 1st Embodiment, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted about the same part. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a sound adjustment mode according to the sixth embodiment. The vertical axis in FIG. 8 represents the amount of change in the sound pressure level by the sound quality adjusting apparatus 1, and the horizontal axis represents the frequency.

  In the sixth embodiment, for the Q value described later, the Q value for attenuation when the audio signal is attenuated is set to a value smaller than the Q value for enhancement when the audio signal is enhanced. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the Q value and the sound pressure energy. Curves L1 and L2 shown in FIG. 9 are curves showing the amount of change in the sound pressure level for each frequency during sound quality adjustment (increase in FIG. 9). The change patterns of the change curves L1 and L2 are almost the same, the sound pressure level gradually increases from the lowest frequency toward the center frequency, the sound pressure level at the center frequency becomes the maximum value, and the sound pressure level at the center frequency goes to the highest frequency. As the sound pressure level gradually decreases, the pattern changes.

The Q value is a numerical value indicating the sharpness of the amplitude response in the audio signal. The larger the Q value, the sharper the sound pressure level change curve. Q1 which is the Q value of the change curve L1 is expressed by the following equation (1).
Q1 = fc / (fH1-fL1) (1)
In Expression (1), fc is the center frequency of the frequency band indicated by the change curve L1, fL1 is the lowest frequency of the frequency band indicated by the change curve L1, and fH1 is the highest frequency of the frequency band indicated by the change curve L1. Further, Q2 which is the Q value of the change curve L2 is expressed by the following equation (2).

Q2 = fc / (fH2-fL2) (2)
In Expression (2), fc is the center frequency of the frequency band indicated by the change curve L2, fL2 is the lowest frequency of the frequency band indicated by the change curve L2, and fH2 is the highest frequency of the frequency band indicated by the change curve L2. As shown in FIG. 9, since the change curve L2 is sharper than the change curve L1, it can be seen that Q2 takes a larger value than Q1.

  It can also be seen that the change amount of the sound pressure energy is larger in the change curve L1 than in the change curve L2. The amount of change in sound pressure energy is the area of the portion surrounded by the sound pressure level change curve and the horizontal axis shown in FIG. Accordingly, when the change pattern of the sound pressure level is substantially the same, the change amount of the sound pressure energy is smaller as the Q value is larger.

  The sound quality adjustment procedure of the audio signal will be described with reference to FIG. 8 again. First, when the operator presses the frequency switching buttons 5 c and 5 d of the operation input unit 5 to select a predetermined center frequency, the selected center frequency is given to the control microcomputer 7. Here, a case where 1 kilohertz is selected as the center frequency and the standard frequency band is the selected frequency band will be described. Next, when the operator presses the UP button 5a of the operation input unit 5 and inputs +1 step, the control microcomputer 7 is given a command to increase the sound pressure level in the selected frequency band by 1 step. Based on this command, the control microcomputer 7 generates a command to increase the sound pressure level in the selected frequency band by an increase obtained based on a predetermined increase rate, for example, a command to amplify the selected frequency band by +1 dB. To give. Here, the increasing rate is 1 dB / 1 step.

  Based on a command from the control microcomputer 7, the equalizer unit 3 increases the sound pressure level of the selected frequency band in the audio signal from the input selection unit 2 by the obtained increase amount, that is, here +1 decibel amplification, and the amplifier 4 To give. +1 decibel amplification means that, as shown in FIG. 8, the amount of increase in sound pressure level gradually increases from the lowest frequency of the selected frequency band toward the center frequency, and the amount of increase in sound pressure level at the center frequency is the maximum value. In this case, the sound pressure level in the selected frequency band is increased according to the change curves a21, a22, and a23, which are 1 dB and gradually increase in the amount of increase in the sound pressure level from the center frequency toward the highest frequency. . Therefore, when the operator presses the UP button 5a of the operation input unit 5 to increase the enhancement amount by 1 step, the amplification amount of the selected frequency band in the audio signal from the input selection unit 2 increases by +1 decibel.

  On the other hand, the operator presses the DOWN button 5b of the operation input unit 5 to input -1 step, and is given a command to attenuate the sound pressure level in the selected frequency band by 1 step. Based on this command, the control microcomputer 7 receives a command for attenuating the sound pressure level in the selected frequency band by a reduction amount determined based on a predetermined reduction rate, for example, a command for amplifying the selected frequency band by −1 dB. To give. Here, the reduction rate is 1 decibel / 1 step.

  Based on a command from the control microcomputer 7, the equalizer unit 3 attenuates the sound pressure level of the selected frequency band in the audio signal from the input selection unit 2 by the determined reduction amount, that is, here, amplifies by -1 decibel, Give to 4. −1 decibel amplification means that, as shown in FIG. 8, the amount of decrease in sound pressure level gradually increases from the lowest frequency of the selected frequency band toward the center frequency, and the amount of decrease in sound pressure level at the center frequency is the maximum value. The sound pressure level in the selected frequency band is reduced according to the change curves b21, b22, b23 in which the amount of decrease in the sound pressure level gradually decreases from the center frequency toward the highest frequency. Say. Therefore, when the operator presses the DOWN button 5b of the operation input unit 5 to increase the decrease amount by 1 step, the amplification amount of the selected frequency band in the audio signal from the input selection unit 2 increases by −1 decibel.

At this time, when the sound pressure level in the selected frequency band is attenuated, the Q value is made smaller than in the case where the sound pressure level in the selected frequency band is increased. For example, the Q value when the sound pressure level in the selected frequency band is attenuated by 1 step (1 decibel) is 0.8, and the Q value when the sound pressure level in the selected frequency band is increased by 1 step (1 decibel) is 1. is there.

  Therefore, when amplifying the selected frequency band in the audio signal, the control microcomputer 7 equalizes the decrease rate of the sound pressure level when the sound signal is attenuated and the increase rate of the sound pressure level when the sound signal is increased. The equalizer unit 3 is controlled so that the value becomes smaller than the Q value for enhancement. Specifically, when the UP button 5a is pressed and the amount of increase increases from 0 to 1 step, the amount of amplification increases by +1 dB, and when the DOWN button 5b is pressed and the amount of attenuation increases from 0 to 1 step The amount of amplification increases by -1 dB. At this time, the enhancement Q value is 1, and the attenuation Q value is 0.8. In other words, when the control microcomputer 7 amplifies the selected frequency band in the audio signal, the decrease amount of the sound pressure energy when the step is attenuated by 1 step is larger than the increase amount of the sound pressure energy when the step is increased by 1 step. The equalizer unit 3 is controlled so as to be.

  The standard frequency band is selected even when 250 Hz is selected as the center frequency and the low frequency band is the selected frequency band, and when 4 kHz is selected as the center frequency band and the high frequency band is the selected frequency band. Since the same control as in the case of the frequency band is performed, the description is omitted.

  Thus, in the sixth embodiment, the operator presses the DOWN button 5b rather than the increase in sound pressure energy when the operator presses the UP button 5a to increase the amount of increase by 0 to 1 step. The attenuation amount of the sound pressure energy when the attenuation amount is increased by 1 step from 0 becomes larger. Therefore, the degree of increase in the sound pressure level when the selected frequency band is increased by 1 step and the degree of decrease in the sound pressure level when attenuated by 1 step can be felt to the same extent. As a result, it is possible to perform sound quality adjustment that matches the sound quality adjustment content input by the operator and the sound quality change (psychoacoustic sensation) of the actual audio signal felt by the operator. Therefore, even an operator who is unfamiliar with the operation can easily adjust the sound quality suitable for human hearing.

As described above, also in the sixth embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.
Note that the sixth embodiment may be modified as follows.

In the above embodiment, although the enhancement Q value is 1 and the attenuation Q value is 0.8, any value can be set as long as the attenuation Q value is smaller than the enhancement Q value. Also good.
In the above embodiment, the increase rate for determining the increase amount of the sound pressure level from the enhancement amount input by the operator and the decrease rate for determining the decrease amount of the sound pressure level from the attenuation amount input by the operator are the same value. Although set, the decrease rate may be set to a value larger than the increase rate as in the first embodiment. Further, as in the second embodiment, the increase rate in the low frequency band and the increase rate in the high frequency band are set to values larger than the increase rate in the standard frequency band, and the decrease rate and high frequency band in the low frequency band are set. The reduction rate at may be set to a value larger than the reduction rate in the standard frequency band.

  In the above embodiment, although three frequency bands to be subjected to sound quality adjustment are set, four or more frequency bands may be set, or two frequency bands may be set. Further, only one frequency band to be subjected to sound quality adjustment may be set.

(Seventh embodiment)
Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, since 7th Embodiment is the structure which changed the sound quality adjustment aspect of 6th Embodiment, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted about the same part. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a sound quality adjustment mode according to the seventh embodiment. The vertical axis in FIG. 10 represents the amount of change in the sound pressure level by the sound quality adjusting device 1, and the horizontal axis represents the frequency.

  In the seventh embodiment, for the enhancement Q value, the enhancement Q value in the low frequency band and the enhancement Q value in the high frequency band are set to values smaller than the enhancement Q value in the standard frequency band, and attenuation is performed. Regarding the Q value for attenuation, the Q value for attenuation in the low frequency band and the Q value for attenuation in the high frequency band are set to values smaller than the Q value for enhancement in the standard frequency band. Further, for the enhancement Q value and the attenuation Q value in each frequency band, the decrease Q value is set to a value smaller than the enhancement Q value.

(1) When amplifying the standard frequency band First, when the operator presses the frequency switching buttons 5c and 5d of the operation input unit 5 to select 1 kilohertz as the center frequency, 1 kilohertz is selected as the center frequency. A command is given to the control microcomputer 7. Next, when the operator presses the UP button 5a of the operation input unit 5 and inputs +1 step, the control microcomputer 7 is given a command to increase the sound pressure level in the standard frequency band by 1 step. Based on this command, the control microcomputer 7 sends a command to the equalizer unit 3 to increase the sound pressure level in the standard frequency band by an increase obtained based on a predetermined increase rate, for example, a command to amplify the standard frequency band by +1 dB. give. Here, the increase rate is 1 dB / 1 step.

  Based on a command from the control microcomputer 7, the equalizer unit 3 increases the sound pressure level in the standard frequency band by the obtained increase amount, that is, here, amplifies by +1 dB and supplies the amplified signal to the amplifier 4. Therefore, when the operator presses the UP button 5a of the operation input unit 5 to increase the enhancement amount by 1 step, the amplification amount in the standard frequency band increases by +1 decibel.

  On the other hand, when the operator presses the DOWN button 5b of the operation input unit 5 and inputs -1 step, the control microcomputer 7 is given a command to attenuate the sound pressure level in the standard frequency band by 1 step. Based on this command, the control microcomputer 7 gives the equalizer unit 3 a command for attenuating the sound pressure level in the standard frequency band by a reduction amount determined based on a predetermined reduction rate, for example, a command for amplifying by −1 dB. Here, the reduction rate is 1 decibel / 1 step.

  Based on a command from the control microcomputer 7, the equalizer unit 3 attenuates the sound pressure level in the standard frequency band in the audio signal from the input selection unit 2 by the calculated reduction amount, that is, -1 decibel amplification here, and the amplifier Give to 4. Therefore, when the operator presses the DOWN button 5b of the operation input unit 5 to increase the attenuation amount by 1 step, the amplification amount of the standard frequency band in the audio signal from the input selection unit 2 increases by −1 decibel.

  At this time, the Q value for attenuation when the standard frequency band is attenuated is set to a smaller value than the Q value for enhancement when the standard frequency band is enhanced. For example, the Q value for enhancement when the standard frequency band is enhanced is 1, and the Q value for attenuation when the standard frequency band is attenuated is 0.8.

(2) When amplifying the low frequency band First, when the operator presses the frequency switching buttons 5c and 5d of the operation input unit 5 to select 250 Hz as the center frequency, 250 Hz is selected as the center frequency. A command is given to the control microcomputer 7. Next, when the operator presses the UP button 5a of the operation input unit 5 and inputs +1 step, the control microcomputer 7 is instructed to increase the sound pressure level in the low frequency band by 1 step. Based on this command, the control microcomputer 7 gives a command to the equalizer unit 3 to increase the sound pressure level in the low frequency band by an increase obtained based on a predetermined increase rate, for example, a command to amplify the low frequency band by +1 dB. give. Here, the increase rate is 1 dB / 1 step.

  Based on a command from the control microcomputer 7, the equalizer unit 3 increases the sound pressure level in the low frequency band by the obtained increase amount, that is, here, amplifies by +1 decibel and supplies it to the amplifier 4. Accordingly, when the operator presses the UP button 5a of the operation input unit 5 to increase the enhancement amount by 1 step, the amplification amount in the low frequency band increases by +1 dB.

  On the other hand, when the operator presses the DOWN button 5b of the operation input unit 5 to input -1 step, the control microcomputer 7 is given a command to attenuate the sound pressure level in the low frequency band by 1 step. Based on this command, the control microcomputer 7 sends a command to the equalizer unit 3 to attenuate the sound pressure level in the low frequency band by a reduction amount obtained based on a predetermined reduction rate, for example, a command to amplify the low frequency band by 1 decibel. give. Here, the reduction rate is 1 decibel / 1 step.

  Based on a command from the control microcomputer 7, the equalizer unit 3 attenuates the sound pressure level in the low frequency band by the determined reduction amount, that is, here, −1 decibel amplification, and supplies it to the amplifier 4. Therefore, when the operator presses the DOWN button 5b of the operation input unit 5 to increase the attenuation amount by 1 step, the amplification amount in the low frequency band increases by −1 decibel.

  At this time, the attenuation Q value when the low frequency band is attenuated is set to a value smaller than the enhancement Q value when the low frequency band is enhanced. For example, the enhancement Q value when the low frequency band is enhanced is 0.9, and the attenuation Q value when the low frequency band is attenuated is 0.7.

(3) When amplifying the high frequency band When increasing the high frequency band, except that the operator presses the frequency switching buttons 5c and 5d of the operation input unit 5 and selects 4 kilohertz as the center frequency, Since the same control as in the case of amplifying the low frequency band is performed, the description is omitted.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the control microcomputer 7 increases the Q value for enhancement when enhancing the low frequency band and the high frequency band from the Q value for enhancement when enhancing the standard frequency band. Is also set to a small value. Further, the control microcomputer 7 sets the attenuation Q value when the low frequency band and the high frequency band are attenuated to a value smaller than the attenuation Q value when the standard frequency band is attenuated. ing.

  In other words, the control microcomputer 7 increases the amount of increase in sound pressure energy when the low frequency band and the high frequency band are increased by 1 step so as to be larger than the amount of increase in sound pressure energy when the standard frequency band is increased by 1 step. The equalizer unit 3 is controlled. The control microcomputer 7 also equalizes the equalizer so that the amount of decrease in sound pressure energy when the low frequency band and the high frequency band are attenuated by 1 step is larger than the amount of decrease in sound pressure energy when the standard frequency band is attenuated by 1 step. The unit 3 is controlled.

Here, the amount of change (increase or decrease) in the sound pressure energy is the area of the portion surrounded by the sound pressure level change curve and the horizontal axis shown in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 10, the area surrounded by the change curves a31, a32 and the horizontal axis when the low frequency band and the high frequency band are enhanced by 1 step is the change curve a33 when the standard frequency band is enhanced by 1 step. It can be seen that the area is larger than the area surrounded by the horizontal axis. This relationship is also established when enhancing 2 steps and enhancing 3 steps. Further, even when attenuating, the area surrounded by the change curve and the horizontal axis in the low frequency band and the high frequency band is larger than the area surrounded by the change curve and the horizontal axis in the standard frequency band.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as in the sixth embodiment, the control microcomputer 7 sets the attenuation Q value to a value smaller than the enhancement Q value when the selected frequency band is amplified. Therefore, the amount of decrease in sound pressure energy when the selected frequency band is attenuated by 0 to 1 step is larger than the amount of increase in sound pressure energy when the selected frequency band is increased by 0 to 1 step.

  As described above, in the seventh embodiment, the low frequency band and the high frequency band are enhanced rather than the increase amount of the sound pressure energy when the operator increases the enhancement amount by 0 to 1 step in order to enhance the standard frequency band. Therefore, the amount of increase in sound pressure energy when the enhancement amount is increased from 0 to 1 step is larger. Further, the attenuation amount is reduced to 0 to attenuate the low frequency band and the high frequency band, rather than the decrease amount of the sound pressure energy when the attenuation amount is increased from 0 to 1 step to attenuate the standard frequency band. The amount of decrease in sound pressure energy when increasing by one step from is larger.

  Therefore, the operator feels the same level of sound pressure level when the standard frequency band is increased by 1 step and the sound pressure level when the low frequency band and high frequency band are increased by 1 step. be able to. Similarly, the operator has the same degree of decrease in the sound pressure level when the standard frequency band is attenuated by 1 step and the decrease in sound pressure level when the low frequency band and the high frequency band are attenuated by 1 step. I can feel it.

  In the seventh embodiment, as in the sixth embodiment, in each frequency band, the increase amount of sound pressure energy when the operator presses the UP button 5a to increase the enhancement amount by 0 to 1 step. However, the amount of decrease in the sound pressure energy when the operator presses the DOWN button 5b to increase the attenuation amount from 0 to 1 step is larger. Therefore, in the selected frequency band, the operator can perceive the degree of increase in the sound pressure level when 1 step is increased and the degree of decrease in the sound pressure level when 1 step is attenuated.

As described above, also in the seventh embodiment, the same effect as in the sixth embodiment can be obtained.
Note that the seventh embodiment may be modified as follows.

  In the above embodiment, when the standard frequency band is enhanced, the enhancement Q value is 1, and when the standard frequency band is attenuated, the attenuation Q value is 0.8, and the low frequency band and the high frequency band are enhanced. Although the Q factor for enhancement is 0.9 and the Q factor for attenuation when attenuating the low frequency band and the high frequency band is 0.7, the enhancement Q value in the low frequency band and the high frequency band is the standard frequency band. As long as the Q value for enhancement is smaller than that and the Q value for attenuation in the low frequency band and the high frequency band is smaller than the Q value for attenuation in the standard frequency band, any numerical value is set. May be.

In each frequency band, any value may be set as long as the attenuation Q value when the frequency band is attenuated is smaller than the enhancement Q value when the frequency band is enhanced.
In the above embodiment, the increase rate for determining the increase amount of the sound pressure level from the enhancement amount input by the operator and the decrease rate for determining the decrease amount of the sound pressure level from the attenuation amount input by the operator are the same value. Although set, the decrease rate may be set to a value larger than the increase rate as in the first embodiment. Further, as in the second embodiment, the increase rate in the low frequency band and the increase rate in the high frequency band are set to values larger than the increase rate in the standard frequency band, and the decrease rate and high frequency band in the low frequency band are set. The reduction rate at may be set to a value larger than the reduction rate in the standard frequency band.

  In the above embodiment, although three frequency bands to be subjected to sound quality adjustment are set, four or more frequency bands may be set, or two frequency bands may be set. Further, only one frequency band to be subjected to sound quality adjustment may be set.

  When two or more low frequency bands and high frequency bands are set, the enhancement Q value is set to become smaller as the frequency band moves away from the standard frequency band, and the attenuation Q value is set to the standard. What is necessary is just to set so that it may become a small value as it goes away from a frequency band. Thus, more effective sound quality adjustment can be performed. For example, in the standard frequency band with a center frequency of 1 kilohertz, the enhancement Q value is 1, the attenuation Q value is 0.8, the center frequency is 250 Hz and 500 Hz, and the center frequency is 2 kHz. In the high frequency band of 4 kHz, the enhancement Q value is 0.9, the attenuation Q value is 0.7, the center frequency is 63 Hz and 125 Hz, and the center frequency is 8 kHz and 16 kHz. In the ultra-high frequency band, the enhancement Q value may be 0.8 and the attenuation Q value may be 0.6.

(Eighth embodiment)
Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Since the eighth embodiment has a configuration in which the sound quality adjustment mode of the first embodiment is changed, detailed description of the same parts is omitted. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a sound quality adjustment mode according to the eighth embodiment. The vertical axis in FIG. 11 represents the amount of change in the sound pressure level by the sound quality adjusting apparatus 1, and the horizontal axis represents the frequency.

  In the eighth embodiment, both the rate of change of the sound pressure level and the Q value are changed. For example, as shown in FIG. 11 and Table 5 below, the sound pressure level decrease rate is set to a value larger than the sound pressure level increase rate, and the attenuation Q value is smaller than the enhancement Q value. Is set.

また、低周波数帯域および高周波数帯域においても、標準周波数帯域と同様の関係が成立している。以上説明したように、第８実施形態においても、第１実施形態と同じ効果を得ることができる。

The same relationship as that of the standard frequency band is established in the low frequency band and the high frequency band. As described above, also in the eighth embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

The eighth embodiment may be modified as follows.
As shown in Table 6 below, the Q value may be changed for each step.

上記各実施形態は、以下のように変更してもよい。

Each of the above embodiments may be modified as follows.

  In each of the above embodiments, the center frequency lower than 1 kilohertz is set to 250 hertz, but the center frequency lower than 1 kilohertz may be set to, for example, 63 hertz, 125 hertz, and 500 hertz. Further, although the center frequency higher than 1 kHz is set to 4 kHz, the center frequency higher than 1 kHz may be set to 2 kHz, 4 kHz, and 16 kHz, for example.

In each of the above embodiments, the enhancement amount and the attenuation amount are input while being changed step by step, but may be input while being changed continuously.
The various numerical values in the above embodiments are stored in advance in the coefficient storage unit 8 of the sound quality adjustment apparatus 1. These various numerical values may be set to different values when the reading device 10 is selected and when the tuner 11 is selected. These various numerical values may be set to different values for each genre of the music to be played. Furthermore, when the sound quality adjusting device 1 is mounted on a vehicle, these various numerical values may be set to different values for each traveling state of the vehicle.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a sound quality adjustment device 1 that is a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the appearance of the sound quality adjusting device 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a sound quality adjustment mode by the sound quality adjustment device 1. Explanatory drawing which shows the audio | voice adjustment aspect in 2nd Embodiment. The flowchart for demonstrating the process sequence at the time of sound quality adjustment in 4th Embodiment. The timing chart for demonstrating the process sequence at the time of sound quality adjustment in 4th Embodiment. The flowchart for demonstrating the process sequence at the time of sound quality adjustment in 5th Embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the audio | voice adjustment aspect in 6th Embodiment. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the relationship between Q value and sound pressure energy. Explanatory drawing which shows the audio | voice adjustment aspect in 7th Embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the sound quality adjustment aspect in 8th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sound quality adjustment apparatus, 2 ... Input selection part, 3 ... Equalizer part, 4 ... Amplifier, 5 ... Operation input part, 7 ... Control microcomputer.

Claims (4)

A sound quality adjusting device that increases or decreases a sound pressure for a predetermined frequency band of an input audio signal,
Input means for inputting a sound pressure increase or decrease instruction for the predetermined frequency band;
Based on the instruction input from the input means, the sound pressure for the predetermined frequency band is increased or decreased by a predetermined amount, and the decrease amount of the sound pressure at the time of decrease in the one-stage instruction is increased. The sound quality adjusting device is characterized in that it is set to a value larger than the amount of increase in sound pressure. The predetermined amount of frequency bands is provided in plural, the sound pressure is increased or decreased for each frequency band, and the amount of increase and the amount of decrease can be set for each frequency band. Sound quality adjustment device. 3. The sound quality adjusting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the amount of increase and the amount of decrease are set so as to increase as the frequency becomes lower. 3. The sound quality adjusting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the amount of increase and the amount of decrease are set so as to increase as the frequency becomes higher.

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