JPH0568715B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sound image control device that controls the position of a reproduced sound image when reproducing an audio source consisting of a conversation prepared in a single channel.

Background technology and its problems In a language practice system (hereinafter referred to as LL system) used for group learning of English conversation, etc., a teaching material tape on which English conversation, etc. is recorded is played back, and the playback signal is transmitted to each student. I try to send it to the study desk. Each student learns by responding to the conversation of the teaching material, or by recording the teaching material with a tape recorder installed at the study desk and repeatedly practicing by playing it back.

In general, what is recorded on the teaching material tapes above is 2.
There are many conversations between people, which are recorded on a single channel. Therefore, all conversations that students hear are played back in monaural, which inevitably feels a little unnatural. If the teaching material tape is recorded in stereo, the conversation between the two people can be heard from the left and right sides, which improves the sense of presence and clarity, and can be expected to further improve the learning effect. However, preparing teaching tapes in stereo will increase costs, and the playback device must also be stereo, which increases costs. Furthermore, many of the educational tapes already on the market are single-channel, making compatibility difficult when converted to stereo.
Furthermore, by re-editing the teaching material tape, various changes can be made, but when it is converted to stereo, the sound image position is already fixed, so editing is subject to significant restrictions. . For this reason, in the past, single-channel teaching tapes have been the mainstream, ignoring the slight unnaturalness during playback, and the reality is that equipment has been made to suit this. be.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides for converting single channel conversations into multi-channel conversations.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a first memory in which audio signals representing a plurality of conversation sentences are stored at each address position, and reproduction channel designation information specifying a reproduction channel of the audio signal representing each of the conversation sentences at each address. a second memory stored in a location and a first address signal to the first memory to read an audio signal representing each of the conversational sentences from the first memory and representing each of the conversational sentences; reading means for supplying a second address signal corresponding to the address position of the first memory from which the audio signal is being read to the second memory to read the playback channel designation information from the second memory; The first and second channels are respectively supplied with audio signals indicating the conversation text read out from the first memory and outputted while being controlled to a level according to the playback channel designation information read out from the second memory. 2 attenuators, and a right channel electroacoustic transducer and a left channel electroacoustic transducer connected to the first and second attenuators, respectively, wherein the audio signal is transmitted to the right channel and the left channel. An object of the present invention is to provide a conversation sound image control device characterized by selectively outputting from the left channel.

Example The aforementioned teaching materials used in the LL system generally consist of multiple sentences S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ ...S _o as shown in Figure 1.
As shown in the diagram, this conversation is clearly divided into sentences in terms of time.
No more than two people can speak at the same time. The present invention makes effective use of this point by preparing separate position information for each audio segmented into sentences, and controlling the sound image position for each sentence based on this position information during playback. It is something.

First, an analog audio signal that will serve as a teaching material is digitized and written into a semiconductor memory. In this case, the maximum number of sentences in the teaching material is 256, and the maximum memory storage time is 500 seconds. The audio signal is digitized at a sampling frequency of 8KHz (125μsec) and 8 bits/sample.

In FIG. 2, the semiconductor memory 1 has S ₁ to S ₂₅₆
sentences are memorized. Since the capacity of this memory 1 is 8000 samples per second, 8000×500=4×10 ⁶ <2 ²² ≈4.2×10 ⁶ samples. This data is therefore accessed using an address represented by ²²² bits.

In FIG. 2, sentences S ₁ to S ₂₅₆ are stored in memory 1 at addresses 0 to ²²² . In this case, text S ₁ is between addresses 0 and AD ₁ , text S ₂ is between addresses AD ₁ + 1 and _{AD 2} , and text S ₃ is between addresses AD ₂ + 1 and _{AD 3.} 〓 Text S ₂₅₆ are stored between addresses AD ₂₅₅ +1 and AD ₂₅₆ , respectively. This memory 1 is accessed by an address signal ADR ₁ from a 22-bit address counter 3 which counts 8KHz pulses CP ₁ obtained from a pulse generator 2. The data read from the memory 1 is converted into the original analog audio signal by the D/A converter 4, and then applied to the R channel side of the headphone 7 through the resistor r and the amplifier 5. It is added to the L channel side of the headphone 7 through. An attenuator 10 consisting of a resistor r and a switch 8 is connected to the input side of the amplifier 5, and an attenuator 11 consisting of a resistor r and a switch 9 is connected to the input side of the amplifier 6.
is connected.

On the other hand, the memory 12 stores the end addresses AD ₁ , AD ₂ , respectively of sentences S ₁ to S ₂₅₆ stored in the memory 1.
AD ₃ . . . AD ₂₅₆ and a channel designation signal indicating whether each sentence is an R channel or an L channel are stored in correspondence. In this case, AD ₁ to AD ₂₅₆ respectively
22 bits, each channel designation signal is 2 bits, and a total of 24 bits of data are stored at addresses 0 to 255. This memory 12 is accessed by an address signal ADR ₂ from an 8-bit address counter 13. Of the read data, 22 bits AD ₁ to _{AD 256} are applied to the comparator 14 and sequentially compared with the 22 bit signal ADR ₁ . The comparator 14 sends a count pulse CP ₂ to the counter 13 when AD ₁ to AD ₂₅₆ and ADR ₁ match.
Send pieces. Further, when the signal AL reading out from the memory 12 and specifying the L channel is "1", the switch 8 is turned on, and the signal AL specifying the R channel is set to "1".
When AR is "1", switch 9 is turned on.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained.

In the initial state, the counter 13 reads out address 0 of the memory 12. Therefore, AD ₁ is applied to the comparator 14 from the memory 13, and "1" is read out as the signal AL, and "0" is read out as the signal AR. Therefore, switch 8 is on and switch 9 is off. In this state, counter 3
Count 8KHz pulse CP ₁ . As a result, the memory 1 first reads out the data of the text _S1 from address 0 using the address signal _ADR1 . this signal
ADR ₁ is also applied to comparator 14. Data read from memory 1 is converted into an analog audio signal by D/A converter 4. The voltage of this audio signal is
Assuming v ₀ , this v ₀ is attenuated to v _R = 1/2v ₀ by the attenuator 10 on the R channel side and applied to the amplifier 5, and is not attenuated on the L channel side as v _L = v ₀ . Added to amplifier 6. Therefore,
The audio of sentence S ₁ can be heard on the left side through headphone 7. When the text S ₁ is read out to address AD ₁ and ends, in the comparator 14, ADR ₁ = AD ₁ and a pulse is output.
CP ₂ is added to counter 13. As a result, the address signal ADR ₂ becomes "1" and the memory 12
address 1 is read out. Therefore, the comparator 14
AD ₂ is added and the signal AL is “0”, the signal
AR becomes "1". And memory 1 is AD ₁ +1
Text S ₂ is read from the address to AD ₂ . At this time, switch 8 is off and switch 9 is on, so v _R = v ₀ and v _L = 1/2v ₀ , and therefore, the audio of sentence S ₂ can be heard on the right side of headphone 7 . Then, when memory 1 is accessed up to address AD ₂ , the comparator 14 becomes ADR ₁ = AD ₂ , and the pulse
CP ₂ is output and the signal ADR ₂ becomes "2". By repeating the same operation, sentences S ₃ to S ₂₅₆
are sequentially read out, and signals AR and AL specifying the channels are also read out. This allows the user to hear conversations from the left and right sides of the headphone 7. In addition, in the memory 12, the channel designation of AD ₃ is "1" for both AL and AR,
This is the case, for example, when there is a sound image in the center.

In this embodiment, two bits are given as channel designation signals to obtain the signals AL and AR, but by adding several more bits, for example, as shown in _{FIG .} The sound image position may be specified for each sentence. In that case, the attenuation ratio of the attenuators 10 and 11 shown in FIG. 2 may be changed according to each position of P ₀ to P ₆ .

Further, the data S ₁ to S ₂₅₆ stored in the memory 1 may be reproduced from an educational tape or other analog recording medium. Further, the data may be recorded on a magnetic tape or other recording medium.

Effects of the invention It is possible to listen to conversations in a natural state with excellent presence and clarity. Since the original source is a single channel, when applied to the LL system it is compatible with conventional equipment and can be edited freely. Since only position information is added, the storage capacity is smaller than when completely multi-channeling. For example, when converting to 2 left and right channels, if you convert to 2 channels completely, 2
Although twice the amount of information is required, in the present invention it is sufficient to simply add 2-bit position information.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of a conversation in the teaching material, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a plan view showing another embodiment. In addition, in the symbols used in the drawings, 1...semiconductor memory, 10, 11...attenuator, AL, AR...
This is a channel designation signal.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A first memory 1 in which audio signals representing a plurality of conversation sentences are stored at respective address positions, and reproduction channel designation information specifying a reproduction channel of the audio signals representing each of the above conversation sentences. a second memory 12 stored in the address position; and a first address signal is supplied to the first memory to read audio signals indicating each of the conversational sentences from the first memory; reading means for supplying to the second memory a second address signal corresponding to the address position of the first memory from which the audio signal indicating the audio signal is being read, and reading the reproduction channel designation information from the second memory; and a first memory which is supplied with an audio signal indicating the conversation sentence read from the first memory, and outputs the audio signal while controlling the level according to the playback channel designation information read from the second memory. and a second attenuator, and a right channel electroacoustic transducer and a left channel electroacoustic transducer connected to the first and second attenuators, respectively, wherein the audio signal is transmitted to the right channel. A conversation sound image control device characterized in that a sound image is selectively output from the left channel.