RU2412557C2 - Method and apparatus for ambient sound therapy, user interface and control system - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: information technology.

SUBSTANCE: invention discloses a method and a device comprising method of recording natural sounds with a matched microphone array involving the following steps: recording the signal on a high resolution recording device, where this operation involves creating an audio background, and playing back the recording on a tuned playback system. The method and apparatus are used to create or duplicate an ambient sound space for ambient sound therapy.

EFFECT: provision for presence effect.

28 cl, 9 dwg

Description

This application claims priority on the filing date of provisional application for US patent No. 60/595408, filed June 30, 2005, provisional application for US patent No. 60/643468, filed January 13, 2005, and patent application US No. 11 / 163179, filed October 7, 2005

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates, in General, to a method and device that use environmental sounds for a therapeutic effect and, in particular, to a method and device for copying the space of environmental sounds.

State of the art

There are various methods and devices for recording sound and sound reproduction systems, which are designed to simulate the acoustics of the original space in a space different from the original space, for which the acoustic characteristics are simulated by means of a recording and reproducing system. For example, the acoustic perception when listening to a large symphony orchestra in an open amphitheater is different than when listening to the same orchestra in a concert hall, which again is different than when listening to the same orchestra in a large conference room or in a recording studio.

The acoustics of each place where the listening takes place is different due to the size, material located around the structures, etc. Acoustic differences are due to different reflection and absorption coefficients of sound, etc. Therefore, for the listener, the sounds emanating from the orchestra will have different sound quality and fidelity, depending on the acoustics of the place where the listening takes place. If the sounds emanating from an orchestra playing at a venue of a concert are recorded and reproduced using a standard recording and playback system, the musical sounds perceived by the listener during playback do not imitate the acoustics of the venue. In other words, the acoustic perception of the listener during playback does not mimic the acoustic perception of a live concert that the listener hears at the original venue of the concert.

Some listeners may prefer to listen to a rock band in the amphitheater, which is the venue for the concert, and listen to a large symphony orchestra in the concert hall. Recording and reproduction methods and systems have been developed that give listeners this choice when listening to recorded music through a reproduction system that models a given type of acoustic dynamics of the concert venue. In some recording and reproduction methods, an attempt was made to simulate the acoustics of famous concert venues, such as the Carnegie Hall.

There are also various recording methods and systems for using various music tracks, sometimes combined with sounds of natural origin or with simulated sounds, such as, for example, the sounds of ocean waves, in order to produce a therapeutic or soothing effect. However, none of the aforementioned methods or none of the aforementioned systems provides for copying and / or improving the original space of environmental sounds and reproducing in a different sound reproduction space to stimulate a therapeutic result.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for recording and reproducing sounds of natural origin and / or advanced sounds of natural origin for recording and reproducing the space of sounds of the environment in another sound space in such a way as to cause a therapeutic effect. The method and apparatus comprise a method of recording sounds of natural origin by means of a system of matched microphones, comprising the following operations: recording a signal in a high-resolution recording apparatus, this operation comprising the operation of creating a “sound background”, and reproducing the recording by means of a playback system tuned to space, in which reproduction is performed in such a way that, in the perception of reproduction, an imitation of the original sound space occurs. The method and device is used to create or copy the space of environmental sounds for therapy with environmental sounds, to give the patient the feeling that he is actually in the original space of the recorded environmental sounds.

The present invention related to therapy with environmental sounds comprises a combination of sounds of natural origin which, in one embodiment, can be recorded, for example, by a 200 × 200 ft (200 '× 200') sound space recording algorithm, in combination with musical fragments that arise from sound events in sounds of natural origin, to call or stimulate a specific emotional therapeutic effect. The invention implements the concept of psychoacoustics, which assumes the following: a person believes that he is in the very place that is evidenced by what he hears with his ears. There are various elements of this method, including the level of intrinsic noise, a time shift, and a distance / spatial perception algorithm, which are key to creating a patient and those who care for the patient, feelings of calmness, distracting them with a plausible phenomenon.

Usually there is environmental noise of a certain magnitude, everyday surrounding us most of the time. However, in the usual picture of sounds around us, high short-term bursts suddenly appear from time to time, which have an adverse effect on us, which are sometimes called sounds that cause fear. A constant monotonous noise background can give a person a comfortable feeling of well-being. The present invention provides a method for creating a monotonous noise background from sounds of natural origin with systematic overlays masking short bursts, which is new compared to typical methods of masking sound.

Typical surround sound reproduction systems consist of a set of five satellite speakers with a subwoofer and with a playback device that drives the speakers and reads data from a storage medium, which is a universal digital disc (DVD). Systems of this type have proven quite simple and can provide the ability to quickly demonstrate program material from the present invention. From these demonstrations, it is clear that home theater systems can be improved as part of a project that fully embraces the whole idea of an environmental sound therapy system. The concept is neither a system for home entertainment, nor a standard system for recording and reproducing surround sound, nor a circuit or digital signal processing system for copying the acoustics of a specific place where the action takes place.

The standard surround sound system includes front right, front left and center channels; left and right rear channels and subwoofer. Three front channels provide the bulk of the sound dynamics parts, and three front speakers for playback are usually located in front of the listener. The subwoofer is usually specifically designed for sounds of a lower frequency, and the loudspeaker in the playback system is usually located in the center of the area or room where playback is being performed. The left and right rear channels usually provide the secondary part of the sound dynamics to create a reflection and delay effect, and these speakers are usually located behind the listener.

It should be borne in mind that the present invention provides for the creation of a reproduction system from an information medium in which the main attention is focused on the basic principles of therapy with environmental sounds and in which this concept is implemented by creating a new recording and reproduction method. Ambient sounds are recorded by four independent multidirectional microphones connected in four separate recording channels and arranged according to an arrangement for recording on an area of 200 × 200 feet (200 '× 200'). The four-channel playback system reproduces four independently recorded channels through four respective playback channels and speakers. To copy the sound space in a recording area of 200 × 200 feet in size, the characteristic sound delays created by independent multidirectional microphones located in the form of an arrangement for recording over an area of 200 × 200 feet, and other characteristics of the sound dynamics are copied into four playback channels. The sound or time delay realized by independent microphones during recording is consistent, and a copy of them is reproduced in the playback channels and through the speakers. The playback system may also include a subwoofer channel, but this is not required. The environmental sound therapy system, ATS and its components can function in the postoperative ward in the hospital and in the treatment rooms. However, the present invention provides a method of recording and reproducing, and it is not associated with specific electronic components used to implement the method. The dimensions of the arrangement when recording can be different to create sound space at the request of the customer.

The present invention proposes a device that eliminates the influence of the fact that the mechanism is controlled by the user, and instead creates an ambient or sound space of an audible environment from which disturbing noises and sound signals created by all medical equipment located in the postoperative ward are largely removed typical hospital. The playback system can be designed in such a way that it is very inconspicuous for the patient and can provide the patient with the opportunity not to focus on the fact that he is listening to the sound recording and to convince him that he is in any other place than the hospital room, in the presence of pain and in recovery from surgery with or in preparation for it. Therefore, one of the tasks is to create equipment that is physically discrete, and equipment that has a small visual impact, being hidden and inconspicuous.

This system provides a user interface that is easy to manage and not visually distracting or intrusive. Like sound-reproducing equipment, loudspeakers, which are sound sources for programs with environmental sounds and are hidden, additionally provide the patient with the opportunity to feel that he is not listening to the loudspeakers, but instead he gets the feeling that he is as if actually located in the recorded source environment of the sound space of the reproduced program. Along with the fact that the components of the present invention are visually hidden, it has a minimum number of controls to provide the user with the maximum control that is necessary to reproduce sound material representing environmental sounds.

The system provides a suitable and efficient user interface. The user interface contains a set of controls for entering data that exactly correspond to the necessary functions, as well as a simple and easy-to-understand information display and display unit for selecting the desired program to be played and style, that is, only the sound of the environment or only music , or the sound of the environment along with the music in accordance with which they reproduce the program. The playback system may include a user interface based on a video monitor with a touch screen, designed to select various operating modes, as well as to program the playback function. The playback system can be designed in such a way that it is able to receive new programs when available. For example, the STZOS reproduction system may be configured to include a plug-in module that can be returned to the STZOS provider for updating. Alternatively, the STZOS playback system may include a removable hard disk drive that can be removed and replaced with a hard disk drive containing new programs. The STZOS playback system can also be equipped with a communication line designed for updating by downloading new programs through a network interface, and the network is, for example, a wide area network (WAN), for example, the Internet.

One of the embodiments of the architecture of the playback system contains an acoustic system that can be designed in such a way that it is consistent with the arrangement of the layout during recording and copies it. To satisfy the aforementioned criteria for ensuring the secrecy of the speakers, it is advisable to use a suitable device that reproduces with such reproducing accuracy that meets or exceeds the desired requirements for reproducing sound, and also use a speaker that can be almost invisible in the installed state. One of the embodiments of the invention contains a script for mounting a loudspeaker on a ceiling, in which it is installed by flush mounting in a tile of a suspended ceiling. The loudspeakers themselves can contain a conical aluminum membrane shielded from the action of a magnetic field, and the reverse side, which is insulating and ensures the proper size of the speaker housing, can be used to achieve maximum loudspeaker characteristics. It also provides a much simpler installation and more secure integration into existing hospital rooms, which cannot be released for extended periods of time for the installation process. Unlike traditional commercially available ceiling mounted speakers, the speakers used in the present invention can operate at low voltage instead of industry standard loudspeakers rated for 70 V (volts), which require up and down matching transformers for coordination of impedances. When using loudspeakers of this particular type, since they have a scattering pattern for a fairly large coverage area, it makes it a little easier to choose the location of the loudspeaker.

The loudspeakers can be fixedly mounted, which does not allow their physical movement, which is the case with a wall-mounted loudspeaker, but again the coverage area is such that it provides the ability to adjust the sound field for the area in which the patient’s bed is located in a hospital ward is not embarrassing. It simply boils down to placing the speakers in the proper ceiling tiles and adjusting the volume of the channels of the individual speakers to provide sound balance for the program when the patient’s head can lie on the bed. Another feature of the ceiling-mounted loudspeaker is whether it ensures compliance with typical fire safety regulations for the supply ventilation space in the building. When using a loudspeaker with the proper nominal wiring for supply ventilation, these loudspeakers easily exceed any fire safety standards that may exist. However, the loudspeaker may be installed in any other appropriate place or may be integrated in various pieces of furniture, for example in a bed or in side tables in a hospital room.

The output amplifiers for the speakers are broadband devices that provide very high fidelity of sound reproduction without the need for additional filtering and are designed in such a way that compensate for the disadvantages of traditional circuits. If you have one output amplifier of this type, the cost of a set of speakers is much lower due to the smaller number of components. When using a broadband device, one possible embodiment of the present invention comprises reducing the number of speakers in the set of speakers for surround sound to only four instead of five with a subwoofer. This scenario may prove even more attractive to prospective hospital clients who may resist installing a woofer speaker system. The main objective of a set of speakers is to transmit spatial relationships and delays in the original surroundings when recording. One of the issues on which attention is focused is the preservation of the accuracy of sound reproduction with high quality and the image of the environment, which is its imprint.

The STZOS playback unit can be created essentially on the system board of a small personal computer (PC). The device may comprise a hard disk drive that stores programs with environmental sounds. It may also contain a sound card for reproducing sound, into which the computer transmits program data, and then it converts them into an audible analog program with environmental sounds. The main body of the unit may contain a motherboard located therein, a sound card, a hard disk drive, a user interface, a power distribution unit, and an audio power amplifier assembly for driving loudspeakers. The main power to the unit can be supplied from an external power source, which is connected to a conventional 110 V power supply line through a standard wall outlet, and transforms the power with a decrease in voltage to the level necessary directly for the unit itself. The device can be designed in such a way that it has low power and is extremely quiet, meeting the criteria of a hidden installation and stealth for an environmental sound therapy system. Its size can be minimized to facilitate hidden installation and adaptation to the interior decoration of the hospital.

By creating STZOS based on the infrastructure of a computer system, there is the possibility of building up the structure in the future to improve the functionality that the device may contain. The computer system used may also include an integrated network interface. If you have this interface, you can embed tools for updating program material via the Internet or another global network. This makes the device very flexible and facilitates the end-user responsibility associated with the need to provide updates.

The computer also serves as a means of communication for the user, providing information about the program being played back and about the way by which it is being played through the display node in the user interface. The user interface includes controls for entering user data for selecting a program, adjusting the volume, etc. For the STZOS unit, the complexity of a typical user interface of a home theater system can be avoided. One of the tasks is to keep it as simple as possible, and clearly define the functions for the user, thus ensuring minimal uncertainty.

A small, but high efficiency power amplifier designed to process the excitation of loudspeakers from a set of surround sound system can be placed inside the STZOS housing. Amplifiers are specially adapted for the specific speakers that they drive. This allows you to adjust the shape of the sound characteristics transmitted by the speaker to provide a source of more transparent sound, creating the effect that the speaker system is not actually in this place. The amplifier can provide equalization or tone control of the output signal, causing the speakers to compensate for inaccuracies in the reproduction of sound. For example, an equalization control is provided that operates in such a way that it aligns the output of the speaker to more accurately reproduce the recorded sound. This adjustment of the alignment can be done during mixing and / or can be done built-in to the STZOS unit, adjusted for a specific set of speakers.

A recording algorithm for recording nature sounds is also a key aspect of the present invention, which is designed to be protected from adverse weather conditions and, in some way, from animals. The height of the mounted microphone assemblies can be approximately 30 inches when they are inserted into the ground. This ensures that the microphone is positioned at a slightly higher height than about two feet above the ground. The height may vary depending on the environment in which the recording is made and the desired result. The upper part of the microphone case can be hemispherical, which helps the outflow of water and its draining down the sides instead of seeping into the area where the microphone is located. The legs of the casing can be made of stainless steel grade 302 so that they can be inserted into the ground, undergoing only slight corrosion or no corrosion at all. Microphone windshields can be made of nylon material, which is much like the material used in Rycote microphones. To obtain a similar result, some other materials can be used that attenuate the noise from the wind and at the same time provide some protection from adverse weather conditions. The invention contains a sign that it takes into account the problem of the fight against mice / rodents that may occur. A casing in the form of a wire mesh of braided wire closes the cable wiring of the microphone from the external connector to the microphone and closes it. The microphone that can be used inside the enclosure is a DPA miniature condenser microphone. A microphone manufactured by Shure, which is less expensive, can also be used.

As for the “block” of STZOS playback, the system may have an appropriate combination of computing capabilities that ensure that our requirements are met, and is capable of supporting a different operating system than the Windows operating system, and has appropriate working drivers for playing multi-channel sound.

The system can function in such a way that streams individual audio files from the hard drive to the sound circuit for digital-to-analog conversion. One embodiment of the invention includes a compressed audio decoding apparatus according to the AC3 compression standard with a Dolby noise reduction system, since it can help provide strong file system compression without loss of fidelity, and this compression standard is public and free, which helps cost reduction. However, due to the large volume of currently available hard disk drives, it is possible to simply put the entire catalog of environmental sounds on one hard disk drive in their original original format with pulse-code modulation (PCM) at a sampling frequency of 48 kHz without compression and still have some stock of volume.

These and other useful features of the present invention will in part become apparent from the description below, and in part will be indicated therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the arrangement of the microphone system and the recording device;

figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of a playback system;

figure 3 in a perspective view shows a protective casing of a microphone;

figure 4 shows a block diagram of an analog board STZOS and

5 to 9 show various user interface images displayed on the screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to a variant (s) of the implementation of the present invention, FIGS. 1–9 illustrate different images, and in all the drawings, the same reference numbers are used uniformly, referring to the same and corresponding nodes from the present invention for all different images and drawings. In addition, it should be noted that the first digit (first digits) of the position number of a particular element or assembly of the present invention should correspond to the drawing number on which this element or assembly is first identified. In addition, descriptions of various electronic equipment are provided illustrating examples of operation and performance in the desired range for the present invention.

One of the embodiments of the present invention contains a method of recording sounds of natural origin in the place of sound recording by a system of matched microphones, containing the following operations: record the signal in the recording device with high resolution, and this operation includes the operation of creating a sound background, and play back the recording on the configured system playback in another place of reproduction, and the idea of the invention is a new device and a new method of therapy with environmental sounds.

Details of the present invention and various embodiments thereof may be better understood with reference to the drawings and to various examples of electronic equipment descriptions, incorporated herein by reference. With reference to FIG. 1, it depicts one embodiment of a microphone array in the form of a matrix and a recording system 100. A preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 is an arrangement of approximately 200 × 200 feet (200 ′ × 200 ′) in which each of the four (4) microphones 102, 104, 106 and 108 is located in one of four (4) corners of space measuring 200 × 200 feet, where size A is approximately 200 feet and size B is approximately 200 feet. The size of the spacing pattern can be adjusted to better adapt to a particular natural environment, however, in many natural environments, such as groves or forests, a spacing pattern of approximately 200 × 200 feet is preferred. Independent microphones record sounds with a characteristic time delay between the microphones for each sound event, as determined by a 200 x 200 ft spacing pattern.

Elements 110, 112, 114, and 116 are images of specialized enclosures in the form of an outer ring in which microphones are suspended in a bell-to-bell configuration. The case or cover holds moisture and this prevents damage to the microphone. Enclosures can be mounted on porcelain insulators 118. Microphones produce output signals M1, M2, M3, and M4 in response to ambient sounds, and output signals display these sounds. The signals are input to the pre-amplifier 120, and then the monitoring / recording system 122 monitors and records them. In a preferred embodiment, there is also a rod 126 located at a small distance from the arrangement, which is designed to discharge electrostatic charge. Preferably, the rod has a height of about 7 feet above the ground, and should be located at a distance of about 3-4 feet from the arrangement, and preferably it is made of copper. The range of wires and the material of the transmission lines from the microphones may be different, but in the preferred embodiment, they are selected in such a way as to minimize noise and interference in the signal. Also shown is a windshield 124 protecting the microphone from the wind.

With reference to FIG. 2, it shows an image of a tuned and coordinated set of speakers and a reproduction system 200 designed to achieve maximum effect in the treatment of environmental sounds. Four (4) matched loudspeakers 202, 204, 206 and 208 and an optional center woofer 210 are shown. The reproduction system 212 reproduces the signal through an amplifier 214 that generates signals S1, S2, S3, S4, and C. As indicated above, the center channel may be optional.

Therapy with environmental sounds consists of 2 main components:

1. software for recorded sound and

2. A special playback or transmission system.

The recording process is performed with the configuration of the microphones, which is here called the technology "4.1". This means that sound is played through 4 matched speakers, and possibly, but not necessarily, through 1 subwoofer. Sounds of natural origin 4 seasons and other sounds of natural origin, for example, the sounds of sea waves, can be recorded in this way by placing microphones on an area of 200 × 200 feet, while the distance between all 4 microphones is 200 feet. The playback system may include four (4) speakers for reproducing sound on four (4) channels, each of which corresponds to the sound recorded by each of the four (4) microphone channels, and in the alternative, the playback system may include a subwoofer or center channel to improve sound reproduction at low frequencies. This is called "4.1" technology. However, a reproduction system according to “4.0” technology, which does not contain a subwoofer channel, can also be used. Alternatively, technology 4.0 or 4.1 may be selected to best suit specific playback equipment.

After a period of time or the surrounding space of sounds of natural origin is recorded, containing several hours of material recorded continuously or sequentially, or at random times, the sound background is analyzed, compressed and edited. Months of recording can be arranged in a format lasting 1 hour for transmission during therapy with environmental sounds.

The microphones used in the preferred embodiment have specifications containing a wide range of audible sounds, and they are omnidirectional. For example, there are microphones of two different brands that have the desired specifications. One of the brands of microphones that can be used in the installation is Shure electret condenser microphones of type MX 183, which can be installed for a long time, as it has been proven that they are more reliable in various weather conditions. In addition, DPA 4060 brand electret condenser microphones may be used. Other microphones having similar performance characteristics may be used.

The microphone sensitivity chart can be "omnidirectional" or "the same in all directions." Microphones pick up sounds from all directions. They are small microphones such as miniature microphones attached to a buttonhole. Microphones accept a wide variety of audible sounds at their location. The microphone converts the acoustic energy of sound into electrical signals that transmit (via wire, through a radio transmitter, fiber optic cable, etc.) to a microphone preamplifier. Then the amplified electrical signal from each microphone is processed in several ways:

(1) convert to an audio signal for ongoing monitoring;

(2) the contents are modified electronically, that is, they eliminate low-frequency noise, the background from an AC source, etc .; and

(3) converted into a digital signal for storage on an appropriate medium with high resolution (on tape, disk, etc.).

These 4 signals from the microphones are transmitted in the form of electrical signals via a shielded cable located underground to a high-resolution multi-channel digital audio recording device, which serves as a storage medium for the original recording. Microphone holders consist of:

(1) a specialized windshield covered with a waterproof cloth to protect microphones from adverse weather conditions and to reduce the amount of unwanted noise from wind picked up by microphones;

(2) a specialized “casing”, made in such a way that it provides suspension of microphones inverted in the configuration “bell-to-bell language” so that moisture does not impair the purity of the signal; and

(3) in this case, the casing can, in turn, be mounted on porcelain insulators.

A massive 7-foot-long massive copper rod stuck into the ground can be located at a distance of about 3-4 feet, designed to attract any electrostatic charge that could interfere with signal purity. The transmission cable from the microphone has a multi-pair wire of the appropriate gauge in the screen, preventing the occurrence of radio frequency interference. The transmission cable can be up to 1000 feet in length to the microphone preamps, and then go to a monitoring system and a high-resolution multi-channel digital audio recording device that has a digital resolution of 24 bits at a sampling frequency of 48 kHz. All 4 channels can be recorded at the same time.

After the initial sound recording is made, it is compressed in time to create a "sound background". Digital audio is transferred from digital audio tapes to a computer-based sound recording, editing and playback system for greater flexibility. Then create a specialized musical accompaniment, which is combined with a sound background at specific points in time based on events caused by sounds of natural origin that occur in the space of environmental sounds. Special sound effects can also be created and included in the sound recording to enhance or complement natural sounds or musical accompaniment.

The contents of the musical accompaniment can be directed and individually tuned to the specific purpose of each therapy, for example, to distract attention from pain or to give birth to a child. This is an important component, since they turn to the creative process of the composer, inspired by the sounds of natural origin, since it is associated with the target setting, depending on the purpose. Events in sounds of natural origin are used as a key element or incentive to control the overlay of musical accompaniment to achieve the desired intended therapeutic effect.

The present method and system is not a method and system for creating music for the sake of music itself or sounds for the sake of the sounds themselves, or rather, the creative process is used to generate and create a specific result related to treatment, therapy, etc.

The hardware of the transmission system consists of:

(1) playback device systems;

(2) wires with a specific code;

(3) shielded speakers and

(4) amplification system.

Another hardware component is the equipment and setting up the listening room during therapy with environmental sounds, so that the patient gets the most benefit from this treatment method. The concept and application of treatment can be used for:

(1) distraction from pain;

(2) distraction from anxiety and

(3) masking short bursts of unwanted sounds near treatment rooms with environmental sounds, “hospital sounds”, etc.

One theory is that this distraction is due to the development of the human auditory system, in which sound has the ability to direct to the auditory nerve and pause the idea of where the person is and can cause various effects, like hallucinations.

One of the main features of the preferred embodiment of the invention originates in an algorithm or in a 200 × 200 ft arrangement created during the recording of a sound background. Due to the application of the method of the present invention, the listener / patient may be given the opportunity to mentally move into the “three-dimensional acoustic space”. If the content is represented by the method of single-channel (monophonic) or stereo (two channels) playback, then the unique component provided in the present invention, which provides three-dimensional surround sound, is absent. The results of therapy would probably not be the same if the sound were not presented as surround sound created using technology 4.0 or 4.1.

Musical content is aimed, in particular, at emotional support. The recording process, together with the ultimate in sound quality equipment in a configuration over an area of 200 × 200 feet, specially created music content and a transmission system that serves as a control tool for outputting material, all of them are important for the method.

The configuration of the reproduction system may have various embodiments with different performance characteristics, without departing from the scope of the patent claims of the present invention. Listed below are three possible embodiments of the invention having various operating characteristics.

FIRST OPTION FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Computer platform

System board: VIA EPIA M Mini-ITX form factor motherboard

Processor: VIA C3 / EDEN EBGA processor, clocked at 600 MHz, not requiring a fan

Memory: 512 MB (megabytes) random-access synchronous dynamic memory with dual data transfer rate (SDRAM DDR-266)

Sound processor: VIA VT1616, 6-channel, AC'97 codec

Storage devices

Hard drive: Western Caviar 160 GB (gigabytes), 7,200 rpm, 8 MB cache

Optical storage device: drive for read-only memory on a 16-speed universal digital disc (16X DVD ROM)

Software

Operating system: Microsoft's Windows XP Professional operating system was chosen due to its support for 6-channel sound and the availability of development tools.

Programming language: Microsoft Visual Basic was used to simulate the image displayed on the front panel and control tools to simulate a physical panel.

Sound file format: Extensible Wave was used because it is the default Windows operating system format.

User interface

Front panel: Crystalfontz model 633 liquid crystal display and a 6-button keypad that fits into the drive bay are selected as a two-line liquid crystal display for the front panel and keypad.

Analog sound node

Power Amplifier: 4 separate channels - 50 W Class D specialized sound power amplifiers designed for a 4 Ohm load.

Source of power

Power supply for the central processor: internal power supply of the ITX form factor, model ITX-PB, with a power of 200 W

Power supply for the sound system: Astrodyne 24 V DC power supply, model SPU130-108, power 130 W, universal input for any AC voltage in the range 85-265 V

System enclosure

STZOS housing: ITX form factor housing of the ITX-PB type of the Checker Cube Case model

Acoustic system

Loudspeakers: Speco Technologies coaxial speakers, model SP-6MA / T, 6.5-inch diameter with ceiling mount

SECOND EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Computer platform

System board: VIA EPIA MS Mini-ITX form factor motherboard

Processor: VIA C3 / EDEN EBGA processor, no fan required

Memory: 512 MB random-access synchronous dynamic memory with dual data transfer rate (SDRAM DDR-266)

Sound processor: VIA VT1616, 6-channel, AC'97 codec

Storage devices

Hard Drive: IBM / Hitachi, 2.5-inch, 8M Cache, Advanced 24/7 Usage

Optical storage device: Panasonic drive for permanent storage on a universal digital disk (DVD ROM) with slot loading disc

Software

Operating system: Microsoft's Windows XP Professional operating system was chosen due to its support for 6-channel sound and the availability of development tools. Preliminary migration of the Linux operating system and experimental work were also carried out.

Programming language: for programmatic modeling of the image displayed on the front panel screen and control tools for simulating physical panels and for testing new functionalities, Microsoft Visual Basic is used as they are offered.

Sound file format: AC3 multi-channel audio format with Dolby noise reduction system and research into possible encryption scenarios to help protect against copying.

User interface

Front panel: custom-made matrix of push buttons, volume control and balance controls

Display: Noritake dot matrix vacuum fluorescence display

Analog sound node

Adjusting the level and balance of the analog signal: a custom-designed voltage-controlled pre-amplifier, VCA (VCA), 4 channels with basic controls and balance controls

Power Amplifier: Custom-designed, specialized 4-channel, 50-Watt Class-D sound power amplifiers rated for 4 ohms.

Source of power

Power supply for the central processor: internal power supply of the ITX form factor, model ITX-PB, with a power of 200 W

Sound system power supply: custom-designed multiple-output DC power supply

System enclosure

STZOS building: various buildings are currently being evaluated

Remote control

Remote control: implementation of a wireless communication system simulated by software

Acoustic system

Loudspeakers: further experimental work and evaluation of various loudspeakers, including a Speco Technologies coaxial speaker, model SP-6MA / T, 6.5-inch diameter ceiling mount

THIRD OPTION FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Computer platform

System board: cost-effective technical solution, currently passing all tests for quality and durability

Processor: A processor that does not require a fan that matches the selected system board

Memory: memory of the appropriate size to handle all system functions

Sound processor: codec for sound, selected according to the selected motherboard

Storage devices

Hard Drive: IBM / Hitachi, 2.5-inch, 8M Cache, Advanced 24/7 Usage

Optical storage device: Panasonic drive for permanent storage on a universal digital disk (DVD ROM) with slot loading disc

Software

Operating system: Linux-free operating system (OS), custom-configured for this application

Programming language: C programming language under the Linux operating system.

Sound file format: AC3 multi-channel audio format with Dolby noise reduction system and research into possible encryption scenarios to help protect against copying.

User interface

Front panel: custom-made matrix of push buttons, volume control and balance controls

Display: Noritake dot matrix vacuum fluorescence display

Adjusting the level and balance of the analog signal: a custom voltage-controlled preamplifier (VCO)

Power Amplifier: Custom-designed, specialized 4-channel, 50-Watt Class-D sound power amplifiers rated for 4 ohms.

Source of power

Power supply for the central processor: internal power supply of the ITX form factor, model ITX-PB, with a power of 200 W

Sound system power supply: custom-designed multiple-output DC power supply

System enclosure

STZOS case: custom-made case that meets the required requirements for functional capabilities and wishes for visual design

Remote control

Remote control: implementation of a physical analogue from a simulated system tested by software

Acoustic system

Loudspeakers: Broadband coaxial loudspeaker with ceiling mount, shielded from magnetic field.

The embodiments described above are merely illustrative examples of how the system can be implemented. However, specific components may be changed without departing from the scope of the patent claims of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 4, the main function of the STZOS analog board is to take low-level analog audio output signals from the STZOS central processing unit (CPU) and provide adequate amplification of these signals to drive the set of speakers. The pre-amplifier design based on the voltage-controlled amplifier design, VNA (VCA), may contain one centralized regulator and separate balance adjustment means 404, 406, 408, 410 for each channel 403, 405, 407, 409. STZOS is a multi-channel device sound output. This means that there are many separate sound channels operating simultaneously, the adjustment of which must be carried out simultaneously in some rational way. One embodiment of the STZOS is an analog board, the detailed description of which is given below, however, the design of an analog board may be different, without going beyond the scope of patent claims of the present invention.

The traditional approach is to use volume control by means of a compound potentiometer consisting essentially of four volume controls, assembled together in a multilayer structure and driven by a single mechanical rotation. This approach is low-tech, but very reliable. However, there are disadvantages. The first and most important is the fact that it is impossible to carry out a small adjustment of the balance of individual channels, since all potentiometers are connected together. In STZOS, it is necessary not only to simultaneously adjust all four channels, but also to be able to adjust the balance of each individual channel to coordinate potential inconsistencies when placing speakers in the finally installed equipment. Therefore, taking into account the above criteria, the analog board was designed in such a way that it uses a voltage-controlled amplifier. Essentially, a voltage-controlled amplifier (VCO) is a kind of control potentiometer that changes the gain of the signal passing through it simply by changing the DC control voltage. Due to the fact that each channel is created in the same way by means of a voltage-controlled preamplifier 412, 414, 416, 418, each channel can be connected to one central control source, and this source can control this channel, and can also individual adjustment of the balance of this channel.

Since the STZOS is sometimes located on small and compact equipment racks or in wall cabinets, it was necessary to apply such a design topography for the power amplifier that would be efficient enough and not create excess heat, therefore, effective amplification of sound power can be implemented to bring in action of typical low impedance speakers. The power amplifier assembly in STZOS is what is called a switching power amplifier or a Class D amplifier 420. In conventional sound power amplifiers, the low efficiency is largely due to the fact that a certain amount of the available electric current is consumed for conversion into heat in the output devices of the amplifier instead of being actually transferred to the load, which is the loudspeaker. This particular effect is inevitable due to the very essence of the attempt to control the current supplied to the load in a linear manner. A switching power amplifier unproductively consumes only the minimum amount of current consumed by the internal output devices of the power amplifier, and transfers almost all the current to the load. This is achieved simply due to the fact that the output devices are not allowed to have a linear characteristic, but instead they have a discrete and binary characteristic. Either the output devices are fully switched on and conductive, or they are turned off and not conducting electric current supplied to the load.

The STZOS playback system implements a centralized mute control that controls all channels simultaneously. Centralized mute control 422 may be included as part of the analog board functions to assist, if necessary, to turn off the sound abruptly when the end user has a reason for this action. This function is turned on simply by pressing a button that switches the audio amplifier to a state in which the sound is muted. With another subsequent press of the key, the mute circuit is turned off, and the audio amplifier operates in normal mode.

An analog board can be made with flexible topography for inclusion in its composition program-controlled volume control to restore scenarios for setting predetermined levels and implementing a remote control. When a preamplifier based on a УУН is included in the STZOS system, it can be upgraded in such a way as to become program-controlled. This makes it possible to implement program-controlled volume control functions in the future, including the restoration of predetermined volume levels in specific scenarios. In addition, a wireless remote control can be easily added to the system without changing the design of the entire preamplifier circuit.

The sound signal from the central processing unit (CPU) motherboard is transmitted to the STZOS analog board, and when the sound signal is received by the STZOS analog board, it is fed to the voltage-controlled amplifier (VNA) input. This is seen in Figure 4. The current level of the sound signal at the output of the VCO or the gain of the signal passing through the amplifier is controlled by a linear control DC voltage, which in this case corresponds to the total logarithmic transmitted power from the VCO. On the STZOS analogue board, there are two sources of control voltage for the UFC of each channel. These sources are visible in FIG. 4.

The first source of control voltage may be the voltage from the main volume control. It may contain a single potentiometer that generates a control voltage based on the position of the volume control. It can be arranged in such a way that rotation in a clockwise direction creates a positive gain through the UCN. This particular control voltage amplifier can also be designed in such a way that it gives a characteristic with two inclined sections. When the device operates at low levels, adjusting the volume will change the gain in a larger range. The adjustment means may be configured such that when the position of the volume control corresponds to a clockwise position indicating approximately 1 hour of the day, the slope of the gain characteristic decreases, and thus a larger movement of the control creates a much smaller change in gain. This can help alleviate a possible incident if a person has to turn the dial too fast.

The second source of control voltage is the voltage from the individual balance regulator. The interface for this controller can be located on the back of the STZOS device and can provide the system installer with the ability to adjust the amplification factors of individual STZOS channels to coordinate possible differences in speaker volume at the listener’s location due to possible obstructions in the room or the ability to choose from several options for installing speakers of choice. This knob is simply a linear knob that can cover a range of approximately 30 dB, i.e. ± 15 dB for gain or attenuation. Voltages from two sources of control voltage can then be summed 424 to create one control voltage, which is fed to the VCO. Each channel has its own individual balance control and its own individual summation with the control voltage of the main volume control to create an individual control voltage for each channel. After the output of the current of the audio signal from the unit of the UFN, it is then fed directly to the power amplification unit. The power amplifier assembly is shown in FIG. 4.

The output signal from the UCN can be input to the power amplifier assembly. The power amplifier can be based on a Class D pulse-width modulation scenario. The sound signal fed to the input can be modulated by a triangular high-frequency signal, and the pulse-width modulated output signal can be fed to a group of transistors that control the current supplied to load, which is the loudspeaker. An output script is a script called a differential output or balanced bridge output. This means that at an asymmetric output having fluctuations, there is no reference level in the form of a dead ground fault. But instead, there are symmetrically opposed signals that are phase opposite and act on the load, which is the loudspeaker, like a push-pull circuit. This allows you to create at the output of the amplifier such an effective voltage applied to the load, which is almost twice as large as the voltage that can be achieved by the amplifier alone when it is operating in unbalanced mode.

The power amplifier can be equipped with a built-in protective shutdown circuit, which turns off the amplifier in case of a failure in the load, which is the loudspeaker, or when the amplifier is overloaded. Also, the amplifier may include a circuit that actually turns off the power amplifier, which is equivalent to the mute function. This function can be directly integrated into the amplifier assembly with discrete circuits instead of being program-controlled through a program that the STZOS performs. The mute circuit can switch from one state to another by an input signal entered by the user by means of the push button of the switch. A single press of the button disables all four amplifiers on the analog board. The state remains fixed until the user presses the push button again and the mute circuit resumes the operation of the amplifiers.

All the functions described above for the STZOS analog board harmoniously function together as a whole, providing a technical solution for creating a single-board four-channel pre-amplifier / power amplifier that meets the specific requirements of the playback device for STZOS. The specific details of the design of the board may vary, without going beyond the scope of the patent claims of the present invention.

The user interface of the present invention may include a liquid crystal video monitor with a touch screen, see FIG. 5, and a display control device, while reproducing the user interface images displayed on the screen is provided by the user interface application from the STZOS software. Applications for generating such user interfaces are well known to those skilled in the art. The user interface application can function in such a way that it implements various functionalities, including those functionalities described below.

With reference to FIGS. 6-9, many of the user interface images displayed on the screen, including the main menu interface image 600 displayed on the screen, comprise a program window 602 displayed on the display screen in which the name of the program and the reproduced phonogram, identification numbers are displayed programs and phonograms. The main menu also provides keys 604 "program", "skip an unnecessary fragment of a phonogram with moving forward" (Skip Forward) and "skip an unnecessary fragment of a phonogram with moving backward" (Skip Backward), which allow the user to move forward to the next program or phonogram or go back to the previous program or soundtrack. Also provided are keys 606 "stop" - "start" - "pause" - "repeat" (STOP-GO-PAUSE-REPEAT). When you select the repeat function, it repeats the current program or the soundtrack being played. There are three modes 608 for reproducing environmental sounds, since there are 3 ways to listen to any recorded work with environmental sounds, and these are: 1) environmental sounds with musical accompaniment; 2) only environmental sounds; 3) only musical accompaniment. The term “ambient sounds” refers to recorded sounds of natural origin.

In the main menu, a push-button 610 is also provided to select the “Chain programming” option. The option of forming a chain of programs refers to the "sequential coupling" of one program with another, see Fig.8-9. This can be done for any function from 3 listening modes of environmental sounds. An example of a chain is the following chain: “EVENING SONG / environmental sounds only”, linked to the chain “SUMMER SONG / musical accompaniment only”, linked to the chain “SONG BIRD / environmental sounds and music”. The program corresponds to the recorded work with environmental sounds, while it contains environmental sounds along with musical accompaniment, only environmental sounds and only musical accompaniment. The term “programs” refers to programs or recorded works downloaded to a storage device. When a program is selected for playback, the names are displayed in the main window for displaying programs above the center. To search for and find a program, the keys “Skip Forward” (“Skip Forward”) “>” and “Skip Backward” (<Skip Backward) "<" in the "program" function can be used next to the window paging a list of available programs. The keys “Prev Track” and “Next Phonogram” (Next Track) allow you to page through the phonograms in the program, while the term “phonogram” refers to the subfile of the recording fragment in the program or in the recorded work.

The main menu is also equipped with a key 612 "timers" (Timers), designed to select the option "timer", see Fig.7. The timer function is an alarm type function for setting the start time of program playback. The task of the timer function is to automatically enable the selected program. This ability can be used to "set the biorhythm to its original state" in a person who has lost the ability to distinguish between day and night. The timer function allows the user to select the initial predetermined start time of the playback of a given program or chain, while the program or chain is suitable for the selected start time of the playback.

Indicator 614 "New download" (New Download) may provide the user with the opportunity to know about the availability of data to download via an Ethernet network. When the Down Load indicator lamp flashes, it indicates that a new program is available for download. A reproduction system for therapy with environmental sounds can access new programs through a communication port or a communication network with a global or local network. To access and download, the user simply clicks on the flashing download key. When the download is completed, the “Loaded” key flashes to indicate that the download to the playback system was successful. The “load done” key can be made in such a way that it flashes for 2 weeks to indicate the fact of loading in the event of a change of staff during the download function.

An example of the applicability of the STZOS reproduction system is its use in a hospital setting to divert attention from pain. For example, a user has a patient who is suffering from pain from hip surgery. Some medical studies have shown that in this excruciating state, the patient’s thoughts and mind lead him to feel trapped. Obviously, to avoid such sensations is difficult or almost impossible. Distraction can be achieved by playing "SUMMER SONG" with the sounds of the environment and musical accompaniment in order to cause the patient the feeling of a summer thunderstorm. The concept is that people hear this music on several levels. Sounds of natural origin, such as, for example, the sounds of thunder, the sounds of raindrops hitting hard surfaces, and the sounds of the wind, can create an accurate evolutionary awareness of where we could be, and when musical fragments begin, this part is addressed to more "executive" brain function. The composition of the overlay of musical accompaniment is composed using events in sounds of natural origin as a stimulant or inducement in such a way that music flows smoothly in a natural way along with sounds of natural origin, without eclipsing sounds of natural origin. The concept is that pain signals move slower than auditory signals, so theoretically the “ear-gate” function in a person’s body can distract a person’s attention from one signal to another. Compressing and editing several hours of natural sound with conversion to a shorter format, for example, to a one-hour format, fills a person’s “ear gates” with a sound background that is dominant and distracts the mind of the listener. Thus, one month of recordings in a wooded area can be edited with conversion to a format of 1 hour, which is saturated with sound events occurring in the fall, which are, for example, the sounds of blown leaves on the grassy field and above it, while sound events can be used as a motivating reason for the overlay of musical accompaniment created by the composer for individual compilation.

To program the selected option, the user can refer to the main image with the programs displayed on the screen and select a program, for example, “AUTUMN SONGS” using the cursor keys located to the right of the window on the display screen in which the programs are displayed. The user can use the “mode” key, select the “Ambience With Music” mode and press the “play” key. If the user makes a choice in such a way as to prolong listening, the user can do several things: 1) just press the "repeat" key, and the program will be repeated until the user manually presses the "stop" key; 2) “link” this program with another version of the program, namely: with the version “only musical accompaniment” or with the version “only sounds of the environment” or “link” it with a completely different program (which, for example, bird singing). To create a chain, the user selects the "chaining" key, and at this point in time, the image for forming the chain appears on which the "AUTUMN SONG" program is displayed in the window on the display screen in which the programs are displayed and is designated as "the first element of the chain of x elements "(chain 1 of x.) to add" AUTUMN SONG "as the first link in the chain, selects the" add "key and repeats this operation for each link to the program from the chain; 3) after the data on the sequential chain has been entered, if the user wants the playback of this "chain" to begin at a specific point in time, then the user can select the "timers" function. The tooltip located to the right of the main function keys has the form “installation”. The program start time can be set in the same way as the alarm:

- installation

- the main timer window opens

- Select a time period from midnight to noon (AM) or from noon to midnight (PM)

- choice of hours and minutes

- press the "ON" key ("enable") and

- done

- to disable this function, select the "OFF" key ("turn off"), this can be done in the large "setup" window or on the main screen in the timer window (the "OFF" key is located on the right), where the stop function is highlighted in red "

1. There are 2 timers, for the time period “from midnight to noon” (AM) or “from noon to midnight” (PM), the timer function is the “start” function, therefore it is indicated in green (green “start” indicator).

2. There is the possibility of creating 6 chains with two possible timers for each chain, so there are a total of 12 possible timers.

Another example is the scenario in which the patient is delirious, having lost the ability to distinguish between day and night. The user can try to set the patient's biorhythm to its original state using the timer function in conjunction with a specific sequence of programs as follows:

1. Choosing a bird singing program in "only sounds of the environment"

- adding to the chain, then

- creating a chain by linking this program with a bird singing program in the "environmental sounds along with music" mode

- activation of the timer and setting it at the appropriate time (7 o’clock in the morning).

- pressing the "ON" key ("enable")

- done

- here the task is that, taking into account the dualism of human hearing, the patient is slowly awakened by the sound of morning birds through our evolutionary listening, and then they add listening to a higher level of "executive function" by adding musical accompaniment, this sequence can continue for approximately 2 hours and have increasing volume

2. The choice of the program "evening song" in the mode of "environmental sounds along with music"

- adding to the chain

- the clutch of the evening song program in the environment sounds mode along with the musical accompaniment with the evening song program in the environment sounds only mode.

- activation of the timer and setting it at the appropriate time (10 pm).

- pressing the "ON" key ("enable")

- done

The challenge here is to slow down activity in a manner similar to how it was done in the morning sequence.

The various above examples of a method and system for environmental sound therapy illustrate a new concept for environmental sound therapy. The user of the present invention can choose any of the above-described embodiments of therapy with environmental sounds or its equivalent, depending on the desired application. It is obvious that various variants of the method and system for therapy with environmental sounds that are the subject of the present invention can be used, without going beyond the essence and scope of the present invention.

From the above description it is obvious that certain objects of the present invention are not limited to the specific details of the examples illustrated here, and, therefore, suggest that specialists in the art can come up with other modifications and applications or their equivalents. Therefore, the claims should cover all such modifications and applications, not beyond the essence and scope of patent claims of the present invention.

Other objects, objects and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, from the disclosure of the invention, from the description of examples and from the attached claims.

Claims (27)

1. A recording and reproducing system for therapy with environmental sounds, comprising:
a set of microphones with a rectangular arrangement, containing four independent multidirectional microphones that are located symmetrically around the center of the rectangular arrangement, and each microphone is located in one of the four corners of the arrangement; and
a recording system comprising four independent recording channels, each channel during operation being connected to one of the microphones for receiving sounds recorded by the microphone, and also containing electronic data storage means for recording the recorded sounds of each channel in electronic form;
electronic editing tool for compressing multiple continuous hours of electronic recordings into a program presented in a format lasting 1 hour; and
a four-channel playback system for therapy with environmental sounds, containing an electronic memory device designed to store the program, and a four-channel amplifier with four inputs, acting in such a way that drives four speakers to play the program, presented in a format lasting 1 hour 2. The system for therapy with environmental sounds according to claim 1, in which the microphones are arranged in a rectangular arrangement on an area of 200 feet x 200 feet, the microphones being located at the corners of the arrangement. 3. The system for therapy with environmental sounds according to claim 1, in which each of the microphones is an omnidirectional microphone such as a miniature microphone attached to the buttonhole, and is closed by a protective casing and a windshield. 4. The system according to claim 3, in which the protective casing is mounted on a ceramic insulator. 5. The system for therapy with environmental sounds according to claim 1, which also contains a rod for attracting an electrostatic charge located outside the arrangement in the immediate vicinity of it. 6. The system for therapy with environmental sounds according to claim 1, in which the four-channel amplifier contains a preamplifier, the design of which is based on a voltage-controlled amplifier, and the four speakers are four broadband low-voltage coaxial speakers. 7. A reproduction system for therapy with environmental sounds, comprising:
a computer system controlled by a user interface in said computer system, operating in such a way that it stores programs and retrieves them from an electronic data storage device, and also controls the sound card so that it receives programs retrieved from the electronic storage devices transferred by the computer, and also controls the sound card so that it converts programs into an audible analogue A program for distributing an analog program over channels sent to a four-channel playback system for therapy with environmental sounds, containing a four-channel amplifier with four outputs, to drive four speakers to play a program presented in a one-hour format. 8. The playback system according to claim 7, in which the speakers are low voltage, broadband and coaxial speakers. 9. The playback system of claim 8, in which the speakers are built into the ceiling. 10. The playback system of claim 8, in which the speakers are installed in pieces of furniture. 11. The playback system according to claim 7, which also contains a network interface that operates in such a way that it is capable of downloading music. 12. The playback system according to claim 7, in which the amplifier is a pre-amplifier, the design of which is based on a voltage-controlled amplifier, having one centralized controller for all channels and one balance controller for each channel, and adjustment values are summed for each channel, produced by a centralized regulator and each balance regulator. 13. The playback system according to item 12, in which the amplifier contains a differential switching power amplifier with pulse-width modulation class D. 14. The playback system according to item 13, which also contains a centralized mute control for all channels. 15. A method of recording and reproducing therapeutic sound, comprising stages in which:
recording sounds of natural origin by means of a set of microphones with a rectangular arrangement of microphones containing four independent omnidirectional microphones that are symmetrically around the center of a rectangular arrangement of microphones, with each microphone located in one of the four corners of the arrangement,
output four independent signals, one from each of the four microphones, while the signals reflect the recorded sounds of natural origin;
simultaneously receiving and recording four independent signals by means of a recording device providing independent recording of four channels, creating a four-channel sound background;
perform electronic editing and compression of recorded sounds of natural origin with conversion to a format lasting 1 hour;
create a program with environmental sounds in a format lasting 1 hour, composing the composition by superimposing musical accompaniment, while the motivation of the composition is caused by events in sounds of natural origin in the sound background; and
create a part of the program with environmental sounds with musical accompaniment superimposed by superimposing musical accompaniment onto the recorded sound background from sounds of natural origin. 16. The recording and reproducing method of claim 15, wherein the rectangular microphone arrangement is a square arrangement of 200 feet × 200 feet and wherein the microphones are omnidirectional microphones such as a miniature microphone attached to a buttonhole. 17. The method of recording and playback according to clause 16, also containing a stage on which to provide a protective casing around the microphone and a windshield over the casing. 18. The method of recording and playback according to clause 15, also containing a stage in which
provide a rod for attracting an electrostatic charge located outside the arrangement in the immediate vicinity of it. 19. The method of recording and playback according to clause 15, also containing a stage in which
provide a playback system comprising a computer system, which is controlled by a user interface, and the computer system is able to function in such a way that provides storage of programs in an electronic data storage device and their removal from it, and also controls the sound card so that it receives programs extracted from an electronic storage device and transmitted by a computer, and also controls the sound card so that it program conversion into an audible analog program to distribute the analog program to channels routed to an amplifier having four channels to drive a set of speakers containing four speakers, one speaker per channel, and distribute the analog program through the channels, directing it to amplifier, and drive a set of speakers. 20. The method of recording and playback according to claim 19, in which the speakers are low voltage, broadband and coaxial speakers. 21. The recording and reproducing method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: installing a reproduction system in a room and installing speakers in a ceiling. 22. The recording and reproducing method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: installing a reproduction system in a room and installing loudspeakers in pieces of furniture. 23. The method of recording and playback according to claim 19, further comprising a step of
in the playback system provide a network interface function, acting in such a way that it allows you to download new programs. 24. The method of recording and playback according to claim 19, further comprising a step of
Amplifier adjustment is made through a centralized regulator for all channels and a balance regulator for each individual channel. 25. The recording and playback method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of optionally muting the sound in all four channels. 26. The method of recording and playback according to claim 19, in which the amplifier contains a differential switching power amplifier with pulse width modulation class D. 27. The method of recording and playback according to claim 20.

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