WO2007140524A1

WO2007140524A1 - Audio system for vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO2007140524A1
Application number: PCT/AU2007/000787
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Costa; Andrew Richard Wyatt; David John Bull
Original assignee: Mark Costa; Andrew Richard Wyatt; David John Bull
Priority date: 2006-06-05
Filing date: 2007-06-05
Publication date: 2007-12-13

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a vehicular audio system head unit (600), said head unit (600) comprising: at least one music source (610); a buffer (620) for storing data received from a selected one of said at least one music source; and a processor (660) for controlling reading of data from said buffer (620) to be presented as an output of said head unit (600).

Description

AUDIO SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to audio systems and, in particular, to audio systems in vehicles for personal entertainment. Background

It has become a standard industry practice to equip most new vehicles with entertainment systems of some description. Initially, such entertainment systems included a basic radio for tuning to AM radio broadcasts. As technology evolved, combined AM/FM radios were often fitted in vehicles, and subsequently audio cassette decks were also introduced. As compact discs became more widely accepted in the later part of the twentieth century, demand from consumers saw the introduction of compact disc (CD) players into car audio systems.

Single CD players were quickly supplemented with multi-CD stacker units, and consumers began upgrading the speakers in their vehicles. For some consumers, the quality of their respective car audio systems became an important status symbol, and large amounts of money were invested to ensure that CD players, amplifiers, and speakers were upgraded to deliver the best sound at the loudest volume.

The introduction of mass produced flat panel monitors, such as liquid crystal displays (LCD), has seen the introduction of such monitors to the somewhat confined spaces of vehicle interiors. Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) players are now available to allow passengers to watch movies during long journeys. Numerous after-market options have become readily available for enhancing vehicle entertainment systems.

Vehicles are no longer utilised as merely a mode of transport. Vehicles are seen by some sectors of society as a status symbol, and accordingly vehicles are often adorned and enhanced to reflect a real or desired lifestyle. It should also be noted that vehicle modification represents a significant societal subculture, with members of this subculture bonding socially through their common interests. It is common for groups of vehicle modifiers to participate in "cruises", where participants drive in one or more groups to a predetermined location at which the participants can inspect each others' modifications, offer and gain ideas, advice and encouragement for further modifications. Participants on a "cruise" typically keep in contact with each other using citizens' band (CB) radio(s) or mobile telephone(s).

Summary According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an audio system for use in vehicles, the audio system comprising: at least one music source; a buffer for storing data received from the music source; an output interface for receiving data derived from the buffer in a serial manner; and a rotatable scratch platter, wherein rotating the scratch platter provides data from the buffer to the output interface in a forward or backwards direction corresponding to clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the scratch platter.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a vehicular audio system, the audio system comprising: at least one music source; a buffer for storing data received from the music source; an output interface for receiving data derived from the buffer; and a scratch platter, wherein the scratch platter controls serial reading of data from the buffer to an output interface. According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a vehicular

audio system head unit comprising:

a first compact disc player;

a second compact disc player; and a crossfader for controlling a relative volume of the first and second compact

disc players.

According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a vehicular

audio system comprising: a first head unit having a first music source; a second head unit having a second music source; and a crossfader coupled to each of the first and second head units, wherein the

crossfader controls a relative volume of the first and second music sources.

According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a vehicular

audio system head unit, the head unit comprising:

at least one music source; a buffer for storing data received from a selected one of the at least one music

source; and a processor for controlling reading of data from the buffer to be presented as an

output of the head unit.

According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an external

crossfading unit, comprising:

a first interface for coupling to a first audio source;

a second interface for coupling to a second audio source; and

a crossfader for controlling a relative volume of the first and second audio

sources. - A -

According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an entertainment system for use in vehicles, comprising: at least one data source; a first buffer for storing data received from said data source; an output interface for receiving data derived from said first buffer in a serial manner; and a control interface for controlling presentation of said data from said first buffer to said output interface.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program product including a computer readable medium having recorded thereon a computer program for implementing any one of the methods described above.

Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings One or more embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram representation of a head unit incorporating an entertainment system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram representation of a head unit incorporating an entertainment system in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 3 is a schematic block diagram representation of a head unit incorporating an entertainment system in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram representation of an external mixing device in accordance with a further embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram representation of an audio system in accordance with a further embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 6 is a schematic block diagram representation of an audio system in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a general purpose computer upon which arrangements described can be practised; and

Fig. 8 is a schematic block diagram representation of an audio visual system in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Where reference is made in any one or more of the accompanying drawings to steps and/or features, which have the same reference numerals, those steps and/or features have for the purposes of this description the same function(s) or operation(s), unless the contrary intention appears. It is to be noted that the discussions contained in the "Background" section and that above relating to prior art arrangements relate to discussions of documents or devices which form public knowledge through their respective publication and/or use. Such should not be interpreted as a representation by the present inventor(s) or patent applicant that such documents or devices in any way form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

The principles of the preferred method described herein have general applicability to audio systems for vehicles. Existing entertainment systems for vehicles typically incorporate one or more of an audio cassette player, a Compact Disc (CD) player, and a radio for reception of AM and/or FM radio signals. Where a CD player is fitted, it is common for the CD player to be capable of storing multiple discs. Individual CDs are either loaded directly into the CD player located in a head unit on the driver's console, or alternatively a remote storage unit is provided in the boot of the vehicle, with a remote link to the CD player. The capability of storing multiple discs allows occupants of the vehicle to enjoy hours of music entertainment. In some vehicle entertainment systems, Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) players are provided. Such DVD players are typically connected to monitors located on the driver's console or more commonly in the rear side of the seats of the driver and front passenger. Locating the monitors in the back of the front seats allows passengers in the rear seat to watch recorded movies and other programs during a journey. Such technology has been particularly welcomed for entertaining children on long journeys.

It is known for music to be recorded in spiral grooves on vinyl records played on turntables. A vinyl record is placed on a turntable, and the turntable rotates at a predetermined speed to match the speed at which the music was recorded. A needle is placed in the groove on the rotating record to decode the music recorded on the vinyl record and produce an output to speakers via an amplifier.

Disc jockeys (DJs) at nightclubs and other entertainment venues play pre-recorded music for the enjoyment of an audience. DJs play, mix, add effects, and organise portions of music. The individual style of a DJ lends a characteristic sound and atmosphere to be enjoyed by the audience. When mixing music, it is desirable for a DJ to mix a currently playing song seamlessly into a successive song. DJs manipulate song tracks, sample portions of recorded music, such as beats, and add new pieces of music in response to the reaction of the audience.

It is known for a DJ to hold a vinyl record against the rotating force of the turntable, or even spin the vinyl record in a direction against the rotating direction of the turntable, to introduce a scratching sound produced by the needle skipping along the groove. This is considered desirable in some circumstances to repeat a portion of the recorded music in a rapid manner. If desired, a DJ is able to repeat a chorus or selected beat multiple times, with the number of repetitions and speed of the repetition controlled by the DJ. Spinning a record backwards for a short period is sometimes referred to as "backspinning". Scratching the needle back and forth along the groove results in the music recorded on the scratched portion of the groove to be played forwards and backwards at various speeds dictated by the DJ.

The advent of CDs and DVDs for the storage of music has led to the development of scratch platters for these more recent technologies. A CD player uses a laser to read data that has been digitally recorded on a CD or DVD. There is no needle that can be skipped along a groove to produce a scratching effect. Scratch platters provide users with control over data read from a digitally encoded CD or DVD and simulate the scratching of the needle along the playing disc.

One implementation of a scratch platter provides a buffer for storing music as data as the music is read from a CD. Rather than physically holding the CD, as is the case with vinyl records, a separate scratch platter in the form of a rotatable disc is provided to allow a DJ to mix a CD. As the DJ no longer has direct physical contact with the storage medium, the scratch platter can be any desired size, hi some embodiments, a scratch platter significantly smaller than a vinyl record is provided. Whilst smaller scratch platters provide some space savings, DJs have often found a scratch platter equivalent in size to a traditional vinyl record to be more familiar. This is particularly the case for DJs that play both vinyl records and CDs.

A crossfader is a sliding control, or the like, that allows a DJ to transition from a first audio source to a second audio source in a smooth manner. For example, a DJ with records playing on two turntables initially has a crossfader set to a far left position, which results in the audio output consisting entirely of the first audio source. By moving the crossfader to the right, less of the first audio source is heard, and more of the second audio source is introduced. Finally, when the crossfader is set to a far right position, the audio output consists entirely of the second audio source. DJs use crossfaders to provide smooth transitions from one track to another. A crossfader also allows a DJ to swap a record on a second turntable, for example, while a record on a first turntable is playing. The second record is then able to be cued to a desired starting point, ready for play when the crossfader slides to a position corresponding to the second turntable.

Some turntables are equipped with functionality for varying the speed of rotation of the turntable. DJs are thus able to change the speed of rotation of a turntable, such that the rotation speed of the turntable differs from the speed at which the music was recorded, which speeds up or slows down the music relative to the original recording. By manipulating the manner in which the platter is played, a DJ is able to personalise a performance to influence the energy of the audience. A loop is a portion of music or sound that is arranged to be played repeatedly in a coherent manner. A loop typically consists of sixteen beats, although loops of four, eight, sixteen and thirty-two beats are also known. Loops are frequently used in dance music, with many loops layered upon one another to create a desired fusion of sound.

The mixing of music has spread from the domain of nightclubs, and people mix music using turntables, scratch platters, and other audio equipment to entertain themselves and friends in the privacy of their own homes.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an entertainment system for use in a vehicle, such as a car. In particular, the present disclosure provides a head unit incorporating a scratch platter to allow occupants of a vehicle to scratch their own music. The scratch platter is used to simulate the scratching of a needle in the groove of a vinyl record. The scratch platter can be used in conjunction with music or sound from any source, including, but not limited to, a CD player, a DVD player, an MP3 player, an Apple iPod mobile digital device (iPod is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.), a hard disk drive, flash memory, a microphone, or audio cassette player. In one embodiment, the head unit is coupled to a storage unit containing multiple

CDs. In a further embodiment, a CD storage unit is located remotely from the head unit, and the CD storage unit is coupled to the head unit by means of a hard-wired connection or other connection means, as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. hi another embodiment, the head unit provides a looping function. The looping function enables a user to repeat a selected portion of a musical track. In one implementation, the looping function is controlled by Loop In, Loop Out, and RELOOP controls. When a track is playing, a user activates the Loop In control at the beginning of a portion of the track that is to be repeated. Activating the Loop In control initiates recording of the selected portion of the track to a memory. The user activates the Loop Out control at the end of the portion of the track to be repeated, and the selected portion is then played as a loop by retrieving the recorded portion from memory. When the user no longer wants the selected portion to be played, the user activates the Loop Out control again, and the track resumes from the end of the selected portion. The user can play the selected portion of the track at any subsequent time by activating the RELOOP control. For example, if a user wants to play a chorus of a playing track a number of times, the user activates the Loop In control at the beginning of the chorus, and then activates the Loop Out control at the end of the chorus. The chorus is recorded to memory and is then played on a continuous loop until the user activates the Loop Out control, at which time the track resumes from the end of the chorus, which is where the track was up to before the Loop Out button was initially activated. When the user wants to play the chorus again, the user activates the RELOOP control and the recorded chorus is again retrieved from memory and played until the user again activates the Loop Out control. Using the looping function thus provides the user with the ability to repeat selected portions of a track. In another embodiment, the head unit enables a user to select from multiple input sources. One embodiment provides a first input source in the form of a CD/MP3 mode. Preferably, a buffer is provided to provide anti-shock resilience, such that when a vehicle in which the head unit is installed encounters a bump in the road, the playing of the music is not interrupted as a result of a laser skipping. Music from the CD/MP3 player is read by a laser from a CD player or otherwise retrieved from an MP3 player, stored in the buffer, and subsequently output to speakers after a predetermined delay. If the vehicle encounters a bump that results in the laser skipping, the delay provided by the buffer is utilised to re-read any required data from the CD, before being output as a seamless stream of data. In one embodiment, a second input source is provided in the form of a radio, such as an AM and/or FM radio. Other input sources may include one or more of a DVD player, an MP3 player, an Apple iPod mobile digital device, a hard disk drive, flash memory, a microphone, or audio cassette player. In one embodiment, the head unit is equipped with an auxiliary input jack for coupling an external music source to the head unit. The external source coupled to the auxiliary input jack may then be selected by a user operating the head unit.

One embodiment of the head unit provides a "Battle Mode". In the battle mode, lyrics from an input music source, such as a CD, are filtered to remove any voice components, thus allowing occupants of the vehicle to "battle" to the tunes and beats. In the case in which the input music source is a CD, the vocal track is filtered and only the instrumental tracks are output. The vehicle occupants are thus able to sing, rap, and provide vocal content to complement the music and beats being played.

In another embodiment, the head unit provides, or is coupled to, a recording unit that allows vehicle occupants to record their performances. In a preferred embodiment, the head unit incorporates a recording unit in the form of a built-in CD recorder for burning new CDs. In another embodiment, a hard disk drive is provided for recording performances. In an alternate embodiment, the head unit receives a removable storage medium, such as a memory flash card, cassette tape, or the like, and the head unit records performances to the removable storage medium. Another embodiment provides a head unit with a built-in crossfader. This enhances the mixing experience by allowing a vehicle occupant to mix and/or scratch two different songs. In one embodiment, the crossfader allows a user to fade between two selected input sources. As described above, the input sources may include, but are not limited to, a CD player, a DVD player, an MP3 player, a radio, an Apple iPod mobile digital device, a hard disk drive, flash memory, a microphone, an audio cassette player, or an external source connected to an auxiliary input jack. Thus, a user selects two input sources on the head unit and uses the crossfader to fade between the two selected input sources. In one embodiment, a head unit includes two CD players, and the crossfader enables a user to fade between the two CD players, hi one implementation, the crossfader includes a variable resistor with a user-controlled wiper. A user moves the wiper along the length of the variable resistor to determine the relative volume sourced from two selected input sources. hi another embodiment, one or more microphones are provided, thus allowing users' voices to be played through speakers in the vehicle. In conjunction with the optional recording device, the users' voices can be recorded with mixing and/or scratching effects. When operating in battle mode, one or more microphones are utilised to allow users to compete against one another. Again, when used in conjunction with the optional recording unit, individual battles can be recorded for later playback. The microphones are preferably connected to the head unit via a wireless communication link, such as provided by a radiofrequency communications link. Alternatively, the microphones can be connected to microphone jacks located in the head unit itself, microphone jacks located on the driver console, or microphone jacks located in a central console. The remote microphone jacks are coupled to the head unit by hardwiring or other coupling means, as would be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art. hi a preferred embodiment, the head unit is provided with a pre-recorded volume of tunes and beats. This enables a user to mix and scratch as soon as the head unit is installed. The pre-recorded volume of tunes and beats may preferably be offered in one or more customised collections to cater to different tastes in music, such as rhythm and blues, hip hop, dance, funk, disco, pop, rock, or any combination thereof, as well as providing collections from different music eras, such as the 1950s, 1960s, 1970, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. The pre-recorded volume of tunes and beats is recorded on a recording medium within the head unit, or alternatively on a removable storage medium received by the head unit. Such a removable storage medium may include, for example, but is not limited to a CD or a memory flash card. In a further embodiment, the head unit incorporates tempo metering, which allows a user to control the tempo of a music source by speeding up or slowing down the music relative to the speed at which the music was originally recorded. The tempo metering is preferably implemented using a single button, a control dial, a sliding bar, or similar. hi another embodiment, the head unit incorporates a wireless interface that allows data to be transmitted from and received by the head unit over a wireless network, hi one implementation, the wireless interface utilises the EEEE 802.15 (Bluetooth) protocol. Data transmitted from the head unit includes, for example, an audio signal presented to Bluetooth enabled speakers. Data received by the head unit includes, for example, an audio signal from a Bluetooth enabled mobile telephone. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the wireless interface is not limited to Bluetooth, and other wireless protocols, such as IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) may equally be utilised.

In one implementation, vocal content from a mobile telephone handset is transmitted over a Bluetooth communication link to the head unit. The vocal content received by the head unit via the Bluetooth communication link is then available for mixing in a manner similar to any other audio input, such as a microphone. The wireless interface enables participants on a "cruise" to participate in "inter- vehicle battles". For example, a first user in a first vehicle sings into a Bluetooth enabled mobile telephone handset and the vocal signal is transmitted via the Bluetooth protocol to a head unit located in a second vehicle. A Bluetooth wireless transceiver in the head unit receives the vocal signal from the first user, provided that the first and second vehicles are located within range of the Bluetooth transmission protocol.

Bluetooth Class 3 has a range of approximately 1 metre and is suitable for intra- vehicle wireless transmissions, such as a user utilising a mobile telephone in the same vehicle in which the head unit is located. Bluetooth Class 2 has a range of approximately 10 metres, and Bluetooth Class 1 has a range of approximately 100 metres. Thus, data can be exchanged from devices associated with the first and second vehicles in the example described above, provided that the first and second vehicles are: (i) within 10 metres of each other and the Bluetooth devices are Class 2, or (ii) within 100 metres of each other and the Bluetooth devices are Class 1. Such "inter-vehicle battles" increase the social boding experience of cruise participants as well as providing additional entertainment.

In a further implementation, the head unit can be switched into a "hands free" mode to allow speakers and microphone(s) in the vehicle to be used as an in-car "hands free kit" to allow an operator to conduct a conversation through their mobile telephone using the microphones and speakers built into the in-car entertainment system.

A further embodiment includes an interface to a standard UHF CB radio, with the same functionality as the Bluetooth interface described above.

A yet further embodiment allows scratching to be performed on a video data stream as well as an audio data stream. One or more of a video data stream and an audio data stream are presented as inputs to a time shift buffer. A user is able to mix and/or scratch one or more audio and video sources in a manner similar to that described above with reference to audio sources. Thus, a user is able to utilise the scratch and loop functionality described above to manipulate video and/or audio data streams in the time shift buffer to produce a desired output. The output of the time shift buffer is sent to either a video output connector, or is displayed on an integrated screen. This screen may be implemented using a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) LCD screen, however other technologies such as organic LEDs (OLEDs) may equally be utilised.

In another embodiment, the output of the time shift buffer is presented to a recordable storage medium, such as a DVD recording device.

In a similar way to the cross-fading of the audio input, the video is able to be transitioned from one source to another, and overlays, mixing or picture-in-picture techniques can be used to overlay external video and audio inputs. This allows further expression of the artist by combining visual representations, such as facial expressions, with vocal content. The wireless interface of the head unit in such an embodiment is extended to work with a video-equipped mobile telephone to enable an inter-vehicular, multimedia "battle".

A further embodiment includes a beat detection function, which is utilised for tempo metering. The beat detection function can be utilised to drive auxiliary switched power circuits. Such auxiliary switched power circuits can be connected to external lights to create additional visual effects in the vehicle. The external lights can be programmed to generate simple strobe patterns (beat triggered), chaser patterns and various other patterns, as desired.

A further embodiment includes a set of effects that can be applied in the audio signal path. Such effects include effects common to specialised "effects boxes", such as flanger, echo, distortion, reverb, chorus, parametric equalisers and filters.

Different embodiments include different means of user interface and control. Controls and display are typically built into the front facia of the unit. An alternative arrangement includes a "widescreen" (16:9 aspect ratio) TFT screen that projects from the unit and which shows all the display that the user would see, retaining the front of the unit for user controls. Such a screen is preferably motorised and may be approximately 7 inches, although other sizes may equally be utilised. Another option includes a touch sensitive panel on the screen, with the controls, including the scratch platter, implemented by dragging a user's finger across the screen. Another alternative is a remote control for the unit to increase the plurality of controls available, while not compromising display area of the head unit, also allowing much larger and horizontal scratch platters than could fit on the facia of a vertically mounted front panel of an in-car head unit.

Fig. 1 illustrates a head unit 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The head unit 100 occupies a double DIN space in a vehicular console. The industry standard single DIN unit is 2 inches high by 7 inches wide, and defines the size of components for installation in a vehicle dashboard. Standardising the size of such components allows manufacturers to build radios, CD players, air-conditioning controls, clocks, and the like, that are able to be installed in nearly all vehicles. Components that differ from the standard DIN size typically require an installation kit to adapt the fittings o the component to the vehicle dashboard. A double DIN unit is 4 inches high by 7 inches wide, and thus effectively occupies the space of two traditional radio components. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the size of the actual head unit may differ without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Embodiments conforming to the DIN and double DIN standards provide easy installation and compatibility among many different types of vehicles. However, many people customize vehicle interiors, including audio-visual systems, and customised sizes of the head unit may equally be implemented.

The head unit 100 includes an ON/OFF power switch 105. The head unit 100 also includes a display 115 to show a present status of the unit. In the embodiment shown, the display 115 is a liquid crystal display (LCD), but it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that other displays, such as cathode ray tube (CRT) devices, vacuum fluorescent displays (VFDs), and light emitting diodes (LEDs), may equally be utilised.

The head unit 100 also includes an auxiliary input jack 134 for coupling the head unit 100 to an external music source. The external music source may include, for example, but is not limited to, a DVD player, an MP3 player, an Apple iPod mobile digital device, a hard disk drive, flash memory, a microphone, or audio cassette player. In one implementation, the external music source is another head unit incorporating a CD player, such as another instance of the head unit 100 of Fig. 1 or an instance of a head unit 200 shown in Fig. 2, as described below. In the embodiment shown, the head unit includes a mute button 120, which enables an operator to disable temporarily the output of the head unit at the press of a single button. The head unit 100 includes a number of selection buttons to activate a musical source. In particular, the embodiment shown features a battle mode button 125, a radio source button 130, an auxiliary input jack source button 132 and a CD/MP3 source button 135. By depressing one of the source buttons 130, 132 and 135, a user selects the source of music that is to be mixed. Depressing the battle mode button 125 activates the battle mode, which filters recorded vocal tracks from a selected music source being played, and allows a user to provide vocal input via a microphone connected to a microphone jack 136.

The head unit 100 further includes a volume button 140 for controlling the output volume of a selected music source. A number of mode buttons 145 are optionally provided on the head unit for customising the head unit to desired preferences. In one example, a mode button 145 enables a looping mode, providing the Loop In, Loop Out and RELOOP controls described above. The mode buttons 145 optionally activate one or more standard features associated with compact disc players. Such standard features may include, but are not limited to, Play, Pause, Skip, Repeat, Fast Forward, and Rewind. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the head unit may include many buttons and features known in the art, which are not shown for the sake of clarity. The embodiment shown incorporates a CD player. Accordingly, a front loading bay

175 is provided, through which a user may insert a CD. Various embodiments may provide for either single or multiple disc players. An eject button 170 is provided to eject a nominated disc from the head unit 100.

The head unit 100 of Fig. 1 also shows a number of optional buttons commonly found on audio systems, including an attenuation button 110, and a shift button 160. These buttons are optional and may equally be omitted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The head unit 100 also includes an optional indicator 165 in the form of a light, LED, or the like, to indicate whether a microphone is connected to the microphone jack 136. The head unit 100 further provides fast forward and rewind buttons 155. Optionally provided, but not illustrated in Fig. 1, are skip and scan buttons that enable a user to skip through recorded tracks or scan through either a range of radio frequencies or track listings.

The head unit 100 incorporates an optional recording mode that allows a user to record a mixing session. A recording button 150 is provided to activate recording of a present output. The output may include a mixed version of musical input, together or in conjunction with microphone input from one or more users. A recording unit may be provided within the head unit, as a separate unit in the console, or as a remotely connected unit, such as a CD recorder located in a boot of a vehicle. As described above, the recording unit may include, but is not limited to, a built-in CD recorder for burning new CDs, a DVD recorder, a hard disk drive, or flash memory. The recording unit may also be implemented using a removable storage medium, such as a memory flash card, cassette tape, or the like.

The head unit further includes a scratch platter 180 that allows a user to scratch a selected input source. While an input music source is active, a user can rotate the scratch platter 180 backwards and forwards to produce desired scratching effects. In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the scratch platter 180 incorporates a non-slip surface coating to provide a user with positive contact when utilising the scratch platter 180. In the embodiment shown, the scratch platter 180 incorporates an outer rubber annulus 185 to facilitate accurate use of the scratch platter 180. When used in conjunction with an optional recording mode, a user can scratch individual music sessions and record them for later playback.

Thus, when a user depresses the CD source button 135, music from a CD loaded in the CD loading bay 175 is played through speakers, not shown, that are coupled to the head unit 100, and the user mixes the music from the CD by rotating the scratch platter 180. In one implementation, music is retrieved from a selected source, such as a CD, and stored in a buffer for a predetermined amount of time before being output from the head unit. The head unit may be connected to an external amplifier which is in turn connected to loudspeakers. Alternatively, the head unit includes an amplifier, and the output from the head unit is presented to loudspeakers connected to the head unit. In this implementation, the music is buffered before being presented to the amplifier. Rotating the scratch platter 180 controls the speed, timing, and manner in which the music is retrieved from the buffer. Rotating the scratch platter 180 backwards and forwards allows a selected portion of music to be repeated at a user-defined rate. The head unit 100 optionally includes a tempo control, which is not shown. The tempo control enables a user to control the speed at which a selected music source is played.

It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the head unit 100 may include many other controls common to car audio systems that have been omitted for clarity. Such features may include, for example, fade controls, bass and treble controls, balance controls, and channel equalizing controls. The activation and status of any controls provided by the head unit are preferably displayed and accessible via the display screen 115.

The head unit 100 optionally includes one or more headphone jacks 190a, 190b, that allow users to listen to the output of the head unit 100 through headphones. Alternatively, wireless headphones are utilised, with the head unit 100 including a wireless receiver.

The head unit of Fig. 1 optionally includes a crossfader, that is not shown. The crossfader allows a user to fade between two selected music sources. In one implementation, the crossfader utilises a sliding switch on a horizontal guide. When the sliding switch is located on the far left side of the guide, a volume of a first selected music source is minimised and a volume of a second selected music source is maximised. As the switch is moved to the right of the guide, the first selected music source increases in volume and the second selected music source decreases in volume. When the switch reaches the far right of the guide, the output of the first selected music source is maximised and the output of the second selected music source is minimised.

Whilst the crossfader is described above as a sliding switch on a horizontal guide, alternate implementations utilising a rotating dial, or a sliding switch on a guide at a different orientation, may equally be practised. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the buttons depicted in Fig. 1 may equally be implemented using switches, slides, and other implementations known in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows an alternate embodiment of a head unit 200. The head unit 200 of Fig. 2 is designed as a single DIN console unit, and includes a similar array of features to those shown in Fig. 1. In particular, the head unit 200 includes an ON/OFF power switch 205, a display 215, and a volume control 240. The head unit 200 also includes a battle mode button 225, and fast forward and rewind buttons 255. Mode buttons 245 for controlling other standard audio system functions are also provided. The head unit 200 incorporates a built-in CD player (not shown), including a front loading bay 275 and an associated eject button 270. A scratch platter 280 is provided to enable a user to scratch a selected music input source, such as, for example, a CD loaded in the CD loading bay 275 or an external source connected to an auxiliary input jack 260. The external source may include, for example, a CD player, a DVD player, an MP3 player, an Apple iPod mobile digital device, a hard disk drive, flash memory, a microphone, or audio cassette player. The external source may further include the output from another head unit incorporating an audio source, such as a CD player. The external source may be, for example, another instance of the head unit 200 of Fig. 2, or an instance of the head unit 100 of Fig. 1.

The embodiment of the head unit 200 shown in Fig. 2 includes a plurality of optional lights 290, which are preferably implemented using LEDs. The lights 290 are configured to indicate an output volume of the head unit. In an alternate embodiment, the lights 290 indicate a tempo of the music being played. In a further embodiment, individual ones of the lights 290 indicate a particular music source that is active or inactive.

The head unit 200 includes an optional tempo control 230, which enables a user to control the speed at which a selected music source is played. Thus, if the user selects the CD player 275 as the music source, the user controls the speed of playback of the CD by manipulating the tempo control. In this implementation, the tempo control is a rotatable dial, but other implementations, such as a sliding switch, may equally be practised.

Fig. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a head unit 300. The head unit 300 is arranged to occupy a double DIN space in a vehicular console. The head unit 300 includes two built-in CD players 310a, 310b, each of which is associated with a separate scratch platter 380a, 380b, respectively. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the CD players 310a, 310b are positioned above one another. A number of controls are provided for each of the CD players 310a, 310b. CD player 310a has associated controls that include a volume control 305a, a RELOOP button 315a, a LOOP In button 320a, a LOOP Out button 325a, a tempo control 330a, and a battle mode button 335a. The RELOOP button 315a, LOOP In button 320a, and LOOP Out button 325a allow a user to loop and reloop through a portion of a selected track. A user depresses the LOOP In button 320a at the beginning of a portion of a music track that is to be repeated. The user then depresses the LOOP Out button 325a at the end of the selected portion.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the CD player 310a also has one or more associated microphone jacks 340a and a headphone jack 345a. The microphone jacks 340a allow one or more users to connect one or more microphones to the head unit 300 to provide vocals to music playing on the CD player 310a. The CD player 310a also has an associated microphone volume control 360a for controlling the volume of vocal input provided via a microphone connected to the microphone jacks 340a, particularly when the battle mode is active. The headphone jack 345a allows a user to connect headphones to the head unit 300. The head unit 300 also includes an input jack 350a to allow an external mixing device to be connected to the head unit 300. An external mixing device may include, for example, a graphic equalizer for controlling various frequency bands of music being played on the CD player 310a.

The CD player 310b has associated controls that mirror the controls of CD player 310a. CD player 310b has controls that include a volume control 305b, a RELOOP button 315b, a LOOP In button 320b, a LOOP Out button 325b, a tempo control 330b, and a battle mode button 335b. The RELOOP button 315b, LOOP In button 320b, and LOOP Out button 325b allow a user to loop and reloop through a portion of a selected track.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the CD player 310b also has one or more associated microphone jacks 340b and a headphone jack 345b. The microphone jacks allow one or more users to connect one or more microphones to the head unit 300 to provide vocals to music playing on the CD player 310b. The headphone jack 345a allows a user to connect headphones to the head unit 300. The CD player 310b also has an associated microphone volume control 360b for controlling the volume of vocal input provided via a microphone connected to the microphone jacks 340b. The head unit 300 also includes an input jack 350b to allow an external mixing device to be connected to the head unit 300. An external mixing device may include, for example, a graphic equalizer for controlling various frequency bands of music being played on the CD player 310b.

Each of the CD players 310a, 310b also has an associated display 355a, 355b, respectively. The head unit 300 includes a number of other controls associated with the CD players 310a, 310b that are not shown, for the sake of clarity. Such controls include, for example, track selection and search buttons, eject buttons, programming buttons, play, pause, skip, and attenuation buttons.

The head unit 300 includes a crossfader 370 that allows a user to fade between the CD player 310a and the CD player 310b. When used in conjunction with the scratch platters 380a and 380b, the crossfader allows a user to mix music from the CD players 310a, 310b to produce a desired performance. In an alternate embodiment, not illustrated, the head unit 300 includes one or more auxiliary input jacks to connect an external music source. In such an embodiment, the crossfader can be utilised to fade between two music sources selected from the CD players 310a, 310b and one or more external sources connected to the auxiliary input jack/s.

Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram representation of an external crossfading unit 400. The crossfading unit 400 includes an optional first volume channel control 410 and an optional second volume channel control 430. The first volume channel control 410 controls the output volume of a first music source connected to the crossfading unit 400. Similarly, the second volume channel control 430 controls the volume of a second music source connected to the crossfading unit 400. The crossfading unit 400 includes a crossfader 440 for fading between two music source connected to the crossfading unit 400. The crossfading unit 400 is preferably implemented as a single DIN unit.

Coupling two audio sources to the crossfading unit 400 of Fig. 4 allows a user to fade between the two coupled audio sources. In one example, the outputs of first and second head units are coupled to the crossfading unit 400. The first and second head units may be, for example, instances of the head unit 100 of Fig. 1 or the head unit 200 of Fig. 2, or a combination thereof. A user can control the relative volumes of the first and second head units by using volume controls on the first and second head units themselves, or by using the optional first volume channel control 410 and second volume channel control 430, or by a combination thereof. The user is then able to fade between the first and second head units as desired.

In an alternate embodiment of the crossfading unit 400, the crossfading unit 400 further includes an optional graphic equalizer, not shown, for controlling one or more frequency ranges of either one or both of the first and second audio sources coupled to the crossfading unit. The graphic equalizer may be associated with one or more display indicators, such as LEDs, to allow a user to monitor relative magnitudes of the frequency ranges.

Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram representation of a vehicular audio system 500. The system 500 includes a first head unit 510, a crossfading unit 540, and a second head unit 550. The first head unit 510 includes a first CD player 520 and a first display 530. For the sake of clarity, controls on the first head unit 510 are not shown. However, it will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art that the first unit 510 includes one or more controls relating to volume, play, stop, search, programming, and the like, as described above with reference to Fig. 3. The first head unit 510 optionally includes a tempo control, not shown. In an alternate embodiment, the first head unit 510 includes another audio source, such as a radio, MP3 player, or the like. In another embodiment, the first head unit 510 includes an input jack for connecting an external music source.

Similarly, the second head unit 550 includes a second CD player 560 and a second display 570. For the sake of clarity, controls on the head unit 550 are not shown. However, it will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art that the second unit 550 includes one or more controls relating to volume, play, stop, search, programming, and the like, as described above with reference to Fig. 3. The second head unit 550 optionally includes a tempo control, not shown. In an alternate embodiment, the second head unit 550 includes another audio source, such as a radio, MP3 player, or the like. In another embodiment, the second head unit 550 includes an input jack for connecting an external music source.

The first head unit 510 and the second head unit 550 are coupled to the crossfading unit 540. The crossfading unit 540 is coupled to an output, such as an amplifier and/or loudspeakers (not shown). The crossfading unit 540 controls the relative output volume of the first and second head units 510, 550 to allow a user to fade between music sources associated with the first and second head units 510, 550. The first and second head units 510, 550 optionally include a scratch platter to enable a user to scratch music from a source associated with those respective head units 510, 550. In one implementation, amplified outputs from the first head unit 510 and the second head unit 550 are coupled directly to the crossfading unit 540. The crossfading unit 540 is then coupled to audio loudspeakers, which are not shown. In one embodiment, the crossfading unit 540 includes optional volume controls, not shown, for controlling the individual volumes of the first head unit 510 and the second head unit 550. Fig. 6 is a schematic block diagram representation of a vehicular audio system head unit 600 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The head unit 600 includes one or more sources 610. Optionally, one or more external music sources 615 are connected to the sources 610. In the case in which more than one source is provided, a user is able to select a source to be output from the head unit 600. An output from the sources 610 is presented to a buffer 620. The buffer 620 stores music output from the selected source 610 for a predetermined period of time, hi one embodiment, a whole music track is stored in the buffer 620. hi another embodiment, a portion of a music track is stored in the buffer. The buffer 620 presents an output to a processor 660. The processor 660 determines how the received output from the buffer 620 is to be output from the head unit, based on predetermined settings of the head unit, user input, or a combination thereof. hi the embodiment of Fig. 6, the head unit 600 includes a scratch platter 680 connected to the processor 660. The head unit also includes a tempo control 630 connected to the processor 660. A user utilises the scratch platter 680 and the tempo control 630 to control the manner in which an output from one or more of the sources 610 is output from the head unit. For example, when a user rotates the scratch platter 680, the processor repeats a selected portion of a music track output from the buffer 620. A user utilises the tempo control 630 to determine a speed at which an output from the buffer 620 is output from the head unit 600.

The head unit 600 also includes a microphone jack 635 to allow a user to connect a microphone 645 to the head unit 600. Vocal input from the microphone 645 is presented via the microphone jack 635 to the processor 660 to be combined to music retrieved from the buffer 620. Also shown in Fig. 6 is an optional parallel wireless microphone receiver 636 to allow signals from a wireless microphone 646 to be received. In one embodiment, the head unit includes a battle mode activated by depressing a battle mode button 625. When the battle mode is activated, the processor 660 filters vocal tracks from the output of the buffer 620 and inserts vocals derived from the microphone 645.

The processor 660 presents an output signal to an output connection 685. The output signal is influenced by user input from the scratch platter 680, tempo control 630, microphone 635, and other user controls. The output connection is coupled to a loudspeaker 690. In one embodiment, the processor 660 amplifies the output signal. In an alternate embodiment, the head unit connects to an external amplifier, which is in turn connected to the loudspeaker 690. The head unit 600 also includes an optional recording unit 650. The recording unit

650 may be embodied in the form of a built-in hard-disk drive, a flash memory, a writable CD player, or other storage medium. The recording unit may also be embodied by a removable storage medium, such as a flash card, connected to the head unit 600. When a user activates a recording mode on the head unit 600, the output signal from the processor 660 is presented not only to the output connection 685, but also to the recording unit 650. In this manner, a user records a mixing session derived from manipulating music from one or more of the sources 610 by utilising one or more of the scratch platter 680 and tempo control 630, as well as any vocals provided via the microphone 645. In the embodiment of Fig. 6, the head unit 600 also includes a headphone jack 642 to allow a user to connect headphones 640 to listen to the output music signal from the processor 660 or music being output from the buffer 620. A wireless (radio or infra-red) transmitter 643 allows the output music signal to be received and played through one or more sets of wireless headphones 641.

The head unit 600 optionally includes a Bluetooth interface 648 to allow audio and video to be passed to and from a mobile telephone, laptop or other suitably equipped device, and/or a CB radio interface 649 to allow audio and video to be passed to and from an external UHF CB radio.

The head unit 600 may optionally include a memory unit, not shown, that stores pre-recorded tracks and beats that can be accessed by a user. In addition, data can be read from a storage medium as an alternative input source, in a similar manner to the original

CD player data source.

Fig 8 is a schematic block diagram representation of a vehicular audio-visual system head unit 800 in accordance with a further embodiment of the present disclosure.

Whereas the previously described embodiments have been largely directed to audio sources, the data flow in the head unit 800 is audio- visual (AV), and thus can be audio, video, or a combination thereof.

The head unit 800 includes a number of sources of AV material. The sources include one or more internal DVD players 810, an external line level AV (audio/video) input 811, a wired microphone port 813 for connecting a wired microphone 812, a wireless receiver 815 for coupling to a wireless microphone 814, an external video input port 817 for connecting a conventional video camera 816, a Flash device interface port

821 for receiving program material streamed from an external Flash device 820, a

Bluetooth connection port 824 for coupling to a Bluetooth enabled mobile telephone 823, an interface port 826 for coupling a CB radio 825, and an internal non-volatile storage system 828, such as a hard-drive. Data can be written to and read from the Flash device

820, and accordingly a bidirectional buffer 822 is shown to depict the split of the data signal paths into and out of the Flash device 820.

A user interface 890 is integrated within the head unit 800, and includes controls to control all components of the head unit 800. For the sake of clarity, individual controls are not shown in Fig. 8. The user interface 890 includes two scratch platters corresponding to first and second time buffers 835 and 836, which are described later. The user interface 890 also includes controls for AV effects processors 840 and 841, controls for first and second crossfaders 845 and 846, controls for source selection multiplexers 830 and 831, controls required for the sources themselves (including play, stop, skip controls for the DVD players 810, play/stop/skip/record controls for the flash memory 820 and recording device 828, and connection parameters for the mobile telephone 823), controls for a beat trigger module 870, and controls for audio such as output volume and overall signal processing. In one embodiment, the display for the user interface 890 appears on the front panel of the head unit 800. In another embodiment, a motorised fold-out flat panel display screen provides the required feedback to the operator. One embodiment allows the fold-out flat screen to be touch sensitive, allowing the "controls" to be instantiated on the screen, and therefore removing the need for most of the controls on the front display.

The user interface 890 also includes an optional wireless remote control 892, which sends the user's commands back to the head unit 800 via a wireless receiver 891. This allows more functionality in the remote control than could otherwise fit on the front panel, due to the amount of space available for controls.

Each of the AV sources described above is connected to each of the first and second multiplexers 830 and 831. A user is able to select a source via the first and second multiplexers 830 and 831 by utilising controls on the user interface 890.

The respective outputs of the first and second multiplexers 830 and 831 feed into corresponding first and second time shift buffers 835, 836 as first and second serial outputs. These time shift buffers 835, 836 store a sequential history of AV data read from an input source via the multiplexers 380, 381 so that "scratching" can occur, and perform a corresponding function to the buffer 620 in Fig. 6. The buffers 835 and 836 are controlled by a scratch platter and/or tempo control incorporated into the user interface 890. The respective outputs of the first and second time shift buffers 835, 836 are optionally fed into two corresponding effects processors 840 and 841. The effects processors 840, 841 provide optional, additional effects to the AV source. Audio effects include flanger, filters, chorus, echo and battle mode, and video effects include smearing, edge detection (differentiation in the spatial domain), invert, gamma and changes to saturation and intensity. The functions of these effects processors are user-selectable and controlled by the user interface 890.

The two outputs from effects processors 840 and 841 are both fed into two separate first and second crossfaders 845 and 846 as first and second mixing sources. The first crossfader 845 only receives audio signal, and is a monitor output to allow the operator to cue up a second AV source before its signal is introduced into the output. In the embodiment shown, the output of crossfader 845 is fed to a set of wired headphones 866 via wired headphone output port 865. The output is also fed to a set of wireless headphones 861 via wireless transmitter 860.

The second crossfader 846 is an AV crossfader, which¹ allows the audio to be mixed in proportion as in previous embodiments. However, the second crossfader 846 also allows the two video signals from the outputs of the effects processors 840, 841 to be crossfaded. This crossfading can be a simple ratiometric proportion of the two video signals generated by the effects processors 840 and 841, as in the case described above for audio signals, or alternatively can involve a more elaborate fading technique, such as a metamorphosis.

The output of the second crossfader 846 is fed into an internal video screen 850, as well as an optional external video screen 852 via a video output port 851, and an external speaker system 854 via an audio output port 853. The AV output from the second crossfader 846 can optionally be recorded and stored by the internal recording medium 828, recorded on an external flash device 820 via flash device port 821, and sent to a video-equipped mobile telephone 823 via Bluetooth interface 824. The audio can also be output to an external CB radio 825 via CB radio connection port 826. The head unit also incorporates a beat trigger module 870. The beat trigger module

870 receives a signal derived from the output of the second crossfader 846 and detects the main beat from the received signal. The main beat can then be utilised to trigger light patterns on optional external lights 872, connected via an external light port 871.

The aforementioned preferred method(s) comprise a particular control flow. There are many other variants of the preferred method(s) which use different control flows without departing the spirit or scope of the invention. Furthermore one or more of the steps of the preferred method(s) may be performed in parallel rather sequential.

The method of mixing audio and/or video signals in a vehicle is preferably practised using a general-purpose computer system 700, such as that shown in Fig. 7 wherein the operating functions described above with respect to Figs. 1 to 6 and 8 may be implemented as software, such as an application program executing within the computer system 700. In particular, the steps of the methods of mixing, recording, filtering, scratching and buffering audio and/or video signals are effected by instructions in the software that are carried out by the computer. The instructions may be formed as one or more code modules, each for performing one or more particular tasks. The software may also be divided into two separate parts, in which a first part performs the mixing, buffering, filtering, scratching and recording methods and a second part manages a user interface between the first part and the user. The software may be stored in a computer readable medium, including the storage devices described below, for example. The software is loaded into the computer from the computer readable medium, and then executed by the computer. A computer readable medium having such software or computer program recorded on it is a computer program product. The use of the computer program product in the computer preferably effects an advantageous apparatus for audio systems for vehicles. The computer system 700 is formed by a computer module 701, input devices such as a keyboard/keypad 702 and mouse/control dial 703, output devices including a display device 714 and loudspeakers 717.

The computer module 701 typically includes at least one processor unit 705, and a memory unit 706, for example formed from semiconductor random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM). The module 701 also includes an number of input/output (I/O) interfaces including an audio-video interface 707 that couples to the video display 714 and loudspeakers 717, an I/O interface 713 for the keyboard/keypad 702 and mouse/control dial 703 and optionally a joystick (not illustrated), and an interface 708 for connecting to external sources. A storage device 709 is provided and typically includes a hard disk drive 710 and a floppy disk drive 711. A magnetic tape drive (not illustrated) may also be used. A CD-ROM drive 712 is typically provided as a non- volatile source of data. The components 705 to 713 of the computer module 701, typically communicate via an interconnected bus 704 and in a manner which results in a conventional mode of operation of the computer system 700 known to those in the relevant art.

Typically, the application program is resident on the hard disk drive 710 and read and controlled in its execution by the processor 705. Intermediate storage of the program and any data fetched from an external source may be accomplished using the semiconductor memory 706, possibly in concert with the hard disk drive 710. In some instances, the application program may be supplied to the user encoded on a CD-ROM or floppy disk and read via the corresponding drive 712 or 711. Still further, the software can also be loaded into the computer system 700 from other computer readable media. The term "computer readable medium" as used herein refers to any storage or transmission medium that participates in providing instructions and/or data to the computer system 700 for execution and/or processing. Examples of storage media include floppy disks, magnetic tape, CD-ROM, a hard disk drive, a ROM or integrated circuit, a magneto-optical disk, or a computer readable card such as a PCMCIA card and the like, whether or not such devices are internal or external of the computer module 701. Examples of transmission media include radio or infra-red transmission channels as well as a network connection to another computer or networked device.

The method of mixing music may alternatively be implemented in dedicated hardware such as one or more integrated circuits performing the functions or sub functions of mixing, scratching, filtering, and crossfading. Such dedicated hardware may include graphic processors, digital signal processors, or one or more microprocessors and associated memories.

Industrial Applicability

It is apparent from the above that the arrangements described are applicable to the electronic, audio and auto industries.

The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention, and modifications and/or changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, the embodiments being illustrative and not restrictive.

In the context of this specification, the word "comprising" means "including principally but not necessarily solely" or "having" or "including", and not "consisting only of. Variations of the word "comprising", such as "comprise" and "comprises" have correspondingly varied meanings.

Claims

Claims:

1. An audio system for use in vehicles, said audio system comprising: at least one music source; a buffer for storing data received from said music source; an output interface for receiving data derived from said buffer in a serial manner; and a rotatable scratch platter, wherein rotating said scratch platter provides data from said buffer to said output interface in a forward or backwards direction corresponding to clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of said scratch platter.

2. The audio system of claim 1, wherein said music sources are selected from the group of music sources consisting of: compact disc, radio tuner, audio cassette; iPod, MP3 player; flash memory; and microphone.

3. A vehicular audio system, said audio system comprising:

at least one music source; a buffer for storing data received from said music source;

an output interface for receiving data derived from said buffer; and

a scratch platter, wherein said scratch platter controls serial reading of data from

said buffer to an output interface.

4. The audio system according to claim 3, further comprising:

a recording medium for storing said received data at said output interface.

5. The audio system according to claim 4, wherein said recording medium is selected from one of a hard-disk drive, flash memory, compact disc, and audio cassette.

6. The audio system according to claim 5, wherein said recording medium is a removable recording medium,

7. The audio system according to claim 3, further comprising: a tempo control for controlling a speed of reading of data from said buffer.

8. The audio system according to claim 3, further comprising: at least one microphone input for coupling a microphone, wherein vocal input provided to said microphone is presented to said output interface via said microphone input.

9. The audio system according to claim 3, further comprising: a battle mode filter for filtering one or more vocal tracks from said stored data in said buffer.

10. The audio system according to claim 4, further comprising: a headphone jack for coupling headphones to enable a user to listen to at least one of said received data at said output interface and said data received from said music source.

11. The audio system according to claim 3, further comprising: a crossfader for controlling a relative volume of two selected music sources.

12. The audio system according to claim 3, wherein said at least one music source is selected from the group of music sources consisting of: a CD player, a DVD player, an MP3 player, an Apple iPod, a hard disk drive, flash memory, a microphone, and an audio cassette player.

13. A vehicular audio system head unit comprising: a first compact disc player; a second compact disc player; and a crossfader for controlling a relative volume of said first and second compact disc players.

14. The head unit according to claim 13, further comprising: a first scratch platter for controlling data read from a first disc loaded in said first compact disc player;

15. The head unit according to either one of claims 13 and 14, further comprising: a second scratch platter for controlling data read from a second disc loaded in said second compact disc player;

16. The head unit according to any one of claims 13 to 15, further comprising: a first tempo control for controlling a playback speed of said first compact disc player.

17. The head unit according to any one of claims 13 to 16, further comprising: a second tempo control for controlling a playback speed of said second compact disc player.

18. The head unit according to any one of claims 13 to 17, further comprising: a microphone jack for coupling a microphone to enable a user to provide vocal input.

19. The head unit according to any one of claims 13 to 18, further comprising: a recording medium for recording an output derived from at least one of said first compact disc player, said second compact disc player, and a microphone coupled to said microphone jack.

20. The head unit according to any one of claims 13 to 19, further comprising: at least one display unit for indicating a status of at least one of said first and second compact disc players.

21. The head unit according to any one of claims 13 to 20, further comprising: a battle mode filter for filtering a vocal component of a disc loaded into one of said first and second compact disc players.

22. A vehicular audio system comprising: a first head unit having a first music source; a second head unit having a second music source; and a crossfader coupled to each of said first and second head units, wherein said crossfader controls a relative volume of said first and second music sources.

23. A vehicular audio system head unit, said head unit comprising: at least one music source; a buffer for storing data received from a selected one of said at least one music source; and a processor for controlling reading of data from said buffer to be presented as an output of said head unit.

24. The head unit according to claim 23, further comprising: a scratch platter coupled to said processor, wherein said scratch platter controls serial reading of data from said buffer.

25. The head unit according to either one of claims 23 and 24, further comprising: a recording medium for storing said output.

26. The head unit according to any one of claims 23 to 25, further comprising: a tempo controller coupled to said processor, said tempo controller controlling a speed of data read from said buffer.

27. The head unit according to any one of claims 23 to 26, further comprising: a microphone jack for coupling a microphone to provide vocal input, wherein said processor combines said vocal input and data read from said buffer to produce said output.

28. The head unit according to any one of claims 23 to 27, further comprising: a battle mode control coupled to said processor to active a filtering of vocal content from data read from said buffer.

29. The head unit according to any one of claims 23 to 28, wherein said at least one music source is derived from an external device coupled to said head unit.

30. The head unit according to any one of claim 25, wherein said recording medium is one of a writable CD, a writable DVD, a hard-disk drive, a flash memory, and an audio cassette.

31. An external crossfading unit, comprising: a first interface for coupling to a first audio source; a second interface for coupling to a second audio source; and a crossfader for controlling a relative volume of said first and second audio sources.

32. The crossfading unit according to claim 32, further comprising: a first volume control for controlling a volume of said first audio source; and a second volume control for controlling a volume of said second audio source.

33. An entertainment system for use in vehicles, comprising: at least one data source; a first buffer for storing data received from said data source; an output interface for receiving data derived from said first buffer in a serial manner; and a control interface for controlling presentation of said data from said first buffer to said output interface.

34. The entertainment system according to claim 33, wherein said control interface includes: a rotatable scratch platter, wherein rotating said scratch platter provides data from said first buffer to said output interface in a forward or backwards direction corresponding to clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of said scratch platter.

35. The entertainment system according to either one of claims 33 and 34, wherein said data source provides at least one of audio and video data.

36. The entertainment system according to any one of claims 33 to 35, wherein said at least one data source is selected from the group of data sources consisting of: a wired microphone, a wireless microphone, a video camera, a flash memory device, a wireless enabled mobile telephone, a non-volatile storage system, a CB radio, a CD player, and a DVD player.

37. The entertainment system according to any one of claims 33 to 36, further comprising: first and second multiplexers coupled to each of said data sources and said control unit, said control unit utilising said first and second multiplexers to select a user-selected data source; wherein said first multiplexer produces a first serial output from said user-selected data source, and said second multiplexer produces a second serial output from said user-selected data source.

38. The entertainment system according to claim 37, wherein said first buffer is a first time shift buffer coupled to said first multiplexer for storing said first serial output, said entertainment system further comprising: a second time shift buffer coupled to said second multiplexer for storing said second serial output; wherein said control unit is coupled to each of said first and second time shift buffers to control playing of said first and second serial outputs.

39. The entertainment system according to either one of claims 37 and 38, further comprising: a first effects processor for applying'one or more predefined effects to a data stream derived from at least one of said first and second serial outputs.

40. The entertainment system according to claim 39, wherein said first effects processor is coupled to said first time shift buffer for applying one or more predefined effects to said first serial output, said entertainment system further comprising: a second effects processor coupled to said second time shift buffer for applying one or more predefined effects to said second serial output.; wherein said first and second effects processors are coupled to said output interface.

41. The entertainment system according to either one of claims 38 and 39, wherein said predefined effects are selected from the group of effects consisting of: flanger, filters, chorus, echo, battle mode, smearing, edge detection, invert, gamma, saturation changes and intensity changes.

42. The entertainment system according to any one of claims 33 to 41, wherein said output interface is selected from the group of output interfaces consisting of: a video screen, a video output port, an audio output port, a recording medium, an external flash device port, a wireless interface, a CB radio connection port, and an external light port.

43. The entertainment system according to any one of claims 33 to 42, further comprising: a beat trigger module coupled said output interface, wherein said beat trigger module determines a main beat from a received signal.

44. The entertainment system according to any one of claims 37 to 43, further comprising: a first crossfader for receiving an audio signal derived from at least one of said first and second serial outputs, wherein said first crossfader is controlled by said control unit to facilitate cueing of a second data source.

45. The entertainment system according to any one of claims 37 to 44, further comprising: a second crossfader for receiving first and second mixing sources derived from said first and second serial outputs, wherein said second crossfader is controlled by said control unit to mix said first and second mixing sources.

46. An audio system for use in vehicles, said audio system being substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

47. A vehicular audio system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

48. A vehicular audio system head unit substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

49. An external crossfading unit substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings .

50. An entertainment system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.