Portable mixing recorder and method and program for controlling the same

• US 20020189426A1
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Ohtani, Ryohsuke, Hirade, Seiji
• Granted Patent: US 7,119,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/603
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/08 by combining tones G10H1/14, G10H1/16 take precedence; chord G10H1/38
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/061 MP3, i.e. MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, lossy audio compression
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/165 Memory card, i.e. removable module or card for storing music data for an electrophonic musical instrument
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/285 USB, i.e. either using a USB plug as power supply or using the USB protocol to exchange data
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 7/02 in which amplitudes at successive sample points of a tone waveform are stored in one or more memories

Abstract

There is provided a portable mixing recorder which enables a user to readily produce music using overdubbing and/or other recording techniques while suppressing degradation of sound quality to the minimum without excessive concern for space restriction. An input analog audio signal is converted to a digital audio signal by an A/D converter section. A decoder reads out a compressed audio signal from an original source file stored in a memory card, and then extends the compressed audio signal to a digital audio signal. A mixing section mixes the digital audio signal obtained by the A/D conversion by the A/D converter section and the digital audio signal obtained by the extension by the decoder. An encoder compresses the digital audio signal obtained by the mixing by the mixing section to a compressed audio signal (mixed file). The mixed file obtained by the compression by the encoder is stored as a new source file in the memory card.

Claims

1. A portable mixing recorder comprising:

an input and conversion device that receives an analog audio signal and converts the analog audio signal to a first digital audio signal;

a decoding device that reads out a compressed audio signal from an original source file stored in a predetermined memory and having the compressed audio signal recorded therein, and then extends the compressed audio signal into a second digital audio signal;

a mixing device that mixes the first digital audio signal and the second digital audio signal into a third digital audio signal;

a first encoding device that compresses the third digital audio signal into a compressed audio signal; and

a storage control device that causes the compressed audio signal obtained by said first encoding device to be stored in the predetermined memory, as a new source file.

2. A portable mixing recorder according to claim 1, further comprising an undo buffer, and wherein when causing the new source file to be stored in the predetermined memory, said storage control device causes the original source file to be temporarily stored in said undo buffer and causes the original source file to be deleted from the predetermined memory.

3. A portable mixing recorder according to claim 1, further comprising a second encoding device that compresses the first digital audio signal into a compressed audio signal, and wherein when causing the new source file to be stored in the predetermined memory, said storage control device causes the compressed audio signal obtained by said second encoding device to be stored in the predetermined memory, as a separate file different from the new source file.

4. A portable mixing recorder according to claim 1, further comprising a display device that displays predetermined information indicating that the new source file is stored in the predetermined memory when said storage control device causes the new source file to be stored in the predetermined memory.

5. A portable mixing recorder according to claim 1, further comprising a connection device that connects at least one other portable mixing recorder as a slave recorder to the portable mixing recorder in cascade, and a slave input device that receives from the slave recorder connected in cascade by said connection device a slave-side input digital audio signal obtained by converting an analog audio signal input to the slave recorder to a digital audio signal, and wherein said mixing device mixes the first digital audio signal, the second digital audio signal, and the slave-side input digital audio signal received by said slave input device.

6. A portable mixing recorder comprising:

a memory that stores files having recorded therein respective compressed digital audio signals, including a source file having a compressed digital audio signal recorded therein;

an input and conversion device that receives an analog audio signal and converts the analog audio signal to a first digital audio signal;

a first level adjustment device that adjusts a level of the first digital audio signal;

a decoding device that reads out the compressed audio signal from the source file, and extends the compressed audio signal into a second digital audio signal;

a second level adjustment device that adjusts a level of the second digital audio signal;

a mixing device that mixes the first digital audio signal subjected to the level adjustment by said first level adjustment device and the second digital audio signal subjected to the level adjustment by said second level adjustment device into a third digital audio signal;

an encoding device that compresses the third digital audio signal into a compressed audio signal; and

a storage control device that causes the compressed audio signal obtained by said encoding device to be stored in said memory.

7. A portable mixing recorder according to claim 6, wherein when causing the compressed audio signal to be stored in said memory, said storage control device causes the compressed audio signal to be substantially overwritten to the source file.

8. A portable mixing recorder according to claim 6, further comprising an undo buffer, and wherein when causing the compressed audio signal to be stored in said memory, said storage control device causes the source file to be temporarily stored in said undo buffer and causes the source file to be deleted from said memory.

9. A portable mixing recorder comprising:

a memory that stores files having recorded therein respective compressed digital audio signals, including a source file having a compressed digital audio signal recorded therein;

an input and conversion device that receives an analog audio signal and converts the analog audio signal to a first digital audio signal;

a first effect applying device that applies a first kind of effect to the first digital audio signal;

a decoding device that reads out the compressed audio signal from the source file, and extends the compressed audio signal into a second digital audio signal;

a mixing device that mixes the first digital audio signal having the first kind of effect applied thereto by said first effect applying device and the second digital audio signal into a third digital audio signal;

a second effect applying device that applies a second kind of effect different from the first kind of effect to the third digital audio signal; and

an output device that outputs the third digital audio signal having the second kind of effect applied thereto by said second effect applying device, from the recorder.

10. A portable mixing recorder comprising:

an input and conversion device that receives an analog audio signal and converts the analog audio signal to a first digital audio signal;

a reproduction device that reproduces a second digital audio signal from a source file stored in a predetermined memory;

a recording instruction device that is operatable to instruct recording of the first digital audio signal in the predetermined memory;

a recording-with-mixing instruction device that is operatable to instruct mixing of the first digital audio signal and the second digital audio signal into a third digital audio signal, and recording of the third digital audio signal in the predetermined memory; and

a control device that causes the first digital audio signal to be stored in the memory when said recording instruction device is operated by a user, and causes the first digital audio signal and the second digital audio signal to be mixed into a third digital audio signal, and the third digital audio signal to be stored in the memory when said recording-with-mixing instruction device is operated by the user.

11. A portable mixing recorder according to claim 10, wherein the source file has a compressed digital audio signal recorded therein, and said reproduction device reproduces the second digital audio signal by reading out the compressed digital audio signal from the source file and extending the compressed digital audio signal, and wherein when the first digital audio signal is to be stored in the memory, said control device causes the first digital audio signal to be compressed and then stored in the predetermined memory, while when the third digital audio signal is to be stored in the memory, said control device causes the third digital audio signal to be compressed and then stored in the memory.

13. A portable mixing recorder according to claim 12, wherein the source file has a compressed digital audio signal recorded therein, and said reproduction device reproduces the second digital audio signal by reading out the compressed digital audio signal from the source file and extending the compressed digital audio signal, and wherein said control device causes the third digital audio signal to be compressed and then stored in the memory.

12. A portable mixing recorder comprising:

an input and conversion device that receives an analog audio signal and converts the analog audio signal to a first digital audio signal;

a reproduction device that reproduces a second digital audio signal from a source file stored in a predetermined memory;

a recording-with-mixing instruction device that is operatable to instruct mixing of the first digital audio signal and the second digital audio signal into a third digital audio signal, and recording of the third digital audio signal in the predetermined memory in the memory;

a temporary stop instruction device that is operatable to instruct said reproduction device to temporarily stop reproduction of the second digital audio signal; and

a control device that, when said recording-with-mixing instruction device is operated by a user after the reproduction of the second digital audio signal is temporarily stopped by the temporary stop instruction device, causes the first digital audio signal and the second digital audio signal to be mixed starting from a position where the reproduction was temporarily stopped, and then causes the third digital audio signal to be stored in the memory.

14. A control method of controlling a portable mixing recorder, comprising the steps of:

converting an input analog audio signal to a first digital audio signal;

reading out a compressed audio signal from an original source file stored in a predetermined memory and having the compressed audio signal recorded therein, and then extending the compressed audio signal into a second digital audio signal;

mixing the first digital audio signal and the second digital audio signal into a third digital audio signal;

compressing the third digital audio signal into a compressed audio signal; and

causing the compressed audio signal obtained by the step of compressing the third digital audio signal to be stored in the predetermined memory, as a new source file.

15. A control method of controlling a portable mixing recorder, comprising the steps of:

converting an input analog audio signal to a first digital audio signal;

adjusting a level of the first digital audio signal;

reading out the compressed digital audio signal from a memory storing files having recorded therein respective compressed digital audio signals, including a source file having a compressed digital audio signal recorded therein, and then extending the compressed digital audio signal into a second digital audio signal;

adjusting a level of the second digital audio signal;

mixing the first digital audio signal subjected to the level adjustment by the step of adjusting the level of the first digital audio signal and the second digital audio signal subjected to the level adjustment by the step of adjusting the level of the second digital audio signal into a third digital audio signal;

compressing the third digital audio signal into a compressed audio signal; and

causing the compressed audio signal obtained by the step of compressing the third digital audio signal to be stored in the predetermined memory.

16. A control method of controlling a portable mixing recorder, comprising the steps of:

converting an input analog audio signal to a first digital audio signal;

applying a first kind of effect to the first digital audio signal;

reading out the compressed digital audio signal from a memory storing files having recorded therein respective compressed digital audio signals, including a source file having a compressed digital audio signal recorded therein, and then extending the compressed digital audio signal into a second digital audio signal;

mixing the first digital audio signal having the first kind of effect applied thereto by the step of imparting the first kind of effect and the second digital audio signal into a third digital audio signal;

applying a second kind of effect different from the first kind of effect to the third digital audio signal; and

outputting the third digital audio signal having the second kind of effect applied thereto by the step of imparting the second kind of effect, from the recorder.

17. A control method of controlling a portable mixing recorder, comprising the steps of:

converting an input analog audio signal to a first digital audio signal;

reproducing a second digital audio signal from a source file stored in a predetermined memory; and

causing the first digital audio signal to be stored in the memory when a recording instruction device is operated by a user, causing the first digital audio signal and the second digital audio signal to be mixed into a third digital audio signal when a recording-with-mixing instruction device is operated by the user, and then causing the third digital audio signal to be stored in the predetermined memory.

18. A control method of controlling a portable mixing recorder, comprising the steps of:

converting an input analog audio signal to a first digital audio signal;

reproducing a second digital audio signal from a source file stored in a predetermined memory; and

causing the first digital audio signal and the second digital audio signal file to be mixed into a third digital audio signal when a recording-with-mixing instruction device is operated by a user after reproduction of the second digital audio signal is temporarily stopped by a temporary stop instruction device, starting from a position where the reproduction was temporarily stopped, and then causing the third digital audio signal to be stored in the predetermined memory.

19. A program for causing a computer to execute a control method of controlling a portable mixing recorder, the method comprising the steps of:

converting an input analog audio signal to a first digital audio signal;

reading out a compressed audio signal from an original source file stored in a predetermined memory and having the compressed audio signal recorded therein, and then extending the compressed audio signal into a second digital audio signal;

mixing the first digital audio signal and the second digital audio signal into a third digital audio signal;

compressing the third digital audio signal into a compressed audio signal; and

causing the compressed audio signal obtained by the step of compressing the third digital audio signal to be stored in the predetermined memory, as a new source file.

20. A program for causing a computer to execute a control method of controlling a portable mixing recorder, the method comprising the steps of:

converting an input analog audio signal to a first digital audio signal;

adjusting a level of the first digital audio signal;

reading out the compressed digital audio signal from a memory storing files having recorded therein respective compressed digital audio signals, including a source file having a compressed digital audio signal recorded therein, and then extending the compressed digital audio signal into a second digital audio signal;

adjusting a level of the second digital audio signal;

mixing the first digital audio signal subjected to the level adjustment by the step of adjusting the level of the first digital audio signal and the second digital audio signal subjected to the level adjustment by the step of adjusting the level of the second digital audio signal into a third digital audio signal;

compressing the third digital audio signal into a compressed audio signal; and

causing the compressed audio signal obtained by the step of compressing the third digital audio signal to be stored in the predetermined memory.

21. A program for causing a computer to execute a control method of controlling a portable mixing recorder, the method comprising the steps of:

converting an input analog audio signal to a first digital audio signal;

applying a first kind of effect to the first digital audio signal;

reading out the compressed digital audio signal from a memory storing files having recorded therein respective compressed digital audio signals, including a source file having a compressed digital audio signal recorded therein, and then extending the compressed digital audio signal into a second digital audio signal;

mixing the first digital audio signal having the first kind of effect applied thereto by the step of applying the first kind of effect and the second digital audio signal into a third digital audio signal;

applying a second kind of effect different from the first kind of effect to the third digital audio signal; and

outputting the third digital audio signal having the second kind of effect applied thereto by the step of applying the second kind of effect, from the recorder.

22. A program for causing a computer to execute a control method of controlling a portable mixing recorder, the method comprising the steps of:

converting an input analog audio signal to a first digital audio signal;

reproducing a second digital audio signal from a source file stored in a predetermined memory; and

causing the first digital audio signal to be stored in the memory when a recording instruction device is operated by a user, causing the first digital audio signal and the second digital audio signal to be mixed into a third digital audio signal when a recording-with-mixing instruction device is operated by the user, and then causing the third digital audio signal to be stored in the predetermined memory.

23. A program for causing a computer to execute a control method of controlling a portable mixing recorder, the method comprising the steps of:

converting an input analog audio signal to a first digital audio signal;

reproducing a second digital audio signal from a source file stored in a predetermined memory; and

causing the first digital audio signal and the second digital audio signal file to be mixed into a third digital audio signal when a recording-with-mixing instruction device is operated by a user after reproduction of the second digital audio signal is temporarily stopped by a temporary stop instruction device, starting from a position where the reproduction was temporarily stopped, and then causing the third digital audio signal to be stored in the predetermined memory.