METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIGITAL AUDIO GENERATION AND MANIPULATION

• US 20080184868A1
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian Transeau
• Original Assignee: Sonik Architects, Inc.
• Inventors: Transeau, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,935,879 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/609
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0008 Associated control or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/301 Soundscape or sound field simulation, reproduction or control for musical purposes, e.g. surround or 3D sound; Granular synthesis
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/116 for graphical editing of sound parameters or waveforms, e.g. by graphical interactive control of timbre, partials or envelope non-graphical waveform editing G10H2250/615
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2250/435 Gensound percussion, i.e. generating or synthesising the sound of a percussion instrument; Control of specific aspects of percussion sounds, e.g. harmonics, under the influence of hitting force, hitting position, settings or striking instruments such as mallet, drumstick, brush, hand spint percussion G10H2230/231

Abstract

A method and apparatus creates “micro edits” or alterations and manipulation of sounds, per track or per portion of a track in a “drum machine,” thereby creating unique subdivisions of sound as well as providng means for panning sound within a two dimensional sound space.

Claims

1. A computer-based method of audio generation and manipulation comprising the steps of:

selecting a portion of audio from an audio stream;

designating the number of subdivisions into which said portion will be divided;

setting a slope for said subdivisions; and

creating a new audio portion with said designated number of subdivisions and said slope set for said subdivisions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said slope is exponential.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said slope is linear.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said slope is user-defined.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said slope is defined by the placement of one or more user-defined locations within the said portion.

6. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

setting an amplitude starting point for said new audio portion;

setting an amplitude ending point for said new audio portion; and

designating a slope for the amplitude of said new audio portion.

7. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

setting a starting width for gaps between said subdivisions;

setting an ending width for said gaps between said subdivisions; and

designating a slope for the gaps between said subdivisions.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the additional steps of:

resizing said selected audio portion; and

re-applying said subdivisions and said slope to thereby create a second new audio portion.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the additional steps of:

altering said selected portion of audio; and

re-applying said subdivisions and said slope to thereby create a second new audio portion.

10. A computer-based apparatus for audio generation and manipulation comprising:

selection means for selecting an audio portion from an audio stream;

first designation means, connected to said selection means, for determining the number of subdivisions into which said audio portion will be divided;

first setting means, connected to said first designation means, for setting a slope for said subdivisions; and

creation means, connected to said selection means, for creating a new audio portion having the designated number of subdivisions and said slope set for said subdivisions.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said slope is exponential.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said slope is linear.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said slope is user-defined.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said slope is defined by the placement of one or more user-defined locations within the said portion.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

second setting means, connected to said first setting means, for setting an amplitude starting point for said new audio portion;

third setting means, connected to said first setting means, for setting an amplitude ending point for said new audio portion; and

second designation means, connected to said first designation means, for designating a slope for the amplitude of said new audio portion.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

fourth setting means, connected to said first setting means, for setting a starting width for gaps between said subdivisions;

fifth setting means, connected to said first setting means, for setting an ending width for said gaps between said subdivisions; and

third designation means, connected to said first designation means, for designating a slope for the gaps between said subdivisions.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

reselection means, for selecting a different portion of audio; and

iteration means, for reactivating said first designation means, said first setting means and said creation means, for creating a second new audio portion.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

selection alteration means, for increasing or reducing the length of said selected audio portion; and

iteration means, for reactivating said first designation means, said first setting means and said creation means, for creating a second new audio portion.

19. A computer-based method of audio generation and manipulation comprising the steps of:

selecting an audio portion within an audio stream;

designating a path within a two-dimensional sound space to pan said audio portion; and

designating a path distance over which said audio portion will be panned within said two-dimensional sound space;

panning said audio portion through said path and for said path distance within said two-dimensional sound space.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said path is designated using a selector for a number of petals.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said path is designated using a selector designed to allow sound to occur outside the bounds of said two-dimensional sound space.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising the additional step of setting an alternative center position for said audio portion.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising the additional step of selecting the amplitude of said audio portion.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising the additional step of selecting stereo spread along the x-axis of said two-dimensional sound space.

25. A computer-based apparatus for audio generation and manipulation comprising:

first selection means for selecting an audio portion from an audio stream;

first designation means, connected to said selection means, for designating a path within a two-dimensional sound space to pan said audio portion;

second designation means, connected to said selection means, for designating a path distance over which said audio portion will be panned within said two-dimensional sound space; and

panning means, connected to said selection means, for panning said audio portion through said path for said path distance within said two-dimensional sound space.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said second designation means includes a selector for a number of petals within said two-dimensional sound space.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said second designation means includes a selector designed to allow sound to occur outside the bounds of said two-dimensional sound space.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a centering means, connected to said first selection means, for setting an alternative center position for said audio portion.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising amplitude selection means, connected to said first selection means for selecting the amplitude of said audio portion.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a stereo spread selection means, connected to said first selection means, for selecting stereo spread along the x-axis of said two-dimensional sound space.