Karaoke system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- an audio source;
a vocal track processor coupled to the audio source that outputs first and second signals, where the first signal comprises a music track of the audio source and the second signal comprises a vocal track of the audio source;
a microphone; and
an acoustic echo canceller coupled to the microphone and the vocal track processor, wherein the acoustic echo canceller is configured to receive a microphone signal from the microphone, and wherein the acoustic echo canceller is configured to attenuate the vocal track in response to a determination that a vocal content level of the microphone signal is above a predetermined threshold.
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Abstract
The system describes a karaoke system that enhances the experience of singing along with music, but without the need to display the lyrics. The system includes a combination of a vocal track reducer and an echo canceller, decision logic for determining when a person is talking or singing (double-talk detector) and a method for “ducking” (i.e., attenuating) the vocal track when the singing is detected. No special CD or DVD with lyric tracks is required, making the system capable of working with CD, mp3, AM, FM, HD radio, satellite radio signals, or any other suitable content source. The result is that any content source may potentially be used as a karaoke soundtrack without any pre-modification.
55 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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an audio source; a vocal track processor coupled to the audio source that outputs first and second signals, where the first signal comprises a music track of the audio source and the second signal comprises a vocal track of the audio source; a microphone; and an acoustic echo canceller coupled to the microphone and the vocal track processor, wherein the acoustic echo canceller is configured to receive a microphone signal from the microphone, and wherein the acoustic echo canceller is configured to attenuate the vocal track in response to a determination that a vocal content level of the microphone signal is above a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for attenuating vocal content from an audio source comprising:
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receiving original audio content comprising a music track and a vocal track; receiving a signal from a microphone; identifying a delayed original content signal in the signal from the microphone; removing the identified signal from the original audio content at an acoustic echo canceller to identify a remainder signal; and attenuating the vocal track in response to a determination that a vocal content level of the remainder signal is above a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus comprising:
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a first signal input configured to receive a pre-recorded audio signal that comprises a music portion and a vocal portion; a vocal track processor coupled with the first signal input and configured to separate the music portion into a first signal and the vocal portion into a second signal; a second signal input configured to receive a microphone signal; an acoustic echo canceller coupled with the second signal input and configured to compare a vocal content level of the microphone signal with a predetermined threshold; and an output node configured to output a combination of the first signal and the second signal to a speaker system in response to a determination by the acoustic echo canceller that the vocal content level of the microphone signal is below the predetermined threshold, wherein the output node is configured to output the first signal to the speaker system without the second signal or with an attenuated version of the second signal in response to a determination that the vocal content level of the microphone signal is above the predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification