Virtual phonograph

• US 8,369,974 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2009
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyran Daisy
• Original Assignee: Kyran Daisy
• Inventors: Daisy, Kyran
• Primary Examiner(s): Briney, III, Walter F
• Application Number:
  US12/582,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20100318204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A computer-based method and system to play back an audio file, and to display and animate a virtual phonograph turntable on a touch-screen similar to the movement of a record and stylus in a conventional physical turntable. A user may manipulate and control playback of the audio file by using the touchscreen to touch, move and drag the virtual record or stylus on the screen. The audio file playback is modified in accordance with the user'"'"'s input, resulting in playback that is similar to what would occur if corresponding touching and movement were performed on a conventional turntable. The system may playback and mix from multiple sources under user control, which may be saved, recorded or exported for future use.

Claims

1. A processor-implemented method to control a playback of recorded sound, comprising the steps of:

displaying on a pressure-sensitive display screen a processor-generated image of a sound recording medium including an image of a vinyl record, wherein the pressure-sensitive display screen is configured to interface with a plurality of processors including a first processor and a second processor;

playing, by use of a processor in communication with a processor storage, a sound encoded in the processor storage, to produce a playback of the encoded sound;

animating the processor-generated image of the sound recording medium, to produce an animation of the vinyl record rotating in synchronicity with the playback;

detecting a touch on the animation; and

controlling the playback and the animation, responsive to the detected touch, to produce a control of the playback and the animation,

wherein the controlling of the playback and the animation includes adjusting a speed of the playback and a speed of the corresponding vinyl record rotation in correlation with an amount of pressure exerted against the pressure-sensitive screen by the touch; and

wherein the displaying on the pressure-sensitive display screen the processor-generated image includes generating a split-screen display, displaying a first set of images including a first vinyl record and at least one first control generated by the first processor in a first display portion of the split-screen and displaying a second set of images including a second vinyl record and at least one second control generated by the second processor in a second display portion of the split-screen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch comprises a substantially linear touching motion, and the playback and the animation are advanced or retarded in time, in response to a direction of the substantially linear touching motion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch comprises a substantially linear touching motion, and the playback comprises a scratching sound.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the animation of the vinyl record further comprises a rotating image having a direction of rotation;

the touch comprises a touching motion that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of rotation; and

the playback comprises a scratching sound.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of mixing the playback with a playback of another sound encoded in processor storage.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of moving a playback point within the playback, responsive to the detected touch.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the touch comprises a dragging of a processor-generated image of a stylus across a processor-generated image of a vinyl record.

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

detecting information of the sound, to produce a detected information;

associating the detected information with the sound, to produce an association; and

storing, in the processor storage, the detected information and the association.

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

playing, by use of the processor in communication with the processor storage, a video encoded in a processor storage, to produce a video playback, wherein the animation is in synchronicity with the video playback.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second processor includes a remote processor.

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

receiving a designation of a portion of the encoded sound;

in response to receiving the designation, dynamically generating and displaying on the display screen a cue point control associated with the designated portion of the encoded sound; and

playing the designated portion of the encoded sound in response to an activation of the cue point control.

12. A computer-readable medium containing computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for controlling playback of a recorded sound, the method comprising:

displaying on a pressure-sensitive display screen a processor-generated image of a sound recording medium including an image of a vinyl record, wherein the pressure-sensitive display screen is configured to interface with a plurality of processors including a first processor and a second processor;

playing, by use of a processor in communication with a processor storage, a sound encoded in the processor storage, to produce a playback of the encoded sound;

animating the processor-generated image of the sound recording medium, to produce an animation of the vinyl record rotating in synchronicity with the playback;

detecting a touch on the animation; and

controlling the playback and the animation, responsive to the detected touch, to produce a control of the playback and the animation,

wherein the controlling of the playback and the animation includes adjusting a speed of the playback and a speed of the corresponding vinyl record rotation in correlation with an amount of pressure exerted against the pressure-sensitive screen by the touch; and

wherein the displaying on the pressure-sensitive display screen the processor-generated image includes generating a split-screen display, displaying a first set of images including a first vinyl record and at least one first control generated by the first processor in a first display portion of the split-screen and displaying a second set of images including a second vinyl record and at least one second control generated by the second processor in a second display portion of the split-screen.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprising creating a display information about the encoded sound.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprising moving, on the display screen, the display of information about the encoded sound.

15. A system to control playback of recorded sound, comprising:

a first processor in communication with a processor storage, the first processor configured to play a sound encoded in the processor storage, to produce a playback of the encoded sound; and

a pressure-sensitive display screen in communication with the first processor, wherein;

the display screen is configured to display a processor-generated image of a sound recording medium including an image of a vinyl record and to interface with a plurality of processors including the first processor and a second processor;

the display screen is configured to display a processor-generated animation of the image of the sound recording medium, the processor-generated animation of the vinyl record rotating in synchronicity with the playback;

the display screen is configured to detect a touch on the animation; and

the display screen is configured to display a processor-controlled animation, the playback and the animation responsive to the detected touch, to control the playback and the animation,

wherein the controlling of the playback and the animation includes adjusting a speed of the playback and a speed of the corresponding vinyl record rotation in correlation with an amount of pressure exerted against the pressure-sensitive screen by the touch; and

wherein the displaying on the pressure-sensitive display screen the processor-generated image includes generating a split-screen display, displaying a first set of images including a first vinyl record and at least one first control generated by the first processor in a first display portion of the split-screen and displaying a second set of images including a second vinyl record and at least one second control generated by the second processor in a second display portion of the split-screen.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a communication link between the first processor and the second processor, wherein the first processor is configured to control playing of an encoded sound by the second processor.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first processor is configurable to be one of a master of the second processor and a slave of the second processor.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising an interface to connect the first processor to an external sound source.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the first processor is further configured to:

receive a designation of a portion of the encoded sound; and

in response to receiving the designation, dynamically generate a cue point control associated with the designated portion of the encoded sound.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the pressure-sensitive display screen is further configured to display the cue point control and wherein the first processor is further configured to play the designated portion of the encoded sound in response to an activation of the cue point control.