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US 6,889,193 B2Granted
Method and system for smart cross-fader for digital audio
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorJames Gordon McLean
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides an improved system and method for cross-fading digital audio files. The method includes determining a plurality of characteristics for a first and a second digital audio files; associating the plurality of characteristics with the first and the second digital audio files; automatically, i.e., without user input, determining an appropriate cross-fading method for the first and the second digital audio files based upon the plurality of characteristics when the first and the second digital audio files are to be cross-faded; and automatically cross-fading the first and the second digital audio files in accordance with the cross-fading method. In this manner, digital audio files are more appropriately cross-faded without the need for cumbersome user input.
Claims19
A method for cross-fading digital audio, comprising the steps of:
- (a) determining a plurality of characteristics for a first and a second digital audio files;
- (b) associating the plurality of characteristics with the first and the second digital audio files and storing the plurality of characteristics in at least one characteristics file associated with the first or the second digital audio file;
- (c) automatically determining an appropriate cross-fading method for the first and the second digital audio files based upon the plurality of characteristics when the first and the second digital audio files are to be cross-faded;
- and
- (d) automatically cross-fading the first and the second digital audio files in accordance with the cross-fading method.
2 more elements
A method for cross-fading digital audio, comprising the steps of:
- (a) determining a plurality of characteristics by a user for a first and a second digital audio files;
- (b) associating the plurality of characteristics with the first and the second digital audio files and storing the plurality of characteristics in at least one characteristics file associated with the first and the second digital audio files;
- (c) automatically determining an appropriate cross-fading method for the first and the second digital audio files based upon the plurality of characteristics when the first and the second digital audio files are to be cross-faded;
- and
- (d) automatically cross-fading the first and the second digital audio files in accordance with the cross-fading method.
2 more elements
A method for cross-fading digital audio, comprising the steps of:
- (a) automatically determining a plurality of characteristics for a first and a second digital audio files, comprising:
- (a1) decompressing a beginning of the second digital audio file,
- (a2) analyzing an envelope of the second digital audio file to determine a fade-in characteristic of the plurality of characteristics,
- (a3) decompressing an end of the first digital audio file to determine a fade-out characteristic of the plurality of characteristics, and
- (a4) determining others of the plurality of characteristics;
- (b) associating the plurality of characteristics with the first and the second digital audio files and storing the plurality of characteristics in at least one characteristics file associated with the first or the second digital audio file;
- (c) automatically determining an appropriate cross-fading method for the first and the second digital audio files based upon the plurality of characteristics when the first and the second digital audio files are to be cross-faded;
- and
- (d) automatically cross-fading the first and the second digital audio files in accordance with the cross-fading method.
6 more elements
A method for cross-fading digital audio, comprising the steps of:
- (a) automatically determining a plurality of characteristics for a first and a second digital audio files, comprising:
- (a1) prefetching and decoding an end of the first digital audio file,
- (a2) determining an ending characteristic of the first digital audio file,
- (a3) prefetching and decoding a beginning of the second digital audio file, and
- (a4) determining a beginning characteristic of the second digital audio file,
- (b) automatically associating the plurality of characteristics with the first and the second digital audio files and storing the plurality of characteristics in at least one characteristics file associated with the first or the second digital audio files;
- (c) automatically determining an appropriate cross-fading method for the first and the second digital audio files based upon the plurality of characteristics when the first and the second digital audio files are to be cross-faded;
- and
- (d) automatically cross-fading the first and the second digital audio files in accordance with the cross-fading method.
6 more elements
A computer readable medium with program instructions for cross-fading digital audio, the instructions for:
- (a) determining a plurality of characteristics for a first and a second digital audio files;
- (b) associating the plurality of characteristics with the first and the second digital audio files and storing the plurality of characteristics in at least one characteristics file associated with the first or the second digital audio file;
- (c) automatically determining an appropriate cross-fading method for the first and the second digital audio files based upon the plurality of characteristics when the first and the second digital audio files are to be cross-faded;
- and
- (d) automatically cross-fading the first and the second digital audio files in accordance with the cross-fading method.
2 more elements
A computer readable medium with program instructions for cross-fading digital audio, the instructions for:
- (a) automatically determining a plurality of characteristics for a first and a second digital audio files, comprising:
- (a1) decompressing a beginning of the second digital audio file,
- (a2) analyzing an envelope of the second digital audio file to determine a fade-in characteristic of the plurality of characteristics,
- (a3) decompressing an end of the first digital audio file to determine a fade-out characteristic of the plurality of characteristics, and
- (a4) determining others of the plurality of characteristics;
- (b) associating the plurality of characteristics with the first and the second digital audio files and storing the plurality of characteristics in at least one characteristics file associated with the first or the second digital audio file;
- (c) automatically determining an appropriate cross-fading method for the first and the second digital audio files based upon the plurality of characteristics when the first and the second digital audio files are to be cross-faded;
- and
- (d) automatically cross-fading the first and the second digital audio files in accordance with the cross-fading method.
6 more elements
A computer readable medium with program instructions for cross-fading digital audio, the instructions for:
- (a) automatically determining a plurality of characteristics for a first and a second digital audio files, comprising:
- (a1) prefetching and decoding an end of the first digital audio file,
- (a2) determining an ending characteristic of the first digital audio file,
- (a3) prefetching and decoding a beginning of the second digital audio file, and
- (a4) determining a beginning characteristic of the second digital audio file,
- (b) automatically associating the plurality of characteristics with the first and the second digital audio files and storing the plurality of characteristics in at least one characteristics file associated with the first or the second digital audio file;
- (c) automatically determining an appropriate cross-fading method for the first and the second digital audio files based upon the plurality of characteristics when the first and the second digital audio files are to be cross-faded;
- and
- (d) automatically cross-fading the first and the second digital audio files in accordance with the cross-fading method.
6 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a first digital audio file;
- a second digital audio file;
- and
- a playing device, wherein the playing device determines a plurality of characteristics for the first and a second digital audio files, associates the plurality of characteristics with the first and the second digital audio files and storing the plurality of characteristics in at least one characteristics file associated with the first or the second digital audio file, automatically determines an appropriate cross-fading method for the first and the second digital audio files based upon the plurality of characteristics when the first and the second digital audio files are to be cross-faded, and automatically cross-fades the first and the second digital audio files in accordance with the cross-fading method.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.