Groove mapping

A method of non-destructively modifying a media file, comprising:

• providing a first media file in a first computer memory;
• processing the first medial file to determine the existence and location of intrinsic or inherent beat information;
• providing a first groove file in a second computer memory;
• and
• playing back the first media file using information in part from the first groove file without destructively modifying the contents of the first media file.

A method of modifying a media file, comprising:

• providing an audio file in a first computer memory, the audio file containing audio information for at least one track of audio;
• providing at least one groove file in a disk storage medium;
• providing a user interface displaying at least a portion of the audio information for at least one track of audio and further displaying information about the at least one groove file in a disk storage medium;
• providing user means for non-destructively applying the at least one groove file to the at least one track of audio, wherein said first groove file imparts a modification to contents of the audio file during playback;
• displaying the at least one track of audio to show its apparent modification by the first groove file.

A method of displaying how a media file will be non-destructively modified during playback by a groove file, comprising:

• providing a groove file in a first computer memory or storage medium, the groove file containing information about how beats of a pre-groove audio track are transformed into beats of a post-groove audio track, wherein said groove file imparts a variation to contents of the pre-groove audio track during playback;
• displaying certain beats of the pre-groove audio track along one axis;
• and
• displaying certain beats of the post-groove audio track along another axis, the certain beats of the pre-groove audio track corresponding to the certain beats of the post-groove audio track.

A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, for displaying how a media file will be non-destructively modified during playback by a groove file, the computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus to:

• provide a groove file in a first computer memory or storage medium, the groove file containing information about how beats of a pre-groove audio track are transformed into beats of a post-groove audio track, wherein said groove file imparts a variation to contents of the pre-groove audio track during playback;
• display certain beats of the pre-groove audio track along one axis;
• and
• display certain beats of the post-groove audio track along another axis, the certain beats of the pre-groove audio track corresponding to the certain beats of the post-groove audio track.

A method of normalizing and non-destructively modifying a media file, comprising:

• providing a first media file in a first computer memory;
• adjusting a plurality of beats of the first media file so that the plurality of beats substantially align with an ideal audio grid;
• providing a first groove file in a second computer memory, wherein said first groove file imparts a variation to contents of the first media file during playback;
• and
• playing back the adjusted first media file using information in part from the first groove file without destructively modifying the contents of the first media file.

A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, for normalizing arid non-destructively modifying a media file, the computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus to:

• provide a first media file in a first computer memory;
• adjust a plurality of beats of the first media file so that the plurality of beats substantially align with an ideal audio grid;
• provide a first groove file in a second computer memory, wherein said first groove file imparts a variation to contents of the first media file during playback;
• and
• play back the adjusted first media file using information in part from the first groove file without destructively modifying the contents of the first media file.