U.S. patent application number 09/774856 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-16 for method and apparatus for storing audio data.
Invention is credited to Tanji, Ryoji.
Application Number | 20010013269 09/774856 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18550459 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010013269 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tanji, Ryoji |
August 16, 2001 |
Method and apparatus for storing audio data
Abstract
When audio data are to be stored into a large-capacity memory
such as a hard disk device, a shared storage section is set in the
memory so as to be used both for storing audio data of one or more
songs and for storing song management data for each of the songs
that are necessary for reproduction of the audio data. The song
management data include data indicative of a stored position, in
the shared storage section, of the corresponding audio data. The
audio data are sequentially stored into the shared storage section
in a predetermined single direction, e.g. from one end toward
another of the shared storage section. The song management data are
sequentially stored into the shared storage section in an opposite
direction to the predetermined single direction, e.g. from the
other end toward the one end of the shared storage section.
Inventors: |
Tanji, Ryoji; (Shizuoka-ken,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MORRISON & FOERSTER, LLP
555 WEST FIFTH STREET
SUITE 3500
LOS ANGELES
CA
90013-1024
US
|
Family ID: |
18550459 |
Appl. No.: |
09/774856 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
84/601 ; 84/602;
G9B/20.014; G9B/20.029; G9B/27.01; G9B/27.012; G9B/27.014;
G9B/27.019; G9B/27.021; G9B/27.05 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 27/105 20130101;
G11B 2020/10592 20130101; G11B 2220/2525 20130101; G11B 20/1251
20130101; G10H 1/0041 20130101; G11B 2220/61 20130101; G11B 27/11
20130101; G11B 2220/218 20130101; G11B 2220/20 20130101; G11B
27/031 20130101; G11B 27/034 20130101; G11B 27/038 20130101; G11B
2220/2545 20130101; G11B 2220/216 20130101; G11B 20/10527 20130101;
G11B 27/34 20130101; G11B 2220/65 20130101; G11B 5/012 20130101;
G10H 7/02 20130101; G11B 27/329 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
84/601 ;
84/602 |
International
Class: |
G10H 007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 1, 2000 |
JP |
JP-2000-024481 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of storing audio data into a memory comprising the
steps of: setting, in said memory, a shared storage section to be
used both for storing audio data of one or more songs and for
storing song management data for each of the songs that are
necessary for reproduction of the audio data, the song management
data including data indicative of a stored position, in said shared
storage section, of the audio data corresponding thereto;
performing control for sequentially storing the audio data into
said shared storage section in a predetermined single direction;
and performing control for sequentially storing the song management
data into said shared storage section in an opposite direction to
the predetermined single direction.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step of performing
control for sequentially storing the audio data into said shared
storage section performs control such that the audio data are
sequentially stored into said shared storage section in a direction
from one end toward another end of said shared storage section, and
wherein said step of performing control for sequentially storing
the song management data into said shared storage section performs
control such that the song management data are sequentially stored
into said shared storage section in a direction from the other end
toward the one end of said shared storage section.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a region in said shared
storage section for storing the song management data for each
individual song has a fixed storage capacity.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the audio data for each
of the songs are stored dispersedly into said shared storage
section, and wherein the song management data include sequence data
indicative of a linkage among the audio data stored dispersedly in
said shared storage section.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said memory is an
external storage device.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises a step
of storing, into a predetermined region, system management data
including data indicative of a stored position, in said shared
storage section, of the song management data for each of the
songs.
7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said memory is an
external storage device, and wherein said predetermined region
storing the system management data is set separately from said
shared storage section.
8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of tracks are
used for each of said songs to store audio data, each of said
tracks including a plurality of virtual tracks each composed of a
linkage of a given number of regions, each of said regions
including time information indicative of a performance section of
audio data of said region, and wherein said data indicative of a
stored position, in said shared storage section, of the audio data
includes, for each of said regions, address information, each
address information being indicative of a stored position, in said
shared storage section, of the audio data of said region.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said audio data of said
region is composed of a linkage of a given number of clusters, and
wherein said address information for each of said regions is
composed of a linkage of a given number of nodes, each of the nodes
corresponding to one cluster.
10. A method as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises the
steps of: reading out, from said memory, the song management data
of any one of the songs to be reproduced; and reading out, from
said memory, the audio data on the basis of the song management
data read out from said memory.
11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said memory is an
external storage device, and wherein said step of reading out, from
said memory, the song management data includes a step of reading
out, from said external storage device, the song management data of
the song to be reproduced and storing the read-out song management
data into an inner storage device, and said step of reading out,
from said memory, the audio data accesses said external storage
device on the basis of the song management data stored in said
inner storage device.
12. A method as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises the
steps of: storing, into a predetermined region, system management
data including data indicative of a stored position, in said shared
storage section, of the song management data for each of the songs;
reading out, from said memory, the song management data of any one
of the songs to be reproduced, on the basis of the system
management data; and reading out, from said memory, the audio data
on the basis of the song management data read out from said
memory.
13. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said memory is an
external storage device, and wherein said predetermined region
storing the system management data is set separately from said
shared storage section.
14. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said memory is an
external storage device, and wherein said step of reading out, from
said memory, the song management data includes a step of reading
out, from said external storage device, the song management data of
the song to be reproduced and storing the read-out song management
data into an inner storage device, and said step of reading out,
from said memory, the audio data accesses said external storage
device on the basis of the song management data stored in said
inner storage device.
15. A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein said step of performing
control for sequentially storing the audio data into said shared
storage section performs control such that the audio data are
sequentially stored into said shared storage section in a direction
from one end toward another end of said shared storage section, and
said step of performing control for sequentially storing the song
management data into said shared storage section performs control
such that the song management data are sequentially stored into
said shared storage section in a direction from the other end
toward the one end of said shared storage section, wherein a region
in said shared storage section for storing the song management data
for each individual song has a fixed storage capacity, and the
system management data includes information indicative of an
address at the other end of said shared storage section, and
wherein said step of reading out, from said memory, the song
management data includes: a step of performing, on the basis of the
address at the other end of said shared storage section and the
fixed storage capacity of the region, an arithmetic operation to
determine an address region of said external storage device where
the song management data of the song to be reproduced are stored;
and a step of accessing the address region of said external storage
device to read out the song management data of the song to be
reproduced and then storing the read-out song management data into
said inner storage device.
16. An apparatus for storing audio data comprising: a memory where
a shared storage section is set to be used both for storing audio
data of one or more songs and for storing song management data for
each of the songs that are necessary for reproduction of the audio
data, the song management data including data indicative of a
stored position, in said shared storage section, of the audio data
corresponding thereto; and a processor coupled with said memory and
adapted to: perform control for sequentially storing the audio data
into said shared storage section in a predetermined single
direction; and perform control for sequentially storing the song
management data into said shared storage section in an opposite
direction to the predetermined single direction.
17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said processor is
further adapted to store, into a predetermined region, system
management data including data indicative of a stored position, in
said shared storage section, of the song management data for each
of the songs.
18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said processor is
further adapted to: read out, from said memory, the song management
data of any one of the songs to be reproduced; and read out, from
said memory, the audio data on the basis of the song management
data read out from said memory.
19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said memory is an
external storage device, and wherein said processor reads out, from
said external storage device, the song management data of the song
to be reproduced, stores the read-out song management data into an
inner storage device, and accesses said external storage device on
the basis of the song management data stored in said inner storage
device to thereby read out the audio data.
20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said processor is
further adapted to: store, into a predetermined region, system
management data including data indicative of a stored position, in
said shared storage section, of the song management data for each
of the songs; read out, from said memory, the song management data
of any one of the songs to be reproduced, on the basis of the
system management data; and read out, from said memory, the audio
data on the basis of the song management data read out from said
memory.
21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein said memory is an
external storage device, and wherein said predetermined region
storing the system management data is set separately from said
shared storage section.
22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein said memory is an
external storage device, and wherein said processor reads out, from
said external storage device, the song management data of the song
to be reproduced, stores the read-out song management data into an
inner storage device, and accesses said external storage device on
the basis of the song management data stored in said inner storage
device to thereby read out the audio data.
23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein said processor
performs control such that the audio data are sequentially stored
into said shared storage section in a direction from one end toward
another end of said shared storage section, and also performs
control such that the song management data are sequentially stored
into said shared storage section in a direction from the other end
toward the one end of said shared storage section, wherein a region
in said shared storage section for storing the song management data
for each individual song has a fixed storage capacity, and the
system management data include information indicative of an address
at the other end of said shared storage section, and wherein said
processor performs, on the basis of the address at the other end of
said shared storage section and the fixed storage capacity of the
region, an arithmetic operation to determine an address region of
said external storage device where the song management data of the
song to be reproduced are stored, accesses the address region of
said external storage device to read out the song management data
of the song to be reproduced and then stores the read-out song
management data into said external storage device.
24. A machine-readable storage medium containing a group of
instructions to cause said machine to implement a method of storing
audio data into a memory where a shared storage section is set to
be used both for storing audio data of one or more songs and for
storing song management data for each of the songs that are
necessary for reproduction of the audio data, the song management
data including data indicative of a stored position, in said shared
storage section, of the audio data corresponding thereto, said
method comprising the steps of: performing control for sequentially
storing the audio data into said shared storage section in a
predetermined single direction; and performing control for
sequentially storing the song management data into said shared
storage section in an opposite direction to the predetermined
single direction.
25. A machine-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 24
wherein said method further comprises a step of storing, into a
predetermined region, system management data including data
indicative of a stored position, in said shared storage section, of
the song management data for each of the songs.
26. A machine-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 24
wherein said method further comprises the steps of: reading out,
from said memory, the song management data of any one of the songs
to be reproduced; and reading out, from said memory, the audio data
on the basis of the song management data read out from said
memory.
27. A machine-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 24
wherein said method further comprises a step of storing, into a
predetermined region, system management data including data
indicative of a stored position, in said shared storage section, of
the song management data for each of the songs; reading out, from
said memory, the song management data of any one of the songs to be
reproduced, on the basis of the system management data; and reading
out, from said memory, the audio data on the basis of the song
management data read out from said memory.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an improved method and
apparatus for storing audio data into a memory, such as an external
storage device like a hard disk device (HDD), and also relates to
an audio-data recording/reproduction method and apparatus using the
improved audio-data storing method. More particularly, the present
invention concerns a technique that allows a limited storage
capacity of the memory to be used efficiently with no waste.
[0002] In digital audio recorders, such as digital mixing
recorders, using an external storage device like a hard disk device
(HDD), a file of song management data is created for each song
(which is one complete unit of music to be recorded or reproduced
and corresponds, for example, to a single piece of music), so as to
manage sound data (waveform data) stored in the external storage
device. The song management data for each song include various
information necessary for reproducing the song, which includes data
indicative of recorded locations, on the external storage device,
of a series of the song-constituting sound or audio data. FIG. 2
shows an exemplary format in which audio data are stored in
predetermined address regions of an external storage device in a
conventionally-known digital audio recorder. Specifically, the
external storage device includes two separate previously-set
address regions each having a fixed storage capacity:
song-management-data storing address region; and sound-data storing
address region. In the song-management-data storing address region,
there are stored song management data for individual songs. Storage
capacity allocated to the song management data for each song is
fixed in the illustrated example, which would thus fix the maximum
number of songs storable in the song-management-data storing
address region. In the sound-data storing address region, sound
data of individual takes-- each take corresponding to a recording
on one occasion-- are stored for each of predetermined recording
units such as clusters. Same sound data may be used more than once
in one song or may be shared among a plurality of songs.
[0003] When reproduction of a given song is instructed, access is
made to particular addresses in the song-management-data storing
address region where are stored the song management data of the
given song, so as to read out the song management data. Then, on
the basis of the read-out song management data, access is made
sequentially to particular addresses in the sound-data storing
address region where are stored the sound data of the given song,
for reproduction of the given song.
[0004] While the song management data for each song generally has a
fixed size, the sound data for each song has a variable size that
varies with the time length of the song and a total number of
tracks in the song. Therefore, in a situation where all the stored
sound data have a large total size although only a smaller number
of songs have been stored, the conventional sound-data storage
format of FIG. 2 would present the following inconvenience. Namely,
if the sound-data storing address region have become full before
the number of songs stored in the song-management-data storing
address region reaches the maximum number (i.e., even when there is
still a vacancy in the song-management-data storing address
region), no more song can be stored any longer, which would result
in significant waste of the song-management-data storing address
region. Conversely, if songs of small sizes are stored and the
number of songs stored in the song-management-data storing address
region has reached the maximum number even when there is still a
vacancy in the sound-data storing address region, no more song can
be stored any longer, which would result in significant waste of
the sound-data storing address region.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present
invention to provide an improved audio-data storing method and
apparatus which allow a storage capacity of an external storage
device to be effectively used with no waste, and audio-data
recording/reproduction method and apparatus using such an
audio-data storing method.
[0006] In order to accomplish the above-mentioned object, the
present invention provides a method of storing audio data into a
memory, which comprises the steps of: setting, in the memory, a
shared storage section to be used both for storing audio data of
one or more songs and for storing song management data for each of
the songs that are necessary for reproduction of the audio data,
the song management data including data indicative of a stored
position, in the shared storage section, of the audio data
corresponding thereto; performing control for sequentially storing
the audio data into the shared storage section in a predetermined
single direction; and performing control for sequentially storing
the song management data into the shared storage section in an
opposite direction to the predetermined single direction. The
method according to the present invention may further comprise a
step of storing, into a predetermined region, system management
data including data indicative of a stored position, in the shared
storage section, of the song management data for each of the
songs.
[0007] The position where storage of the audio data is to be
started can be set, for example, to one end or near the one end of
the shared storage section of the memory, and the position where
storage of the song management data is to be started can be set,
for example, to the other end or near the other end of the shared
storage section of the memory.
[0008] In the memory (e.g., large-capacity memory or external
storage device like a hard disk device) of the present invention, a
shared storage section is set which is to be used both for storing
the audio data (i.e., sound data constituting a body of a song) and
for storing the song management data for each song that include
data indicative of the stored position of the audio data (i.e.,
data for a user to know the recorded position of the sound data)
and that are necessary for reproducing the audio data. The audio
data and song management data are stored into shared storage
section in opposite directions; for example, the audio data are
sequentially stored into the shared storage section in one
direction from one end toward the other end of the shared storage
section while the song management data are sequentially stored into
the shared storage section in the opposite direction from the other
end toward the one end of the shared storage section, or vice
versa. With this arrangement, the data can be stored until the
shared storage section becomes full or substantially full, so that
the storage capacity of the memory can be used effectively with no
waste. If an address region for storing the song management data
for each individual song is set to a fixed storage capacity, the
recording start position of the song management data for each of
the songs can be determined previously. Thus, even in the case
where the song management data are sequentially stored into the
shared storage section in the direction from the other end toward
the one end of the shared storage section, it is possible to
eliminate a need for complicated arithmetic operations to determine
the recording start position when recording the song management
data for each of the songs. Note that even where the song
management data for the individual songs are stored in the opposite
direction to the normal address-advancing (address-incrementing)
direction, individual component data of the song management data
for each individual song may be stored in the address-advancing
direction; the audio data may be stored in a similar manner to the
song management data. Namely, in this case, the direction in which
only each block of the data is crammed into the memory is made
opposite to the normal address-advancing direction, and the
individual data in the block are stored in the address-advancing
direction. Of course, the present invention is not so limited, and
the individual data in the block may also be stored in the opposite
direction to the address-advancing direction. Also, the audio data
of each song may be recorded dispersedly in the shared storage
section, in which case the song management data for the song may
include sequence data that are indicative of a linkage among the
recorded positions of the audio data so as to reproduce a series of
the audio data of the song.
[0009] The method according to the present invention may further
comprise the steps of: reading out, from the memory, the song
management data of any one of the songs to be reproduced; and
reading out, from the memory, the audio data on the basis of the
song management data read out from the memory.
[0010] The method according to the present invention may further
comprise the steps of: storing, into a predetermined region, system
management data including data indicative of a stored position, in
the shared storage section, of the song management data for each of
the songs; reading out, from the memory, the song management data
of any one of the songs to be reproduced, on the basis of the
system management data; and reading out, from the memory, the audio
data on the basis of the song management data read out from the
memory.
[0011] In a preferred implementation, the memory is an external
storage device, and the step of reading out, from the memory, the
song management data includes a step of reading out, from the
external storage device, the song management data of the song to be
reproduced and storing the read-out song management data into an
inner storage device. Further, the step of reading out, from the
memory, the audio data may access the external storage device on
the basis of the song management data stored in the inner storage
device.
[0012] Further, in a preferred embodiment, the step of performing
control for sequentially storing the audio data into the shared
storage section performs control such that the audio data are
sequentially stored into the shared storage section in a direction
from one end toward another end of the shared storage section, and
the step of performing control for sequentially storing the song
management data into the shared storage section performs control
such that the song management data are sequentially stored into the
shared storage section in a direction from the other end toward the
one end of the shared storage section. A region in the shared
storage section for storing the song management data for each
individual song may have a fixed storage capacity, and the system
management data may include information indicative of an address at
the other end of the shared storage section. Further, the step of
reading out, from the memory, the song management data may
includes: a step of performing, on the basis of the address at the
other end of the shared storage section and the fixed storage
capacity of the region, an arithmetic operation to determine an
address region of the external storage device where the song
management data of the song to be reproduced are stored; and a step
of accessing the address region of the external storage device to
read out the song management data of the song to be reproduced and
then storing the read-out song management data into an inner
storage device.
[0013] The present invention may be constructed and implemented not
only as the method invention as discussed above but also as an
apparatus invention. Also, the present invention may be arranged
and implemented as a software program for execution by a processor
such as a computer or DSP, as well as a storage medium storing such
a program. Further, the present invention may be implemented as a
machine-readable storage medium storing performance data based on
the principles of the invention. Furthermore, the processor used in
the present invention may comprise a dedicated processor based on
predetermined fixed hardware circuitry, rather than a CPU or other
general-purpose type processor capable of operating by
software.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] For better understanding of the object and other features of
the present invention, its preferred embodiments will be described
in greater detail hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present
invention, which particularly shows how a memory employed in the
embodiment is divided into various address regions;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an exemplary format in which
audio data are stored in predetermined address regions of an
external storage device in a conventionally-known digital audio
recorder;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a general setup of a hard
disk recorder to which the basic principles of the present
invention are applied;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing principal components of
the hard disk recorder of FIG. 3 which are engaged in communication
of system management data, sound data and song management data;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an exemplary format of the song
management data; and
[0020] FIG. 6 is a diagram explanatory of an exemplary manner in
which data accumulation progresses in a shared address section of
an HDD shown in FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Now, a detailed description will be made about an embodiment
of the present invention to which the basic principles of the
invention are applied to a digital mixing recorder (hard disk
recorder) using a hard disk as its external storage device. FIG. 3
is a block diagram showing a general setup of the hard disk
recorder 10 which includes signal paths of a plurality of channels.
The term "channels" is used herein to refer to not only signal
paths to be used for processing signals of sound data of individual
tracks but also sound data themselves transmitted via the signal
paths. Also note that the terms "signal paths" refer to not only
signal paths physically separated from each other on a
channel-by-channel basis but also a physically shared signal path
by which the sound data of the individual channels are processed on
a time divisional basis. With these signal paths and channels, the
hard disk recorder 10 of the invention is capable of simultaneous
recording or reproduction of a plurality of tracks (e.g., up to 16
tracks), or simultaneous recording and reproduction of a plurality
of tracks (e.g., simultaneous recording of up to 8 tracks
concurrent with reproduction of up to 16 channels). In each of the
tracks, every sample of the sound data consists of 16 bits (two
bytes), except for a mix-down or track-down signal that consists of
24 bits (three bytes).
[0022] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the hard disk recorder 10 includes
a total of three one-chip CPUs (microcomputers), a main CPU 12, a
recorder CPU 14, a sub-CPU 16; for example, the one-chip CPUs may
each be a "SH7042" single-chip RISC microcomputer commercially
available from HITACHI, Ltd. These CPUs 12, 14 and 16 are driven
independently of each other by their respective clocks that operate
asynchronously with each other. The main CPU 12 chiefly performs
mixing control as will be later described. In accordance with
instructions from the main CPU 12, the recorder CPU 14 controls
recording and reproduction to and from the hard disk (HDD) 60 and
also performs waveform editing control and the like. The sub-CPU 16
performs control to deliver various operation information, input
via a human operator, to the main CPU 12, and also performs motor
drive control for individual fader operators and other control in
accordance with instructions from the main CPU 12.
[0023] To a bus 18 of the sub-CPU 16 are connected various
operators 20 including switches, rotary knobs, mouse, jog dial,
shuttle knob and the like, a flash ROM 22 having stored therein
programs for execution by the sub-CPU 16, a motor driver interface
24, etc. A plurality of motor-driven fader operators 26 are
connected to the motor driver interface 24 via a motor driver 28.
Information indicating an operating position of each of the
motor-driven fader operators 26 is delivered to the sub-CPU 16.
Manipulation of the various operators 20 by the human operator can
set mixing parameters, such as parameters for routing or assignment
of each individual input channel to indicate on which track the
input channel should be recorded via which signal path channel,
parameters for routing or assignment of each track-reproduced
signal to indicate from which output channel the track-reproduced
signal should be output via which signal path channel, and
parameters for setting equalizer characteristics, effect
characteristics, sound image localization (panning) etc. Also, the
manipulation of the various operators 20 by the human operator can
instruct execution of various recorder functions such as recording,
reproduction, stop, pause, slow reproduction, fast forwarding and
fast rewinding, selection of a song, switching between
recording/reproduction and editing modes, and waveform editing. The
recording/reproduction mode includes a mode in which normal
recording/reproduction (i.e., only recording (ALL REC), only
reproduction or simultaneous recording and reproduction(SYNC
DUBBING)) is carried out for each performance part, a mode in which
a punch-in or punch-out operation is performed, and a mode in which
a mix-down operation is performed. Information indicative of the
manipulation of each of the operators 20 is passed to the sub-CPU
16, from which the information is delivered via a signal line 30 to
the main CPU 12. In response to operation by a human operator, the
fader operators 26 adjust respective levels of the individual input
channels and output channels, levels of stereo outputs, etc., and
information indicative of manipulation of each of the fader
operators 26 is passed to the sub-CPU 16, from which the
information is delivered via the signal line 30 to the main CPU 12.
In the recording/reproduction mode, i.e. the mode where only
recording (ALL REC), only reproduction or simultaneous recording
and reproduction (SYNC DUBBING) is carried out, the main CPU 12
instructs operating positions of the individual fader operators 26
sequentially to the sub-CPU 16 via the signal line 30 in accordance
with progression of a music piece performance, for fader level
adjustment of the individual reproduction tracks. Thus, via the
motor driver interface 24 and motor driver 28, the individual fader
operators 26 are controlled to automatically move to the respective
instructed operating positions. In this way, the operating
positions of the fader operators 26 that were set at the time of
the recording are reproduced so that reproduction is carried out
with the reproduction level of each of the tracks automatically
adjusted to the level that was set at the time of the
recording.
[0024] To a bus 32 of the main CPU 12, as further shown in FIG. 3,
are connected a flash ROM 34 having stored therein programs for
execution by the main CPU 12, and a DRAM 36 functioning as a
working memory for the CPU 12 and also storing, as song management
data related to mixing functions (routing, equalizing, effect
imparting, fader level adjusting, sound-image-localization
adjusting and other functions) for a song currently designated for
recording, reproduction, editing or the like, sequence data related
to time-varying settings of the mixing parameters. Also connected
to the bus 32 of the main CPU 12 are a DSP 38 implementing the
mixing functions, an LCD control circuit 41 connected with an LCD
(Liquid Crystal Display) 43, an interface 45 connected with a
fluorescent (FL) display 47, etc. Information corresponding to a
current operation mode is displayed on the LCD 43; in the
recording/reproduction mode, for example, information is displayed
for selection of signal routing, ON/OFF states of the channels and
virtual tracks, etc. In the waveform editing mode, a waveform to be
edited is graphically shown on the LCD 43. On the fluorescent (FL)
display 47 are displayed time information (time code) in a
numerical value, levels of input signals or reproduced signals to
or from the individual channels in a bar graph, etc. Note that the
"virtual tracks" are imaginary tracks allocated to the respective
tracks (i.e. real tracks). In the reproduction or simultaneous
recording/reproduction, recorded data can be reproduced by
selecting, one by one, the virtual tracks allocated to the real
tracks to be reproduced. For example, in a situation where the
number of the real tracks is "16" and the number of the virtual
tracks allocated to each of the real tracks is "8", a total of 128
virtual tracks can be provided.
[0025] The DSP 38 provides a mixing processing section for a
plurality of channels. On the basis of manipulation, by the human
operator, of the operators 20 and fader operators 26 or in
accordance with mixing-function-related sequence data stored in the
DRAM 36, the mixing processing section performs mixing processing
to execute, for recording inputs and reproduction outputs,
instructions that are issued from the main CPU 12 for routing,
equalizing, effect imparting, fader level adjusting,
sound-image-localization adjusting and other mixing functions.
[0026] Analog sound signals (recording inputs) of a plurality of
channels (e.g., eight channels at the maximum) input via an analog
input terminal 40 of FIG. 3 are gain-controlled to appropriate
signal levels and then passed to an A/D converter 42 for conversion
into digital representation, from which the converted digital sound
signals are supplied to the DSP 38 for mixing processing. Digital
sound signals (recording inputs) of a plurality of channels (e.g.,
16 channels at the maximum) input via a digital input terminal 44
are supplied via an interface 46 to the DSP 38 for mixing
processing. The recording inputs having been subjected to the
mixing processing is recorded onto an HDD 60 as will be later
described. Digital sound signals (reproduction outputs) of a
plurality of channels (e.g., 16 channels at the maximum) reproduced
from the HDD 60 are mixed by the DSP 38 and then output from a
digital output terminal 54 via an interface 52. Further,
two-channel stereo signals obtained by the DSP 38 mixing the
digital sound signals are converted by a D/A converter 48 into
analog representation are output from an analog output terminal 50
for monitoring or other purposes.
[0027] To a bus 56 of the recorder CPU 14 are connected a flash ROM
58 having stored therein programs for execution by the recorder CPU
14, the HDD 60 corresponding to the external storage device of the
present invention, a DRAM 62 corresponding to an inner storage
device of the present invention, and a DRAM controller (DRC) 68 for
controlling data write/read to/from the synchronous DRAMs (SDRAMs)
64 and 66 each functioning as a buffer memory. Optical disk device
72, such as a CD-RW device, is also connected via an interface 70
to the bus 56 of the recorder CPU 14. Real time clock 76 for
generating data indicative of a current date and time is connected
via a parallel interface 74 to the bus 56 of the recorder CPU 14.
The optical disk device 72 is used to back up or copy any desired
one of the songs recorded on the HDD 60 onto a CD-R or CD-RW disk,
or update a particular one of the programs in the flash ROM 22, 34
and 58 by reproducing a version upgrading program from a CD-ROM or
the like and thereby replacing the particular program with the
upgrading program. System management data, sound data, song
management data, etc. are recorded on the HDD 60 in a manner to be
described later.
[0028] Into the DRAM 62 connected to the recorder CPU 14, there are
stored the system management data read out from the HDD 60, as well
as sequence data indicative of a linkage among recorded locations
on the HDD 60 included in the song management data related to a
song currently designated for recording, reproduction, editing or
the like. The DRAM 62 also functions as a working memory for the
recorder CPU 14. Note that between the DSP 38 and the DRAM
controller (DRC) 68, the sound data are transmitted via signals
lines (not shown) rather than via the buses 32 and 56.
[0029] The bus 32 of the main CPU 12 and bus 56 of the recorder CPU
14 are interconnected via a dual-port RAM (DPRAM) 78, so that
various instructions, song management data and other information
are transmitted via these buses between the main CPU 12 and the
recorder CPU 14. Sampling clock generator 80 generates clock pulses
of a predetermined sampling frequency that are given to an AND
circuit 82. The recorder CPU 14 outputs an operation-section
designating signal that rises in synchronism with a start of
recording or reproduction and falls in synchronism with an end of
the recording or reproduction, and the operation-section
designating signal is passed to the AND circuit 82. This way, the
AND circuit 82 generates section sampling clock pulses from the
start to end of the recording or reproduction. These sampling clock
pulses are fed to external clock input terminals of the main CPU 12
and recorder CPU 14. Each of the main CPU 12 and recorder CPU 14
contains a counter for counting the clock pulses received via the
external clock input terminal. The counters of the main CPU 12 and
recorder CPU 14 are reset in synchronism with the start of the
recording or reproduction and then count the sampling clock pulses.
The main CPU 12 performs the mixing processing per sampling clock
pulse in accordance with the counted value. Further, The recorder
CPU 14 controls the data write/read to/from the HDD 60 and
synchronous DRAMs (SDRAMs) 64 and 66 per sampling clock pulse in
accordance with the counted value. This way, the main CPU 12 and
recorder CPU 14 operate in synchronism with each other with respect
to each sampling frequency (e.g., 48 kHz, 44.1 kHz or the like)
while operating on their respective operation clocks (e.g., 28
MHz), and thus can perform the recording and reproduction control
independently and in parallel to each other.
[0030] The following paragraphs describe the transfer of the data
(sound data, system management data, song management data, etc.) in
the recording/reproduction mode of the hard disk recorder 10 shown
in FIG. 3, with reference to FIG. 4. Upon power-on of the hard disk
recorder 10, the system management data are read out from the
system-management-data storing address region of the HDD 60 and
delivered via the bus 56 to the DRAM 62 for storage therein. Then,
once a desired song is designated, the recorder CPU 14 refers to
the system management data stored in the DRAM 62 and then accesses
a portion of a song-management-data storing address region of the
HDD 60 where are stored the song management data of the designated
song, so as to read out the song management data from the
song-management-data storing address region. Of the read-out song
management data, the sequence data related to the mixing function
of the designated song are transferred via the bus 56, dual-port
RAM 78 and bus 32 to the DRAM 36. Further, of the read-out song
management data, the sequence data indicative of the linkage among
the recorded positions of a series of the sound data of that song
are transferred via the bus 56 to the DRAM 62. In this way, various
processes, such as recording, reproduction and waveform editing,
can be performed for the designated song in accordance with
instructions from the human operator. Note that for each song to be
recorded for the first time, a new file of the song is created
(i.e., a new song-management-data storing address region is
initialized and secured in the HDD 60), in advance, in accordance
with manipulation by the human operator. Song management data of
the new song are stored into the DRAMs 36 and 62 so that the hard
disk recorder 10 is placed in a state capable of recording the
song.
[0031] In the recording/reproduction mode, the following operations
are performed on each track for which recording has been
instructed. Each recording signal (sound data) for the track,
introduced via the analog input terminal 40 or digital input
terminal 44, is passed via the A/D converter 42 or interface 46 to
the DSP 38, where the mixing processing is performed on the
recording signal in accordance with manipulation, by the human
operator, any of the operators 20 and fader operators 26. The
recording signal having been subjected to the mixing processing is
sequentially stored from the DRAM controller (DRC) 68, via the
predetermined signal line that is separate from the bus 56, into
the synchronous DRAMs (SDRAMs) 64 and 66 constituting a buffer
memory. The sound data thus stored in the synchronous DRAMs 64 and
66 are transferred periodically via the bus onto the HDD 60 in a
DMA (Direct Memory Access) fashion. Of system management data and
song management data to be newly created this time, sequence data
indicative of the linkage among the reproduced positions are
sequentially accumulated into the DRAM 62, and sequence data
related to the mixing function are sequentially accumulated into
the DRAM 36. In response to a data storing operation after the
recording, the sequence data related to the mixing function are
delivered via the dual-port-RAM 78 to the bus 56. Thus, the
sequence data are overwritten into the song-management-data storing
address region of the HDD 60 for storing the song management data
of the song, along with data indicative of the linkage among the
recorded positions, on the HDD 60, of the sound data accumulated in
the DRAM 62. In addition, the system management data stored in the
DRAM 62 are overwritten into the system-management-data storing
address region of the HDD 60.
[0032] In the recording/reproduction mode, the following operations
are performed on each track for which reproduction has been
instructed. The recorder CPU 14 refers to data indicative of the
linkage among the reproduced positions of the track stored in the
DRAM 62 and thus sequentially reads out the corresponding sound
data from the HDD 60. The read-out sound data are transferred in
the DMA (Direct Memory Access) fashion, via the bus 56 and DRAM
controller 68, to the synchronous DRAMs 64 and 66 for storage
therein. The DRAM controller 68 sequentially reads out the sound
data from the synchronous DRAMs 64 and 66 at the predetermined
sampling frequency. The sound data read out from the synchronous
DRAMs 64 and 66 are transferred from the DRAM controller 68, via
the above-mentioned predetermined separate signal line, to the DSP
38. The main CPU 12 sets parameters for the DSP 38 by referring to
the mixing-function-related sequence data stored in the DRAM 36,
and then performs the mixing processing on the transferred sound
data. The sound data having undergone the mixing processing are
output from the digital output terminal 54 via the interface 52.
Further, the signals having been mixed into two-channel stereo
signals by the DSP 38 are converted via the D/A converter 48 into
analog signals that are output from the analog output terminal 50.
Note that in the recording/reproduction mode, signals of the
individual tracks designated for the recording or reproduction are
sequentially processed on the time-divisional basis, during which
time the synchronous DRAMs 64 and 66 are switched, on the
time-divisional basis, between write and read modes depending on
whether the currently designated track is a recording track or
reproducing track.
[0033] In FIG. 1, there is shown how the HDD 60 is divided into
various address regions. As shown, the HDD 60 is divided into, in
its start-to-end direction, the system-management-data storing
address region 84 of a fixed storage capacity and a shared address
(shared storage) section 86 following the system-management-data
storing address region 84 and lying up to the endmost of the HDD
60. In the shared address section 86, channel-by-channel sound data
are accumulatively recorded, sequentially in order of the takes, as
digital signals from its fore end so that a sound-data storing
region 86-0 is formed in a sequentially enlarged fashion, while
song management data of individual songs are sequentially recorded
from its rear end so that song-management-data storing address
regions 86-1, 86-2, . . . are formed sequentially. The sound data
are recorded in clusters each having a size of 128 K bytes. Note
that each of the clusters is a 64 K word (samples) and, in the case
of data in the CD format, becomes data of 1.45 sec. (i.e., 64/44.1
kHz=1.45 sec.). Once recorded, the sound data will not be deleted
unless an instruction is given for deleting the corresponding take.
In a situation where a plurality of tracks are recorded
simultaneously, sound data of the individual tracks are recorded
into the shared address section 86. Further, sound data to be added
later by punch-in/punch-out or the like, waveform-edited sound
data, or the like are recorded immediately following an end of
already-recorded sound data in the shared address section 86 apart
from addresses where sound data were recorded by initial recording
on that track. Thus, sound data of each of the virtual tracks are
recorded in the shared address section 86 dispersedly in
clusters.
[0034] In the song-management-data storing address region 86-1,
86-2, . . . , for each of the songs, there are stored sequence data
indicative of the linkage among the recorded addresses of the sound
data for each of the virtual tracks which is necessary for
reproducing the sound data of each virtual track contained in the
song. In each of the song-management-data storing address region
86-1, 86-2, . . . , there are stored mixing-function-related
sequence data for each of the virtual tracks included in the song.
The song-management-data storing address region 86-1, 86-2, . . . ,
for each of the songs has a fixed storage capacity (i.e., 1.5 M
bytes per song), and each time the human operator instructs
creation of a new song file, a new song-management-data storing
address region is initialized and allocated to the song. The
thus-allocated song-management-data storing address region is
updated each time sound data of that song is added such as by
recording. Once set, the song-management-data storing address
region 86-1, 86-2, . . . , for each of the songs is not deleted
unless the human operator explicitly instructs deletion of the
song. In the system-management-data storing address region 84,
there are stored system management data including data that is
indicative of the respective recorded positions of the song
management data of the individual songs.
[0035] The song management data are recorded sequentially from the
rear end of the HDD 60 on the song-by-song basis; however, it is to
be noted that in each of the song-management-data storing address
regions 86-1, 86-2, . . . , the data are recorded in a normal or
forward direction, i.e. in an address-incrementing direction.
Because each of the song-management-data storing address regions
86-1, 86-2, . . . has a fixed storage capacity as noted above, the
respective start locations of the song-management-data storing
address regions 86-1, 86-2, . . . can be arithmetically obtained by
just recording, in the system-management-data storing address
region 84, the endmost address of the entire HDD 60. For example,
the start location of the song-management-data storing address
region 86-1 for the first song can be arithmetically determined by
"(endmost address of all the address regions in the HDD
60)--(storage capacity of the song-management-data storing address
region)." The addresses at the start locations of the
song-management-data storing address regions 86-1, 86-2, . . . may
be recorded in advance rather than being arithmetically determined
in the above-mentioned manner. Although the endmost address of the
shared address section has been described above as being coincident
with the endmost address of the HDD 60, the present invention is
not so limited and the endmost address of the shared address
section may be set at any other suitable location.
[0036] With the above-described file arrangement, it is possible to
automatically access the start address of the HDD 60 and read out
the system management data when the hard disk recorder 10 is turned
on. Then, when a desired song is designated, access can be made, on
the basis of the system management data, to the
song-management-data storing address region storing the song
management data of the designated song. Then, when reproduction of
the song is instructed, it is possible to sequentially access the
addresses where the sound data are recorded, for each
currently-selected virtual track of the song, so that the sound
data of the individual virtual tracks can be reproduced.
[0037] Description is made here about examples of more specific
contents of the system management data, sound data and song
management data recorded on the HDD 60. The system management data
include information indicative of the number of songs stored on the
HDD 60, empty storage capacity and empty locations of the shared
address section 86, foremost and endmost addresses of the shared
address section 86, etc. The sound data include waveform data, name
of the take to which the sound data belong, etc. In FIG. 5, there
is shown an exemplary format of the song management data of a song.
The song management data include sequence data indicative of a
linkage among recorded positions of the sound data for each of the
virtual tracks included in the song and sequence data related to
the mixing function. Fixed storage capacity is allocated to both of
the above-mentioned sequence data. The sequence data indicative of
the linkage among the recorded positions of the sound data have a
hierarchical organization; that is, the sequence data include, in a
top-to-bottom direction, a header, tracks, regions and nodes, which
have their respective fixed storage capacity. The header includes
information indicative of a name and date of creation of the song,
virtual track number currently selected for each of the tracks in
the song, etc. The "track" includes information indicative of
respective names of the individual tracks (e.g., 16 tracks), start
region numbers of virtual tracks (e.g., a total of 128 virtual
tracks) included in the tracks, etc. The "region" represents which
take should be performed from where and up to where. Each virtual
track is composed of a linkage of an optional number of regions.
Normally, the "region" corresponds to a single take. The "region"
includes information indicative of a unique number allocated to the
region, performance start time of the region (i.e., time lapsed
from a performance start time of the song), time length of the
performance, unique number of a leading node in the region, next
region number (except for a last region of the virtual track), etc.
If a blank period is formed from termination of performance of a
particular region to the performance start time of a next region,
no performance (i.e., silent performance) is executed for the
virtual track during that period. The "node" indicates at which
locations on the HDD 60 are recorded the sound data constituting
the take to be designated in the region. The "region" is made up of
a linkage of an optional number of nodes, and the "node" represents
one cluster of the sound data. Further, the "node" includes
information indicative of a unique number allocated to the node,
addresses-- cluster number and a unique number of a next node
(except for the last node in the region)--of the HDD 60 where are
recorded the sound data to be designated by the node.
[0038] According to the above-mentioned hierarchical organization,
selecting a desired song causes all the song management data of the
selected song to be read out from the HDD 60 and stored into the
DRAM 62. Then, once reproduction of the song is designated, the
recorder CPU 14 identifies the virtual tracks selected for each of
the tracks, from the header of the song management data stored in
the DRAM 62. Further, the recorder CPU 14 identifies the leading
region number of the corresponding virtual track from the "track"
of the stored song management data, identifies the leading node
number of the corresponding region from the "region" of the stored
song management data, and identifies the cluster number of the
corresponding cluster number from the "node" of the stored song
management data. Then, the recorder CPU 14 accesses the
corresponding cluster number of the HDD 60 to read out one cluster
of the sound data recorded thereon, so as to perform (reproduce)
the sound data upon arrival at the performance start time
designated by the region. Because the node includes the information
indicative of the next node number, the recorder CPU 14
sequentially identifies the linked node numbers to thereby acquire
the corresponding cluster numbers, so that the sound data are
sequentially read out from the corresponding cluster numbers of the
HDD 60. Thus, for each of the selected virtual tracks, a series of
the sound data included in the region is reproduced. If a
particular node is reached where there is no information of the
next node number, it means that the particular node is the last
node in that region, so that after the readout of the sound data
from the cluster designated by the node, the recorder CPU 14
identifies the next region number in the last region. Thus,
operations similar to the above-mentioned are performed for the
next region; that is, the recorder CPU 14 acquires the linked node
numbers to thereby sequentially access the corresponding cluster
numbers of the HDD 60, and then reproduce a series of the sound
data included in that region. Thus, the sound data constituting the
selected virtual tracks are sequentially reproduced from the
linkage of the regions and linkage of the nodes included in each of
the regions. If a particular region is reached where there is no
information of the next region number, it means that the particular
region is the last region of the virtual track, so that the
instructed reproduction is brought to an end after reproduction of
a series of the sound data included in the last region.
[0039] FIG. 6 is explanatory of an exemplary manner in which data
accumulation progresses in the shared address section 86 of the HDD
60. First, only system management data are recorded into the
system-management-data storing address region 84 with the entire
shared address section 86 left empty, as shown in FIG. 6A. When
creation of a file of a new song is instructed, a first
song-management-data storing address region 86-1 is created in an
area of the predetermined storage capacity starting at the rear end
of the shared address section 86, as shown in FIG. 6B, and data
settable prior to sound data recording, such as the song name, are
recorded into the first song-management-data storing address region
86-1. Once recording (take) of the first song is initiated, the
sound data are sequentially recorded from the fore end of the
shared address section 86, as shown in FIG. 6C. Upon completion of
the recording of the first song, the data in the
song-management-data storing address region 86-1 are updated with
data corresponding to the recorded contents. For next recording,
the second or next song-management-data storing address region 86-2
is created immediately ahead of the first song-management-data
storing address region 86-1, as shown in FIG. 8D. Once recording of
the next song is initiated, the sound data of the next song are
sequentially recorded following the already-recorded sound data in
the shared address section 86. In this way, addition and recording
of any desired song can be made until the shared address section 86
becomes full or substantially full.
[0040] The preferred embodiment has been described above as storing
the sound data from the fore end of the shared address section and
storing the song management data from the rear end of the shared
address section. Alternatively, the song management data may be
stored from the rear end of the shared address section and the
sound data may be stored from the rear end of the shared address
section. In such a case, the shared address section may be divided,
from its rear end, into a plurality of regions each having a
predetermined storage capacity so that the sound data are recorded
into the divided regions, one by one, from the fore end thereof in
the forward (address-incrementing) direction while sequentially
switching from one divided region to another once the one divided
region has become full. Further, whereas the preferred embodiment
has been described above as employing a hard disk device as the
external storage device, any other suitable external device may be
employed such as an optical disk device, magneto-optic disk device
or semiconductor memory. Furthermore, although the preferred
embodiment has been described above in relation to the case where
the basic principles of the present invention are applied to an
audio-data recording/reproduction apparatus with an external
storage device incorporated therein, the present invention may also
be applied to any other type of audio-data recording/reproduction
apparatus employing an external storage device provided outside the
recording/reproduction apparatus. Moreover, although the preferred
embodiment has been described above in relation to the case where
the basic principles of the present invention are applied to a
digital mixing recorder (hard disk recorder), the present invention
may also be applied to digital recorders having no mixing function
and recording/reproduction apparatus for any other type of audio
data than the above-described. The audio data may be not only in
the PCM format but also in any other suitable compressed or coded
format.
* * * * *