Methods and apparatuses for recording and playing back audio signals

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for recreating audio signals to sound as though the signals had been recorded in a different acoustic environment are provided. The methods and apparatus may include one or more inputs that receive an audio signal and an input that receives a selected acoustic environment signal, as well as processing circuitry that produces one or more output signals representative of the audio signal being played in the selected acoustic environment. The input, output and characterization signals may be processed and recorded to storage media, either individually or together. In some embodiments, the present invention interfaces with other technology and circuitry and in other embodiments the present invention is a complete stand-alone system, such as a piece of consumer electronics.

1 . An apparatus for playing back altered audio signals, said apparatus comprising: 
 a piece of consumer electronics comprising: 
 a user interface;  
 song display circuitry that displays on a display screen one or more song names of one or more prerecorded songs;  
 venue display circuitry that displays on a display screen one or more venue names of one or more actual venues;  
 selection circuitry that receives inputs from said user interface, wherein said inputs correspond with a consumer's selection of a displayed name of a prerecorded song and a consumer's selection of a displayed name of an actual venue; and  
 processing circuitry that processes said prerecorded song and a characterization that corresponds with said actual venue into an output signal representative of said prerecorded song being played-back in said actual venue.  
   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said song display circuitry displays said one or more song names as a list.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising said piece of consumer electronics receiving said characterizations as streaming media.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said song display circuitry displays said one or more venue names as a list.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising said piece of consumer electronics generating said characterization.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising said piece of consumer electronics retrieving said characterization from a storage device.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising said piece of consumer electronics storing said characterization on a storage device.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising said piece of consumer electronics storing said output signal on a storage device.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said song display circuitry displays said one or more song names while said venue display circuitry displays said one or more venue names.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said venue display circuitry displays a plurality of locations in said actual venue;    said selection circuitry selects a location from said plurality of locations based on an input by said consumer; and    said processing circuitry process said prerecorded song based on said location to produce an output signal representative of said prerecorded song being played-back at said location in said actual venue.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said piece of consumer electronics further comprises said display screen.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said display screen is a computer monitor.  
   
   
       13 . A method for producing altered audio signals, said method comprising: 
 displaying one or more song names of one or more prerecorded songs with a piece of consumer electronics;    displaying one or more venue names of one or more actual venues with said piece of consumer electronics;    receiving inputs from a user interface of said piece of consumer electronics, wherein said inputs correspond with a consumer's selection of a displayed name of a prerecorded song and a consumer's selection of a displayed name of an actual venue; and    processing with said piece of consumer electronics said prerecorded song and a characterization that corresponds with said actual venue into an output signal representative of said prerecorded song being played-back in said actual venue.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein displaying said one or more song names comprises displaying a list of said one or more song names.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising receiving said characterizations as streaming media.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein displaying said one or more venue names comprises displaying a list of said one or more venue names on said display screen.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising generating said characterization with said piece of consumer electronics.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising retrieving said characterization from a storage device.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising storing said characterization on a storage device.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising storing said output signal on a storage device.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein displaying said one or more song names and displaying said one or more venue names occur simultaneously.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 displaying a plurality of locations in said actual venue;    choosing for processing a location from said plurality of locations based on a selection by said consumer of said location from said plurality of locations; and    processing said prerecorded song based on said location to produce an output signal representative of said selected prerecorded song being played-back at said location in said actual venue.