Method and apparatus for controlling volume

Abstract

Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for controlling the volume of an audio track. This method represents the volume of an audio track with a graph. This graph is defined along two axes, with one axis representing time and the other representing the volume level. A user can adjust the graph at different instances in time in order to change the volume level in the audio track at these instances. Different embodiments use different types of graphs to represent volume. For instance, some embodiments use a deformable line bar.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method for controlling a volume of an audio track, the method comprising:
 generating a graphical representation of a user-modifiable line within a timeline, the user-modifiable line representing a volume level during times depicted by the timeline, wherein the graphical representation is generated for display in a graphical user interface;   identifying a select command received within the graphical user interface for modification of the line, the select command identifying a point of the line used to modify a selected portion of the line;   modifying, in response to the select command, the graphical representation of the volume level to illustrate a change to the volume level during a period of time corresponding to the selected portion of the line, the graphical representation of the volume level modified to depict multiple portions including: a representation of the volume level before the selected portion of the line, a representation of the volume level within the selected portion of the line, and a representation of the volume level after the selected portion of the line; and   specifying the volume level of the audio track according to a volume level before the selected portion of the line, a volume level within the selected portion of the line, and a volume level after the portion of the line, based on the user interaction with the line received in the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein generating a graphical representation of a user-modifiable line includes generating a deformable line configured to move in the graphical user interface in correspondence to a determined amount of user interaction with the line identified from the select command. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising generating a graphical representation of the audio track along the timeline. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the deformable line is superimposed on the graphical representation of the audio track. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein identifying a select command received within the graphical user interface includes identifying when the line is being dragged in the select command, and wherein modifying the graphical representation of the volume level includes deforming the line based on the select command. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the select command includes a movement of the point along the line from a first position to a second position at a point in time within the timeline. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the deformed line is modified to include a deformity that is bounded by two points, wherein the two points are respective points in time within the timeline, wherein at least one of the two points is moveable to adjust the deformity. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one of the two points that is moveable is used to modify one or more of: the volume after the deformity, the duration of the deformity, or a location of the deformity in the deformable line. 
     
     
         31 . A computer readable storage medium comprising a computer program for controlling a volume of an audio track, the computer program comprising instructions for:
 representing a volume level of the audio track during a period of time with a timeline for display in a graphical user interface, a first axis of the timeline representing the period of time and a second axis of the timeline representing the volume level;   receiving a modification to a portion of a line of the timeline displayed in the graphical user interface, the modification provided from a user command to select and modify a portion of the line, resulting in: the volume level represented before the portion of the line, the volume level represented with the portion of the line, and the volume level represented after the portion of the line; and   specifying the volume level of the audio track at different instances in time corresponding to a time location of the portion of the line.   
     
     
         32 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein the line is a deformable line configured to move in the graphical user interface in correspondence to a user interaction with the line determined from the user command. 
     
     
         33 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 32 , wherein the computer program further comprises a set of instructions for:
 providing a graphical representation of the audio track along the first axis; and   superimposing the deformable line on the graphical representation of the audio track.   
     
     
         34 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein the user command includes a drag operation, and wherein the computer program further comprises sets of instructions for:
 identifying when the drag operation is applied to the line; and   deforming the line based on the drag operation.   
     
     
         35 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein the computer program further comprises a set of instructions for displaying the line in the graphical user interface, and wherein the line is manipulated through select and drag operations received in the graphical user interface. 
     
     
         36 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein the line is modified to include a deformity in the portion of the line, the portion of the line being bounded by two points. 
     
     
         37 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 36 , wherein the two points are two data points defined along the axes, wherein at least one of the two points is moveable to adjust the deformity in the portion of the line. 
     
     
         38 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein the modification to the portion of the line produces a nonlinear line. 
     
     
         39 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 38 , wherein the modification to the portion of the line produces a spline curve in the portion of the line. 
     
     
         40 . A computing system, comprising:
 a processor;   a system memory;   a display device; and   instructions stored with the system memory, the instructions configured for execution with the processor to provide a graphical user interface for output to the display device to control a volume of an audio track, the instructions configured to implement operations to:
 represent a volume level of the audio track with a deformable line in a timeline area, wherein the timeline area is defined along two axes, including a first axis to represent time and a second axis to represent the volume level; 
 receive a modification to the deformable line from a selection operation and a movement operation provided from user input in the graphical user interface; 
 illustrate the modification to the timeline as a first point and a second point on the timeline, producing multiple portions of the line, the multiple portions of the line including a portion of the line before the first point, a portion of the line between the first point and the second point, and a portion of the line after the second point; and 
 determine volume levels of the audio track at different instances in time corresponding to the modification to the deformable line. 
   
     
     
         41 . The computing system of  claim 40 , wherein the deformable line in the timeline is configured to respond in the graphical user interface to a corresponding amount of movement of the line generated from the selection operation and the movement operation. 
     
     
         42 . The computing system of  claim 40 , wherein the instructions are further configured to implement operations to:
 provide a graphical representation of the audio track along the first axis; and   superimpose the deformable line on the graphical representation of the audio track.   
     
     
         43 . The computing system of  claim 40 , wherein the display device is configured to display a display area for displaying a video clip, and wherein the instructions are further configured to implement operations to:
 represent the volume level of a first audio track for the video clip in the timeline, the timeline configured for receiving modifications that modify the volume level of the first audio track during portions of the displayed video clip.   
     
     
         44 . The computing system of  claim 43 , wherein the instructions are further configured to implement operations to:
 represent the volume level of a second audio track for the video clip in a second timeline, the second audio track added to the video by a user, and the second timeline configured for receiving modifications that modify the volume level of the second audio track during portions of the displayed video clip.