Systems and methods for reducing audio distortion during playback of phonograph records using multiple tonearm geometries

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed relating to electro-mechanical devices and related computer control and audio processing systems intended to optimize playback fidelity of phonograph records. Said recordings are manufactured by a process that employs a cutting head assembly driven in a straight path from the outer to the inner-most radius of the recordable surface. However, most record turntables device that are used to play back phonograph records rely on a stylus transducer attached to the end of a pivoting arm. Instead of the linear path followed by the original cutting head, said tonearm traces an arc across the surface of the recorded disk resulting in playback distortion proportional to error in alignment of said stylus relative to the tangent of the groove. This invention addresses this deficiency and produces an optimal audio quality of playback of phonograph records.

1 . A system, comprising:
 circuitry configured for obtaining a first audio segment associated with a first recording area of a phonograph record;   circuitry configured for obtaining at least a second audio segment associated with at least a second recording area of the phonograph record, the second recording area at least partially overlapping with the first recording area;   circuitry configured for aligning at least an end portion of the first audio segment with a start portion of the at least a second audio segment; and   circuitry configured for outputting a continuous audio stream associated with the first audio segment and the at least a second audio segment.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a turntable configured for rotatably supporting the phonograph record;   a first tonearm calibrated with one or more distortion reduction values associated with the first recording area;   at least a second tonearm calibrated with one or more distortion reduction values associated with the at least a second recording area; and   at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium configured at least for storage of the first audio segment and the at least a second audio segment.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one image sensor disposed for obtaining at least one image of the first tonearm and the at least a second tonearm;   image recognition logic configured at least to provide positional data related to the first and the at least a second tonearm at least partially via recognizing views of the first tonearm and the at least a second tonearm at least partially using the at least one image sensor; and   a tonearm positioning arrangement configured to position the first and the at least a second tonearm in association with obtaining the first audio segment and the at least a second audio segment at least partially based on provided positional data.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein circuitry configured for obtaining a first audio segment associated with a first recording area of a phonograph record comprises:
 circuitry configured for receiving an indication of at least an outer groove radius and an inner groove radius associated with the first recording area; and   circuitry configured for obtaining the first audio segment at least partially via traversing a radial distance between the outer groove radius and the inner groove radius associated with the first recording area.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein circuitry configured for receiving an indication of at least an outer groove radius and an inner groove radius associated with the first recording area comprises:
 circuitry configured for receiving a distance between a spindle center and an outer boundary of the first recording area as the outer groove radius; and   circuitry configured for receiving a distance between the spindle center and an inner boundary of the first recording area as the inner groove radius.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein circuitry configured for obtaining the first audio segment at least partially via traversing a radial distance between the outer groove radius and the inner groove radius associated with the first recording area comprises:
 circuitry configured for controlling a first tonearm to receive audio data recorded between the outer groove radius and the inner groove radius associated with the first recording area, the first tonearm associated with one or more first recording area calibrations related to distortion reduction.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein circuitry configured for obtaining at least a second audio segment associated with at least a second recording area of the phonograph record, the second recording area at least partially overlapping with the first recording area comprises:
 circuitry configured for receiving an indication of at least an outer groove radius and an inner groove radius associated with the second recording area, the outer groove radius associated with the second recording area outside of an inner groove radius associated with the first recording area; and   circuitry configured for obtaining the second audio segment at least partially via traversing a radial distance between the outer groove radius and the inner groove radius associated with the second recording area.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein circuitry configured for obtaining a first audio segment associated with a first recording area of a phonograph record and circuitry configured for obtaining at least a second audio segment associated with at least a second recording area of the phonograph record, the second recording area at least partially overlapping with the first recording area comprise:
 circuitry configured for obtaining the first audio segment at least partially via a first tonearm associated with one or more first calibrations related to distortion reduction within the first recording area and circuitry configured for obtaining the second audio segment at least partially via a second tonearm associated with one or more second calibrations related to distortion reduction within the second recording area.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein circuitry configured for obtaining the first audio segment at least partially via a first tonearm associated with one or more first calibrations related to distortion reduction within the first recording area and circuitry configured for obtaining the second audio segment at least partially via a second tonearm associated with one or more second calibrations related to distortion reduction within the second recording area comprises:
 circuitry configured for controlling a start location of the first tonearm;   circuitry configured for controlling a start location of the second tonearm; and   circuitry configured for obtaining at least a portion of the first audio segment associated with the first tonearm concurrent with obtaining at least a portion of the second audio segment associated with the second tonearm.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein circuitry configured for obtaining the first audio segment at least partially via a first tonearm associated with one or more first calibrations related to distortion reduction within the first recording area and circuitry configured for obtaining the second audio segment at least partially via a second tonearm associated with one or more second calibrations related to distortion reduction within the second recording area comprises:
 circuitry configured for controlling a start location of the first tonearm;   circuitry configured for controlling a start location of the second tonearm;   circuitry configured for obtaining the first audio segment associated with the first tonearm; and   circuitry configured for obtaining the second audio segment associated with the second tonearm subsequent to obtaining the first audio segment associated with the first tonearm.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein circuitry configured for obtaining a first audio segment associated with a first recording area of a phonograph record comprises:
 circuitry configured for positioning a first tonearm in association with an outer groove radius of the first recording area at least partially using at least one image sensor;   circuitry configured for controlling the first tonearm to receive audio data;   circuitry configured for determining a relation between the first tonearm and the inner groove radius of the first recording area at least partially using the at least one image sensor; and   circuitry configured for re-positioning the first tonearm responsive to the determined relation.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 circuitry configured for tagging the received audio data in association with an indication of the first tonearm passing a radius associated with the at least a second recording area.   
     
     
         13 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein circuitry configured for outputting a continuous audio stream associated with the first audio segment and the at least a second audio segment comprises:
 circuitry configured for determining a splice point; and   circuitry configured for outputting a continuous audio stream associated with the obtained first and second audio segments at least partially based on the determined splice point.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein circuitry configured for determining a splice point comprises:
 circuitry configured for determining a splice point between the aligned at least an end portion of the first audio segment and at least a start portion of the second audio segment.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein circuitry configured for determining a splice point aligned at least an end portion of the first audio segment and at least a start portion of the second audio segment comprises:
 circuitry configured for determining a splice point between the aligned at least an end portion of the first audio segment and at least a start portion of the second audio segment at least partially based on optically-detected data.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein circuitry configured for outputting a continuous audio stream associated with the obtained first and second audio segments at least partially based on the determined splice point comprises:
 circuitry configured for preparing the continuous audio stream at least partially based on concatenating a portion of the first audio segment ending at the determined splice point and a portion of the second audio segment beginning at the determined splice point; and   circuitry configured for outputting the prepared continuous audio stream.   
     
     
         19 . A system, comprising:
 means for obtaining a first audio segment associated with a first recording area of a phonograph record;   means for obtaining at least a second audio segment associated with at least a second recording area of the phonograph record, the second recording area at least partially overlapping with the first recording area;   means for aligning at least an end portion of the first audio segment with a start portion of the at least a second audio segment; and   means for outputting a continuous audio stream associated with the first audio segment and the at least a second audio segment.   
     
     
         20 . A method, comprising:
 obtaining a first audio segment associated with a first recording area of a phonograph record;   obtaining at least a second audio segment associated with at least a second recording area of the phonograph record, the second recording area at least partially overlapping with the first recording area;   aligning at least an end portion of the first audio segment with a start portion of the at least a second audio segment at least partially via digital signal processing of digital storage associated with the first and the at least a second audio segment; and   outputting a continuous audio stream associated with the first audio segment and the at least a second audio segment at least partially via digital signal processing of digital storage associated with the first and the at least a second audio segment.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein circuitry configured for determining a splice point between the aligned at least an end portion of the first audio segment and at least a start portion of the second audio segment at least partially based on optically-detected data comprises:
 circuitry configured for determining a splice point between the aligned at least an end portion of the first audio segment and at least a start portion of the second audio segment at least partially based on optically-detected data, the optically-detected data detected while obtaining one or more of at least a portion of the first audio segment or at least a portion of the at least a second audio segment.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein circuitry configured for determining a splice point aligned at least an end portion of the first audio segment and at least a start portion of the second audio segment comprises:
 circuitry configured for determining a splice point between the aligned at least an end portion of the first audio segment and at least a start portion of the second audio segment at least partially based on at least one tag associated with an indication of a first tonearm passing a radius associated with the at least a second recording area.