Improvements in and relating to in-vehicle entertainment system

Abstract

An in-vehicle entertainment system (200) comprises a microphone (206, 304), a speaker system comprising multiple loudspeaker drivers (208), a control system (212) and a user-interface (212). A track of sound recorded by the microphone(s) can be modified and combined with other tracks to create a layered audio recording, for reproduction via the in-vehicle speaker system. The system may integrate with a mobile computing device (300) such as a smart phone programmed with a companion app (302). An embodiment concerns an in-car recording studio allowing audio properties of individual tracks of a multi-track audio recording to be modified by a user via an in-car user interface.

Description

[0001] Improvements in and relating to in-vehicle entertainment system

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The present disclosure concerns improvements in and relating to entertainment systems for use within a vehicle, a method of creating such an entertainment system, a method of using such an entertainment system and other subject matter. The disclosure also concerns parts of such a system, such as for example, a portable smart phone or similar device for us with such an entertainment system, and associated software.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] In-vehicle entertainment systems are becoming increasing sophisticated and can provide audio-visual entertainment for motorists and their passengers that rival high-end systems for use in the home. A vehicle can be provided with its own hi-fi quality sound system featuring immersive surround sound technology. Some car manufacturers partner with hi-fi companies in order to provide a fully integrated arrangement of loudspeaker units within the car in order to attain exceptionally high quality reproduction of sound and music within the environment of the car. There may be ten or more such units installed in a car (a) to provide sufficiently high quality sound reproduction across the full range of the audio frequencies required and (b) to provide a fully immersive listening experience. For example some cars are equipped with surround sound audio systems able to reproduce spatially encoded audio, for example audio recordings including object-based audio encoding, such as Dolby Atmos®. Despite the high quality of the hardware with which some vehicles are equipped, the hardware may be underutilised by the users of the vehicle. There remain opportunities to enhance and improve existing technology to better utilise the in-vehicle entertainment systems of the prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention provides an entertainment system for use within a vehicle for example a road vehicle, for example a car. The entertainment system may be as set forth in claim 6. The entertainment system comprises a control system and a speaker system comprising multiple loudspeaker drivers installed in different locations in the vehicle. The multiple loudspeaker drivers may be configured to provide reproduction of sound in multiple different zones in the vehicle. The multiple loudspeaker drivers may be configured to provide a surround sound system and may for example be configured to reproduce sound so that a listener perceives sound to originate from different locations in 3-D space in the vehicle. The control system may be arranged to reproduce audio files that have surround sound encoding so that different audio signals are reproduced via different channels to reproduce the surround sound so encoded. The multiple loudspeaker drivers of the speaker system comprise may comprise drivers, or virtual sources that result from the use of multiple drivers, for each of multiple different channels. There may be a subwoofer channel. There may be a front right channel and a front left channel. There may be a rear left channel and a rear right channel. There may be a height channel (overhead channel). There may be one or more channels that relate to virtual sources, for example emulating a source of sound from a location in 3-D space.

[0007] Certain aspects of the invention utilise one or more microphones in the vehicle. For example, one or more microphones may be integrated as part of the vehicle. For example, one or more portable microphones may be provided within the vehicle, for example by a user (e.g. driver or passenger) of the vehicle. The control system of the entertainment system is arranged to perform various functions including one or more of recording sound from said at least one microphone as an audio track, processing audio tracks, and reproducing sound via the speaker system. The control system may comprise one or more separate control units, for example comprising a computer processor. The entertainment system comprises a user-interface comprising a display and a user-input device, which may be integrated together in a touch- sensitive display. The user-interface may be formed at least in part by a console that is installed within the vehicle. The user-interface may be formed at least in part by a portable device. The user-interface is configured to allow a user to operate the entertainment system or certain features of it. The user-interface may be configured to allow a user to record sound in the vehicle as one or more audio tracks via a microphone in the vehicle, for example at least partly with the use of the control system. The user-interface may be configured to allow a user to combine two or more different audio tracks to create a layered audio recording, for example at least partly with the use of the control system. At least one of the different audio tracks combined may be an audio track previously recorded with the entertainment system. The userinterface may be configured to allow a user to play the layered audio recording so created via the speaker system, for example at least partly with the use of the control system.

[0008] Thus, in an embodiment of the invention, a user of an in-vehicle entertainment system comprising a high quality speaker system associated with one or more microphones is able to record, modify and play-back high quality audio files in a manner not previously envisaged for such a system. The high quality components can thus be integrated together, with an appropriately configured user interface and control system, to create an in-vehicle recording studio that may have utility even when the vehicle is stationary and the occupants are not using the vehicle as a form of transport. Such an embodiment may also have utility of course when the vehicle is in motion, particularly for passengers in the vehicle.

[0009] The entertainment system may be configured to interact with a mobile computing device for example a mobile phone, smartphone or other similar device. The mobile computing device is preferably associated with a microphone - for example having its own integrated microphone and / or having an external microphone connected, optionally wirelessly, to it. The microphone associated with the device may be configured (for example by means of a downloaded “app”) to be used as the microphone in the vehicle which the entertainment system uses to record sound in the vehicle as the one or more audio tracks, or at least to allow user input via the microphone to contribute to the recording of sound in the vehicle to create such an audio track. The mobile computing device preferably has its own user-interface (e.g. a touch screen), facilitating interaction with the entertainment system. The mobile computing device may be configured (for example by a downloaded app) to allow user input via the user-interface to contribute to a process of the entertainment system. For example, the user input may initiate such a process, and / or provide data that is then used by the entertainment system.

[0010] The process of the entertainment system, with which the mobile computing device interacts, may be the recording of sound in the vehicle to create one (or more) of the two or more different audio tracks. For example, a user may initiate the recording of a track via the user interface of the mobile computing device. The recording may include using a microphone of the mobile computing device and / or may include using a microphone installed in the vehicle.

[0011] Additionally or alternatively, the process of the entertainment system, with which the mobile computing device interacts, may be the combining of the two or more different audio tracks to create the layered audio recording.

[0012] Additionally or alternatively, the process of the entertainment system, with which the mobile computing device interacts, may be the causing play back of the layered audio recording so created, whether via the speaker system of the vehicle or otherwise.

[0013] The or each microphone, of the entertainment system, in the vehicle may be a microphone installed in the vehicle and configured to operate with at least one other in-vehicle system. For example, the in-vehicle microphone may be one that is used to provide voice commands to control one or more functions of the vehicle. The in- vehicle microphone may be one that is configured to allow for hands-free voice calls (via a telephone device) in the vehicle.

[0014] The display of the user-interface (whether provided by a mobile computing device or otherwise) may comprise a touch-sensitive display facilitating user-input. Such a user-interface may be configured to allow a user to view via the touch- sensitive display (for example, simultaneously) one or more audio properties (for example, gain or volume, spatial properties, equalisation or the like) of each of two or more tracks of the layered audio recording. Such a user-interface may be configured to allow a user to modify, via the touch-sensitive display, in respect of at least one track of the layered audio recording, independently of another track of the layered audio recording, one or more of the audio properties of the track. For example, the user-interface may be configured to allow a user to modify the gain applied to a track, modify the pitch of a track, add reverberation (“reverb”) to a track and / or adjust the equalisation applied to a track. The user-interface may be configured to allow a user to apply auto-tuning to a track (e.g. to adjust the pitch over time of a track in time with a pre-set tune). The user-interface may be configured to allow a user to apply room virtualisation to one or more tracks (e.g. to emulate the acoustics of a venue or room having certain acoustic properties, for example cathedral, open-air venue, recording studio, living room or the like).

[0015] Such a user-interface may be configured to allow a user to modify, via the touch-sensitive display, in respect of at least one track of the layered audio recording independently of another track of the layered audio recording, a spatial characteristic of the track (preferably in addition to being able to modify one or more of the audio properties of the track). Modifying such a spatial characteristic may determine the level (this could be zero for example) at which the track is reproduced, when played, by different loudspeaker drivers. Modifying such a spatial characteristic may determine the level at which the track is audible in different zones in the vehicle. Modifying such a spatial characteristic may determine the location of the source of a track when reproduced in the vehicle as perceived by a listener at a given listening position in the vehicle. The user-interface may be configured to allow a user to cause playback of the layered audio recording so modified via the speaker system.

[0016] The touch-sensitive display of the user interface may be arranged to display a zone representation (which may simply be a plan view of a shape representative of the cabin of the vehicle which may include representations of seats, or where people might be seated in the vehicle). The zone representation preferably shows the locations of multiple different zones in the vehicle. The touch-sensitive display of the user interface may be arranged to display a playback representation (for example over the zone representation), which comprises images each being representative of a different track of the layered audio recording. It may be that the location of each image (e.g. relative to the zone representation) indicates a spatial characteristic associated with that track. It may be that a first visual characteristic of the image (e.g. size or brightness) indicates at least one of the audio properties of the track (e.g. gain). It may be that a second visual characteristic of the image, different from the first, (e.g. colour - or shape) serves to identify the track so displayed. It may be that the shape of the image is used to indicate at least one of the audio properties of the track and / or to identify the track so displayed. It may be that a width (e.g. horizontal dimension) of the shape of the image is used to indicate at least one audio property of the track (e.g. gain applied at low frequency / bass components) and a length (e.g. height / vertical dimension) of the shape of the image is used to indicate a different audio property of the track (e.g. gain applied at higher frequency / treble components).

[0017] The entertainment system may comprise an in-vehicle camera system including at least one video camera. Such a camera system may be arranged, under the control of the control system of the entertainment system, to record video, for example at the same time as recording sound via a microphone of the entertainment system. The control system may be arranged to play an audio recording via the speaker system at the same time as (i.e. in time with) reproducing, via the display of the user-interface, video recorded by the in-vehicle camera system.

[0018] The display of the user-interface may, as mentioned above, be provided at least in part by the display of a portable mobile computing device. Alternatively or additionally, the display of the user-interface may be provided at least in part by the display of a user-interface on a console installed in the vehicle. The display in the vehicle may be a display installed in the vehicle and configured to operate with at least one other in-vehicle system. For example, the in-vehicle display may be one that is used to provide feedback to the driver of the vehicle, for example speed of the vehicle, navigational information (e.g. satellite navigation information), audio settings of the entertainment system when used to reproduce music (e.g. name of track, name of album, name of artist or the like), and / or environmental parameters (such as outdoor temperature, temperature and / or fan speed settings for in-vehicle environmental control, for example as part of in-vehicle air conditioning settings).

[0019] The control system may be arranged to process audio tracks, for example during recording or after recording, to extract sounds (e.g. vocals), made by one or more occupants of the vehicle, from the sound recorded by the microphone(s) as an audio track, discarding background noise (e.g. audio from outside the car and / or from audio being reproduced by the speaker system during the time of recording).

[0020] The control system may include a communication module that is arranged to export one or more files of audio and / or audio-visual content as created by the control system to a remote computer for storage remotely from the vehicle, and for future access by one or more authorised users (e.g. exporting files to the cloud for subsequent retrieval from the cloud). The present invention also provides a device for use in an in-vehicle entertainment system, for example the in-vehicle entertainment system as described or claimed herein, the device for example being as set forth in claim 1. The device may include a user-interface comprising a touch-sensitive display facilitating user-input. Such a user-interface may be configured to allow a user to view via the touch- sensitive display (e.g. simultaneously) one or more audio properties (e.g. gain / volume) of each of two or more tracks of a layered audio recording. Such a userinterface may be configured to allow a user to modify, via the touch-sensitive display, in respect of at least one track of the layered audio recording independently of another track of the layered audio recording, a spatial characteristic of the track and / or one or more of the audio properties of the track. Such a user-interface may be configured to allow a user to cause playback of the layered audio recording so modified via the surround sound speaker system.

[0021] The device may be in accordance with the mobile computing device as described or claimed herein in relation to the in-vehicle entertainment system. For example, the touch-sensitive display may be arranged to display a zone representation which shows the locations of multiple different zones in the vehicle and / or a playback representation, which comprises images each being representative of a different track of the layered audio recording, preferably with the location of each image relative to the zone representation indicating the spatial characteristic associated with that track, preferably with a first visual characteristic of the image (e.g. size or brightness) indicating at least one of the audio properties of the track, and a second visual characteristic of the image (e.g. colour or shape) serving to identify the track so displayed. In examples, the ability of a user to modify (for immediate play-back), in-vehicle, via a single touch-sensitive display, both spatial characteristics and other audio properties of multiple tracks of an audio recording, with the use of an intuitive interactive visual user-interface transforms in-vehicle entertainment system into a mobile recording studio, in a manner not envisaged by the prior art known to the inventor. In certain examples, the device may be a separately provided mobile computing device, with functionality (e.g. the ability to communicate, via instant messaging and / or phone call, with other mobile computing devices) independently of the vehicle. In other examples, the device may be provided as an integral part of as the in-vehicle entertainment system as described or claimed herein. In other examples, the user-controlled functions of, and user-interactions with, the in-vehicle entertainment system may be provided by the provision of a mobile device provided by the user and a device (removable or otherwise) that forms an integral part of the in- vehicle entertainment system.

[0022] The present invention also provides a kit of parts for creating an in-vehicle entertainment system as described or claimed herein in a vehicle. The vehicle is preferably one which comprises a speaker system comprising multiple loudspeaker drivers installed in different locations in the vehicle and a (preferably programmable) control system configured to reproduce sound via the speaker system. The kit may comprise a mobile computing device (e.g. smart phone) which is associated with a microphone (e.g. having its own microphone or connected, possibly wirelessly, to an external microphone) and which has a user-interface. The kit may also include a computer program (e.g. a computer program product, for example an “app”) downloadable onto the mobile computing device. Such a computer program comprises instructions which, when the program is executed by the mobile computing device, enable a user of the mobile computing device perform various actions. For example, the computer program may enable a user to record sound in the vehicle as one or more audio tracks via the microphone and optionally one or more other microphones. The computer program may enable a user to combine two or more different audio tracks, the audio tracks optionally including an audio track recorded via a microphone of the mobile computing device (including a microphone connected, whether or not wirelessly, to the device). The computer program may enable one or more audio tracks to be modified, under the control of the user, to create an audio recording for subsequent playback. For example, the computer program may enable a user to change and / or add to the track (e.g. change a characteristic of the track and / or combine it with another track) to create such an audio recording. The computer program may enable a user to cause the control system of the vehicle to play the audio recording so created via the speaker system.

[0023] The present invention yet further provides a method of creating an entertainment system within a vehicle, for example the in-vehicle entertainment system as described or claimed herein. The method may include a step of installing software (e.g. from a computer program product) on a computer system in the vehicle. Such software may facilitate the recording of audio via at least one microphone in the vehicle (for example, a microphone already installed in the vehicle) to create one or more audio tracks. Such software may facilitate graphical representation of one or more audio properties of multiple audio tracks on a display of a user interface (e.g. a touch-sensitive display) in the vehicle, preferably in a way that enables a user to distinguish between and identify the separate tracks (for example using different colours, or displaying an identification code, such as “Track 1”, “Track 2”, and so on). The user interface in the vehicle may be one which is already installed in the vehicle for example as part of a driver operable console. Such software may facilitate user interaction via the user interface in the vehicle with the audio tracks so recorded. For example, such software may facilitate modification of audio properties of audio tracks and / or to combine separate audio tracks to create a layered sound recording. Such a layered sound recording may be transformed into a single sound recording, not being a multi-track recording, but for example having encoding that preserves spatial information regarding how different tracks, or parts thereof, are to be reproduced. Such software may facilitate the reproduction of sound via a speaker system in the vehicle (for example, of an audio system already installed in the vehicle) to play such a sound recording. Such software may facilitate the interaction of the entertainment system with a mobile computing device (e.g. a smart device, such as a smartphone) associated with a microphone (e.g. having its own integrated - or wirelessly connected - microphone) and having its own user-interface (e.g. its own touch sensitive display screen for facilitating user interactions with the entertainment system in the vehicle).

[0024] According to the invention there is also provided a method of reproducing sound in a vehicle, for example a vehicle having an in-vehicle entertainment system as described or claimed herein. The vehicle comprises a speaker system comprising multiple loudspeaker drivers installed in different locations in the vehicle and one or more microphones. The method may comprise a step of playing an audio track via the speaker system, and whilst the audio track is playing, recording, via the one or more microphones, a new audio track of sound created, at least in part, by one or more occupants of the vehicle. The method may comprise a step of modifying an audio track to create a modified audio recording (e.g. for example, under the control of a user). For example, a user may wish to modify a characteristic of the track (e.g. extract vocals from the track, remove background sound, adjust equalisation, change pitch or add autotuning or the like) or combine it with another track. The method may comprise a step of playing the audio recording so created via the speaker system, optionally with one or more other tracks (e.g. alongside the audio track that was played during the recording step). There is also provided a method of using an in- vehicle entertainment system as described or claimed herein. The use of the in- vehicle entertainment system may be performed when the vehicle is stationary. The use of the in-vehicle entertainment system may be performed when the vehicle is in motion.

[0025] There is also provided a computer program product, for example for use in the kit of parts of the invention as claimed or described herein. For example, the computer program product may be downloadable onto a mobile computing device (e.g. having a microphone and a user interface), that then may enable the mobile computing device to interact with an in-vehicle entertainment system. The computer program product may be configured to be executed, at least in part, by a control system installed in a vehicle. For example, the computer program may comprise instructions which, when the program is executed by a control system of the vehicle, cause the control system (and its associated user-interface for example) to perform the function of the entertainment system as described or claimed herein.

[0026] The computer program product comprises instructions which, when the program is executed, enables various functions - under the control of a user - such as recording sound in the vehicle as one or more audio tracks via the microphone and optionally one or more other microphones. The computer program product may enable a user, for example by using a user interface to input commands, to combine two or more different audio tracks, for example including at least one audio track recorded in the vehicle. The computer program product may enable a user to modify, under the control of the user’s inputs provided via the user interface, one or more audio tracks to create an audio recording. The computer program product may enable a user to cause the control system of the vehicle to play the audio recording so created via the speaker system of the vehicle.

[0027] There is also provided a road vehicle, such as a car, comprising an entertainment system of the invention as claimed or described herein.

[0028] The following Clauses, set out further subject matter that forms part of the disclosure, which Clauses may individually or in combination with other subject matter disclosed herein (for example other such Clauses) form one or more claims of this patent application in due course.

[0029] 1. An entertainment system in a vehicle, the entertainment system comprising: at least one microphone in the vehicle, a speaker system comprising multiple loudspeaker drivers installed in different locations in the vehicle, a control system arranged to record sound from said at least one microphone as an audio track, to process audio tracks, and to reproduce sound via the speaker system, and a user-interface comprising a display and a user-input device, wherein the user-interface is configured to allow a user: to cause the control system to record sound in the vehicle as one or more audio tracks via said at least one microphone, to cause the control system to combine two or more different audio tracks including at least one of the one or more audio tracks so recorded to create a layered audio recording, and to cause the control system to play the layered audio recording so created via the speaker system.

[0030] Clause 2. An entertainment system according to Clause 1, wherein the entertainment system is configured to interact with a mobile computing device being associated with a microphone, said at least one microphone in the vehicle comprises the microphone associated with the device, and the mobile computing device is configured to allow user input via the microphone associated with the device to contribute to the recording of sound in the vehicle to create one of the two or more different audio tracks.

[0031] Clause 3. An entertainment system according to Clause 1 or Clause 2, wherein the entertainment system is configured to interact with a mobile computing device having a user-interface, the wherein the mobile computing device is configured to allow user input via the user-interface to contribute to the process of at least one of recording of sound in the vehicle to create one of the two or more different audio tracks, combining of the two or more different audio tracks to create the layered audio recording, and causing play back of the layered audio recording so created.

[0032] Clause 4. An entertainment system according to Clause 3, wherein the userinterface of the mobile computing device is configured to provided each of the functions of the user-interface of the entertainment system of allowing a user to cause the control system to record, to combine two or more different audio tracks, and to play the layered audio recording so created.

[0033] Clause 5. An entertainment system according to any of the preceding Clauses, wherein said at least one microphone in the vehicle comprises a microphone installed in the vehicle and configured to operate with at least one other in-vehicle system.

[0034] Clause 6. An entertainment system according to any of the preceding Clauses, wherein the display of the user-interface comprises a touch-sensitive display facilitating user-input, the user-interface being configured to allow a user: to view via the touch-sensitive display one or more audio properties of each of two or more tracks of the layered audio recording, to modify, via the touch-sensitive display, in respect of at least one track of the layered audio recording independently of another track of the layered audio recording, a spatial characteristic of the track and one or more of the audio properties of the track, the spatial characteristic determining the level at which the track is reproduced, when played, at each of multiple different zones in the vehicle, and to cause playback of the layered audio recording so modified via the speaker system.

[0035] Clause 7. An entertainment system according to Clause 6, wherein the touch- sensitive display is arranged to display a zone representation which shows the locations of the multiple different zones in the vehicle and a playback representation, which comprises images each being representative of a different track of the layered audio recording, the location of each image relative to the zone representation indicating the spatial characteristic associated with that track and a first visual characteristic of the image indicating at least one of the audio properties of the track, and a second visual characteristic of the image serving to identify the track so displayed.

[0036] Clause 8. An entertainment system according to Clause 7, wherein the shape of the image is used to indicate at least one of the audio properties of the track and / or to identify the track so displayed.

[0037] Clause 9. An entertainment system according to Clause 7 or 8, wherein a width of the shape of the image is used to indicate at least one audio property of the track and a length of the shape of the image is used to indicate a different audio property of the track.

[0038] Clause 10. An entertainment system according to any Clauses 6 to 9, wherein the user-interface is configured to allow a user: to modify, via the touch-sensitive display, in respect of each track of the layered audio recording independently of each other track of the layered audio recording, at least two of the following audio properties of the track: gain, pitch, and equalisation.

[0039] Clause 11. An entertainment system according to any of the preceding Clauses, wherein the entertainment system comprises an in-vehicle camera system including at least one video camera, and wherein the control system is arranged to record video, with the in-vehicle camera system, at the same time as recording sound from said at least one microphone, and to cause the control system to play the layered audio recording so created via the speaker system at the same time as reproducing the video recorded via the display of the user-interface. Clause 12. An entertainment system according to any of the preceding Clauses, wherein the control system is arranged to process audio tracks by extracting sounds made by one or more occupants of the vehicle, from sound recorded from said at least one microphone as an audio track, and discarding background noise.

[0040] Clause 13. An entertainment system according to any of the preceding Clauses, wherein the control system includes a communication module that is arranged to export one or more files of audio and / or audio-visual content as created by the control system to a remote computer for storage remotely from the vehicle, and for future access by one or more authorised users.

[0041] Clause 14. An entertainment system according to any of the preceding Clauses, wherein the multiple loudspeaker drivers of the speaker system comprise drivers, or virtual sources that result from the use of multiple drivers, for each of multiple channels including a subwoofer channel, front right channel, front left channel, rear left channel and rear right channel and the control system is arranged to reproduce audio files that have surround sound encoding so that different audio signals are reproduced via those different channels to reproduce the surround sound so encoded.

[0042] Clause 15. A device for use in an in-vehicle entertainment system, the in-vehicle entertainment system comprising a surround sound speaker system comprising multiple loudspeaker drivers installed in different locations in the vehicle and arranged to provide reproduction of sound in multiple different zones in the vehicle, wherein the device includes a user-interface comprising a touch-sensitive display facilitating user-input, the user-interface being configured to allow a user: to view via the touch-sensitive display one or more audio properties of each of two or more tracks of a layered audio recording, to modify, via the touch-sensitive display, in respect of at least one track of the layered audio recording independently of another track of the layered audio recording, a spatial characteristic of the track and one or more of the audio properties of the track, the spatial characteristic determining the level at which the track is reproduced, when played, at each of the multiple different zones in the vehicle, and to cause playback of the layered audio recording so modified via the surround sound speaker system.

[0043] Clause 16. A device according to Clause 15, wherein the touch-sensitive display is arranged to display a zone representation which shows the locations of the multiple different zones in the vehicle and a playback representation, which comprises images each being representative of a different track of the layered audio recording, the location of each image relative to the zone representation indicating the spatial characteristic associated with that track and a first visual characteristic of the image indicating at least one of the audio properties of the track, and a second visual characteristic of the image serving to identify the track so displayed.

[0044] Clause 17. A kit of parts for creating an in-vehicle entertainment system for a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a speaker system comprising multiple loudspeaker drivers installed in different locations in the vehicle, and a control system configured to reproduce sound via the speaker system, wherein the kit comprises: a mobile computing device associated with a microphone and a user-interface, and a computer program downloadable onto the mobile computing device, the computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by the mobile computing device, enable a user of the mobile computing device to record sound in the vehicle as one or more audio tracks via the microphone and optionally one or more other microphones, and to modify, under the control of the user, the one or more audio tracks to create an audio recording, and to cause the control system of the vehicle to play the audio recording so created via the speaker system. Clause 18. A method of creating an entertainment system within a vehicle, the entertainment system being in accordance with any of Clauses 1 to 14, the method comprising installing software on a computer system in the vehicle which facilitates the recording of audio via at least one microphone in the vehicle to create one or more audio tracks, facilitates graphical representation of one or more audio properties of multiple audio tracks on a display of a user interface in the vehicle, facilitates user interaction via the user interface in the vehicle with the audio tracks so recorded and to modify audio properties of such audio tracks and to combine separate audio tracks to create a layered sound recording, and facilitates the reproduction of sound via a speaker system in the vehicle to play the layered sound recording.

[0045] Clause 19. A method according to Clause 18, wherein the step of installing software on the computer system in the vehicle facilitates the interaction of the entertainment system with a mobile computing device associated with a microphone and a user-interface.

[0046] Clause 20. A method of reproducing sound in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a speaker system comprising multiple loudspeaker drivers installed in different locations in the vehicle and one or more microphones, the method comprising playing an audio track via the speaker system, whilst the audio track is playing, recording, via the one or more microphones, a new audio track of sound created, at least in part, by one or more occupants of the vehicle, modifying the new audio track, to create a modified audio recording playing the audio recording so created via the speaker system, optionally with one or more other tracks.

[0047] Clause 21. A computer program downloadable onto a mobile computing device having a microphone and a user interface, the computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by the mobile computing device, enable a user of the mobile computing device to record sound in the vehicle as one or more audio tracks via the microphone and optionally one or more other microphones, and to modify, under the control of the user’s inputs provided via the user interface, the one or more audio tracks to create an audio recording, and to cause the control system of the vehicle to play the audio recording so created via the speaker system.

[0048] Clause 22. A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a control system of a vehicle connected to at least one microphone, a speaker system, and a user-interface, cause the control system and the user-interface to perform the function of the control system and the user-interface of the entertainment system according to any of Clauses 1 to 14.

[0049] Clause 23. A road vehicle comprising an entertainment system according to any of Clauses 1 to 14.

[0050] It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention. For example, the method of the invention may incorporate any of the features described with reference to the apparatus of the invention and vice versa.

[0051] Description of the Drawings

[0052] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which: Figure 1 shows an overview of the parts and functions of an entertainment system according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0053] Figure 2 shows a plan view of a vehicle of the first embodiment; and

[0054] Figure 3 shows a display on a mobile device used in the first embodiment;

[0055] Figure 4 shows a display within the vehicle of the first embodiment,

[0056] Figure 5 shows a display within the vehicle during use of the entertainment system of the first embodiment at a first time, and Figure 6 shows a display within the vehicle during use of the entertainment system of the first embodiment at a second time that is after the first time.

[0057] Detailed Description

[0058] An embodiment of the invention relates to an in-vehicle entertainment system, which provides an in-vehicle recording studio, making use of the hardware that is already provided within the vehicle for performing other functions. With the use of a smart-phone and a specially configured in-vehicle user interface, a user is able to record audio in the car, manipulate and modify multiple tracks / layers of a multilayered audio sound-track, and play the sound-track so created on a surround sound system of the car. The surround sound system of the car is thus transformed, by means of the present embodiment, into a high quality in-vehicle recording studio.

[0059] Figure 1 shows a vehicle, in the form of a car 100, equipped with the entertainment system 200 of the embodiment. Figure 1 also shows a mobile computer device, in the form of a smartphone 300 and a schematic illustration of a remote computer system including remote data storage (in the cloud).

[0060] Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the car 100 of Figure 1 showing a front row of two seats 202 and a back row of three seats 204. The car includes an integrated microphone 206, which has as one of its functions a microphone for use in telephone calls. The microphone 206 may also be used to provide voice commands within the car 100. The smartphone 300 of Figure 1 is also shown as being located within the car 100. The car includes a loudspeaker surround sound system comprising multiple loudspeaker units 208 installed in the car, being arranged to provide reproduction of audio in different zones within the car. The zones may notionally be divided into a central zone, a front right zone, a front left zone, a rear right zone, and a rear left zone. The front of the car is indicated by arrow 209. The car is equipped with a display console 210 for operation by the driver of the car or a passenger in the other front seat in the car. The display console 210 includes a touch sensitive display. A control system, illustrated schematically by box 212, is provided which is configured to display user information on the display console 210, to receive commands from a user via the console 210 and is also arranged to cause sound to be reproduced on the loudspeaker system of the car. The system is also able to receive and process voice commands from the car’s in-vehicle microphone 206. Interaction between the control system 212 and the smartphone 300 within the car is made possible by wireless communication (for example Bluetooth, wi-fi, or the like) between the smartphone and the control system.

[0061] The smartphone 300 (also shown in Figure 3) in the car is provided with software 302, downloaded as an app on the device, which facilitates interaction with the control system 212 of the car. The smartphone 300 is provided with its own microphone 304, loudspeaker 306 and touch sensitive display screen 308. The smartphone 300 also has camera including a rear camera (not visible in Figure 3) and a front-facing camera 310. The app 302 on the smartphone 300 may be considered as a “companion app” that operates alongside the function of the control system 212 and associated hardware in the car 100.

[0062] Figure 4 shows schematically an example of user feedback that is provided by the display console 210 in the car as part of the user interface of the embodiment. Figure 3 shows schematically an example of user feedback of the user interface that is provided by the display screen 308 of the smartphone in the car 100, that is running the companion app 302. It will be appreciated that other information may be provided alongside that illustrated by Figures 3 and 4 and that the information that is shown as being displayed on the smartphone 300 in the car could additionally or alternatively be displayed on the console 210 in the car 100 and vice versa.

[0063] An in-car recording studio function is provided by the combination of the smartphone 300, associated companion app 302, in-car loudspeakers 208, in-car- installed microphone 206, in-car control system 212 and display console 210 (collectively, “the in-car recording studio apparatus”). As a result, a user is able to capture and create audio content within the car 100. Live audio - for example one or more people singing in the car - may be captured by the in-car-installed microphone 206, by the microphone(s) 306 of the smart phone and / or with an additional microphone (e.g. one specially provided for that purpose) connected, possibly wirelessly to the car’s control system 212, optionally via the smartphone 300. One or more audio tracks may be recorded (captured) in parallel using difference microphones in the car, and successive audio tracks may be recorded (captured) one after the other. Such tracks may be recorded and stored locally - or in the cloud 400 - optionally as “stems” (i.e. as multiple combined tracks, but still forming only part of a final multi-track audio recording). Each stem may represent a collection of like sounds, for example, a collection of percussion instruments (e.g. the “drums”), or all vocals, or a bass-line or the like. The term “track” as used herein is intended to cover both such a stem (e.g. all vocals as provided by multiple performers, optionally with spatial information encoded / included) and also an individual sound recording (e.g. the vocals as provided by a single performer as recorded via a single microphone at a given location).

[0064] The audio may be recorded while the smart phone 300 and / or in-car loudspeaker system plays an existing audio recording (for example prerecorded music, audio recordings derived from previous in-car recordings, or recordings made by the user(s) outside the car using the companion app 302 or with the use of another recording device), or other audio (for example a synthesised drum beat). The recording made in-car may be post-processed to remove some or all of the contribution to the recorded sound made by the audio being played while the recording was in progress. When recording audio, the audio captured by different microphones may be stored as separate files, thus preserving the relative levels and timing of audio captured by the different microphones, thus providing spatial information on the location(s) of the audio sources (e.g. voices) so recorded.

[0065] As illustrated schematically in Figure 1, data is stored “in the cloud” (in memory accessible by a remotely-located computer, for example in a data centre, as represented in Figure 1 by the cloud 400) which facilitates import and export of data to / from the in-car control system 212 and the smartphone 300 operating the companion app 302. The in-car recording studio apparatus allows users to capture, manipulate and playback audio on the companion app 302 and / or on the in-car console 310. The in-car recording studio apparatus allows users to capture multiple audio tracks and independently adjust the gain and apply equalisation (i.e. adjust the gain according to frequency - e.g. increase bass, reduce treble etc). The tracks may then be combined to create a layered audio recording, which may then be reproduced for playback using the in-car audio system. The layered audio recording may be saved locally (on memory of the smartphone 300, on memory in-vehicle) and / or exported to the cloud 400. This may be done preserving the layering - i.e. preserving the separate tracks of the recording independently of each other - or - creating an audio file with stereo, surround sound, or enhanced surround sound encoding without so preserving all of the independent track information. With the use of the companion app 302, users are able to play back the audio recording so created on other devices (e.g. on a home hi-fi system). Manipulation of the audio tracks so captured is made possible through interaction with the in-vehicle console 210 and / or the companion app 302.

[0066] As mentioned above, Figures 3 and 4 show schematically user feedback on the in-car console display 210 and via the companion app 302 (when running on the smart phone 300). The image in Figure 4 is the layout of the car with three shapes 220, 222, 224 (circles) that represent three different audio tracks of a layered audio recording. The circles 220, 222, 224 are shaded red, blue, and green respectively. The colour of each circle 220, 222, 224 corresponds to the track being represented. The location of the centre of the circle 220, 222, 224 indicates the perceived (or actual) location of playback of the track. The diameter of the circle 220, 222, 224 indicates the gain to be applied to the track when played. The location of each circle 220, 222, 224 on screen may be adjusted by the user by a one-finger “drag and release” gesture. The diameter of each circle 220, 222, 224 on screen may be adjusted by the user by a two-finger gesture : a “pinch and release” gesture to reduce the diameter or an “expand and release” gesture to increase the diameter. The tracks are also represented within the companion app on the smartphone 300, as shown in Figure 3. The values of gain applied to the same three tracks are shown, in the companion app, as horizontal bars 330, 332, 334 on a sliding scale on a rectangular column 320, 322, 324 with a colour that corresponds to the track (the same colours as used on the console, i.e. so that circle 220 is the same colour as column 320, circle 222 is the same colour as column 322, and circle 224 is the same colour as column 324). The gain of track may be adjusted by the user of the companion app via the touch sensitive display 308 by dragging and releasing the corresponding horizontal bar 330, 332, 334. Adjusting the gain on one screen automatically adjusts the gain on the other screen.

[0067] New tracks may be added from previously recorded audio or added by live- recording in-car, optionally with the existing sound-track being reproduced or with other audio that provides timing (e.g. a synthesised drum beat, metronome or other regular timing noise). Layering of multiple audio tracks is possible, allowing a user to overlay multiple audio tracks on a single sound-track, optionally using audio recordings not having been recorded in the vehicle, for example using third-party content. The gain of a particular track may be reduced to zero and / or a particular track may be muted. Muting of a given track may be visualised by a different means - for example by a mute symbol, by greying out the representation of the track, adding a cross or the like.

[0068] The in-car recording studio apparatus is also configured to enable the user to control other acoustic parameters to captured audio tracks for subsequent playback. This includes adjustment of equalisation, room virtualisation, sound effects (such as distortion, pitch-shifting, time-shifting, adding reverb, and the like), and other acoustic control functions.

[0069] The in-car recording studio apparatus has a mode that allows users to interact with a music streaming service provider to enable a karaoke-mode. In the karaokemode users are able to record their own sounds on top of existing audio content. This content may subsequently be played back in the vehicle using the vehicle audio system. Lyrics for use when recording such audio in-car may be displayed on a userinterface in the car in time with the music, in the manner of a karaoke machine.

[0070] The in-car recording studio apparatus may be configured to utilise a camera in the vehicle to record video content alongside audio content. The camera may be one installed in the vehicle. The camera may be configured to perform other functions. The in-car control system 212 is configured to receive video as recorded by a camera 310 of the smartphone 300.

[0071] An example use of the in-car recording studio apparatus will now be described. The in car recording studio apparatus is installed in a car 100. The car 100 has two occupants, one of whom has a smart phone running the companion app. Via the companion app, the user selects a music creation mode for creating a new soundtrack using a prerecorded backing track, in this instance a drum beat selected from multiple different drum beats via the menu system of the companion app. The first occupant then selects a record function that records their voice via the microphone on the smart phone while the backing track is played on the in car speaker system. The audio track so recorded is allocated the colour blue and is labelled on screen as “layer 2”. The backing track is displayed using the colour red and is labelled on screen as “layer 1”. The second occupant then records their voice using the microphone on the smartphone while the backing track is played on the in car speaker system (optionally the audio recorded as “layer 2” by the first occupant may also be played alongside the backing track). This newly recorded audio track is allocated to the colour green and is labelled on screen as “layer 3”. The control system of the car then processes the two recorded audio tracks, for example during recording or after recording, to extract sounds (e.g. vocals) made the occupants of the vehicle, from the sound recorded by the microphone(s) as an audio track, discarding both background noise (e.g. audio from outside the car) and the audio that was being reproduced by the speaker system during the time of recording.

[0072] The occupants in the car then use either the companion app or the interface provided by the in car console, to modify and edit the layers of the recording. Firstly, they move and resize the red circle 220a representing the backing track so that it is allocated to the centre zone of the car, such that when playing the backing track on the speaker system the sound is approximately evenly distributed amongst the various speakers in the car. The blue circle 222a is moved and resized to provide audio from the front left zone in the car and the green circle 224a is moved and resized to provide audio from the front right side zone in the car. The user interface, showing the three tracks as three circles 220a, 222a, and 224a at this moment, is shown schematically in Figure 5. The soundtrack is then played back in the car and the users agree that the volume and perceived position of the second recording (represented by the green circle 224a - i.e. layer 3) should be at a lower volume and come from the rear of the car and so resize the green circle and move it as appropriate. The blue circle 222a (representing layer 2) is then moved from the front left to the front centre. The soundtrack is then played again, with the audio for layer 2 being provided by the speakers in the front of the car and the audio for layer 3 being provided by the speakers in the rear of the car. The audio for the backing track layer (layer 1) is provided by all speakers in the car substantially equally. The user interface, showing the three tracks as three circles, namely Layer 1 (red) 220b, Layer 2 (blue) 222b, and Layer 3 (green) 224b at this moment, is shown schematically in Figure 6. The users, being satisfied with the audio recording and the changes they have made, save the soundtracks so created by giving the project an appropriate file name. The layered audio recording so created (and modified) by the users is saved by the system in the cloud 400.

[0073] A similar process is used to provide a karaoke system in the car, with the addition of lyrics being displayed at the appropriate times via one of the user interfaces, whether via the smartphone 300, in-car display console 210 or both simultaneously. The audio played while voices of user(s) in the car are recorded, may be a music recording without voice, or with the vocals reduced in volume.

[0074] The in-car recording studio apparatus facilitates the recording of audio and / or video for other purposes. One such use, is the recording of audio notes whilst driving. The initiation of audio note capture may be actioned by the driver by a voice command such as “Record this note” or by interaction with the in-car console 210. The microphone(s) in the car then record audio - including the voice of the driver (or other user(s) in the car). The recording is stopped in a similar manner - e.g. by using the voice command “End note” or by interaction with the in-car console 210. The note is then saved to the cloud and appears as a new note in the companion app, which can be reviewed, modified and / or actioned later. Another such use is the capture of in-car video and audio by one or more occupants in the car to create a video message, which can be saved to the cloud and forwarded (either by sending a link allowing access to the file or by forwarding a suitably pre-processed - i.e. compressed - video file).

[0075] A second embodiment, not illustrated, relates to a method of creating the in- car recording studio apparatus of the first embodiment. The method comprises installing software on the in-car console in the vehicle so that it performs the functions described above. The method may be performed at the point of manufacture of the vehicle or may be performed as part of retro-fitting the system after the rest of the vehicle has been made, and possibly used.

[0076] Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein. By way of example only, certain possible variations will now be described.

[0077] The figures show only three tracks shown on the user interface. More than three tracks may be recorded, manipulated at a time. For example there may be four tracks, or eight tracks or a different number of tracks that can be modified and then combined to form a single (multi-layered) audio recording.

[0078] Other voice effects or audio modification may be facilitated by the in-car recording studio apparatus.

[0079] A track may be represented on screen by a shape other than a circle. The type of shape (e.g. square, triangle, pentagon, mouth icon, drum icon, or the like) can serve to differentiate between different tracks that can be individually modified. The width of a shape may be adjustable to modify a first characteristic (e.g. gain at low frequencies) whereas the height of the same shape may be independently adjustable to modify a second different characteristic (e.g. gain at high frequencies).

[0080] The in-car recording studio apparatus can be operated - and configured to be so operated - without a smartphone or other mobile computing device. Data may be imported from and exported to (saved in) computer-accessible memory other than the cloud. A local hard drive and / or solid state memory may be utilised.

[0081] The control system may be implemented by one or more than one computer processors in the vehicle. The display console may be provided by more than one screens or display zones within the vehicle. A virtual (head-up) display may be used.

[0082] The embodiment of the invention has utility in vehicles where the sound system has fewer different zones, and could for example still be of use in a car having a pair of loudspeaker units, thus offering stereo sound and not fully immersive 3-D surround sound. It is preferred however for there to be at least stereo control and front-rear control in the vehicle.

[0083] Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.

Claims

Claims1. A device for use in an in-vehicle entertainment system, the in-vehicle entertainment system comprising a surround sound speaker system comprising multiple loudspeaker drivers installed in different locations in the vehicle and arranged to provide reproduction of sound in multiple different zones in the vehicle, wherein the device includes a user-interface comprising a touch-sensitive display facilitating user-input, the user-interface being configured to allow a user: to view via the touch-sensitive display one or more audio properties of each of two or more tracks of a layered audio recording, to modify, via the touch-sensitive display, in respect of at least one track of the layered audio recording independently of another track of the layered audio recording, a spatial characteristic of the track and one or more of the audio properties of the track, the spatial characteristic determining the level at which the track is reproduced, when played, at each of the multiple different zones in the vehicle, and to cause playback of the layered audio recording so modified via the surround sound speaker system.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive display is arranged to display a zone representation which shows the locations of the multiple different zones in the vehicle and a playback representation, which comprises images each being representative of a different track of the layered audio recording, the location of each image relative to the zone representation indicating the spatial characteristic associated with that track and a first visual characteristic of the image indicating at least one of the audio properties of the track, and a second visual characteristic of the image serving to identify the track so displayed.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the shape of the image is used to indicate at least one of the audio properties of the track and / or to identify the track so displayed.

4. The device of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein a width of the shape of the image is used to indicate at least one audio property of the track and a length of the shape of the image is used to indicate a different audio property of the track.

5. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the user-interface is configured to allow a user to modify, via the touch-sensitive display, in respect of each track of the layered audio recording independently of each other track of the layered audio recording, at least two of the following audio properties of the track: gain, pitch, and equalisation.

6. An entertainment system in a vehicle, the entertainment system comprising: at least one microphone in the vehicle, a speaker system comprising multiple loudspeaker drivers installed in different locations in the vehicle, a control system arranged to record sound from said at least one microphone as an audio track, to process audio tracks, and to reproduce sound via the speaker system, and the device of any of claims 1 to 5.

7. The entertainment system of claim 6, comprising a user-interface comprising a display and a user-input device (the user-interface optionally being provided by the device of any of claims 1 to 5 and / or by a separate user-interface), wherein the user-interface is configured to allow a user: to cause the control system to record sound in the vehicle as one or more audio tracks via said at least one microphone, to cause the control system to combine two or more different audio tracks including at least one of the one or more audio tracks so recorded to create a layered audio recording, and to cause the control system to play the layered audio recording so created via the speaker system.

8. The entertainment system of claim 6 or 7, wherein the entertainment system is configured to interact with a mobile computing device being associated with a microphone (the mobile computing device optionally being provided by the device of any of claims 1 to 5 and / or by a separate mobile computing device), said at least one microphone in the vehicle comprises the microphone associated with the device, and the mobile computing device is configured to allow user input via the microphone associated with the device to contribute to the recording of sound in the vehicle to create one of the two or more different audio tracks.

9. The entertainment system of any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the entertainment system is configured to interact with a mobile computing device having a userinterface (the mobile computing device optionally being provided by the device of any of claims 1 to 5 and / or by a separate mobile computing device), the wherein the mobile computing device is configured to allow user input via the user-interface to contribute to the process of at least one of recording of sound in the vehicle to create one of the two or more different audio tracks, combining of the two or more different audio tracks to create the layered audio recording, and causing play back of the layered audio recording so created.

10. The entertainment system of any of claims 6 to 9, wherein said at least one microphone in the vehicle comprises a microphone installed in the vehicle and configured to operate with at least one other in-vehicle system.

11. The entertainment system of any of claims 6 to 10, wherein the entertainment system comprises an in-vehicle camera system including at least one video camera, and wherein the control system is arranged to record video, with the in-vehicle camera system, at the same time as recording sound from said at least one microphone, andto cause the control system to play the layered audio recording so created via the speaker system at the same time as reproducing the video recorded via the display of the user-interface.

12. The entertainment system of any of claims 6 to 11, wherein the control system is arranged to process audio tracks by extracting sounds made by one or more occupants of the vehicle, from sound recorded from said at least one microphone as an audio track, and discarding background noise.

13. The entertainment system of any of claims 6 to 12, wherein the control system includes a communication module that is arranged to export one or more files of audio and / or audio-visual content as created by the control system to a remote computer for storage remotely from the vehicle, and for future access by one or more authorised users.

14. The entertainment system according to of any of claims 6 to 13, wherein the multiple loudspeaker drivers of the speaker system comprise drivers, or virtual sources that result from the use of multiple drivers, for each of multiple channels including a subwoofer channel, front right channel, front left channel, rear left channel and rear right channel and the control system is arranged to reproduce audio files that have surround sound encoding so that different audio signals are reproduced via those different channels to reproduce the surround sound so encoded.

15. A method of creating an entertainment system within a vehicle, the entertainment system being in accordance with any of claims 6 to 14, the method comprising installing software on a computer system in the vehicle which facilitates the recording of audio via at least one microphone in the vehicle to create one or more audio tracks, facilitates graphical representation of one or more audio properties of multiple audio tracks on a display of a user interface in the vehicle, facilitates user interaction via the user interface in the vehicle with the audio tracks so recorded and to modify audio properties of such audio tracks and to combine separate audio tracks to create a layered sound recording, andfacilitates the reproduction of sound via a speaker system in the vehicle to play the layered sound recording, and optionally wherein the step of installing software on the computer system in the vehicle facilitates the interaction of the entertainment system with a mobile computing device associated with a microphone and a user-interface (the mobile computing device optionally being provided by the device of any of claims 1 to 5 and / or by a separate mobile computing device).

16. A method of reproducing sound in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a speaker system comprising multiple loudspeaker drivers installed in different locations in the vehicle and arranged to provide reproduction of sound in multiple different zones in the vehicle, the method including: a user viewing via a touch-sensitive display of a device one or more audio properties of each of two or more tracks of a layered audio recording, the display including a zone representation showing the locations of the multiple different zones in the vehicle and a playback representation, which comprises images each being representative of a different track of the layered audio recording, the location of each image relative to the zone representation indicating a spatial characteristic associated with that track and a first visual characteristic of the image indicating at least one of the audio properties of the track, and a second visual characteristic of the image serving to identify the track so displayed, modifying (e.g. by a control system of the vehicle) in respect of at least one track of the layered audio recording independently of another track of the layered audio recording, a spatial characteristic of the track in consequence of a user moving, via the touch-sensitive display, the location of one of the images relative to one of the zones, modifying (e.g. by a control system of the vehicle) in respect of at least one track of the layered audio recording independently of another track of the layered audio recording one or more of the audio properties of the track, in consequence of a user changing, via the touch-sensitive display, a visual characteristic of one of the images (e.g. by changing the appearance and / or shape of the image on the display), the user causing, via the touch-sensitive display, playback of the layered audio recording via the vehicle’s speaker system such that the levels at which the track(s) ofthe recording are reproduced at each of the multiple different zones in the vehicle are modified in accordance with the movement of the location(s) of the image(s) relative to the zone(s) caused by the user and such that the audio properties of the track(s) of the playback are modified in accordance with the change(s) in the visual characteristics of the image(s) caused by the user.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the vehicle comprises one or more microphones, and the method includes playing an audio track via the speaker system, whilst the audio track is playing, recording, via one or more microphones in the vehicle (e.g. being provided as part of the vehicle and / or being provided by the microphones of separately provided mobile computing devices and / or being provided by separately provided microphones), a new audio track of sound created, at least in part, by one or more occupants of the vehicle, modifying the new audio track, to create a modified audio recording playing the audio recording so created via the speaker system, optionally with one or more other tracks.

18. A computer program downloadable onto a mobile computing device having a microphone and a user interface, the computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by the mobile computing device, cause the mobile computing device to function as the mobile computing device of any of claims 1 to 14 or provide the interactive user interface of the method of claims 16 or 17, to record sound in a vehicle as one or more audio tracks via the microphone and optionally one or more other microphones, to modify, under the control of the user’s inputs provided via the user interface, the one or more audio tracks to create an audio recording, and to cause the control system of the vehicle to play the audio recording so created via the speaker system.

19. A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a control system of a vehicle connected to at least one microphone, aspeaker system, and a user-interface, cause the control system and the user-interface to perform the function of the control system and the user-interface of the entertainment system of any of claims 6 to 14.

20. A road vehicle comprising the device of any of claims 1 to 5 or the entertainment system of any of claims 6 to 14.

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