Audio Segment Tempo Adjustment via Transient Boundary Markers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional digital audio workstations (DAWs) face challenges in adjusting the tempo of audio files without affecting the pitch, requiring complex analysis and processing to maintain original pitch during time compression or expansion.

Innovation Solution

A method implemented in a DAW that allows users to select audio segments for time compression or expansion by setting markers, which automatically generates boundary markers to adjust tempo while applying pitch-adjusting algorithms to maintain the original pitch, with regions displayed in different colors indicating the degree of time alteration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional time compression or expansion is applied to audio files, then the tempo can be adjusted, but the pitch changes as well

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetempo adjustment capabilityVSAvoidpitch accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The audio file is divided into multiple segments based on transient detection. Each segment is processed independently with time compression or expansion applied only to selected portions, allowing tempo adjustment without affecting the entire audio file's pitch uniformly. This segmentation enables selective time warping while preserving pitch integrity through proper segment isolation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the audio file are treated differently - selected segments undergo time compression/expansion while other segments maintain original timing. The system applies local time warping only where needed, allowing tempo adjustment in specific regions without changing the pitch of the entire audio file, thus resolving the contradiction between tempo adaptability and pitch accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If time compression or expansion is applied to audio files, then the tempo can be adjusted, but complex analysis and processing is required to maintain original pitch

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetempo adjustment capabilityVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary transient detection and audio segmentation before applying time compression or expansion. By pre-identifying transient points and dividing the audio into manageable segments, the system simplifies the subsequent pitch maintenance processing, reducing the overall computational complexity while enabling tempo adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Dividing the audio file into segments based on transients allows the system to process each segment independently with simpler algorithms, rather than processing the entire audio file as one complex unit. This segmentation reduces processing complexity while maintaining the ability to adjust tempo effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If the entire audio file is processed for tempo adjustment, then consistency is maintained, but selective timing adjustment of specific segments is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetempo consistencyVSAvoidselective timing control

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The audio file is segmented into multiple portions based on transient detection, allowing users to selectively apply time compression or expansion to specific segments while maintaining consistency within each segment. This enables both selective timing adjustment and internal consistency, resolving the contradiction between overall tempo consistency and selective control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different segments of the audio file can have different time characteristics applied to them selectively. The system maintains tempo consistency within each processed segment while allowing different segments to have different timing adjustments, providing both local flexibility and internal stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8415549B2Time compression/expansion of selected audio segments in an audio file

Publication Date: 2013.04.09 APPLE INC

AI summary

A computer implemented method allows a user to adjust tracks in a musical arrangement. The method involves a user selecting a musical position of an audio track, which the user desires to adjust in time, either by compressing it or expanding it, by indicating with a pointing device, such as a mouse, the position in the time line of the audio track that the user wishes to alter. A first marker is then displayed at the selected musical position in the audio track. Boundary markers defining transients in the audio signal surrounding the selected musical position are then automatically generated by analysis of the audio signal, and are displayed on the audio track. The two boundary markers define an audio segment that is to be adjusted in tempo by the user moving the first marker along the time line.