Audio Waveform Positioning via Automatic Timing Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulty in accurately designating specific positions on audio waveform data, requiring significant effort and time, especially when identifying onset timings, beat timings, and performance sectioning timings, due to the complexity of visually determining these positions on a display screen.

Innovation Solution

A data positioning method that includes obtaining positional information from operation units in designated regions, allowing for the precise determination of discrete positions along a predetermined direction, such as onset, beat, and performance sectioning timings, by using multiple display regions for different intervals and modes, facilitating accurate and efficient cutting out of audio waveform data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If users designate specific positions on audio waveform data by visual determination on a display screen, then position designation capability is achieved, but time consumption and operational effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition designation accuracyVSAvoidtime required for position designation
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs preliminary analysis of the audio waveform data to detect and mark important timing positions (onset, beat, section boundaries) before the user needs to designate cut-out positions. These pre-detected positions are displayed as selectable markers, allowing users to quickly choose from pre-prepared options rather than manually searching through the waveform.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary processing layer that automatically analyzes the audio data and generates candidate position markers. This intermediary layer acts as a bridge between the raw audio waveform and the user's designation needs, providing smart suggestions that reduce the user's workload while maintaining accurate position selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If users manually search for specific timing positions on audio waveform data, then position identification is possible, but operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of position designationVSAvoidcomplexity of position identification process
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically detecting and marking important timing positions in the audio waveform without requiring user intervention. The automatic detection algorithms analyze the waveform characteristics to identify onset timings, beat timings, and section boundaries, then display these as selectable markers that users can directly choose from.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the manual mechanical process of visually searching through waveform data with an automated computational analysis system. The computer automatically processes the audio data to detect timing positions, substituting the user's manual visual inspection and manual marker placement with algorithm-driven automatic detection and marker generation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple discrete position types are provided for different musical elements, then designation flexibility increases, but interface complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in position selectionVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the position designation functionality into distinct categories corresponding to different musical elements (onset timing, beat timing, section boundaries). Each category has its own detection algorithm and marker type, allowing users to select from specialized options for each musical feature. This segmentation provides versatility while keeping each segment's interface simple and focused.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3223175B1Data positioning method, data positioning apparatus, and computer program
Publication Date: 2022.05.04 YAMAHA CORP
  • EP3223175B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3223175B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3223175B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A data positioning method includes obtaining positional information indicating a position which is designated by operation of an operation unit in any region among a plurality of regions, each of the plurality of regions corresponding to a predetermined direction along which values of a series of pieces of data are varied and being provided for designating a position of the series of pieces of data in the predetermined direction, and the plurality of regions include at least one region for designating a plurality of discrete positions of the series of pieces of data in the predetermined direction. The method further includes determining the position for designating a portion of data corresponding to the obtained positional information, any one position being determined among the plurality of discrete positions when positional information indicating a position in the region for designating the discrete positions is obtained.