JP4558620B2 - Playback apparatus and playback method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology of a playback apparatus capable of performing variable speed playback of a signal input from the outside at 1 × speed.

  Traditionally, disc jockeys (DJs) that provide music at clubs and home parties and editors (hereinafter referred to as DJs) who edit music in the studio play multiple songs seamlessly. The tempo (BPM: Beat Per Minute) may be adjusted. In general, a playback device for business use (so-called DJ) is provided with such a variable speed playback function (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In such a reproducing apparatus, a predetermined amount of data is prefetched at n times speed (n> 1) and stored in a buffer (memory), and the data stored in the buffer is read and reproduced at a designated reproduction speed. If the buffer capacity starts to run out, data is stored in the buffer again.

  In recent years, a professional playback device capable of special playback of an audio signal input from the outside at 1 × speed has been developed (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1). For example, this playback apparatus stores a certain amount (one music) of an input audio signal in a buffer, and then uses the stored data for processing such as variable speed playback.

JP 2003-108132 A Product manual [Search on July 22, 2005], Internet <URL: www.numark.com/pdf/manuals/5000FX.pdf>

Since a signal is input to the playback device at 1 × speed, the playback device itself cannot pre-read and store data at n × speed. During reproduction, when reading stored data at 1 × speed or less, the buffer data will not be insufficient. However, when stored data is read at a playback speed exceeding 1 × speed during variable speed playback, the amount of data read from the buffer may exceed the amount of data written, and the remaining data in the buffer may eventually become insufficient. . Due to the shortage of the remaining data, when playback is performed at a playback speed exceeding 1 × speed, the sound may be interrupted, and playback and production according to the user's wish may not be continued. If the buffer capacity is sufficiently increased, this problem can be solved to some extent, but there are disadvantages such as that it takes time to write data and the cost is increased.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention is, when performing variable speed reproduction to reproduce faster than normal playback speed with a signal inputted from the outside, to avoid such sound interruption due to buffer shortage, substantially less buffer capacity It is an object of the present invention to provide a playback apparatus and a playback method that can continue playback and production without interruption of sound as much as possible according to the user's wishes .

In order to achieve the above object, a playback apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a writing unit that writes a signal input from the outside at a single speed to a memory that accumulates a predetermined amount of data, and data from the memory. A reading unit for reading data, a playback speed setting unit for setting a playback speed at which the reading unit reads data from the memory, and reading data from the memory at a playback speed set by the playback speed setting unit A control unit that controls the reading unit and monitors a remaining amount of data recorded in the memory.
According to this configuration, when a variable speed reproduction is performed by buffering a signal input at 1 × speed in the memory, it is possible to monitor the buffer amount of the memory having a limited capacity, and as much as the user desires. Variable speed playback along the line can be provided.

  In the above-described configuration, for example, the writing unit gives an input signal time information and writes it to the memory, the reading unit reads data and time information from the memory, and the control unit reads the writing unit. The remaining amount of data recorded in the memory is monitored based on the time information from and the time information from the reading unit.

The playback apparatus configured as described above may further include a display unit that displays in accordance with a plurality of levels set with respect to the remaining amount of data in the memory, and the control unit is configured to set the remaining amount of data in the memory. The display unit may be controlled so as to monitor which level is present and display according to the level. As a result, the user can know the current memory buffer state, and according to this, can perform desired variable speed reproduction or the like as much as possible.
The display unit may display a warning indicating that the remaining amount is insufficient as a display corresponding to the lowest level among a plurality of levels.
Furthermore, the display unit may display the remaining amount of data in the memory in real time.

  In the above configuration, the control unit may control the reading unit to read data from the memory at a single speed when it is determined that the remaining amount of data recorded in the memory is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. As a result, it is possible to reliably avoid the sound interruption due to the buffer shortage and continue the reproduction and the production.

  The playback apparatus having the above-described configuration may further include a start position detection unit that detects a start position in the input music signal, and the control unit is configured to record data recorded in the memory during playback of a single song. When it is determined that the remaining amount is equal to or less than the predetermined amount, the reading unit may be controlled to return to the start position detected by the start position detection unit and read data. As a result, it is possible to reliably avoid the sound interruption due to the buffer shortage and continue the reproduction and the production.

  The playback device having the above-described configuration may further include a back point setting unit for designating a position in the memory of the data read by the reading unit, and the control unit may store the data recorded in the memory. When it is determined that the remaining amount is below a predetermined level, the reading unit may be controlled to return to the position set by the back point setting unit and read the data. As a result, it is possible to reliably avoid the sound interruption due to the buffer shortage and continue the reproduction and the production.

In order to achieve the above object, the reproducing method according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a writing step of writing a signal input from the outside at a single speed into a memory for storing a predetermined amount of data; A reading step for reading data from the memory, a reading speed setting step for setting a reading speed for reading data from the memory, and the reading for reading data from the memory at the playback speed set in the playback speed setting step. And a control step of monitoring the remaining amount of data recorded in the memory.
According to this configuration, when a variable speed reproduction is performed by buffering a signal input at 1 × speed in the memory, it is possible to monitor the buffer amount of the memory having a limited capacity, and as much as the user desires. Variable speed playback along the line can be provided.

  In the above-described configuration, for example, in the writing step, the input signal is given time information and written to the memory, and in the reading step, data and time information are read from the memory, and in the control step, the writing step The remaining amount of data recorded in the memory is monitored on the basis of the time information at and the time information at the reading step.

The playback method having the above-described configuration may further include a display step for displaying in accordance with a plurality of levels set for the remaining amount of data in the memory. In the control step, the remaining amount of data in the memory is set. The display step may be controlled so as to monitor which level is present, and display according to the level. As a result, the user can know the current memory buffer state, and according to this, can perform desired variable speed reproduction or the like as much as possible.
In the display step, a warning indicating that the remaining amount is insufficient may be displayed as a display corresponding to the lowest level among the plurality of levels.
Further, in the display step, the remaining amount of data in the memory may be displayed in real time.

  In the above configuration, in the control step, when it is determined that the remaining amount of data recorded in the memory is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the reading step may be controlled to read data from the memory at a single speed. As a result, it is possible to reliably avoid the sound interruption due to the buffer shortage and continue the reproduction and the production.

  The playback method configured as described above may further include a start position detecting step for detecting a start position in the input music signal, and in the control step, data recorded in the memory during playback of one song. When it is determined that the remaining amount is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the reading step may be controlled so that the data is read back to the starting position detected in the starting position detecting step. As a result, it is possible to reliably avoid the sound interruption due to the buffer shortage and continue the reproduction and the production.

  The reproduction method configured as described above may further include a backpoint setting step for designating a position in the memory of the data read in the reading step, and in the control step, the data recorded in the memory When it is determined that the remaining amount is less than or equal to a predetermined level, the reading step may be controlled to return to the position set in the back point setting step and read the data. As a result, it is possible to reliably avoid the sound interruption due to the buffer shortage and continue the reproduction and the production.

According to the reproducing apparatus and method of the present invention, when performing a variable speed playback faster than the normal speed for the signal to be externally et input, to avoid such sound interruption due to buffer shortage, substantially less buffer capacity Thus, it is possible to continue the reproduction and the production without interruption of the sound according to the user's wishes as much as possible.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, embodiment shown below is an example and is not limited to this.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a playback apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a playback apparatus 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 1 includes an input terminal 1, an AD (Analog to Digital) converter 2, a write control unit 3, a memory 4, a read control unit 5, a DA (Digital to Analog) converter 6, An output terminal 7, a control unit 9, a playback speed range setting unit 10, a playback instruction unit 13, a playback speed setting unit 11, and a buffer status display unit 12 are provided.

  The input terminal 1 receives a 1 × audio signal input from an external device. Recording on external devices such as cassette tape, CD (Compact Disc), SA-CD (Super Audio-CD), MD (MiniDisc), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), DVD-Audio (DVD-Audio) Players that play back uncompressed / compressed audio signals, radio receivers that receive and output broadcast signals, servers that receive and output audio signals that are streamed or delivered on demand, and the like are included. I can't. The external device may be an amplifier that amplifies and outputs sound input from a microphone.

  When the signal input to the input terminal 1 is an analog signal, the input signal is converted into a digital signal by the AD converter 2. When the input signal is a digital signal, the AD converter 2 may not be provided.

  The write control unit 3 writes and accumulates digital signals from the AD converter 2 in the memory 4. Here, the write control unit 3 generates time information (such as a time code) in the signal, adds it to the signal, and writes the signal in the memory 4. Since a signal is input from the input terminal 1 at 1 × speed, writing to the memory 4 has a reproduction speed almost according to 1 × speed.

  The write control unit 3 sets the start point of recording as the time code 00 minutes 00 seconds 00 frames, for example, 1/44100 input from the AD converter 2 while incrementing the time code for each frame unit having a resolution of 1/75 seconds, for example. A time information flag is added to the rate digital signal, and the signal is written and recorded in the memory 4. At the same time, the added time code information is also transmitted to the control unit 9 to provide time information in the written state. Further, the above write operation is continued until the write stop control is received.

  The read control unit 5 reads the signal to which the specified time information is added from the memory 4 at the specified reproduction speed, and outputs it to the DA converter 6.

As described above, the memory 4 buffers the data written by the write control unit 3, while the data designated by the read control unit 5 is read at a designated reproduction speed as will be described later. Here, the buffer amount of the memory 4 is limited to a predetermined amount, and the read control unit 5 reads a certain amount of data from the memory 4, while the write control unit 5 sequentially writes the data to the memory 4.
In the application documents such as the specification of the present application, “reproduction speed (pitch)” means a reproduction speed of a signal that is finally output from the reproduction apparatus to the outside.

The DA converter 6 converts the digital signal into an analog signal and outputs it to the output terminal 7.
The output terminal 7 is connected to an external device such as an amplifier or a speaker. When the external device itself is capable of DA conversion, the digital signal may be output from the output terminal 7 without providing the DA converter 6.

  The reproduction instructing unit 13 accepts user input related to the start, pause, end, etc. of reading of data stored in the memory 4. In accordance with the input from the reproduction instruction unit 13, the reading and reproduction of data from the memory 4 of the read control unit 5 is controlled. The reproduction instruction unit 13 can accept so-called special reproduction such as loop, scratch, hot start and the like.

  The playback speed range setting unit 10 receives user input related to a variable range of playback speed. The playback speed range setting unit 10 is provided as a pitch range key having a plurality of keys on the housing of the playback device 20, and selects, for example, ± 4%, ± 10%, ± 16%,. It is possible. For example, when the user inputs ± 4% via the playback speed range setting unit 10, the user operates the playback speed setting unit 11 described later within a range of ± 4% of the normal playback speed. Thus, playback can be performed while changing the playback speed (variable speed playback).

  The playback speed setting unit 11 receives an input by the user of the playback speed within the playback speed variable range set via the playback speed range setting unit 10. The playback speed setting unit 11 is provided as a so-called playback speed fader or the like on the housing of the playback device 20, and accepts setting of a predetermined value within a predetermined range by, for example, a dial, a slide volume, or the like. The reproduction speed range setting unit 10 and the reproduction speed setting unit 11 enable highly accurate reproduction speed setting. Of course, the playback speed range setting unit 10 may not be provided, and the playback speed setting of the entire range that can be set by the playback speed setting unit 11 may be accepted.

  The playback speed range setting unit 10 and the playback speed setting unit 11 may be provided in a common housing with the playback instruction unit 13, for example.

  The buffer status display unit 12 is provided to display the buffer status of the memory 4 and is displayed on, for example, a liquid crystal display screen. The buffer status display unit 12 displays the buffer status as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) to 2 (e), for example.

  In the example shown in the figure, the buffer status display unit 12 displays the real-time buffer amount in meter display and also displays the buffer amount level. The buffer amount display is not limited to meter display, and may be digital display or the like. When the buffer remaining amount is displayed in a meter shape, the bar may be displayed in a different color for each level.

  As an example of the level, in the example shown in the figure, when the buffer amount is small, standby or reproduction cannot be performed in accordance with the increase or decrease of the buffer amount ((a), (b), (e)), or the buffer amount is sufficient Is displayed as “playable” or “playback” ((c), (d)). The level display is not limited to the example shown in the figure, and may be divided into fewer or more levels.

  In the example shown in the figure, the buffer status display unit 12 displays the real-time buffer amount, but may display only the buffer amount level. Furthermore, the buffer status display unit 12 may be configured using a plurality of light emitting elements indicating at which level the buffer status is. In this case, the buffer status display unit 12 may be composed of an LED (Light Emission Display) that is lit during standby, an LED that is lit when playback is possible, and an LED that is lit when playback is not possible. You may be comprised from two LED which respectively shows impossibility, and also it may be comprised from one light emission part from which display color differs in each level.

  The control unit 9 controls the operation of the entire playback device 20. The control unit 9 controls generation, transmission, and the like of data input to the memory 4 by the write control unit 3 and a time code associated therewith.

  Further, when receiving a reproduction start instruction from the reproduction instruction unit 13, the control unit 9 controls the read control unit 5 to read out data stored in the memory 4. During playback, the control unit 9 determines the playback speed range from the input from the playback speed range setting unit 10, determines the playback speed set by the playback speed setting unit 11, and based on the specified playback speed. Thus, the reading control unit 5 controls reading of data from the memory 4.

  Here, the control unit 9 monitors the buffer state (remaining data amount) from the difference between the time code of the data generated by the write control unit 3 and the time code of the data read by the read control unit 5.

  The control unit 9 compares the time code value transmitted from the write control unit 3 with the time code value transmitted from the read control unit 5, and monitors the mutual time difference. For example, when the latest time code value transmitted from the write control unit 3 is 03 minutes 15 seconds 60 frames and the latest time code value transmitted from the read control unit 5 is 03 minutes 7 seconds 26 frames, The remaining buffer capacity at the time is calculated as 8 seconds and 34 frames (75 frames / second). For example, the control unit 9 monitors the buffer state in this way.

  The control unit 9 stores a plurality of levels (more specifically, threshold values) of the remaining amount of the buffer in the memory 4, and indicates which level the current remaining amount of the buffer in the memory 4 has during the reproduction operation. Monitor.

  In the simplest example, there are two levels: deficiency and satisfaction. In this case, the control unit 9 holds one threshold value, and determines whether the level of the remaining buffer capacity is insufficient or sufficient based on whether the remaining buffer capacity is below or above the threshold value. . As the threshold value, the remaining data time of the buffer, the ratio to the buffer capacity, and the like can be used. For example, the remaining time threshold value is set to 3 seconds, and the ratio threshold value is set to 5%.

  When three levels are provided, for example, a reproducible level, a warning level, and a shortage level can be provided. The reproducible level can be set to a level with sufficient buffer remaining capacity, the warning level can be set to a level at which the remaining buffer capacity is short, and the insufficient level can be set to a level at which the remaining buffer capacity is insufficient or zero. In this case, the control unit 9 determines whether or not the remaining amount of the buffer has exceeded the warning level threshold and whether or not the shortage level threshold has been exceeded.

  The control unit 9 monitors the buffer status and controls the display by the buffer status display unit 12. In the example shown in FIG. 2, in addition to the above three level discrimination, the control unit 9 controls the buffer status display unit 12 based on the increase / decrease of the buffer amount. That is, when the buffer amount is increasing due to a shortage at the time of start-up, the buffer state display unit 12 is controlled to display “standby” indicating that the buffer amount is still at a shortage level ((a), (b )). During this time, even if there is a reproduction instruction from the reproduction instruction unit 13, the control unit 9 does not accept it and does not perform reproduction.

  When it is determined that the buffer amount has reached the maximum capacity of the memory 4, the control unit 9 stores a sufficient buffer amount and displays a “reproducible” indicating that the buffer level is at a reproducible level. Is controlled ((c)). At this time, if there is a reproduction instruction from the reproduction instruction unit 13, this is accepted and the read control unit 5 or the like is controlled according to the instruction. During reproduction, the control unit 9 compares the buffer amount of the memory 4 with a predetermined threshold value and monitors the buffer level.

  During playback, when the data buffered in the memory 4 is consumed and the buffer level is at a warning level that is short enough, the control unit 9 displays the buffer status display unit 12 to display “low remaining amount”. Is controlled ((d)).

  Thereafter, when the buffer amount reaches a level that is insufficient, the buffer status display unit 12 is controlled to display “insufficient” ((e)). At this time, the control unit 9 does not accept an instruction input from the reproduction speed setting unit 11 and controls the read control unit 5 to forcibly read data from the memory 4 at the normal reproduction speed, that is, 1 × speed. During this time, the control unit 9 may gradually change the playback speed from the current playback speed to 1 × speed. Further, the control unit 9 may receive a playback instruction for returning the time axis such as loop playback or scratch playback, and may further receive a playback speed input of 1 × speed or less from the playback speed setting unit 11.

  In the application documents of the present application, “reading / reproducing at 1 × speed” means reading / reproducing data from the memory 4 at a speed at which data output from the output terminal 7 can be output at substantially 1 × speed. Say.

  The operation of the playback device 20 according to the first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 shows an example of the write control and read control flow of the control unit 9, but the present invention is not limited to this as long as the same result can be obtained.

  First, a signal is input from an external device via the input terminal 1 (step S11). When the control unit 9 detects an instruction input from the user from the reproduction instruction unit 13 or a signal input to the input terminal 9 (for example, start of music), the control unit 9 sends an instruction to start writing to the memory 4 to the write control unit 3. .

  The writing control unit 3 writes the data in the memory 4 by assigning the time code from address 00 to the input signal digitally converted by the AD converter 2 and transmits the generated time code to the control unit 9 (step S12). . Thereafter, the write control unit 3 continues to store the digital signal from the AD converter 8 in the memory 4 while incrementing the time code in units of frames until receiving an instruction from the control unit 9.

  The control unit 9 receives the time code data transmitted from the write control unit 3 and monitors whether or not a predetermined amount of data is accumulated in the memory 4 as compared with the time code from the read control unit 5 ( Step S13). During this time, the standby state is displayed on the buffer state display unit 12 and the storage time is displayed (step S14). During this time, the control unit 9 does not accept a reproduction instruction input from the reproduction instruction unit 13.

  When it is determined that the necessary amount (amount) of buffer data has been accumulated, for example, when it is determined that the maximum capacity of the memory 4 has been reached, the control unit 9 is at a level that can be reproduced by the buffer status display unit 12. Is displayed (step S15). Thereafter, the control unit 9 waits for a user's reproduction start instruction from the reproduction instruction unit 13 (step S16), but may automatically start reproduction.

  When receiving a reproduction start instruction from the reproduction instruction unit 13, the control unit 9 controls the read control unit 5 to perform read reproduction at the reproduction speed set by the reproduction speed setting unit 11 (step S17). At the same time, the control unit 9 calculates the remaining amount of data (remaining time, remaining rate, etc.) in the memory 4 from the time code difference from the write control unit 3 and the read control unit 5 (step S18), and displays the buffer status display. Displayed sequentially on the unit 12.

  Here, if the playback speed set by the playback speed setting unit 11 is 1 × or higher, for example, if the position of the playback speed setting unit 11 is ± 0, the buffer data in the memory 4 is not consumed at all. However, when data reading at a reproduction speed exceeding 1 × speed continues, data consumption exceeds data accumulation, and the buffer amount of the memory 4 decreases. The controller 9 determines whether or not the remaining buffer capacity of the memory 4 is equal to or less than a predetermined amount (step S19). In a state where the buffer amount exceeds the predetermined amount (warning amount), the control unit 9 displays that the reproduction is possible on the buffer state control unit 12, and at the same time allows the user to freely reproduce the reproduction speed through the reproduction speed setting unit 11. A reproduction instruction is accepted (step S20).

  If it is determined that the predetermined amount (warning amount) or less, the control unit 9 further determines whether or not the buffer amount is equal to or less than the predetermined amount (limit amount) (step S21). When determining that the buffer amount is not less than the limit amount, the control unit 9 controls the buffer state display unit 12 to display a warning that the remaining amount of the buffer in the memory 4 is low (step S22).

  In response to this warning display, if the user adjusts the playback speed to 1x speed or lower, or performs playback that returns the time axis such as loop playback or scratch playback, the writing continues during that time, and as a result It becomes possible to replenish time. Therefore, the user can perform the desired variable speed reproduction as much as possible, avoid the reproduction stop due to the lack of the buffer, and perform an effect without a sense of incongruity.

  When it is determined that the remaining buffer capacity of the memory 4 is less than or equal to the limit amount, the control unit 9 causes the buffer status display unit 12 to display that the remaining buffer capacity is insufficient (step S23). Further, the control unit 9 controls the read control unit 5 to forcibly switch to 1 × speed and read data from the memory 4 (step S24). Here, in order to avoid an abrupt change in the playback / playback speed, the playback speed may be switched from the specified playback speed to the playback speed of 1 × speed.

  During the forced normal reproduction, the control unit 9 does not accept an input of a reproduction speed exceeding 1 × speed from the reproduction speed setting unit 11 or does not accept any input from the reproduction speed setting unit 11. However, the user performs playback and production without interruption while accumulating data in the memory 4 by performing playback speed playback less than 1 × speed or playback that returns the time axis such as loop playback or scratch playback. be able to.

  Thereafter, the control unit 9 continues to monitor the buffer amount (step S13), and when the data is replenished in the memory 4 and the remaining capacity of the maximum capacity is secured, the display of the buffer status display unit 12 can be reproduced. And an input from the reproduction speed setting unit 11 is received. It should be noted that variable speed playback may be possible when the warning amount is reached (step S19) without waiting for the maximum amount of data to be stored.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the remaining amount of the buffer is monitored in real time in the playback apparatus 20 that performs variable speed playback by buffering a signal input at 1 × speed from an external device. The remaining buffer capacity and / or its level being monitored is displayed to the user. In accordance with the level of the monitored buffer remaining capacity, the control unit 9 disables reproduction speed reproduction exceeding at least 1 × speed for a forced enemy when there is a shortage. The user also looks at the buffer status display, stops playback at a playback speed exceeding at least 1 × speed, and performs loop playback, scratch playback, etc. to recover the remaining buffer capacity. This makes it possible to reproduce and produce the sound without interruption as much as possible with the user's wishes with a substantially small buffer capacity while reliably avoiding the shortage of the remaining amount of the buffer for the signal input at 1 × speed. .

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a playback apparatus 20 according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 4, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  When the remaining amount of the buffer reaches the shortage level, the playback device 20 according to the second embodiment returns to the start position of the song being played and plays back the data at the specified playback speed. As shown in FIG. 4, the playback device 20 includes a start position detector (cue detector) 15. The start position detection unit 15 detects the start position (cue, rise position) of the sound from the silent part after the music starts from the input signal.

  In the reproduction apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 4, the signal input from the input terminal 1 is input not only to the write control unit 3 but also to the start position detection unit 15. The start position detection unit 15 transmits the detected start position of the song to the control unit 9, and the control unit 9 holds the time code at the time of detection. When the remaining amount of the buffer reaches a shortage level during variable speed reproduction, the control unit 9 forcibly detects the voice rising position (detected by the start position detection unit 15 while maintaining the reproduction speed specified by the user). Return to the start position and start playback. By returning to the start position of the music and playing it, the buffer amount can be increased. In order to suppress the occurrence of noise, a cross-fade process may be added to the original sound and the sound after the start position.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the remaining amount of the buffer becomes small, the buffer is obtained by returning to the sound start position of the music being played back and playing it at the designated playback speed. While reliably preventing a shortage of the remaining amount, it is possible to perform playback and production without changing the playback speed and without sound interruption.

(Third embodiment)
Hereinafter, a reproducing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a playback apparatus 20 according to the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 5, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  When the remaining amount of the buffer reaches the shortage level, the playback device 20 according to the third embodiment returns to the position designated in advance by the user and plays back the data at the specified playback speed. The playback device 20 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes a back point setting unit 16. The back point setting unit 16 includes, for example, a key button for the user to specify a playback position. The user can operate such a key button of the back point setting unit 16 during variable speed playback to designate a return playback point (back point) when the remaining buffer capacity is insufficient.

  The control unit 9 holds the time code of the designated data. When the remaining amount of the buffer reaches the shortage level, the control unit 9 forcibly returns to the back point set by the back point setting unit 16 and starts the reproduction while maintaining the designated reproduction speed. The buffer amount can be increased by playing back to the set back point. In order to suppress the occurrence of noise, a cross-fade process may be added to the original sound and the sound after the start position.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, when the remaining buffer capacity decreases, the buffer remaining capacity is obtained by returning to the point set by the user and playing back at the specified playback speed. It is possible to perform reproduction and production without any change in reproduction speed or sound interruption while reliably preventing shortage.

  In the first to third embodiments, an external device connected to the input terminal 1 may be controlled from the playback device 20. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the playback device 20 and the external device 30 are connected by the serial interface 8. Through the serial interface 8, the control unit 9 outputs a control signal such as reproduction start to the external device 20. Furthermore, the control unit 9 receives device status commands for playback, stop, song end, and song start from the external device 20. In this configuration, the control unit 9 can control writing and the like of the writing control unit 3 in accordance with the music start and music end information from the serial interface 8. Even in such a configuration, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

  In the first to third embodiments, the signal that is input and reproduced is described as an audio signal. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the target signal is a video signal or an audio signal and a video signal. Also good.

  The present invention is extremely useful for a device that performs variable speed reproduction of a signal input from an external device at 1 × speed.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the reproducing | regenerating apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a buffer status display part. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the reproducing | regenerating apparatus based on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the reproducing | regenerating apparatus based on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the reproducing | regenerating apparatus based on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the reproducing | regenerating apparatus which concerns on the modification of the 1st Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1: input terminal, 2: AD converter, 3: write control unit, 4: memory, 5: read control unit, 6: DA converter, 7: output terminal, 9: control unit, 10: playback speed range setting unit, 11 : Playback speed setting section, 12: Buffer status display section, 15: Start position detection section, 16: Back point setting section

Claims (8)

Setting a signal externally et input, a write unit for writing the memory for storing a predetermined amount of data, and reading the read unit of data from the memory, the playback speed which the reading unit reads data from the memory A playback speed setting unit, a start position detecting unit for detecting a start position of a sound from a silent part in the input signal, and a playback speed set faster than a normal playback speed by the playback speed setting unit. When the reading unit is controlled to read data from the memory and the remaining amount of data recorded in the memory is monitored and it is determined that the remaining amount of data recorded in the memory is less than a predetermined amount during playback And a control unit that controls the reading unit to read data back to the start position . A reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, e Bei a display unit for the display corresponding to a plurality of levels set for the data remaining amount of the memory, the control unit, the data remaining amount of the memory is set have been either the monitor is in one of a plurality of levels, playback apparatus shall be the control means controls the display unit to display according to the level. 3. The playback apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display unit issues a warning according to each of a warning level indicating immediately before the remaining amount of data is insufficient and a deficient level indicating that the remaining amount of data is insufficient. playback device means displays. A reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the display unit, playback device you and displaying a remaining data amount of the memory in real time. A signal externally et input, a write step of writing to a memory for storing a predetermined amount of data, the start position detection step of detecting the start position of the voice from the silence in the signal to be inputted, the memory A playback speed setting step for setting a playback speed for reading data from the memory, a read step for reading data from the memory at a playback speed set higher than a normal playback speed in the playback speed setting step, and a recording speed recorded in the memory A monitoring step for monitoring the remaining amount of data, and returning to read the data by returning to the start position detected in the start position detecting step when it is determined that the remaining amount of data recorded in the memory during reproduction is less than a predetermined amount And a playback step . The method of regeneration according to claim 5, wherein the determined one on whether a plurality of level set for the remaining data amount that is monitored by the monitoring step, the display you display according to the level Pla how to characterized in that it comprises a step. 7. The reproduction method according to claim 6, wherein in the display step, a warning is issued according to each of a warning level indicating that the data remaining amount is insufficient and a deficiency level indicating that the data remaining amount is insufficient. re-live how to, characterized in that the display. The method of regeneration according to any one of claims 5 to 7, in the display step, Pla how to and displaying the remaining data amount of the memory in real time.

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