Abstract: An apparatus for recording a multichannel program includes an audio converter adapted to convert said multichannel program at least partially into a modified program requiring less channels than said multichannel program. The audio converter including control elements used to modify the conversion process used to generate said modified program. A coefficient generator coupled to said converter to generate a coefficient indicative of the operation of said controls. A mixer is arranged to mix the coefficient with program data. A recorder is arranged to record the mixed data on a medium, whereby the medium can be played either using a multichannel player device or a reduced channel player device by using said coefficient.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording a multichannel program includes an audio converter adapted to convert said multichannel program at least partially into a modified program requiring less channels than said multichannel program. The audio converter including control elements used to modify the conversion process used to generate said modified program. A coefficient generator coupled to said converter to generate a coefficient indicative of the operation of said controls. A mixer is arranged to mix the coefficient with program data. A recorder is arranged to record the mixed data on a medium, whereby the medium can be played either using a multichannel player device or a reduced channel player device by using said coefficient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for verifying automatically that a plurality of derivative audio (or other multimedia) files have acceptable sound quality. In one embodiment, each derivative file is compared on a byte-by-byte basis to a corresponding original file to generate a difference. The difference is compared a threshold value (that may be determined empirically). If the difference is too large for many bytes, the derivative file is tagged as having an unacceptable sound quality. In another embodiment, segments of the original and derivative files are converted to the frequency domain and analysis is performed in this domain. The resulting signal could be a tag indicating that whether the derivative file is acceptable, or could be a more comprehensive signal indicative what kind of errors were detected and in what temporal and/or spectral region for diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: A test signal generator adapted to generate a test signal for an audio program having at least a left and right program track, the test signal generator including a memory means holding digital data descriptive of a unique image; and converter adapted to convert the digital data into a pseudo audio test signal having a left test track and right test track. The pseudo audio test signal is attached or mixed with the respective audio program and the resulting composite signal is recorded on a respective media and/or transmitted by other means to a remote location. At the remote location, the test signal is separated and displayed using the left track and right tracks as two orthogonal components to generate a reproduction of the image. The relative orientation, spatial and geometric characteristics of the reproduced image is indicative of various parameters of the received audio program.

Abstract: Playback of digital multimedia content by a player application may be modified according to title specific parameters. The method includes accessing the digital multimedia content, accessing title specific parameters associated with the digital multimedia content, and processing the digital multimedia content to render the content to a user according to the title specific parameters. The title specific parameters may be stored with the digital multimedia content on a removable storage medium such as a digital versatile disk (DVD) or received from a source over a computer network, satellite, or cable. The title specific parameters may be used to modify at least one of the decoding, decompressing, and downsampling of at least one track or title of the content. In one embodiment, the content is digital audio data in the DVD-Audio format.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for verifying automatically that a plurality of derivative audio (or other multimedia) files have acceptable sound quality. In one embodiment, each derivative file is compared on a byte-by-byte basis to a corresponding original file to generate a difference. The difference is compared a threshold value (that may be determined empirically). If the difference is too large for many bytes, the derivative file is tagged as having an unacceptable sound quality. In another embodiment, segments of the original and derivative files are converted to the frequency domain and analysis is performed in this domain. The resulting signal could be a tag indicating that whether the derivative file is acceptable, or could be a more comprehensive signal indicative what kind of errors were detected and in what temporal and/or spectral region for diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: A test signal generator adapted to generate a test signal for an audio program having at least a left and right program track, the test signal generator including a memory means holding digital data descriptive of a unique image; and converter adapted to convert the digital data into a pseudo audio test signal having a left test track and right test track. The pseudo audio test signal is attached or mixed with the respective audio program and the resulting composite signal is recorded on a respective media and/or transmitted by other means to a remote location. At the remote location, the test signal is separated and displayed using the left track and right tracks as two orthogonal components to generate a reproduction of the image. The relative orientation, spatial and geometric characteristics of the reproduced image is indicative of various parameters of the received audio program.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording a multichannel program includes an audio converter adapted to convert said multichannel program at least partially into a modified program requiring less channels than said multichannel program. The audio converter including control elements used to modify the conversion process used to generate said modified program. A coefficient generator coupled to said converter to generate a coefficient indicative of the operation of said controls. A mixer is arranged to mix the coefficient with program data. A recorder is arranged to record the mixed data on a medium, whereby the medium can be played either using a multichannel player device or a reduced channel player device by using said coefficient.

Abstract: A device or tool to place objects such as speakers at an equal distance from a reference point has a supporting base with a center to be placed at the reference point. Beam generators are mounted on an azimuth locating mechanism rotatable on said base. The beam generators generate light beams which are first directed at one speaker and their relative location is fixed. The mechanism is rotated sequentially toward each predetermined location for the other speakers and the beams impinging on the speakers are used to locate their optimal positions.