Abstract: An audio information reproducing apparatus reproduces one audio information and reproduces another audio information after said one audio information. The apparatus is provided with: a detecting device for detecting one time period required for one beat of said one audio information, and also detecting another time period for one beat of said another audio information; and a reproducing device for reproducing said another audio information continuously to said one audio information while controlling the detected another time period to be coincident with the detected one time period. Alternatively or additionally, the apparatus is provided with: a detecting device for detecting one beat timing which is a timing of a beat of said one audio information and also detecting another beat timing which is a timing of a beat of said another audio information, so that the reproducing device controls the detected another beat timing to be coincident with the detected one beat timing.

Abstract: A method for reproducing information, comprising the steps of: reading compressed audio data from an information recording medium in which the compressed audio data is recorded in a frame unit; and subjecting the compressed audio data thus read to an expansion processing to reproduce same. When an instruction is given to make a special reproduction in which a frame region to be reproduced and an other frame region not to be reproduced are mixed, control is made so that the compressed audio data in respective frames are successively reproduced in the frame region to be reproduced, and a header information for the respective frames is read out in the other frame region not to be reproduced, and determination on a leading position of a subsequent frame is made on a basis of the header information, thereby conducting a successive migration for the respective frames.

Abstract: An information playback apparatus is provided to obtain sound effects by using an optical disc in much the same way an analog record is manipulated. A pressing pressure applied onto a rotatable jog dial is detected by providing a pressure sensing layer to the jog dial. When no pressing pressure is applied onto the jog dial, audio information is played back from an optical disc at a normal tempo. When an end of the jog dial at rest is pressed with a pressing pressure within a predetermined range, a tempo of a playback sound played from the audio information is changed in response to the pressing pressure. When an end of the jog dial at rest is pressed with a large pressing pressure, a tempo of a playback sound played from the audio information is changed in such a manner that playback of a playback sound is stopped eventually.

Abstract: An information playback apparatus is provided, which displays the status of playback in a way more suitable to the human sense as well as detects and then displays as new information the feature characteristic of audio information such as a music selection. The frequency of occurrence of variations in amplitude of audio information to be played back is measured at each predetermined frequency. The measured frequency of occurrence is displayed in a predetermined area of a display unit as the feature information of beat densities with respect to the playback elapsed time of the audio information to be played back. An index display unit is displayed in a substantially circular playback speed display unit. The amount of audio information to be sequentially played back corresponding to elapsed time is divided by a predetermined value to determine a remainder.

Abstract: An information playback apparatus is provided to obtain editing effects using an optical disc in the same sense as an analog record disc is manipulated. An audio editing apparatus for playing back an optical disc such as a CD is provided with a rotatable jog dial, detecting device for detecting the amount of rotation of the jog dial, and sensing device for sensing the presence or absence of a pressing force on the jog dial. When the jog dial is rotated while being depressed with a predetermined pressing force, processing for providing sound effects is performed on the playback data to be played back from the optical disc in response to the amount of rotation detected by the detecting device. It is thereby possible to provide the same feeling of operation as provided by rotating an analog record disc through hand operations to produce playback sounds.

Abstract: An audio signal processor performs a signal processing on the first audio signal and the second audio signal in correspondence with an operation to produce an output. The processor comprises and operation device, a signal processing device and a control device. The operation device is operatively movable between one end and the other end. The one end is associated with the first audio signal and the other end is associated with the second audio signal. The signal processing device performs a signal processing on any one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal to provide at least one kind of predetermined effect. The control device controls the signal processing device so that the effect is provided for any one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal at a predetermined timing based on a position of the operation device and a moving direction thereof.

Abstract: An audio signal mixer capable of performing a long mix editing with simple manipulations. A second audio signal producing means is prevented from producing a second audio signal when an operating member is positioned at a first end, while a first audio signal producing means is prevented from producing a first audio signal when the operating member is positioned at a second end. As the operating member is moved away from the first end or the second end, the first and second audio signals are mixed. As the operating member is moved toward the second end, the level of the first audio signal is gradually decreased while the level of the second audio signal is gradually increased. Conversely, as the operating member is moved toward the first end, the level of the second audio signal is gradually decreased while the level of the first audio signal is gradually increased.

Abstract: An audio signal mixer capable of performing a long mix editing with simple manipulations. A second audio signal producing means is prevented from producing a second audio signal when an operating member is positioned at a first end, while a first audio signal producing means is prevented from producing a first audio signal when the operating member is positioned at a second end. As the operating member is moved away from the first end or the second end, the first and second audio signals are mixed. As the operating member is moved toward the second end, the level of the first audio signal is gradually decreased while the level of the second audio signal is gradually increased. Conversely, as the operating member is moved toward the first end, the level of the second audio signal is gradually decreased while the level of the first audio signal is gradually increased.

Abstract: An audio signal mixer capable of performing a long mix editing with simple manipulations. A second audio signal producing means is prevented from producing a second audio signal when an operating member is positioned at a first end, while a first audio signal producing means is prevented from producing a first audio signal when the operating member is positioned at a second end. As the operating member is moved away from the first end or the second end, the first and second audio signals are mixed. As the operating member is moved toward the second end, the level of the first audio signal is gradually decreased while the level of the second audio signal is gradually increased. Conversely, as the operating member is moved toward the first end, the level of the second audio signal is gradually decreased while the level of the first audio signal is gradually increased.

Abstract: An audio signal processing apparatus capable of changing the tempo of an input audio signal, comprises magnification designator capable of designating a plurality of different magnifications; device capable of automatically detecting a BPM (Beats Per Minute) or a beat period of the input audio signal, changing said BPM or said beat period in accordance with a magnification designated by the magnification designator, changing the tempo of the audio signal in accordance with the changed BPM and the changed beat period.

Abstract: An audio signal mixer capable of performing a long mix editing with simple manipulations. A second audio signal producing means is prevented from producing a second audio signal when an operating member is positioned at a first end, while a first audio signal producing means is prevented from producing a first audio signal when the operating member is positioned at a second end. As the operating member is moved away from the first end or the second end, the first and second audio signals are mixed. As the operating member is moved toward the second end, the level of the first audio signal is gradually decreased while the level of the second audio signal is gradually increased. Conversely, as the operating member is moved toward the first end, the level of the second audio signal is gradually decreased while the level of the first audio signal is gradually increased.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the number of beats in that second time measuring means starts to measure time from a time point when the level of a predetermined frequency component of an input audio signal is once higher than a predetermined level and, after a predetermined period T1 elapses from the time point, the measurement of time by the second time measuring means is terminated at a time point when the level of the predetermined frequency component of the input audio signal is again higher than the predetermined level, thereby to convert a measured period T2 at termination of measuring of the second time measuring means into BPM i.e., the number of beats per predetermined unit time regarding as a unit beat.