Methods for detecting whether a rendered version of a specified seamless connection (“SSC”) at a connection point between two audio segment sequences results in an audible discontinuity, and methods for analyzing at least one SSC between audio segment sequences to determine whether a renderable version of each SSC would have an audible discontinuity at the connection point when rendered, and in appropriate cases, for a SSC having a renderable version which is determined to have an audible discontinuity when rendered, correcting at least one audio segment of at least one segment sequence to be connected in accordance with the SSC in an effort to ensure that rendering of the SSC will result in seamless connection without an audible discontinuity. Other aspects are editing systems configured to implement any of the methods, and storage media and rendering systems which store audio data generated in accordance with any of the methods.

Methods for detecting whether a rendered version of a specified seamless connection (“SSC”) at a connection point between two audio segment sequences results in an audible discontinuity, and methods for analyzing at least one SSC between audio segment sequences to determine whether a renderable version of each SSC would have an audible discontinuity at the connection point when rendered, and in appropriate cases, for a SSC having a renderable version which is determined to have an audible discontinuity when rendered, correcting at least one audio segment of at least one segment sequence to be connected in accordance with the SSC in an effort to ensure that rendering of the SSC will result in seamless connection without an audible discontinuity. Other aspects are editing systems configured to implement any of the methods, and storage media and rendering systems which store audio data generated in accordance with any of the methods.

A method and apparatus are described for aligning cross-faded audio signals using beats. In an embodiment, a controller includes a cross-fade module having at least first and second audio inputs and an audio output port to provide an audio output signal to an external audio reproduction system. A control signal determines whether to provide the first or the second audio signal to the audio output, and the cross-fade module cross-fades the audio output signal from one audio signal to the other audio signal. A beat alignment module determines a delay between a first beat of the first audio signal and a second beat of the second audio signal, and a delay module delays either the first or the second audio signal to compensate for the delay into the cross-fade module.

A method and apparatus are described for aligning cross-faded audio signals using beats. In an embodiment, a controller includes a cross-fade module having at least first and second audio inputs and an audio output port to provide an audio output signal to an external audio reproduction system. A control signal determines whether to provide the first or the second audio signal to the audio output, and the cross-fade module cross-fades the audio output signal from one audio signal to the other audio signal. A beat alignment module determines a delay between a first beat of the first audio signal and a second beat of the second audio signal, and a delay module delays either the first or the second audio signal to compensate for the delay into the cross-fade module.

Systems and methods are presented for efficient cross-fading (or other multiple clip processing) of compressed domain information streams on a user or client device, such as a telephone, tablet, computer or MP3 player, or any consumer device with audio playback. Exemplary implementation systems may provide cross-fade between AAC/Enhanced AAC Plus (EAACPlus) information streams or between MP3 information streams or even between information streams of unmatched formats (e.g. AAC to MP3 or MP3 to AAC). Furthermore, these systems are distinguished by the fact that cross-fade is directly applied to the compressed bitstreams so that a single decode operation may be performed on the resulting bitstream. Moreover, using the described methods, similar cross fade in the compressed domain between information streams utilizing other formats of compression, such as, for example, MP2, AC-3, PAC, etc. can also be advantageously implemented. Thus, in exemplary embodiments of the present invention a set of frames from each input stream associated with the time interval in which a cross fade is decoded, and combined and recoded with a cross fade or other effect now in the compressed bitstream. Once sent through the client device's decoder, the user hears the transitional effect. The only input data that is decoded and processed is that associated with the portion of each stream used in the crossfade, blend or other interstitial, and thus the vast majority of the input streams are left compressed.

Systems and methods are presented for efficient cross-fading (or other multiple clip processing) of compressed domain information streams on a user or client device, such as a telephone, tablet, computer or MP3 player, or any consumer device with audio playback. Exemplary implementation systems may provide cross-fade between AAC/Enhanced AAC Plus (EAACPlus) information streams or between MP3 information streams or even between information streams of unmatched formats (e.g. AAC to MP3 or MP3 to AAC). Furthermore, these systems are distinguished by the fact that cross-fade is directly applied to the compressed bitstreams so that a single decode operation may be performed on the resulting bitstream. Moreover, using the described methods, similar cross fade in the compressed domain between information streams utilizing other formats of compression, such as, for example, MP2, AC-3, PAC, etc. can also be advantageously implemented. Thus, in exemplary embodiments of the present invention a set of frames from each input stream associated with the time interval in which a cross fade is decoded, and combined and recoded with a cross fade or other effect now in the compressed bitstream. Once sent through the client device's decoder, the user hears the transitional effect. The only input data that is decoded and processed is that associated with the portion of each stream used in the crossfade, blend or other interstitial, and thus the vast majority of the input streams are left compressed.

A method is described that processes an audio signal. A discontinuity between a filtered past frame and a filtered current frame of the audio signal is removed using linear predictive filtering.

Inputs configuring a GUI to concurrently display a first On-Air display region (FOADR) and a second On-Air display region (SOADR) are received. The FOADR and SOADR each include: a station selector; a media ID area; and at least one play control associated with corresponding media ID areas. The station selectors in the FOADR and SOADR receive input specifying selected media stations. The media ID areas in the FOADR and SOADR are populated with IDs of media items to be aired on the selected media stations. Airing of media items by the selected media stations is controlled using the play controls included in the FOADR and SOADR.

Inputs configuring a GUI to concurrently display a first On-Air display region (FOADR) and a second On-Air display region (SOADR) are received. The FOADR and SOADR each include: a station selector; a media ID area; and at least one play control associated with corresponding media ID areas. The station selectors in the FOADR and SOADR receive input specifying selected media stations. The media ID areas in the FOADR and SOADR are populated with IDs of media items to be aired on the selected media stations. Airing of media items by the selected media stations is controlled using the play controls included in the FOADR and SOADR.

Systems and methods are presented for cross-fading (or other multiple clip processing) of information streams on a user or client device, such as a telephone, tablet, computer or MP3 player, or any consumer device with audio playback. Multiple clip processing can be accomplished at a client end according to directions sent from a service provider that specify a combination of (i) the clips involved; (ii) the device on which the cross-fade or other processing is to occur and its parameters; and (iii) the service provider system. For example, a consumer device with only one decoder, can utilize that decoder (typically hardware) to decompress one or more elements that are involved in a cross-fade at faster than real time, thus pre-fetching the next element(s) to be played in the cross-fade at the end of the currently being played element. The next elements(s) can, for example, be stored in an input buffer, then decoded and stored in a decoded sample buffer, all prior to the required presentation time of the multiple element effect. At the requisite time, a client device component can access the respective samples of the decoded audio clips as it performs the cross-fade, mix or other effect. Such exemplary embodiments use a single decoder and thus do not require synchronized simultaneous decodes.