Systems and methods are described to enable the inclusion of customized audio messages into packages for physical items. Specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure enable a user, in connection with an order to physical items, to record an audio message (e.g., a gift message) to be played back on the opening of a package including the physical items. The recorded audio message can be encoded into audio data at a user computing device and transmitted over a network to a fulfillment processing system associated with the order. The fulfillment processing system can encode the audio data into a playback device included within a package of the ordered items. The playback device may include one or more sensors (such as mechanical switches, light sensors, etc.) that notify the playback device when the package is opened. The playback device can then output the audio message to a receiving party.

A voice recording device that connects/is connected to a network, comprising a voice recording circuit that acquires voice and records the acquired voice as a voice file, a transmission circuit that transmits the voice file to a network, and a control circuit, the control circuit including an information extraction section that extracts associated information that has been associated with the voice file, and a display that displays the associated information associated with a voice data file.

An apparatus, method and computer program, the apparatus comprising: processing circuitry; and memory circuitry including computer program code, the memory circuitry and the computer program code configured to, with the processing circuitry, enable the apparatus to: enable a wireless connection to be established with an electronic device; capture an audio signal and enable the captured audio signal to be sent to the electronic device using the wireless connection to enable the captured audio signal to be used to create an enhanced audio signal; and wherein the apparatus is arranged to be removeably attachable to the electronic device.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for controlling an electronic device that includes a plurality of microphones configured to receive voice input, a storage unit configured to store a sound recording file, and a display unit configured to visually display speaker areas of individual speakers when recording a sound or playing a sound recording file. The electronic device also includes a control unit configured to provide a user interface relating a speaker direction to a speaker by identifying the speaker direction while recording the sound or performing playback of the sound recording file, and to update at least one of speaker information, direction information of a speaker, and distance information of the speaker through the user interface.

A method of wireless audio transmission and playback includes steps of: a) dividing, by a host, the audio data into audio segments; b) transmitting, by the host, the audio segments to each of audio playback devices; c) transmitting to the host, by each of the audio playback devices, with respect to each of the audio segments received thereby, an acknowledgment indicating that the audio playback device has received the audio segment; and d) when determining, by the host based on the acknowledgment(s) thus received, that at least one of the audio playback devices has received a first specific audio segment, controlling all of the audio playback devices having received the first audio segment to play the first audio segment synchronously with each other.

Methods and systems are provided for enhanced audio experiences in VR/AR applications. The apparatuses of this disclosure are adapted to record multiple binaural stereo pairs and play back select binaural pairs corresponding to users' head positions. A substantially spherical microarray is utilized in various embodiments for recording multiple binaural stereo pairs. A VR/AR headset is further adapted to track a user's head positions and dynamically play back binaural sound pairs corresponding to the head positions.

The portable sound recorder (1) according to the invention comprises A) a plurality of microphones (1A-F) arranged for picking up voices or sounds from an external environment; B) a protective outer shell (10) that encloses: B.1) a logic unit (2) programmed or in any case arranged for processing the electrical or opto-electronic signals emitted by the plurality of microphones improving the quality of the sounds recorded; B.2) a mass memory (4) arranged for memorising and store/conserve the sounds picked up by the plurality of microphones; B.3) an electric power supply (6) that supplies the logic unit and the mass memory; and where the plurality of microphones comprises at least two microphones of the Micro-ElectroMechanical System (MEMS) type. The recorder is suitable for semi-professional use, is very small in size, can very faithfully reproduce atmosphere and directionality effects, is suitable for example for making cinematographic recordings or recordings of natural phenomena, live concerts or other music or sports events and press conferences.

An output buffer set is coupled to a first pair of pins and configured to output art audio output signal to the first pair of pins. A direct current (DC) shifting buffer set is coupled between the audio codec circuit and the first pair of pins, and is directly coupled to the output buffer set and the first pair of pins. An audio port is coupled to the first pair of pins. The DC shifting buffer set is configured to receive a first audio input signal from the audio port through the first pair of pins. The audio codec circuit is configured to record the audio output signal back and mix the recorded audio output signal with a second audio input signal, or mix the first audio input signal with a third audio input signal.

Techniques for multiplexing audio recordings. Systems and methods for multiplexing and synchronizing audio recordings using data markers in the recorded files.

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a microphone, a semiconductor memory, an operating section and a controller. An output signal from the microphone is written in the semiconductor memory and the written signals are read out from the semiconductor memory. The operating section performs input processing for writing a digital signal outputted by an analog/digital converter, reading out the digital signal stored in the semiconductor memory and for erasing the digital signal stored in the semiconductor memory. The control section controls the writing of the microphone output signal in the semiconductor memory based on an input from the operating section and the readout of the digital signal stored in the semiconductor memory. The control section operates so that, if, when the signals written in the storage section is read out from it, an input for erasure is entered by the operating section, the signal being read out from the storage section is erased when, after reading out the signal from the storage section for a pre-set period, an input for erasure is again entered from the operating section.