An electrolarynx includes a case housing tone-producing circuitry, a power switch to turn on the circuitry, a control button (i.e., a pushbutton) to actuate the power switch, and a pressure-sensitive-resistor (PSR) that is physically coupled to the pushbutton. The tone-producing circuitry is configured to respond to variations in PSR resistance that are caused by a user depressing the pushbutton. User-selected modes, that are selectable in one embodiment with a mode switch, include multiple frequency-varying modes (FVMs) in which the frequency of the electrolarynx tone is varied with different sensitivities to variations in PSR resistance, and multiple volume-varying modes (VVMs) for varying the volume of the electrolarynx tone with different sensitivities. A preferred embodiment provides a nonlinear frequency characteristic that facilitates operation at the low end of the pushbutton-controlled (i.e., PSR-controlled) frequency range, accomplishing same by applying suitable shape factors to frequencies of a linear frequency characteristic.

An audio playback path of an audio apparatus includes a digital modulator, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and a power amplifier. The digital modulator receives a playback signal corresponding to playback audio content and generates a digital input signal in accordance with the playback signal. The DAC receives the audio input signal and generates an analog preamplifier signal. The power amplifier generates an audio output signal in accordance with the preamplifier signal and an analog attenuation determined by the analog attenuation signal. The apparatus may include a volume control input to receive a volume control signal and a playback controller configured to perform operations including generating an analog attenuation signal in accordance with the volume control signal, monitoring a playback state indicated by the playback parameters, and responsive to detecting the playback state satisfying the playback criterion, modifying a selected playback parameter to improve a performance parameter of the playback path.

A wireless earphone comprises a transceiver circuit for receiving streaming audio from a data source over a local ad hoc wireless network. When the data source and the earphone are out of range, they transition automatically to an infrastructure wireless network. If there is no common infrastructure wireless network for both the data source and the speakerphone set, the earphone connects to a host server via an available wireless network.

A wireless earphone comprises a transceiver circuit for receiving streaming audio from a data source over a local ad hoc wireless network. When the data source and the earphone are out of range, they transition automatically to an infrastructure wireless network. If there is no common infrastructure wireless network for both the data source and the speakerphone set, the earphone connects to a host server via an available wireless network.

[Problem] To improve the operability of a sound level operation performed with respect to a plurality of audio devices. [Solution] A control screen 25 is displayed, said control screen 25 comprising: channel faders 26-1 to 26-4 which individually accept sound volume level operations for wireless network compliant speakers 1-1 to 1-4; and a master fader 27 which accepts a sound volume level operation collectively for the wireless network compliant speakers 1-1 to 1-4. In the master fader 27, a minimum value end portion 271 is displayed in a position indicating a scale value that is the same as the minimum value from among the scale values indicated by each of the channel faders 26-1 to 26-4, and a maximum value end portion 272 is displayed in a position indicating the scale value that is the same as the maximum value from among said scale values. The master fader 27 thus has a width W corresponding to the minimum value and the maximum value of said scale values.

[Problem] To improve the operability of a sound level operation performed with respect to a plurality of audio devices. [Solution] A control screen 25 is displayed, said control screen 25 comprising: channel faders 26-1 to 26-4 which individually accept sound volume level operations for wireless network compliant speakers 1-1 to 1-4; and a master fader 27 which accepts a sound volume level operation collectively for the wireless network compliant speakers 1-1 to 1-4. In the master fader 27, a minimum value end portion 271 is displayed in a position indicating a scale value that is the same as the minimum value from among the scale values indicated by each of the channel faders 26-1 to 26-4, and a maximum value end portion 272 is displayed in a position indicating the scale value that is the same as the maximum value from among said scale values. The master fader 27 thus has a width W corresponding to the minimum value and the maximum value of said scale values.

Systems and methods for a playback device outputting an audio alert from a network-enabled device include (i) while the playback device is playing back audio content, receiving an alert communication from the network-enabled device, the alert communication including (a) an audio notification identifier that identifies an audio notification and (b) a priority identifier that identifies a priority level of the audio notification; (ii) responsive to receiving the alert communication, adding the audio notification to a notification queue at a particular queue position, where the particular queue position of the audio notification in the notification queue is based on the priority level of the audio notification relative to other audio content in the notification queue; (iii) adjusting playback of the audio content for playing back the audio notification; and (iv) the playback device playing back the audio notification.

A virtual meeting system is discussed herein. An online meeting application places participants in their own virtual location with a common virtual meeting space and adjusts the audio volume and balance on a listener's device to simulate the virtual location of the participant who is speaking. The application includes a trigonometric function to adjust the audio volume and balance based on the location of the listener relative to the speaker. The application can also permit the participants to select their own virtual locations upon entry to the virtual meeting, can assign a virtual location or adjust audio based on a participant's settings, or can allow for parallel meetings.

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an apparatus for providing an output signal to an audio transducer may include a signal path and a control circuit. The signal path may include an analog signal path portion having an audio input for receiving an analog signal, an audio output for providing an output signal, and a selectable analog gain, and configured to generate the output signal based on the analog signal and in conformity with the selectable analog gain and a digital path portion having a selectable digital gain and configured to receive a digital input signal and convert the digital input signal into the analog signal in conformity with the selectable digital gain. The control circuit may be configured to determine a spectral content of a signal indicative of the output signal and change the selectable digital gain and the selectable analog gain based on the spectral content.

A noise cancelation device that programs, records, and saves sounds and noises and their respective sound waves, inverts them, and broadcasts the inverted sound waves, thereby reducing, deadening, canceling, or eliminating, the original sounds and noises, and their respective sound waves. Further, the noise cancelation device can save sounds and noises that have a constant, predictable, steady, and recognizable sound quality and their respective sound waves, and preprogram the respective inverted sound waves, which allows for the noise cancelation device to broadcast the preprogrammed inverted sound waves through speakers to reduce, deaden, or cancel the original sounds and noise when they are present. The noise cancelation device is portable and may be used in any location desired, or the noise cancelation device may be is fixed in its location.