Patent ID: 6541690
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: G10H

Abstract:
A computer interface for producing scratch effects in a digitized signal, comprising:a) a rotary encoder apparatus for receiving manual manipulation from a user and for producing a digital control signal representative of said manual manipulation, wherein said rotary encoder apparatus comprises: i) a motor having a driven shaft; ii) a substantially circular platter having an upper surface and being rigidly and concentrically affixed to said driven shaft; iii) a substantially circular slip disc having an upper surface and being disposed concentrically on said upper surface of said platter and affixed thereto; iv) a substantially circular encoder disc disposed concentrically with and proximate said upper surface of said slip disc and in a slidable relationship therewith, said encoder disc comprising a pattern for interaction with a pick-up; v) pick-up means proximate said encoder disc and adapted for interaction with said pattern for generating a digital control signal representative of at least the angular velocity and rotational direction of said encoder disc; b) processing means for receiving said digital control signal and a digitized audio signal, said processing means running at least one software program capable of modifying said digitized audio signal in a predetermined manner dependent upon said control signal, thereby producing a modified digitized audio signal; c) digital-to-analog conversion means for receiving said modified digitized audio signal and providing an analog audio signal representative thereof; whereby through manipulation of said rotary encoder, said user may impart a scratch effect to said digitized audio signal.