Patent Publication Number: US-2011064235-A1

Title: Microphone and audio signal processing method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 USC 119(e) of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/243,116, filed Sep. 16, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of this invention is microphones, and in particular the field is microphones with user selection interfaces. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Microphones convert sound waves or vibrations into an electrical or electronic sound signals and transmit these signals to sound systems. When a person sings or speaks into a microphone the sound of their voice is converted into an electrical or electronic signal. This voice signal is then transmitted to the sound system. Controls on sound systems may be used to amplify and modify the voice signals and then convert them back into sounds to be listened to. For example, echoes may be added to a voice signal. If someone is singing, a pitch control may modify the voice signal to correct any errors in pitch the singer may have. Other modifications may be made to create desired effects that the individual singer or speaker could not produce themselves. Separate control modules for sound systems to modify voice signals are often expensive. 
     As the controls are located on the sound system, a singer or speaker is not able to modify their voice as they speak. They must depend on another person operating the sound system controls, or use modification on a recording of their voice. A singer or speaker is an artist and may want to use certain voice modifications to enhance their performance. They may want to make the modifications themselves while performing to individualize their performing style and art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A microphone includes a housing with a user interface configured to allow selection of a voice modification. The voice modification includes at least one of distortion, delay, reverb, auto tune, pitch, and phase. An audio to electric signal converter is at least partially enclosed in the housing and is configured to convert sound waves into an electric voice signal. A control module is configured to generate a signal indicative of a desired sound as a function of the modification signal and the electric voice signal. 
     An audio signal processing method includes converting sound vibrations into an electrical voice signal. A voice modification is selected on a user interface of a microphone. The voice modification includes at least one of distortion, delay, reverb, auto tune, pitch, and phase. A modification signal indicative of the voice modification is generated. A desired sound signal is then generated as a function of the electric voice signal and the modification signal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings, when considered in connection with the following description, are presented for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected. 
         FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a microphone. 
         FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a microphone. 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary block diagram of a sound system. 
         FIG. 4  is an exemplary block diagram of a sound system.. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-4  illustrate several embodiments of a microphone and audio signal processing method. The purpose of these figures and the related descriptions is merely to aid in explaining the principles of the invention. Thus, the figures and descriptions should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention to the embodiments shown herein. Other embodiments of a microphone and audio signal processing method may be created which follow the principles of the invention as taught herein, and these embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the patent. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary embodiment of a microphone  100  is depicted. The microphone  100  may include any device which transforms the mechanical energy of sound waves into an analogous electrical signal known to an ordinary person skilled in the art now or in the future. For example, the microphone may include one of a carbon microphone, a dynamic microphone, a ribbon microphone, a condenser microphone, and a crystal microphone. The microphone  100  may be adapted to be held by a human hand, held in place by a stand, and/or hung by a wire or other device. 
     In the embodiment depicted the microphone  100  includes a housing  102 . The housing  102  includes a reception portion  104  and a handle portion  106 . The reception portion  104  channels sound waves to an audio to electrical converter  206  (described in relation to  FIGS. 3 and 4  and hereafter referred to as an “A to E converter”). The handle portion  106  is adapted to be held in a human hand. In other embodiments the housing  102  may have other shapes and portions designed in relation to how the microphone  100  is to be used. The housing  102  may be any shape that would be known by an ordinary person skilled in the art now or in the future. 
     A user interface  108  is attached to the housing  102 . In some embodiments the user interface  108  may be one or more separate pieces attached with glue or other adhesive, rivets, screws, or any other attachment hardware or chemical compound that would be known by an ordinary person skilled in the art now or in the future. In other embodiments the user interface  108  may be attached to the housing  102  by being integral to the housing  102 . In still other embodiments the user interface  108  may be attached to the housing  102  by being at least partially enclosed by the housing  102 , with portions of the user interface  108  required for the user to make selections as described below accessible. For example, portions of the user interface  108  may be accessible through apertures in the housing  102 , or through sliding, latched, or hinged portions of the housing  102 . In some embodiments the user interface  108  will include a plurality of elements attached to the housing  102  in different manners. 
     The user interface  108  allows the user of the microphone  100  to select at least one voice modification they desire. When a voice modification is selected, the voice signal  216 ,  320  (described below in relation to  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) is modified to create a desired voice signal  248 ,  354  (described below in relation to  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). When the desired voice signal  248 ,  354  is amplified and transformed into sound waves, the listener hears a voice with the user&#39;s desired modification. 
     There are many types of modifications used in sound systems to produce desired audio effects. The user interface  108  is configured to allow selection of a voice modification including at least one of distortion  218 ,  324 ; delay  222 ,  328 ; reverb  226 ,  332 ; auto tune  230 ,  336 ; pitch  234 ,  340 ; and phase  238 ,  344  (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The voice modification may include additional desired effects in other embodiments as would be known by an ordinary person skilled in the art now or in the future. 
     Distortion,  218 ,  324  includes modifying the voice signal  216 ,  320  waveform by clipping the signal. Clipping includes limiting a signal once it exceeds a threshold. Clipping may be hard, in embodiments where the signal is strictly limited at the threshold, producing a flat cutoff. Hard clipping may result in many high frequency harmonics. Clipping may be soft, in embodiments where the clipped signal continues to follow the original at a reduced gain. Soft clipping may result in fewer higher order harmonics. In some embodiments the type and amplitude of distortion  218  may be selected through the user interface  108 . Distortion  218 ,  324  is well known by ordinary persons skilled in the art. 
     Delay  222 ,  328  sometimes referred to as echo, may include creating a copy of the voice signal  216 ,  320  and slightly time-delaying the copied signal creating a “slap”. In another embodiment the copied signal may be repeated at different delayed times creating an echo effect with the multiple repetitions. The number of times the copied signal is repeated may be set or the user may be able to adjust or set this. Delay  222 ,  328  is well known by ordinary persons skilled in the art. 
     Reverb  226 ,  332 , sometimes referred to as reverberation, is the effect of persistence of a sound in a particular space after the original sound is removed. Reverberation may be created when a sound is produced in an enclosed space causing a large number of echoes to build up and then slowly decay as the sound is absorbed by the walls and air. This is most noticeable when the sound source stops but the reflections continue, decreasing in amplitude, until they can no longer be heard. Reverb  226 ,  332  voice signal modification may seek to create the same effect by digital signal processing of a sound signal. Various signal processing algorithms are known by ordinary persons skilled in the art to create the reverb effect. Since reverberation is essentially caused by a very large number of echoes, simple reverberation algorithms may use multiple feedback delay circuits to create a large, decaying series of echoes. More advanced digital reverb algorithms may simulate the time and frequency domain responses of real rooms (based upon room dimensions, absorption and other properties). Any reverberation algorithm known by an ordinary person skilled in the art now or in the future may be used to modify the voice signal  216 ,  320 , to create a desired voice signal  248 ,  354 . The type of reverberation algorithm used may be set or the user may be able to adjust it using the user interface  108 . Reverb  226 ,  332  is well known by ordinary persons skilled in the art. 
     Autotune  230 ,  336  may include modifying the voice signal  216 ,  320  using pitch correction technologies to disguise inaccuracies and mistakes in vocal and instrumental performances. Many different embodiments of autotune  230 ,  336 , as known by an ordinary person skilled in the art now or in the future, are contemplated to be incorporated into the microphone  100 . For example, in one embodiment autotune  230 ,  336  includes Auto-Tune, proprietary audio processing algorithms, techniques, and methods created by Antares Audio Technologies, that use a phase vocoder to correct pitch in vocal and instrumental performances. Autotune  230 ,  336  is well known by ordinary persons skilled in the art. 
     Pitch  234 ,  340  (sometimes referred to as transposing) may include modifying the voice signal  216 ,  320  to create a desired voice signal  248 ,  354  by transposing the frequency up or down an interval, while keeping the tempo the same. For example, the frequency of each note of the voice signal  216 ,  320  may be raised or lowered by a perfect fifth. Techniques used to create the pitch  234 ,  340  modification may include transposing the voice signal  216 ,  320  while holding speed or duration constant. In one embodiment this may be accomplished by time stretching and then re-sampling back to the original length. In another embodiment, the frequency of the sinusoids in a sinusoidal model may be altered directly, and the signal reconstructed at the appropriate time scale. The interval to raise or lower the pitch of the voice signal  248 ,  354  may be set, or a user may choose or adjust the interval using the user interface  108 . Pitch  234 ,  340  is well known by ordinary persons skilled in the art. 
     Phase  238 ,  344 , (sometimes referred to as phase shifting) may include creating a complex frequency response containing many regularly-spaced notches by combining the voice signal  216 ,  320  with a copy of itself out of phase, and shifting the phase relationship cyclically to create the desired voice signal  248 ,  354 . The phasing effect has been described by some as creating a “whooshing” sound that is reminiscent of the sound of a flying jet. The angle of the copy is out of phase with the voice signal  216 ,  320 , and the length of cycles may be set in some embodiments. In other embodiments the user may be able to make adjustments or selections or phase  238 ,  344  using the user interface  108 . Phase  238 ,  344  is well known by ordinary persons skilled in the art. 
     The user interface  108  in the depicted embodiment includes user input devices  110 . User input devices  110  allow the user of the microphone  100  to select at least one voice modification to be made to the voice signal  216 ,  320 . In the depicted embodiment the user input devices include six (6) push buttons  118 . The push buttons  118  are spring loaded and biased in a protruding position. When depressed, a push button  118  may activate a switch (not shown) which generates a signal indicating that the user desires the voice signal  216 ,  320  be modified in a selected manner. The push button  118  then springs back into the protruding position. When a push button  118  is depressed a second time the switch may be activated in different state and a signal generated indicating that the user no longer wishes the voice signal  216 ,  320  be modified in a selected manner. 
     In other embodiments the user input devices  110  may include one or more of toggle switches, sliding switches, knobs, keypads, dials, touchscreens, swivel switches, joysticks and touchpads. The user input devices  110  may include any device that would be known by an ordinary person skilled in the art now or in the future that could be used by a user of the microphone  100  to select a desired modification for the voice signal  216 ,  320 . 
     The user interface  108  may include a display  112 . The display  112  indicates to the user of the microphone  100  which modifications to the voice signal  216 ,  320  the user has selected. In the depicted embodiment the display  112  includes six (6) LEDs  114 A-E corresponding to the six (6) push buttons  110 A-E. LEDs  114 A-E may include semiconductor diodes that emit light when voltages are applied to them. The LEDs  126  may include forward biased p-n junctions that emit light through spontaneous emission by electroluminescence. 
     When the user selects a voice modification through depressing a push button  118 , the corresponding LED  114  lights. When the user depresses the push button  118  again deselecting the voice modification, the corresponding LED  114  goes dark. In one embodiment, the LEDs  114 A-E may produce different colors of light. A different color LED  114  may correspond with each different voice modification available. 
     In alternative embodiments the display  112  may include electronic display screens such as liquid crystal displays or LED display screens, or any output device for presentation of information on user voice modification selections for visual or tactile reception. In some embodiments the user interface  108  will not include a display  112 . Some embodiments of the microphone  100  which do not include a display  112  on the user interface  108  may generate signals that may be transmitted and displayed remotely but in site of the user when the user is performing. Thus, by looking at the remote display the user is able to discern what voice modifications he/she has selected. 
     The user interface  108  may include labels  116 A-E, which correspond to the user input devices  110 A-E, to identify which modification is selected. In the embodiment depicted, the labels  116  include abbreviations of the voice modification. In other embodiments the labels  116  may include pictures or symbols to identify the voice modification identified with the user input device  110 . The labels  116  may include laminates, etchings, moldings, or painted words or symbols. On user interfaces with touchpads or touchscreens the labels  116  may be words, abbreviations, pictures, or symbols on the touchpads or touchscreens. The labels  116  may include any item, symbol, picture, word, or abbreviation which would identify to the user a voice modification that a user input device  110  is associated with. 
     The microphone  100  may include a cable  128  through which signals may be transmitted to any sound system  204 ,  304  (described in relation to  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) component located remotely from the microphone  100 . In other embodiments the microphone  100  may not include a cable  100  and will include circuitry and programming logic to transmit wireless signals to any sound system  204 ,  304  component located remotely from the microphone  100 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , an exemplary embodiment of a microphone  100  is depicted. In the embodiment depicted the microphone  100  includes a housing  102 . The housing  102  includes a reception portion  104  and a handle portion  106 . The reception portion  104  channels sound waves to an audio to electrical converter  206 . The handle portion  106  is adapted to be held in a human hand. 
     A user interface  108  is attached to the housing  102 . The user interface  108  allows the user of the microphone  100  to select at least one voice modification they desire. When a voice modification is selected, the voice signal  216 ,  320  is modified to create a desired voice signal  248 ,  354 . When the desired voice signal  248 ,  354  is amplified and transformed into sound waves, the listener hears a voice with the user&#39;s desired modification. 
     The user interface  108  is configured to allow selection of a voice modification including at least one of distortion  218 ,  324 ; delay  222 ,  328 ; reverb  226 ,  332 ; auto tune  230 ,  336 ; pitch  234 ,  340 ; and phase  238 ,  344 . The voice modification may include additional desired effects in other embodiments as would be known by an ordinary person skilled in the art now or in the future. 
     The user interface  108  in the depicted embodiment includes user input devices  110 . User input devices  110  allow the user of the microphone  100  to select at least one voice modification to be made to the voice signal  216 ,  320 . In the depicted embodiment the user input devices include two (2) push buttons  118 , three (3) sliding four-way sliding switches  124 , and one (1) dial  126 . 
     Four-way sliding switches  124  are well-known by ordinary persons skilled in the art. A user may select the level of a voice modification by sliding the switch  124  to different positions. For example, the user input device  110 A includes a switch  124  controlling distortion  218 ,  324 . The user may choose no distortion  218 ,  324  by moving the switch  124  to a first position labeled with a black rectangle. The user may choose a low level of distortion  218 ,  324  by sliding the switch  124  to a second position labeled “L”. The user may choose a medium level of distortion  218 ,  324  by sliding the switch  124  to a third position labeled “M”. The user may choose a high level of distortion by sliding the switch  124  to a fourth position labeled “H”. User input device  110 D for Autotune  230 ,  336 , and user input device  110 E for Pitch  234 ,  340  include similar four-way switches  124  which operate in similar ways. 
     Dials  126  are well-known by ordinary persons skilled in the art. By rotating the dial  126  clockwise the level of Delay  222 ,  328  may be increased by a user. By rotating the dial  126  counter-clockwise the level of Delay  222 ,  328  may be decreased by a user. Increasing the level of Delay  222 ,  328  may increase the number of repeated voice signals or echoes added. Decreasing the level of Delay  222 ,  328  may decrease the number of repeated voice signals or echoes added. For example, a dial  126  may allow a user to select a level of Delay  222 ,  328  on a scale from one to ten. The dial  126  would then be marked with numerals or other symbols which would indicate to the user what level of Delay  222 ,  328  they had selected. 
     Only one level of voice modification may be selected by a user in the depicted embodiment for Reverberation  226 ,  332  and Phase  238 ,  344 . User input device  110 C includes a push button  118  to activate Reverberation  226 ,  332 . User input device  110 F includes a push button  118  to activate Phase  238 ,  344 . 
     The user interface includes labels  116 A-F which identify to a user voice modification selections corresponding to user input devices  110 A-F. 
     The user interface  108  depicted includes a display  112 . The display  112  indicates to the user of the microphone  100  which modifications to the voice signal  216 ,  320  the user has selected and may display the level at which the user has selected the voice modification. In the depicted embodiment, the display  112  includes a screen display  130 . The screen display  130  may include a liquid crystal display or an LED screen display. The screen display  130  may include any surface known by an ordinary person in the art now or in the future on which an electronic image is displayed, providing information to a user relating to voice modifications selected and/or the level of voice modifications selected. 
     The screen display  130  depicted includes images of abbreviations  122 A-F of the available voice modifications and the levels  120 A-F that have been selected for each voice modification. In the depicted embodiment, the display screen  130  indicates that Distortion  218 ,  324  has been selected at a high level; Delay  222 ,  328  has been selected at a level “4”; Reverberation  226 ,  332  has been selected; Autotune  230 ,  336  has been selected at a high level; Pitch  234 ,  340  has been selected at a medium level; and Phase  238 ,  344  has not been selected. 
     The microphone  100  in the depicted embodiment does not include a cable and may be configured to send and receive wireless signals. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an exemplary block diagram of a sound system  200  is depicted. The sound system  200  includes a microphone  202  and exterior components  204 . The microphone  202  includes an A to E converter  206 . When a person  256  speaks or sings into the microphone  202 , sound waves  258  are created. The sound waves enter the microphone  202  and the A to E converter  206  converts the sound waves to an analogous electrical signal. 
     The A to E converter  206  may include any device, circuit, or combination of devices and/or circuits which transforms the mechanical energy of sound waves into an analogous electrical signal known to an ordinary person skilled in the art now or in the future. The A to E converter  206  may, for example, include an electrical circuit with a thin metal or plastic diaphragm with carbon dust on one side. When the carbon dust is compressed by sound waves it&#39;s electrical resistance changes, producing an electrical signal analogous to the sound waves. In another embodiment, the A to E converter  206  may include a capacitor. One of the plates of the capacitor includes a diaphragm which moves when exposed to sound waves changing the capacitance of the capacitor and creating an electrical signal analogous to the sound waves. Other types of A to E converters  206  include a thin ribbon suspended in a magnetic field. When sound waves move the ribbon, the current passing through the ribbon changes producing an electrical signal analogous to the sound waves. Another A to E converter  206  may include a crystal attached to a diaphragm. Another embodiment of the A to E converter  206  may include a magnet attached to a diaphragm. The A to E converter  206  generates an electrical voice signal  208 , analogous to sound waves  258 . 
     The microphone  202  includes a signal conditioner  210  in the depicted embodiment. When a user sings or speaks into a microphone they may want a clear signal created of their voice devoid of other background sounds. In addition to the sound waves entering the microphone  202 , other mechanical energy from the environment may also enter. During transformation of the mechanical energy of sound waves and other sources, an electrical signal may be subject to changes from other sources. The background sounds, additional mechanical energy from the environment, and changes in the electrical signal from other sources may create unwanted noise. If the electrical signal continues to contain the noise, the sound that eventually is broadcast from speakers may contain undesired static or other noises. The signal conditioner  210  may include any device, circuit, or combination of devices and/or circuits which filters unwanted noise from the electrical voice signal  208 . 
     In some embodiments the signal conditioner  210  may convert the electrical voice signal  208  into a plurality of electrical signals, each representing a particular bandwidth of the electrical voice signal  208 . For example, the signal conditioner  210  may convert the electrical voice signal  208  into four signals, the first with a band width suitable for a sub-woofer speaker, the second with a band width suitable for a woofer speaker, the third with a band width suitable for a medium speaker, and the fourth with a band width suitable for a tweeter speaker. In the description that follows, the signals generated will be referred to in the singular. In some embodiments, the singular signal may include a plurality of signals each representing a particular bandwidth. The signal conditioner  210  generates a filtered voice signal  212 . 
     The microphone  202  in the embodiment depicted includes analogue to digital converter  214 , hereafter referred to as an “ADC”. The ADC  214  may include any device, circuit, or combination of devices and/or circuits which converts continuous electrical signals to a discrete digital number signal known to an ordinary person skilled in the art now or in the future. In the depicted embodiment, the ADC includes an electronic device that converts the filtered voice signal  212  into a digital voice signal  216 . 
     As described in relation to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the microphone  202  includes a user interface  108 . The user interface  108  may allow the user to select voice modifications and levels of voice modifications for Distortion  218 , Delay  222 , Reverberation  226 , Autotune  230 , Pitch  234 , and Phase  238 . The user interface  108  is configured to generate a modification signal(s)  220 ,  224 ,  228 ,  232 ,  236 ,  240  indicative of the selection(s). When a user selects a Distortion  218  voice modification the user interface generates a distortion signal  220  indicative of the selection and any level selected. When a user selects a Delay  222  voice modification the user interface generates a delay signal  224  indicative of the selection and any level selected. When a user selects a Reverberation  226  voice modification the user interface generates a reverb signal  228  indicative of the selection and any level selected. When a user selects an Autotune  230  voice modification the user interface generates an autotune signal  232  indicative of the selection and any level selected. When a user selects a Pitch  234  voice modification the user interface generates a pitch signal  236  indicative of the selection and any level selected. When a user selects a Phase  238  voice modification the user interface generates a phase signal  240  indicative of the selection and any level selected. 
     The embodiment of the microphone  202  depicted, includes a control module  212  configured to generate a desired voice signal  248  indicative of a desired sound as a function of the modification signal(s) and the digital voice signal  216 . The control module  212  may include a processor  242 , memory component  244 , and signal generator  246 . The processor  242  may include a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), or any processor known to an ordinary person skilled in the art now or in the future. The memory component  244  may store programs, methods, processes, algorithms, and other data that may be utilized by the processor  242  to modify the digital voice signal  216  with the modifications selected on the user interface  108 . The processor may implement programs, methods, processes, and algorithms to modify the digital voice signal and generate a signal indicative of a desired voice signal  248 . The signal generator  246  may be operable to generate and transmit a desired voice signal  248  to external components  204  of the sound system  200 . 
     The desired voice signal  248  may be in analogue or digital form. Generally, digital signals will transmit with fewer errors than analogue. However, if the external components  204  are configured to accept only analogue signals the signal generator  246  may convert a digital signal to analogue and then transmit it to external components  204  via a physical cable  128 . 
     In the depicted embodiment, the external components  204  include an amplifier component  250  and a speaker component  254 . The amplifier component  250  may include any device that increases the amplitude of the desired voice signal  248  known to an ordinary person skilled in the art now or in the future. The amplifier component  250  may use digital or analogue technology. 
     The amplifier component  250  generates an amplified desired voice signal  252 . The amplifier voice signal  252  may be digital or analogue. 
     The speaker component  254  may include any electroacoustic transducer that converts an electrical signal into sound known by an ordinary person skilled in the art now or in the future. The speaker component  254  may include at least one element which pulses in accordance with the variations of an electrical signal and causes sound waves to propagate through a medium such as air. In the depicted embodiment, the speaker component  254  converts the amplified desired voice signal  252  into sound waves. A listener then may hear the voice of the user singing or speaking with the modification that the user selected on the user interface  108 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an exemplary block diagram of a sound system  300  is depicted. The depicted sound system  300  includes a microphone  302  and exterior components  304 . The microphone  302  includes an A to E converter  310 . When a person  306  sings or speaks into the microphone  302 , sound waves  308  are created. The A to E converter  310  converts the sound waves  308  into an electrical voice signal  312  analogous to the sound waves  308 . 
     The microphone  302  depicted includes a signal conditioner  314 . The signal conditioner  314  filters noise from the electrical voice signal  312  and may convert the electrical voice signal  312  into a plurality of signals. Each of the plurality of signals is representative of a particular bandwidth of the electrical voice signal  312 . The signal conditioner  314  depicted generates a filtered voice signal  316 . 
     The microphone  302  depicted includes an ADC  318 . The ADC  318  converts the filtered voice signal  316  from an analogue signal to a digital voice signal  320 . 
     As described in relation to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the microphone  302  includes a user interface  108 . The user interface  108  may allow the user to select voice modifications and levels of voice modifications for Distortion  324 , Delay  328 , Reverberation  332 , Autotune  336 , Pitch  340 , and Phase  344 . The user interface  108  is configured to generate a modification signal(s)  326 ,  330 ,  334 ,  338 ,  342 ,  346  indicative of the selection(s). When a user selects a Distortion  324  voice modification the user interface generates a distortion signal  326  indicative of the selection and any level selected. When a user selects a Delay  328  voice modification the user interface generates a delay signal  330  indicative of the selection and any level selected. When a user selects a Reverberation  332  voice modification the user interface generates a reverb signal  334  indicative of the selection and any level selected. When a user selects an Autotune  336  voice modification, the user interface generates an autotune signal  338  indicative of the selection and any level selected. When a user selects a Pitch  340  voice modification the user interface generates a pitch signal  342  indicative of the selection and any level selected. When a user selects a Phase  344  voice modification the user interface generates a phase signal  346  indicative of the selection and any level selected. 
     The depicted embodiment of the microphone  302  includes a signal generator  322 . The signal generator  322  may be configured to generate and transmit to the external components  304  a signal indicative of the digital voice signal  320  and the voice modifications the user has selected on the user interface  108 . 
     In the depicted embodiment the external components  304  include a control module  348 , an amplifier component  356  and a speaker component  360 . The control module  348  may be configured to generate a desired voice signal  354  indicative of a desired sound as a function of the modification signal(s) and the digital voice signal  320 . The control module  348  may include a processor  350  and a memory component  352 . The processor  350  may include a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), or any processor known to an ordinary person skilled in the art now or in the future. The memory component  352  may store programs, methods, processes, algorithms, and other data that may be utilized by the processor  350  to modify the digital voice signal  320  with the modifications selected on the user interface  108 . The processor may implement programs, methods, processes, and algorithms to modify the digital voice signal  320  and generate a desired voice signal  354 . 
     The amplifier component  356  generates an amplified desired voice signal  358 . The amplifier voice signal  358  may be digital or analogue. The speaker component  360  converts the amplified desired voice signal  358  into sound waves. A listener then may hear the voice of the user singing or speaking with the modification that the user selected on the user interface  108 . 
     Other aspects, objects and features of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.