Patent ID: 7161887

Claim:
A computer implemented method comprising: reading digital audio data from a source medium, the digital audio data divided into a plurality of tracks, each representing a discrete chunk of digital audio data and having sound levels varying as a function of a variable; analyzing the digital audio data to determine the levels of sound as a function of the variable and determining one or more precise values of the variable at which the level of sound crosses a specified threshold; and dividing the digital audio data into one or more segments, each segment containing one or more tracks and each segment excluding the digital audio data having levels of sound below the specified threshold, and wherein dividing includes: if the level of sound at a track edge between a first track and a second track is not below the specified threshold, then including the first and second tracks in the same segment; and if the level of sound at a track edge between a third track and a fourth track is below the specified threshold, then including the third and fourth tracks in separate segments.