Very low bit-rate audio coding technique using MIDI representation

The MIDI interface is originally designed for electronic musical instr uments but we consider this music-note based coding concept can be extended for general acoustic signal description. We proposed applying the MIDI technology to coding of bio-medical auscultation sound signals such as heart sounds for retrieving medical records and performing telemedicine. Then we have tried to extend our encoding algorithm and improve the coding precision based on Generalized Harmonic Analysis in order to apply to vocal sounds. Currently, we can separate vocal sounds included in popular songs and encode both vocal sounds and background instrumental sounds into separate MIDI channels. Using a GM-standard MIDI tone generator, we can playback this multi-channel MIDI encoded data with vocal singing sounds. In this paper, we present our MIDI encoding algorithm for reproducing general audio signals including vocal sounds, and propose its application for very low bit-rate audio compression.

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