High efficiency encoding device and a noise spectrum modifying device and method

摘要

An apparatus and method for processing an input digital signal in which an input digital audio signal at an input terminal 11 is supplied via a one-block delay unit 17 to a difference unit 20, an output of which is processed by a noise-shaping circuit 21 and restored by a near-instantaneous compressor 26, a near-instantaneous expander 27 and an accumulator 28 so as to be fed back to the difference unit 20 to find a difference between a signal of a directly preceding sample and a signal of the current sample. The noise shaping circuit 21 modifies the spectrum of the quantization noise by taking aural characteristics, such as equal-loudness characteristics or masking characteristics, into account for diminishing the level of the quantization noise as perceived by the ear. The noise level as perceived may be reduced in a manner desirable for the sound quality without changing the existing format.