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Abstract

An apparatus for classifying audio signals comprises audio signal clipping means for partitioning audio signals into audio clips, and class discrimination means for discriminating the audio clips provided by the audio signal clipping means into predetermined audio classes based on predetermined audio class classifying rules, by analysing acoustic characteristics of the audio signals comprised in the audio clips, wherein a predetermined audio class classifying rule is provided for each audio class, and each audio class represents a respective kind of audio signals comprised in the corresponding audio clip. The determination process to find acceptable audio class classifying rules for each audio class according to the prior art is depending on both the used raw audio signals and the personal experience of the person conducting the determination process. Thus, the determination process usually is very difficult, time consuming and subjective. Furthermore, there is a high risk that not all possible peculiarities of the different programmes and the different categories the audio signal can belong to is sufficiently accounted for. This problem is solved in the inventive apparatus for classifying audio signals by class discrimination means calculating an audio class confidence value for each audio class assigned to an audio clip, wherein the audio class confidence value indicates the likelihood the respective audio class characterises the respective kind of audio signals comprised in the respective audio clip correctly. Furthermore, the class discrimination means use acoustic characteristics of audio clips of audio classes having a high audio class confidence value to train the respective audio class classifying rule.

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