docs: Update Recording & Playback to use AudioRecording & AudioTrack.

docs/audio.rst

@@ -24,7 +24,22 @@ There are three different kinds of audio sources that can be played using the
     my_effect = audio.SoundEffect(freq_start=400, freq_end=2500, duration=500)
     audio.play(my_effect)
 
-3. `Audio Frames <#audioframe>`_, an instance or an iterable (like a list or
+3. `Audio Recordings <#audiorecording-audiotrack-v2>`_, an object that can
+   be used to record audio from the microphone::
+
+    recording = audio.AudioRecording(duration=4000)
+    microphone.record_into(recording)
+    audio.play(recording)
+
+4. `Audio Tracks <#audiorecording-audiotrack-v2>`_, a way to point to a portion
+   of the data in an ``AudioRecording`` or a ``bytearray`` and/or modify it::
+
+    recording = audio.AudioRecording(duration=4000)
+    microphone.record(recording)
+    track = AudioTrack(recording)[1000:3000]
+    audio.play(track)
+
+5. `Audio Frames <#audioframe>`_, an instance or an iterable (like a list or
    generator) of Audio Frames, which are lists of samples with values
    from 0 to 255::
 
@@ -49,6 +64,10 @@ Functions
           be found in the `Built in sounds <#built-in-sounds-v2>`_ section.
         - ``SoundEffect``: A sound effect, or an iterable of sound effects,
           created via the :py:meth:`audio.SoundEffect` class
+        - ``AudioRecording``: An instance of ``AudioRecording`` as described
+          in the `AudioRecording <#audiorecording-audiotrack-v2>`_ section
+        - ``AudioTrack``: An instance of ``AudioTrack`` as described in the
+          `AudioTrack <#audiorecording-audiotrack-v2>`_ section
         - ``AudioFrame``: An instance or an iterable of ``AudioFrame``
           instances as described in the
           `AudioFrame Technical Details <#technical-details>`_ section
@@ -226,47 +245,159 @@ Sound Effects Example
     :code: python
 
 
-AudioFrame
-==========
+AudioRecording & AudioTrack **V2**
+==================================
 
-.. py:class::
-    AudioFrame(duration=-1, rate=7812)
+There are two classes that can contain (or point to) audio data 
+and an associated sampling rate:
 
-    An ``AudioFrame`` object is a list of samples, each of which is an unsigned
-    byte (whole number between 0 and 255).
+- ``AudioRecording`` contains its own buffer, it's initialised with a size
+  defined in time, and it's the object type that ``microphone.record()``
+  returns.
+- ``AudioTrack`` does not hold its own buffer and instead points to a buffer
+  externally created. This buffer could be an ``AudioRecording``, or a basic
+  type like a ``bytearray``. It's similar to a
+  `memoryview <https://docs.micropython.org/en/v1.9.3/pyboard/reference/speed_python.html#arrays>`_
+  and it can be used to easily chop a portion of the audio data in the
+  ``AudioRecording`` or to modify its contents.
 
-    The number of samples in an AudioFrame will depend on the
-    ``rate`` (number of samples per second) and ``duration`` parameters.
-    The total number of samples will always be a round up multiple of 32.
+AudioRecording
+--------------
+
+.. py:class::
+    AudioRecording(duration, rate=7812)
+
+    The ``AudioRecording`` object contains audio data and the sampling rate
+    associated to it.
 
-    On micro:bit V1 the constructor does not take any arguments,
-    and an AudioFrame instance is always 32 bytes.
+    The size of the internal buffer will depend on the ``rate``
+    (number of samples per second) and ``duration`` parameters.
 
-    :param duration: (**V2**) Indicates how many milliseconds of audio this
+    :param duration: Indicates how many milliseconds of audio this
         instance can store.
-    :param rate: (**V2**) The sampling rate at which data will be stored
+    :param rate: The sampling rate at which data will be stored
         via the microphone, or played via the ``audio.play()`` function.
 
     .. py:function:: set_rate(sample_rate)
 
-        (**V2 only**) Configure the sampling rate associated with the data
-        in the ``AudioFrame`` instance.
+        Configure the sampling rate associated with the data in the
+        ``AudioRecording`` instance.
+
+        :param sample_rate: The sample rate to set.
+
+    .. py:function:: get_rate()
+
+        Return the configured sampling rate for this
+        ``AudioRecording`` instance.
+
+        :return: The configured sample rate.
+
+    .. py:function:: track(start_ms=0, end_ms=-1)
+
+        Create an `AudioTrack <#audio.AudioTrack>`_ instance from a portion of
+        the data in this ``AudioRecording`` instance.
+
+        :param start_ms: Where to start of the track in milliseconds.
+        :param end_ms: The end of the track in milliseconds.
+            If the default value of ``-1`` is provided it will end the track
+            at the end of the AudioRecording.
+
+When an AudioRecording is used to record data from the microphone,
+increasing the sampling rate increases the sound quality,
+but it also increases the amount of memory used.
+
+During playback, increasing the sampling rate speeds up the sound
+and decreasing the sample rate slows it down.
+
+AudioTrack
+----------
+
+An ``AudioTrack`` can be created from an ``AudioRecording`` or ``bytearray``
+and individual bytes can be accessed and modified like elements in a list.
+
+This class is useful to modify the audio data in an ``AudioRecording`` or
+to create precisely sized audio data buffers for sending and receiving them
+via communication protocols like radio or serial.
+
+.. py:class::
+    AudioTrack(buffer, rate=7812)
+
+    The ``AudioTrack`` object points to the data provided by the input buffer,
+    which can be an ``AudioRecording``, or a buffer-like object like a
+    ``bytearray``.
+    It also contains its own sampling rate, so multiple ``AudioTrack``
+    instances pointing to the same buffer can have different rates and won't
+    affect the rate of the original buffer.
 
-        For recording from the microphone, increasing the sampling rate
-        increases the sound quality, but reduces the length of audio it
-        can store.
-        During playback, increasing the sampling rate speeds up the sound
-        and decreasing it slows it down.
+    :param buffer: The buffer containing the audio data.
+    :param rate: The sampling rate at which data will be stored
+        via the microphone, or played via the ``audio.play()`` function.
+
+    .. py:function:: set_rate(sample_rate)
+
+        Configure the sampling rate associated with the data in the
+        ``AudioTrack`` instance.
 
         :param sample_rate: The sample rate to set.
 
     .. py:function:: get_rate()
 
-        (**V2 only**) Return the configured sampling rate for this
-        ``AudioFrame`` instance.
+        Return the configured sampling rate for this
+        ``AudioTrack`` instance.
 
         :return: The configured sample rate.
 
+    .. py:function:: copyfrom(other)
+
+        Overwrite the data in this ``AudioTrack`` with the data from another
+        ``AudioTrack``, ``AudioRecording`` or buffer-like object like
+        a ``bytes`` or ``bytearray`` instance.
+
+        :param other: Buffer-like instance from which to copy the data.
+
+Example
+-------
+
+::
+
+    from microbit import *
+
+    # An AudioRecording holds the audio data
+    recording = audio.AudioRecording(duration=4000)
+
+    # AudioTracks point to a portion of the data in the AudioRecording
+    # We can obtain the an AudioTrack from the AudioRecording.track() method
+    first_half = recording.track(end_ms=2000)
+    # Or we can create an AudioTrack from an AudioRecording and slice it
+    full_track = audio.AudioTrack(recording)
+    second_half = full_track[full_track.length() // 2:]
+
+    while True:
+        if button_a.is_pressed():
+            # We can record directly inside the AudioRecording
+            microphone.record(recording)
+        if button_b.is_pressed():
+            audio.play(recording, wait=False)
+            # The rate can be changed while playing
+            first_half.set_rate(
+                scale(accelerometer.get_x(), from_=(-1000, 1000), to=(3_000, 30_000))
+            )
+        if pin_logo.is_touched():
+            # We can also play the AudioTrack pointing to the AudioRecording
+            audio.play(first_half)
+
+
+AudioFrame
+==========
+
+.. py:class::
+    AudioFrame
+
+    An ``AudioFrame`` object is a list of 32 samples each of which is an unsigned byte
+    (whole number between 0 and 255).
+
+    It takes just over 4 ms to play a single frame.
+
     .. py:function:: copyfrom(other)
 
         Overwrite the data in this ``AudioFrame`` with the data from another
@@ -281,21 +412,13 @@ Technical Details
     You don't need to understand this section to use the ``audio`` module.
     It is just here in case you wanted to know how it works.
 
-The ``audio.play()`` function can consume an instance or iterable
-(sequence, like list or tuple, or generator) of ``AudioFrame`` instances,
-The ``AudioFrame`` default playback rate is 7812 Hz, and can be configured
-at any point with the ``AudioFrame.set_rate()`` method.
-The ``AudioFrame.set_rate()`` also works while the ``AudioFrame`` is being
-played, which will affect the playback speed.
-
-Each ``AudioFrame`` instance is 32 samples by default, but it can be
-configured to a different size via constructor parameters.
-
-So, for example, playing 32 samples at 7812 Hz takes just over 4 milliseconds
+The ``audio`` module can consumes an iterable (sequence, like list or tuple, or
+generator) of ``AudioFrame`` instances, each 32 samples at 7812.5 Hz,
+which take just over 4 milliseconds to play each frame
 (1/7812.5 * 32 = 0.004096 = 4096 microseconds).
 
-The function ``play()`` fully copies all data from each ``AudioFrame`` before
-it calls ``next()`` for the next frame, so a sound source can use the same
+The function ``play`` fully copies all data from each ``AudioFrame`` before it
+calls ``next()`` for the next frame, so a sound source can use the same
 ``AudioFrame`` repeatedly.
 
 The ``audio`` module has an internal 64 sample buffer from which it reads

docs/microbit_micropython_api.rst

@@ -108,10 +108,10 @@ The Microphone is accessed via the `microphone` object::
     set_threshold(128)
     # Returns a representation of the sound pressure level in the range 0 to 255.
     sound_level()
-    # Record audio into a new `AudioFrame`
-    record(duration, rate=7812)
-    # Record audio into an existing `AudioFrame`
-    record_into(buffer, rate=7812)
+    # Record audio into a new `AudioRecording`
+    recording = record(duration, rate=7812)
+    # Record audio into an existing `AudioRecording`
+    record_into(recording, rate=7812)
     # Returns `True` if the microphone is currently recording audio
     is_recording()
     # Stop any active audio recording

docs/microphone.rst

@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ accessible via variables in ``microbit.SoundEvent``:
 Recording
 =========
 
-The microphone can record audio into an :doc:`AudioFrame <audio>`, which can
-then be played with the ``audio.play()`` function.
+The microphone can record audio into an :doc:`AudioRecording <audio>`,
+which can then be played with the ``audio.play()`` function.
 
 Audio sampling is the process of converting sound into a digital format.
 To do this, the microphone takes samples of the sound waves at regular
@@ -41,15 +41,17 @@ intervals. The number of samples recorded per second is known as the
 quality, but as more samples are saved, it also consumes more memory.
 
 The microphone sampling rate can be configured during sound recording via
-the ``AudioFrame.rate()`` method functions.
+the :py:meth:`AudioRecording.set_rate()<audio.AudioRecording.set_rate>` or
+:py:meth:`AudioTrack.set_rate()<audio.AudioTrack.set_rate>` methods.
 
 At the other side, the audio playback sampling rate indicates how many samples
 are played per second. So if audio is played back with a higher sampling rate
 than the rate used during recording, then the audio will sound speeded up.
 If the playback sampling rate is twice the recording rate, the sound will take
 half the time to be played to completion. Similarly, if the playback rate
-is halved, it will play half as many samples per second, and so it will
-take twice as long to play the same amount of samples.
+is halved, it will play half as many samples per second, so it will
+take twice as long to play the same amount of samples, and it will sound
+slowed down.
 
 How do you think a voice recording will sound if the playback rate is
 increased or decreased? Let's try it out!::
@@ -141,7 +143,7 @@ Functions
 
 .. py:function:: record(duration, rate=7812)
 
-    Record sound into an ``AudioFrame`` for the amount of time indicated by
+    Record sound into an ``AudioRecording`` for the amount of time indicated by
     ``duration`` at the sampling rate indicated by ``rate``.
 
     The amount of memory consumed is directly related to the length of the
@@ -155,17 +157,24 @@ Functions
 
     :param duration: How long to record in milliseconds.
     :param rate: Number of samples to capture per second.
-    :returns: An ``AudioFrame`` with the sound samples.
+    :returns: An ``AudioRecording`` with the sound samples.
 
 .. py:function:: record_into(buffer, rate=7812, wait=True)
 
-    Record sound into an existing ``AudioFrame`` until it is filled,
-    or the ``stop_recording()`` function is called.
+    Record sound into an existing ``AudioRecording`` or ``AudioTrack``
+    until it is filled, or the ``stop_recording()`` function is called.
 
-    :param buffer: An ``AudioFrame`` to record sound.
+    This function also returns an ``AudioTrack`` created from the provided
+    input buffer, which length matches the recording duration.
+    This is useful when recording with ``wait`` set to ``False``, and the
+    recording is stopped before the input buffer is filled.
+
+    :param buffer: ``AudioRecording`` or ``AudioTrack`` to record sound into.
     :param rate: Number of samples to capture per second.
+        This will overwrite the rate set in the buffer object.
     :param wait: When set to ``True`` it blocks until the recording is
         done, if it is set to ``False`` it will run in the background.
+    :returns: An ``AudioTrack`` which ends where the recording ended.
 
 .. py:function:: is_recording()
 
@@ -263,18 +272,18 @@ An example of recording and playback with a display animation::
     RECORDING_RATE = 3906
     RECORDING_MS = 5000
 
-    my_recording = audio.AudioBuffer(duration=RECORDING_MS, rate=RECORDING_RATE)
+    my_recording = audio.AudioRecording(duration=RECORDING_MS, rate=RECORDING_RATE)
 
     while True:
         if button_a.is_pressed():
-            microphone.record_into(my_recording, rate=RECORDING_RATE, wait=False)
+            clipped_recording = microphone.record_into(my_recording, wait=False)
             display.show([mouth_open, mouth_closed], loop=True, wait=False, delay=150)
             while button_a.is_pressed() and microphone.is_recording():
                 sleep(50)
             microphone.stop_recording()
             display.clear()
         if button_b.is_pressed():
-            audio.play(my_recording, wait=False)
+            audio.play(clipped_recording, wait=False)
             while audio.is_playing():
                 x = accelerometer.get_x()
                 audio.set_rate(scale(x, (-1000, 1000), (2250, 11000)))