Universal Music Group, Inc.

Christopher Horton

Howard David Soroka

A system for the playback of content files includes a memory storing a content file including a plurality of stems, each stem encoding a portion of the audio of a sound recording, multiple stems in the plurality of stems representing different portions of the sound recording for the same time period, the content file also including a set of instructions controlling playback of the stems. A decoder is configured to decode the stems according to the set of instructions to create an audio output signal.

Advanced encoding of music files

Example embodiments allow for the creation, distribution, and use of flexible media formats. Example embodiments may allow individual content files to be rendered in multiple formats and versions. In addition, example embodiments may provide for granular rights management, which may allow users to access content files on a feature-by-feature basis.

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Culver City, CA, United States of America

Christopher Horton