DATA COMPRESSION METHOD AND APPARATUS

A music data compression system is disclosed which includes an analog to digital converter for converting the analog music signal to digital sample signal form, a digital compression filter for compression filtering the digital sample signals, and an encoder for truncated Huffman encoding the compression filter output. An entropy setting unit is included in the system for step control of the signal supplied to the digital compression filter in accordance with one or more threshold levels of the envelope of the music signal, and for reducing the entropy of the signal with increases in the energy level of the music signal. Different codes may be implemented in accordance with the threshold(s), and an identifying code word is inserted in the Huffman encoded stream. A decoder, digital reconstruction filter, and digital to analog converter are used to reconstruct the analog music signal. The identifying code word in the encoded signal stream to the decoder is used to select the necessary algorithm for decoding, and an entropy setting unit is included for step control of the gain of the digital reconstruction filter output under control of the identifying code word when step gain control is included prior to compression filtering.