Patent Application
20110009990
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital mixer having a capability of assigning user's desired channels to operating elements, respectively, provided on an external panel to allow the user to set or change a value/values of a parameter/parameters of a channel/channels assigned to one of the operating elements by a manipulation of the operating element.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there have been digital mixers having physical operating elements such as faders and switches provided on an external panel (a mixing console). Some digital mixers are designed such that a console which is manipulated by a user is provided separately from a mixing engine which mixes input signals so that the console can be connected to the mixing engine with a cable. The other digital mixers are designed such that the console is integrated with the mixing engine. Whichever the digital mixer is, it is desired to save space necessary for the console in order to reduce the space required to install the digital mixer. In order to save the space, therefore, it is necessary to reduce the number of operating elements provided on the console. In recent years, however, because the number of channels processed on a digital mixer increases, it is of importance to handle a multiplicity of channels with a small number of operating elements. Particularly, efficiency, compactness and usability of the operating elements are desired for a digital mixer.
A prior art stated below discloses a digital mixer which has a plurality of channel strips each having operating elements such as a fader, a level meter and various buttons so that a user of the digital mixer can manipulate input channels that the user assigns to the channel strips, respectively. Schemes to assign the input channels to the channel strips include switching between layers (p. 45 of the prior art). By this scheme, the input channels of 48 channels, for example, are separated into the first layer of input channels 1 to 24 and the second layer of input channels 25 to 48 to allow the user to switch between the layers by use of a certain switch so that the input channels 1 to 24 or the input channels 25 to 48 are assigned to 24 channel strips, respectively. In this scheme, one channel is assigned to each channel strip regardless of whether the layer is on the first layer or on the second layer. Furthermore, the digital mixer of the prior art has a fader-assigning capability of assigning user's desired input channels to eight faders, respectively (p. 212 of the prior art). In this case as well, the number of input channel assigned to each fader is one.
In the above-described prior art, in a case where the user desires to change the target channel which is to be controlled on a channel strip, the user has to switch from one layer to the other. Therefore, the digital mixer of the prior art is inconvenient in that the switching between the layers involves unnecessary switching of the channels assigned to channel strips that the user does not desire to change. Due to such an inconvenience, the digital mixer of the prior art is disadvantageous in that the flexibility in assignments of channels to the channel strips is low.
The present invention was accomplished to solve the above-described problem, and an object thereof is to provide a digital mixer for processing signals on a plurality of channels, the digital mixer enhancing flexibility in assignments of channels to the channel strips.
In order to achieve the above-described object, it is a feature of the present invention to provide a digital mixer including a plurality of processing channels each processing an audio signal in accordance with a parameter; a plurality of channel strips each having a switch operating element and a control operating element to have one of the signal processing channels as a target channel which is to be controlled on the channel strip; the switch operating element being an operating element for switching the signal processing channel targeted for control; and the control operating element being an operating element for controlling the parameter of the signal processing channel targeted for control; an assigning portion for assigning two or more processing channels to one of the channel strips; a switching portion for switching, when the switch operating element of one of the channel strips is manipulated, the processing channel targeted for control on the channel strip having the manipulated switch operating element from a currently assigned processing channel to another processing channel which is one of the two or more processing channels assigned to the channel strip having the manipulated switch operating element; and a changing portion for changing, when the control operating element of one of the channel strips is manipulated, a value of the parameter of the processing channel targeted for control on the channel strip having the manipulated control element in accordance with the manipulation of the control operating element.
The digital mixer for processing signals on a plurality of channels according to the present invention enhances flexibility in assignments of the channels to the channel strips. By manipulating the switch operating element of a channel strip, particularly, a user of the digital mixer is able to switch the signal processing channel targeted for control on the channel strip among the signal processing channels assigned to the channel strip. Therefore, the user of the digital mixer is able to easily switch the channel targeted for control by use of the control operating element of the channel strip and targeted for display on the display portion of the channel strip. That is, the digital mixer according to the present invention allows the user to easily switch the channel targeted for control on a channel strip by a manipulation of the switch operating element of the channel strip to refer to various kinds of information on the targeted channel or to change parameter values of the targeted channel.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
Each of the sixteen MIX buses 205 mixes signals input from the input channels 204. The mixed signals are output to output channels 206 (channel 1 to channel 16) corresponding to the mix buses, respectively. The MIX buses 205 are in a one-to-one correspondence with the output channels 206. The respective output channels 206 process audio signals in accordance with set parameters. The output from the output channels 206 is input to an output patch 207. The output patch 207 connects the output channels 206 arbitrarily for an analog output 208 or a digital output 209. The connections can be made by the user as desired on a certain screen.
The input portions 201, 202 and the output portions 208, 209 are realized by the waveform I/O 107 of
The RAM 103 of
In
The current memory is provided with assignment information storage areas and target storage areas for the respective channel strips. In the assignment information storage area, assignment information indicative of channels currently assigned to its corresponding channel strip is stored. In the target storage area, target channel information indicative of a channel currently set as a channel targeted for control on its corresponding channel strip is stored.
Custom layer switches 407, 408 (hereafter, referred to as custom layer switches 1, 2) are switches for reading out a custom layer file 1 or 2, respectively, to assign channels to the channel strips in accordance with the read custom layer file, and to make initial settings on the respective target channels. By the channel assignments by use of the custom layer file, a plurality of channels can be assigned to each channel strip.
Although this embodiment is designed such that the custom layer switches 1, 2 fixedly correspond to the custom layer files, 1,2, respectively, this embodiment may be modified to have a desired number of custom layer files so that the user can choose, from among the desired number of custom layer files, custom layer files which are to be assigned to the custom layer switches 1, 2, respectively.
Next, settings on channel definitions which are a premise for preparing the custom layer files will be described. On the digital mixer of this embodiment, 96 input channels for signal processing are previously divided into 12 blocks each having eight channels in ascending order of channel number. By displaying of a channel definition setting screen by a certain manipulation and designating a block definition for each block on the screen, the user is able to give a channel definition to each channel. The set channel definitions are stored in the flash memory 102. The available block definitions include “normal block”, “stereo block”, “surround 1 block” and “surround 2 block”. Once a block definition is designated for a block, each of the eight channels included in the block is given a channel definition on the basis of the block definition. The available channel definitions include “normal channel”, “stereo channel” and “surround channel”.
“Normal channel” indicates that the channel designated as “normal channel” handles normal audio signals as audio signals which are input to the channel. The normal audio signals are single signals which do not form any group. Input channels designated as “normal channels” do not form any group.
“Stereo channel” indicates that the channel designated as “stereo channel” handles stereo signals as audio signals which are input to the channel. The stereo signal is a signal which forms a group along with another audio signal with which the stereo signal has a stereo relationship. Each input channel designated as “stereo channel” is designated as either stereo channel (L) or stereo channel (R). Each stereo channel group is formed of the two input channels of the input channel designated as stereo channel (L) and the input channel designated as stereo channel (R).
“Surround channel” indicates that the channel designated as “surround channel” handles surround signals as audio signals which are input to the channel. The surround signal is a signal which forms a group along with other audio signals with which the surround signal forms a surround relationship. Each input channel designated as “surround channel” is designated as one of six channels: surround channel (L), surround channel (R), surround channel (C), surround channel (Ls), surround channel (Rs) and surround channel (LFE). “L”, “R”, “C”, “Ls”, “Rs”, and “LFE” indicate signals of front left (L), front right (R), center (C), left surround (Ls), right surround (Rs) and woofer (LFE) outputting deep bass sound, respectively. Each surround channel group has to have the six input channels: an input channel designated as the surround channel (L), an input channel designated as the surround channel (R), an input channel designated as the surround channel (C), an input channel designated as the surround channel (Ls), an input channel designated as the surround channel (Rs), and an input channel designated as the surround channel (LFE).
The above-described term, “group” used in the channel definition indicates a group of channels whose values of a parameter are concurrently controlled together. The input channels or the output channels provided on the digital mixer can form a plurality of groups. That is, all the input channels cannot be used to form a single group. In addition, all the output channels cannot be used to form a single group. The digital mixer of this embodiment may have any number of groups.
Although
Because of the above-described channel definitions, in this embodiment, once the channel definition of a channel is identified, the type of signal designated for the channel and a channel/channels correlated with the channel as a group can be also identified on the basis of the channel definition of the channel. In a case where the channel definition of a channel is “stereo channel”, for example, there are two possibilities: (1) If the channel number of the channel is odd, the channel is “L”, while the subsequent channel is “R” which is paired with the channel. (2) If the channel number of the channel is even, the channel is “R”, while the preceding channel is “L” paired with the channel. In a case where the channel definition of the channel is “surround channel”, for example, depending on the channel's ordinal position counted from the top of the block, the channel can be identified as L, R, C, Ls, Rs or LFE. Depending on the channel's ordinal position, furthermore, the other channels correlated with the channel as a group can be identified. However, each channel definition may have information on the signal type of the channel and information on channels correlated with the channel as a group.
In
After setting the channel definitions for the respective channels as described above, the user creates (edits) the custom layer file. The digital mixer of this embodiment offers two types of manner of creating a custom layer file. The first manner of creating a custom layer file will be explained as an example 1 with reference to
When the user performs a certain manipulation to enter a custom layer file creation mode, the custom layer file creation mode starts to display a custom layer file creation screen (not shown). On the custom layer file creation screen, the user is able to make (change) the assignments of input channels to the respective channel strips stored in a custom layer file (in the case of this embodiment, the custom file 1 or 2) previously selected as a file to edit. In the custom layer file, the respective assignments of input channels to the sixteen channel strips 303-1 to 8, 304-1 to 8 (each channel strip may be assigned a plurality of channels) are recorded. The digital mixer of this embodiment offers two manners of editing the file (manners of changing respective assignments of input channels to the channel strips): the example 1 indicated in
In
When it is determined in step 704 that any input channels have been already assigned to the designated channel strip (i.e., when the designated input channel which the user desires to assign to the designated input channel strip is the second or later input channel to be assigned to the channel strip), the process proceeds to step 705 to determine whether the designated input channel is correlated with any one of the input channels that have been already assigned to the channel strip as a group. The determination of step 705 is done by examining respective channel definitions of these input channels to check whether the two input channels, that is, the designated input channel and the input channel which has been already assigned to the channel strip, belong to the same group. In this embodiment, input channels are grouped according to their respective channel definitions as indicated in
When it is determined in step 706 that the designated input channel is correlated with the assigned input channel as a group (that the two input channels belong to the same group), the process proceeds to step 707 to assign the designated input channel to the designated channel strip in addition to the input channel that has been already assigned. In step 707, furthermore, information on the additional assignment of the designated input channel to the channel strip is written into the target custom layer file before the process terminates. In step 707, more specifically, the information indicative of the assignment of the designated input channel to the designated channel strip is recorded onto the custom layer file so that the custom layer file can additionally store the information on the assignment of the designated input channel to the channel strip. When it is determined in step 706 that the designated input channel is not correlated with the input channel that has been already assigned, the designated input channel will not be assigned to the channel strip, with the assignment of the input channel that has been already assigned to the channel strip being kept in the custom layer file (without any change to the custom layer file). The process then terminates. The process may be modified such that in a case where it is determined in step 706 that the designated input channel is not correlated with the assigned input channel as a group, the input channel that has been already assigned is canceled so that the designated input channel can be newly assigned to the designated channel strip.
In a case where an input channel assigned to a channel strip as the first input channel is a normal channel, any input channel will not be allowed to be additionally assigned to the channel strip.
In a case where the channel definition of an input channel assigned to a channel strip as the first input channel is a stereo channel, the process of
In
When it is determined in step 803 that the number of selected input channels is two or more, the process proceeds to step 804 to extract, from among the selected input channels, input channels which are to be assigned to the designated channel strip. For this extraction, first, for example, a reference channel is extracted from among the selected input channels. Then, all the input channels correlated with the reference channel as a group are extracted from the selected input channels. That is, input channels which are to be extracted are the reference channel extracted from among the selected input channels, and all the input channels which are included in the selected input channels and correlated with the reference channel as a group. For the extraction of the reference channel, for example, a reference channel is to be extracted according to a predetermined rule such as extracting a channel that the user has selected first, extracting a channel having the lowest channel number, or extracting a channel designated by the user. It should be noted that the above-described “all the input channels” are those included in the user's selected input channels. Even if there are channels which are correlated with the reference channel but are not included in the user's selected channels, more specifically, such channels will not be selected (extracted) as the input channels which are to be assigned together to the designated channel strip. The group correlation can be grasped by referring to the above-described channel definitions.
In a case where the extracted reference channel is a normal channel or a case where although the reference channel is a stereo channel or surround channel, the user's selected channels do not include any other channels correlated with the extracted reference channel as a group, only the reference channel is to be extracted (i.e., absence of input channels correlated with the reference channel as a group).
In step 805, all the extracted input channels are defined as designated input channels. In step 807, all the designated input channels are assigned to the designated channel strip. In step 807, in addition, assignment information indicative of the assignments of the input channels to the channel strip is written into the target custom layer file. Then, the process terminates. If it is found in step 807 at which the new assignment information is recorded as the information on the designated channel strip that information on an assignment of some channel to the channel strip has been already recorded on the custom layer file, the old information is deleted so that the new assignment information can be recorded (the old information is overwritten with the new assignment information). In step 807, that is, only the new assignment information is recorded as the assignment information on the designated channel strip.
The process of
The respective processes of
When it is determined in step 901 that the depressed switch is either the custom layer switch 1 or 2, the process proceeds to step 902 to read the information on assignments stored in the custom layer file (1 or 2) corresponding to the depressed custom layer switch to assign, in step 903, channels to the respective channel strips in accordance with the read assignment information. In the respective assignment information storage areas of the current memory, by these steps, respective possible target channels are provided for the respective channel strips in accordance with the assignment information read from the custom layer file. After the step 903, the process proceeds to step 904.
The step 904 will be explained. In step 904, the respective numbers of input channels assigned to the respective channel strips in step 903 or 906 are checked. In a case where the number of channels assigned to a channel strip is one, the assigned input channel is stored in the target storage area of the current memory as a channel targeted for control on the channel strip. In a case where a channel strip is assigned two or more input channels, one of the assigned input channels is selected in accordance with a predetermined rule to store the selected input channel in the target storage area of the current memory as a channel targeted for control on the channel strip. The predetermined rule can be any rules as long as they control the selection of an input channel from among a plurality of channels. Such rules include a rule that an input channel having the smallest channel number should be selected. In a case where the step 904 follows the step 906, more specifically, an input channel is assigned to every channel strip in a one-to-one correspondence. In such a case; therefore, the respective input channels are set as respective target channels on the respective channel strips. In a case where the step 904 follows the step 903, an input channel is assigned to some channel strips whereas two or more input channels are assigned to the other channel strips. Therefore, it is necessary to check the number of assigned input channels for each channel strip to determine and set an input channel targeted for control for each channel strip. After the step 904, the process proceeds to step 905.
Input channels assigned to a channel strip (channels listed on the assignment information storage area of the current memory) are merely assigned as possible channels targeted for control by use of the operating elements of the channel strip. Therefore, a manipulation of the operating element of the channel strip will not necessarily result in actual control of all the assigned channels. That is, the input channel set at step 904 as the target channel is to be actually controlled by use of the operating elements of the channel strip so that a parameter value of the target channel can be controlled by use of the operating element corresponding to the parameter.
Next, refreshing of display at step 905 will be explained. As indicated in
On the displays 301, 302 indicated in
By the refreshing of display in the step 905, furthermore, the respective motor-driven faders 318 of the channel strips whose target channels have been changed are controlled such that the respective knobs of such motor-driven faders 318 are placed at respective positions corresponding to respective current signal level values of the new target channels. In addition, the respective ON switches 313 and CUE switches 316 of the channel strips are also controlled to turn on/off in accordance with respective current values of the new target channels. Furthermore, the LEDs placed around the respective rotary encoders 312 are also controlled to illuminate in accordance with respective current values of the new target channels. By the refreshing of display in the step 905, as a result, the respective current values of the various kinds of parameters of the new target channels are displayed on the respective channel strips.
In step 1001, the target storage area of the current memory is referred to identify a target channel assigned to the channel strip having the manipulated control operating element. In step 1002, a parameter value of the identified target channel is changed in accordance with the manipulation of the control operating element. In step 1002, furthermore, the channel definition of the identified target channel is referred to check whether there are any input channels belonging to the same group as the identified target channel (whether there are any input channels whose parameter values are to be changed together with the parameter value of the target channel). More specifically, when the target channel belongs to a stereo channel group, a channel which is to be controlled together is an L channel or R channel. When the target channel belongs to a surround channel group, channels which are to be controlled together are an L channel, R channel, C channel, Ls channel and Rs channel, excluding an LFE channel. When there is/are the other input channel/channels which belong/belongs to the same group, the parameter value/values of the input channel/channels is/are also changed in accordance with the manipulation of the control operating element. When there are no other input channels belonging to the same group as the target channel, nothing will be done for the other input channels. It should be noted that a plurality of input channels defined by their channel definition as belonging to the same group are to be controlled such that respective values of a parameter of these input channels belonging to the same group are always controlled together regardless of whether these input channels are assigned to the same channel strip or not.
“Together” indicates that respective values of a parameter of a plurality of channels are changed concurrently in response to a single manipulation. That is, the single manipulation results in concurrent changes in the respective values of a parameter of one kind of the channels. More specifically, the amount of manipulation derived from the single manipulation is shared by the plurality of channels (i.e., each of the channel uses the amount of manipulation to change its parameter value). The manners of changing parameter values include a manner in which the respective parameter values of the channels change according to the amount of manipulation on the basis of absolute value, and a manner in which the parameter values change on the basis of relative value. The manner in which the respective parameter values change on the basis of absolute value (in which the respective parameter values change together on the basis of absolute value) is a manner in which a value determined according to the amount of manipulation is regarded as a new current value to replace the respective parameter values of the channels with the new current value, so that the new current value is respective new current values of the parameter of the channels. The manner in which the parameter values change on the basis of relative value (in which the parameter values change together on the basis of relative value) is a manner in which a new current value of the parameter of a channel is obtained on the basis of both a value determined according to the amount of manipulation and a current value of the parameter of the channel (e.g., addition/subtraction of the two values). By the relative manner, more specifically, a new current value of each of the channels is obtained on the basis of its current value and the value determined according to the amount of manipulation. Such linked control of respective parameter values is referred to as “linked control”.
The parameters of the input channels include parameters which are controlled together (linked parameters) and parameters which are not controlled together (non-linked parameters). In order to simplify explanations, in this embodiment, all the parameters that can be controlled by use of the control operating elements are regarded as linked parameters. In a case where parameters that can be controlled by the control operating elements include non-linked parameters, it is checked whether the parameter controlled by use of the control operating element is a linked parameter or a non-linked parameter. When it is determined that the parameter is a linked parameter, the process is performed as indicated in the flowchart. When it is determined that the parameter is a non-linked parameter, the parameter value of only the target channel is changed in step 1002 in accordance with the manipulation of the control operating element regardless of the channel definition of the target channel (regardless of whether the channel belongs to a group or not). Major linked parameters include EQ, compressor, tone volume level, on/off of channel, and pan. The linked parameters are mainly aimed at controlling sound characteristics of audio signals output from input channels. Major non-linked parameters include head amp gain, attenuator, delay and phase switch. The non-linked parameters are mainly aimed at controlling sound characteristics of audio signals input to the input channels.
After the step 1002, the process proceeds to step 1003 to refresh the display. In step 1003, as explained in step 905 of
In step 1101, the assignment information storage area of the current memory is referred to check input channels assigned to the channel strip whose switch operating element has been manipulated. In step 1102, it is determined whether two or more input channels are assigned to the channel strip. In a case where a channel layer is designated, one channel is assigned to each channel strip, that is, there is no possibility that a plurality of input channels are assigned to the channel strip. In the case of channel layer, therefore, the process proceeds to step 1103. In a case where a custom layer is designated, there is a possibility that a plurality of input channels are assigned to a channel strip. In the case of custom layer, therefore, it is determined how many input channels are assigned to the channel strip which has the manipulated switch operating element, so that the process proceeds to either YES or NO according to the number of assigned input channels.
In a case where it is determined in step 1102 that the number of assigned input channels is one, the process proceeds to step 1103 to perform the normal SEL switch process to terminate this process. More specifically, the input channel set as a channel targeted for control on the channel strip is assigned to a selected channel. Because this embodiment is designed such that the SEL switch 314 is also used as a switch operating element, the step 1103 is required. In a case where a switch operating element is provided separately from the SEL switch 314, however, the process terminates without performing the step 1103 (this is why the step 1103 is enclosed with a dotted box).
In a case where it is determined in step 1102 that the number of assigned input channels is two or more, the process proceeds to step 1104 to choose a new target channel. In step 1104, more specifically, a new target channel is selected from among the plurality of input channels (possible target channels) assigned to the channel strip having the manipulated SEL switch 314 in accordance with a predetermined rule. The plurality of input channels assigned to the channel strip can be grasped by referring to the assignment information storage area of the current memory. The input channel to be chosen in this step is an input channel different from an input channel which is the current target channel. The predetermined rule can be any rule as long as an input channel which is different from the current target channel can be chosen from among the input channels assigned to the channel strip. For instance, an input channel can be chosen in order of their channel numbers such as choosing an input channel of the channel number following or preceding the current target channel. Alternatively, the user can specify the order to choose a target channel so that an input channel which follows the current target channel can be chosen in accordance with the user's specified order.
In step 1105, the chosen input channel is set as the channel targeted for control on the channel strip (the chosen input channel is written into the target storage area of the current memory). Because the number of input channels assignable to a channel strip as a target channel is always one, the current target channel is replaced with the newly chosen input channel so that the newly chosen channel is set as a new target channel. Then, the process proceeds to step 1106 to refresh the display. In step 1106, as explained in step 905 of
The user interface with which the user chooses a channel strip or a channel in the processes of
Hereafter, modified embodiments of the above-described embodiment will be described.
In the above-described embodiment, when a value of a parameter of a channel targeted for control is changed, respective values of the parameter of all the channels correlated with the target channel as a group are changed together (step 1002 of
In the above-described embodiment, the case has been described where the input channels are assigned to the channel strips, however, the present invention is not limited to the assignments of the input channels. As the modified embodiment 2, mixing channels, output channels or the like may be assigned to the channel strips. In a case where the output channels are assigned to the channel strips, the modified embodiment can be configured as in the case of input channels, by grouping the output channels on the basis of bus types (mix bus, stereo bus and surround bus) which the output channels handle.
Although the above-described embodiment employs the 5.1 ch surround, the present invention is also applicable to surround of a different number of channels (e.g., 6.1 ch surround and 7.1 ch surround).
Although the above-described embodiment is configured such that a channel definition is given to each block, the modified embodiment 4 may be configured such that each channel is individually given a channel definition. For example, the user chooses an input channel, and then gives a channel definition to the channel. Alternatively, when the user desires to form a stereo channel group or a surround channel group, the user chooses a necessary number of input channels in order to form the group, and then gives a channel definition of stereo channels or surround channels to the group.
In the above-described embodiment, the groups are defined by use of channel definitions of normal, stereo and surround. In the modified embodiment 5, however, channels may be grouped without these channel definitions. More specifically, the above-described embodiment may be modified such that a plurality of channels are assigned to a channel strip freely selected from among all the channels so that the assigned channels can form a group.
By the processes for creating or editing the custom layer file indicated in
Instead of the scheme described in the above-described embodiment, a scheme of the modified embodiment 6 may be employed in which the rewriting of the custom layer file involves actual changes in the assignments of input channels to the channel strips of the panel concurrently with the rewriting in accordance with the rewritten assignments. That is, the scheme in which the rewritten new assignments are reflected throughout the channel strips of the panel in real time in response to the rewriting of the custom layer file may be adopted.
In this case, as a preparation for the process of
Then, in step 708 of
In step 707 of
In step 807 of
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-165153 | Jul 2009 | JP | national |
| 2009-165154 | Jul 2009 | JP | national |
