Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The present invention relates to the field of musical instruments including electrophonic musical instruments, more specifically, an accessory configured for use in recording and combining audio signals produced by one or more musical instruments.
The portable music studio is configured for use with music and musical instruments. The portable music studio is a modular apparatus that records and mixes music in real time. The portable music studio comprises a dock and a controller. The dock is a switching device that: 1) receives a first set of one or more audio signals from a first set of one or more audio sources; 2) routes each of the received audio signals as a first multichannel audio signal to the controller; 3) receives an audio data stream from the controller; and 4) permanently records the received audio data stream to an electronic storage device. The controller is a device that: 1) receives a second set of one or more audio signals from a second set of one or more audio sources; 2) receives the first multichannel audio signal from the dock; 3) records each audio signal received through the second set of one or more audio signals as an independent audio file; 4) records each channel contained within the first multichannel audio signal as an independent audio file; 5) manipulates the volume of each of the recorded independent files; 6) manipulates the time index of any first recorded independent file relative to any second recorded independent file; 7) combines one or more recorded independent audio files into a single combined audio file; and, 8) transmits the single combined audio file to the dock for permanent recordation. The portable music studio further provides the ability to generate musical audio input directly from the controller. The controller is separable from the dock such that the controller can be used for recording, mixing and making audio files at a remote location.
These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the portable music studio will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the portable music studio in detail, it is to be understood that the portable music studio is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the portable music studio.
It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the portable music studio. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. They are meant to be exemplary illustrations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments of the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.
Detailed reference will now be made to one or more potential embodiments of the disclosure, which are illustrated in
The portable music studio 100 (hereinafter invention) is configured for use with music and musical instruments. The invention 100 is a modular apparatus that records and mixes music in real time. The invention 100 comprises a dock 101 and a controller 102. The dock 101 is a switching device that: 1) receives a first set of one or more audio signals from a first set of one or more audio sources; 2) routes each of the received audio signals as a first multichannel audio signal to the controller 102; 3) receives an audio data stream from the controller 102; and 4) permanently records the received audio data stream to an electronic storage device.
The controller 102 is a device that: 1) receives a second set of one or more audio signals from a second set of one or more audio sources; 2) receives the first multichannel audio signal from the dock 101; 3) records each audio signal received through the second set of one or more audio signals as an independent audio file; 4) records each channel contained within the first multichannel audio signal as an independent audio file; 5) manipulates the volume of each of the recorded independent files; 6) manipulates the time index of any first recorded independent file relative to any second recorded independent file; 7) combines one or more recorded independent audio files into a single combined audio file; 8) transmits the single combined audio file to the dock 101 for permanent recordation; and, 9) transmits other individual audio files to the dock 101 for permanent recordation.
The invention 100 further provides the ability to generate musical audio input directly from the controller 102. The controller 102 is separable from the dock 101 such that the controller 102 can be used for recording, mixing and making audio files at a remote location. The invention 100 further comprises an umbilical cable 103. The umbilical cable 103 electrically connects the dock 101 to the controller 102. The umbilical cable 103 is an electrical cable that connects the dock 101 to the controller 102. Such electrical cables are well known and documented in the electrical arts and are readily and commercially available.
The dock 101 is an electronic device that is a component of the invention 100. The dock 101 is a switching device that receives audio signals from a plurality of sources and transmits the received audio signals to the controller 102. The dock 101 comprises a first housing 110, a first logic module 111, a first plurality of XLR ports 112, a first plurality of MIDI ports 113, a first plurality of RCA ports 114, a first plurality of straight plug ports 115, and a first plurality of USB ports 116.
The first housing 110 is a rigid casing within which the balance of the dock 101 is contained. The first logic module 111 is a programmable electronic device that is used to manage, regulate, and operate the dock 101.
Each of the first plurality of XLR ports 112 is an electrical port that is compatible with an XLR connector. Each of the first plurality of XLR ports 112 is used to electrically connect an instrument or electrical device that uses an XLR connector to the dock 101. The first logic module 111 receives an individual audio signal through each of the first plurality of XLR ports 112 and incorporates this individual audio signal into the first multichannel audio signal.
Each of the first plurality of MIDI ports 113 is an electrical port that is compatible with an MIDI connector. Each of the first plurality of MIDI ports 113 is used to electrically connect an instrument or electrical device that uses an MIDI connector to the dock 101. The first logic module 111 receives an individual audio signal through each of the plurality of first plurality of MIDI ports 113 and incorporates this individual audio signal into the first multichannel audio signal.
Each of the first plurality of RCA ports 114 is an electrical port that is compatible with an RCA connector. Each of the first plurality of RCA ports 114 is used to electrically connect an instrument or electrical device that uses an RCA connector to the dock 101. The first logic module 111 receives an individual audio signal through each of the first plurality of RCA ports 114 and incorporates this individual audio signal into the first multichannel audio signal.
Each of the first plurality of straight plug ports 115 is an electrical port that is configured to receive a ¼ inch straight plug. Each of the first plurality of straight plug ports 115 is used to electrically connect an instrument or electrical device that uses a ¼ inch straight plug connector to the dock 101. The first logic module 111 receives an individual audio signal through each of the first plurality of straight plug ports 115 and incorporates this individual audio signal into the first multichannel audio signal.
Each of the first plurality of USB ports 116 is an electrical port that is compatible with the USB standard. Each of the first plurality of USB ports 116 is used to electrically connect an instrument or electrical device that uses an USB connection to the dock 101. The first logic module 111 receives an individual audio signal through each of the first plurality of USB ports 116 and incorporates this individual audio signal into the first multichannel audio signal.
The dock 101 further comprises one or more storage devices 117 that are used by the controller 102 to permanently store audio files for archival and playback purposes. The one or more storage devices 117 are one or more electronic devices that are used for electronic data storage. The one or more storage devices 117 are used to provide archival storage of the audio files that are generated by the controller 102 and transmitted to the dock over the umbilical cable 103.
The controller 102 is an electronic device that is a component of the invention 100. The controller 102 receives a plurality of audio signals both from the dock 101 and from other audio sources. The controller 102 receives the first multichannel audio signal from the dock 101 directly over the umbilical cord 103. The controller 102 records and stores the signal received from each individual audio source selected from the plurality of audio sources in an individual audio file. The controller 102 is further used to modify the individual audio files and to combine two or more audio files. The combined audio files are subsequently stored in a separate and independent audio file. The controller 102 is a standalone device that can be carried by hand. The full functionality of the controller 102 remains available even when the controller 102 is electrically disconnected from the dock 101.
The controller 102 comprises a second housing 120, a second logic module 121, a second plurality of XLR ports 122, a second plurality of MIDI ports 123, a second plurality of RCA ports 124, a second plurality of straight plug ports 125, a second plurality of USB ports 126, a plurality of volume controls 131, a plurality of faders 132, an equalizer 133, a local modifiable data storage device 134, a speaker 141, and a master port 143.
The second housing 120 is a rigid casing within which the balance of the controller 102 is contained. The second logic module 121 is a programmable electronic device that is used to manage, regulate, and operate the controller 102.
Each of the second plurality of XLR ports 122 is an electrical port that is compatible with an XLR connector. Each of the second plurality of XLR ports 122 is used to electrically connect an instrument or electrical device that uses an XLR connector directly to the controller 102. The second logic module 121 receives an individual audio signal through each of the second plurality of XLR ports 122.
Each of the second plurality of MIDI ports 123 is an electrical port that is compatible with an MIDI connector. Each of the second plurality of MIDI ports 123 is used to electrically connect an instrument or electrical device that uses an MIDI connector directly to the controller 102. The second logic module 121 receives an individual audio signal through each of the second plurality of MIDI ports 123.
Each of the second plurality of RCA ports 124 is an electrical port that is compatible with an RCA connector. Each of the second plurality of RCA ports 124 is used to electrically connect an instrument or electrical device that uses an RCA connector directly to the controller 102. The second logic module 121 receives an individual audio signal through each of the second plurality of RCA ports 124.
Each of the second plurality of straight plug ports 125 is an electrical port that is configured to receive a ¼ inch straight plug. Each of the second plurality of straight plug ports 125 is used to electrically connect an instrument or electrical device that uses a ¼ inch straight plug connector directly to the controller 102. The second logic module 121 receives an individual audio signal through each of the second plurality of straight plug ports 125.
Each of the second plurality of USB ports 126 is an electrical port that is compatible with the USB standard. Each of the second plurality of USB ports 126 is used to electrically connect an instrument or electrical device that uses an USB connection directly to the controller 102. The second logic module 121 receives an individual audio signal through each of the second plurality of USB ports 126.
Each of the plurality of volume controls 131 is an electrical potentiometer that is used to control the output level, informally referred to as the volume, of: 1) a selected audio signal; or 2) an audio file. Each of the plurality of volume controls 131 is accessed by the user in the form of a dial.
Each of the plurality of faders 132 is an electrical potentiometer that is used to control the output level, informally referred to as the volume, of: 1) a selected audio signal; or 2) an audio file. Each of the plurality of faders 132 is accessed by the user in the form of a slider. Two faders are commonly used simultaneously to smoothly change audio files.
The equalizer 133 is an electronic device that is used to vary the relative output level, informally referred to as volume, of different frequencies within a given audio signal or audio file. The use of an equalizer 133 is well known and documented in the electrical, recording, and theater arts.
The local modifiable data storage device 134 is an electronic data storage device that is contained within the second housing 120 of the controller 102. The local modifiable data storage device 134 is used for the local storage of audio files on the controller 102. The speaker 141 is used to monitor the overall operation of the invention 100. For archival storage, the controller 102 is capable of sending one or more audio files stored on the local modifiable data storage device 134 to the dock 101 over the umbilical cable 103 such that the one or more audio files can be stored on the one or more storage devices 117.
The speaker 141 is a readily and commercially available speaker 141 that is mounted in the second housing 120 of the controller 102. The master port 143 is a ¼ inch straight port. The use of the master port 143 is reserved for the use of headphones, which are used to monitor the overall operation of the invention 100.
The controller 102 further comprises a musical keyboard 151 and a drum pad 152. The musical keyboard 151 is a standardized set of levers that are used to generate specific audible frequencies, which are used in making music. The musical keyboard 151 is a standard musical interface that is well known and commonly used by musicians. The musical keyboard 151 further comprises an octave control 153. The octave control 153 is a switching device that is used to change the frequency range of the tones generated by the musical keyboard 151. The drum pad 152 is a standard musical interface that is well known and commonly used by musicians in creating percussive rhythms for use in music.
In the second potential embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 102 further comprises a visual monitor 142. The visual monitor 142 is a visual interface that is managed by the controller 102. In the second potential embodiment of the disclosure, the visual monitor 142 is incorporated into a laptop computer which was modified to provide the above described functions and interfaces of the controller 102.
The following definitions were used in this disclosure:
¼ Inch Straight Plug Connection: As used in this disclosure, the ¼ inch straight plug connection is a well-known, standardized, and commonly used for the electrical interconnection musical instruments to amplifiers and recording devices.
Audio File: As used in this disclosure, an audio file is a digital representation of a sound that is used to store a recording of the sound. Separate hardware is used to convert the digital representation of the sound into an audible sound.
Audio Source: As used in this disclosure, an audio source is a device that generates electrical signals that can be converted in to audible sounds by a speaker.
Cable: As used in this disclosure, a cable is a collection of insulated wires covered by a protective casing that is used for transmitting electricity or telecommunication signals.
Channel: As used in this disclosure, a channel refers to an individual audio signal selected from a plurality of audio signals.
Display: As used in this disclosure, a display is a surface upon which is projected an image, potentially including, but not limited to, graphic images and text, that is interpretable by an individual viewing the projected image in a meaningful manner.
Headphone: As used in this disclosure, a headphone is a device that comprises one or two earphones that are held to the ear, typically through the use of a band placed on top of the head. Headset is a synonym for headphone.
Interface: As used in this disclosure, an interface is a physical or virtual boundary that separates two different systems across which information is exchanged.
Logic Module: As used in this disclosure, a logic module is an electrical device that is programmable and that accepts digital and analog inputs, processes the digital and analog inputs according to previously stored instruction and provides the results of these instructions as digital or analog outputs.
MIDI: As used in this disclosure, MIDI is an acronym for musical instrument digital interface. The MIDI is a technical standard that defines an interface between an electronic musical interface and a computer or other digital processing device.
MIDI Connection: As used in this disclosure, a MIDI connection refers to an electrical connection formed by the combination of a plug and a port. The MIDI connection is defined by the MIDI technical standard. The MIDI connection is a round 5 pin connector. Only three of the five pins are used.
Plug: As used in this disclosure, a plug is an electrical termination that electrically connects a first electrical circuit to a second electrical circuit or a source of electricity. A plug is inserted into a matching port.
Port: As used in this disclosure, a port is an electrical termination that is used to connect a first electrical circuit to a second external electrical circuit. In this disclosure, the port is designed to receive a plug.
RCA Connection: As used in this disclosure, an RCA connection refers to an electrical connection formed by the combination of a plug and a port. The RCA connection is a well-known, standardized, and commonly used for the electrical interconnection of audio and visual components. An RCA connector is single prong circular connector that is commonly called a phono connector.
Speaker: As used in this disclosure, a speaker is an electrical device that converts an electrical signal into an audible sound.
XLR Connection: As used in this disclosure, an XLR connection refers to an electrical connection formed by the combination of a plug and a port. The XLR connection is a well-known, standardized, and commonly used for the electrical interconnection of audio and visual components. An XLR connector is a circular connector with between 3 and 7 pins.
USB: As used in this disclosure, USB is an acronym for Universal Serial Bus, which is an industry standard that defines the cables, the connectors, the communication protocols and the distribution of power required for interconnections between electronic devices. The USB standard defines several connectors including, but not limited to, USB-A, USB-B, mini-USB, and micro USB connectors.
With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationship for the various components of the invention described above and in
It shall be noted that those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the various embodiments of the present invention which will result in an improved invention, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) to United States provisional application U.S. 62/366,116 filed on Jul. 25, 2016.
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