Patent Grant
10511394
This application is based on, and claims priority to, JP PA 2016-149998 filed on 29 Jul. 2016 and International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2017/027029 filed on 26 Jul. 2017. The disclosure of the priority applications, in its entirety, including the drawings, claims, and the specification thereof, are incorporated herein by reference.
The embodiments of the present invention relates to a sound processing apparatus and method suited for use in, for example, audio mixers and the like.
Audio mixers (hereinafter referred to simply as “mixers”) installed, for example, in concert venues and the like are generally constructed in such a manner that respective volume of sound signals (audio signals) input to individual channels are adjusted by faders of the channels, the volume-adjusted sound signals are output selectively to buses, the sound signals supplied from one or more of the channels are mixed in each of the buses, and the mixed results are output to output destinations. The output destinations of such a mixer are, for example, a main speaker oriented toward audience seats in the concert venue, a monitor speaker for a human player or players on the stage, and external equipment, such as a recording device and an effecter device.
Among the conventionally known mixers is one that is capable of setting, for each input channel and for each output bus, a “pre-fader mode” in which a sound signal before being subjected to volume adjustment by a fader is supplied to the output bus or a “post-fader mode” in which a sound signal after having been subjected to the volume adjustment by the fader is supplied to the output bus. A human operator of the mixer can select one of the post-fader sound signal and the pre-fader sound signal as a sound signal to be output, for example, to a monitor speaker, an effecter device, and the like.
For example, the human operator uses the post-fader mode when he or she wants to change volume (sound volume) of a sound signal to be sent to a given output bus in synchronism with the volume adjustment by the fader, but uses the pre-fader mode when he or she does not want to change the volume of the sound signal in synchronism with the volume adjustment by the fader. More specifically, when a human player's own performance sound is to be output, for example, to the monitor speaker for human players on the stage, the pre-fader mode is used with respect to an output bus for the monitor speaker. Further, when a reproduced sound of a CD or the like is to be sent to the monitor speaker for human players, or when a performance sound is to be sent to an external effecter device, for example, the post-fader mode is often used with respect to the corresponding output bus.
Switching between the pre-fader mode and the post-fader mode as above is convenient in that a sound signal to be sent to an output bus can be selected as necessary depending on an intended use of an output destination. However, the conventionally known mixer construction would present the problem that when switching has been made between the pre-fader mode and the post-fader mode, the volume of the sound signal to be sent to the output bus changes by an amount of the volume adjustment by the fader. For example, when switching has been made from the pre-fader mode to the post-fader mode in the case where the volume of the sound signal is increased by the fader, the volume of the sound signal of the post-fader mode to be output to the corresponding output bus increases by the amount of the volume adjustment by the fader as compared with the sound signal of the pre-fader mode before the switching. Conversely, when switching has been made from the post-fader mode to the pre-fader mode, the volume of the sound signal of the pre-fader mode to be output to the corresponding output bus decreases by the amount of the volume adjustment by the fader as compared with the sound signal of the post-fader mode before the switching. Such a sound volume change not intended by the human operator would cause inconveniences, such as giving an uncomfortable feeling to listeners or audience.
In view of the foregoing prior art problems, it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a sound processing apparatus and method capable of preventing an undesired sound volume change.
In order to accomplish the aforementioned this and other objects, the inventive sound processing apparatus includes: a first adjuster that adjusts volume of an input sound signal, the sound signal having the volume adjusted by the first adjuster being sent to a first output destination; a second adjuster that adjusts the volume of the sound signal before being subjected to the volume adjustment by the first adjuster or the sound signal after having been subjected to the volume adjustment by the first adjuster, the sound signal having the volume adjusted by the second adjuster being sent to a second output destination different from the first output destination; a selector that selects one of the sound signal before being subjected to the volume adjustment by the first adjuster and the sound signal after having been subjected to the volume adjustment by the first adjuster, the sound signal selected by the selector being input to the second adjuster for volume adjustment; and a controller that, once the selection by the selector is changed, changes the volume adjustment by the second adjuster based on a volume difference between the sound signal before the volume adjustment by the first adjuster and the sound signal after the volume adjustment by the first adjuster.
According to the inventive sound processing apparatus, once the selection by the selector is changed, namely, once the sound signal to be input to the second adjuster (or the sound signal to be output to the second output destination) is switched from the sound signal before (being subjected to) the volume adjustment by the first adjuster to the sound signal after (having been subjected to) the volume adjustment by the first adjuster or from the sound signal after the volume adjustment by the first adjuster to the sound signal before the volume adjustment by the first adjuster, the volume adjustment by the second adjuster is changed on the basis of the volume difference between the sound signal before the volume adjustment by the first adjuster and the sound signal after the volume adjustment by the first adjuster. With such arrangements, the inventive sound processing apparatus can compensate for a volume change in the sound signal to be input to the second adjuster that occurs due to the volume difference between the sound signal before the volume adjustment by the first adjuster and the sound signal after the volume adjustment by the first adjuster, with the result that the inventive sound processing apparatus can prevent an undesired change in the volume of the sound signal to be sent from the second adjuster to the second output destination.
In a preferred embodiment, the controller is configured to be capable of changing the volume adjustment by the second adjuster on the basis of the volume difference between the sound signal before the volume adjustment by the first adjuster and the sound signal after the volume adjustment by the first adjuster, so as to suppress a volume change in the output of the second adjuster responsive to a volume change in the sound signal to be input to the second adjuster that occurs in response to the change of the selection by the selector.
When the sound signal to be sent to the second output destination has been switched between the sound signal before the volume adjustment by the first adjuster and the sound signal after the volume adjustment by the first adjuster, the inventive sound processing apparatus can compensate for the volume difference between the sound signal before the volume adjustment by the first adjuster and the sound signal after the volume adjustment by the first adjuster and thereby suppress a volume change (keep substantially constant the volume of) the sound signal to be sent to the second output destination. Thus, the inventive sound processing apparatus can prevent an undesired volume change in the second output destination, and as a result, the present invention can, for example and thereby prevent the sound signal switching from giving an uncomfortable feeling to listeners or audience.
Also, disclosed herein are an inventive method including steps corresponding to the individual component elements of the aforementioned apparatus and an inventive computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium storing a group of instructions executable by one or more processors for performing the method.
Certain embodiments will hereinafter be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The sound processing apparatus 10 of
The CPU 21 controls the mixer 20 by executing various programs stored in the memory 22. The memory 22 not only non-volatilely stores various programs to be executed by the CPU 21 and various data, but also is used as a loading area for loading programs to be executed by the CPU 21 and as a working area. The memory 22 may be implemented by combining as necessary various memory devices, such as a read-only memory, a random-access memory, a flash memory and a hard disk.
The display 23 displays various information, which is based on display control signals given from the CPU 21, in various images, character strings, and the like. The operator group 24 includes a plurality of manual operators disposed on an operation panel of the mixer 20, interface circuits related to the operators, and the like. The operator group 24 includes a plurality of fader operators, rotary-type knob operators to be used for send level adjustment and the like, and switches for selecting sound signals to be supplied to one or more AUX buses as will be described later. The user uses the operator group 24 to perform various operations that include setting of sound signal paths, adjustment of values of various parameters, and the like. The CPU 21 acquires a detection signal corresponding to a user's input operation on the operator group 24 or the display 23 and controls the behavior of the mixer 20 on the basis of the acquired detection signal.
The mixing section 25 is constituted by a signal processing device that is implemented virtually, for example, by a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), the CPU 21, and software stored in the memory 22. The mixing section 25 processes one or more sound signals supplied from not-shown input equipment by using a signal processing program, and then the mixing section 25 outputs the processed sound signals to not-shown output equipment.
In the illustrated example of
Typically, each of the stereo buses 40 is connected via a not-shown stereo output channel to the main output device of the mixer 20; the main output device is, for example, a main speaker oriented toward audience seats in a concert venue. The plurality of AUX buses 50 are connectable via not-shown output channels to output devices of various uses. Such output devices that are output destinations of the AUX buses 50 are, for example, a monitor speaker (monitor output device) oriented toward human players on a stage in a concert venue or the like, external equipment, such as an effecter device, and the like.
When the sound signal takeout point connecting to a given AUX bus 50 has been switched in a given channel 30 from the pre-fader 35 to the post-fader 36 or from the post-fader 36 to the pre-fader 35, the volume of the sound signal to be sent to the send level adjuster 38 changes by an amount of a volume difference between the sound signal before the fader 34 and the sound signal after the fader 34. Note that the volume difference between the sound signal before the fader 34 and the sound signal after the fader 34 is a difference between the volume of the sound signal before being input to the fader 34 and the volume of the sound signal after having been output from the fader 34. Heretofore, such a volume change in an input signal to the send level adjuster 38 was not compensated for, resulting in an inconvenience of volume of an output signal changing in response to the volume change in the input signal although the user did not intentionally change any of the adjusting and setting parameter parameters in the send level adjuster 38. Consequently, the volume of the sound signal to be sent from the send level adjuster 38 to the AUX bus 50 changes undesirably and thus gives an uncomfortable feeling to listeners who listen to the sound signal sounded or audibly generated via the AUX bus 50. In order to remove such an inconvenience, the mixer 20 according to the present embodiment is constructed in such a manner that, once the takeout point connecting to a given AUX bus 50 is switched in a given channel 30, the mixer 20 automatically changes a value (send level value) of the corresponding send level adjuster 38 on the basis of a volume difference between the sound signal before the fader 34 of the channel 30 and the sound signal after the fader 34 (through processing by the controller 14 shown in
At step S2, the CPU 21 determines whether the aforementioned switching is from the pre-fader 35 to the post-fader 36 or from the post-fader 36 to the pre-fader 35. If the switching is from the pre-fader 35 to the post-fader 36 as determined at step S2 (Yes determination at step S2), the CPU 21 goes to step S3, where the CPU 21 changes the send level value of the send level adjuster 38 so as to cancel out the volume change of the input signal indicated by the acquired fader level value (for example, the CPU 21 multiplies a corresponding send level value by the reciprocal number of the acquired fader level value). Namely, of the values of various parameters stored in the memory 22, the CPU 21 changes the send level value of the send level adjuster 38 of the channel 30, where the switching has been effected, on the basis of the acquired volume difference between the sound signal before the fader 34 and the sound signal after the fader 34. When the fader level value is −3 dB, for example, the CPU 21 changes the current send level value (setting) of the send level adjuster 38 in such a manner that +3 dB is added to the current send level value (setting). Further, when the fader level value is +3 dB, for example, the CPU 21 changes the current send level value (setting) of the send level adjuster 38 in such a manner that −3 dB is added to the current send level value (setting) (namely, the current send level value (setting) decreases by 3 dB).
If the switching is from the post-fader 36 to the pre-fader 35 as determined at step S2 (No determination at step S2), on the other hand, the CPU 21 goes to step S4, where the CPU 21 changes the send level value of the send level adjuster 38 so as to reflect the volume change of the input signal indicated by the acquired fader level value (for example, the CPU 21 multiplies the corresponding send level value by the acquired fader level value). Namely, of the values of various parameters stored in the memory 22, the CPU 21 changes the send level value of the send level adjuster 38 of the channel 30, where the switching has been effected, on the basis of the acquired volume difference between the sound signal before the fader 34 and the sound signal after the fader 34. When the fader level value set in the fader 34 is −3 dB, for example, the CPU 21 changes the current send level value (setting) of the send level adjuster 38 in such a manner that −3 dB is added to the current send level value (setting) (namely, the current send level value (setting) decreases by 3 dB). Further, when the fader level value set in the fader 34 is +3 dB, for example, the CPU 21 changes the current send level value (setting) of the send level adjuster 38 in such a manner that +3 dB is added to the current send level value (setting).
By changing, in response to the switching between the pre-fader and the post-fader of the sound signal to be sent to the AUX bus 50, the value set in the send level adjuster 38 on the basis of the value set in the fader 34 as above, the mixer 20 according to the embodiment can compensate for the volume difference between the sound signal before the fader 34 and the sound signal after the fader 34 and thereby suppress a volume change of the sound signal to be sent to the AUX bus 50 (for example, keep the volume substantially constant). Thus, the mixer 20 according to the embodiment can prevent an undesired volume change in an output destination of the AUX bus 50 at the time of the switching between the pre-fader and the post-fader. As a result, the mixer 20 can prevent giving an uncomfortable feeling to listeners at the time of the switching between the pre-fader and the post-fader.
When a reproduced sound of a CD or the like is to be supplied to a monitor speaker for human players connected to the AUX bus 50, for example, the post-fader 36 is often selected in such a manner that a sound signal volume-adjusted by the fader 34 is supplied to the AUX bus 50. Because, it is preferable that the volume of the reproduced sound of a CD or the like from the monitor speaker be adjustable in synchronism with the main output volume adjustment by the fader 34. In initial setting of a conventionally known mixer 20, on the other hand, the pre-fader 35 is often set as a monitor output. Thus, in the case where a reproduced sound of a CD or the like is output to the monitor speaker via the AUX bus 50, it is possible that the human operator of the mixer forgets to make a setting to switch to the post-fader 36 a route or path of the sound signal to be supplied to the AUX bus 50 and then starts outputting the reproduced sound of a CD or the like to the monitor speaker while leaving the pre-fader 35 still selected. Upon noticing such a setting mistake, the human operator operates the selection switch 37 so as to switch, from the pre-fader 35 to the post-fader 36, the sound signal to be supplied to the AUX bus 50. In such a case, the mixer 20 according to the embodiment can switch the output to the monitor speaker from the pre-fader 35 to the post-fader 36 while keeping substantially constant the volume of the sound signal to be supplied to the AUX bus 50 without giving an uncomfortable feeling to the human players and the like.
Note that the operation for changing the value set in the send level adjuster 38 at step S3 and S4 above may be any operation other than multiplication, such as addition or subtraction, as long as the operation can change the value set in the send level adjuster 38 on the basis of the value set in the fader 34.
In the above-described embodiment, the fader 34 corresponds to the first adjuster 11 of
As another embodiment, the controller 14 may be configured to acquire a volume difference on the basis of measured values of volume of the sound signals before and after the first adjuster 11 (step S2) instead of acquiring a static value, such as the aforementioned fader level value, as the volume difference before and after the first adjuster 11, and then change the send level value on the basis of the volume difference based on the measured values of volume (steps S3 and S4).
In the example construction of
Once the sound signal takeout point of a given channel 30 is switched from the pre-EQ 39 to the pre-fader 35 or from the pre-EQ 39 to the post-fader 36, the CPU 21 goes to step S2, where it acquires, as the volume difference between before the EQ 32 and after the dynamics control 33, a volume difference based on a measured volume value of the sound signal before being input to the EQ 32 and a measured volume value of the sound signal after having been output from the dynamics control 33. Generally, in the mixer 20, volume of sound signals is always measured at a plurality of positions before and after various processing modules, such as the EQ 32 and the dynamics control 33, so as to be used for level meter display purposes. Thus, such measured volume values to be used for level meter display purposes can be used as the volume difference between before the EQ 32 and after the dynamics control 33.
As an example, the CPU 21 averages measured values of volume before the EQ 32 and measured values of volume after the dynamics control 33 (namely, calculates an arithmetic average) every predetermined time and stores the calculated arithmetic averages of the respective measured values of volume into the memory 22. Then, at step S2 above, the CPU 21 calculates a volume difference based on the latest average of the measured values of volume before the EQ 32 and the latest average of the measured values of volume after the dynamics control 33.
Once switching is effected from the pre-EQ 39 to the pre-fader 35, for example, the CPU 21 in the present embodiment adds the reciprocal number of the calculated volume difference to the corresponding send level value (step S3 above). Further, once switching is effected from the pre-fader 35 to the pre-EQ 39, the CPU 21 in the present embodiment adds the calculated volume difference to the corresponding send level value (step S4 above). Furthermore, once switching is effected from the pre-EQ 39 to the post-fader 36, the CPU 21 adds the reciprocal number of the sum of the calculated volume difference and the fader level value to the corresponding send level value (step S3 above). Furthermore, once switching is effected from the post-fader 36 to the pre-EQ 39, the CPU 21 adds the sum of the calculated volume difference and the fader level value to the corresponding send level value (step S4 above).
Because results of processes performed by the EQ 32 and the dynamics control 33 on the sound signal depend on components of the input sound signal, it is difficult to obtain a compensating value for the volume difference between the sound signal before the EQ 32 and the sound signal after the dynamics control 33 by use of static parameter values, such as gain values, set in the EQ 32 and in the dynamics control 33. In such a case, the volume difference occurring at the time of the takeout point switching can be compensated for appropriately by using the volume difference based on the measured values of volume as noted above.
Note that because no difference appears between the measured values of volume before the EQ 32 and after the dynamics control 33 when there is no input sound, it may be better to exercise at step S2 some ingenuity, such as removing from the calculation of the average (arithmetic average) the values measured when there is no input sound. As another example, another average calculation method or a representative value determination method may be employed in place of the aforementioned arithmetic average calculation. For example, peaks of the measured values of volume before the EQ 32 may be traced (interpolated) temporally or over time and peaks of the measured values of volume after the dynamics control 33 may be traced (interpolated) temporally in such a manner that these traced values (interpolated values) are set as respective representative values of the measured values of volume before the EQ 32 and the measured values of volume after the dynamics control 33 and that a difference between the respective representative values is determined as the above-mentioned volume difference.
As still another example, the CPU 21 may acquire at step S2 the volume difference between the sound signal before the EQ 32 and the sound signal after the dynamics control 33 on the basis of parameter values (static values) set in the EQ 32 and/or the dynamics control 33.
As still another example, the CPU 21 may acquire at step S2 the volume difference between the sound signal before the fader 34 and the sound signal after the fader 34 on the basis of the measured vales of volume before and after the fader 34.
As still another embodiment, limiting values may be set with respect to the change amounts of the send level value at steps S3 and S4 (namely, the change amounts may be limited within predetermined limit values). If the send level value is changed by an extremely great amount at steps S3 and S4, there may arise inconveniences, such as an inconvenience of the changed results themselves becoming undesired volume changes. In other words, the send level value adjustment at steps S3 and S4 is basically minute adjustment. Thus, by limiting adjusted widths of the send level 38 (volume change amounts) at steps S3 and S4 within predetermined limit values, it is possible to prevent inconveniences and erroneous operation, such as undesired volume changes. As an example, an appropriate limiting value is set with respect to the fader level value acquired as a volume difference at step S2 above. As still another example, when a volume difference is to be calculated on the basis of the measured values of volume at step S2, an appropriate limiting value is set with respect to the volume difference to be calculated. Particularly, in calculation of a volume difference on the basis of measured values of volume, a great value can be calculated due to a local situation.
In still another embodiment, the CPU 21 may be configured to convert the volume difference acquired at step S2 above into a change amount of the send level value on the basis of a conversion table prestored, for example, in the memory 22 and then effects the send level change at step S3 or S4.
In yet still another embodiment, the second adjuster 12 may be configured to adjust volume of a direct-out sound for which a sound signal of a given channel 30 is to be output directly to the outside instead of being output to the outside via the AUX bus 50. In this case, the controller 14 acquires a volume difference between the sound signal before the first adjuster 11 and the sound signal after the first adjuster 11 and changes the volume of the direct-out sound on the basis of the acquired volume difference.
In yet still another embodiment, the takeout point may be provided at any desired plural number of positions within each of the channels rather than three positions as illustratively shown in
Although various embodiments have been described above, it should be appreciated that the inventive sound processing apparatus is not limited to the above-described embodiments and may be modified variously within the scope of the technical idea disclosed in the claims, description and drawings. For example, the inventive sound processing apparatus 10 may be applied to any devices and apparatus, such as a recorder and a processor, rather than being limited only to the mixer 20 as long as such devices and apparatus handle sound signals. Further, the sound processing apparatus 10 may be constructed of a dedicated hardware apparatus (integrated circuit etc.) that is configured to perform the functions of the components 11, 12, 13, and 14 shown in
One aspect of the inventive sound processing apparatus understood from the above-described embodiments is a sound processing apparatus (10, 20) which includes: a first adjuster (11, 12, 34) that adjusts volume of an input sound signal, the sound signal having the volume adjusted by the first adjuster being sent to a first output destination; a second adjuster (12, 24, 38) that adjusts the volume of the sound signal before being subjected to the volume adjustment by the first adjuster or the sound signal after having been subjected to the volume adjustment by the first adjuster, the sound signal having the volume adjusted by the second adjuster being sent to a second output destination different from the first output destination; a selector (13, 24, 37) that selects one of the sound signal before being subjected to the volume adjustment by the first adjuster and the sound signal after having been subjected to the volume adjustment by the first adjuster, the sound signal selected by the selector being input to the second adjuster for volume adjustment; and a controller (14, 21, S1 to S4) that, in response to the selection by the selector being changed, changes the volume adjustment by the second adjuster on the basis of a volume difference between the sound signal before the volume adjustment by the first adjuster and the sound signal after the volume adjustment by the first adjuster.
In the above-described specific example, the controller includes the memory (22) and the processor (CPU 21). The processor (CPU 21) is configured in such a manner that, in response to the selection by the selector being changed, the processor executes, on the basis of a group of instructions stored in the memory (22), a task (S1 to S4) of changing the volume adjustment by the second adjuster on the basis of a volume difference between the sound signal before the volume adjustment by the first adjuster and after the sound signal after the volume adjustment by the first adjuster.
Further, the above-described embodiment based on the control by the CPU 21 can be understood as a method for setting volume of a sound signal by a processor (CPU 21). This method includes: a first adjustment step of adjusting volume of an input sound signal, the sound signal having the volume adjusted by the first adjustment step being sent to a first output destination; a second adjustment step of adjusting the volume of the sound signal before being subjected to the volume adjustment by the first adjustment step or the sound signal after having been subjected to the volume adjustment by the first adjustment step, the sound signal having the volume adjusted by the second adjustment step being sent to a second output destination different from the first output destination; a step of selecting one of the sound signal before being subjected to the volume adjustment by the first adjustment step and the sound signal after having been subjected to the volume adjustment by the first adjustment step, the sound signal selected by the selector being input to the second adjustment step for volume adjustment; and a step of, in response to the selection by the selector being changed, changing the volume adjustment by the second adjustment step on the basis of a volume difference between the sound signal before the volume adjustment by the first adjustment step and the sound signal after the volume adjustment by the first adjustment step. Furthermore, the above-described embodiment based on the control by the CPU 21 can also be understood as a program for causing a computer to perform the individual steps constituting the aforementioned method, or a computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium storing the program.
The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the embodiments of the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-149998 | Jul 2016 | JP | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8312375 | Hamada | Nov 2012 | B2 |
| 20160277134 | Terada | Sep 2016 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2006211174 | Aug 2006 | JP |
| 2007036325 | Feb 2007 | JP |
| Entry |
|---|
| English translation of Written Opinion issued in Intl. Appln. No. PCT/JP2017/027029 dated Oct. 17, 2017, previously cited in IDS filed Jan. 25, 2019. |
| International Preliminary Report on Patentability issued in Intl. Appln. No. PCT/JP2017/027029 dated Feb. 7, 2019. English translation provided. |
| International Search Report issued in Intl. Appln. No. PCT/JP2017/027029 dated Oct. 17, 2017. English translation provided. |
| Written Opinion issued in Intl. Appln. No. PCT/JP2017/027029 dated Oct. 17, 2017. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20190158201 A1 | May 2019 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/JP2017/027029 | Jul 2017 | US |
| Child | 16257293 | US |
