JP6690751B2 - Multi-track recording system with wireless LAN function - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording system, and more particularly to a multi-track recording system equipped with a wireless LAN function.

  Conventionally, when configuring a multi-track recorder with a portable recorder, the number of channels that can be installed is limited due to the size limitation of the housing, and a 2-channel multi-track recorder or a 4-channel multi-track recorder is practical. It is said that.

  When increasing the number of channels of a multi-track recorder, it is known to connect multiple multi-tracks with a cable and synchronize them, but it is necessary to prepare multiple multi-track recorders of the same type. Since it is relatively expensive, its cost performance is low and it has not been widely spread.

  Patent Document 1 describes that a plurality of audio recorders are connected by a serial transmission interface and one master recorder is set to synchronize the operation of the master recorder with the operation of another slave recorder. .

  Patent Document 2 describes that two multi-track recorders are connected with a USB cable and synchronous recording is enabled by transmitting and receiving a packetized control message.

JP, 2011-351366, A JP, 2010-165403, A

  All of the above-mentioned conventional techniques connect a plurality of recorders or multi-track recorders with a cable, and assume a plurality of recorders of the same type, so that the above-mentioned problems are inherent.

  On the other hand, in recent years, smartphones have become widespread, and many users are currently taking still images and moving images or recording voices with smartphones.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-track recording system that is simple and excellent in cost performance while using a mobile device such as a smart phone that is already widely used.

  The present invention is a multi-track recording system having a wireless LAN function, wherein the recording system comprises a multi-track recording device having a wireless LAN function and a mobile device, and the multi-track recording device is a first wireless LAN. The mobile device includes a module, a first input unit for inputting an audio signal, and a first processing unit for recording the audio signal input from the first input unit in any one of a channel group of a first recording medium. Is a second wireless LAN module, second input means for inputting an audio signal, and second processing means for recording the audio signal input from the second input means in any one of the channel groups of the second recording medium. And the first processing means is independent of the portable device via the first wireless LAN module and the second wireless LAN module. When connected, the portable device receives status information regarding the recording state in the second processing means, receives the status information regarding the recording state in the first processing means, and the received recording in the second processing means. It is characterized in that status information regarding the state is collectively displayed on the display.

  In the present invention, the mobile device may be, for example, a smartphone.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize simple and cost-effective multi-track recording while using a mobile device such as a smart phone that is already widely used.

It is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment. It is a processing flowchart of an embodiment. It is a block diagram of a recording and reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings by taking a portable recording / reproducing apparatus as an example. However, the reproducing function is not always essential in the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of this embodiment. A portable recording / reproducing device (hereinafter, simply referred to as recording / reproducing device) 10 wirelessly connects to a portable device having a wireless connection function. In this embodiment, the smartphone 12 is illustrated as a mobile device having a wireless connection function, a wireless LAN is used as the wireless connection, and more specifically, a Wi-Fi connection is illustrated. Smartphones equipped with Wi-Fi modules are known and can be connected to the Internet via access points such as wireless routers.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus 10 has a known recording / reproducing function, processes an audio signal input from the built-in microphone 22 or the line input terminal 24, records the signal on a recording medium such as an SD card, and records the signal on the SD card. The audio signal is reproduced and output from the built-in speaker. Further, the recording / reproducing device 10 includes a Wi-Fi module, and is connected to the smartphone 12 by Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi connection between the recording / reproducing device 10 and the smartphone 12 is basically a one-to-one connection, but may be a one-to-many connection as necessary. The recording / reproducing apparatus 10 functions as a multi-track recorder having a plurality of channels, and a user can select an arbitrary channel from the plurality of channels and record an audio signal.

  The user of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 inputs an audio signal for playing a desired music part or an audio signal for a band performance at a live or the like from the built-in microphone 22 or the line input terminal 24 of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 to record it. Although a musical instrument 14 such as a guitar is shown in FIG. 1, any other part such as a bass part, a vocal part, a drum part or the like may be used. The recording / reproducing apparatus 10 inputs an audio signal and records the audio signal in any of a plurality of channels. The audio signal recorded in the recording / reproducing device 10 is referred to as a first audio signal.

  On the other hand, the smartphone 12 includes a Wi-Fi module and is connected to the recording / reproducing device 10 by Wi-Fi. The smartphone 12 has a known shooting function and recording function, processes an audio signal input from a built-in microphone or an external microphone, and records the processed audio signal in a recording medium. For example, the smartphone 12 records the audio signal of the musical instrument 16. Similar to the recording / reproducing apparatus 10, any part can be recorded. The user activates a predetermined application (application necessary for cooperation and control with the recording / playback apparatus 10) installed on the smartphone 12 and operates this application to operate the recording / playback apparatus 10, that is, start recording. It is also possible to control stop of recording, start of reproduction, and stop of reproduction. The audio signal recorded on the smartphone 12 is referred to as a second audio signal.

  When the recording / reproducing device 10 and the smartphone 12 are wirelessly connected, an audio signal can be exchanged between the recording / reproducing device 10 and the smartphone 12. Therefore, an audio signal input from the built-in microphone 22 or the line input terminal 24 of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 can be recorded in each channel of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10, and the audio signal is wirelessly transmitted from the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 to the smartphone 12. It can also be transmitted and recorded on the channel of the smartphone 12. In this case, the number of channels of the recording / playback apparatus 10 is substantially increased by the number of channels of the smartphone 12.

  Similarly, an audio signal input from the built-in microphone or line input terminal of the smartphone 12 can be recorded in each channel of the smartphone 12, and the audio signal is wirelessly transmitted from the smartphone 12 to the recording / reproducing device 10 to record. It is also possible to record in each channel of the reproducing apparatus 10. Also in this case, when the number of channels of the recording / reproducing device 10 is used as a reference, the number of channels of the recording / reproducing device 10 is substantially increased by the number of channels of the smartphone 12.

Hereinafter, the plurality of channels included in the recording / reproducing device 10 and the single or multiple channels included in the smartphone 12 are collectively referred to as a channel group in the recording system. That is,
The channel group of the recording system = the plurality of channels of the recording / reproducing device 10 + the channels of the smartphone 12. When the plurality of channels of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 are “first channel” and the channel of the smartphone 12 is “second channel”, a channel group of the recording system is configured from the first channel and the second channel. It can be said that the first channel and the second channel are seamlessly connected by the Wi-Fi connection. When the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 has a 4-channel track and the smartphone 12 is set to a 2-channel virtual track, the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 and the smartphone 12 constitute a 6-channel multi-track recorder by wireless connection. When the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 is set as a master, the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 recognizes its 4 channels as the 1st to 4th channels and the smartphone 12 as the 5th and 6th channels. . On the other hand, when the smartphone 12 is set as the master, the smartphone 12 recognizes its own two channels as the first channel and the second channel, and recognizes the four channels of the recording / reproducing device 10 as the third channel to the sixth channel. However, there is no problem in giving priority to the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 and recognizing the four channels of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 as the first channel to the fourth channel and the own two channels as the fifth channel and the sixth channel. The number of channels (channel group) can be appropriately changed according to the specifications.

  Which of the channels in the channel group in the recording system the audio signal input to the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 is recorded, or in which channel of the channel group in the recording system the audio signal input to the smartphone 12 is recorded It can be arbitrarily set by either the device 10 or the smartphone 12. For example, the user operates the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 so as to record the audio signal input from the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 in two channels of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 and also in the channel of the smartphone 12, or Operates the smartphone 12 to set the audio signal input from the smartphone 12 to be recorded only in the channel of the recording / reproducing device 10.

  Also, for mixdown after recording, any channel of the channel group of the recording system can be used as in recording. For example, in the recording / playback apparatus 10, after recording each audio signal of a guitar in the first channel, a drum in the second channel, and a vocal in the third channel, these are mixed down and stored in the remaining channels of the recording / playback apparatus 10. Alternatively, it can be stored in the channel of the smartphone 12.

  When the recording / reproducing device 10 and the smartphone 12 are not wirelessly connected, the first audio signal is recorded in each channel of the recording / reproducing device 10 and the second audio signal is recorded in each channel of the smartphone 12 independently. However, when the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 and the smartphone 12 are wirelessly connected, the smartphone 12 wirelessly transmits status information regarding the recording state to the recording / reproducing apparatus 10, and the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 only monitors the recording state of itself. Instead, the recording state of the smartphone 12 is also acquired, and these are collectively displayed on the display or the like. Of course, the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 wirelessly transmits the status information regarding the recording state to the smartphone 12 so that the smartphone 12 not only monitors its own recording state, but also acquires the recording state of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 and collectively records them. May be displayed on a display or the like. In short, either the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 or the smartphone 12 may collectively monitor the recording state of the channel group in the recording system. Further, it may be preferable to display on the display whether the recording source of each channel forming the channel group is the recording / reproducing device 10 or the smartphone 12.

  The present embodiment substantially expands the number of channels of the recording / reproducing device 10 by connecting the recording / reproducing device 10 and the smartphone 12 by Wi-Fi connection and making them cooperate with each other, but one of the advantages of the present embodiment. Even though the user of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 and the user of the smartphone 12 record the audio signals at different locations and at different times, each audio signal is recorded as a multi-track on the single recording / reproducing apparatus 10. It is a point that can be done. For example, the user A of the recording / playback apparatus 10 records the guitar and the drum on the first channel and the second channel in the studio, respectively, and the user B of the smartphone 12 records the vocal on the channel of the smartphone 12 at home, which is Wi-. It is possible to wirelessly transmit to the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 via the Fi connection and store it in an empty channel of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10. In this case, in the recording / reproducing apparatus 10, the guitar of the first channel, the drum of the second channel, and the vocal of the third channel are mixed down and stored in the fourth channel of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 or the empty channel of the smartphone 12. It is also possible to do so.

  FIG. 2 is a process flowchart of the present embodiment. As an example, the first audio signal is recorded on the first channel and the second channel of the recording / reproducing device 10, the second audio signal is recorded by the smartphone 12, and then the smartphone 12 6 is a flowchart for wirelessly transmitting to the recording / reproducing device 10 to record a second audio signal on the third and fourth channels of the recording / reproducing device 10.

  First, the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 records the first audio signal on the first channel and the second channel (S101). That is, a recording level, a recording format, a sampling frequency, various filter processes are set, the first audio signal is processed, and recorded on the first and second channels of a recording medium such as an SD card.

  Next, before or after S101, the second audio signal is recorded by the smartphone 12 (S102). The recording condition at this time may not be the same as the recording condition of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10. The smartphone 12 records the recording file of the second audio signal on a recording medium such as an SD card.

  Next, the recording / reproducing device 10 and the smartphone 12 are connected by Wi-Fi (S103). Specifically, the Wi-Fi button or the icon of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 is operated to activate the Wi-Fi module. Next, the Wi-Fi button on the smartphone 12 side is operated to activate the Wi-Fi module. When the smartphone 12 detects the recording / reproducing device 10 and the SSID which is the identification name of the access point in the wireless LAN of the recording / reproducing device 10 is displayed, the password corresponding to this is input to establish the Wi-Fi connection. . The password can be displayed on the display unit of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 so that the user can visually recognize it.

  When the Wi-Fi connection is established, the smartphone 12 reads the recording file designated by the user from the recording medium and transfers the read recording file to the recording / playback apparatus 10 (S104). A predetermined application installed on the smartphone 12 may read the recording file from the recording medium and transfer the recording file to the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 in response to a request command from the recording / reproducing apparatus 10.

  Finally, the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 receives the recording file transmitted from the smartphone 12, and records the recording file on the remaining channels 3 and 4 other than the first channel and the second channel where the first audio signal is recorded. It is recorded (S105). If the recording file, that is, the second audio signal is a signal of a single channel, it may be stored in either the third channel or the fourth channel, and the second audio signal may be composed of stereo channels of L channel and R channel. For example, the L channel signal is stored in the third channel and the R channel signal is stored in the fourth channel.

  When the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 reproduces the first to fourth channels, the file name is visually recognized to be recorded by the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 or recorded by the smartphone 12 and received. It is also preferable to be able to easily identify whether or not. For example, a specific flag may be added to the file name of the recording file received from the smartphone 12. When the recording format of the recording / reproducing device 10 and the recording format of the smartphone 12 are different, it can be easily identified from the difference in the formats.

  Next, a specific configuration of the recording / playback apparatus 10 according to this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment. The recording / reproducing apparatus 10 includes a Wi-Fi module 20, a built-in microphone 22, a line input terminal 24, a built-in speaker 30, a display 32, an LED 33, operation buttons 34, a system controller 36, and an SD connector 42.

  The Wi-Fi module 20 is a wireless LAN module and is a module that performs Wi-Fi connection with the smartphone 12 and data transmission / reception. The Wi-Fi module 20 is activated in response to the operation of the operation button 34 or the icon, and establishes the Wi-Fi connection with the smartphone 12. The Wi-Fi module 20 also receives a command from the smartphone 12 and supplies the received command to the system controller 36. This command is a command for controlling the operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10, and is for starting recording, stopping recording, and the like. The Wi-Fi module 20 may also send the status information supplied from the system controller 36 to the smartphone 12. The status information includes the recording status of multiple channels. The first channel and the second channel are recorded, and the third channel and the fourth channel are unrecorded.

  The built-in microphone 22 is an R channel and L channel stereo microphone, which inputs an audio signal of a played musical instrument or the like and outputs it to an interface (I / F) 26.

  The line input terminal 24 inputs a line from an audio signal from an external device (including an external microphone) and outputs the audio signal to an interface (I / F) 26.

  The interface (I / F) 26 outputs the audio signal from the built-in microphone 22 or the line input terminal 24 to the codec (CODEC) 28.

  The codec (CODEC) 28 converts the input audio signal into a digital signal, compresses and encodes it, and supplies it to the system controller 36. In addition, the audio signal supplied from the system controller 36 is expanded and decoded, converted into an analog audio signal, and output from the built-in speaker 30. The codec (CODEC) 28 may be separated into a module that processes an audio signal from the built-in microphone 22 or the line input terminal 24 and a module that processes an audio signal output to the built-in speaker 30.

  The display 32 is composed of an LCD panel, an organic EL panel or the like, and displays various status information of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10, for example, a recording / reproducing time counter and a recording level.

  The LED 33 indicates the activation state or connection state of the Wi-Fi module 20. The LED 33 shifts to the off state when the Wi-Fi module is off, the blinking state (standby state) when the Wi-Fi module 20 is on, the lighting state when the Wi-Fi module 20 is on and the Wi-Fi connection state. .

  The operation button 34 is a button for instructing the operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10. The operation buttons 34 include a Wi-Fi button for switching Wi-Fi on / off, a recording / playback / stop button, a recording level adjustment button, a channel (track) selection button, and the like. The operation button 34 may be configured as a jog dial or a touch button displayed on the display 32.

  The system controller 36 includes a processor and a memory, and controls each unit of the recording / playback apparatus 10. The system controller 36 uses the RAM 40 as a working memory to execute various processes in accordance with the processing programs recorded in the ROM 38. Various processing includes activation / off of the Wi-Fi module 20, establishment of connection with the smartphone 12, processing of an audio signal input from the built-in microphone 22 or the line input terminal 24, recording of the audio signal in an SD card, This includes reproduction of audio signals, supply of status information to the Wi-Fi module 20, transmission / reception of audio signals to / from the smartphone 12 via the Wi-Fi module 20, recording of audio signals on an SD card, and the like. The system controller 36 may include multiple processors and may cooperate with a PLD (Programmable Logic Device).

  An SD card is attached to the SD connector 42. The system controller 36 records an audio signal by recording it on an SD card. Further, the audio signal recorded on the SD card is read out and output from the built-in speaker 30 via the codec (CODEC) 28.

  The system controller 36 records the audio signal input from the built-in microphone 22 or the line input terminal 24 in any of the channel groups of the recording system according to an instruction from the operation button 34 or a command received from the smartphone 12. . For example, when the 1st channel and the 2nd channel of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 and the 1st channel of the smartphone 12 are set by the operation button 34, the system controller 36 records the input audio signal in the 1st channel and the 2nd channel, and A command and an audio signal are wirelessly transmitted to 12. The controller of the smartphone 12 records the received audio signal on its first channel in response to the command from the recording / reproducing device 10. The controller of the smartphone 12 wirelessly transmits status information including a recording state to the recording / playback apparatus 10. The system controller 36 receives the status information from the smartphone 12, and collectively displays the status information on the display 32 together with the recording status of itself. Further, when the system controller 36 receives a command and an audio signal from the smartphone 12, the system controller 36 records the audio signal received according to the command in the channel designated by the command. At this time, the system controller 36 wirelessly transmits status information including the recording state to the smartphone 12.

Further, the system controller 36 may search for a channel in which the first audio signal is not recorded among its own channels, and automatically store the second audio signal received from the smartphone 12 in the vacant channel. . As a result, for example,
1st channel: 141203-000.wav
2nd ch: 141203-001.wav
3rd channel: 141205-S.mp3
Etc. are stored. The last "-S" in the file name of the third channel indicates that it is a file transmitted from the smartphone 12.

  Although the configuration of the smartphone 12 is known and not shown, the smartphone 12 also includes a wireless LAN module, a built-in microphone for inputting the second audio signal, and a controller for processing the second audio signal and recording the second audio signal on a recording medium. In the recording system of the present embodiment, the system controller 36 of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 and the controller of the smartphone 12 cooperate with each other so that the channel group of the recording system is configured as if it constitutes a plurality of channels of a single recording apparatus. It can be said to control. Here, in order to distinguish the two, the wireless LAN module 20, the built-in microphone 22, the line input terminal 24, and the system controller 36 on the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 side are referred to as a first wireless LAN module, a first input unit, and a first processing unit, respectively. The wireless LAN module, the built-in microphone, and the controller on the smartphone 12 side are referred to as a second wireless LAN module, a second input unit, and a second processing unit, respectively.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made.

  For example, in the present embodiment, different recording files may be transmitted from the plurality of smartphones to the recording / reproducing device 10. For example, assuming that a plurality of smartphones are a smartphone A and a smartphone B, and recording files thereof are a recording file A and a recording file B, the recording file A is stored in the third channel of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 and the recording file B is stored in the fourth channel. Store.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the control of read / write of the audio signal recorded in the channel group of the recording system and the mixdown process are basically performed by the user operation of the operation buttons or icons of the recording / reproducing device 10 or the smartphone 12. However, the operation setting at the time of wireless connection may be changed on the menu screen, and the item to be automatically executed may be set to ON and automatically executed. Thereby, when the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 and the smartphone 12 are Wi-Fi connected, for example, the system controller 36 automatically transmits a command requesting a recording file to the controller of the smartphone 12, and the command is transferred from the smartphone 12. A recording file can be received and automatically stored in a predetermined channel.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the Wi-Fi connection is illustrated as the wireless connection, but NFC (Near Field Communication), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like may be used.

  10 recording / reproducing device, 12 smartphone, 14, 16 musical instrument, 20 Wi-Fi module, 22 built-in microphone, 24 line input terminal, 30 built-in speaker, 32 display, 33 LED, 34 operation button, 36 system controller, 42 SD connector.

Claims (2)

A multi-track recording system equipped with a wireless LAN function,
The recording system comprises a multi-track recording device having a wireless LAN function and a portable device,
The multi-track recording device,
A first wireless LAN module;
First input means for inputting an audio signal,
First processing means for recording the audio signal input from the first input means on any one of the channel groups of the first recording medium;
Equipped with
The portable device is
A second wireless LAN module,
Second input means for inputting an audio signal,
Second processing means for recording the audio signal input from the second input means on any one of the channel groups of the second recording medium;
Equipped with
The first processing means, when wirelessly connected to the portable device via the first wireless LAN module and the second wireless LAN module, status information regarding a recording state of the portable device in the second processing means. And the status information regarding the recording state in the first processing means and the received status information regarding the recording state in the second processing means are collectively displayed on the display. Multi-track recording system. The multi-track recording system according to claim 1,
The multi-track recording system having a wireless LAN function, wherein the portable device is a smartphone.

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