GB2393562A

GB2393562A - Audio communication line identifier

Info

Publication number: GB2393562A
Application number: GB0220939A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marco Pelloni
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-09-10
Filing date: 2002-09-10
Publication date: 2004-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 2022-09-10
Also published as: GB2393562B; GB0220939D0

Abstract

A spoken message is recorded via a microphone and then replayed repeatedly, interspersed with a generated test tone, the resultant signal is output from a connector to which a communication line to be identified is connected. The other end of the cable can be identified, or separated from other cables by detecting the signal. The apparatus may have two or four channels, each having an individual message. Each message and test tone are repeatedly output in a continuous cycle when the record button is released, until the apparatus is switched off. The test tone is 1 kHz at 0 dB for 15 seconds and may have undergo a break on left channels only to assist identification of stereo lines. The socket may be an XLR type, the output may be balanced via a transformer and feed into a 600 ohm line. The voice recordings may be stored in a non-volatile memory.

Description

( AUDIO LINE IDENTIFICATION UNIT

The invention relates to a portable box which will record the human voice on to a number of channels and generate a test tone which can be used in any number of studio or outside broadcast situations were identifying audio broadcast circuits is required. The professional television and radio industries have basic identification devices available to them for portable use but these tend to be limited to single channel units and are not able to identify stereo or multiple circuits from a single device.

This device is able to identify two or four (depending on the model) audio circuits by recording a short spoken message on to each channel and between each message generating an industry standard line up tone for the recipient at the other end of the circuit to identify which circuit is being listened to and also to check with the aid of the received tone that the audio level is within required limits.

A two or for channel audio device for recording spoken word messages and generating test tone between the spoken messages running on a continuous cycle.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I shows the two and four channel versions of the unit, top / left side and battery holder.

Figure 2 shows the channel record press buttons.

Figure shows the channel recording LED indicators.

Figure 4 Shows the power on / low battery LED indicator.

Figure 5 shows the internal microphone grill Figure 6 Shows the right hand side of the unit showing the Slide ON / OFF switch and external D.C. power input.

Figure 7 shows the slide out battery compartment.

Figure 8 shows the end panel XLR output connectors / tone select switch / switches Of the two and four channel versions.

As shown in drawing 1 of 6 (two channel version) and drawing 4 of 6 (four channel version) the units are almost identical apart from one unit being a two-channel device and the other being a four-channel device.

Keeping one of the channel record press buttons (fig 2) held down will immediately start the corresponding channel recording, a message can then be spoken into the unit via the microphone (fig 5) and will be stored on the internal chip corresponding with that channel.

When in record the corresponding record LED (fig 3) will illuminate until the record press button (fig 2) is released.

The above operation is repeated for each required channel until all messages have been recorded.

In the playback mode which by default is the mode the channel / channels will be in if a record press button (fig 2) is not being held down the recorded message will play out of its corresponding channel output socket (fig 8) and between the spoken message test tone will be transmitted for a number of seconds before the spoken message is again repeated, this cycle continues until the message is either re-recorded (in which case the play back is interrupted for the corresponding channel) or the unit is switched of using the on / offswitch on the left hand side of the unit (fig 6).

The unit or a number of them could for example be used by a television or radio sound engineer working at a remote location away from the main studio base, perhaps where a football / tennis or cricket match is being played.

At such events there can be a considerable number of audio circuits which would be connected to the main studio centre via telecom lines or satellite, this centre could be just down the road or on the other side of the world, the circuits could carry studio talk back / programme audio feeds / control room communications / and of course the programme audio of the sports event.

Back at the studio centre the control rooms could have dozens of audio lines coming in from a number of different sources from all over the world and with the aid of the mutter box any studio based operator would be able to easily identify which audio circuit was witch.

Claims

I A two or for channel audio device for recording spoken word messages and generating test tone between the spoken messages running on a continuous cycle.