GB2592659A - An audio mixing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An audio mixing apparatus (10) includes a set of channel fader controllers (20) which control the audio levels of a first set of audio channels. A visual display (50) is arranged to display the audio levels (60) of a second set of audio channels, and a control device (70) is arranged to switch the set of channel fader controllers from controlling the levels of the first set of audio channels to controlling the levels of the second set of audio channels. The control device and the visual display are located immediately adjacent the set of channel fader controllers. There may be a plurality of groups of channels, a plurality of displays each displaying levels of channels for one of the collections of channels and a plurality of control devices allowing each of the sets of channels to be assigned to the fader controllers. The apparatus may be an audio mixing desk.

Description

An audio mixing apparatus The present invention relates generally to an audio mixing apparatus and a method of selecting a set of audio channels, so as to control them with a set of channel fader controllers, and finds particular, although not exclusive, utility in audio mixing desks.

Presently, mixing desks are arranged to control multiple sets of audio channels, however, there is a limited space on the desk in which the channel fader controllers can be positioned. Accordingly, it is known to provide one set of channel fader controllers and control means to select a particular set of audio channels for the channel fader controllers to control.

In use, the operator's attention is primarily aimed at the channel fader controllers. Accordingly, the operator may not be aware that one or more of the audio channels not presently being controlled by the channel fader controllers needs attention. For instance, the level of the one or more channels may need reducing or increasing.

It is desirable, therefore, to be able to provide means by which an operator may become aware that one or more of the audio channels, not presently being controlled by the channel fader controllers, needs attention.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides an audio mixing apparatus including a set of channel fader controllers controlling the audio levels of a first set of audio channels, a visual display arranged to display the audio levels of a second set of audio channels, and a control device arranged to switch the set of channel fader controllers from controlling the audio levels of the first set of audio channels to controlling the audio levels of the second set of audio channels, wherein the control device and the visual display are located immediately adjacent the set of channel fader controllers.

In this way, even though the operator's attention may be focussed on the channel fader controllers, they will see if one of the other channels needs attention because they will see it on the visual display which is arranged immediately adjacent the channel fader controllers and thus in their area of vision.

The visual display may show the audio levels of a second set of audio channels as a set of vertical bars. Each set of audio channels may comprise 12 channels, although other quantities are contemplated.

Tf a channel needs attention the visual display may indicate it in a different colour, such as red, and/or may make the vertical bar flash.

The audio mixing apparatus may comprise a plurality of sets of audio channels, a plurality of visual displays each associated with, and arranged to display the audio levels of each channel of, one of the plurality of sets of audio channels, and a plurality of control devices each associated with one of the plurality of sets of audio channels, and arranged to switch, the set of channel fader controllers to control the audio levels of the associated set of audio channels.

In other words, several sets of audio channels may be indicated, each by an associated visual display and associated control devices. The visual displays may be arranged around the channel fader controllers.

The visual display and the control device for a set of audio channels may be integral with one another. For instance, the visual display may be movable to act like a button, or may have touch a sensitive surface to thereby activate it to transfer the control of the channels to the channel fader controllers.

The channel fader controllers may include a visual representation of each of the channels which they are presently controlling. For instance, the audio level of each channel may be represented as a vertical bar. This may be arranged immediately adjacent the channel fader controllers or somewhere else on the desk. Regardless as to where they are, the operator's attention will be directed to the actual channel fader controllers at regular intervals and will therefore become 2nvare of another channel, not presently being controlled by the channel fader controllers, because the visual display is arranged immediately adjacent the channel fader controllers.

The control device may be one of a button, a switch and a knob. Other types of control devices are contemplated.

The set of channel fader controllers may be mechanical sliders, alternatively and/or additionally, the set of channel fader controllers may be virtual such that they are displayed on a touch sensitive screen.

The audio mixing apparatus may be a mixing desk. In this regard, the term "desk" includes virtual "desks" operated via tablets, telecommunication devices such as mobile telephones, and other devices which include graphical user interfaces such as screens, laptop computers and the like. Ihe desk may include controls such as faders, input and output sockets, displays, processors, memory and the like. All, or only some of the controls may be represented as graphical user interfaces. Furthermore, although such displays and/or controllers may have analogue representation they may operate digitally. Also, although the audio signals may be input and output in analogue format, they may be processed digitally by the desk.

in a second aspect, the invention provides a method of selecting a set of audio channels, so as to control them with a set of channel fader controllers, comprising the steps of: providing a mixing apparatus according to the first aspect; and operating the control device such that the set of channel fader controllers control the audio levels of the set of audio channels.

The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic partial view of a mixing desk.

The present invention will be described with respect to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. Each drawing may not include all of the features of the invention and therefore should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention, in the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. it is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other sequences than described or illustrated herein. Likewise, method steps described or claimed in a particular sequence may be understood to operate in a different sequence.

Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. it is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

It is to be noticed that the term "comprising", used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stited features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof Thus, the scope of the expression "a device comprising means A and B" should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention the only relevant components of the device are and B. Similarly, it is to be noticed that the term "connected", used in the description, should not be interpreted as being restricted to direct connections only. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device. A connected to a device B" should not be limited to devices or systems wherein an output of device A is directly connected to an input of device B. It means that there exists a path between an output of A and an input of B which may be a path including other devices or means. "Connected" may mean that two or more elements are either in direct physical or electrical contact, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but yet still co-operate or interactwith each other. For instance, wireless connectivity is contemplated.

Reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment" or "an aspect" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or aspect is included in at least one embodiment or aspect of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment", "in an embodiment", or "in an aspect" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or aspect, but may refer to different embodiments or aspects. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any one embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner with any other particular feature, structure or characteristic of another embodiment or aspect of the invention, as would be apparent to one of ordinary shill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments or aspects.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Moreover, the description of any individual drawing or aspect should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in fewer than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form yet further embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth.

However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practised without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

In the discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value.

The use of the term "at least one" may mean only one in certain circumstances.

The use of the term "any" may mean "all" and/or "each" in certain circumstances.

The principles of the invention will now be described by a detailed description of at least one drawing relating to exemplary features. It is clear that other arrangements can be configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the underlying concept or technical teaching, the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Tn Figure 1, part of a mixing desk 10 is shown. Tn this example it is the right-hand corner closest to the operator. The desk comprises a bank 20 of twelve fader controllers, each comprising a track 40 along which a knob 30 is slidable to vary the level of the audio channel associated with that fader controller.

The bank 20 of fader controllers is shown controlling the levels of a set of twelve audio channels.

To the right of the bank 20 of fader controllers are four displays 50. Each one shows the levels 60 of other sets of twelve channels as vertical bars. Each set of twelve channels on each of the displays 50 are not presently controlled by the bank 20 of fader controllers. To transfer the control of a particular set of twelve other channels to the bank 20 of fader controllers, a button 70 is provided adjacent the relevant display. Accordingly, in use, if an operator sees on one of the displays 50 that a particular channel needs adjusting, possibly because it has turned red as it is peaking too high, the operator may press the button 70 adjacent the relevant display. immediately, the bank 20 of fader controllers will assume control of the set of twelve channels associated with the relevant depressed button 70.

If the bank 20 of fader controllers have motorised knobs 30, then as soon as the button is pressed each of the knobs 30 will move to the position on their track 40 associated with the present level of the channel associated with that track.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS 2. 3. 4. 5 6. 7. 8.An audio mixing apparatus including a set of channel fader controllers controlling the audio levels of a first set of audio channels, a visual display arranged to display the audio levels of a second set of audio channels, and a control device arranged to switch the set of channel fader controllers from controlling the audio levels of the first set of audio channels to controlling the audio levels of the second set of audio channels, wherein the control device and the visual display are located immediately adjacent the set of channel fader controllers.The audio mixing apparatus of claim 1, comprising a plurality of sets of audio channels, a plurality of visual displays each associated with, and arranged to display the audio levels of each channel of, one of the plurality of sets of audio channels, and a plurality of control devices each associated with one of the plurality of sets of audio channels, and arranged to switch, the set of channel fader controllers to control the audio levels of the associated set of audio channels.The audio mixing apparatus of either one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the visual display and the control device for a set of audio channels are integral with one another.The audio mixing apparatus of either one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the control device is one of a button, a switch and a knob.The audio mixing apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the set of channel fader controllers are mechanical sliders.The audio nting apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the of channel Fader controllers are virtual and displayed on a screen.The audio mixing apparatus of any preceding claim, being a mixing desk.A method of selecting a set of audio channels, so as to control them with a set of channel fader controllers, comprising the steps of: providing a mixing apparatus according to any preceding claim; and operating the control device such that the set of channel fader controllers control the audio levels of the set of audio channels.S