JP2000276156A - Effect device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an effect device of a high function and a small size at a low cost by providing an operation control means for deciding which of a measuring instrument mode and an effecter mode to use for operating a signal processing means and providing display control means etc. SOLUTION: A memory 12 connected with the CPU 10 stores the program of the CPU 10 and the programs of DSP 4, 6 being signal processing means and is used also as a working area when the CPU 10 executes processing. In addition, the CPU 10 receives an A/D output from a group of switches 14 and a group of volumes 16 and the CPU 40 controls the DSP 4, 6 and a display 18 by referring to the these output. Namely the CPU 10 operates as an operation control means and a display control means, stores the measuring result of the audio signal of a measuring instrument mode by the DSP 4 in the memory 12 and displays the measuring result stored in the memory 12 on the display 18 with the effect mode by a DSP 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an effect device capable of giving an effect to an audio signal. The effect device may be a single device or a device included in an audio mixer device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is desirable that an effect device includes a measuring instrument such as a spectrum analyzer, an oscilloscope, and a musical instrument tuner for measuring a frequency characteristic of an audio signal. When such a measuring device, for example, a spectrum analyzer is built in the effect device, hardware dedicated to the spectrum analyzer is added to the effect device.

[0003]

However, hardware dedicated to the spectrum analyzer requires an A / D converter, a DSP and a display. However, even though such hardware is originally provided to implement an effector in an effect device, adding all the dedicated hardware for a spectrum analyzer increases the size of the effect device system and costs. Is also high.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a high-performance and small-sized effect device at low cost by equipping a measuring instrument without adding dedicated hardware.

[0005]

An effect device according to one aspect of the present invention includes signal processing means, which operates as at least a predetermined effector for applying a predetermined effect to an audio signal, An effector mode that is inactive as a predetermined measuring device for measuring characteristics of an audio signal, and at least a measuring device mode that operates as the predetermined measuring device and is inactive as the predetermined effector. . Operation control means for deciding which of the signal processing means to operate in the measuring instrument mode and the effector mode, and display means are provided. Further, storage means is provided for storing a measurement result of the audio signal when the signal processing means is in the measuring instrument mode. When the signal processing means is in the effector mode, display control means for displaying the measurement result stored in the storage means on the display means is also provided.

According to this effect device, the signal processing means functioning as an effector can be used as it is as a measuring instrument. Further, even when the signal processing means is in the effector mode in which the signal processing means is not operating as a measuring instrument, the measurement result of the audio signal in the measuring instrument mode is displayed on the display means based on the measurement result stored in the storage means. And the user can adjust the effector based on this display.

An effect device according to another aspect of the present invention includes a signal processing unit, an operation control unit, a display unit, and a storage unit, similarly to the effect device according to the above-described one aspect. Further, the effect device may be configured based on a measurement result of the audio signal stored in the storage unit.
Estimating means for estimating the characteristic of the audio signal to which the effect is added when the signal processing means is in the effector mode, and display control means for displaying the characteristic of the audio signal estimated by the estimating means on the display means are also provided. I have. The estimating means calculates, for example, based on a storing means for storing a measurement result when the DSP is in the measuring instrument mode, a value stored in the storing means, and effect data newly added in the effector mode. Computing means.

[0008] In the effect device of this aspect, even in the effector mode in which the measuring instrument mode is inactive, the characteristic estimated to have been changed by the newly added effect is estimated by the estimating means, and the characteristic is estimated. The result can be displayed on the display means.

An effect device according to another aspect of the present invention has signal processing means and operation control means, similarly to the effect device according to the above aspect. In addition to this, the effect device has control means for setting the effector in the effector mode based on the measurement result of the characteristic when the signal processing means is in the measuring instrument mode and the desired characteristic of the audio signal. Then, an audio signal having desired characteristics is obtained in the effector mode. Note that the desired characteristic can be any of a plurality of characteristics. Further, the calculation means may store, for example, a measurement result when the DSP is in the measuring instrument mode, and calculate data necessary for changing the measurement result to a desired characteristic.

According to this effect device, an effect can be automatically applied to an audio signal so as to obtain a desired characteristic set in advance.

In the effect device of each of the above aspects, it is desirable that the characteristics of the audio signal to which the effect is applied in the effector mode and the characteristics of the audio signal measured in the measuring instrument mode are the same. For example, when the effector mode is an equalizer that adjusts the frequency characteristics of an audio signal, it is preferable that the measuring device mode is also a frequency characteristic measuring device that measures the frequency characteristics of the audio signal, for example, a spectrum analyzer. When the signal processing means operates as a predetermined effector in the effector mode, a different measuring device from the predetermined measuring device may be operated. Further, when the signal processing means operates as a predetermined measuring device in the measuring device mode, an effector different from the predetermined effector may operate. Note that the signal processing means may have a mode other than the effector mode and the measuring instrument mode, for example, a mixer mode.

[0012]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an audio mixer device to which an effect device according to the present invention is applied. This audio mixer device is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the device has four A / D converters 2a to 2d. Each of the A / D converters 2a to 2d receives a 2-channel analog audio signal,
These analog audio signals are converted into digital audio signals. These digital audio signals are
It is supplied to a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 4 and processed. The DSP 4 is for mixing.

[0013] The audio digital signal processed by the DSP 4 is further supplied to the DSP 6 for processing. This DSP 6 is for effects. The digital audio signal processed by the DSP 6 is converted into an analog audio signal by the D / A converter 8 and output. Although separate DSPs 4 and 6 were used for mixing and effects,
One DSP can perform both mixing and effect processing. These DSPs 4 and 6 correspond to signal processing means.

The DSPs 4 and 6 are controlled by the CPU 10. The CPU 10 has storage means, for example, a memory 12. The memory 12 stores the program of the CPU 10 and the programs of the DSPs 4 and 6.
It is also used as a working area when the PU 10 performs processing. The CPU 10 is supplied with A / D outputs from operators, for example, a switch group 14 and a volume group 16, and refers to these outputs to determine whether the CPU 10
Controls the DSPs 4 and 6 and display means, for example, the display 18. That is, the CPU 10 operates as an operation control unit and a display control unit.

In this audio mixer, as shown in FIG. 2, the DSP 4 normally functions as an audio mixer having eight channels 20a to 20h. Digital audio signals of the A / D converters 2a to 2d are supplied to the channels 20a to 20h, respectively.
These signals are processed in each of the channels 20a to 20h. This processing is performed according to the operation of each volume of the volume group 16. Each channel 20a to 20
Since the processing in h is not directly related to the present invention, further detailed description is omitted.

The output of each channel 20a to 20h is
A mixer switch (MIX S) which is supplied to a recording bus (REC BUS) and is a part of the switch group 14
W) 21, where the output of the channel selected by the operation of each switch of the switch group 14 is mixed and output to the MIX bus. An effector (DSP Effect) 22 constituted by the DSP 6 applies an effect to the mixing output on the MIX bus and outputs the result. When adjusting this effect, a reference signal from a test oscillator (Test Oscillator) 24 is supplied to the MIX bus in accordance with the operation of the switch group 14. As the effector 22,
For example, a graphic equalizer that can individually adjust the characteristics of each frequency component of the audio signal can be used.

The audio mixer device can also use the DSP 6 as a measuring device, for example, a frequency characteristic measuring device, more specifically, a spectrum analyzer 26. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, a reference signal from the test oscillator 24 is output to a MIX bus or the like, and is emitted from a speaker (not shown), collected by a microphone (not shown), and A / A A signal digitized by one of the D converters 2a to 2d is input and analyzed. This analysis result is also displayed on the display 18. Note that when the DSP 6 functions as the effector 22 (for example, a graphic equalizer),
If it does not function as the spectrum analyzer 26 and similarly functions as the spectrum analyzer 26, it does not function as the effector 22 (for example, a graphic equalizer). The switching of this function is performed by the CPU 10 by operating the switches included in the switch group 14.

The display 18 includes an effect display unit as shown in FIG. 4A, for example, a graphic equalizer display unit, and a measured value display unit as shown in FIG. 4B, for example, a spectrum analyzer display unit. Have. The graphic equalizer display unit displays the frequency characteristics of the equalizer for each frequency band. The frequency bands are, for example, 350, 500, 700, 1k, and 1.4.
k, 2k, 2.4k, 4k, 4.8k, 8k total 10
Band. The spectrum analyzer display unit also displays each frequency characteristic for each of the same frequency bands as the graphic equalizer display unit, and displays the level of each band with the average value of the input signal level being 0 dB.

When the automatic correction described later is performed, the text "auto correction" is displayed on the graphic equalizer display section. When displaying a live value, which will be described later, the text of “live value” is displayed on the spectrum analyzer display, and when displaying a memory value, which is described later, the character of “memory value” is displayed. When an estimated value, which will be described later, is displayed, the character “estimated value” is displayed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing executed when the mode is switched to the measuring instrument mode by operating the switches of the switch group 14. When the mode is switched to the measuring instrument mode by the operation of a specific switch of the switch group 14, a program for operating as a spectrum analyzer is transferred from the memory 12 to the DSP 6 via the CPU 10, and further, registers and the like used in this program are used. Initialization is performed (step S
1).

Next, the test oscillator 24 starts emitting a reference signal (step S2). The emitted reference signal is collected by a microphone and measured (step S4). That is, the frequency analysis is performed in the DSP 6. The level of each frequency band obtained as a result of this frequency analysis is referred to as a live value.

It is determined whether an instruction to store the actual value in the memory 12 has been given by operating the switches of the switch group 14 (step S6). When this instruction is given, the actual value is stored in the memory 12 (Step S
8).

Following this processing, or in step S6
If it is determined that there is no instruction to store a live value in step S12, it is determined whether an instruction to clear the live value stored in the memory 12 is given by operating a switch of the switch group 14 (step S10). When this instruction is given, the memory value is cleared (step S12).

Subsequent to step S12, or if it is determined in step S10 that there is no instruction to clear the memory, it is determined whether an instruction to display the actual value has been given by operating the switches of the switch group 14 (step S10). S14). When an instruction to display a live value is given, the live value measured in step S4 is displayed on the spectrum analyzer display unit (step S16). At this time, the character of the live value is displayed on the spectrum analyzer display unit at the same time.

In step S14, if the instruction to display the actual value is not given, the actual value stored in the memory in step S8, that is, each memory value is displayed on the spectrum analyzer display unit (step S1).
8). At this time, the display of the character of the memory value is simultaneously displayed on the spectrum analyzer display unit.

Subsequent to step S16 or S18, it is determined whether an instruction to switch to the effector mode has been issued by operating the switches of the switch group 14 (step S1).
9). If there is a switching instruction, the emission of the reference signal is stopped (step S20), and the measuring instrument mode ends.
If there is no switching instruction, the process returns to step S4,
Until a switching instruction is given, the processing from step S4 to step S18 is repeated.

When an instruction to switch to the effector mode is given by operating the switch group 14, the DSP 6 is first switched to the effector as shown in FIG. 6 (step S21). That is, a program required to operate the DSP 6 as a graphic equalizer is transferred from the memory 12 via the CPU 10, and registers and the like used in the program are initialized.

By operating the switches of the switch group 14,
It is determined whether the automatic correction function is turned on (step S22). The auto-correction function means that how to set the frequency components in each frequency band is assumed in the memory 12 as an assumed characteristic, and the graphic equalizer is automatically set so as to obtain the assumed characteristic. It is for doing. The assumed characteristics can be set arbitrarily by the user, or the maker stores a plurality of assumed characteristics in advance and allows the user to select any of these assumed characteristics. Is also good.

If it is determined that the automatic correction function is ON, the memory value of each corresponding frequency band stored in step S8 in the measuring instrument mode is subtracted from the set value of each frequency band of the assumed characteristic. Then, these differences are used as the calculated values, and these calculated values are rewritten to the current set values of the graphic equalizer (step S23). next,
This rewritten setting is transferred to the graphic equalizer (step S24). By this, DSP6
Changes the characteristics of the frequency band to those corresponding to the set values. Then, the effect setting is displayed on the graphic equalizer display section (step S26). At this time, the text of the automatic correction is also displayed on the graphic equalizer display section.

For example, a frequency characteristic as shown in FIG. 7A is stored in the memory 12 as an assumed characteristic, and a frequency characteristic measured by a spectrum analyzer is as shown in FIG. 7B. If so, step S
The effect settings calculated in the auto-correction mode 22 are as shown in FIG. 11C. These settings are set in the graphic equalizer and displayed on the display unit of the graphic equalizer. Therefore, the equalizer can be automatically set to a predetermined assumed frequency characteristic. In addition, a plurality of predetermined assumed frequency characteristics may be prepared, and the user may arbitrarily select and set an equalizer automatically to the selected assumed frequency characteristics.

If it is determined in step S22 that the automatic correction function is not on, steps S24 and S26
Is executed, the current effect settings are transferred to the graphic equalizer, the frequency characteristics are adjusted, and the effect settings are displayed on the graphic equalizer display section.

Subsequent to step S26, the switch group 14
Is operated to determine whether an instruction to turn on the estimation display function is given (step S28). If the instruction to turn on the estimation display function has not been given, the memory value stored in the measuring instrument mode is displayed on the spectrum analyzer display unit (step S30).

Next, it is determined whether the setting of the graphic equalizer is changed by operating the switches of the switch group 14 (step S32). This change can be made, for example, by grasping the current frequency characteristics with reference to the display of the memory value displayed on the spectrum analyzer in step S30.

If it is determined that there is a change, the setting of the effect is rewritten (step S34). This effect setting can be overwritten by turning on the auto correction function and automatically adjusting the frequency characteristics, or setting the effect when the auto correction function is not turned on. Can also be performed.

Subsequently, steps S24 and S26 are executed. As a result, the effect settings are transferred to the graphic equalizer, and the frequency characteristics are adjusted. Further, the effect setting is displayed on the graphic equalizer display section.

Again, it is determined in step S28 whether an instruction to turn on the estimation function has been given. If it is determined that the instruction to turn on has been given, the value of each frequency band stored in the measuring instrument mode and , And the effect set value of the corresponding frequency band are obtained, and these sums are displayed on the spectrum analyzer display unit (step S36). At this time, the character of the estimated value is also displayed at the same time.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the frequency characteristics are measured by the spectrum analyzer and the setting of the graphic equalizer is changed as shown in FIG. 8B, the display section of the spectrum analyzer is changed. Shows the estimated frequency characteristic as shown in FIG. Therefore, although the spectrum analyzer and the graphic equalizer cannot be operated at the same time, the spectrum analyzer and the graphic equalizer are operated at the same time, and the frequency characteristics after the graphic equalizer is adjusted are displayed on the display section of the spectrum analyzer. You can simulate the displayed state.

If it is not determined in step S32 that there is a change in the effect setting, it is determined whether an instruction to switch to the measuring instrument mode has been given by operating the switches of the switch group 14 (step S38). If there is no instruction, step S28 is executed, and if there is a switching instruction, the effector mode ends.

In the audio mixer device of the above embodiment, a graphic equalizer is used as an effector, but another effector can be used. Although a spectrum analyzer was used as a measuring instrument, an oscilloscope or a tuner for musical instruments may be used instead. Then, even when the graphic equalizer and the spectrum analyzer cannot be used at the same time, another effector or another measuring device may be used at the same time.

In the audio mixer device of the above embodiment, the input side of the audio mixer is measured, but the output side may be measured. In this case, an estimated value when the output of the effector is measured by the measuring device in the effector mode may be displayed.

Further, in the audio mixer device of the above-described embodiment, the case where the actual value is displayed, the case where the memory value is displayed, and the case where the estimated value is displayed on the measuring instrument display section shown in FIG. Although the display is switched, the display unit may be divided and individually displayed, or the display units for the live value, the memory value, and the estimated value may be individually arranged. Needless to say, it is not necessary to provide all three types of display units, and it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which only the automatic correction is performed without providing the measurement device display unit.

In the audio mixer device of the above embodiment, the DSP for mixing the audio mixer
Although the DSP 4 and the DSP 6 for effecting are arranged as separate DSPs, mixing and effects may be realized by a common DSP.

Further, in the audio mixer apparatus of the above embodiment, in the effector mode, the set value of each frequency band of the assumed characteristic for performing the automatic correction and the memory value of each corresponding frequency band stored in the measuring instrument mode. Are calculated respectively, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, this calculation is performed in step S8 in the measuring instrument mode, the calculation result is stored, and the calculation result stored in the effector mode is used. Thus, an effect setting value for performing the automatic correction may be generated.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, a high-performance and small-sized effect device can be obtained at low cost by providing a measuring instrument without adding dedicated hardware. Furthermore, it is possible to adjust the effect after recognizing the current state of the characteristics of the audio signal. Furthermore, according to the present invention, even in the effector mode in which the measuring instrument mode is inactive, it is possible to display on the display means the characteristic estimated to have been changed by the newly provided effect. Even in the effector mode in which is not operated, it is possible to simulate how the characteristic is changed by the adjusted effect. Furthermore, according to the present invention, an effect can be automatically applied to a characteristic of an audio signal measured in the measuring instrument mode so as to have a desired characteristic, which facilitates adjustment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an audio mixer device to which an effect device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram when a DSP 6 of the audio mixer device of FIG. 1 is operated as an effector.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram when the DSP 6 of the audio mixer device of FIG. 1 is operated as a spectrum analyzer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display on a display unit used in the audio mixer device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a measurement device mode of the audio mixer device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an effector mode of the audio mixer device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display on a display unit in an auto correction mode of the audio mixer device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display on a display unit in the estimation display mode of the audio mixer device of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 6 DSP (Signal processing unit) 10 CPU (Operation control unit) 12 Memory (Storage unit) 14 Switch group 18 Display unit (Display unit)

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Atsushi Iida 1-4-16 Dojimahama, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka F-term (reference) 5D378 AA00 AA02 BB06 GG22 KK01 KK07 XX05 XX10 XX16

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An effector mode that operates as at least a predetermined effector for applying a predetermined effect to an audio signal and is inactive as a predetermined measuring device for measuring characteristics of the audio signal, and operates as at least the predetermined measuring device. Signal processing means having at least a measuring instrument mode which is not operated as the predetermined effector; and operation control means for deciding which of the measuring instrument mode and the effector mode the signal processing means should operate. Display means; storage means for storing a measurement result of the audio signal when the signal processing means is in the measuring instrument mode; and storage means for storing the measurement result when the signal processing means is in the effector mode. Display control means for displaying the measurement result on the display means. The effect apparatus. 2. An effector mode that operates as at least a predetermined effector for applying a predetermined effect to an audio signal and is inactive as a predetermined measuring device for measuring characteristics of the audio signal, and operates as at least the predetermined measuring device. Signal processing means having at least a measuring instrument mode which is not operated as the predetermined effector; and operation control means for deciding which of the measuring instrument mode and the effector mode the signal processing means should operate. Display means; storage means for storing the measurement result of the audio signal when the signal processing means is in the measuring instrument mode; and, based on the measurement result stored in the storage means, the effector mode Estimate the characteristics of an audio signal to which a certain effect has been added An estimation unit, and a display control means for displaying on said display means the properties of the estimated audio signal by the estimating means has the effect device. 3. An effector mode that operates as at least a predetermined effector for applying a predetermined effect to an audio signal and is inactive as a predetermined measuring device for measuring characteristics of the audio signal, and operates as at least the predetermined measuring device. A signal processing means having at least a measuring instrument mode which is not operated as the predetermined effector, and an operation control for deciding which of the measuring instrument mode and the effector mode the signal processing means should operate. Means, and the signal processing means has control means for setting an effector in the effector mode based on a measurement result of the audio signal in the measuring instrument mode and a desired characteristic of the audio signal. In the effector mode, the desired characteristic An effect device, wherein an audio signal of a specific nature is obtained.