JP2004104569A - Mixing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mixing device that is used as both an analog mixer and a digital mixer. <P>SOLUTION: This mixing device has: an analog sound signal processing means; a first control signal inputting means for controlling the analog sound signal processing means; a first analog to digital converting means for converting a first analog control signal into a first digital control signal; a first digital to analog converting means for converting the first digital control signal into a second analog control signal and supplying the second analog control signal to the analog sound signal processing means; a second control signal inputting means for controlling the analog sound signal processing means; and a second digital to analog converting means for converting the second digital control signal into a third analog control signal and supplying the third analog control signal to the analog sound signal processing means. The mixing device invalidates a function as a digital mixer by providing a switching means for stopping the supply of the third analog control signal to the analog sound signal processing means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mixing device for mixing audio signals output from a plurality of electronic musical instruments and audio devices.
[0002]
2. Description of the Related Art A mixing apparatus includes an analog mixer for mixing analog audio signals input from an electronic musical instrument, a microphone, or the like, and an analog or digital audio signal input from an electronic musical instrument, a microphone, or the like. There is a digital mixer that mixes digitally.
[0003]
The mixing device can appropriately perform processing such as equalizing, volume adjustment, and effect giving for the audio signal input on a plurality of channels for each channel, and then mix and output the plurality of channels.
[0004]
A general digital mixer has a scene data function that can collectively change various parameters of the mixer, but an analog mixer does not have this function.
[0005]
Users who have used analog mixers for some time may prefer analog processed audio over digital processed audio. Therefore, it is conceivable to add a scene data function to the analog mixer, but it has been difficult to record the state of the analog operator and the like.
[0006]
In addition, a user of a conventional analog mixer may malfunction a function of the scene data function when the operator is installed on an operation panel of the mixer.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to provide a mixing device that can be used as an analog mixer or a digital mixer as required.
[0008]
According to one aspect of the present invention, a mixing device includes an analog audio signal processing means for processing an analog audio signal, and a first analog audio signal processing means for controlling the analog audio signal processing means. First control signal input means for inputting a control signal, first analog-to-digital conversion means for converting the first analog control signal into a first digital control signal, and the first digital control signal First analog-to-analog conversion means for converting the signal into a second analog control signal and supplying the converted signal to the analog audio signal processing means.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a mixing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0010]
The mixing device 1 is configured to include a digital unit 2, an analog unit 3, and a panel unit having various controls (such as a digital control 9 and an analog control 19), a display unit 11, and the like.
[0011]
A RAM 5, a ROM 6, a CPU 7, a detection circuit 8, a display circuit 10, a flash memory 12, an external communication interface (I / F) 13, and an internal communication interface (I / F) 15 are connected to the bus 4 of the digital unit 2. .
[0012]
The RAM 5 has a working area for the CPU 7 for storing flags, registers or buffers, various data, and the like. Further, it also has a function as a current scene memory 30 described later.
[0013]
The ROM 6 can store preset data, various parameters and control programs, programs for implementing the present embodiment, and the like. The CPU 7 performs calculation or control according to a control program or the like stored in the ROM 6.
[0014]
The digital operator 9 inputs a user's instruction regarding the digital function of the mixing device according to the present embodiment connected to the detection circuit 8. The digital operator 9 may be any switch, a jog shuttle, a rotary encoder, a fader, a slider, a mouse, a keyboard, a keyboard, a joystick, or any other device capable of outputting a signal according to a user input. In this embodiment, the user uses the digital operator 9 to read and write scene data, which will be described later, and to give instructions such as turning on / off a digital function (turning on / off an analog mode).
[0015]
The display circuit 10 is connected to a display unit (display) 11 and can display various information such as channel assignment, equalizing of each channel, setting of effect addition, volume control, and the like. The display unit 11 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED), and the like, but may be any device that can display various information.
[0016]
The flash memory 12 is, for example, a rewritable semiconductor memory. In this embodiment, scene data to be described later is recorded in the flash memory.
[0017]
In addition to the flash memory 12, for example, a semiconductor memory such as a CD-RW drive and a flash memory, a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive (FDD), a hard disk drive (HDD), a magneto-optical disk (MO) drive, and a CD-ROM drive A ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory) drive, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) drive, or the like may be connected.
[0018]
The external communication interface 13 is an interface that can be connected to an external control device 14 that can control the mixing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment from the outside, an electronic musical instrument, other audio devices, a computer, an additional HDD, and the like. In this case, the external communication interface 13 is a general-purpose interface such as a MIDI interface, SCSI (SMALL COMPUTER SYSTEM INTERFACE), RS-232C, USB (universal serial bus), IEEE 1394 (Itriple 1394), or external control device connection. Using a dedicated interface for Further, the external communication interface 13 may further include a communication interface connectable to a public communication network such as the Internet, a local area network (LAN), or the like.
[0019]
The external control device 14 is, for example, a computer or another mixing device that executes a program capable of controlling the mixing device, and outputs a digital control signal including scene data 33 described later to the mixing device 1 of the present embodiment. Send.
[0020]
The internal communication interface 15 is an interface that can be connected to the analog unit 2. The digital unit 2 and the analog unit 3 transmit and receive control signals and the like via the internal communication interface 15.
[0021]
The analog unit 3 includes, for example, a signal input unit 16, a signal control unit 17, and a signal output unit 18. The signal output unit 18 and the signal control unit 17 are connected to the digital unit 2 via the internal communication interface 15.
[0022]
The signal input unit 16 includes a plurality of analog audio signal input terminals, and outputs an input analog audio signal to the signal control unit 17. Note that a digital / analog converter may be provided so that a digital audio signal can be input. In any case, the signal output to the signal control unit 17 is an analog signal.
[0023]
The signal control unit 17 includes an analog effect circuit that gives an effect to an analog audio signal, an analog mixing circuit that mixes a plurality of analog audio signals, and the like. Specifically, for example, it is configured to include a plurality of VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplifier), VCF (Voltage Controlled Filter), and the like. Also, as described later with reference to FIG. 2, an analog / digital conversion unit 20 for temporarily converting an analog control signal from the analog operator 19 into a digital control signal and a digital for converting the digitized signal into an analog control signal again. / Analog converter 21a. As shown in FIG. 3, the digital control signal converted by the analog / digital conversion unit 20 is sent to the digital unit 2 via the internal communication interface 15 and set up as a setup parameter 31 and a scene parameter 32. The information is recorded in a current scene memory 30 provided in a buffer area in the RAM 5.
[0024]
The signal output unit 18 includes a plurality of analog audio output terminals for outputting an analog audio signal output from the signal control unit 17.
[0025]
The analog operator 19 is an operator that outputs an analog control signal for controlling the signal controller 17. The user can use the analog operator 19 composed of a plurality of operators (input means) to perform equalization, effect setting, volume control, mixing process setting, and the like. The analog operator 19 may be any device, such as a jog shuttle, a rotary encoder, a fader, a slider, and a switch, as long as it can output an analog control signal according to a user input.
[0026]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating flows of control signals and audio signals of the mixing device 1 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, a case will be mainly described in which the user operates the fader 19f, which is one of the analog operators 19 (FIG. 1). The fader 19f is an operator for controlling the volume of the analog audio signal input to the signal input unit 16. In the drawing, solid arrows indicate digital control signals, dashed-dotted arrows indicate analog control signals, and dashed-dotted arrows indicate analog audio signals.
[0027]
When the user operates the fader 19f, an analog control signal is output from the fader 19f to the analog / digital (A / D) converter 20. The A / D converter 20 converts the input analog control signal into a digital control signal and outputs the digital control signal to the CPU 7a. The CPU 7a processes the input digital control signal as necessary, and outputs the digital control signal to the digital / analog (D / A) converter 21a. Although not shown, the CPU 7a outputs the input digital control signal to the digital unit 2 via the internal communication interface 15 in FIG.
[0028]
The D / A converter 21a converts the input digital control signal into an analog control signal again and outputs the analog control signal to a VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplifier) 17a.
[0029]
The VCA 17a controls the volume of an input signal (analog audio signal) based on an analog control signal input from the D / A converter 21a (that is, an analog control signal according to the operation of the fader 19f by the user), and outputs an output signal. (Analog audio signal).
[0030]
As described above, by temporarily converting the control signal of the analog operator (fader 19f) into a digital control signal, the state of the operator can be digitally recorded while maintaining the operational feeling of the analog operator. .
[0031]
Further, by converting the digitally converted control signal into an analog control signal again, analog circuits such as VCA and VCF can be controlled.
[0032]
A digital control signal (scene data to be described later) recorded by the digital unit 2 is read out, for example, by the user operating the digital operation unit 9 in FIG. 1, and is subjected to D / A conversion via the CPU 7b. Input to the unit 21b.
[0033]
The D / A converter 21b converts the input digital control signal into an analog control signal and outputs the analog control signal to the VCA 17a. The VCA 17a controls the volume of an input signal (analog audio signal) and outputs it as an output signal (analog audio signal), as in the case of the control signal from the analog operator described above.
[0034]
The digital control signal input to the CPU 7b is not limited to the internally generated signal as described above. For example, the digital control signal is input (received) from the external control device 14 or the like in FIG. A control signal or the like may be used.
[0035]
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of the current scene memory 30 according to the present embodiment.
[0036]
The current scene memory 30 is an area for recording a current setting state (set values of all parameters) of the mixing device 1 provided in a buffer area in the RAM 5 of FIG. 1, for example. In the current scene memory 30, a setup parameter 31 controlled by only the analog operator 19 and a scene parameter 32 controlled by both the analog operator 19 and scene data 33 described later are recorded.
[0037]
The scene data 33 is data in which a parameter group for realizing (or restoring) a specific setting state of the mixing device 1 is recorded. The recorded parameter group is a part of the parameters that can be handled by the mixing device 1. The part of the parameters are scene parameters 32 and are mainly parameters directly related to the control of the audio signal characterizing a specific mixing state. Specifically, for example, it is a level value for each mixer channel, a bus assignment state, a VCA level value, and the like. Hereinafter, a specific mixing state of the mixing device set by the scene parameters 32 and the scene data 33 is referred to as a panel setting.
[0038]
The setup parameters 31 are parameters controlled only by the analog operator 19, and include, for example, cue settings for each mixer channel, solo settings, MIDI-related settings, various mode settings, and the like.
[0039]
The mode switch 34 is a switch for switching the analog mode on and off. The state shown in the figure is a state where the analog mode is on. That is, when the analog mode is ON, the writing of the scene data 33 to the current scene memory 31 is stopped by the mode switch 34. Therefore, in the analog mode, input of a digital control signal (scene data 33) from the digital operator 9 or the external control device 14 (FIG. 1) and use of the scene data 33 recorded in the flash memory 12 are not performed. It is forbidden. The analog operator 19 can be used at any time regardless of the on / off state of the analog mode. Further, when the analog mode is on, the function of the display unit 11 (FIG. 1) is limited to always display that the analog mode is on.
[0040]
When the analog mode is off (normal mode), input of a digital control signal (scene data 33) from the digital operator 9 or the external control device 14 (FIG. 1), and scene data 33 recorded in the flash memory 12 Can be used.
[0041]
The function of using the scene data 33 (scene data function) is a function unique to the digital mixer, which is not provided in the conventional analog mixer. When the analog mode is on, only functions equivalent to those of the conventional analog mixer can be enabled by disabling functions specific to the digital mixer that performs digital control such as the scene data function.
[0042]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main process of the mixing device 1 executed by the CPU 7 of FIG. This main process is automatically started when the power of the mixing apparatus 1 is turned on.
[0043]
In step SA1, the main process is started, and in step SA2, it is determined whether or not there is a mode switching instruction from the user. The mode switching instruction is issued, for example, by operating the digital operator 9 in FIG. If there is a mode switching instruction, the flow advances to step SA3 indicated by a YES arrow to switch to a mode different from the current mode. When the current mode is the analog mode, the mode is switched to the normal mode. For example, the mode switch 34 shown in FIG. 3 is set to the connected state, and various information is displayed on the display unit 11 in FIG. When the current mode is the normal mode, the mode is switched to the analog mode. For example, the mode switch 34 shown in FIG. 3 is turned off, and the display unit 11 in FIG. 1 displays that the mode is the analog mode. If there is no mode switching instruction, the process proceeds to step SA4 indicated by a NO arrow.
[0044]
In step SA4, it is determined whether or not there is a control instruction for scene data. For example, it detects whether or not a physical operator related to the scene data function has been operated. If there is a scene data control instruction from the user, the process proceeds to step SA5 indicated by a YES arrow. If there is no control instruction, the process proceeds to step SA7 indicated by a NO arrow.
[0045]
At Step SA5, it is determined whether or not the analog mode is set. If the current mode is the analog mode, the scene data function (digital mixer function) is invalid, and the process proceeds to step SA7 indicated by a YES arrow. If the current mode is the normal mode, the process proceeds to Step SA6 indicated by a NO arrow.
[0046]
In step SA6, processing of scene data corresponding to the control instruction of the scene data detected in step SA4 is performed. Examples of the processing of the scene data include “read”, “record”, “return”, and “trial”.
[0047]
The “reading” process is, for example, a process of reading the selected scene data 33 from the flash memory 12 or the like and rewriting the scene parameters 32 of the current scene memory 30. That is, this is a process of updating the panel settings of the mixing device 1 according to the selected scene data 33. The “recording” process is a process of recording the scene parameters 32 of the current scene memory 30 as new scene data 33 in the flash memory 12 or the like. The “return” process is a process of rewriting the scene parameter 32 of the current scene memory 30 with the content of the scene data 33 that has been read immediately before. The "trial" process reads the selected scene data 33 from the flash memory 12 or the like and updates the panel settings. The contents of the scene data 33 are reviewed by holding the panel settings before the update in a buffer such as the RAM 5. This is the processing to be performed.
[0048]
In step SA7, it is determined whether or not data has been received from the external control device 14 connected to the external communication interface 13. If data has been received, the flow advances to step SA8 indicated by a YES arrow. If not, the process proceeds to Step SA12 indicated by a NO arrow.
[0049]
In step SA8, it is determined whether or not the data received in step SA7 is a control instruction for scene data. If it is a scene data control instruction, the flow advances to step SA10 indicated by a YES arrow. If it is not a scene data control instruction, the flow advances to step SA9 indicated by a NO arrow.
[0050]
In step SA9, processing is performed according to the digital data and analog data received from the outside in step SA7 (including both normal connection and cascade connection processing).
[0051]
In step SA10, it is determined whether the analog mode is set. If the current mode is the analog mode, the scene data function (digital mixer function) is invalid, and the process proceeds to step SA12 indicated by a YES arrow. If the current mode is the normal mode, the process proceeds to step SA11 indicated by a NO arrow.
[0052]
In step SA11, based on the scene data control instruction received in step SA7, scene data is processed in the same manner as in step SA6.
[0053]
In step SA12, other processing is performed. All other processing executed here is processing executed regardless of the current mode. For example, the processing corresponds to a control instruction using an analog operator 19 such as a fader on a panel.
[0054]
In step SA13, it is determined whether or not there is a stop instruction (power OFF) of the mixing device 1. If there is a stop instruction, the process proceeds to Step SA14 indicated by a YES arrow, and the main process ends. If there is no stop instruction, the process returns to step SA2 indicated by a NO arrow, and the subsequent processing is repeated.
[0055]
As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, when a digital control function such as a scene data function is not required, the function can be invalidated and operated in the same manner as a conventional analog mixer. Therefore, the mixing device 1 of the present embodiment can be used as an analog mixer or a digital mixer as required.
[0056]
Further, it is possible to prevent a user from erroneously operating an operation element such as a scene data function and causing the function to malfunction.
[0057]
Further, according to the embodiment of the present invention, according to the embodiment of the present invention, a mixing device that processes an analog audio signal as it is as analog audio can be controlled by a pre-recorded scene data such as a digital mixer or by external control. It can be controlled according to the signal.
[0058]
Further, even for a user who prefers analog-processed audio to digital-processed audio, a mixing device that performs analog processing on an audio signal and has a digital function can be provided.
[0059]
In the embodiment, the scene data function is given as a digital function and the function is invalidated in the analog mode. However, the analog mode has a function (digital control function) unique to the digital mixer, which is not provided in the conventional analog mixer. The function of invalidating is not limited to the scene data function of the embodiment, and naturally includes other digital control functions.
[0060]
In the embodiment, the control program is stored in the ROM. However, the control program is stored in the HD or CD-ROM, and is read into the RAM, so that the control program is stored in the ROM. The same operation as in the above case can be performed by the CPU. By doing so, it is possible to easily add a control program or upgrade the version.
[0061]
The external communication interface can be connected to a communication network such as a LAN, the Internet, or a telephone line, and can be connected to a server computer via the communication network. When the control program and various data are not stored in the hard disk device, it is used for downloading the program and data from the server computer.
[0062]
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, improvements, combinations, and the like can be made.
[0063]
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mixing device which can be used as an analog mixer or a digital mixer as required.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a mixing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating flows of control signals and audio signals of the mixing device 1 according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of a current scene memory 30 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing main processing of the mixing device 1 executed by the CPU 7 of FIG.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... mixing device, 2 ... digital section, 3 ... analog section, 4 ... bus, 5 ... RAM, 6 ... ROM, 7 ... CPU, 8 ... detection circuit, 9 ... digital operator, 10 ... display Circuit, 11 display unit, 12 flash memory, 13 external communication interface, 14 external control device, 15 internal communication interface, 16 signal input unit, 17 signal control unit, 18 signal output unit, 19 ... Analog controller, 20 A / D converter, 21 D / A converter, 30 current scene memory, 31 setup parameter, 32 scene parameter, 33 scene data, 34 mode switch

Claims (3)

Analog audio signal processing means for processing an analog audio signal; first control signal input means for inputting a first analog control signal for controlling the analog audio signal processing means;
First analog-to-digital conversion means for converting the first analog control signal into a first digital control signal;
A first digital-to-analog converting means for converting the first digital control signal into a second analog control signal and supplying the second analog control signal to the analog audio signal processing means. Further, second control signal input means for inputting a second digital control signal for controlling the analog audio signal processing means,
2. The mixing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second digital-to-analog converting unit that converts the second digital control signal into a third analog control signal and supplies the converted signal to the analog audio signal processing unit. 3. The mixing device according to claim 2, further comprising switch means for stopping supply of said third analog control signal to said analog audio signal processing means.

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