JP2007053631A - Digital mixer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform setting concerning signal output to a plurality of mixing portions from a plurality of input channels, using simple operations, in a state where the contents can be grasped easily. <P>SOLUTION: In a MIX bus setting screen 70, a group of buttons are provided in a bus mode setting display 72, a first mode in which a signal to be inputted to a MIX bus is acquired from a part ahead of the equalizer of each input ch, and a send level fader is set effective and can be selected by a "VARI (PRE EQ)" button. In a second mode, the signal to be inputted to the MIX bus is acquired from between the equalizer and the fader of each input ch, and the send level fader is set effective and can be selected by a "VARI (PRE FADER)" button. Furthermore, in a third mode, the signal to be inputted to the MIX bus is acquired from a part behind the fader of each input ch, and the send level fader is set ineffective and can be selected by a "FIXED" button by each MIX bus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital mixer that performs signal processing on acoustic signals input from a plurality of input channels and mixes them with a plurality of mixing units.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a digital mixer that performs signal processing on acoustic signals input from a plurality of input channels, mixes them in a plurality of mixing units, and outputs the mixed signals from a plurality of output channels is known. Such digital mixers are widely used for applications such as sound reinforcement (SR).

Here, the functional configuration of a general digital mixer is as follows.
First, each input channel (ch) receives an input of an acoustic signal from the outside via an input patch, adjusts the frequency characteristics, level, etc. of the input signal to a desired bus among a plurality of mixed buses. Provide a function to output. Each mixing bus is provided with a function of mixing input signals and outputting them to the corresponding output channels. Each output channel is provided with a function of adjusting the frequency characteristics and level of an input signal and outputting the signal to the outside via an output patch.

  Then, it receives various parameter setting instructions from the user, and controls the operation of each of the above parts according to the set values. Of these parameters, regarding the settings related to signal transmission from each input channel to each mixing bus, whether or not to supply a signal for each combination of the input channel and the mixing bus, and the input channel at the time of supply The setting of whether the output position of the signal from the signal and the transmission level are adjustable or fixed is accepted.

  As for the sending position, as the setting for each combination of the input channel and the mixed bus, the setting of whether the input channel is set before or after the level adjusting unit (fader) is accepted. In addition, the setting of whether the output position when outputting from before the fader is before or after the frequency characteristic adjustment unit (equalizer) is also accepted, but in the conventional digital mixer, This setting is accepted as a setting relating to the input channel.

Such a digital mixer is described in Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2 below, for example.
“DM2000 Instruction Manual”, Yamaha Corporation, 2002, p. 88-96 “PM5D / PM5D-RH Instruction Manual”, Yamaha Corporation, 2004, p. 268-276

By the way, among the setting items described above, the transmission level from the input channel to the mixing bus can be adjusted when mixing the signal for sending the bus to the effect or the signal (foldback) monitored by the performer. The bus can be used to mix the signals of some input channels belonging to a given group (in this case, the mixed signal is sent to the stereo bus where it is mixed with another signal) In many cases, this is set to a fixed value when used for mixing signals to be sent to each track of a multi-track recorder (MTR) (not shown).
In addition, regarding the sending position from the input channel to be folded back, when an equalizer that can be operated by the performer is prepared at hand of the performer who is the output destination of the mixed signal, the equalizer of the input channel is prepared. If the equalizer is not provided separately at the output destination, it is often set after the equalizer.

Therefore, it can be said that these setting contents are items that are often set according to how the signals mixed in the mixing bus are used at the output destination, that is, in accordance with the use of the signals mixed in the mixing bus.
However, in the conventional digital mixer as described above, the settings of these items are received on different screens as the settings for each combination of the input channel and the mixed bus and the settings for the input channel. For this reason, the settings that are often made according to the use of the mixing bus as described above need to be made for each input channel, and the operation is complicated and the setting state for each mixing bus is difficult to understand. There was a problem.

  The present invention solves such a problem, and enables a digital mixer to perform settings related to signal output from a plurality of input channels to a plurality of mixing units with a simple operation in a state where the contents can be easily grasped. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above object, a digital mixer according to the present invention performs signal processing on acoustic signals input from a plurality of input channels, and mixes them in a plurality of mixing units. A frequency characteristic adjusting means for adjusting the frequency characteristic of the acoustic signal input to the channel; a first level adjusting means for adjusting the level of the acoustic signal after the frequency characteristic adjustment by the means; And a second level adjusting means for individually adjusting the level of the signal transmitted to each of the mixing sections, and for each of the mixing sections, a signal input to the mixing section is obtained from before the frequency characteristic adjusting section of each input channel. And a first mode for enabling the second level adjusting means corresponding to the mixing section and a signal input to the mixing section. A second mode that is acquired from between the frequency characteristic adjusting means of the channel and the first level adjusting means and that enables the second level adjusting means corresponding to the mixing section; and the mixing section Selection of a third mode in which an input signal is acquired after the first level adjusting means of each input channel and the second level adjusting means corresponding to the mixing unit is invalidated, Selection accepting means for accepting alternatively by a group of operators arranged in the vicinity is provided.

  In such a digital mixer, the selection receiving means is a means for receiving the selection of the first to third modes for each set of the two mixing units, and the mixing that constitutes the set for each set. It is preferable to provide second selection receiving means for receiving selection of whether the unit is to function as stereo or monaural.

  According to the digital mixer of the present invention as described above, settings relating to signal output from a plurality of input channels to a plurality of mixing units can be performed with a simple operation while the contents can be easily grasped.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
First, the configuration of a digital mixer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital mixer.
As shown in FIG. 1, the digital mixer 10 includes a CPU 11, a flash memory 12, a RAM 13, a display 14, a controller 15, an external device input / output unit (I / O) 16, a waveform I / O 17, a signal processing unit (DSP). ) 18 and these are connected by a system bus 19. And it has a function which performs various signal processing with respect to the acoustic signal inputted from a plurality of input channels (ch), and outputs it from a plurality of output channels.

The CPU 11 is a control unit that performs overall control of the operation of the digital mixer 10, and by executing a necessary program stored in the flash memory 12, communication and display in the external device I / O 16 and the waveform I / O 17. The display 14 controls the display, detects the operation of the operation element 15, and performs processing such as setting / changing the parameter value and controlling the operation of each unit according to the operation.
The flash memory 12 is a rewritable nonvolatile storage unit that stores a control program executed by the CPU 11.

The RAM 13 is a storage means for storing data to be temporarily stored and used as a work memory for the CPU 11.
The display unit 14 is a display unit that displays various information according to control by the CPU 11, and can be configured by, for example, a liquid crystal panel (LCD) or a light emitting diode (LED). The LCD is preferably sized to display a graphical user interface (GUI) for referring to parameter values and accepting settings.

The operation element 15 is for receiving an operation on the digital mixer 10 and can be constituted by various keys, buttons, dials, sliders, and the like. Here, a touch panel laminated on the LCD of the display 14 is also used.
The external device I / O 16 is an interface for connecting various external devices to perform input / output. For example, an interface for connecting an external display, a mouse, a keyboard for inputting characters, an operation panel, and the like is prepared. . Even if the display 14 and the operation element 15 of the main body are configured to be very simple, it is possible to change / set parameters and to perform operation instructions by utilizing these external devices. .

  The waveform I / O 17 is an interface for receiving an input of an acoustic signal to be processed by the DSP 18 and outputting the processed acoustic signal. This waveform I / O 17 includes an A / D conversion board capable of analog input of 4 channels (ch) with one board, a D / A conversion board capable of analog output of 4 channels with one board, and 8 channels with one board. A plurality of digital input / output boards capable of digital input / output can be combined as appropriate, and a plurality of boards can be mounted.

  The DSP 18 includes a signal processing circuit, performs various signal processing such as mixing and equalizing on the acoustic signal input from the waveform I / O 17 according to various processing parameters set as current data, and outputs the processed signal to the waveform I / O 17. A signal processing unit. The current data used for this processing can be stored in the RAM 13 or the memory provided in the DSP 18 itself.

The DSP 18 has 24 input channels. The input channels of the waveform I / O 17 and the input channels of the DSP 18 are associated with each other by an input patch, and the signals input to the waveform I / O 17 are associated with each input channel. Can be entered.
In addition, the DSP 18 has a pair of stereo (ST) buses and 12 mixed (MIX) buses, and sends the signal input to the input channel to each bus according to the parameter setting contents, and also to the same bus. Input signals can be mixed together. Each of these buses, particularly the MIX bus, corresponds to the mixing unit.
The outputs of these buses are output from the corresponding output channels, and the output path also associates the output channel of the DSP 18 and the output channel of the waveform I / O 17 by the output patch, as in the case of input. I am doing so.

In the DSP 18, each input channel is provided with a signal processing unit such as an attenuator, an equalizer, a compressor, a fader, and ON, and the signal input to the input channel can be processed in each of these signal processing units. . Then, the user can set which process signal of this process is input to the MIX bus.
Further, a signal processing unit such as an attenuator, an equalizer, a compressor, a fader, and ON may be provided in the output channel so that signal processing can be performed on the mixed signal. Furthermore, an effector for applying an effect to the signal to be processed may be provided.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a part of the DSP 18 relating to input of signals from each input channel to the ST bus and the MIX bus.
As shown in FIG. 2, each input channel 30 is provided with an attenuator 31, an equalizer 32, a compressor 33, a fader 34, and an on switch 35. In addition, a pan 36 is provided in a path for inputting a signal to the ST bus 50, and a pre-fader / pre-equalizer (PF / PEQ) switch 41 and a pre / A post (PRE / POST) switch 42, a send level fader 43, and a send on switch 44 are provided.

  Among these, the equalizer 32 is a frequency characteristic adjusting unit that adjusts the frequency characteristic of the signal to be processed, and the fader 34 is a first level adjusting unit that adjusts the level of the signal to be processed. The send level fader 43 is a second level adjusting means for adjusting the level of the signal to be processed. In addition, the user can set parameter values used for the operation of these units, switch switching, and the like.

  Then, the signal input to the input channel 30 is subjected to signal processing by the attenuator 31, the equalizer 32, the compressor 33, and the fader 34, and then the sound image localization set in the pan 36 if the ON switch 35 is ON. It is distributed to L and R according to the position, and is input to the ST bus 50 of L and R, respectively.

In addition, signals at positions corresponding to the states of the PF / PEQ switch 41 and the PRE / POST switch 42 in the signal input path for each MIX bus 60 are input to the corresponding MIX bus 60. In the input process, the level is adjusted by the send level fader 43, and a signal is input to the MIX bus 60 only when the send on switch 44 is on.
If the PRE / POST switch 42 is on the POST side, signals after the fader 34 and the ON switch 35 are input to the MIX bus 60. If the PRE / POST switch 42 is on the PRE side and the PF / PEQ switch 41 is on the PF side, a signal after the equalizer 32 and the compressor 33 and before the fader 34 is input. If the PRE / POST switch 42 is on the PRE side and the PF / PEQ switch 41 is on the PEQ side, the signals before the equalizer 32 and the attenuator 31 are input.

  Further, the send level fader 43 is fixed to the nominal level (0.0 dB) and substantially invalidated, or only distributes L and R according to the sound image localization position set by the pan 36 at the nominal level. In such a mode, the PRE / POST switch 42 is switched to the POST side, and the same signal as the input to the ST bus 50 is input to the MIX bus 60.

In FIG. 2, only the configuration of one input channel 30 is shown in detail, but the other 23 input channels have the same configuration, and the ST bus 50 and each MIX bus 60 input from these 24 input channels. Can be mixed.
It should be noted that the functions of the DSP 18 such as the input channel 30 and each bus as described above may be realized by dedicated hardware or by causing a general-purpose CPU to execute appropriate software. May be realized.

By the way, in the digital mixer 10 as described above, the MIX bus 60 sets 2N-1 and 2Nth buses as a set, where N is a natural number, and from the input channel 30 to the MIX bus 60 for each set. The setting relating to the signal input path is accepted.
FIG. 3 shows an example of a MIX bus setting screen for accepting the setting.
This screen, the screen of FIG. 4 to be described next, and the like are GUIs to be displayed on the display 14 of the digital mixer 10, and the user touches a button displayed on this screen or clicks with a mouse. Thus, a desired setting can be made. This setting is realized by the CPU 11 executing a required program to detect an operation by the user and changing the value of the parameter stored in the display of the display 14 or the RAM 13 in accordance with the operation. be able to.

In the MIX bus setting screen 70, a bus pair setting unit 71 is provided for each set of MIX buses 60, and a bus mode setting unit 72, a transmission setting unit 73, and a pan link setting unit 74 are provided therein.
Among these, the bus mode setting unit 72 is a part that receives the setting of the bus mode for using the corresponding set of MIX buses 60 as one set of stereo buses or as two monaural buses. ”And“ MONO * 2 ”buttons are used to accept selection of a desired setting. In addition, as shown in the figure, the contents of the setting that has been made are also displayed by displaying a button related to the selected setting with a bold line.

  When the n-th set of MIX buses is set to stereo in this portion, the odd-numbered bus “MIX (2n−1)” is set as the L-side bus, and the even-numbered bus “MIX (2n)” is set as the even-numbered bus “MIX (2n)”. As the R-side bus, the send level fader 43 on the transmission path for the corresponding set of MIX buses 60 is operated in conjunction, and the total level of signals input from the input channel 30 to the L-side bus and R-side bus In addition, distribution to L and R (panning) similar to that of the pan 36 can be set. When monaural is selected, the send level fader 43 is operated independently by using each MIX bus 60 as a monaural bus so that the level can be set independently for each bus.

  The transmission setting unit 73 is a part that receives selection of a signal output path from the input channel 30 to the corresponding set of MIX buses 60 and selection of variable / fixed transmission setting of the send level fader 43. Then, a selection of a preferred mode is alternatively accepted by a button of “VARI (PRE EQ)”, “VARI (PRE FADER)”, and “FIXED” which are a group of operators arranged in the vicinity, The type of the selected mode is displayed. The setting contents corresponding to each button are as shown in Table 1 below.

  That is, the “VARI (PRE EQ)” button is used to acquire a signal to be input to the MIX bus 60 from before the equalizer 32 of each input channel 30 when the PRE / POST switch 42 is PRE, and to enable the send level fader 43. The first mode to be selected can be selected, and the signal input to the MIX bus 60 when the PRE / POST switch 42 is PRE is sent from between the equalizer 32 and the fader 34 of each input channel 30 by the “VARI (PRE FADER)” button. The second mode for obtaining and enabling the send level fader 43 can be selected, and the “FIXED” button is used to obtain a signal to be input to the MIX bus 60 after the fader 34 of each input channel 30 and send A third mode for disabling the level fader 43 can be selected.

  Note that VARI indicates that the send level fader 43 is a variable mode, and FIX indicates that this is a fixed mode. In the FIX mode, if the bus mode is monaural, the send level fader 43 to the monaural bus is fixed at the nominal level, and if the bus mode is stereo, the send level fader 43 to the stereo bus is set to the overall level. Is fixed at a nominal value, and LR distribution according to the sound image localization position set by the pan 36 is controlled.

  In the case of VARI, the setting of the PF / PEQ switch 41 is accepted by the sending setting unit 73, but the setting of the PRE / POST switch 42 is accepted on a sending setting screen described later. When POST is set here, signals after the fader 34 and the ON switch 35 are input to the MIX bus 60 regardless of the settings received on the mixed bus setting screen. In the case of FIX, the PRE / POST switch 42 is fixed to POST, and the signal after the fader 34 and the ON switch 35 is input to the MIX bus 60 regardless of the PF / PEQ switch 41. .

  Further, when the bus mode is stereo, panning is realized by the send level fader 43 as described above, but the pan link setting unit 74 receives a setting as to whether or not the pan operation is linked to the pan 36. It is. However, since this setting is meaningful only when the bus mode is stereo and the transmission setting is VARI, only in this case, the “PANLINK” button is displayed so that the interlocking can be switched on / off. .

  Note that the setting contents in the transmission setting unit 73 are uniformly reflected in all input channels 30 for the signal output path to the corresponding set of MIX buses 60. Since the contents for accepting the settings are often determined according to the use of the MIX bus 60, the operation for improving the operability can be saved by doing so by setting the input channels 30 individually. be able to. Furthermore, since the above three modes can be selectively selected by a group of operators arranged in the vicinity, the state of the PF / PEQ switch 41 and the state of the send level fader 43 are individually set. Compared to setting, the operation is easy. Also, the setting contents can be easily grasped.

In a low-function, low-price digital mixer that is not expected to perform very complicated settings and that the user's proficiency is not so high, such a transmission setting unit 73 is provided. However, this is particularly effective for improving the operability and improving the possibility of grasping intuitive operation contents. However, this does not preclude providing a means for accepting the setting of the same content for each input channel 30 separately from the transmission setting unit 73.
The same applies to the setting contents in the pan link setting unit 74.

Next, FIG. 4 shows an example of a transmission setting screen.
Similarly to the MIX bus setting screen 70, the transmission setting screen 80 is a GUI displayed on the display unit 14, and is a screen for accepting parameter settings relating to the signal output path from each input channel 30 to the specific MIX bus 60. . The transmission setting screen 80 includes a mixed bus selection unit 81, an input channel selection unit 82, a PRE / POST setting button 83, an ON setting button 84, a pan switch 85, and a level switch 86.

  Of these, the mixed bus selection unit 81 is a part that accepts selection of the parameter output path to which MIX bus 60 to set, and displays a list of buses when the user touches this part. The desired bus can be selected from among them. Here, the bus “MIX5” set to “STEREO” and “VARI (PRE FADER)” on the MIX bus setting screen of FIG. 3 is selected. In addition, since the operation setting corresponding to all the input channels 30 cannot be arranged on the transmission setting screen 80 due to the size limitation, the operation items for 8 channels are displayed on one screen, and the input channel selection unit 82 The channel number displayed on the screen can be switched in units of 8 channels.

In addition, settings relating to the following operators 83 to 86 are individually accepted for each combination of the input channel 30 and the MIX bus 60.
Among these, the PRE / POST setting button 83 is an operator for accepting the setting of the state of the PRE / POST switch 42, and is displayed only when the transmission setting is VARI. The PRE / POST setting button 83 can be operated to toggle between PRE and POST. Also, the contents of the settings made by the corresponding button are displayed by the thickness, color, pattern, etc. of the button outline. In the figure, it is shown that PRE is set for a button indicated by a bold line, and POST is set for a button indicated by a thin line. However, the caption may be changed and displayed.

  The on setting button 84 is an operator for receiving the setting of the state of the send on switch 44, and is always displayed on the transmission setting screen 80 regardless of the bus mode and the transmission setting. Then, on / off can be switched by a toggle by operating the on setting button 84. Similarly to the case of the PRE / POST setting button 83, the contents of the setting made by the corresponding button are displayed. In the figure, it is shown that a button indicated by a thick line is set to ON, and a button indicated by a thin line is set to OFF.

  The pan switch 85 is an operator for accepting the setting of the panning sound image localization position realized by the send level fader 43 when the destination is a stereo bus, and the destination MIX bus 60 is set to stereo. And is displayed only when the transmission setting is VARI. In addition, when one of the settings related to the paired MIX bus 60 is changed, the other setting is automatically changed to have the same value.

  The level switch 86 is an operator for accepting the setting of the level adjustment amount in the send level fader 43, and is displayed only when the transmission setting is VARI. Here, when the destination MIX bus 60 is monaural, the content of the level switch 86 (level set in decibels) may be directly reflected in the operation of the send level fader 43. In the case of stereo, The level of the level switch 86 is set to the total level, and the distribution level is adjusted according to the content of the pan switch 85 (minus is L, plus is R, and the position is set as an integer). The adjustment contents are determined.

If the send-on switch 44 is turned off by the on-setting button 84, the signal is not transmitted through the corresponding transmission path, so the setting by the pan switch 85 and the level switch 86 is meaningful. Therefore, these switches cannot be operated. In the figure, this is indicated by describing the operation element with a broken line.
Further, when the transmission setting is FIX for the destination MIX bus 60, the PRE / POST switch 42 is fixed to POST, and the send level fader 43 is also fixed to the nominal level. The PRE / POST setting button 83, the pan switch 85, and the level switch 86 stop displaying the operation element itself, but may be displayed so as not to accept the operation by blurring or lightly displaying.

  In the digital mixer 10, when the user receives setting instructions on the MIX bus setting screen 70 and the transmission setting screen 80 as described above, the user sets parameters related to transmission of signals from each input channel to the MIX bus 60. It can be done easily. It should be noted that the parameters relating to the operation contents of the equalizer 32, fader 34, pan 36, etc. are parameters relating to the operation of the input channel 30, so that a setting instruction is received on another screen (not shown) provided corresponding to the input channel. .

This is the end of the description of this embodiment, but it goes without saying that the configuration of the apparatus and the specific processing contents are not limited to those described in the above embodiment.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the transmission setting is received for each set of MIX buses on the mixed bus setting screen has been described, but such a setting may be received for each MIX bus. However, in that case, the parameters set for the bus set for stereo are set for individual buses for monaural, which may confuse users who are not very proficient.
Further, for example, a noise gate or a two-stereo switch other than the above-described configuration may be provided in the input channel. Further, a signal may be transmitted to the MIX bus from a position other than that shown in FIG. The number of input channels and buses is not limited to the above.

  The present invention is applicable not only to a single digital mixer but also to a device in which an acoustic signal processing device such as a hard disk recorder, an electronic musical instrument, a karaoke device, a sound source device, a MIDI sequencer or the like has a mixer function. Of course. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to a case where a suitable software is executed on a PC to function as a mixer.

As is clear from the above description, according to the digital mixer of the present invention, settings relating to signal output from a plurality of input channels to a plurality of mixing units can be performed with a simple operation while the contents can be easily grasped. can do.
Therefore, a digital mixer with high operability can be provided.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the digital mixer which is embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a part related to input of signals from each input channel to an ST bus and a MIX bus in the DSP illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the example of the MIX bus setting screen used in the digital mixer shown in FIG. It is a figure which similarly shows the example of a transmission setting screen.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Digital mixer, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... Flash memory, 13 ... RAM, 14 ... Display, 15 ... Control, 16 ... External device I / O, 17 ... Waveform I / O, 18 ... DSP, 19 ... System Bus, 30 ... input channel, 31 ... attenuator, 32 ... equalizer, 33 ... compressor, 34 ... fader, 35 ... on switch, 36 ... pan, 41 ... PF / PEQ switch, 42 ... PRE / POST switch, 43 ... send level Fader, 44 ... Send on switch, 50 ... ST bus, 60 ... MIX bus, 70 ... MIX bus setting screen, 80 ... Send setting screen

Claims (2)

A digital mixer that performs signal processing on acoustic signals input from a plurality of input channels and mixes them in a plurality of mixing units,
A frequency characteristic adjusting unit that adjusts the frequency characteristic of the acoustic signal input to the channel, a first level adjusting unit that adjusts the level of the acoustic signal after the frequency characteristic is adjusted by the unit, and the channel. And a second level adjusting means for individually adjusting the level of the signal transmitted to each mixing unit,
For each mixing part,
The second level adjusting unit corresponding to the mixing unit, which obtains a signal input to the mixing unit before the frequency characteristic adjusting unit of each input channel or after the first level adjusting unit. A first mode for enabling
A signal to be input to the mixing unit is acquired between the frequency characteristic adjusting unit and the first level adjusting unit of each input channel or after the first level adjusting unit, and the mixing unit A second mode for activating the corresponding second level adjusting means;
A third mode in which a signal to be input to the mixing unit is acquired later than the first level adjusting unit of each input channel, and the second level adjusting unit corresponding to the mixing unit is disabled; A digital mixer, comprising: a selection receiving unit that selectively receives the selection by a group of operators arranged in the vicinity of each of the selections. The digital mixer according to claim 1,
The selection receiving unit is a unit that receives selection of the first to third modes for each set including the two mixing units.
A digital mixer characterized in that a second selection receiving means for receiving selection of whether the mixing section constituting the set is to function as stereo or monaural is provided for each of the sets.

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