JP2009239805A - Mixer device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to simultaneously monitor signal adjustment states obtained by the DCA faders if providing a plurality of common use DCA faders which can be allocated to any channels, aside from a signal-adjustment-purpose fader provided for each channel. <P>SOLUTION: The device detects respectively, states of signals having been adjusted by a signal-adjustment-purpose fader (first operator) in one or more channels having been control targets of DCA faders (second operators) according to allocation and causes meters MTRd1-MTRdm and other means to display the signal state for each of the second operators based on the detected states. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention assigns a desired fader of one or a plurality of channels to a common fader (signal adjustment operator), and signals in the assigned one or a plurality of channel faders according to the operation of the shared fader More specifically, the mixer apparatus has a function capable of controlling an adjustment amount, and more particularly, a mixer capable of appropriately monitoring a signal adjustment state in a fader of one or a plurality of channels controlled in accordance with an operation of a shared fader. Relates to the device.

  In a mixer apparatus used in a concert or the like, necessary audio signals are finally obtained by mixing audio signals of a plurality of input channels. The gain of each audio signal of these input channels is adjusted in multiple steps before being mixed. For example, the gain of the audio signal immediately after being input to the mixer device is adjusted by the header amplifier. For this gain adjustment, a volume operator is frequently used. Next, frequency characteristics are equalized as necessary, and then gain adjustment by a fader amplifier is performed. The gain of this fader amplifier is set by a fader provided for each input channel. A fader is also provided in the output channel for processing the signal output from the mixing bus, and adjusts the gain of the output signal.

In a large mixing console, the number of faders lined up on the panel becomes enormous, and the distance from end to end of the console is inevitably long. There was a request to perform volume control. In order to solve this problem, a DCA (Digital Controlled Attenuator) fader is provided. The DCA fader temporarily assigns a fader of any input (or output) channel, and controls the volume of the audio signal passing through the fader of any of the input (or output) channels by operating the DCA fader. This is a fader used for the purpose of collectively operating the volume of a plurality of grouped input (or output) channels by operating the DCA fader. For example, a plurality of DCA faders are arranged near the center of the mixing console, and each DCA fader is assigned an arbitrary input (or output) channel to be temporarily operated by the DCA fader, or one DCA fader. The above-mentioned problem is solved by arbitrarily assigning a plurality of input (or output) channels that are grouped to each other. Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-40347 (Patent Document 1) shows an example of a digital mixer provided with such a DCA fader.
JP 2004-40347 A

  As described above, one or more channel faders are assigned to the DCA fader, and the level of the audio signal flowing through the assigned channel is controlled by operating the DCA fader. Therefore, an audio signal does not flow through the DCA fader itself. For this reason, conventionally, there has been no concept of monitoring the adjustment state of an audio signal controlled by a DCA fader. However, as the DCA fader is often incorporated and used in various mixer apparatuses, the adjustment state of the audio signal in any one or a plurality of channels assigned to the specific DCA fader is visually confirmed. Or, there has been an increasing demand for users to monitor audibly.

  In response to such a request, the conventional mixer apparatus can only cope with the use of a monitoring CUE bus. That is, by selecting a CUE bus on any one or more channels assigned to a particular DCA fader that is desired to be monitored, the audio signal of these one or more channels is provided to the CUE bus, thereby The adjustment state of the audio signal in any one or a plurality of channels assigned to the specific DCA fader via the bus can be monitored visually (signal level meter display) or audibly (headphone listening). However, since only one CUE bus is provided, the signal level adjustment states in a plurality of DCA faders cannot be monitored simultaneously, which is inconvenient.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in a mixer apparatus having a plurality of common operators (DCA faders) that can be assigned to an arbitrary channel, signals by a plurality of common operators (DCA faders). It is an object to enable adjustment states to be monitored simultaneously.

  The mixer device according to the present invention is configured to process a plurality of input channels for processing a signal to be processed, a mixing bus that mixes signals processed in the input channel, and a signal output from the mixing bus. A first operator for signal adjustment provided for each of the output channels and at least one of the input channel and the output channel, and the corresponding channel corresponding to the operation of the first operator. A signal adjusting unit, a plurality of second operators for signal adjustment that can be assigned to any channel, and at least one of the input channel and the output channel for each of the second operators. The first operation element of any one or a plurality of channels on one side is assigned, and the first operation element is assigned according to the operation of each of the second operation elements. Control means for controlling the signal adjustment amount in the first operator of the one or a plurality of channels assigned to the operator, and the control target of each second operator according to the assignment by the controller Detecting means for detecting a state of a signal subjected to signal adjustment by the first operator in the one or a plurality of channels, and each of the second operators based on the state detected by the detecting means. Each has a display means for displaying a signal state.

  According to the present invention, the signal is adjusted by the first operator in one or a plurality of channels controlled by each second operator (“DCA fader” in the embodiment) according to the assignment by the control means. Since each signal state is detected and signal state display is performed for each second operation element based on the detected state, signal adjustment states in a plurality of second operation elements (DCA faders) are simultaneously displayed. Can be monitored.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a digital mixer 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital mixer 10 exchanges various data with the CPU 11, the RAM 12, the ROM 13, the detection circuit 15 for detecting the operation of the operator 14, the display circuit 17 for controlling the display of the display 16, and the external device 22. Interface (I / F) 18 for performing audio, audio signal interface (I / F) 19 for inputting / outputting audio signals to / from external devices 23 such as a microphone and a speaker, and a digital signal processor (DSP) 20 are connected via a system bus 21.

  The CPU 11 is a control unit that performs overall control of the operation of the digital mixer 10, and by executing a required program stored in the RAM 12 or the ROM 13, communication in the communication I / F 18 and the audio signal I / F 19 and the display 16 Control is performed on the display, and the operation of the operator 14 is detected, and parameter value setting / changing and operation of each unit are controlled according to the operation.

  The operation element 14 and the display device 16 are arranged in the console section of the digital mixer 10. The operator 14 is for accepting an operation on the digital mixer 10 by an operator, and is provided by various key switches, button switches, dial type operators, fader type operators, etc. provided corresponding to a plurality of channels. Composed. The display 16 is a display means for displaying various information according to control by the CPU 11, and can be constituted by, for example, a liquid crystal panel (LCD) or a light emitting diode (LED).

  The communication I / F 18 is an interface for connecting various external devices 22 to perform input / output, and includes, for example, an interface for connecting an external display, a mouse, a character input keyboard, an operation panel, and the like. The audio signal I / F 19 is an interface for inputting an audio signal to be processed by the DSP 20 from an external device 23 such as a microphone, and outputting the audio signal after mixing processing to the external device 23 such as a speaker or headphones. Including an analog / digital converter and a digital / analog converter of the audio signal.

  The DSP 20 is assembled with a microprogram so as to perform main mixing processing in the digital mixer 10, and executes mixing processing according to the microprogram. The mixing process executed by the DSP 20 is, for example, various arithmetic processes related to mixing (for example, level coefficient calculation corresponding to a fader setting value) for a digital audio signal of a plurality of channels input via the audio signal I / F 19. Distribution and addition to mixing channels, and various signal processing such as equalizing processing).

  An example of a fader type operation element for signal level adjustment provided in the operation element 14 relating to the present invention is as shown in FIG. 2 and is a channel fader provided corresponding to each of the n channels. (First operator) ChF1 to ChFn and m shared DCA faders (second operators) DCAF1 to DCAFm. Arbitrary one or a plurality of channels are assigned to one DCA fader DCAF1 to DCAFm, and the signal level in the channel fader (first operator) ChF1 to ChFn of one or more channels assigned to it by the operation of the DCA fader The amount of adjustment can be controlled. The process of assigning any one or a plurality of channels to the DCA faders (second operating elements) DCAF1 to DCAFm is known, for example, an assignment instruction operation by an operator using a predetermined switch or the like in the operating element 14 And processing of the CPU 11 according to the assignment instruction operation. Further, according to this assignment, the channel fader (first operator) ChF1 of one or more channels assigned to the DCA fader according to the operation of each DCA fader (second operator) DCAF1 to DCAFm. Processing for controlling the signal level adjustment amount in .about.ChFn is executed by the CPU 11. The DSP 20 executes the setting and control of the level of the audio signal of the channel according to the signal level adjustment amount of the channel fader (first operator) ChF1 to ChFn controlled in this way. The channel faders (first operation elements) ChF1 to ChFn can be operated manually or electrically. The channel fader (first operation element) is linked to the operation of the DCA fader (second operation element). ) Is moved electrically according to instructions from the CPU 11.

  As an example, the operation mode of the channel fader (first operating element) according to the operation of the DCA fader (second operating element) includes the first and second modes described below. These two modes can be set independently for each of the DCA faders DCAF1 to DCAFm.

  In the first mode, in accordance with the operation of the DCA fader (second operator), the knob of the channel fader (first operator) of the channel to which the DCA fader is assigned is the same position as the knob of the DCA fader. It is actually driven by electric motors. For example, when a channel fader (first controller) of one channel is assigned one-to-one for one DCA fader (second controller), the channel fader (first controller) is assigned in this first mode. 1 operator) is actually moved in conjunction with the DCA fader so that it is in the same position.

  In the second mode, in response to the operation of the DCA fader (second operator), the knob of the channel fader (first operator) of the channel to which the DCA fader is assigned is not actually moved. The signal level adjustment amount in the (first operator) is controlled to increase or decrease in accordance with the operation amount of the DCA fader (second operator). For example, when channel faders (first controller) of two or more channels are assigned to one DCA fader (second controller), signal level adjustment in each channel fader in this second mode The amount is controlled to increase or decrease in accordance with the operation amount of the DCA fader. As a result, each signal level adjustment amount of the channel faders of two or more channels assigned to one DCA fader is increased or decreased according to the operation amount of the DCA fader while maintaining the relative relationship between the channel faders. To be controlled.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram functionally showing the configuration of the mixing processing unit realized by the DSP 20. The mixing processing unit includes a plurality of n input channels CH1 to CHn and a plurality of N mixing buses MIX-1, 2,. . . N, a pair of left and right stereo buses ST, a pair of left and right Cue buses CUE, and each bus MIX-1, 2,. . . And an output channel unit OUT for performing volume control or the like when outputting an audio signal mixed in N, ST and CUE. As is well known, a “bus” or “mixing bus” in a mixer has a function of mixing (adding) audio signals sent to the same bus and outputting one mixed audio signal. It is.

  In FIG. 3, for the sake of illustration, only one input channel CH1 is shown in detail, but the other input channels CH2 to CHn are similarly configured. The input channel CH1 will be described. The input digital audio signal is input to a fader amplifier (or attenuator) FDAch corresponding to the fader (first operation element) ChF1 of the input channel CH1. The fader amplifier (or attenuator) FDAch is an amplifier (or attenuator) whose gain is variably set according to the operation amount of the fader (first operation element) ChF1. The DCA amplifier (or attenuator) DCAch provided in series with the fader amplifier FDAch in accordance with the operation of one of the DCA faders (second operating elements) DCAF1 to DCAFm assigned to the channel CH1. An amplifier (or attenuator) whose gain is variably set.

  The gain setting value of the DCA amplifier (or attenuator) DCAch differs depending on which of the above-described two modes assigned to the channel is operating in the DCA fader. First, in the first mode, the DCA amplifier (or attenuator) DCAch outputs the signal as it is without changing the amplification factor 1 (or attenuation 0), that is, the level of the input signal. In this first mode, since the knob of the channel fader ChF1 moves in conjunction with the operation of the DCA fader, the gain set in the fader amplifier (or attenuator) FDAch corresponds to the operation position of the DCA fader. This is because it is not necessary to make the DCA amplifier (or attenuator) DCAch function. Similarly, when no DCA fader is assigned to the channel, the DCA amplifier (or attenuator) DCAch has an amplification factor of 1 (or attenuation of 0).

  Next, in the second mode, the gain setting value of the DCA amplifier (or attenuator) DCAch is increased or decreased according to the operation of the DCA fader assigned to the channel. In the second mode, the knob of the channel fader ChF1 does not move in conjunction with the operation of the DCA fader, and the gain setting value of the corresponding fader amplifier FDAch is not changed, so that the DCA amplifier (or attenuator) is changed according to the operation of the DCA fader. ) By increasing or decreasing the gain setting value of DCAch, the signal level adjustment amount in the channel fader ChF1 is equivalently increased or decreased according to the operation of the DCA fader. That is, the signal level in the channel fader ChF1 controlled by the substantial operation of the DCA fader is obtained by combining the gains of both the fader amplifier (or attenuator) FDAch and the DCA amplifier (or attenuator) DCAch. Adjustment amount.

  The mixing bus selector MIXSEL mixes the audio signals of the input channel CH1 to the mixing buses MIX-1, 2,. . . N is selected, and it is possible to select whether to send the pre-fader signal PRE_F or the post-fader signal POST_F for each mixing bus. The pre-fader signal PRE_F is an audio signal before being input to the channel fader ChF1, and is an audio signal that has been subjected to level adjustment (gain adjustment) processing by the channel fader ChF1 with the post-fader signal POST_F. That is, the mixing bus MIX-1, 2,. . . N can be used not only to mix the signal POST_F after the fader processing but also to mix the signal PRE_F before the fader processing.

  Each mixing bus MIX-1, 2,. . . N mixes the audio signals sent from the input channels CH1 to CHn. In the output channel section OUT, each mixing bus MIX-1, 2,. . . Output channels corresponding to N, and each mixing bus MIX-1, 2,. . . Each of the output channels corresponding to N is provided with a mixing output fader MIX-F. When the operator operates the desired mixing output fader MIX-F, the desired mixing bus MIX-1, 2,. . . The output gain of N can be adjusted. A meter MTR1 is provided on the output side of the mixing output fader MIX-F, and each mixing bus MIX-1, 2,. . . The output signal level of each N mixing output fader MIX-F can be displayed in a meter (visually monitored). The meter display may be displayed in an analog manner by a meter needle swing or a bar graph display, or the signal level may be digitally displayed as a numerical value. The same applies to the other meters MTR2 to MTR4 and MTRd1 to MTRdm.

  The meter MTR2 provided in the input channel CH1 receives either the pre-fader signal PRE_F or the post-fader signal POST_F in the input channel CH1 selected by the selector SEL1 according to the operation of the operator. The signal level of the pre-fader signal PRE_F or the post-fader signal POST_F can be displayed on a meter (visually monitored).

  In the input channel CH1, the post-fader signal POST_F is also input to a balance volume PAN_V for setting sound image localization in stereo pan. The stereo bus selector STSEL is for selecting either the pre-fader signal PRE_F or the output signal (stereo pan-controlled audio signal) of the balance volume PAN_V according to the operation of the operator and sending it to the stereo bus ST. . When it is selected to send the pre-fader signal PRE_F to the stereo bus ST, the same pre-fader signal PRE_F is sent to the left and right buses of the stereo bus ST, so that the audio signal of the input channel CH1 is fixed to the sound image localization (in monaural). is there).

  In the stereo bus ST, the audio signals sent from the input channels CH1 to CHn are mixed in the left and right buses. The output channel section OUT is provided with output channels corresponding to the left and right buses of the stereo bus ST. The stereo left and right bus output channels are provided with stereo output faders ST-F. By operating the output fader ST-F, the output gains of the output audio signals of the stereo left and right buses can be adjusted in common. Further, the selector SEL2 can select either the left or right stereo signal on the input side of the stereo output fader ST-F or the left and right stereo signal on the output side, and can input it to the meter MTR3. The meter MTR3 displays (visually monitors) each signal level of the left and right stereo signals selected and input. By comparing the input and the output by the selection switching by the selector SEL2, it is possible to confirm the degree of the stereo output fader ST-F.

  The cue selector CUESEL is for selecting to send the output signal (stereo pan-controlled audio signal) of the balance volume PAN_V of the input channel CH1 to the Cue bus CUE, and is operated by the operator.

  In the Cue bus CUE, stereo pan-controlled audio signals sent from the input channels CH1 to CHn are mixed in the left and right buses, respectively. The output channel section OUT is provided with output channels corresponding to the left and right buses of the Cue bus CUE, and the stereo left and right bus output channels are provided with Cue output faders CUE-F. By operating the output fader CUE-F, the output gains of the output audio signals of the stereo left and right buses in the Cue bus can be adjusted in common. Also, the left and right stereo signals of the Cue bus output before being input to the Cue output fader CUE-F are input to the meter MTR4, and the meter MTR4 displays the respective signal levels of the input left and right stereo signals of the Cue bus output as meters. (Monitor visually).

  The output audio signal of each mixing bus, the output audio signal of the stereo bus, and the output audio signal of the Cue bus output from the output channel unit OUT are sent from the DSP 20 to the audio signal I / F 19 and connected as an external device 23. Is supplied to a predetermined speaker system and headphones.

  Each meter MTR1 to MTR4 is arranged in a channel strip for each channel in the console section of the digital mixer 10. Further, the console portion of the digital mixer 10 is provided with meters MTRd1 to MTRdm for displaying a signal adjustment state for each DCA fader DCAF1 to DCAFm monitored according to the present invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, these meters MTRd1 to MTRdm are easy to visually recognize if they are arranged in correspondence with the arrangement of the DCA faders DCAF1 to DCAFm in the console unit.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the DCA monitoring process executed by the CPU 11 in order to monitor the signal adjustment state for each of the DCA faders DCAF1 to DCAFm according to the present invention. For example, this DCA monitor process may be periodically executed as a interrupt process for the main routine of the CPU 11 every predetermined time (for example, 30 ms).

  In step ST0, the first DCA fader (for example, DCAF1) to be subjected to this DCA monitor process is designated. In step ST1, it is determined whether or not this DCA monitor process has been performed for all DCA faders DCAF1 to DCAFm. If there is an unprocessed fader, the process goes to step ST2.

  In step ST2, signal adjustment faders (first operation elements) (for example, FDAch, MIX-F) of all input channels (or output channels) assigned to the designated DCA fader (second operation element). , ST-F, CUE-F, etc.) to detect the level of the signal subjected to level adjustment (that is, the level of the signal controlled by the DCA fader). For this purpose, for example, a corresponding signal adjustment fader (first operation element) from one or a plurality of channels assigned to a DCA fader (second operation element) that is currently designated to perform processing. ) (For example, any one of FDAch, MIX-F, ST-F, CUE-F, etc.) may be obtained from the DSP 20 as the sample value of the signal processed.

  In step ST3, a representative value is extracted from the detected signal level of each channel. As a method of extracting the representative value, a method of extracting a maximum value or calculating an average value may be employed. Further, a plurality of types of values (for example, both the maximum value and the average value) may be extracted as representative values.

  In step ST4, the extracted representative value is output to a meter (one of MTRd1 to MTRdm) corresponding to the DCA fader (second operator) that is currently designated to perform processing. The level display of the representative value is performed visually. This visual level display may be either an analog display displayed as a swing of a pointer or a bar graph, or an analog display displayed as a numerical value.

  In step ST5, a DCA fader to be processed next is designated. Then, returning to step ST1, the processes of steps ST1 to ST5 are repeated for the newly designated DCA fader. Thus, when the process is completed for all the DCA faders DCAF1 to DCAFm, step ST1 is determined as YES, the process of FIG. 4 is ended, and the process returns to the main routine. Thus, the actual signal state (level in this example) of the signal of each channel whose signal adjustment state is controlled in accordance with the operation of each DCA fader DCAF1 to DCAFm is individually visible for each DCA fader DCAF1 to DCAFm. It will be possible to monitor. It should be noted that the signal state (level) may be audibly displayed not only by visual display by the meters MTRd1 to MTRdm but also by sound. In that case, the representative value extracted in step ST3 may be changed to some sound signal in step ST4 in FIG. It is not a good idea to sample the signal of each channel so that it can be sounded, because it puts a burden on the CPU 11, but as described above, changing the representative value extracted in step ST3 to some sound signal and sounding it is not possible. The CPU 11 is not burdened.

Next, various modifications to the above embodiments will be described.
(1) It is not essential for the invention to selectively operate the DCA fader in either the first mode or the second mode described above, and the DCA fader may be operated only in one of the modes. You may make it operate | move in this mode.

(2) In the above embodiment, the signal subjected to the signal adjustment by the signal adjustment fader (first operation element) in one or a plurality of channels that are controlled by each DCA fader (second operation element) according to the assignment. The function of the detecting means for detecting each of the states is realized by software processing by the CPU 11 as in step ST2 of FIG. 4, but is not limited thereto. For example, the function of the detection means may be realized by the DSP 20, or may be configured by dedicated electronic circuit hardware.

(3) A part or all of the mixing processing unit shown in FIG. 3 may be constructed by a software program in the CPU 11, or part or all of the mixing processing unit may be configured by dedicated electronic circuit hardware. Also good.

(4) The type of the operator that functions as a signal adjustment fader is not limited to the slider type that moves the knob linearly, but may be a rotary knob or a dial type, or any other type. .
(5) The present invention is applicable not only to an audio mixer but also to a video mixer. In this case, the signal adjustment state or signal state to be monitored depends not only on the signal level but also on the signal element to be adjusted by the DCA fader.

The block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the digital mixer which concerns on one Example of this invention. The figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the fader type operation element for the signal level adjustment relevant to this invention provided in the Example of FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram functionally showing the configuration of a mixing processing unit realized by the DSP of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a DCA monitor process executed by the CPU of FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

10 Digital mixer 11 CPU
12 RAM
13 ROM
14 Controller 20 DSP
ChF1-ChFn channel fader (first operator)
DCAF1 to DCAFm DCA fader (second operator)
MTRd1-MTRdm meter

Claims (4)

Multiple input channels for processing the signal being processed;
A mixing bus for mixing signals processed in the input channel;
An output channel for processing the signal output from the mixing bus;
A first operator for signal adjustment provided for each channel in at least one of the input channel and the output channel, which adjusts the signal of the corresponding channel according to the operation of the first operator When,
A plurality of second operators for signal adjustment that can be assigned to any channel;
The first operator of any one or a plurality of channels in at least one of the input channel and the output channel is assigned to each of the second operators, and the operation of each second operator is performed In response, control means for controlling a signal adjustment amount in the first operator of the one or a plurality of channels assigned to the second operator,
Detection means for detecting a state of a signal subjected to signal adjustment by the first operator in the one or a plurality of channels, which is a control target of each second operator according to the assignment by the control means;
A mixer device comprising display means for displaying a signal state for each of the second operators based on the state detected by the detection means.   The mixer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects a level of the signal.   The mixer device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit includes a plurality of indicators that visually display a signal state for each of the second operators.   4. The mixer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal to be processed is an audio signal, and the first and second operators adjust the level of the audio signal.

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