JP2011223515A - Speaker check system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable automated and easy speaker check on speakers connected to respective channels of a plurality of power amplifiers.SOLUTION: A plurality of amplifiers 1 and a PC 3 for remotely controlling the amplifiers 1 are connected through a network. A speaker 5 is connected to each of a plurality of channels of each amplifier 1. The PC 3 stores in storage means 21 speaker-check order information 36 which prescribes the order of speaker check on each one channel of each amplifier 1. For performing the speaker checks, a CPU 20 of the PC 3 first mutes all the channels with a signal for checking being input to all the channels, and then performs control to turn off the mute of channels one by one in the order based on the speaker-check order information.

Description

  According to the present invention, in a network in which one or more power amplifier devices (sound devices) and a control device that controls the one or more power amplifier devices are connected, a plurality of speakers connected to the power amplifier devices are provided one by one. More particularly, the present invention relates to automatic control of a power amplifier apparatus that is executed by a control device to perform speaker check.

  An acoustic system generally referred to as a PA system ("PA" is an abbreviation for Public Address) or an SR system ("SR" is an abbreviation for Sound Reinforcement) is basically an audio mixing device (mixer). In this system, one or more systems of acoustic signals supplied from an acoustic signal supply source such as the above are sent to a power amplifier device, and a speaker is driven by an acoustic signal obtained by amplifying power by the power amplifier device. For example, a large-scale sound system is installed in a large-area building such as a music performance hall, a theater, or various halls, or in an outdoor broadcast. Since a large-scale acoustic system has a plurality of power amplifier devices and a plurality of speakers, its management and control are complicated. Among power amplifier devices known in the past, there is a model that is connected to an Ethernet (registered trademark) standard network and can be remotely controlled and managed from a control device such as a personal computer connected to the network. By applying this type of power amplifier device to the acoustic system, it was possible to control and manage multiple power amplifier devices from the control device.

  By the way, “speaker check” is one of daily maintenances of an acoustic system. Here, the speaker check specifically refers to generating a speaker check signal (for example, a sine wave signal) by using one speaker of the acoustic system one by one. In an acoustic system installed in a music performance hall, theater, or various halls, a speaker check is frequently performed (for example, every morning). When performing the speaker check, the speakers are normally checked one by one according to a predetermined order. As a speaker check method, for example, using a control device such as a personal computer or a mixer, an operator (user) of the sound system manually operates a speaker check signal (for example, a sine) sequentially for each speaker. There is a method to send a wave signal.

  However, the above-described method for performing speaker check by manual operation by the user is troublesome. In particular, in an acoustic system with a large number of speakers, the complexity of the speaker check work was significant.

  Further, as a method of performing speaker check in an acoustic system including a digital audio mixer, it is possible to use a “scene function” provided in the digital audio mixer. The “scene function” is a function that recalls the setting states of the parameter groups constituting one scene by saving the setting state of the mixer parameter group as one “scene” in the “scene memory”. It is. The speaker check method using the “scene function” is as follows. In one scene, the mute parameter of only one specific channel is set to off, and the mute parameters of all other channels are set to on. That is, one scene is set so that a check signal is generated only from one channel with the mute parameter set to OFF. The scenes are created for a plurality of scenes corresponding to all the channels to be subjected to speaker check, with different channels having the mute parameter set to OFF for each scene. The channel here is a signal output channel of the mixer. When performing speaker check, if the scene to be used is switched one by one with the speaker check signal being input in parallel to all channels of the mixer, the speaker check signal can be sounded channel by channel. It will be. That is, the user only has to operate the scene switching operator (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1 below).

“PM5D / PM5DRH Instruction Manual”, [online], Yamaha Corporation, [April 14, 2010 search], Internet <URL: http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/pdf/pa/ japan / mixers / PM5DJ1.pdf>

  However, in the method using the “scene function”, scenes must be set for each channel, and the scene setting work itself is troublesome. In addition, since one scene is used for each channel, the scene function resource is wasted for the purpose of speaker check. Therefore, it is not preferable as a usage of the scene function. Furthermore, in order to perform speaker check only by controlling the mixer (control of mute on / off of the signal output channel), it is a precondition that the configuration of the acoustic system corresponds to one speaker for one signal output channel of the mixer. As required. This is because if one signal output channel of the mixer is used for a plurality of amplifiers or a plurality of speakers, the speakers cannot be checked one by one as a result.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in a network in which one or more power amplifier devices and a control device for controlling the one or more power amplifier devices are connected, the one or more power amplifiers An object of the present invention is to provide a speaker check system capable of automatically and easily performing a speaker check operation for a plurality of speakers connected to an apparatus.

  The present invention includes one or more acoustic signal processing channels, one or more acoustic devices that output acoustic signals to speakers connected to the respective channels, and at least one that controls the one or more acoustic devices. A speaker check system that performs speaker check by generating a check signal for each of one or more acoustic signal processing channels provided in each of the one or more acoustic devices in a network connected to a control device. And the memory which memorize | stores the speaker check order information which determined the order which performs a speaker check for every one channel of the said 1 or several acoustic signal processing channel with which each of the said 1 or several acoustic device is equipped in the said control apparatus And one or more acoustic signal processing channels provided in each of the one or more acoustic devices. The first control means for controlling to set the mute parameter values of all channels to ON and the mute parameter values for each of the acoustic signal processing channels in the order based on the speaker check order information. By setting to, the second control means performs control to switch the acoustic signal processing channels to be checked one by one, and after the mute parameter value of the acoustic signal processing channel to be checked immediately before is turned on. And a second control means for performing a control for setting the mute parameter of the next acoustic signal processing channel to be checked off, and each of the one or the plurality of acoustic devices includes the first control means and the first control means. On the basis of the control by the control means 2, the mute parameter of each acoustic signal processing channel is turned on and A speaker checking system, characterized by comprising setting means for setting the full.

  As a premise for performing speaker check by the speaker check system of the present invention, a speaker in a state in which a check signal is input in parallel to all of one or more acoustic signal processing channels provided in each of one or more acoustic devices. Note that a check is made. According to the present invention, the mute parameter values of all the channels are set to ON by the first control means, and each of the acoustic signal processing channels is set in the order based on the speaker check order information by the second control means. By setting the value of the mute parameter to OFF, the acoustic signal processing channels to be checked are switched one by one. Based on the control by the first control means and the second control means, the setting means of each acoustic device sets the mute parameter of each acoustic signal processing channel to ON and OFF, so that 1 in the order based on the speaker check order information. A check signal can be generated in order for each channel. Here, the second control means performs control to turn off the mute parameter of the next acoustic signal processing channel to be checked after turning on the value of the mute parameter of the acoustic signal processing channel to be checked immediately before. As a result, a check signal can always be generated from only one channel.

  The present invention also provides a volume level for controlling the control device to set a value of a volume level parameter of an acoustic signal processing channel to be checked to a value preset by a user as a volume level to be used in the channel. A setting unit configured to set a value of a volume level parameter of each acoustic signal processing channel in each of the one or the plurality of audio devices based on volume level setting control by the volume level setting unit; Is a speaker check system characterized by the above.

  By providing the volume level control means in the control device, the volume level at which a check signal is generated during speaker check is set to a value preset by the user as the volume level to be used in the acoustic signal processing channel to be checked. Can be set.

  Further, according to the present invention, when the control device performs control to switch the acoustic signal processing channel to be checked by the second control unit, the volume level parameter value of the acoustic signal processing channel to be checked immediately before is set. Each of the one or more acoustic devices further includes volume level control means for performing fade-out control to a minimum value, and for fading in a value of a volume level parameter of an acoustic signal processing channel to be checked next from a minimum value. The speaker check system further includes setting means for setting a value of a volume level parameter of each acoustic signal processing channel based on the control by the volume level control means.

  When the control device includes the sound level control means, the sound of the check signal can be faded in / out when the acoustic signal processing channel to be checked is switched.

  In addition, the present invention is linked to display means for displaying a monitor screen for monitoring the volume level of the acoustic signal processing channel to be checked on the control device, and control for switching the acoustic signal processing channel to be checked. The speaker check system further comprises display control means for controlling to switch display contents of the monitor screen.

  By providing the control device with display means, the user can monitor the volume level of the acoustic signal processing channel to be checked. Further, the display content of the monitor screen can be automatically switched in conjunction with the control for switching the acoustic signal processing channel to be checked by the display control means.

  According to this invention, the control device is connected to each of the plurality of acoustic signal processing channels only by switching the on / off setting of the mute parameter of each acoustic signal processing channel of each acoustic device channel by channel. There is an excellent effect that the speaker check operation of each speaker can be performed automatically and easily. In particular, in a large-scale acoustic system having a large number of amplifiers and speakers, an excellent effect is achieved in that the speaker check operation can be performed very simply and efficiently as compared with the prior art.

The block diagram which shows the module structural example of the power amplifier network which comprises the acoustic system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the electrical hardware structural example of a power amplifier. The block diagram which shows the electrical hardware structural example of a personal computer. The figure explaining the structure of the data required in order to perform remote control of amplifier in a personal computer. The figure which shows the structural example of the operation screen for the speaker check displayed on the display of a personal computer. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a procedure of a speaker check operation executed by the personal computer. The flowchart which shows an example of the procedure of the "standby" process of the channel for a check. The flowchart which shows an example of the procedure of the "pronunciation start" process of the channel for check. The flowchart which shows an example of the procedure of the "pronunciation process" of the channel for a check. The flowchart which shows an example of the procedure of "end of pronunciation" of the channel for check. The figure which shows the structural example of the monitor screen displayed on the display of a personal computer at the time of speaker check operation | movement.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment, a speaker check system for performing speaker check in an acoustic system generally called “PA system” or “SR system” will be described. In other words, in the embodiment, a large-scale acoustic system including a plurality of power amplifier devices and a plurality of speakers is assumed as a target of speaker check.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a module configuration of a power amplifier network constituting an acoustic system. 1, the power amplifier network includes a plurality of power amplifier devices 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as “amplifiers”), a control unit device 2, a personal computer (PC) 3, and a network hub 4. Each module is physically connected by a network cable such as an Ethernet (registered trademark) cable, for example, so that each module can communicate various data such as a control signal and a digital acoustic signal with each other. The network settings have been made. As a data transmission format used in the network, an appropriate format known in the art such as CobraNet (registered trademark) may be applied.

  Each of the plurality of amplifiers 1 is provided with a plurality of systems of acoustic signal processing channels, and one speaker 5 is connected to one channel of each amplifier 1. Each amplifier 1 amplifies an acoustic signal distributed to each amplifier 1 from an acoustic signal supply source such as an audio mixer (not shown) for each acoustic signal processing channel, and drives the speaker 5 with the amplified acoustic signal. In the example of FIG. 1, two channels are prepared for one amplifier 1, and a speaker 5 is connected to each of the two channels. In FIG. 1, the character strings “SP 1” to “SP 8” are entered in the block indicating each speaker 5 to indicate the distinction for each speaker. It is assumed that the amplifier 1 has a so-called rack mount type housing and is mounted on a rack (shelf) dedicated to an audio device to which a plurality of amplifiers 1 can be mounted. The plurality of amplifiers 1 on the power amplifier network are all the same model with the same configuration.

  The PC 3 is a general-purpose personal computer equipped with an operating system such as Windows (trademark), for example, and is a dedicated application program (hereinafter referred to as remote control software) for remotely controlling and managing a plurality of amplifiers 1. ) Is implemented. The control unit device 2 is an interface device for connecting the amplifier 1 to a network. The amplifier 1 can receive remote control and management from the remote control software on the PC 3 by connecting to the power amplifier network via the control unit device 2. Note that connecting the amplifier 1 to the power amplifier network via the control unit device 2 so that the amplifier 1 can be remotely controlled and managed from the remote control software on the PC 3 is a conventional technique. is there.

  According to the power amplifier network shown in FIG. 1, the user remotely controls and manages a plurality of amplifiers 1 on the network from one PC 3 by a function provided by remote control software activated on the operating system of the PC 3. be able to. Specifically, the user can perform operations such as network setting of the power amplifier network and editing such as setting of parameter values necessary for the operation of each amplifier 1 from various operation screens displayed on the display of the PC 3. In addition, the editing contents performed by the PC 3 can be reflected in the setting of various parameter values of the individual amplifiers 1. Further, the PC 3 receives operation state data representing the operation state (setting state of various parameter values, input / output levels of acoustic signals, etc.) from each amplifier 1, and the PC 3 user is notified of each operation state data based on the received operation state data. The operating state of the amplifier 1 can be monitored.

  As described in detail below, the present invention can automatically check the speakers of the plurality of speakers 5 connected to each of the plurality of amplifiers 1 with one function provided by the remote control software on the PC 3. It is characterized by doing so.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the amplifier 1. The amplifier 1 controls the display of the CPU 10, a control unit including a memory including a ROM 11 and a RAM 12, an amplifier circuit 13, a state monitoring circuit 14, a network communication interface (communication I / F) 15, and a display unit 19. A display circuit 16 and a detection circuit 17 that detects the operation of the operation element 18 are included, and each unit is connected via the communication bus 10B. The control unit including the CPU 10 controls the overall operation of the amplifier 1 based on various data stored in the RAM 12 (values of various parameters necessary for operation, data on network settings, etc.). The acoustic signal processing is controlled, or network communication via the communication I / F 15 is controlled.

  The amplifier circuit 13 amplifies the power of the acoustic signal input from the acoustic signal input terminal (AUDIO input) according to control by the control unit including the CPU 10 for each of a plurality of systems (for example, two systems) of acoustic signal processing channels. The processing result is output from the output terminal (AUDIO output) output terminal. The acoustic signal processing executed by the amplifier circuit 13 includes, in addition to power amplification, control of the volume level of the acoustic signal, control of on / off setting of the mute parameter for each channel, and the like. The state monitoring circuit 14 monitors the temperature of the amplifier circuit 13, the clipping state of the output signal, the direct current component of the output stage, etc. to protect the amplifier circuit 13. Perform protective actions.

  As described above, the communication I / F 15 is a communication interface compliant with, for example, the Ethernet standard, and the amplifier 1 is connected to an external device on the network such as the control unit device 2 via the communication I / F 15. A control signal or the like (setting values of various parameters) for controlling the amplifier 1 can be received from the external device. The physical operation element 18 provided in the main body of the amplifier 1 includes a knob operation element for setting a volume level for each acoustic signal processing channel. Further, the panel surface of the amplifier 1 may be provided with LEDs constituting a level meter for each channel, an indicator for temperature warning, and the like as the display unit 19.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the PC 3. As described above, the PC 3 is a general-purpose personal computer, and includes a CPU 20, a memory 21 including a ROM and a RAM, a hard disk drive (HDD) 22, a network communication interface (communication I / F) 23, a display, and a mouse operation. And a user interface 24 including a child and a keyboard. Remote control software for remotely controlling the amplifier 1 may be stored in the HDD 22. The remote control software is read from the HDD 22 into the memory 21 when the remote control software is to be executed. When the CPU 20 executes the remote control software read into the memory 21, the PC 3 functions as a device for remotely controlling and managing a group of amplifiers on the network.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of storage contents of data prepared in the memory 21 and the HDD 22 of the PC 3 in order to remotely control and manage the amplifier group 1 on the network by the remote control software. As shown in FIG. 4, the data is managed in a hierarchical structure indicated by reference numerals 30 to 35. The remote control software manages the setting of the entire power amplifier network to be controlled in units of projects, and one or more “area” control units are set in one project, and one or more in one “area” The power amplifier is registered. The hierarchical structure of data shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to the network management structure of this remote control software.

  In FIG. 4, the hierarchy indicated by reference numeral 30 includes controller ID, project library, and current project data. The controller ID is ID information for identifying the PC 3 on the network, such as a MAC address (Media Access Control address) or an IP address, and is recorded in the memory (RAM) 21, for example. The project library stores a plurality of project files as indicated by reference numeral 31. In one project file, data necessary for remote control and management of the power amplifier network is collected for one project. The project library storage area may be provided in the HDD 22, for example. The current project stores data of one project file that is currently started up in the remote control software. The storage area of the current project is prepared in, for example, the memory (RAM) 21. When a new project file is opened, the project file to be newly opened is read from the project file library of the HDD 22, and the read project file is stored in the current project.

  Reference numeral 32 indicates the structure of one project file. One project file includes a project ID, user information, project name, a plurality of area information, and speaker check order information used for the speaker check function according to the present invention. In FIG. 4, the code | symbol 36 has shown the speaker check order information. The project ID is ID information for identifying one project from a plurality of project files in the project library. The project name is a name given to the project, and is used to display the project on a monitor screen described later, for example.

  The speaker check order information 36 is information that defines the order in which the speaker check is performed (the order in which the speakers are sounded) for each of all the acoustic signal processing channels provided in all the amplifiers 1 included in the project. The speaker check order information 36 can be constituted by, for example, data in which serial numbers (order numbers) indicating the order in which speaker checks are performed for each channel of each amplifier 1 included in the project are assigned. By having this speaker check order information, the PC 3 can perform automatic control of speaker check processing described later.

  The user information is account information for the user to log in to the project file. In the user information of one project file, account information corresponding to each of one or a plurality of users who created an account for the project is stored. As indicated by reference numeral 33, the account information for one user includes a user ID and authentication information corresponding to the user ID. The user ID and authentication information may be arbitrarily set by the user when the user creates an account. Only users with account information in the user information can open and use the project file.

  In one project file, area information corresponding to each of one or more “areas” created in the project is stored. An “area” is a unit of remote control in one project, and one area includes one or a plurality of amplifiers. In one area, one or a plurality of amplifiers can be managed in units of groups.

  Reference numeral 34 indicates the configuration of one area information. The area information includes area ID, area name, information describing the configuration of “RackTree”, information describing the configuration of “Feed Structure Tree”, information describing the configuration of “User Defined Tree”, user role information, “ Information indicating the status of “OnLine” and device information corresponding to each of one or a plurality of amplifiers included in the area are included. The area ID is ID information for identifying one area from a plurality of areas set in one project. The area name is a name given to the area in the remote control software, and is used when, for example, the area is displayed on a monitor screen described later.

  The user role information stores information in which the “user role” in the area is set for each user. The “user role” is a remote control authority given to each user in the area. The types of user roles are listed in order from the highest authority: "Admin" with the authority to edit all projects, "Power user" with the authority to edit the area, "User" with the authority to control the amplifier in the area, and the area There are five types: “Guest” who has the right to monitor and “Outsider” who has no control right in the area. In the user role information, as indicated by reference numeral 35, data in which a user ID and a user role corresponding to the user ID are associated with each other corresponds to one of all users who have an account in the project. A plurality are stored.

  Each information of “RackTree”, “Feed Structure Tree” and “User Defined Tree” corresponds to the classification unit for managing the amplifiers registered in the area divided into a plurality of groups. The information which specifies the amplifier group registered in (1) and the information which specifies the arrangement position of the amplifier group in each group are stored. These pieces of information are used, for example, when a project configuration is displayed in a tree form on a monitor screen described later. “RackTree” is a group in which the amplifier 1 is classified for each rack (shelf) on which the amplifier 1 is mounted, and “Feed Structure Tree” is a group in which the amplifier 1 is classified for each speaker connected to the amplifier 1. “User Defined Tree” is a group in which the user arbitrarily classifies the amplifiers 1.

  One piece of device information stores device ID, model information, IP address, device name information, amplifier operation data, “OnLine” status information, and controller ID information. These are information necessary to remotely control one amplifier 1 from the remote control software of the PC 3. The device ID is ID information for identifying the amplifier in the area, and includes the MAC address of the amplifier 1 corresponding to the control information and the device ID of the amplifier 1. The device ID is information for specifying an amplifier in the area. The model information is information for specifying the model of the amplifier 1 corresponding to the control information. The IP address data is an IP address given to the amplifier 1 corresponding to the control information on the power amplifier network. The device name information is a name given to the amplifier 1 corresponding to the device information in the remote control software, and is used when displaying the name of the amplifier 1 on a monitor screen described later. The operation data is information on setting values of various parameters necessary for remote control of the operation of the amplifier 1. For example, the setting value of the volume level parameter for each channel of the amplifier or the mute for each channel. Includes parameter settings. The operation data is data in the same format as the operation data stored in the memory (RAM 12) of the actual amplifier 1. The controller ID is ID information of the PC 3 and is the same as that included in the hierarchy indicated by reference numeral 30.

  On the other hand, the memory (RAM 12) of the amplifier 1 generally corresponds to device information (reference numeral 35 in FIG. 4) stored on the PC 3 side, that is, operation data of the amplifier, device ID, model information, IP address, and Data such as a controller ID is stored. The control unit (CPU 10, ROM 11 and RAM 12) of the amplifier 1 controls the operation of the amplifier 1 based on the operation data. When the network connection state between each module on the power amplifier network and the remote control software is online, the storage contents of the data in the memory (RAM 12) of each amplifier 1 and the device information of each amplifier 1 stored on the PC 3 side ( The contents of reference numeral 35) in FIG. That is, the data storage content (parameter setting) of the amplifier 1 is changed based on the data editing content such as the parameter setting performed on the PC 3 side, and based on the data storage content of the memory (RAM 12) after the change. The acoustic signal processing by the amplifier circuit 13 is performed.

  The automatic control of the speaker check in the acoustic system including the power amplifier network having the above configuration will be described below. It is assumed that the network connection state between each module on the power amplifier network and the remote control software is online. That is, the data storage content (parameter setting) of the amplifier 1 is changed based on the data editing content such as the parameter setting performed on the PC 3 side, and the data storage content after the change (the value and volume of the mute parameter) The sound signal processing (mute on / off control, volume level control, etc.) is performed by the amplifier circuit 13 of the amplifier 1 based on the level parameter value setting.

  Automatic control of speaker check is one of the functions provided by the remote control software. When the user activates the speaker check function in the PC 3, an operation screen for the speaker check function shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display (UI 24) of the PC 3. As shown in FIG. 5, the operation screen for the speaker check function includes a button image 40 for instructing on / off of the speaker check function, a “Target index” display unit 41 for displaying the target of the speaker check, and “Check”. ”Button image 42, and“ Prev ”button image 43 and“ Next ”button image 44 for the user to specify the target of speaker check.

  The button image 40 is configured by a so-called toggle switch that sequentially switches the on / off setting state of the speaker check function for each operation. When the speaker check function is off, the button image 40 instructs to turn on the function. When the speaker check function is on, it functions as a button for instructing to turn off the function. Depending on the on / off state of the speaker check function, the display of the character string on the button image 40 may be switched between “on” and “off”.

  The “Target index” display unit 41 displays information indicating a channel currently designated as a check target of the speaker check. The information displayed here is, for example, a sequence number indicating the check sequence of the channels to be speaker checked. In the example shown in the figure, the number “001” is displayed. There are two display modes of information on the display unit 41: a blinking display indicating that the check operation is in the “standby” state and a lighting display (normal display) indicating that the sound is being generated (execution of the check operation). There is a state.

  The “Check” button image 42 is a button image for issuing an instruction to cancel the “standby” state and start sound generation of a speaker check signal from the channel to be checked. The “Prev” button image 43 is a button image for instructing to return the sequence number being displayed on the display unit 41 to the previous one in response to one operation, and the “Next” button image 44 is 1 It is a button image for instructing to advance the sequence number being displayed on the display unit 41 by one operation according to the operation of the time.

  The user can arbitrarily designate a channel for speaker check by changing the sequence number displayed on the display unit 41 by operating the “Prev” button image 43 or the “Next” button image 44. When the “Prev” button image 43 or the “Next” button image 44 is operated, the newly designated sequence number is always displayed on the display unit 41 in a blinking display indicating the standby state.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the overall flow of the speaker check operation. When the user operates the button image 40 to instruct to turn on the speaker check function, the CPU 20 of the PC 3 executes the process of FIG. 6 according to the user's operation.

  The main points of the speaker check operation to be described in detail below will be described first. The main point is that the channel for the speaker check is input in parallel to all the channels of all the amplifiers 1 in the acoustic system. It is to automatically realize speaker check for each channel by automatically performing control to switch on / off setting of the mute parameter every time. Therefore, it should be noted that the speaker check is assumed to be executed in a state in which speaker check signals are input in parallel to all the channels of all the amplifiers 1 of the acoustic system. The speaker check signal may be an acoustic signal (for example, a sine wave signal) output from an appropriate sound source in the acoustic system such as an oscillator provided in the mixer.

  When the speaker check function is set to ON according to the operation of the button image 40, first, in step S1, the CPU 20 stores all operation data of all the amplifiers 1 included in the currently controlled project (current project). Process to initialize the parameter value of In this initialization process, all the operation data stored in the current project in the memory 21 of the PC 3, that is, the operation data originally intended by the user in the project, is temporarily stored in another area of the memory 21. For example.

  In step S <b> 2, the CPU 20 sets the mute parameter setting values of all the channels included in all the amplifiers 1 included in the currently controlled project (current project) to ON. That is, all channels that are subject to speaker check are muted. As a result, the sound system is set to a state where no sound is generated from any channel of any amplifier 1 even when a check signal is input to all channels of the sound system.

  In step S <b> 3, the CPU 20 sets the channel (“first channel”) assigned the first sequence number according to the speaker check sequence information to the “standby” state. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the “standby” process. In step S <b> 9 of FIG. 8, the CPU 20 acquires a value Lc (current level) currently set for the volume level parameter in the channel to be checked, and stores this in the memory 21. The value of the current level Lc is the value of the volume level parameter included in the “operation data originally intended by the user” stored in another area in step S1, and this is the volume level to be used for the channel. It is a value preset by the user as the level. The data of the current level Lc is used when a check signal, which will be described later, is generated. In step S10, the CPU 20 sets the volume level parameter of the channel to be checked to a minimum value (minimum). This is because the check signal is faded in when the check is started (sounding is started) on the channel to be checked.

  Further, the CPU 20 updates the display of the display (UI 24) of the PC 3 as necessary in step S11. For example, the CPU 20 performs control to display information (order number) in the “Target index” display unit 41 on the operation screen (see FIG. 5) in a blinking manner, and control to switch display contents on a monitor screen (see FIG. 11) described later. Etc. By this step S11, the display content of the display (UI 24) of the PC 3 is switched in conjunction with the control for switching the channel to be checked.

  When the user operates the “Check” button image 42 in a state where the “first channel” is set to the standby state, the CPU 20 determines that the “first channel” is in the standby state according to the operation of the button image 42 by the user. Is released, and a process (sound generation start) for generating a speaker check signal from the “first channel” is performed (step S4).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the sound generation start process performed in step S4. In step S12, the CPU 20 switches the mute parameter of the check target channel from on to off. In this way, by setting only the mute parameter of the check target channel to OFF, it is possible to generate the check signal from only the check target channel among all the channels to which the check signal is input. It becomes. At this point in time, since the volume level parameter of the channel to be checked is set to the minimum value (minimum), the check signal is not yet generated. By the way, as described above, the speaker check signal is input in parallel to all the channels of the sound system as a premise for executing the speaker check. The speaker check signal may be started to be output from the sound source at an appropriate timing. As an example of a specific work procedure, the user checks the speaker check signal after the first channel to be checked is in the standby state. It is good to start output from the sound source.

  In step S13, the CPU 20 performs fade-in control in which the value of the volume level parameter of the channel to be checked is gradually increased from the minimum value (minimum) to the current level Lc. While the mute parameter for all other channels is set to ON while the speaker check signal is input in parallel to all channels, the mute parameter is set to OFF only for the channel to be checked. Therefore, a check signal is generated only from the check target channel. Here, the upper limit value of the volume level in the speaker check is the current level Lc. As described above, the current level Lc is a value preset by the user as a volume level to be used in the channel. Thus, by performing speaker check using the volume level of the current level Lc, a check signal can be produced at the volume level originally intended by the user in the channel to be checked, which is practical. . Further, since the setting control of the volume level is automatically performed, there is an advantage that the user does not need to operate the volume level for each channel at the time of speaker check, and the operation time can be saved. When the sound of the channel to be checked is started, the CPU 20 also performs control to switch the information (sequence number) on the “Target index” display unit 41 on the operation screen (see FIG. 5) to normal lighting display.

  Thereafter, the speaker check is performed channel by channel in the order according to the speaker check order until the speaker check (pronunciation of the check signal) is completed for all channels (NO in step S5). That is, after the speaker check of one channel to be checked is completed, the speaker check of the next new channel to be checked is performed (step S6).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of “sound generation processing” executed by the CPU 20 in step S6. In step S <b> 14, the CPU 20 performs “end sound generation” processing for the channel to be checked immediately before the start of checking the new channel to be checked, and ends the speaker check of the channel to be checked immediately before. For example, in the flowchart of FIG. 6, since the “sound generation start” process for the first channel to be checked is performed in step S4, the “sound generation process” for the second channel to be checked is performed before the first “sound generation process” is performed. You must “end pronunciation” for the channel being checked.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the “sound generation end” process performed in step S14. In step S18, the CPU 20 performs fade-out control for gradually decreasing the volume level parameter value of the channel (the channel to be checked immediately before) where the sound generation is to be terminated to the minimum value (minimum), and from the speaker connected to the channel. Stops the sound of the check signal. In step S19, the CPU 20 switches the mute parameter of the channel to be checked immediately before from off to on. As a result, the channel to be checked immediately before is in a state in which no sound signal is produced (mute on), and the speaker check ends. In step S20, the CPU 20 sets the level parameter value of the channel to be checked to the current level Lc. Thereby, the value of the volume level parameter of the channel for which the speaker check is finished is returned to the value originally intended by the user.

  Returning to FIG. 9, after the sound generation of the channel to be checked immediately before is finished in step S <b> 14, in step S <b> 15, the CPU 20 performs a process of switching the channel to be checked to the next channel to be checked. If speaker checks are performed in the order based on the speaker check order information, in step S15, the channels to be checked may be moved one by one based on the speaker check order information. In addition, when the user designates the check target by manual operation using the “Prev” button image 43 or the “Next” button image 44, the previous check is performed according to the designation of the channel to be checked by the user manual operation. After finishing the sound generation of the target channel (step S14), the check target is moved to the channel designated by the user (step S15). In step S16, the CPU 20 performs a “standby” process for the new channel to be checked set in step S15, and performs a “sound generation start” process for the new channel to be checked in step S17. The “standby” process is as described with reference to FIG. 7, and the “sound generation start” process is as described with reference to FIG.

  By repeating the processes of steps S5 and S6 in FIG. 6, speaker check (pronunciation of a check signal) is performed on all channels. When the speaker check is completed for all channels (YES in step S5), the CPU 20 performs “end sound generation” for the last channel to be checked in step S7, and in step S8, based on the parameters initialized in step S1. In other words, the operation data group temporarily stored in another area of the memory 21 in step S1 is returned to the current project.

  At the time of the speaker check operation described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 to 10, the “monitor screen” illustrated in FIG. 11 is displayed on the display (UI 24) of the PC 3. In the tree display area 50 of the monitor screen, the configuration of the project to be controlled is displayed in a tree shape. In the example of FIG. 11, the category of the area included in the project to be controlled (“Area 1” in FIG. 11) and the area category Are sub-categories of amplifier groups ("Rack # 1" and "Rack # 2" in FIG. 11) and amplifier categories ("001: AMP1" in FIG. 11) that are subcategories of the amplifier group category. The tree structure is shown. In the tree display area 50, the display object corresponding to the amplifier 1 including the channel currently subjected to speaker check is displayed in a different display mode (shaded display in the example in the figure). In the example of FIG. 11, “002: AMP2” is shaded to indicate that the channel included in the amplifier 1 is currently a speaker check target. The tree structure displayed in the tree display area 50 is not limited to the example shown in the figure.

  The channel display area 51 includes two input channels ("Analog input 1" and "Analog input 2" in the figure) included in an amplifier including the channel currently being speaker-checked (the amplifier shaded in the tree display area 50). )) And two output channels ("Analog output A" and "Analog output B" in the figure) are provided. Each area has various information such as a level meter that displays the volume level, a display that warns of signal clipping, etc., and an operator image for operating various parameters such as mute, solo, volume level, and attenuator. Is displayed.

  The user can monitor the state of the speaker check by confirming the current check target amplifier or confirming the volume level of the check signal currently being sounded by displaying the monitor screen. When the channel to be checked is switched to a channel included in another amplifier, in the tree display area 50, the display mode of the display object corresponding to the amplifier including the channel to be checked immediately before is changed from the shaded display to the normal display. In addition, the display corresponding to the amplifier including the new check target channel is controlled to be shaded and displayed, and the display content of the channel display area 51 is changed to the channel group included in the amplifier 1 including the new check target channel. Switch to the corresponding display content. On the other hand, when the channel to be checked is switched to another channel included in the same amplifier, in the channel display area 51, information such as the volume level of the check signal currently being sounded is displayed in the area corresponding to the other channel. Therefore, there is no need to switch display contents on the screen. Since the CPU 20 automatically controls the channel to be checked on the screen, the user need not perform any operation on the monitor screen during the speaker check.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the on / off setting of the mute parameters of the plurality of channels provided in each of the plurality of amplifiers 1 is switched one channel at a time by remote control of the PC 3, and the plurality of channels are set. There is an excellent effect that the speaker check operation of each speaker connected to each can be performed automatically and easily. In particular, in a large-scale acoustic system with a large number of amplifiers 1 and speakers 5, the speaker check operation can be performed very simply and efficiently compared to the conventional case.

  In FIG. 1, as an example of the configuration of the power amplifier network, a star configuration network configuration centering on the network hub device 4 is depicted, but the network connection configuration is not limited to this, and the power amplifier Any form applicable as the network configuration may be applied. In the above embodiment, the PC 3 on which the remote control software is installed is given as a control device for remotely controlling and managing a plurality of amplifiers 1 in the power amplifier network, but is not limited to the PC 3. For example, one of the plurality of amplifiers 1 may be a control device, and the amplifier 1 may control and manage the other amplifiers 1.

  Also, in the description of the speaker check operation with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10, the check is performed based on the order based on the speaker check order information or based on the user's designation by operating the “Prev” button image 43 or the “Next” button image 44. The processing configuration for switching objects (S21 in FIG. 9) has been described. The means for the user to specify the channel to be checked is not limited to the “Prev” button image 43 or the “Next” button image 44, and may be configured by other appropriate means such as a numeric keypad image. In addition, during the speaker check operation, the channel to be checked is moved to the channel to be checked next to the channel that is being checked forward or back in the order determined by the speaker check order information. ) ”, And an operator image for instructing“ forward ”,“ returning ”, or“ skip ”may be further provided on the operation screen of FIG.

  Further, in the description of the speaker check operation with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10 above, when the channel to be checked is switched, the new channel to be checked is set to “standby state”, and the “Check” button image by the user is set. In accordance with the operation of 42, the processing configuration is such that “start sound generation” of the new channel to be checked. As another processing configuration example, a configuration in which the speaker check is automatically advanced at a predetermined time interval may be employed. In other words, after the channel to be checked is set to the “standby state”, the “sound generation start” process may be automatically started after a predetermined time has elapsed. Further, in the processing configuration of the speaker check operation with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10, when the channel to be checked is switched, the channel to be checked immediately before the start of the check of the new channel to be checked (sound generation start). However, as another configuration example, when the channel to be checked switches, the sound of the channel to be checked immediately fades out while the sound of the channel to be checked immediately before fades out. Cross fade processing may be performed so that

  In the description of the speaker check operation with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10 described above, the configuration example in which all the channels of all the amplifiers 1 included in the current control target project are subject to speaker check has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the user may be able to specify a channel group to be a speaker check target. For example, one area is designated as a speaker check target, all channels of all amplifiers 1 included in the area are designated as speaker check targets, and one group is designated as a speaker check target. It may be possible to make all channels of all amplifiers 1 included in the group subject to speaker check.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which speaker check is performed by performing on / off control of the mute parameters of individual channels included in the power amplifier of the sound system by remote control of the PC 3. As another embodiment based on the same idea as the present invention, it is possible to automatically check the output bus of the mixer by controlling the mute parameter for each channel of the audio mixer by remote control of the PC 3. is there.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power amplifier apparatus (acoustic apparatus), 2 Control unit apparatus, 3 Personal computer (control apparatus), 4 Hub, 5 Speaker, 10 CPU, 11 ROM, 12 RAM, 13 Amplifier circuit, 14 Monitoring circuit, 15 Communication interface, 16 Display circuit, 17 detection circuit, 18 operator, 19 display unit, 20 CPU, 21 memory, 22 hard disk drive, 23 communication interface, 24 user interface, 36 speaker check order information, 50 tree display area, 51 channel display area 51

Claims (4)

One or a plurality of acoustic devices that include one or a plurality of acoustic signal processing channels and output an acoustic signal to a speaker connected to each channel; and at least one control device that controls the one or more acoustic devices In a connected network, a speaker check system that performs speaker check by generating a check signal for each of one or more acoustic signal processing channels provided in each of the one or more acoustic devices,
In the control device,
Storage means for storing speaker check order information that defines the order in which speaker checks are performed for each of the one or more acoustic signal processing channels provided in each of the one or more acoustic devices;
First control means for performing control to turn on values of mute parameters of all channels of the one or more acoustic signal processing channels included in each of the one or more acoustic devices;
Second control for performing control to switch the sound signal processing channels to be checked one by one by setting the value of the mute parameter to OFF for each channel of the sound signal processing channels in the order based on the speaker check order information. A second control for performing control for turning off the mute parameter of the next acoustic signal processing channel to be checked after the value of the mute parameter of the acoustic signal processing channel to be checked immediately before is turned on. Means and
In each of the one or more acoustic devices,
A speaker check system comprising setting means for setting on and off a mute parameter of each acoustic signal processing channel based on control by the first control means and the second control means. In the control device,
Volume level setting means for performing control to set the value of the volume level parameter of the acoustic signal processing channel to be checked to a value preset by the user as the volume level to be used in the channel,
In each of the one or more acoustic devices,
2. The speaker check system according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting a value of a volume level parameter of each acoustic signal processing channel based on volume level setting control by the volume level setting means. In the control device,
When performing control for switching the acoustic signal processing channel to be checked by the second control means, the value of the volume level parameter of the acoustic signal processing channel to be checked immediately before is faded out to the minimum value, and Volume level control means for performing fade-in control of the value of the volume level parameter of the acoustic signal processing channel to be checked from a minimum value,
In each of the one or more acoustic devices,
3. The speaker check system according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting a value of a volume level parameter of each acoustic signal processing channel based on control by the volume level control means. In the control device,
Display means for displaying a monitor screen for monitoring the volume level of the acoustic signal processing channel to be checked;
4. The display control unit according to claim 1, further comprising display control means for performing control for switching display contents of the monitor screen in conjunction with control for switching the acoustic signal processing channel to be checked. 5. Speaker check system.

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