JP4924151B2 - Effect imparting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is an effect imparting device for executing a plug-in effect constituted by plug-in software that provides a predetermined effect imparting function for an audio signal by a DSP, and in particular, an effect imparting device mounted on a digital audio mixer About.

  The audio mixer is a device that performs signal processing such as mixing processing and effect applying processing on audio signals for a plurality of channels. In recent years, digital audio mixers that perform internal signal processing by digital processing have become widespread. The digital mixer is provided with a console (operation panel) on which various displays such as a control group and a control screen for each function are arranged, and an operator (user) operates the console. Various operations such as signal processing parameter setting could be performed using the control screen on the child group and display.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it is known that an effect providing function is provided by effect providing software (plug-in effect) that operates as a plug-in in a digital mixer. The plug-in effect is inserted into an arbitrary signal processing block of the mixer, and effects are applied to the audio signal of the inserted signal processing block. In this specification, the “signal processing block” refers to a signal path (channel) portion for each functional unit during mixing processing, such as any one input channel or any one output channel. A conventionally known mixer has a function (virtual rack function) for setting a plug-in effect mounted in a virtual rack to an available state by mounting an arbitrary plug-in effect in a “virtual rack” was there. For example, in the digital mixer (product name “M7CL”) released by the present applicant, the same type of virtual rack function is listed although not intended for plug-in effects (see Non-Patent Document 1 below). ). Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a virtual rack function that can mount a graphic equalizer, various built-in effects, or an external head amplifier.

  The virtual rack function can be controlled, for example, from a dedicated control screen (referred to as “virtual rack screen”) displayed on the display. The user can mount (arrange) any one plug-in effect in one virtual rack on the virtual rack screen, and can also connect one plug-in effect mounted in the virtual rack to a desired signal of the mixer. It was possible to insert into a processing block (input channel, output channel, etc.). The operation on the virtual rack screen can be performed as if a real rack mount type effector device is mounted on a real effect rack (shelf) and wired using a patch cord, which is convenient.

  In a conventionally known digital mixer, a DSP (digital signal processor) executes an effect applying process by a plug-in effect. In this case, the plug-in effect mounted in the virtual rack is assigned to the DSP, and the audio signal of the signal processing block into which the plug-in effect is inserted is input to the DSP, and the input audio signal is Then, an effect applying process by the assigned plug-in effect is executed by the DSP. By the way, when a plug-in effect is executed using a DSP, an audio signal is input to the DSP, an effect applying process is performed on the input signal, and a signal of the effect applying result is output from the DSP. Processing delay (latency) occurs in the processing up to. When a plurality of DSPs for executing plug-in effects are provided, when adding a new plug-in effect, the effect depends on which DSP of the plurality of DSPs the plug-in effect is assigned to. The latency that occurs during the execution of the grant process is different. Conventionally, as a countermeasure against the problem that latency occurs when the plug-in effect is executed, there has been a technique of automatically correcting the latency by automatically inserting an adjustment delay when assigning the plug-in effect to the DSP. As a result, in a configuration in which a plurality of DSPs for executing plug-in effects are provided, no matter which DSP is assigned the plug-in effect, the latency generated by the new addition of the plug-in effect is adjusted to be the same. It was.

It is better to have as little latency as possible in the process of applying the plug-in effect. Further, in order to effectively use the computing power of the DSP, it is desirable to save resources used as adjustment delays as much as possible. However, the conventional technique has a configuration in which the delay generated with the addition of the plug-in effect is adjusted by inserting an adjustment delay. In other words, the conventional technology has no idea or idea for shortening the delay caused by the addition of the plug-in effect as much as possible, and for that purpose, it saves DSP resources for the adjustment delay. I couldn't.
Further, in a conventional mixer, the assignment of DSP plug-in effects that are already being executed by the DSP cannot be changed. This is because the reproduced sound of the audio signal imparted by the plug-in effect is not cut off. However, when a new plug-in effect is added, there is a possibility that the latency associated with the new addition of the plug-in effect can be reduced by reassigning the plug-in effect already executed by the DSP to the DSP. Therefore, from the viewpoint of efficient use of DSP resources, it is desirable that the latency can be adjusted including a plug-in effect that is already being executed by the DSP when a plug-in effect is newly added.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points. In an effect imparting device that executes a plug-in effect by a DSP, the delay newly generated as a result of the addition of the plug-in effect is reduced as much as possible, and DSP resources are reduced. It aims at providing the effect provision apparatus which can be utilized efficiently.

The present invention provides a signal path through which an audio signal to which an effect is imparted is transmitted in an effect imparting device having a plurality of plug-in effects configured by plug-in software that provides a predetermined effect imparting function to an audio signal. A plurality of signal paths formed by serially connecting a plurality of plug-in effects selected by a user and an effect applying process by the plurality of plug-in effects forming the signal path are executed. A plurality of signal processing means, an instruction means for giving an instruction to add a new plug-in effect to the signal path, and a new addition to the signal path among all plug-in effects provided in the effect applying device Selection means for allowing the user to select the plug-in effect to be performed, and in response to an instruction from the instruction means Assuming a signal path to which a plug-in effect is added, and assigning the plug-in effect to any one of the plurality of signal processing means, a plurality of plug-in effects form the assumed signal path. By determining whether the delay time in executing the effect applying process is the shortest, a determination unit that determines an optimal signal processing unit as an allocation destination of the plug-in effect, and an optimal allocation destination determined by the determination unit An effect applying apparatus comprising: an assigning unit that assigns a plug-in effect selected by the selecting unit to a signal processing unit to realize a signal path to which the plug-in effect is added. .

  According to the mixing device of the present invention, each of the plurality of signal paths is formed from a plurality of plug-in effects that are serially connected. The order in which the effect is applied to the audio signal is defined for each signal path. When an instruction to add a new plug-in effect to the signal path is given by the instruction unit, the determination unit assumes a signal path to which a new plug-in effect has been added, By assigning to which signal processing means the plug-in effect is assigned, the delay time when the effect applying process is executed in the order specified by the assumed signal path is minimized to determine the assignment destination of the plug-in effect. The optimum signal processing means is determined. The allocating unit allocates the plug-in effect selected by the selecting unit to the signal processing unit optimal as the allocation destination determined by the determining unit, thereby realizing a signal path to which the plug-in effect is added. .

  Further, in the mixing device according to the present invention, the determination means is an optimum signal processing means as an assignment destination for each of all plug-in effects that can be selected by the effect applying apparatus in accordance with an instruction from the instruction means. The selection means may be configured to accept a plug-in effect selection operation by the user after the determination by the determination means is completed.

Further, the determination means provides delay time information for each plug-in effect when each plug-in effect is assigned to the optimum signal processing means as an assignment destination determined for every selectable plug-in effect. Storage means for storing, wherein the selection means displays a list of options corresponding to all plug-in effects provided in the display means and the effect imparting device, and the user selects options corresponding to a desired plug-in effect. Selection menu display control means for displaying the selection menu to be selected on the display means, and information on the delay time of each plug-in effect stored in the storage means in the selection menu as an option corresponding to each plug-in effect. It may be configured to include display control means for additionally displaying each.
Further, when a new plug-in effect is added to the signal path, another plug-in effect already assigned to the optimum signal processing means as the assignment destination of the plug-in effect determined by the determining means is assigned. If the delay time in executing the effect applying process by the plurality of plug-in effects forming the signal path can be shortened by re-execution, the display control for displaying on the display means a report to that effect to the user It may be configured to further comprise means.

  According to the present invention, when a plug-in effect is newly added to a signal path formed by connecting a plurality of plug-in effects, the plug-in effect is applied to which signal processing means among the plurality of signal processing means. If it is assigned, the delay time (latency) is automatically searched to find the shortest, and the plug-in effect is assigned to the signal processing means that has the shortest delay time. As a result, it is possible to shorten the time as much as possible and to efficiently use the computation resources of the signal processing means. In addition, a delay time newly generated when a corresponding plug-in effect is added for each option corresponding to all plug-in effects displayed in the selection menu for allowing the user to select a new plug-in effect to be added. By additionally displaying this information, it is possible to present information related to delay time management to the user in an easy-to-understand manner. The user can consider selecting a plug-in effect to be newly added with reference to the delay time information of each plug-in effect displayed in the selection menu. Also, when adding a new plug-in effect, if the delay time can be shortened by reassigning another plug-in effect already assigned to the signal processing means to which the plug-in effect is assigned, By displaying such a report to the user, it becomes possible to adjust the latency including the already assigned plug-in effects.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical hardware configuration of a digital audio mixer according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the mixer 100 includes a CPU 1, a flash memory 2, a RAM 3, a waveform input / output interface (waveform I / O) 4, a mixing processing unit 5, an effect applying unit 6, a display 7, an operator group 8, a PC. An interface (PC I / O) 9, a MIDI interface 10, and other interfaces (other I / O) 11 are included, and each unit is connected via a bus 1 </ b> B.

  The CPU 1 executes a control program stored in the flash memory 2 or the RAM 3 and performs overall operation control of the mixer 100. Further, the RAM 3 is provided with a current memory area for storing the current set values of various parameter values used for the mixing process and the effect applying process.

  Audio signals are input / output between the mixer 100 and the external acoustic device via the waveform I / O 4. The waveform I / O 4 includes an analog input port including an AD converter, an analog output port including a DA converter, and a digital input / output port. The waveform I / O 4 is also provided with a monitor port for outputting a monitor signal, and an analog audio signal at an arbitrary monitor point of the mixing processing unit 5 to the effect applying unit 6 is output from the monitor port. Can be monitored by the user. The mixing processing unit 5 includes a plurality of DSPs, and performs a mixing process on the audio signal input from the waveform I / O 4 based on an instruction from the CPU 1.

  The effect applying unit 6 includes a plurality of DSPs, and performs various effect applying processes on an audio signal of an arbitrary signal processing block of the mixing processing unit 5 based on an instruction from the CPU 1. As already described, in this specification, the “signal processing block” refers to a signal path (channel) for each functional unit during mixing processing, such as any one input channel or any one output channel. Refers to the part. The various effect imparting functions by the microprograms executed by the DSP of the effect imparting unit 6 are provided by various effect software (plug-in effects) that operate as plug-ins.

  The display 7 and the operator 8 are arranged on the console (operation panel) of the digital mixer 100. As is well known, a console of a mixer includes a number of operators and switches including a fader operator and a knob-type operator provided for each of a plurality of channel strips. The display unit 7 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or the like, and is a control screen for each function based on the control of the CPU 1 (a virtual rack screen in FIG. 5 described later, a plug-in effect editing screen in FIG. 7C, etc.). ) Etc. are displayed. The user can call up a control screen corresponding to various operation modes on the display device 7 and perform various operations such as parameter setting using GUI components on the called screen.

  Further, the mixer 100 can be connected to a personal computer via the PC I / O 9, and a user can execute a software program for remotely controlling the mixer 100 in the connected personal computer, so that the user can The mixer 100 can be remotely controlled. The PC I / O 9 may be configured by a conventionally known appropriate communication interface such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or USB. The mixer 100 can be connected to an external MIDI device via the MIDI I / O 10. Further, the mixer 100 may be connected to other appropriate external devices via the other I / O 11.

  When digital connection is made between the mixer 100 and another digital audio device, as is well known, it is necessary to synchronize the “word clock” that is the basis of signal processing of the audio signal between the devices. Here, the state in which the word clocks are synchronized with each other refers to a state in which circuits (mixing processing unit 5 and effect applying unit 6) that process digital audio of each device are synchronized with each other. When another external device is the word clock master (when the mixer 100 is a word clock slave), the mixer 100 performs signal processing of the audio signal at a sampling period synchronized with the word clock generated in the external word clock master. Do. When the mixer 100 is a word clock master (when another device is a word clock slave), the mixer 100 performs signal processing of the audio signal at a predetermined sampling period, and outputs a word clock synchronized with the predetermined sampling period. Output to the outside.

  2, the waveform I / O 4, the mixing processing unit 5 and the effect applying unit 6 shown in FIG. FIG. 2 shows an example in which the effect imparting unit 6 is composed of four DSPs 60, 61, 62 and 63. In FIG. 2, suffix numbers 1 to 4 are assigned to the DSPs 60 to 63 constituting the effect applying unit 6. The DSPs 60 to 63 of the effect applying unit 6 correspond to “signal processing means” recited in the claims. Although not shown in the drawing, the mixing processing unit 5 is also composed of a plurality of DSPs as in the case of the effect providing unit 6, as already described.

  The waveform I / O 4, the mixing processing unit 5, and the effect applying unit 6 are connected to each other through the waveform bus 12, and can transmit digital audio signals for a plurality of transmission channels through the waveform bus 12. On the waveform bus 12, for example, a 24-bit digital audio signal can be transmitted in 128 channels in a time division manner. The waveform I / O 4, the mixing processing unit 5, and the effect applying unit 6 are each connected to the CPU bus 13 and perform data communication such as control signals with the CPU 1. In FIG. 2, the DSP 60 to 63 of the effect imparting unit 6 are connected to each other via the waveform bus 12 and the CPU bus 13 as shown in detail for the effect imparting unit 6, and the waveform is between the DSPs 60 to 63. Audio signals can be communicated via the bus 12. A plurality of DSPs constituting the mixing processing unit 5 (not shown) are also connected to each other via the waveform bus 12 and the CPU bus 13, respectively. Further, the plurality of DSPs constituting the mixing processing unit 5 are also connected to each other by a serial transmission line different from the waveform bus 12 and the CPU bus 13. The transmission of the audio signal related to the MIX bus processing and the processing of the plurality of output channels, that is, the transmission of the audio signal related to the mixing processing is performed using the separate serial transmission line. That is, the transmission of the audio signal related to the mixing processing can be realized without using the transmission channel band of the waveform bus 12 at all.

  Each transmission channel of the waveform bus 12 is assigned to any output of the waveform I / O 4, each DSP of the mixing processing unit 5 to each of the DSPs 60 to 63 of the effect applying unit 6, and each of these outputs is assigned to each output channel. Output audio signal to the selected transmission channel. Note that the waveform I / O4, the assignment of the transmission channel of the waveform bus 12 to each of the DSPs 60 to 63 of the mixing processor 5 and the DSPs 60 to 63 of the effect applying unit 6 (how many channels of the transmission channels are assigned to which DSP output) ) May be arbitrarily set by the user, or may be fixed to a predetermined setting. Further, it may be automatically assigned according to the setting of the input patch, output patch, etc. performed by the user. On the other hand, each input of each DSP 60 to 63 of the waveform I / O 4 and mixing processing unit 5 to each of the DSP 60 to 63 of the effect applying unit 6 is an output of an audio signal desired to be received (waveform I / O 4 and each DSP of the mixing processing unit 5 Or an output of any one of the DSPs 60 to 63 of the effect applying unit 6). That is, each of the DSPs 60 to 63 of the effect applying unit 6 inputs the output signal of any one of the waveform I / O 4, the mixing processing unit 5, or another DSP of the effect applying unit 6 through the waveform bus 12. The result of the effect applying process can be output to the waveform I / O 4, the mixing processing unit 5, or any other DSP of the effect applying unit 6. Note that audio signal transmission / reception control of each unit via the transmission channel of the waveform bus 12 is performed by an input patch 32 and an output patch 36 described later.

  Arbitrary one or more plug-in effects are assigned to the DSPs 60 to 63 of the effect imparting unit 6 by a process described later (see FIG. 10 and the like). The plug-in effects assigned to the DSPs 60 to 63 of the effect applying unit 6 execute an effect applying process corresponding to the type of each plug-in effect using the operation resources of the DSP to which each is assigned. Here, the DSP resource is a memory area for storing a plug-in effect program body, a memory area for storing calculation coefficients, a memory area for delay elements, a connection resource, or the number of executable calculation steps. And so on.

  FIG. 3 shows a DSP resource usage example of each of the DSPs 60-63. As described above, there are various types of DSP resources. Here, for convenience of illustration and description, the resource usage status of one DSP is expressed by one block. In the figure, the hatched or shaded part is a resource area used by the plug-in effect, and the blank part is an empty resource area. As shown in the figure, the resources of the DSPs 60 to 63 are used by the plug-in effects PE1 to PE11. One DSP can be assigned a plurality of plug-in effects as long as resources can be secured. The total amount of resources required by the plug-in effect and the usage amount for each resource differ depending on the type of plug-in effect. For example, some types of plug-in effects use a lot of resources for storing programs, while other types of resources use little, while other types of plug-in effects use less resources for storing programs. However, the delay element resources are often used.

  When a certain plug-in effect is newly added to a certain DSP, a resource free area is used. Basically, a plug-in effect cannot be added to the DSP unless a resource free area necessary for adding the plug-in effect remains in the DSP. Looking at the resource empty areas of the DSPs 60 to 63 illustrated in FIG. 3, there is a continuous area in a certain DSP, and in some DSPs, the empty area is obtained by repeatedly adding, deleting or changing plug-in effects. Are dispersed (fragmented). In a DSP in which free areas are distributed, a new plug-in effect designated by the user cannot be added at present, but a new plug-in designated by the user is relocated by rearranging the resources of the active plug-in effect. You may be able to add in-effects. Here, “relocation of plug-in effect resources” means that the plug-in effects that are already in operation (already assigned to resources) in the DSP are reassigned in order from the beginning of the memory address, for example. The resource areas allocated to the plug-in effect in the middle are put together and the unused resource areas are made continuous. In this specification, adding a new plug-in effect after rearranging the resources of the plug-in effect in this way is called “squeeze compilation”. In this embodiment, as shown in detail in FIG. 5 below, in the selection menu for selecting a plug-in effect to be added, plug-in effects that can be executed by “squeeze compilation” (that is, resources can be secured) It is displayed in a different form from that. That is, a plug-in effect that can be executed by “squeeze compilation” can be selected as a plug-in effect to be newly added.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an algorithm of mixing processing executed by the mixing processing unit 5. In FIG. 4, an analog input port (“A input”) 30 and a digital input port (“D input”) 31 correspond to the waveform I / O 4 shown in FIGS. The input patch 32 selectively connects each of the A input 30 to the D input 31 to one of the subsequent input channels (input channels) 33. The operation of the input patch 32 corresponds to audio signal transmission / reception control of each unit via the transmission channel of the waveform bus 12 shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, as an example, 24 input channels 33 having channel numbers CH1 to CH24 are provided. Each of the plurality of input channels 33 controls the characteristics of the digital audio signal input via the input patch 32 based on the parameter setting for each channel. Here, the control of the characteristics of the audio signal is, for example, adjustment of a volume level or an equalizer. Each input channel 33 is provided with a plug-in effect insertion point, and the user can insert a plug-in effect executed by the effect applying unit 6 for any input channel 33. In FIG. 4, “INSERT” indicated by a dotted line in the block of the input channel 33 indicates this.

  Each of the plurality of input channels 33 is connected to each of a plurality of MIX buses 34 (12 MIX buses MIX 1 to 12 in the example of FIG. 4), and an output signal of each input channel 33 is an arbitrary MIX bus 34. Can be supplied. Each MIX bus 34 mixes the audio signal supplied thereto, and outputs the mixing result to the MIX output channel 35 corresponding to each MIX bus 34. Each MIX output channel 35 controls the characteristics of the audio signal supplied to each channel based on the parameter setting for each channel. Each MIX output channel 35 is provided with a plug-in effect insertion point, and the user can insert a plug-in effect executed by the effect applying unit 6 into an arbitrary channel of the MIX output channel 35. In FIG. 4, “INSERT” indicated by a dotted line in the block of the MIX output ch 35 indicates this.

  The output signal of the MIX output channel 35 is output to the output patch 36. The output patch 36 selectively connects each of the MIX output channels 35 to either a plurality of analog output ports 36 or a plurality of digital output ports 37 in the subsequent stage. Thus, from each analog output port 36 or each digital output port 37, an audio signal mixed by the mixing processor 5 (input ch 33, MIX bus 34, and MIX output ch 35) is output. The operation of the output patch 36 corresponds to audio signal transmission / reception control of each unit via the transmission channel of the waveform bus 12 shown in FIG. The analog output port 36 and the digital output port 37 correspond to the waveform I / O4 shown in FIGS.

  The plug-in effect 40 is inserted into an arbitrary signal processing block of mixing processing, that is, any plug-in effect insertion point (INSERT IN / INSERT OUT) of any of the input ch 33 to the MIX output ch 35, and the plug-in effect 40 Using the DSP resource to which 40 is assigned, the effect applying process is executed on the audio signal of the arbitrary signal processing block. Note that a plurality of plug-in effects 40 can be mounted as long as the DSP resources of the DSPs 60 to 63 (see FIG. 2) of the effect applying unit 6 allow.

  The user sets the INSERT OUT of an arbitrary signal processing block (input ch 33 to MIX output ch 35) by the output patch 36, so that a desired plug-in can be used as a destination of a signal output from the INSERT OUT of the arbitrary signal processing block. The input of the effect 40 can be selected. In addition, the user sets the INSERT IN of an arbitrary signal processing block by the input patch 32, so that the output of the desired plug-in effect 40 can be used as the input source of the signal input to the INSERT IN of the arbitrary signal processing block. You can choose. The plug-in effect 40 performs an effect applying process on the input audio signal based on the INSERT OUT setting by the output patch 36. Here, the effect applying process varies depending on the type of the plug-in effect 40, such as reverb, delay, flanger, and the like. The audio signal processed by the plug-in effect 40 is output to an output destination based on the INSERT IN setting by the input patch 32.

  The user calls a screen “virtual rack screen” for performing various settings of the plug-in effect (selection of the plug-in effect, designation of the insertion destination, etc.) on the display unit 7 and various GUI components constituting the virtual rack screen. Various settings for plug-in effects can be made using. FIG. 5 is a display example of a “virtual rack screen”. Here, the “virtual rack” is a virtual rack (shelf) for setting a plug-in effect to be inserted into a certain signal processing block. The user can attach any plurality of plug-in effects to the virtual rack and insert any plurality of plug-in effects attached to the virtual rack into any one signal processing block. In other words, plug-in effect setting operations can be performed on the virtual rack screen as if a rack-mounted processor or effector device is attached to the actual effect rack and wired using a patch cord. it can. It should be noted that various operations on the virtual rack screen can basically be performed using the pointer cursor 48 on the screen.

  In the virtual rack screen illustrated in FIG. 5, four virtual racks (hereinafter simply referred to as “rack”) 41 are provided, and these four racks 41 have rack numbers “No. 1” to “No. 4”. Is given. Each rack 41 is configured by an area for displaying each information described below. That is, each rack 41 has a number-of-installation-number setting unit (“Serial”) 42 for setting the number of plug-in effect attachments, and a number of plug-in effect frames 43 corresponding to the values set in the number-of-installation number setting unit 42. In order to edit a patch display unit 44 for setting a signal input source for the rack 41, a patch display unit 45 for setting a signal output destination from the rack 41, and a plug-in effect mounted in the rack 41. An edit button 46 for opening the control screen (plug-in effect edit screen) is provided.

  The user can specify how many plug-in effects are to be mounted on the rack 41 (how many plug-in effect frames 43 are displayed) by specifying an arbitrary numerical value in the mounting number setting unit 42. In FIG. 5, the numbers (numbers in a circle in FIG. 5) shown in the number-of-mounts setting section 42 of each rack 41 represent the number of plug-in effects mounted on the rack 41. In the virtual rack screen of FIG. 5, the name “Serial” is given to the plug-in effect attachment number setting unit 42 because a plurality of plug-in effects attached to one rack 41 as described later. It comes from being connected serially.

  Each rack 41 is provided with a number of plug-in effect frames 43 corresponding to the numerical values set in the respective mounting number setting sections 42. If a plug-in effect is set in the plug-in effect frame 43, the plug-in effect frame 43 displays an image representing the set plug-in effect. In the example of FIG. 5, the “image representing the plug-in effect” is a character string representing the name of the plug-in effect. The “No. 1” rack 41 includes a compressor, and the “No. 2” rack 41 includes Compressor, reverb, chorus in “No. 3” rack 41, compressor, limiter, and reverb in “No. 4” rack 41 are displayed in each plug-in effect frame 43. Indicated by the name. If no plug-in effect is set in the plug-in effect frame 43, “no effect”, that is, “no effect” is displayed in the plug-in effect frame 43.

  Each rack 41 has a fixed area secured as a region for displaying the plug-in effect frame 43. When only one plug-in effect is attached to one rack 41, a frame 43 having a size that uses the entire area for displaying the plug-in effect frame 43 is prepared (for example, rack “No. 1”). See). Further, when a plurality of plug-in effects are mounted on one rack 41, each of the plurality of plug-in effect frames 43 is displayed in a uniform width within the area. In other words, the display size of the plug-in effect frame 43 varies depending on the number of plug-in effects mounted in one rack.

  FIG. 6A shows a memory configuration example for virtual rack management. The virtual rack management memory may be provided in the RAM 3, for example. The virtual rack management memory stores virtual rack data VRD1 to VRD4 corresponding to each of the four virtual racks 41 ("No. 1" to "No. 4") shown in FIG. In (a), a configuration example of the virtual rack data VRD2 corresponding to the rack No. 2 is shown in detail. The virtual rack data VRD2 includes data SPE1 and SPE2 indicating the number N of plug-in effects installed in the rack and the plug-in effects installed in the rack No. 2. A number “(2)” in parentheses attached to each data indicates that the data is data for virtual rack No. 2. If the configuration of the virtual rack data VRD2 is associated with rack No. 2 on the virtual rack screen in FIG. 5, the number of plug-in effect attachments N = 2, data indicating “compressor” as SPE1, and SPE2 As a result, data indicating “reverb” is stored. Based on the data stored in the virtual rack management memory, the configuration of each virtual rack 41 (“No. 1” to “No. 4”), that is, the number of plug-in effects attached and the plug-ins attached to the rack. The combination of effects is managed. Although not shown, data indicating which DSP memory address is used by each plug-in effect attached to virtual rack data (see FIG. 3 above) is also data for virtual rack management memory. Are included in each virtual rack data.

  Each rack 41 is formed with a signal path (“path”) for applying an effect by a plug-in effect attached to the rack 41 to an input signal and outputting the input signal. One path is formed in one rack 41. In one path, one or more plug-in effects mounted on the rack 41 are inserted. FIG. 6B shows a conceptual diagram of one path. The plurality of plug-in effects PE1 and PE2 inserted in one path are serially connected, and the effect applying process by each plug-in effect PE1 and PE2 is performed sequentially according to the path configuration (connection order of plug-in effects). The path configuration (plug-in effect connection order) is managed by the installed plug-in effect data SPE for each virtual rack data in the virtual rack management memory of FIG. A path corresponding to each rack 41 corresponds to a “signal path” described in the claims.

  The arrangement of the plug-in effect frames 43 in the rack 41 on the virtual rack screen in FIG. The plug-in effect frame 43 displayed on the leftmost end of the screen corresponds to the plug-in effect located at the head of the path, and the plug-in effect frame 43 corresponding to the subsequent plug-in effect is successively adjacent to the right.

  In the virtual rack screen of FIG. 5, a signal processing block (input) set as a signal input source for the path of the rack 41 is displayed in the patch display unit 44 provided on the left side of the display area of the plug-in effect frame 43. ch33 and MIX output ch35) are displayed. The display content of the patch display unit 44 corresponds to the INSERT OUT setting by the output patch 36 of FIG. The patch display section 45 provided on the right side of the display area of the plug-in effect frame 43 displays the name of the signal processing block set as the signal output destination of the path of the rack 41. The display content of the patch display unit 45 corresponds to the setting of INSERT IN by the input patch 33 of FIG. The user may open the patch setting screen by designating the patch display unit 44 to patch display unit 45 of each rack 41, and set the insertion destination for each rack 41 on the screen.

  As is apparent from the configuration of the virtual rack screen described above, in the virtual rack screen according to this embodiment, a plurality of plug-in effects can be attached to one virtual rack 41, and the plurality of plug-in effects can be installed. The mounted virtual rack 41 (path) can be inserted into a desired signal processing block. In this way, in the display of the virtual rack screen, a plurality of plug-in effects inserted in one signal processing block are collectively displayed in one virtual rack area, so that they are inserted in one signal processing block. It becomes possible to understand at a glance what kind of combination the plurality of plug-in effects are used.

  FIG. 7A is a display example of a channel mixer screen for performing a mixing operation. In the mixer screen, a plurality of (four in the illustrated example) channel strips are provided, and the characteristics of the audio signals of the input channels 33 to MIX output channels 35 assigned to the channel strips can be adjusted. Each channel strip has an effect display field 50 for displaying the name of the plug-in effect mounted on the rack 41 inserted in the channel. When the effect display field 50 is designated by a mouse click operation or the like, a rack selection pop-up window 51 is displayed. The rack selection pop-up window 51 displays the path configuration (name of the plug-in effect group) of the rack 41 for which the insertion destination has not been set yet. If none of the racks 41 (rack No. 1 to No. 4 in FIG. 5) is set as an insertion destination, as shown by reference numeral 51 ′ in FIG. All rack 41 configurations (names of plug-in effect groups) are displayed. The user may be able to set a signal processing block (desired input ch 33 to MIX output ch 35) into which the rack 41 is inserted from the mixer screen by selecting an arbitrary rack from the rack selection pop-up window 51.

  When the edit button 46 is designated on the virtual rack screen of FIG. 5, a control screen (plug-in effect) for editing all the plug-in effects mounted on the rack 41 corresponding to the designated button 46 is displayed. Edit screen) opens. An example of the plug-in effect editing screen is shown in FIG. The parameter editing screen is composed of a so-called tab browser that enables a plurality of pages to be displayed on one window by switching tabs, and a plurality of plug-in effects mounted in one rack (path). The parameter editing pages corresponding to each of these are managed by tabs for each page in the order in which the plug-in effects are connected. In FIG. 7 (c), as an example, an edit screen is shown for rack No. 4 in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 7, one parameter edit screen shows the compressors installed in the rack No. 4. The plug-in effect editing pages of limiter and reverb are displayed in an overlapping manner, and each page has a tab. The user selects the tab corresponding to the desired plug-in effect, displays the edit page corresponding to the selected tab in the foreground, and uses the GUI component on the edit page displayed in the foreground to Plug-in effect parameters can be adjusted.

  In this way, one plug-in effect editing screen is prepared for each rack 41, and an editing page for each of a plurality of plug-in effects mounted on one rack 41 is collectively displayed on the editing screen. Even if the editing screens of all plug-in effects inserted in the signal processing block are opened, the number of screens displayed on the display unit 7 is only one. Therefore, an easy-to-understand user interface can be provided to the user without causing confusion in operation. Note that by designating the area indicated by reference numeral 50a provided in the effect display field 50 of each channel on the mixer screen of FIG. 7A, all of the racks 41 inserted in the designated channel are installed. It may be possible to open the plug-in effect editing screen of the plug-in effect. That is, the mixer screen area 50a has the same function as the edit button 46 on the virtual rack screen. The configuration of the plug-in effect editing screen is not limited to the above tab browser type. For example, an editing area for each plug-in effect mounted in one rack is connected to each plug-in effect in that rack (path). Any configuration that can provide GUI components for editing for each of a plurality of plug-in effects mounted in one rack on a single display screen, such as a configuration that displays a list on a single screen in order. But you can.

  Next, an example of a procedure for setting the number of plug-in effects to be attached to one virtual rack (that is, one path) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the following, the variable p is a rack number (any one of No. 1 to No. 4 in the example of FIG. 5), and the variable N is the installation of the plug-in effect stored in FIG. 6 (a). It is a number (value of the mounting number setting unit 42). This process is activated when the user inputs (changes) the value of the number-of-mounts setting unit 42 in any rack (p) on the virtual rack screen of FIG.

  In step S1, the numerical value newly input by the user is set in the virtual rack management memory shown in FIG. 6A as the number N of plug-in effects that can be attached to the rack (p). In step S2, it is checked whether or not the number N of newly set plug-in effects has decreased from the number of plug-in effects before the change.

  When the number N of plug-in effects increases (YES in step S2), a new plug-in effect frame 43 is created in the virtual rack 41 on the virtual rack screen (step S3). The newly created plug-in effect frame 43 is added at the end of the plug-in effect array, that is, at the right end of the display area of the plug-in effect frame 43 on the screen. Therefore, when there is an existing plug-in effect frame 43 in the rack (p), the display size of the existing plug-in effect frame 43 is appropriately reduced, and the display area of the newly added frame 43 is secured. In the newly created plug-in effect frame 43 in step S3, no plug-in effect has been set yet, so “no effect” is displayed here. As a result, a new plug-in effect frame 43 is added to the rack 41.

  On the other hand, when the number N of plug-in effects that can be attached to the rack (p) is reduced by changing the number N of plug-in effects (NO in step S2), the plug-in effect frame 43 that already exists in the rack (p). Must be removed. In this embodiment, when the number N of plug-in effects decreases, the plug-in displayed at the tail end of the plug-in effect row constituting the path of the rack (p), that is, the right end of the virtual rack 41 on the screen. It is assumed that the effect frame 43 is deleted. Note that the plug-in effect frame 43 to be deleted as the number of plug-in effects N decreases may be arbitrarily specified by the user from the existing plug-in effect frames 43.

  In step S4, it is checked whether or not a plug-in effect is set in the plug-in effect frame 43 to be deleted when the number of plug-in effects N decreases. If a plug-in effect is set (YES in step S4), The user is confirmed to delete the plug-in effect frame 43 (step S5). If the user does not allow deletion of the plug-in effect frame 43 (NO in step S6), the process ends here and the number of plug-in effects is not changed.

  If the user approves the deletion of the plug-in effect frame 43 (YES in step S6), the audio signal flowing through the path of the rack bypasses the plug-in effect set in the frame 43 to be deleted in step S7. After the path is recreated, the operation of the plug-in effect is stopped. Here, when the audio signal bypasses the plug-in effect to be deleted, the cross-fade control is performed on the output signal of the plug-in effect to be deleted and the output signal of the plug-in effect immediately before the deletion target. That is, the plug-in effect to be deleted is stopped with the output signal of the path switched to the output signal of the immediately preceding plug-in effect. As described above, by interposing the cross-fade process before the plug-in effect is deleted, the playback effect of the audio signal flowing through the path of the rack 41 is not cut off (or noise is generated) without causing the plug-in effect. Can be deleted. The details of the plug-in effect deletion operation will also be described in the description of FIG. 14 and the like described later, so please refer to that as appropriate.

In step S8, the display of the plug-in effect frames 43 corresponding to the plug-in effects stopped in step S7 is erased, and the number of plug-in effect frames 43 on the rack 41 is reduced.
As described above, the frame image display control for displaying the plug-in effect frames 43 in the virtual rack 41 by the number specified by the number-of-installation setting unit 42 is performed by the process illustrated in FIG.

Next, an operation of mounting a plug-in effect on a virtual rack (path) (new addition or change of a plug-in effect) will be described.
In the virtual rack screen of FIG. 5, the user designates an arbitrary plug-in effect frame 43, thereby a pop-up menu (plug-in effect selection) functioning as a selection means for selecting a plug-in effect to be arranged in the virtual rack 41. Menu) 47 can be displayed in the vicinity of the designated plug-in effect frame 43. The designation operation of the plug-in effect frame 43 may be, for example, a mouse click operation. In FIG. 5, when the plug-in effect “Reverb” frame 43 of the rack number No. 2 is designated, that is, the plug-in effect selection menu 47 is displayed to change the setting of the “Reverb” frame 43. Show.

  In the plug-in effect selection menu 47, all plug-in effects installed in the mixer 100 are displayed as options 47a. The option 47a includes no plug-in effect setting, that is, “no effect”. In addition, “Dynamics”, “Distortion”, “Reverb” or “Equalizer” in the choices shown in the figure are higher-level categories of plug-in effects, and click the arrow icon displayed on the right side of these options 47a. Then, a lower menu for expanding various plug-in effect options 47a belonging to the lower layer of the clicked category opens.

  The user selects an option 47 a corresponding to a desired plug-in effect in the plug-in effect selection menu 47, thereby setting the plug-in effect corresponding to the selected option 47 a in the designated plug-in effect frame 43. be able to.

The plug-in effect selection menu 47 is characterized in that the following two types of information are additionally displayed for each option 47a presented in the menu.
(1) Executability of plug-in effect in view of DSP resource capacity.
(2) Processing delay (latency) of DSP calculation additionally caused by addition (change or deletion) of plug-in effect.

  There are the following three display modes for the display of “executability of plug-in effect in view of DSP resource capacity” in (1). That is, (A) a display mode of options that can be executed by a plug-in effect, (B) a display mode of options that cannot be executed by a plug-in effect, and (C) a “squeeze compilation” (“squeeze compilation required”). ") Three different display modes with the display mode of options. With these three different display modes, the above three (A), (B), and (C) “executability of plug-in effect in view of DSP resource capacity” can be expressed. The “unexecutable” in (B) indicates that even if the plug-in effect of the option is selected, the plug-in effect cannot be executed due to lack of DSP resources. In this case, the plug-in effect name portion of the option is grayed out. In the example of FIG. 5, the “Convolution” option 47a is grayed out.

  In addition, the “squeeze required” in (C) means that resources are rearranged including other plug-in effects that are currently operating in one DSP (a DSP resource is squeezed and compiled). A plug-in effect option that is secured and can be executed. In this case, the plug-in effect name portion of the option is displayed with an underline. In the example of FIG. 5, the option 47a of “3D Effect” is underlined. Refer to the description with reference to FIG. 3 above for the description of squeeze compilation.

  In addition, (A) “executable plug-in effect” means that, when selected, the plug-in effect can be executed using the current DSP resource free area. In this case, the options are displayed in a normal display mode in which additional information is not placed.

  FIG. 5 illustrates a state in which the “squeeze required” option (“3D Effect”) 47 a in the plug-in effect selection menu 47 is pointed out by the pointer cursor 48. Note that “pointing out” here is an operation of simply positioning the pointer cursor 48 on the option, and then a selection confirmation operation will be performed by a mouse click or the like. When the “squeeze required” option 47a is pointed out, the other plug-in effect frames 43 that are affected by the squeeze compilation performed when the option (“3D Effect”) is set are color-changed (hatched). When performing squeeze compilation, temporarily stop other plug-in effects that are currently operating on the DSP, rearrange the resources of the stopped plug-in effects, and then set a new plug-in effect. . Therefore, the other plug-in effects that are currently in operation and are rearranged are the “other plug-in effects affected by squeeze compilation”. In the example of FIG. 5, each frame 43 of the compressor of rack No. 2 and the compressor of rack No. 3 is indicated by diagonal lines, and it is shown that these are affected by squeeze compilation associated with the setting of “3D Effect”. Is presenting. As is apparent from this example, plug-in effects of different paths (virtual racks) may be assigned to one DSP.

  In addition, the display of “processing delay (latency) of DSP operation additionally caused by addition (change or deletion) of plug-in effect” in (2) above is displayed when the plug-in effect is newly set. This is a display for warning how many sampling periods of delay are added to the DSP calculation processing of the assigning unit 6. In the example of FIG. 5, the warning display expresses an additional delay for n sampling periods as “nD”, which is additionally displayed on the right side of the plug-in effect name portion of the option 47a. Note that n is a positive integer. In the example of FIG. 4, when the “Reverb” frame 43 of rack No. 2 is changed to “Warm tube”, a delay of 2 sampling periods (2D) is entered, and when changed to “3D Effect”, 4 sampling periods are added. It is shown that a delay (4D) of (4D) is entered, and that the delay (1D) corresponding to one sampling period is entered when changing to “Flanger”. In addition, for example, when “no effect” is selected as a plug-in effect to be newly set, the delay amount of the entire DSP arithmetic processing may be reduced. Therefore, the delay warning display may be displayed as “−nD”.

The cause of the latency of the DSP is a delay due to calculation of each plug-in effect itself or when an audio signal is communicated between the DSP of the mixing processing unit 5 and the DSP of the effect applying unit 6 via the waveform bus 12. Delays that occur, delays that occur when audio signals are communicated between the DSPs of the effect applying unit 6 via the waveform bus 12, or a plurality of plug-in effects within one DSP of the effect applying unit 6 are sequentially There is a delay or the like caused by the execution order when executing (the resource placement order of plug-in effects).
Here, the latency when the DSP executes the effect applying process for a certain path will be briefly described. FIG. 9A shows a configuration example of one path including three plug-in effects PE1, PE2, and PE3. In this pass, the effect applying process is performed in the order of PE1, PE2, and PE3. Each of the plug-in effects PE1, PE2, and PE3 is assigned to any of the plurality of DSPs 60 to 63 of the effect applying unit 60. The delay that occurs when this pass effect applying process is executed differs depending on the DSP to which the plug-in effects PE1, PE2, and PE3 are assigned as follows.
(1) Plug-in effects PE1, PE2, and PE3 are assigned to one DSP, and the execution order of each PE1-3 in the DSP (plug-in effect resource allocation order) is the connection order of PE1-3 in the path , The delay added to execute the effect applying process for this path in the DSP is zero.
(2) When plug-in effects PE1, PE2, and PE3 are allocated across two DSPs, for example, when PE1 and PE2 are allocated to the same DSP and PE3 is allocated to another DSP Causes a delay of two sampling periods (2D) to transmit an audio signal from the one DSP to the other DSP via the waveform bus 12.
(3) When plug-in effects PE1, PE2, and PE3 are allocated across three DSPs, that is, PE1 is allocated to one DSP, PE2 is allocated to another DSP, and PE3 is allocated to another DSP. If so, the audio signal is transmitted from the one DSP to the other DSP via the waveform bus 12, and further the audio signal is transmitted from the other DSP to another DSP. Since the transmission of the audio signal via the bus 12 (transmission that causes a 2D delay) is executed twice, a delay of 4 sampling periods (4D) occurs.
(4) Furthermore, when assigning a plurality of plug-in effects to the same DSP as in (1) and (2) above, the execution order of the plurality of plug-in effects assigned within the one DSP (plug-in effects) Resource placement order) and the connection order of the plurality of plug-in effects in the path do not match (the order is reversed), the delay of one sampling period (1D) will be described in detail, as will be described later. Arise.
When this path is inserted into any input channel 33 to output channel 35 (when the path (rack) is selected in the rack selection pop-up window 51), the channel to be inserted (mixing) via the waveform bus 12. A connection (going) for transmitting an audio signal from the processing unit 5) to the DSP (effect applying unit 6) to which the plug-in effect PE1 at the beginning of the path is assigned, and a DSP (to which the plug-in effect PE3 at the end of the path is assigned) Connection (return) for transmitting an audio signal from the effect applying unit 6) to the insertion destination channel (mixing processing unit 5) is performed. In this case, an audio signal is communicated between the DSP of the mixing processing unit 5 and the DSP of the effect applying unit 6 via the waveform bus 12 regardless of which DSP of the effect applying unit 6 is assigned the plug-in effect. In this case, a delay of 4 sampling periods (4D) occurs. This delay is always present when a path is inserted into any input channel 33 to output channel 35, and is always a constant value (4D), and may be omitted in the following description. .

As described above, the execution order of a plurality of plug-in effects assigned in one DSP (the resource arrangement order of plug-in effects) does not match the connection order of the plurality of plug-in effects in the path (the order is reversed) Therefore, a delay of one sampling period (1D) occurs. Therefore, when the delay added with the new addition of the plug-in effect is 1D, the configuration of the path in which the plug-in effect is newly added (the plug-in effect connection order in the path), and the plug-in effect This is because of inconsistency with the arrangement of DSP resources to which is assigned. For example, assume that a plug-in effect in which PE2 is newly added in the path of FIG. 9A is used, and the resource usage status of the DSP to which PE2 is assigned is as shown in FIG. In (b), assuming that the lower side of the block representing one DSP is the head side of the memory address, the plug-in effect is executed in the order of PE1 and PE3 in the DSP resource arrangement of (b). Here, if the newly added PE2 is allocated to the free area shown in (b), that is, the resource free area after PE3, the plug-in effect is executed in the order of PE1, PE3, and PE2. Therefore, in order to realize the path configuration shown in (a) with the resource arrangement shown in (b), the processing result of PE2 executed in a certain sampling cycle is buffered until the next cycle, and the next In the sampling cycle, the processing result of PE2 buffered by the processing executed in the immediately preceding sampling cycle must be read into PE3. For this reason, in order to realize the path configuration shown in (a) by adding PE2 with the resource arrangement shown in (b), a delay of one sampling period is additionally generated.
On the other hand, when allocating PE2 to the DSP, by performing squeeze compilation, the resources are rearranged as shown in (c), and by securing a resource free area for adding PE2 after PE1, Since the mismatch between the plug-in effect array of the path shown in a) and the resource arrangement of the DSP is eliminated, a delay of one sampling period is not added. For the relationship between the path configuration and the DSP resource arrangement (which DSP uses which memory address of which DSP uses a resource), refer to the virtual rack management memory in FIG. 6A. You can figure it out.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when the option 47a additionally displaying the delay warning display (1D) for one sampling period is selected, a report dialog box 49 is further displayed in the vicinity of the option. It is comprised so that. In FIG. 5, if the option “Flanger” 47a is selected as indicated by a dotted line cursor 48 ′, a report dialog box 49 indicated by a dotted line is displayed. In the report dialog box 49, two radio buttons are prepared, and “1D” delay is added without performing squeeze compilation, or whether delay is added by performing squeeze compilation (“0D”). Either can be selected. The user can select either “1D” or “0D” radio buttons and confirm the selection by clicking the OK button. This report dialog box 49 is a report display displayed by the display control means according to claim 4.

  FIG. 10 shows the entire processing that is performed until a desired plug-in effect is selected from the plug-in effect selection menu 47 on the virtual rack screen, and the selected plug-in effect is set (displayed) in the plug-in effect frame 43. It is a flowchart which shows a typical flow. This process is activated when any plug-in effect frame 43 is designated by the user on the virtual rack screen. Here, the setting of the plug-in effect in the plug-in effect frame 43 designated by the user is changed. That is, the user first instructs which position of which virtual rack 41 (path) to change the setting of the plug-in effect. The configuration for designating one of the plug-in effect frames 43 on the virtual rack screen described here corresponds to “instruction means” described in the claims.

  In step S9, for all plug-in effects installed in the mixer 100, the possibility of execution when a plug-in effect is added at the position of the plug-in effect frame 43 specified by the user (is there a DSP resource free area? Process to check). In step S10, a process of popping up the plug-in effect selection menu 47 in the vicinity of the designated plug-in effect frame 43 is performed. Each plug-in effect option 47a of the plug-in effect selection menu 47 displayed here is displayed in one of three display modes according to the result of the feasibility check performed in step S9. (See FIG. 5 above).

  When the plug-in effect selection menu 47 is displayed by the process of step S10, the user can select a desired plug-in effect from the displayed plug-in effect selection menu 47 (step S11). The plug-in effect selection operation may be performed by designating a desired option 47 a with the pointer cursor 48 from the options 47 a of the plug-in effect selection menu 47. When the user performs a plug-in effect selection operation (YES in step S12), in step S13, the plug-in effect setting in the plug-in effect frame 43 designated by the user is set in the plug-in selected in step S11. Process to change to effect. This plug-in effect change process corresponds to “assignment means” described in the claims. In step S14, the display of the plug-in effect in the designated plug-in effect frame 43 is changed to a display corresponding to the new plug-in effect changed in step S13. As a result, plug-in effect display control for displaying an image corresponding to the plug-in effect selected in the plug-in effect selection menu 47 in the virtual rack 41 is performed.

  On the other hand, for example, if the user cancels the selection of the plug-in effect by clicking outside the frame of the plug-in effect selection menu 47 (NO in step S12), the display of the plug-in effect selection menu 47 is deleted and the process is performed. finish.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure for checking the feasibility of the plug-in effect performed in step S9 of FIG. In step S15, the operation of the plug-in effect currently set in the plug-in effect frame 43 designated by the user is temporarily stopped, and the DSPs 60 to 63 when the currently set plug-in effect is not executed are freed. By detecting the resource, the current resource usage status of the DSPs 60 to 63 is confirmed. Refer to FIG. 3 for an example of the resource usage status.

  Here, all (n) plug-in effects installed in the mixer 100 are identified by consecutive identification numbers i of integers 1 to n, and the four DSPs 60 to 63 of the effect applying unit 6 are respectively It is assumed that identification numbers j = 1 to 4 are used for identification. In step S16, the plug-in effect with the identification number i = 1 is set as the plug-in effect to be checked. In step S17, the DSP with identification number j = 1 is set as the DSP to be checked. In step S18, it is checked whether the DSP (j) to be checked has a free resource area necessary for executing the plug-in effect (i). Here, it is assumed that there is a resource if the total amount of the resource free area of the DSP (j) satisfies the resource amount necessary for executing the plug-in effect (i). That is, in step S18, it does not matter whether the resource free areas are continuous or distributed.

  If there is no necessary resource free area in the DSP (j) to be checked (NO in step S18), in step S19, the variable DSPj (i indicating the feasibility of the plug-in effect (i) in this DSP (j) ) Is disabled (DSPj (i) = 0).

  If there is a necessary resource free area in the DSP (j) to be checked (YES in step S18), it is checked in step S20 whether or not the resource free area is secured as a continuous free area.

  When the resource free areas are dispersed in the DSP (j) to be checked (NO in step S20), in order to assign the plug-in effect (i) to the DSP (j), the resources are rearranged by squeeze compilation. It must be made. Accordingly, in step S21, the variable DSPj (i) indicating the feasibility of the plug-in effect (i) in this DSP (j) is set to the required squeeze (DSPj (i) = 1).

  When necessary resources can be secured in the continuous area in the DSP (j) to be checked (YES in step S20), the plug-in effect (i) can be assigned to the DSP (j). Therefore, in step S22, the variable DSPj (i) indicating the feasibility of the plug-in effect (i) in the DSP (j) is set to be executable (DSPj (i) = 2).

  In step S23, assuming the virtual rack 41 (path) in which the plug-in effect (i) is set in the plug-in effect frame 43 designated by the user, the plug-in effect (i) is assigned by the DSP (j). In this case, a delay time (latency) additionally generated when the assumed virtual rack 41 (path) effect applying process is executed is calculated, and the calculated value is set in the variable ADLj (i).

  As described above, by the processing of steps S18 to S23, the feasibility (DSPj (i)) of a certain plug-in effect (i) in a certain DSP (j) and the plug-in effect (i) Two points of delay (ADLj (i)) added with the addition are checked.

  In step S24, the DSP identification number j to be checked is incremented by one. If all the DSPs 60 to 63 constituting the effect providing unit 6 have not been checked (YES in step S25), the processing of step S18 and subsequent steps is performed on the DSP with the identification number j set in step S24. Two points are checked: the feasibility of the plug-in effect (i) and the delay (ADLj (i)) added when the plug-in effect (i) is added. By repeating this, for every DSP 60 to 63 that constitutes the effect applying unit 6, the feasibility of the plug-in effect (i) (DSPj (i)) and the addition of the plug-in effect (i) Data of the added delay (ADLj (i)) is obtained.

  For all the DSPs 60 to 63 constituting the effect imparting unit 6, the feasibility (DSPj (i)) and delay (ADLj (i)) have been checked for the plug-in effect (i) currently set as the check target. If so (NO in step S25), the plug-in effect identification number (i) to be checked is incremented in step S26. If the plug-in effect with the identification number (i) set in step S26 is in a usable plug-in effect (YES in step S27), all the DSPs 60 constituting the effect providing unit 6 are processed by the processing in step S17 and subsequent steps. ˜63 (j = 1 to 4) are checked for the feasibility (DSPj (i)) and delay (ADLj (i)) of the plug-in effect (i) newly set in step S26. By performing the above-described processing for all (n) plug-in effects installed in the mixer 100, the DSPs 60 to 63 (j = 1 to 1) for each plug-in effect (i = 1 to n). 4) Data of executability (DSPj (i)) and delay (ADLj (i)) added when the plug-in effect is assigned to each of the DSPs 60 to 63 is obtained.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of the configuration of a plug-in effect management memory for storing the data obtained in FIG. The plug-in effect management memory may be provided in the RAM 3, for example. In the plug-in effect management memory, for all plug-in effects (PE1, PE2, PE3...) Installed in the mixer 100, the executability “DSPj” for each of the DSPs 60 to 63 constituting the effect applying unit 6 is provided. (I) "data (executable not possible = 0, squeeze required = 1 or executable = 2), and a delay" ADLj (i) added when the plug-in effect is assigned to each DSP 60-63 " Is saved. With this plug-in effect management memory, data on the feasibility of each DSP 60 to 63 when adding a plug-in effect at the position of the plug-in effect frame 43 specified by the user, and the plug-in to each DSP 60 to 63 The delay data added when the effect is assigned can be grasped for all plug-in effects installed in the mixer 100. The data stored in the plug-in effect management memory is used for display processing of the plug-in effect selection menu 47 described below.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the display process of the plug-in effect selection menu 47 performed in step S10 of FIG. In step S28, an empty plug-in effect selection menu 47 is popped up at a corresponding position on the virtual rack screen, that is, in the vicinity of the plug-in effect frame 43 designated by the user.

  In step S29, the identification number i of the plug-in effect is set to 1, and the plug-in effect having the identification number i = 1 is set as a check target in the next step S30. In step S30, the plug-in effect management memory shown in FIG. 12 is referred to, and the value of execution possibility “DSPj (i)” in each DSP 60 to 63 for plug-in effect i set in step S29 (non-executable = 0, squeeze required = 1 or executable = 2).

  When the plug-in effect i can be executed by any of the DSPs 60 to 63 (DSPj (i) = 2), the plug-in effect i is referred to the plug-in effect management memory of FIG. 12 in step S31. The DSP (j) having the shortest ADLj (i) is selected from the DSPs (j) that can be executed (DSPj (i) = 2). In step S32, the selected ADLj (i) sets the identification number j of the shortest DSP in the variable SDS (i) and executes the plug-in effect (i) with the selected DSP (j). The delay added to the case, that is, the shortest ADLj (i) is set to the variable SDL (i). The selected values of SDS (i) and SDL (i) are stored in association with the plug-in effect i in the plug-in effect management memory shown in FIG. 12 (see FIG. 12). Accordingly, the plug-in effect management memory for storing the SDS (i) of each plug-in effect corresponds to the “storage means” recited in the claims.

The DSP identification number j set in the variable SDS (i) in step S31 indicates the DSP selected as the assignment destination of the plug-in effect i, and when the plug-in effect i is assigned to the DSP (j). The delay time ADLj (i) added when executing the effect applying process of the virtual rack 41 (path) in which the plug-in effect i is set in the plug-in effect frame 43 designated by the user is the shortest. That is, the DSP with the identification number j set in the variable SDS (i) is optimal as an assignment destination of the plug-in effect i when the plug-in effect i is set in the plug-in effect frame 43 designated by the user. DSP. Also, by setting the delay time information ADLj (i) in the case of assigning the plug-in effect i to the DSP (j) in the variable SDL (i), each of the plug-in effect selection menu 47 described later is set. The delay warning display process of the option 47a can be realized.
Then, in step S33, the plug-in effect selection menu 47 displays the name of the plug-in effect i in a normal display form expressing “executable”, thereby displaying the options of the plug-in effect on the menu 47. To do.

Also, if there is a DSP 60 to 63 (DSP (j) = 1 to 4) that can execute the plug-in effect (i) by rearranging resources by squeeze compilation (DSPj (i) = 1). Referring to the plug-in effect management memory of FIG. 12, squeeze compilation is required to execute the plug-in effect i (DSPj (i) = 1) out of DSP (j), and ADLj (i) is the shortest. DSP (j) is selected (step S34), the value j of the selected DSP (j) is set to SDS (i), and the ADL (j) of the selected DSP (j), that is, the shortest delay is set. Set to SDL (i) (step S35). As a result, the optimum DSP is selected as the assignment destination of the plug-in effect i, and the delay that occurs when the plug-in effect i is assigned to the selected DSP, that is, the shortest delay is set in SDL (i). .
In step S36, the name of the plug-in effect i is displayed on the plug-in effect selection menu 47 in a display mode with an underline representing “squeeze required”, so that the selection of the plug-in effect is displayed on the menu 47. To do.

  In this embodiment, in the determination in step S30, priority is given to a DSP (DSPj (i) = 2) that can be executed as it is. That is, if DSPj (i) = 2 does not exist and only DSPj (i) = 1 exists, the process proceeds to step S34.

  Among the DSPs that can execute the plug-in effect or can be executed by performing squeeze compilation in the processing of steps S31 to S34, the DSP that has the shortest delay when the plug-in effect is assigned is the shortest. By searching for, it is possible to automatically determine an optimum DSP as an assignment destination of the plug-in effect. That is, the processing of steps S31 and S34 corresponds to “determination means” described in the claims.

  Further, when the plug-in effect i can be executed (DSPj (i) = 2) to squeeze required (DSPj (i) = 1), the name of the plug-in effect is displayed in steps S33 to S36. Then, in step S37, the value of SDL (i) of the plug-in effect i is checked. If the value of SDL (i) is other than 0 (SDL (i) = n or -n) (step (YES in S37), in step S38, the value of the SDL (i) is added to the plug-in effect frame 43 designated by the user to the right of the option of the plug-in effect i in the plug-in effect selection menu 47. It is additionally displayed as information on the delay that occurs additionally when the in-effect i is added. The processing in step S38 corresponds to “display control means”.

  If none of the DSPs 60 to 63 can execute the plug-in effect i (DSPj (i) = 0) in the determination in step S30, the plug-in effect selection menu 47 displays the plug-in effect i in step S39. Are displayed in a gray-out display mode expressing “unexecutable”, and the menu 47 displays the plug-in effect options.

  When the name (option) of the plug-in effect (i) is displayed in the plug-in effect selection menu 47 in any of the three display modes by the above processing, the identification number i to be checked is incremented ( If there is a plug-in effect corresponding to the identification number i set in step S40 (YES in step S41), the processing from step S30 is performed on the plug-in effect having the identification number i set in step S40. . By performing the processing described above for all (n) plug-in effects installed in the mixer 100, the options corresponding to all plug-in effects (i = 1 to n) are (1) DSP's A plug-in effect selection menu 47 that additionally displays two types of information, namely, the feasibility of each plug-in effect in view of the resource capacity and (2) the DSP delay time that accompanies the addition of each plug-in effect. Can be displayed.

  In the flowchart shown in FIG. 13, there is no DSP capable of executing the plug-in effect (DSPj (i) = 2) in the determination in step S30, and a DSP requiring squeeze (DSPj (i) = 1). The processing configuration example in which the process proceeds to step S34 only when there is only the DSP, that is, the DSP that can execute the plug-in effect (DSPj (i) = 2) and the DSP that requires squeeze (DSPj (i) = 1) When both exist, a processing configuration example giving priority to a DSP that can be executed as it is (DSPj (i) = 2) (configuration example giving priority to no squeeze) is shown. The configuration of the determination process in step S30 is not limited to the above. When both DSPj (i) = 2 and DSPj (i) = 1 exist, DSPj (i) = 2 to DSPj (i) = 1. A processing configuration in which ADLj (i) has the shortest DSP (j), that is, a processing configuration that gives priority to a short delay may be used. In addition, the user may be able to select whether priority is given to no squeeze or priority is given to short delay.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the plug-in effect change process in the plug-in effect frame 43 designated by the user in step S13 of FIG. This process is executed when any option 47a is selected in the plug-in effect selection menu 47 as already described with reference to FIG. If another plug-in effect (“old plug-in effect”) has already been set in the plug-in effect frame 43 designated by the user (YES in step S42), the “old plug-in effect” is processed by the processing in steps S43 to S45. Delete “In-effect”. The operation of deleting the old plug-in effect in steps S43 to S45 will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 (a) and 15 (b). In the example illustrated in FIG. 15, it is assumed that the middle plug-in effect “E2” is deleted in a path including three plug-in effects “E1”, “E2”, and “E3”. That is, “E2” is the “old plug-in effect”. In step S43, the old plug-in effect is bypassed. When bypassing, the output of the old plug-in effect and the output of the plug-in effect immediately before it are crossfade as described above. In FIG. 15A, the state where the output of E1 and the output of E2 are crossfade and the input of E3 is switched from the output signal of E2 to the output signal of E1 is indicated by a dotted line.

  After the end of the cross fade, that is, with the E3 input switched to the E1 output signal as shown in FIG. 15B, the operation of the old plug-in effect (E2 in FIG. 15) is stopped (step S44). In step S45, the DSP resources allocated to the old plug-in effect are released, and the current memory storage contents related to the old plug-in effect are deleted.

  In step S46, the plug-in effect corresponding to the newly selected option 47a is added as the plug-in effect is added with reference to SDL (i) stored in the plug-in effect management memory of FIG. Check if the delay to be done is “1D”. When the SDL (i) is “1D” (YES in step S46), a report dialog box 49 is displayed in the vicinity of the option corresponding to the selected plug-in effect in the plug-in effect selection menu 47 in step S47. Display and confirm to the user whether to add a delay without performing squeeze compilation or to eliminate an increase in delay by performing squeeze compilation. The processing in step S47 corresponds to “display control means”.

When the SDL (i) of the newly selected plug-in effect is other than “1D” (NO in step S46), or when the user selects not to perform squeeze compilation in the report dialog box 49 ( The process from step S48 to step S49 and subsequent steps is performed.
When a new plug-in effect is set in the plug-in effect frame 43, that is, when an option other than the option “no effect” is specified in the plug-in effect selection menu 47 (YES in step S49), step S50 The new plug-in effect is set in the plug-in effect frame 43 by the processes of .about.52. That is, in step S50, with respect to the new plug-in effect, referring to the SDS (i) stored in the plug-in effect management memory in FIG. (The DSP with the shortest delay to be added) is specified, the new plug-in effect is assigned to the assigned DSP, and the operation data of the new plug-in effect is set in the current memory. In step S51, the new plug-in effect is assigned. Start the in-effect operation (start the plug-in effect software). In step S52, the new plug-in effect is connected to the virtual rack 41 of the plug-in effect frame 43 designated by the user (the path to which the new plug-in effect is inserted) so that audio signals can be input and output. When connecting a new plug-in effect, a new plug-in effect can be added without interrupting the playback sound of the audio signal of the path by interposing a cross-fade process. Examples of operations for inserting a new plug-in effect into a path are shown in FIGS. FIGS. 15C and 15D show an operation of adding a new plug-in effect E2 ′ at the position E2 deleted in FIGS. 15A and 15B. In (c), the output of E1 bypasses E2 ′ and is input to E3. The input to E3 is crossfade from the bypass output of E1 to the output of E2 ′. When the cross fade is completed as shown in (d), the bypass path of the output of E1 is deleted. Thus, a new E2 ′ can be added to the path without causing the output signal of the path to be cut off (or causing noise).

  If a new plug-in effect is not set in the plug-in effect frame 43, that is, if the option “no effect” is specified in the plug-in effect selection menu 47 (NO in step S49), the above step The plug-in effect changing process ends with the old plug-in effect in the plug-in effect frame 43 deleted in S43 to S45.

  On the other hand, when SDL (i) of the newly selected plug-in effect is “1D” (YES in step S46), and selection to perform squeeze compilation is performed in the report dialog box 49 (the step A delay occurs when the new plug-in effect is set by squeezing and compiling the DSP (SDS (i)) selected as the assignment destination of the new plug-in effect in steps S53 to S58. The DSP resource is rearranged so that it does not. That is, all the plug-in effects (related plug-in effects) that are operating in the assigned DSP are temporarily deleted by the processing of steps S53 to S55, and the deleted related plug-in effects are processed by the processing of steps S56 to 58. Is reconfigured in the allocation destination DSP with a new resource arrangement. Relocation of related plug-in effect resources consists of the path configuration (order of connection of multiple plug-in effects) in which a new plug-in effect is added (set) and the allocation of resources in the DSP to which the new plug-in effect is assigned. This is done so that they are aligned (see FIG. 9). The details of the operations in steps S53 to S55 are the same as the operations for deleting the old plug-in effect in steps S43 to S45, except that the deletion target is the related plug-in effect. The operations in steps S56 to S58 are the same as the operations for setting a new plug-in effect in steps S50 to S52, except that the setting target is a related plug-in effect.

  Then, in steps S59 to S61, the new plug-in effect is set in the allocation destination DSP. The resource to which the new plug-in effect is assigned is a free area secured by squeeze compilation executed by the processes in steps S53 to S58. Since the operation for setting a new plug-in effect is the same as the operation for setting a new plug-in effect in steps S50 to S52, refer to the above description for details.

  If SDL (i) is other than “1D” (NO in step S46) and the newly selected plug-in effect is squeeze required (the option is displayed with an underline), the above step is performed. Before performing the setting of the new plug-in effect in S50 to 52, the squeeze compilation process similar to that in steps S53 to S58 is performed, so that the DSP (SDS (i)) to which the new plug-in effect is assigned is assigned. It is sufficient to secure a free resource area necessary for executing the plug-in effect.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing another example of the plug-in effect change process. When a new plug-in effect is not set in the plug-in effect frame 43, that is, when the option “no effect” is specified in the plug-in effect selection menu 47 (NO in step S62), steps S63 to S65 are performed. Through the process, the old plug-in effect in the plug-in effect frame 43 is deleted. This is the same as the operation in steps S43 to S45 in FIG.

  Further, when a new plug-in effect is set in the plug-in effect frame 43, that is, when an option other than the option “no effect” is designated in the plug-in effect selection menu 47 (YES in step S62), step In S66, it is checked whether or not the old plug-in effect is set in the plug-in effect frame 43. If there is no old plug-in effect (NO in step S66), the new plug-in effect is set in the plug-in effect frame 43 in steps S67 to S69. This is the same as the operation in steps S50 to S52 in FIG.

  If there is an old plug-in effect in the new plug-in effect frame 43 (YES in step S66), the old plug-in effect is replaced with the new plug-in effect by the processing from step S70. FIGS. 17A and 17B are diagrams for explaining the operation of replacing the plug-in effect E2 with E2 ′ in steps S70 to S74 of FIG. In step S70, the new plug-in effect is assigned to the DSP (SDS (i)) selected as the assignment destination of the new plug-in effect, and operation data of the new plug-in effect is set in the current memory. In step S71, the operation of the new plug-in effect is started. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 17A, the output of E1 is also input to the newly set plug-in effect E2 ′, and both the old plug-in effect E2 and the new plug-in effect E2 ′ are executed in parallel. Executed. In step S72, the output of the old plug-in effect is crossfade to the output of the new plug-in effect. FIG. 17B shows a state after the cross fade is completed. The output of the old plug-in effect E2 disappears, and the signal input to E3 is switched to the output of the new plug-in effect E2 ′. After the crossfade is completed, the operation of the old plug-in effect is stopped in step S73, the DSP resources assigned to the old plug-in effect are released in step S74, and the current memory storage contents are deleted. Then delete the old plug-in effect. Thereby, a new plug-in effect can be set in the plug-in effect frame 43.

  Note that the execution of the plug-in effect changing process in accordance with the procedure illustrated in FIG. 16 described above requires sufficient DSP computing capacity (memory resources, new capacity) to execute the old plug-in effect and the new plug-in effect simultaneously in parallel. No delay is added due to the addition of plug-in effects).

  Furthermore, as one of the resource management methods for efficiently using the DSPs 60 to 63 constituting the effect providing unit 6, the arrangement status of resources currently used by plug-in effects in the DSPs 60 to 63 (see FIG. 3). It is also possible to shorten the total delay in the entire effect imparting unit 6 by appropriately modifying (see the example of FIG. 5). FIG. 18 shows an example of a processing procedure for shortening the delay of the effect applying unit 6. This process may be started when an instruction to execute the process is issued from the user, for example.

  In step S75, the DSP assignment (DSP resource arrangement) pattern of the plug-in effect that minimizes the total delay of the DSP operation in the entire effect imparting unit 6 is simulated. For example, the following three methods are conceivable as the simulation method.

  (1) Round-robin method: A method of verifying all possible patterns of arrangement patterns moved from the currently assigned DSP to another DSP for all plug-in effects, and calculating the total delay for each pattern. As described above with reference to FIG. 9, when the delay that occurs additionally is 1D, the plug-in effect array in the path where the plug-in effect is inserted and the DSP to which the plug-in effect is assigned Inconsistency with the resource allocation order (that is, communication of audio signals between plug-in effects in one DSP) is the cause of the delay. Further, when an audio signal is communicated between the plurality of DSPs of the effect applying unit 6 via the waveform bus 12, a 2D delay is added. In other words, the odd delay always includes a 1D delay due to a mismatch between the plug-in effect array and the DSP resource arrangement order. Therefore, the delay of 1D is eliminated by redoing the arrangement of the plug-in effect that causes the delay of 1D by squeeze compilation. Therefore, when executing the “brute force method”, it is preferable to first execute the “brute force” after eliminating the delay of 1D in the DSP having an odd number of delays.

  (2) A method of calculating the total resources necessary for executing all plug-in effects of each path for each path, and arranging the plug-in effects on the DSP in units of paths in order from the path having the largest total resource amount. The idea is that if the total resource amount is assigned to a DSP in order from the largest path, the risk that a plug-in effect constituting one path is assigned across a plurality of DSPs is reduced.

  (3) A method of detecting a pattern (optimum combination of paths) that minimizes the amount of resources remaining in one DSP by combining paths, as a method different from the method described above, which is assigned to a DSP in units of paths. An example of an optimal combination of paths is a combination of paths whose total resource amount balance is opposite (a path with the maximum total resource amount and a path with the minimum total resource amount).

  As a result of the simulation in step S75, if the total delay cannot be shortened from the current state (NO in step S76), the user is notified of this by displaying, for example, “cannot be shortened” (step S77).

  As a result of the simulation in step S75, if the total delay can be shortened as compared with the current state (YES in step S76), in step S78, the resource allocation state for the DSP of the current plug-in effect is matched with the simulation result. Thus, the plug-in effect to be moved, the DSP of the movement destination, and the resource arrangement in the movement destination DSP are determined. In step S79, the user is notified of the contents of movement by displaying character information or the like. In response to the notification, the user may be able to instruct whether or not to move (step S80).

  If the user permits the movement of the plug-in effect (step S81), the movement of the plug-in effect is executed in step S82. That is, the plug-in effect to be moved is removed from the current DSP and assigned to the resource location of the destination DSP determined by simulation. Here, the operation of inserting / removing the plug-in effect may be performed by appropriately combining the operation of deleting the plug-in effect already described with reference to FIG. 14 and the like, and the operation of newly installing the plug-in effect.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, in the virtual rack screen of FIG. 5, one virtual rack 41 is arbitrarily assigned to one to a plurality of plug-in effect frames 43 specified by the user by the number-of-installation setting unit 42. Plug-in effects can be attached, and plug-in effects can be inserted into a desired signal processing block in units of the virtual rack 41. Therefore, even when multiple plug-in effects are inserted into one signal processing block, it is possible to determine which plug-in effect and which plug-in effect are used in what combination. It becomes possible to distinguish at a glance from the display of. Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, the plug-in effect editing screen is configured in units of virtual racks 41, that is, the editing screen for each of a plurality of plug-in effects mounted in the virtual rack is displayed in one screen. By integrating and displaying, it is possible to provide a user interface that can be easily operated by the user by reducing the number of displayed edit screens.

  In addition, in the plug-in effect selection menu 47, the squeeze compile is performed by informing the user that the squeeze compile is performed by displaying the plug-in effect options that can be executed by squeeze compile in another manner (underlined). The plug-in effect can now be selected as a new addition target. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently use the DSP resources of the effect providing unit 6 and to expand the selection range of the plug-in effect and the opportunity for the user to newly add the plug-in effect.

  Further, in the processing of steps S31 to S34 in FIG. 13, the delay added when the plug-in effect is executed from among the DSPs that can be executed or can be executed by performing squeeze compilation is the shortest. By executing the process of searching for the DSP, when the plug-in effect is executed, the plug-in effect can be automatically assigned to the DSP having the shortest DSP operation delay (latency). . Therefore, it is possible to optimize (shorten) the delay of the DSP operation and save the memory resource of the delay element. Therefore, the DSP resources of the effect providing unit 6 can be used efficiently. Further, for each option in the plug-in effect selection menu 47, warning about a delay added when the plug-in effect is executed can be provided to the user, and information regarding efficient use of DSP resources can be provided to the user.

  In the above embodiment, the effect imparting unit 6 is composed of four DSPs 60 to 63, and four virtual racks (No. 1 to No. 4) 41 are provided on the virtual rack screen shown in FIG. However, the number of DSPs constituting the effect providing unit 6 and the number of virtual racks provided in the virtual rack screen are not limited to the above example. Moreover, in the said Example, although the number of DSPs which comprise the effect provision part 6 and the number of virtual racks with which a virtual rack screen is equipped are the same, both may be different.

  Further, the configuration of the virtual rack screen and each element (the virtual rack 41, the installation number setting unit 42, the plug-in effect frame 43, and the patch display units 44 and 45) are not limited to the display form illustrated in FIG. It is only necessary that one or a plurality of plug-in effects specified by the user can be attached to the virtual rack, and the combinations of plug-in effects inserted in one signal processing block can be collectively presented to the user for each virtual rack.

  Also, in the plug-in effect selection menu 47 shown in FIG. 5, the selection of plug-in effects that need to be squeezed for new addition is underlined to show distinction from others. If the option and other options are displayed in different modes, the display mode is not limited to the example of FIG. In FIG. 5, when the “squeeze required” option (“3D Effect”) 47 a in the plug-in effect selection menu 47 is pointed out by the pointer cursor 48, another plug-in that is affected by squeeze compilation. Although an example in which the effect frame 43 is color-changed (hatched), that is, the frame 43 is displayed in a different form has been shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the “squeeze required” option is pointed out, The virtual rack 41 in which the affected plug-in effect is inserted may be displayed in a different manner.

  In the plug-in effect executability check process shown in FIG. 11, the plug-in effect to be checked can be executed, cannot be executed, and squeeze compilation (re-resources within one DSP). In this example, the three possible execution possibilities are checked. However, the execution is impossible (there is not enough free space in one DSP, either continuous or non-consecutive). In such a case, by adding a process for checking whether or not it can be executed by relocating resources among a plurality of DSPs, it becomes possible to execute by relocating resources by the plurality of DSPs. You may comprise so that it can display in another aspect.

  Further, in the plug-in effect selection menu 47 on the virtual rack screen in FIG. 5, the option displayed in gray out (in the example of FIG. 5, the option 47 a of “Configuration”) is “unexecutable” due to a lack of DSP resources. It corresponds to various plug-in effects. This “non-executable” plug-in effect will also be “executable” if any currently active plug-in effect is deleted. In order to add a plug-in effect corresponding to the selected option by displaying the plug-in effect as a deletion candidate in, for example, a pop-up window when the grayed-out option is pointed out in the selection menu 47. The user may be notified of which plug-in effect that is currently in operation should be deleted.

  In the report dialog box 49 displayed on the virtual rack screen in FIG. 5 above, a radio button for selecting either “1D” or “0D” is displayed, and a new plug-in effect is added. In addition, either “1D” delay is added without relocation (squeeze compilation) of existing plug-in effects on the DSP, or squeeze compilation is performed to eliminate the addition of delay (“0D”). Was able to choose. This report dialog box 49 is not limited to the display configuration shown in the figure, and when adding a new plug-in effect, the latency is determined by rearranging the existing plug-in effect on the DSP (squeeze compilation). It only needs to be a display that reports to the user that it can be reduced. In the above embodiment, when the SDL (i) of the newly added plug-in effect is “1D” (YES in step S46 in FIG. 14), the report dialog box 49 is displayed (step in FIG. 14). S47) Although the processing configuration is shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and when adding a new plug-in effect, the latency can be shortened by rearranging the existing plug-in effect (squeeze compilation) on the DSP. For example, the report dialog box 49 may be displayed even when the SDL (i) of the plug-in effect to be newly added is other than “1D”.

  Further, if only focusing on the technical idea of enabling a plurality of plug-in effects specified by the user to be attached to one virtual rack 41 on the virtual rack screen, the effect applying unit 6 causes the DSP to be a micro of plug-in effects. Not only the configuration for executing the program but also a configuration for executing the software program of the plug-in effect by the CPU may be adopted.

The block diagram which shows an example of the electrical hardware constitutions of the digital mixing apparatus concerning this invention. The block diagram which expands and shows the mixing process part periphery in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the resource usage condition of DSP which comprises the effect provision part in FIG. The block diagram for demonstrating an example of the algorithm of the mixing process which the mixing process part in FIG. 1 performs. The figure which shows the example of a display of the virtual rack screen displayed on the indicator of FIG. (A) is a figure which shows the structural example of a virtual rack management memory, (b) is a figure for demonstrating the path | pass in a virtual rack. (A) A diagram showing a display example of a channel mixer screen displayed on the display of FIG. 1, (b) a diagram for explaining a rack selection pop-up window on the mixer screen, and (c) relating to one virtual rack The figure which shows the example of a display of a plug-in effect edit screen. The flowchart which shows an example of the process which changes the number of plug-in effects which can be mounted in a virtual rack. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining “squeeze compilation”, in which (a) shows an example of a path configuration, and (b) and (c) show examples of DSP resource allocation. The flowchart for demonstrating the whole flow of the setting change process of a plug-in effect. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for checking plug-in effect execution possibility in FIG. 10; The figure which shows the structural example of a plug-in effect management memory. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure of plug-in effect selection menu display processing in FIG. The flowchart which shows an example of the procedure of the plug-in effect change process in the said FIG. (A)-(d) is a figure explaining the specific example of the transition of a path | pass structure by the plug-in effect change process of the said FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing another example of the plug-in effect change processing procedure in FIG. 10. (A), (b) is a figure explaining the specific example of the transition of a path | pass structure by the plug-in effect change process of the said FIG. The flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence for shortening the delay (latency) of an effect provision part.

Explanation of symbols

100 mixer, 1 CPU, 2 flash memory, 3 ROM, 4 waveform input / output interface, 5 signal processing unit, 6 effect applying unit, 7 display, 8 operator, 9 PC interface, 10 MIDI interface, 11 other interface, 12 waveform Bus, 13 CPU bus, 60-63 DSP, 30 analog input section, 31 digital input section, 32 input patch, 33 input channel, 34 MIX bus, 35 MIX output ch, 36 output patch, 37 analog output section, 38 digital output Section, 40 plug-in effects, 41 virtual rack screen, 42 plug-in effect installation number setting section, 43 plug-in effect frame, 44 patch display section, 45 patch display section, 46 edit button, 47 plug-in effect selection Menu, 47a choices, 48 pointer cursor, 49 reporting dialog box, 50 effect display field, pop-up window for 51 rack selection

Claims (4)

In an effect imparting device having a plurality of plug-in effects configured by plug-in software that provides a predetermined effect imparting function for an audio signal,
A plurality of signal paths formed by serially connecting a plurality of plug-in effects selected by a user;
A plurality of signal processing means for performing an effect applying process by the plurality of plug-in effects forming the signal path;
Instruction means for giving an instruction to add a new plug-in effect to the signal path;
A selection means for allowing a user to select a plug-in effect to be newly added to the signal path from all plug-in effects included in the effect applying device;
Assuming a signal path to which a plug-in effect is newly added in accordance with an instruction from the instruction means, if the plug-in effect is assigned to any signal processing means of the plurality of signal processing means, the assumed signal A determination unit that determines an optimal signal processing unit as an assignment destination of the plug-in effect by examining whether the delay time when executing the effect applying process by the plurality of plug-in effects forming the path is the shortest,
And assigning means for allocating the plug-in effect selected by the selecting means to the signal processing means most suitable as the assignment destination determined by the determining means, thereby realizing a signal path to which the plug-in effect is added. An effect imparting device characterized by that. The determination means is means for determining an optimum signal processing means as an assignment destination for each of all plug-in effects that can be selected by the effect applying apparatus in accordance with an instruction from the instruction means,
The effect providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit receives a plug-in effect selection operation by a user after the determination by the determination unit is completed. The determination means stores, for each plug-in effect, information on a delay time when each plug-in effect is assigned to an optimum signal processing means as an assignment destination determined for every selectable plug-in effect. Including storage means;
The selection means displays a list of options corresponding to all the plug-in effects included in the display means and the effect applying device, and a selection menu for allowing the user to select an option corresponding to a desired plug-in effect. Selection menu display control means to be displayed on the display means, and a display for additionally displaying the delay time information of each plug-in effect stored in the storage means in the selection corresponding to each plug-in effect in the selection menu The effect applying apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a control unit.   When newly adding a plug-in effect to the signal path, reassigning another plug-in effect already assigned to the optimum signal processing means as the assignment destination of the plug-in effect determined by the determining means If the delay time when executing the effect applying process by the plurality of plug-in effects forming the signal path can be shortened, display control means for causing the display means to display a display to that effect to the user. The effect applying apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

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