JP5288205B2 - Network audio system - Google Patents

Description

  According to the present invention, in a network audio system in which an input unit and a signal processing unit are connected to a network, both a gain value set by the input unit and a gain value set by the signal processing unit can be displayed by a set of LED indicators. Related to technology.

  Conventionally, a network configured by connecting a DSP (digital signal processor) unit that executes signal processing such as mixing and effect addition and an input unit having an AD (analog-digital) conversion function to a network capable of transmitting and receiving acoustic signals. Audio systems are known. In such a network audio system, a signal of one AD channel may be output to a plurality of DSP units and shared for use.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of gain value operation in a conventional network audio system. Two DSPs 702 and 703 and one AD unit 701 are connected to the network. The AD unit 701 includes a head amplifier (HA) 711 and an AD converter (ADC) 712. An acoustic signal input from a microphone or the like is input to the DSPs 702 and 703 as digital acoustic signals via the HA 711 and the ADC 712. Each of the DSPs 702 and 703 performs various signal processing by executing a set microprogram. The DSPs 702 and 703 have operation units 721 and 731, respectively, and the operation unit can operate a gain value in the DSP and an operation of the gain value of the HA 711 of the AD unit 701.

  In the network audio system as shown in FIG. 7, for example, it is assumed that the gain value of the HA 711 of the AD unit 701 is changed in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 721 of the DSP 701. At this time, since the acoustic signal output from the AD unit 701 is input to both the DSPs 702 and 703, the change in the gain value of the HA 711 also affects the DSP 703. In order to prevent this, when the gain value of the HA 711 of the AD unit 701 is changed according to the operation of one of the DSPs (for example, 702), the other DSP (for example, 703) performs the process in the previous stage of performing signal processing. A function of automatically correcting so as to cancel the amount of change in the gain value is considered (see paragraph 0018 and the like in Patent Document 1 below). Accordingly, the other DSP 703 can perform signal processing without being affected by the change in the gain value of the HA 711 of the input unit due to the operation of the DSP 702 described above.

JP 2008-17538 A

  As described above, when one AD channel is shared by a plurality of DSP units (or channels), there is a problem in that an operation in one DSP affects another DSP, and processing becomes complicated. Further, other DSPs have a disadvantage that it is not known whether or not the currently displayed gain value is an actual AD gain value.

  In the present invention, when one AD unit is shared by a plurality of DSP units, an operation in one DSP does not directly affect another DSP, and the AD gain value and the DSP gain value can be controlled. An object is to provide a technique for performing display so that both can be grasped at a glance.

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is a network audio system in which an input unit for inputting an acoustic signal and a plurality of signal processing units for performing various signal processing on the acoustic signal are connected to an audio network. The input unit includes an input unit gain adjusting unit that adjusts the gain of the input acoustic signal, and the acoustic signal gain-adjusted by the input unit gain adjusting unit via the audio network. Transmitting means for transmitting to each of the processing units, wherein each signal processing unit includes gain adjusting means for adjusting the gain of the acoustic signal transmitted from the input unit, and gain adjustment for the signal processing unit. Various acoustic signals after gain adjustment by means Signal processing means for performing signal processing, operating means for setting a gain value in gain adjustment of the signal processing unit gain adjustment means, gain value of the input unit gain adjustment means, and gain in the signal processing unit A set of indicator means for displaying the gain value of the adjusting means, the display mode of the part expressing the gain value of the in-input unit gain adjusting means and the part of expressing the gain value of the gain adjusting means in the signal processing unit The display mode is different from each other to display both gain values in a set of indicators. The operation means may be a user interface provided in the signal processing unit, or may be provided outside the signal processing unit and connected to the signal processing unit through a network.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the network audio system according to the first aspect, the indicator means displays a gain value in a meter shape by arranging a plurality of light emitting elements that can be lit at different luminances. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the display of the gain value with different display modes is performed by changing the luminance.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the network audio system according to the first aspect, the indicator means displays a gain value in a meter shape by arranging a plurality of light-emitting elements that can be lit with different display colors. There is a feature that the display of the gain value is made different in the display mode by changing the display color.

  According to the present invention, even when an acoustic signal from one input unit is input to a plurality of signal processing units and shared, the gain value of the gain adjusting means in each signal processing unit is changed by the operation of the operating means. The changes will not affect other units. Accordingly, there is no problem that the process becomes complicated. In addition, since the gain value of the input unit gain adjustment unit and the gain value of the signal processing unit gain adjustment unit can be distinguished and displayed in different display modes by one set of indicator means, both gain values can be grasped at a glance.

The module block diagram of the network audio system of embodiment of this invention Schematic configuration diagram of the network audio system of the present embodiment Hardware configuration diagram of AD unit and DSP unit of network audio system of this embodiment The figure which shows the gain display example (the 1) by a LED indicator The figure which shows the gain display example (the 2) by a LED indicator Gain display processing flowchart The figure which shows the adjustment example of the gain in the conventional network audio system

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a module configuration diagram of a network audio system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This network audio system includes analog-digital conversion units 101 and 102 (hereinafter referred to as AD # 1 and AD # 2) and signal processing devices 104 and 105 (hereinafter referred to as DSP # 1 and DSP # 2) which are DSP units. ) And digital / analog conversion units 106 and 107 (hereinafter referred to as DA # 1 and DA # 2) are connected to an audio network 103 having a plurality of transmission channels capable of transmitting audio signals in real time. Yes.

  AD # 1 and AD # 2 convert the analog audio signal input from the microphone or the line into a digital audio signal, and output it to the DSPs # 1 and # 2 via the audio network 103. The DSPs # 1 and # 2 execute a predetermined microprogram to perform volume level control processing, effect addition processing, mixing processing, and the like of the input digital audio signal, and the processed audio signal is transmitted to the audio network 103. To DA # 1 and DA # 2. DA # 1 and # 2 convert the digital audio signal input from the audio network 103 into an analog audio signal, and emit the sound from the speakers 110 and 111 via the PA amplifiers 108 and 109, respectively.

  FIG. 2 is a detailed configuration diagram of portions of AD # 1 and DSP # 1, # 2 of FIG. The HA 201 in the AD # 1 is a head amplifier that directly receives an input from a microphone or the like and adjusts its gain. The analog audio signal whose gain has been adjusted by the HA 201 is converted into a digital signal by an analog-digital converter (ADC) 202 and input to the DSPs # 1 and # 2 via the audio network 103. The HA 203 in the DSP # 1 and the HA 205 in the DSP # 2 are digital head amplifiers that adjust the gain of the input digital audio signal. HAs 203 and 205 are provided for each input channel in each DSP unit. The operation units 204 and 206 are operation units including various operators and a display unit on the operation panel. With the operation units 204 and 206, each DSP unit can operate the gain values of the HAs 203 and 205 for each channel in its own DSP. The manipulated gain value is a parameter applied within the own DSP and does not affect an external AD unit or other DSP. The gain value of the HA 201 of each AD unit is distributed to the DSP units 104 and 105 via the network 103. The operation units 204 and 206 of each DSP unit display on the display on the operation panel two types of values: a gain value in the HA 201 of the AD unit and a gain value in the digital HAs 203 and 205 in its own DSP. The display method will be described in detail later.

  FIG. 3A shows a hardware configuration of the AD unit (AD # 1, # 2). An analog signal input via the analog audio signal input interface 301 including the HA 201 in FIG. 2 is converted into a digital signal by the ADC 302 (202 in FIG. 2), and the audio network via the network I / O (input / output interface) 304 is converted. 103. A UI 303 represents a user interface unit including various operators and a display on the operation panel. The gain value of the HA in the input interface 301 can be adjusted by operating, for example, a predetermined knob of the UI 303. The gain value is transmitted to each DSP via the network I / O 304. The CPU 305 is a processing device for controlling the operation of the entire AD unit. The DSP 306 is a signal processing device for appropriately performing signal processing on the audio signal converted into a digital signal by the ADC 302.

  FIG. 3B shows a hardware configuration of the DSP unit (DSP # 1, # 2). A digital audio signal input from the audio network 103 via the network I / O 311 is subjected to signal processing by a signal processing unit (a DSP in a narrow sense) 312. The digital HA for each channel shown by 203 and 205 in FIG. 2 is realized by signal processing by the DSP 312. The CPU 314 is a processing device for controlling the operation of the entire DSP unit. A UI 313 indicates a user interface unit including various operators and a display provided on the operation panel of the DSP unit. The gain value of the digital HA (203, 205 in FIG. 2) set in the UI 313 and the gain value of the AD unit HA (201 in FIG. 2) received via the network I / O 311 is set by the CPU 314. The information is displayed on the UI 313 (particularly the LED indicator) in a predetermined display mode to be described later.

  FIG. 4 shows a display example of the gain by the LED indicator included in the UI 313 of the DSP unit (hereinafter, the DSP unit 104 will be described as an example, but the same applies to other DSP units). 4A, reference numeral 401 denotes an encoder knob provided on the operation panel of the DSP unit, and reference numeral 402 denotes a set of LED indicators (a plurality of LEDs) arranged in an arc around the encoder 401. Therefore, it is referred to as “one set”). Here, the LED indicator 402 is illustrated in a shape that surrounds the encoder 401 in a band shape from the start position 411 to the end position 419, but actually, for example, one LED section having a size indicated by a dark shaded portion 423 is included. A plurality of LED indicators 402 is formed as a whole by arranging a plurality of arcs around the encoder 401. Each of the plurality of LED units constituting the LED indicator 402 can be lit with at least two levels of luminance. Therefore, as the state of each LED unit, it is possible to adopt three states: unlit, lit at low luminance, and lit at high luminance.

  In the present embodiment, such an LED indicator 402 displays both the gain value of the HA unit 201 of the AD unit and the gain value of the HA unit 203 of the DSP unit. The gain value is expressed in dB (decibel). First, the gain value α of the HA 201 of the AD unit is expressed by a light extinction portion 421 from the start point position 411. The end point position of the extinguishing part 421 is a position 412, and the gain value α of the HA 201 is expressed by the length from the start point position 411 to the end point position 412 of the extinguishing part 421. More specifically, the straight line extended from the center position of the knob of the encoder 401 to the start point position 411 and the end point position 412 (more precisely, the center position of the unlit LED portion immediately before the end point position 412). The angle formed by the straight line represents the gain value α, but here it is called “length” for the sake of simplicity.

  Next, the gain value β of the HA 203 of the DSP unit is expressed by a low-intensity lighting part 422 and a high-intensity lighting part 423 from the start point position 412 (the end point position indicating the gain value α). That is, the length from the position 412 to the position 413 represents the gain value β of the HA 203. As a result, the gain value of the audio signal output from the HA 203 of the DSP unit is α + β, but the gain value at the end point position 413 of the high brightness lighting portion 423 (strictly, the center position of the LED portion of the high brightness lighting portion 423). It represents α + β.

  As described above, the user can grasp the gain value α + β as a whole at the position of the high-intensity lighting part 423, and can grasp the gain value α of the HA 201 of the AD unit at the end point position 412 of the extinguishing part 421. The luminance lighting portions 422 and 423 can grasp the difference between the gain value of the whole and the gain value of the HA 201 of the AD unit (that is, the gain value β operated by the DSP unit).

  FIG. 4B shows a display example when the gain value of the HA 203 of the DSP unit is a negative value. 4B, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 4A denote the same parts. In FIG. 4B, the gain value α of the HA 201 of the AD unit is expressed by the length from the start position 411 to the end position 417. The gain value β <0 of the DSP unit HA 203 which is a negative value is expressed by lighting portions 432 and 433 having low luminance and high luminance so as to return from the end point position 417 to the start point position 411 side. Since the high-intensity lighting part 433 is on the start point position 411 side of the low-intensity lighting part 432, the gain value β of the HA 203 of the DSP unit is a negative value, and the position 411 to the position 417 indicate the gain value α. I understand.

  As described above, the user can grasp the gain value α + β as a whole at the position of the high-intensity lighting portion 433, and the gain value α of the HA unit HA 201 can be grasped from the length from the start position 411 to the position 417. The gain value β of the negative value operated by the DSP unit can be grasped by the lengths of the luminance and high luminance lighting portions 432 and 433.

  FIG. 5 shows another example of the gain display example by the LED indicator. The display example in FIG. 5A is the same as that in FIG. 4A, but the last LED part of the extinguishing part 421 in FIG. 4A (that is, the end point of the extinguishing part 421 in FIG. 4A). The LED portion in the unlit state before the position 412 is displayed with medium luminance as indicated by 501 in FIG. Therefore, each LED unit can take at least four states of light-off, light at low luminance, light at medium luminance, and light at high luminance. The user can grasp the gain value α of the HA 201 of the AD unit from the start point position 411 to the middle luminance lighting portion 501 and is operated by the DSP unit with the length from the middle luminance lighting portion 501 to the high luminance lighting portion 423. The gain value β can be grasped. Further, it is possible to grasp whether β is a positive value or a negative value based on the positional relationship between the middle luminance lighting portion 501 and the high luminance lighting portion 423.

  FIG. 5B shows an example in which an inner LED indicator 511 and an outer LED indicator 512 are provided around the encoder knob 401. The lighting portion 521 of the inner indicator 511 indicates the gain value α of the HA 201 of the AD unit, and the lighting portion 522 of the outer indicator 512 indicates the gain value α + β as a whole obtained by adding the gain value β of the HA 203 of the DSP unit to the above α. In this example, each LED unit may be anything that can be turned on / off, and display with different luminance is not necessary. Note that the gain value of the HA 203 of the DSP unit may be displayed on the outer lighting portion 522.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of gain display processing executed by the CPU 314 of the DSP unit. This process is executed for each channel for displaying the gain value as described with reference to FIGS. Also, this process is performed when a gain value change command of the HA 201 related to the channel is received from the AD unit, when a gain value of the HA 203 related to the channel of the DSP unit is changed, or a drawing condition related to the channel is changed. It is executed when When the gain value of the HA 201 is changed for an arbitrary channel, the AD unit transmits the change command to each DSP unit. The drawing conditions are settings for the display mode as described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, and the user can select a desired one from the display modes selectable by the system.

  In step 601, an AD gain (gain value of HA 201 set on the operation panel of the AD unit) α for the channel is acquired. In step 602, a DSP gain (gain value of HA 203 set on the operation panel of the DSP unit) β related to the channel of the DSP unit is acquired. In step 603, the drawing condition is acquired, and in step 604, the gain value is displayed as described with reference to FIGS.

  In the above embodiment, the gain of the AD unit and the gain of the DSP unit are distinguished by changing the luminance as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, but they may be distinguished by changing the color instead of changing the luminance. Further, the luminance and color of the LED unit expressing the gain value may be changed according to the magnitude of the gain value. For example, the luminance may be increased when the gain value is large, the luminance is decreased when the gain value is small, a color close to red may be used when the gain value is large, and a color close to blue may be used when the gain value is small. Further, it may be displayed with gradation.

  In the above embodiment, the display example using the LED indicator provided on the operation panel of the DSP unit in FIG. 1 has been described. However, the present invention is a network in which the mixer engine that performs signal processing and the console that is operated by the operator are separated. It is also possible to apply to an audio system that is connected via

  According to the above embodiment, even if the HA gain value of the DSP unit is changed, the change is effective only in the DSP unit and does not affect the HA gain values of other units. Therefore, the processing is not complicated. On the other hand, the indicator that displays the gain value in each channel is displayed in such a manner that the gain value of the AD unit and the gain value of the DSP unit can be distinguished by a single set of indicators. And the gain value of the DSP unit can be grasped. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 7 of the prior art, when the gain value of the AD unit is changed according to the operation of any DSP unit, the change amount of the gain value is canceled by the other DSP unit. Even if it is configured to automatically correct the gain value of the AD unit and the gain value of the DSP unit, it is possible to change the gain value of the AD unit by another person or to change the gain value of the DSP unit by the automatic correction. Can grasp immediately.

  In the above embodiment, the display as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is performed by the LED indicator which is hardware arranged around the knob of the encoder. However, the display shown in FIG. Such a display may be performed. The present invention includes such an embodiment.

  101, 102 ... AD unit, 103 ... network, 104, 105 ... DSP unit, 106, 107 ... DA unit, 201 ... head amplifier in AD unit, 202 ... AD converter, 203, 205 ... digital head amplifier in DSP unit, 204, 206... Operation unit.

Claims (4)

A network audio system in which an input unit for inputting an acoustic signal and a plurality of signal processing units for performing various signal processing on the acoustic signal are connected to an audio network,
The input unit is
An input unit gain adjusting means for adjusting the gain of the input acoustic signal;
Transmitting means for transmitting the acoustic signal gain-adjusted by the input unit gain adjusting means to each of the plurality of signal processing units via the audio network;
Each of the signal processing units is
Gain adjustment means in the signal processing unit for adjusting the gain of the acoustic signal transmitted from the input unit;
Signal processing means for performing various signal processing on the acoustic signal after gain adjustment by the gain adjustment means in the signal processing unit, and
Operation means for setting a gain value in gain adjustment of the gain adjustment means in the signal processing unit;
A set of indicator means for displaying the gain value of the gain adjusting means in the input unit and the gain value of the gain adjusting means in the signal processing unit, and displaying the portion expressing the gain value of the gain adjusting means in the input unit Characterized in that the mode and the display mode of the portion representing the gain value of the gain adjustment means in the signal processing unit are differentiated to display both gain values in one set of indicators. Network audio system. The network audio system according to claim 1,
The indicator means represents a gain value in a meter shape by arranging a plurality of light-emitting elements that can be lit at different luminances, and displays the gain values with different display modes by changing the luminance. A network audio system characterized by what is performed. The network audio system according to claim 1,
The indicator means displays a gain value in a meter shape by arranging a plurality of light emitting elements that can be turned on by changing the display color, and the gain value of the display mode is changed by changing the display color. A network audio system characterized by display. The network audio system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The network audio system according to claim 1, wherein the indicator means comprises a light emitting portion arranged in an arc around the knob of the encoder.

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