JP5401896B2 - Audio signal processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an audio signal processing apparatus capable of facilitating wiring of devices in a PA (Public Address) system or the like.

  Mixers that mix audio signals from connected devices (for example, microphones, musical instruments, etc.) are becoming multi-channel and multi-functional. Thus, various user interfaces for improving operability have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The mixer described in Patent Document 1 improves operability by reducing the number of operator groups for setting channel parameters.
JP 2006-1000094 A

  In order to know which channel each device is connected to, the user must refer to a memo that describes the connection relationship between each device and the channel, which is troublesome. Moreover, the user has a hard time finding a connection error when the memo description and the connection relationship are different (that is, when the connection between each device and each channel is incorrect). In particular, if the mixer has a multi-stage configuration, the lower mixer cannot easily determine what is connected to the upper stage. Further, it becomes difficult for the user to find an error in connection between each device and the channel, and it is difficult to find an error in connection at the uppermost mixer.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily determine which device is connected to each channel even when the mixer is configured in multiple stages.

  The audio signal processing apparatus according to the present invention is connected to a device group composed of a plurality of devices. These device groups superimpose identification information (for example, device name, product number, etc.) for identifying themselves on the audio signal and input it to the audio signal processing apparatus. The audio signal processing device includes operation means for inputting specific identification information different from the identification information superimposed on each audio signal. The audio signal processing apparatus synthesizes the audio signals input from the device group, and outputs the specific identification information superimposed on the synthesized audio signal.

  As a result, even if the audio signal processing apparatus is configured in multiple stages, if the specific identification information is easy to understand for the user, it is easy to see what is connected to the own apparatus by referring to the specific identification information. Can be judged.

  Also, in the audio signal processing device of the present invention, when the specific identification information is superimposed on the frequency band on which the identification information is superimposed, unnecessary identification information causes noise, and therefore input from a connected device. The identification information may be removed from the obtained audio signal, and the audio signal after the identification information is removed may be synthesized.

  Thereby, the audio signal processing apparatus can reduce noise from the synthesized audio signal.

  Furthermore, the audio signal processing device of the present invention demodulates each audio signal input from the connected device to obtain identification information. Then, the audio signal processing apparatus may superimpose the specific identification information and the acquired identification information on the synthesized audio signal.

  Thus, even when the audio signal processing device is configured in multiple stages, it is possible to know the devices connected to the upper audio signal processing apparatus by referring to the specific identification information and the identification information. .

  In addition, the audio signal processing device of the present invention may display identification information superimposed on the audio signal input from the connected device.

  As a result, the user can recognize the connected device only by looking at the audio signal processing device at a glance.

  In the present invention, even when the audio signal processing apparatus is configured in multiple stages, it is possible to easily determine what is connected to the upper stage from the own apparatus.

  An audio signal processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of use of an audio signal processing device.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the PA system is configured using two audio signal processing devices (hereinafter referred to as mixers) 1A and 1B. Keyboards 2A to 2D are connected to the mixer 1A. The mixer 1B is connected to the mixer 1A, the guitar 3, and the base 4. The mixer 1A synthesizes the audio signals output from the keyboards 2A to 2D and outputs them to the mixer 1B. The mixer 1B synthesizes and outputs the audio signal synthesized by the mixer 1A and the audio signals from the guitar 3 and the base 4. As described above, in the PA system, the audio signals output from more devices (for example, microphones, musical instruments, etc.) are synthesized by configuring the mixer in multiple stages. The number of mixers is not limited to two.

  Next, functions and configurations of the mixers 1A and 1B will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the function and configuration of the audio signal processing apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of identification information displayed on the audio signal processing apparatus. Since the mixers 1A and 1B have the same function and configuration, the mixer 1A will be described as an example. The mixer 1A will be described as having four channels and being connectable to four devices. The mixer 1A includes an operation unit 11, a control unit 12, input I / Fs 13A to 13D, demodulation units 14A to 14D, display units 15A to 15D, removal units 16A to 16D, a synthesis unit 17, a superposition unit 18, and an output I / F 19. Consists of

  The operation unit 11 receives an operation input from the user and outputs the operation input content to the control unit 12. For example, the operation unit 11 mixes specific identification information different from the identification information superimposed on the audio signal input to the mixer 1 </ b> A, and a mixing amount that specifies a mixing ratio of the audio signal input from each of the input I / Fs 13 </ b> A to 13 </ b> D. Accepts input.

  An arbitrary name can be used for the specific identification information, and a name convenient for the user is used. Specifically, for example, the specific identification information includes a name indicating the type of connected device such as “guitar group” or “drum set”, or a use application after mixing such as “for OO music” The name indicating is used. For the specific identification information, a name indicating the person in charge of mixing such as “Arrange in charge of XX”, or a name indicating the mixer itself such as “Mixer 1A” is used. Furthermore, the specific identification information includes a name indicating the characteristics of the musical piece to be played, such as “jazz setting”, “lock setting”, and a name indicating an instrument with a high mixing ratio, such as “guitar emphasis”. Used. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, the specific identification information will be described as a “keyboard group”.

  The control unit 12 controls each functional unit based on the operation input content input from the operation unit 11. For example, the control unit 12 outputs the specific identification information input from the operation unit 11 to the superimposition unit 18 or controls the synthesis unit 17 based on the mixing amount input from the operation unit 11.

  There are as many input I / Fs 13A to 13D as the number of channels (4 channels) of the mixer 1A, and these are connected to corresponding devices (keyboards 2A to 2D). The keyboards 2 </ b> A to 2 </ b> D generate audio signals in response to user performance operations. The keyboards 2A to 2D superimpose identification information (for example, the name of the keyboard and the part number of the keyboard) on the generated audio signal in the frequency band A (see FIG. 4A) of the non-audible region. To the input I / Fs 13A to 13D. The input I / Fs 13A to 13D output audio signals from the keyboards 2A to 2D to the demodulation units 14A to 14D and the removal units 16A to 16D, respectively. Hereinafter, the identification information of the keyboards 2A to 2D will be described as “keyboard 2A” to “keyboard 2D”, respectively.

  There are as many demodulation units 14A to 14D as the number of channels of the mixer 1A. Demodulator 14A-14D demodulates the audio | voice signal input from input I / F13A-13D, respectively, and acquires identification information. At this time, the demodulation units 14A to 14D acquire identification information from the frequency band A (see FIG. 4A). Then, the demodulation units 14A to 14D output the acquired identification information to the display units 15A to 15D and the superimposition unit 18.

  As shown in FIG. 3, there are as many display units 15A to 15D as the number of channels of the mixer 1A. The display units 15A to 15D display the identification information input from the demodulation units 14A to 14D so as to correspond to the input I / Fs 13A to 13D to which the respective audio signals are input and the operation buttons of the respective channels. To do.

  The removal units 16A to 16D are, for example, low-pass filters, and there are as many as the number of channels of the mixer 1A. The removal units 16A to 16D remove high frequencies from the frequency band (frequency band A (see FIG. 4A)) on which the identification information is superimposed, from the audio signals input from the input I / Fs 13A to 13D, respectively. Output to the combining unit 17.

  The synthesizing unit 17 synthesizes the audio signals input from the removing units 16 </ b> A to 16 </ b> D based on an instruction from the control unit 12 and outputs the synthesized audio signal to the superimposing unit 18.

  The superimposing unit 18 superimposes the specific identification information input from the control unit 12 and the identification information input from the demodulation units 14 </ b> A to 14 </ b> D on different frequency bands on the synthesized audio signal input from the synthesizing unit 17. And output to the output I / F 19. At this time, the specific identification information is superimposed on the frequency band A (see FIG. 4B), and the identification information of the keyboards 2A to 2D is the frequency band B higher than the frequency band A (see FIG. 4B). Superimpose on. Details of the specific identification information and the frequency band on which the identification information is superimposed will be described later.

  The output I / F 19 outputs the audio signal after superimposition to the lower mixer 1B of its own apparatus.

  As described above, the mixer 1A displays the identification information of the audio signal input to the own apparatus on the display units 15A to 15D in association with the input I / Fs 13A to 13D and the operation buttons of the respective channels. For this reason, the user can know which channel the keyboards 2A to 2D are connected to by simply looking at the display portions 15A to 15D of the mixer 1A. Also, the user can easily determine when the keyboards 2A to 2D are connected by mistake.

  Next, the specific identification information and the frequency band on which the identification information is superimposed will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram relating to a frequency band in which identification information and specific identification information are superimposed.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the keyboards 2A to 2D superimpose identification information on the frequency band A in the non-audible region and output the information to the mixer 1A. The mixer 1 </ b> A acquires identification information from the frequency band A and removes higher frequencies than the frequency band A. 4B, the mixer 1A superimposes the specific identification information input from the operation unit 11 on the frequency band A, and places the keyboards 2A to 2D on the frequency band B higher than the frequency band A. The identification information superimposed on the audio signal is superimposed. The mixer 1A superimposes the identification information of the keyboards 2A to 2D on different bands.

  Similarly, the mixer 1B acquires the identification information of the guitar 3 and the base 4 from the frequency band A and the specific identification information of the mixer 1A, and removes the higher band than the frequency band A. The mixer 1B displays the keyboard group, the guitar 3, and the bass 4 on the display sections 15A to 15C of the respective channels. Also in the mixer 1B, the specific identification information input from the operation unit 11 is superimposed on the frequency band A, and the identification information of the guitar 3 and the base 4 and the specific identification of the mixer 1A in the frequency band B higher than the frequency band A. Superimpose information.

  As described above, the specific identification information and identification information of the device directly connected to the own device are superimposed on the frequency band A, and the upper stage is displayed only on the frequency band B when the mixer is present on the upper stage of the own device. The identification information of the device connected to the mixer is superimposed. For this reason, the mixer 1B can reliably acquire the specific identification information of the upper mixer 1A, the identification information of the guitar 3 and the base 4, and the identification information of the keyboards 2A to 2D connected to the mixer 1A. .

  Also, when the mixers are configured in multiple stages, if each mixer synthesizes an audio signal without removing the identification information, a plurality of identification information is superimposed on the same frequency band and causes noise, so the mixer 1A The voice signal after the identification information is removed is synthesized. Thereby, the mixer 1A can reduce noise from the synthesized audio signal.

  Next, the identification information displayed on the lower mixer 1B will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of identification information displayed on the lower audio signal processing apparatus. FIG. 5A shows an example in which specific identification information is displayed, and FIG. 5B shows an example in which specific identification information and identification information are displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, since the mixer 1B is connected to the input I / F 13A, the mixer 1B acquires the specific identification information “keyboard group” from the frequency band A and displays it on the display unit 15A. . Further, since the mixer 1B has the guitar 3 and the base 4 connected to the input I / Fs 13B and 13C, respectively, the identification information “guitar 3” and “bass 4” are obtained from the frequency band A, respectively, and the display unit 15B, Display on 15C. The mixer 1B is not connected to the input I / F 13D and does not receive any audio signal, and therefore displays nothing on the display unit 15D. Note that when the wiring is cut, no audio signal is input, so nothing appears on the display unit. For this reason, the user knows that the wiring of the connected device is disconnected.

  As described above, even when the mixers 1A and 1B are connected in a multi-stage configuration, the user can know at a glance which device is connected to each channel of the lower mixer 1B. Further, if the connection between the mixer 1B and the device (mixer 1A, guitar 3, bass 4) is not incorrect, the user may have an incorrect connection with the device at the mixer 1A above the mixer 1B. Recognize. Therefore, a connection error can be easily found by confirming the connection between the mixer 1A and the devices (keyboards 2A to 2D) in the upper stage of the device itself.

  5B, the mixer 1B includes specific identification information “keyboard group” acquired from the frequency band A, identification information “keyboard 2A” to “keyboard 2D” acquired from the frequency band B, May be displayed on the display unit 15A. In this case, the user can know in detail the breakdown of the devices connected to the upper mixer 1A.

  In the above-described embodiment, the mixer 1A superimposes the identification information acquired from the audio signal on the synthesized audio signal together with the specific identification information. However, if the information on the device connected to the mixer 1A is unnecessary. It is not necessary to superimpose again.

  In the above-described embodiment, the mixer 1A synthesizes the audio signal after removing the identification information. However, the mixer 1A may synthesize the audio signal without removing the identification information. In this case, the removal units 16A to 16D are not essential components.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the superimposing unit 18 superimposes the special identification information and the identification information on different frequency bands using the frequency division multiplexing method. However, the superimposing unit 18 may superimpose the special identification information and the identification information using a time division multiplexing method, a spread code multiplexing method, an acoustic watermark technique for an audible area, or the like.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the keyboards 2A to 2D are connected to the upper mixer 1A, but the connected devices are not limited to the keyboard. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another example of use of the audio signal processing apparatus. As shown in FIG. 6, the mixer 1A may mix the audio signal from the drum set. The drum set includes a plurality of drums (for example, bass drum, floor tom, tom tom, and snare drum). The audio signal from the drum set is generated by collecting the sound emitted from each drum by the microphones 5A to 5D.

  Here, when the name and product number of the microphone are input as identification information from the upper mixer 1A, the lower mixer 1B does not know the sound source (drum) of the audio signal input to the upper mixer 1A. Therefore, the mixer 1A synthesizes the audio signals from the respective drums, and outputs the specific identification information “drum set” superimposed on the synthesized audio signal. Thus, the user can know that the sound source of the audio signal input to the upper mixer 1A is a drum.

  Further, for example, the mixer 1A may be connected to different musical instruments such as a keyboard, guitar, and bass.

It is explanatory drawing explaining the usage example of an audio signal processing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the function and structure of an audio signal processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the identification information displayed on an audio signal processing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing regarding the frequency band which superimposes identification information and specific identification information. It is a figure which shows an example of the identification information displayed on the audio signal processing apparatus of a lower stage. It is explanatory drawing explaining the other usage example of an audio signal processing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mixer, 11 ... Operation part, 12 ... Control part, 13 ... Input I / F, 14 ... Demodulation part, 15 ... Display part, 16 ... Removal part, 17 ... Composition part, 18 ... Superimposition part, 19 ... Output I / F, 2 ... keyboard, 3 ... guitar, 4 ... bass, 5 ... microphone

Claims (4)

An audio signal processing apparatus to which a device group consisting of a plurality of devices is connected,
From each of the device groups, input means for inputting an audio signal on which identification information for identifying itself is superimposed;
Operation means for inputting specific identification information different from the identification information;
Synthesizing means for synthesizing the audio signal input from the input means;
Superimposing means for superimposing the specific identification information input from the operation means on the audio signal synthesized by the synthesizing means;
An audio signal processing apparatus comprising: output means for outputting the audio signal superimposed by the superimposing means. A removal means for removing identification information from the voice signal input from the input means;
The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the synthesizing unit synthesizes an audio signal after the removing unit removes the identification information. A demodulator for demodulating the audio signal input from the input unit to obtain identification information;
The audio signal processing according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the superimposing unit superimposes the specific identification information input from the operation unit and the identification information acquired by the demodulation unit on the audio signal synthesized by the synthesizing unit. apparatus.   The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays identification information of the device group input from the input unit.

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