JPH05120847A - Sound recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate a use of the device to suit the performance of a magnetic hard disk device, etc., to be connected with by providing a means for detecting the number of effective channels which can be used at the same time for each other and a means for display. CONSTITUTION:Musical sound waveforms S1-S4 collected by a microphone which is not shown in the figure are inputted up to a max. of four channels at the same time to an input/output circuit 10, and after amplification, they are sampled at each pulse of a fundamental clock signal and are then A/D- converted. Subsequently, generated digital musical sound data is recorded via a buffer circuit 12 to a magnetic hard disk provided in the magnetic hard disk device 14. In this case, a test program is executed after connecting the device 14, and the number of effective channels which can be used at the same time when this device 14 is used is detected and displayed. By this method, what extent the use should be restricted to can easily be discriminated by the user himself or herself, and hence the use can be executed to suit the performance of the connected device 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention, for example, simultaneously records musical tones for a plurality of channels and records them on a magnetic hard disk or the like as digital musical tone information representing the musical tones. The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus such as a digital audio workstation capable of reading and outputting simultaneously for a plurality of channels.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a four-track magnetic tape recorder is used to record a plurality of musical tones on a magnetic tape at the same time, and the reproduction is performed as necessary, or the magnetic tape itself is cut and pasted for editing. I was going. However, this requires a lot of work for editing the cue of a necessary part, so in recent years, the input waveforms of, for example, four channels of musical tones are A / D converted and converted into digital musical tone information as a magnetic hard disk, a magneto-optical disc. A so-called digital audio workstation for recording on a disc or the like has been put into practical use. When this digital audio workstation is adopted, the target portion can be found out of a large amount of recorded data in an instant, and at the time of editing, instead of cutting and pasting a conventional magnetic tape, it is necessary to use the original data. Only the points can be picked up easily, which has the advantage that the editing work is greatly simplified.

[0003]

When performing recording and editing work using the above digital audio workstation, it may be necessary to input a plurality of musical sound data at the same time, and therefore, when configuring a digital audio workstation. Is configured such that, for example, musical sound data for a maximum of 4 channels can be simultaneously recorded and simultaneously output.

Here, in order to record a musical sound or voice by using the above digital audio workstation, when the inputted musical tone waveform is sampled and converted into digital musical tone data, it is related to a human audible frequency. For example, it is necessary to sample at a considerably high speed such as 48 kHz, and when four channels are simultaneously input, four times as much musical tone data is generated per unit time. The musical tone data generated in this manner is recorded in a readable / writable memory such as a magnetic hard disk, and the magnetic hard disk etc. has a performance of recording and reproducing the musical tone data at a speed higher than the speed at which the musical sound data is generated. It is necessary to have In this case, it is conceivable that a magnetic hard disk drive or the like satisfying the performance may be built in the digital audio workstation so that other magnetic hard disk drive or the like cannot be used. It is preferable to configure it so that other magnetic hard disk devices, etc. can be added. Also, a commercially available magnetic hard disk device can be purchased separately and connected without installing a magnetic hard disk in the digital audio workstation itself. It is also possible to do it.

Here, the access time of commercially available magnetic hard disks and the like varies greatly, and many magnetic hard disk devices and the like that do not satisfy the above performance are also commercially available. In this case, it is possible to propose recommended products such as magnetic hard disk devices, but no matter how many recommended products are offered to users, some users have already obtained magnetic hard disk devices other than the recommended products. In addition, some users may purchase a magnetic hard disk drive that does not satisfy the above performance due to price issues, and there may be a large gap between the performance listed in the magnetic hard disk drive catalog and the actual performance. It is not always enough to enumerate recommended products, and the product will be unfriendly to the user.

Conventionally, when a magnetic hard disk drive or the like having poor performance is connected, a user who knows this well or a maker who receives a notification from the user selects this magnetic hard disk drive according to the magnetic hard disk drive to be used. The size of the buffer for temporarily storing the musical sound data to be recorded and the number of usable channels were limited. However, it is difficult to deal with each user individually, and it is desirable that even a user who is not particularly knowledgeable about the digital audio workstation can deal with it without contacting the manufacturer.

In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recording / reproducing apparatus such as a digital audio workstation which can be easily used in accordance with the performance of a connected magnetic hard disk apparatus or the like. ..

[0008]

In the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention for achieving the above object, data of a plurality of channels are simultaneously input to each other and temporarily recorded in a buffer, and then the data can be read / written from the buffer. Used simultaneously in a recording / reproducing apparatus having a function of transferring data to a memory and, if necessary, data recorded in the memory to a buffer and then simultaneously outputting the data from the buffer for a plurality of channels. It is characterized in that it is provided with a detecting means for detecting the number of effective channels that can be performed, and a display means for displaying the effective channel number detected by the detecting means.

Here, the "display means" is not limited to displaying as an image, but may be displayed by lighting or blinking a lamp, for example, and when the number of channels exceeding the number of effective channels is used. It may be displayed with a buzzer sound, etc., and the display method does not matter. Further, instead of the display means or together with the display means, a limiting means for limiting usable channels based on the number of effective channels may be provided.

[0010]

Since the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention is provided with the detecting means for detecting the number of effective channels, the number of effective channels detected by the detecting means is displayed to show how much the user himself / herself uses it. It is possible to easily determine whether or not the limitation should be made, and it is possible to use it according to the performance of the connected magnetic hard disk device or the like. Further, instead of the above display, or together with the above display, if the usable channels are limited based on the number of effective channels detected by the detecting means, a usage method suitable for the performance of the magnetic hard disk device or the like connected at all times is provided. This will be adopted, and the user's mistake in selecting the usage method can be prevented.

[0011]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital audio workstation according to an embodiment of a recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention. Musical sound waveforms S1, S2, S3, and S4 recorded by a microphone (not shown) are simultaneously input to the input / output circuit 10 for a maximum of four channels and appropriately amplified, and then, at each pulse of the basic clock signal having a repetition frequency of 48 kHz. It is sampled and A / D converted. The digital tone data generated by this input / output circuit 10 is
In this embodiment, each data is composed of 16 bits and is recorded on the magnetic hard disk provided in the magnetic hard disk device 14 via the buffer circuit 12.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a buffer structure in the buffer circuit 12. Here, two 128-kilobyte buffers are prepared for each of the four channels A, B, C, and D, and when only one channel is used, the channel D is used and corresponds to this channel D. The buffers BD0 and BD1 are used. When two channels, three channels and four channels are used simultaneously, buffers BC0 and BC1 corresponding to channels C and D respectively; BD0 and BD1 and buffers BB0 and BB corresponding to channels B, C and D respectively.
1; BC0, BC1; BD0, BD1, channel A,
Buffers BA0, BA1; BB corresponding to B, C, D
0, BB1; BC0, BC1; BD0, BD1 are used.

When four channels are used simultaneously, for example, the musical tone data is first accumulated in the first buffers BA0, BB0, BC0, BD0 corresponding to the respective channels A, B, C, D, and the first buffers BA0, BA0, BB0, BC
When 128 kilobytes of musical tone data is accumulated in 0 and BD0, the subsequent musical tone data is stored in each second buffer BA1,
The musical sound data stored in the first buffers BA0, BB0, BC0, BD0 in the order of channel A, channel B, channel C, channel D while being stored in BB1, BC1, BD1 are magnetic hard disk drive 14
It is transferred to and recorded on the magnetic hard disk inside.

Further, thereafter, the respective second buffers BA1, BB, BC1, BD1 corresponding to the respective channels A, B, C, D.
When 128 kilobytes of musical sound data is accumulated in each, the musical sound data after that is stored in each of the first buffers BA0, BB0, BC.
0, BD0, while being stored in channels A, B,
Second buffers BA1, BB1, BC1, in the order of C and D
The musical sound data accumulated in the BD 1 is transferred to and recorded on the magnetic hard disk. Thus each first buffer BA
0, BB0, BC0, BD0 and each second buffer BA1,
BB1, BC1 and BD1 are used alternately.

To take out the tone data recorded in the magnetic hard disk to the outside of, for example, four channels at the same time, the first buffers BA0, B0 in the buffer circuit 12 are to be taken out.
B0, BC0, BD0, channel D (buffer BD
0), channel C (buffer BC0), channel B
(Buffer BB0), channel A (buffer BA0)
The tone data is read in this order, and then the tone data read into the first buffers BA0, BB0, BC0, BD0 are D / A converted by the input / output circuit 10 and simultaneously output to the outside. At the same time, the first buffers in the second buffers BA1, BB1, BC1, BD1 in the order of channel D, channel C, channel B, and channel A, respectively.
The tone data that follows the tone data read in the buffers BA0, BB0, BC0, BD0 is read.

Here, depending on the access time of the connected magnetic hard disk device, there may be a case where it is not possible to simultaneously record or output four channels as described above. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the test program is executed after the magnetic hard disk device is connected, whereby the number of effective channels that can be simultaneously used when the magnetic hard disk device is used is detected and displayed.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a program for detecting and displaying the number of effective channels. When this program starts, first, 2 is input to the memory area TCHN as the number of temporary effective channels (step (a)), and the entire digital audio workstation is set to a state in which data for two channels are simultaneously handled (step). (B)).

Next, in step (c), the buffer occupancy MARG in the case of simultaneous operation of two channels is detected as follows. That is, two channels of simulated data having the actual sampling rate of musical tone data, the same sampling rate as the data length, and the data length are generated,
Each of the first buffers BC0 of channels C and D shown in FIG.
When the first buffers BC0 and BD0 are filled to BD0, the subsequent tone data are input to the second buffers BC1 and BD1, and the tone data stored in the first buffers BC0 and BD0 are input to the channels. C (buffer BC0) Channel D (buffer BD0)
Are transferred to the magnetic hard disk in this order. At this time, a write end signal is issued from the magnetic hard disk device 12 at the timing when the transfer of the musical sound data accumulated in the buffer BC0 to the magnetic hard disk is completed, and when the write end signal is received, the buffer of the channel C is BC
The write pointer WPTC (see FIG. 2) indicating how much of the musical sound data is recorded in 1 is referred to, and the occupancy MARG _C for the channel _C is calculated according to the expression MARG _C = 2 × WPTC / (128 × 1024) (1) Is calculated. For simplicity, the same symbol as the write pointer WPTC is used in the formula (1), but the WPTC in the formula (1) is from the beginning of the buffer BC1 as shown in FIG. It means the length (number of bytes).
Hereinafter, WPTA, WPTB, WPTD, etc. also mean the write pointer itself and the number of bytes from the head of each buffer. Further, in the numerator '2' of the above formula (1), TCHN = 2, that is, two channels of C channel and D channel are used at the same time, and therefore the musical tone data corresponding to the C channel is transferred first. This is because it is also necessary to transfer the musical sound data corresponding to the rear D channel. 128 × 1 of denominator
024 is the size of one buffer (128 kilobytes)
Is represented. Wherein as the value of MARG _C is small magnetic hard disk device 14 of the access time represents the short, thus the high occupancy.

Also, using the write pointer WPTD for channel D, the occupancy MARG _D for channel _D is also calculated according to the following expression: MARG _D = WPTD / (128 × 1024) (2). Occupancy MARG _C , MA
The larger one of RG _D is adopted as the occupancy MARG.

When the occupancy MARG is obtained as described above in step (c), the provisional number of effective channels is reset based on this occupancy MARG in step (d). That is, here, with a 20% allowance, 80% is considered as the limit, and the occupancy MARG is MARG ≦ 0.4 (3) 0.4 <MARG ≦ (1.6 / 3) (4) 1.6 / 3 <Marg ≦ 0.8 (5) 0.8 <Marg ≦ 1.6 (6) 1.6 <Marg (7), and the effective channel number TCHN is 4, respectively.
3, 2, 1, 0 are set (step (e)).

After that, the number of effective channels TCHN set as described above is verified. However, when the number of effective channels TCHN is set to 0, it is not necessary to perform the verification, so the process proceeds to step (m), and the figure is shown. On the liquid crystal display panel, it is displayed that the number of effective channels TCHN is 0, that is, the connected magnetic hard disk device cannot be used without the ability to process one channel.

When any one of 1 to 4 is set as the provisional effective channel number TCHN in step (e),
This digital audio workstation is TCH
The data for N channels are set in parallel (step (f)), and the occupancy MAR is set in the same manner as above.
G is detected (step (g)). That is, in this step (g), (A) When the number of effective channels TCHN is 1, only channel D is used, and when the write pointer corresponding to channel D is WPTD, the expression MARG = WPTD / (128 X1024) The occupancy MARG is obtained by (8). (B) When the number of effective channels TCHN is 2, channels C and D are used and channel C and channel D are accessed in this order, so channel C , D when the write pointers corresponding to D and WPTC are WPTC and WPTD, respectively, according to the following equations, MARG _C = 2 × WPTC / (128 × 1024) (9) MARG _D = WPTD / (128 × 1024) (10) Occupancy MARK for each channel C, D
_C , MARG _D is obtained, and the larger one of them is taken as the occupancy MARG. (C) When the number of effective channels TCHN is 3, channels B, C, D are used, and channels B, C, Since the access is made in the order of the channel D, the write pointers corresponding to the channels B, C and D are respectively set to W.
When PTB, WPTC, and WPTD are used, each expression MARG _B = 3 × WPTB / (128 × 1024) (11) MARG _C = (3/2) × WPTC / (128 × 1024) (12) MARG _D = WPTD / (128 × 1024) (13) The occupancy MAR for each channel B, C, D
G _B , MARG _C , MARG _D are obtained, and the maximum one of them is taken as the occupancy MARG. (D) When the number of effective channels TCHN is 4, all channels A, B, C, D are used, Channel A, B,
Since access is made in the order of C and D, the write pointers for the respective channels are set to WPTA, WPTB, W, respectively.
When PTC and WPTD are used, each expression MARG _A = 4 × WPTA / (128 × 1024) (14) MARG _B = 2 × WPTB / (128 × 1024) (15) MARG _C = (4/3) × WPTC / (128 × 1024) ... (16) MARG _D = WPTD / (128 × 1024) (17) As a result, the occupancy degrees MARG _A , MARG _B , MARG _C , and MARG for the channels A, B, C, and D are obtained. _D is obtained, and the largest one is obtained as the occupancy MARG.

In this way, in step (g), the number of effective channels T reset in step (e) is set.
When the occupancy MARG with respect to the CHN is obtained, it is determined whether or not step (MARG ≦ 0.95 (18) is satisfied in h), and whether the occupancy MARG is too close to 1.00 (no margin). If it exceeds (when it exceeds 0.95), the number of effective channels TCH
N is decremented by 1 (step (i)). After that, it is determined whether the number of valid channels TCHN is 1 or more or 0, and if it is 0, the process proceeds to step (m), it is displayed that the connected magnetic hard disk device is unusable, and the valid channel is displayed. If the number TCHN is 1 or more,
Proceeding to step (k), it is judged whether or not the test writing has been performed on the entire surface of the magnetic disk. When the writing has been performed on the entire surface, the writing test is completed and the provisionally determined effective channel number TCHN is determined. When using the connected magnetic hard disk device, it is displayed how many channels out of the four channels can be used simultaneously (step (m)).

If the writing for the test to the magnetic hard disk is not completed in step (k),
Proceeding to step (l), it is judged whether or not step (i) has been passed, that is, whether the provisional effective channel number TCHN has been decremented by 1, and the provisional effective channel number TC
When the HN remains unchanged, the process proceeds to step (g), the next writing is performed with the number of channels TCHN, and the degree of occupancy at this writing is obtained. If the provisional effective channel number TCHN has been changed, the process proceeds to step (f), and the changed effective channel number TCHN.
After the state is set to match N, the process proceeds to step (g), and the occupancy MARG for the reduced effective channel number is obtained.

By displaying the number of effective channels TCHN finally obtained as described above (step (m)), when the connected magnetic hard disk drive is used, how many channels out of the maximum four channels can be simultaneously displayed. It is recognized by the operator whether or not it can be used, so that the operator can use the magnetic hard disk drive connected to the operator in a suitable manner.

The above embodiment is an example in which the number of effective channels TCHN obtained as described above is displayed. However, in addition to or instead of this display, for example, from channels other than usable channels, Channels that can be automatically used may be limited, such as issuing a warning sound when musical tone data is input. The above embodiment is an example in which the number of usable channels is obtained by sequentially writing the test data to the connected magnetic hard disks. However, when writing the data to the scattered positions on the magnetic hard disk, the access time is It is known to be long, and in addition to the test by the above-mentioned test program (see FIG. 3), a test for writing the test data to the scattered positions on the magnetic disk is performed, and thereby the number of effective channels is detected more reliably. You may do it.

Further, in the above embodiment, the test program shown in FIG. 3 is executed to display the number of effective channels. However, instead of displaying the number of effective channels, or together with displaying the number of effective channels, a buffer is displayed. Occupancy MARG or margin (1.00-occupancy)
May be displayed so that the operator can determine the usage method. The display of the occupancy MARG or the margin may be performed when the test program shown in FIG. 3 is executed, but the occupancy MARG is monitored at the time of actual recording and reproduction of musical sound data, and the occupancy MARG is displayed. Degree MARG may be displayed, or a warning may be issued when the value of the occupancy degree MARG becomes large (when the margin is small or there is no margin).

Further, although the above embodiment does not mention the case where an error occurs during the writing of the test data, in this case, for example, the flow shown in FIG. 3 may be performed again. Further, in the above embodiment, the occupancy degree MARG, by writing the test data in the magnetic hard disk,
Although the number of effective channels TCHN is detected, the occupancy and the number of effective channels may be detected instead of or together with this when reading data from the magnetic hard disk.

To detect the degree of occupancy and the number of effective channels at the time of reading this data, for example, when the provisional number of effective channels TCHN is 2 in steps (c) and (g) of the flow shown in FIG. First, the data is transferred from the magnetic hard disk device 14 to the first buffers BD0 and BC0 in order of the channel D and the channel C shown in FIG. 2, and the data transferred to the first buffers BD0 and BC0 is output to the outside. Simultaneously with the above transfer, data is first transferred to the second buffer BD1 of the channel D (the first buffer BD when this transfer is completed).
The read point of 0 is RPTD), and then the data is transferred to the second buffer BC1 of the channel C (the read point of the first buffer BC0 when this transfer is completed is RPTC). At this time, the occupancy degree MARG _D , MA for each channel C, D is obtained by each equation: MARG _D = 2 × RPTD / (128 × 1024) (19) MARG _C = RPTC / (128 × 1024) (20)
RG _C is obtained, and these occupancies MARG _D , MA
The larger one of RG _C is set as the occupancy MARG. When the provisional number of effective channels TCHN in step (g) is other than 2, the calculation is performed in the same manner as above, but since it is self-explanatory, further detailed description is omitted here.

Next, another example of the method of detecting the occupancy MARG in the case of simultaneous operation of two channels in step (c) shown in FIG. 3 will be described. Simulated data having the same sampling speed and sampling length of the actual tone data and the sampling length and the data length are generated for two channels, and the first buffers B of the channels C and D shown in FIG. 2 are generated.
C0 and BD0 are input to the first buffers BC0 and BD.
When 0 is full, the subsequent tone data is input to the respective second buffer circuits BC1 and BD1 and the tone data accumulated in the respective first buffers BC0 and BD0
The channel C (buffer BC0) and the channel D (buffer BD0) are sequentially transferred to the magnetic hard disk.
At this time, the time required to write the musical sound data stored in the buffers BC0 and BD0 to the magnetic hard disk, in other words, the transfer time of the musical sound data stored in the buffers BC0 and BD0 to the magnetic hard disk (or access to the magnetic hard disk). The writing time WRTM is measured. Next, the writing time WRTM is divided by the time required to record the musical sound data in each buffer to obtain the occupancy MARG. For example, a timer that generates a clock every 1 msec and a counter that receives and counts the clock are prepared, the counter is cleared at the start of the transfer of the musical sound data accumulated in the buffer BC0 to the magnetic hard disk, and the gate of the counter is opened after the clear. To start counting. At the timing when the transfer of the musical sound data stored in the buffer BC0 to the magnetic hard disk is completed, a write end signal is issued from the magnetic hard disk device 12, and when the write end signal is received, the gate of the counter is temporarily closed. Stop counting. Then, when the transfer of the musical sound data accumulated in the buffer BD0 to the magnetic hard disk is started, the gate of the counter is opened and the counting is restarted. At the timing when the transfer of the musical sound data accumulated in the buffer BD0 to the magnetic hard disk is completed, a write end signal is issued from the magnetic hard disk device 12, and when the write end signal is received, the gate of the counter is closed and counting is performed. finish. Next, the value of the counter is read, and this read value is set as the writing time WRTM. Further, the occupancy MARG is calculated by the following equation.

MARG = WRTM / ((128 × 1024) / (2 * 48000)) (21) Here, (128 × 1024) / (2 * 48000) (about 1.365 seconds) is musical tone data in each buffer. Is the time it takes to record. In this way, the occupancy may be represented by the ratio of the total transfer time to the magnetic hard disk in the time to record the musical sound data in the buffer.

Also in step (g) shown in FIG. 2, the same is true, and in obtaining the occupancy MARG, instead of referring to the write pointers WPTA, WPTB, WPTC and WPTC, the magnetic field of the musical tone data stored in the buffer is read. It is also possible to measure the time during transfer to the hard disk to obtain the write time WRTM, and divide the write time WRTM by the time required for recording to obtain the occupancy MARG.

Further, the same detection method as described above may be adopted for the monitor of the occupancy MARG when recording and reproducing the actual tone data, and the occupancy MARG is detected when the tone data is read. A detection method similar to the above may be adopted. It should be noted that when the musical tone data recorded in the magnetic hard disk is taken out to the outside of, for example, four channels at the same time, the buffer circuit 1 from the magnetic hard disk
In the above-mentioned embodiment, the reading of the musical tone data to No. 2 is performed in the order of the channel D, the channel C, the channel B, and the channel A. However, if the reading order is changed as follows, the musical tone data can be taken out from the desired reading start position. You can

That is, 128 kilobytes of musical sound data including a desired read start position is sequentially read into each first buffer and subsequent musical sound data is sequentially read into the second buffer before being taken out. When the musical sound data is read in all the buffers,
The tone extraction starts from the address corresponding to the desired start position of each buffer corresponding to each channel A, B, C, D, and when the extraction of the first buffer ends, the extraction of the second buffer starts. Further, the channel for which the taking out of the first buffer is finished reads new musical tone data subsequent to the musical tone data read in the second buffer in the first buffer in the order in which the taking out of the first buffer circuit is finished. When the extraction of the second buffer is completed, similarly, the musical tone data of the first buffer is taken out and the musical tone data is read into the second buffer. The same is repeated cyclically thereafter. In such a case, the degree of occupancy is obtained as follows, for example.

The counter is cleared at the start of extraction, and one of the buffers (BA0, BA1, BB0-BD1) is cleared.
The gate of the counter is opened at the beginning of the transfer of the musical sound data from the magnetic hard disk to the counting. A read end signal is issued from the magnetic hard disk device 12 at the timing when the transfer of the musical sound data to the buffer from the magnetic hard disk is completed, and when the read end signal is received, the gate of the counter is temporarily closed to stop the counting. .. Also, when the transfer of musical sound data to the buffer (whether different or the same as the previous time) is started from the magnetic hard disk, the counter gate is opened to restart counting, and the musical sound data is transferred to the buffer from the magnetic hard disk. When the reading end signal issued at the timing when is completed is received, the gate of the counter is closed again to stop the counting. This is repeated below. On the other hand, a predetermined time after clearing the counter (time to read data from the buffer (12
8 × 1024) / (2 * 48000) (about 1.365)
Seconds)), the value of the counter is read immediately before the elapse, the read value is set as the writing time WRTM, and the counter is once cleared at that time. At this point, the occupancy MARG is calculated again as described above. In this way, the latest degree of occupancy is obtained about every 1.365 seconds.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing another example of the buffer prepared in the buffer circuit shown in FIG. Each individual buffer PA0, PA1, ..., PD7 has a capacity of 128/4 = 32 (kilobytes). Here, it is assumed that the magnetic hard disk is accessed in units of 128 kilobytes, as in the above-described example. In addition, here, it is assumed that data recording and reproduction are performed simultaneously on four channels.

At this time, first, the channel A buffer circuits PA0, PA1, PA2, PA3, the channel B buffer circuits PB0, PB1, PB2, PB3, the channel C buffer circuits PC0, PC1, PC2, PC3,
Channel D buffers PD0, PD1, PD2, PD
Data are simultaneously input to each other, and then the buffer circuits PA4, PB4, PC of the respective channels A, B, C, D are input.
4, the transfer of the data stored in the buffer circuits PA0, PA1, PA2, PA3 of the channel A to the magnetic hard disk is completed before the data is full in the PD4 (the buffer PA4 of each channel A, B, C, D). , PB4, P
The fact that the transfer does not end even when the data is full in C4 and PD4 means that four channels cannot be used simultaneously and the number of usable channels is limited. Buffer circuit PB5, PC
5, when data is input to PD5, PAO is used for channel A to store data, and the buffer circuit for channel B is completed before data input to each buffer circuit PA0, PB5, PC5, PD5 is completed. P
The data accumulated in B0, PB1, PB2, PB3 is transferred to the magnetic hard disk, and then as buffer circuits for data accumulation, buffer circuits PA1, PB0, PC6.
The data stored in the buffer circuits PC0, PC1, PC2, and PC3 of the channel C during the PD6 is transferred to the magnetic hard disk during the PD6.
1, PC0, PD7 are used and in the meanwhile channel D
The data stored in the buffer circuits PD0, PD1, PD2, PD3 is transferred to the magnetic hard disk, and then the buffers PA4, PA0, PA for the channel A.
1, the data accumulated in PA2 is transferred, and ... By repeating this in sequence, the same processing can be performed with a smaller number of buffers than the buffer shown in FIG. The same applies to the case of transferring data from the magnetic hard disk to the buffer shown in FIG. 4, but in this case, it is necessary to transfer data in the order of channels D, C, B and A.

Although each of the above embodiments is an example in which a magnetic hard disk device is connected to the digital audio workstation, the present invention is also applicable to the case where a device other than the magnetic hard disk device is connected, for example, a magneto-optical disk device or the like. Of course, it can be implemented.
Further, the method of detecting the number of effective channels and the method of detecting the degree of occupancy in the present invention are not limited to the above embodiments, and any detection method is included in the scope of the present invention. Of course.

[0039]

As described above in detail, the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention has a function of detecting the number of effective channels that can be used simultaneously and limiting the number of channels that can be displayed and / or used. Since it is provided with the above, it can be easily used in accordance with the performance of the connected magnetic hard disk device and the like, which makes the recording and reproducing device more convenient.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital audio workstation according to an embodiment of a recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a buffer structure in the buffer circuit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a program for detecting and displaying the number of effective channels.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of a buffer structure in the buffer circuit shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 input / output circuit 12 buffer circuit 14 magnetic hard disk device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Data of a plurality of channels are simultaneously input to each other and temporarily recorded in a buffer, then the data is transferred from the buffer to a readable / writable memory, and the data recorded in the memory is buffered as necessary. In a recording / reproducing apparatus having a function of simultaneously outputting the data of a plurality of channels from the buffer after being transferred to the detecting means, a detecting means for detecting the number of effective channels which can be used at the same time, and the detecting means, A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: a display unit for displaying the detected number of effective channels. 2. A limiting means for limiting usable channels based on the number of effective channels detected by the detecting means, instead of or together with the displaying means. The recording / playback apparatus according to Item 1.