JPH06125232A - Sound-signal coupling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a sound signal coupling device which appropriately and also optimally uses an audio device, even when audio studio equipment are variously used. CONSTITUTION: A sound signal coupling device of audio studio equipment that is digitally controlled includes an audio bus 19 that is common to three types of signals, which are main, a group and a branch addition audio signal and at least two channel modules 1 and 2, in which each channel module contains audio channel input and output for signal audio signal processing. The modules 1 and 2 include numerous adjustable switches 7 to 10, in which each switch can be connected to at least one bus line of the bus 19 and level-adjusting members 3 to 6 which are provided serially to the switches 7 to 10. The modules 1 and 2 contain an adding device 20 that is connected to the bus 19 through an adjustable switch 21 and an adjustable matrix 29, that enables a desired arrangement of a sound signal.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sound signal combining device in a digitally controlled audio studio device for processing an analog sound signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a normal work operation in an audio studio apparatus which performs analog sound processing, a sound signal used as an input is generally corrected in a first circuit in terms of their level, frequency and dynamic response. To be done. This first circuit is often referred to as the input module or channel module. The individual sound signals of the plurality of channel modules processed and arranged in this way are combined in subsequent adder devices into so-called added sound signals, which, if necessary, are further processed and then output to the audio studio device, for example , Used for recording on storage media. The further processing of the additional sound signal is based on another level or frequency of the additional sound signal, dynamic modification of the additional sound signal, or addition of several additional sound signals.

According to the present application, the added sound signals are classified into three groups: a main added sound signal, a group added sound signal and a branched added sound signal. The main addition sound signal is
A well-mixed and processed sound signal production, such as recorded on a suitable medium, eg magnetic tape, or provided to a radio station for transmission. The group addition sound signal is
For example, it is a sound signal generated in the recording stage such as when making music. These are multiple
According to track technology, today's multi-purpose for music production
Recorded on track magnetic tape. The third group is the branch addition sound signal, which is not recorded but is required for various sound signal processing and control functions.

The analog addition sound signal is usually produced by a known device in which the sound signal for adding the sound sources is supplied to the common node through the addition resistor. At this node, the partial currents of the individual sound signals are added to give a total current, and the added sound signal is converted back into a sound signal voltage in a subsequent amplification process called an adder. The connection between the node, ie the output of the summing resistor and the input of the so-called summing device, is generally made by a bus line. The entire bus line
Called the audio bus. The latter connects the outputs of all input channels of the audio studio equipment together.

In conventional audio studio equipment for analog sound signal processing, the audio bus consists of three partial audio buses, each having separate hardware, corresponding to the three essential groups of additive sound signals. The number of these partial audio buses is determined depending on whether it is applied to the main addition sound signal, the group addition sound signal, or the branch addition sound signal.

[0006]

However, in the conventional audio bus structure, the width of the partial bus system is very different depending on various applications in the music production stage, but the specific requirements for the device are not limited. According to, there was a drawback that it had to be specified to the smallest width that could be tolerated. In the recording stage, for example in the production of multiple track music, a very large number of group addition sound signals are required, but a relatively small number of branch addition sound signals. In the subsequent production phase, the so-called dubbing phase, the group summing bus is relatively unused, while a large number of branch summing tone signals are required.

Also, as a conventional audio studio apparatus for analog sound processing, although it is often necessary to add only a few single sound signals from adjacent channels, a partial audio bus There was also the problem, in general, of connecting all the input channels to an adder, which in most cases is centrally located. Thus, with rigid wiring, most sections of each bus line remain unused. In addition to it,
Bus line lengths that are not needed per se impair certain quality parameters, such as crosstalk.

In principle, in all conventional audio studio equipment it is possible to modify the additive sound signals with respect to their frequency and dynamic response. For that purpose, it is necessary to apply a circuit means corresponding to the sound signal path. In known devices, such circuit means, i.e. equalizers and dynamic units, are not required in principle in the single-tone or additive-sound path, but the additive-sound path is in relation to the sound input path. It has the drawback of being assigned in the same way as.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems and provides a sound signal combining device which ensures proper and optimum use of audio hardware in consideration of various applications of an audio studio device. The purpose is to

[0010]

The solution to the above problems is achieved by the characterizing portion of claim 1. According to the invention,
The sound signal combiner includes a common bus for three types of signals: primary, group and branch add sound signals. The device comprises at least two channel modules for processing a single sound signal, each individual channel module having a sound input and a sound output, via a number of adjustable switches each of the audio buses. Can be connected to a line. The switch of the channel module for connecting the latter to the bus line is digitally adjustable, and via appropriate software control, each channel module can be connected to the desired bus line,
Alternatively, the connection can be interrupted and modified by changing requirements. The control unit required for that purpose can be formed by a computer, for example a personal computer.

Between the switch for connecting the bus of the channel module and the connection point to the actual bus line, there is a wired summing resistor, through which the sound signal voltage corresponds to the corresponding sound on the bus line. Generate a signal. For manipulation of the sound signal applied to the channel module, an adjustable level adjusting member is provided in each connection path to the bus line of the channel module.

In addition, the channel module comprises a summing device formed by an amplifier, ie mounted as a current / voltage converter. The input of this adder is connected to exactly one bus line via another adjustable switch, and the output of the adder is usually connected to the output of the channel module. This determines the bus line such that summing is possible and correspondingly makes the sound signal of the channel module applicable to this bus line via an adjustable switch. The adder can also be connected to several bus lines. The bus line is guided into the channel module via an adjustable switch, which bus line can be interrupted by said switch. This makes it possible to break the bus lines piece by piece, causing segmentation on the audio bus. Thereby, different jobs are distributed to different sections of the device according to the invention, such jobs being done by bus segments independently and simultaneously.

Analog audio buses are usually mounted as linear buses. However, it is also conceivable to mount the audio bus as a closed ring. The control of all adjustable elements of the channel module is done digitally via the respective control unit.

[0014]

The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic circuit diagram of a sound signal combining device. FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment of a sound signal combining device in a simplified form. Only part of the analog sound channel structure is shown here. All adjustable or variable elements in their parameters are software controlled by the digital operator level.

By way of example, two channel modules 1 and 2 are shown, connected to an analog audio bus 19 mounted as a ring bus and including four bus lines 15, 16, 17 and 18. In an actual device, the bus width is 40 lines or more,
The number of channel modules is determined by the device size required by the user. Each channel module 1 and 2
Includes four level adjusting members 3, 4, 5, 6 corresponding to the audio bus width 19. Level adjustment members 3, 4,
5 and 6 are adjustable switches 7, 8, 9 and
It is connected to one of the four bus lines via 10 and summing resistors 11, 12, 13, 14. Depending on the software control of the switches 7, 8, 9, 10 one of them is closed and then the channel module 1 is physically connected to one of the bus lines 15, 16, 17 or 18.

The same applies to the second channel module 2. The arrangement according to the figure has a large number of outputs 23 equivalent to their hardware and exists as channel modules 1, 2. An arbitrary sound signal sink, for example, a magnetic recording medium or a processing unit can be connected to these outputs 23. Depending on the type of sink connected and the additional sound signal required thereby, it is determined whether the output 23 is the main, group or branch addition output in the selected equipment configuration. For example, if stereo magnetic tape is connected to record a well mixed sound production, the additive sound signal path is defined in channel module 1 as the primary additive path.

Each channel module 1, 2 comprises an adder device 20 whose input is connected to a bus line, here a bus line 15, via a switch 21 which is adjustable. Other channel module adders are connected to other bus lines. Therefore, in the structure shown in the figure, the bus line 15 is
Determined as the main addition bus. Due to this allocation, the level modification of the single tone signal added to the main addition signal has to be done in the channel module 1 via the level adjusting member 3 connected to the bus line 15 and also in each further channel module. Accidental.
This means that in this configuration, an operator level channel fader is usually assigned to the level adjusting member 3. Similarly, the bus lines 15 and 1
The functions of 7 and 18 are determined by the configuration of the outputs of the channel modules 2 to n when the n-channel module is present.

In FIG. 1, as simplified,
The unique level adjusting members 3, 4, 5, 6 are each connected to a bus line, and the adder 20 can be connected to only one bus line. In a practical device with an audio bus width of the bus lines 32 or 48, the level adjusting members and the adders of the channel modules are connected via switches to a suitable number, for example 2 or 4 bus lines.

The bus line 15 guided to the channel module 1 at the input of the adder 20 can be interrupted by an adjustable switch 24. The same applies to the bus line 18 guided to the channel module 2, where it can be interrupted by an adjustable switch 25, or not shown in the figure,
It is applicable to further channel modules.

When all single tone signals are added and each adder is connected to a respective bus line, unwanted bus line sections are separated by a switch 24 in the channel module delimiting the section. The bus line connecting all the channel modules is divided by a closed switch 24 into subsections representing locally limited but fully operational buses, depending on the application. The number of audio buses that can be effectively used is significantly increased by segmentation. With a suitable configuration of the output 23, the number of available bus segments is only limited by the number of adders available in the channel module. If the sound signals of the remote channel modules are added, the segmentation is reduced. Therefore, it is also possible to adapt the audio bus as a closed ring, as a natural extension of the idea of the invention.

The preferred segments can be connected under software support for signal summing in practical applications. In an advantageous further development, there is yet another adjustable switch 26 and summing resistor 21.
Another bus line 1 whose output from the adder 20 is not identical to the bus line 15 supplied from the adder via
6 can be connected. Therefore, it is possible to connect bus segments of different bus lines to each other.

The channel module 1 according to the invention further comprises an adjustment by which the sound signal input 28, the output of the adder 20, the inputs and outputs 23 of the level adjusting members 3, 4, 5, 6 can be connected or coupled to each other. Includes a possible matrix 29. In the signal path between the matrix 29 and the output 23, another level adjusting member 22 is arranged. Depending on the connection, 4 important in actual use
Two basic single paths are connected. These are the single sound signal path from the sound channel input 28 to the level adjusting members 3, 4, 5, 6 and the added sound signal single path from the adder 20 to the output 23 of the channel module. A direct sound signal path from the input 28 to the output 23,
It is an intermediate group sound signal from the adding device 20 to the level adjusting members 3, 4, 5, and 6. With the device of the present invention and its sound channel structure, the number of summing steps from the input of the device to the output of the device is basically the same as the desired sound signal without predetermining it as for a classical mixer desk. Can be adapted to the guidance. Further, the matrix 29 is
It is possible to insert processing equipment 30, 31, for example an equalizer and a dynamic unit, into each of the four mentioned channel paths. The expensive processing techniques in the classical sound structure required after each adder are not necessary in the present invention.

[0023]

As described above, according to the sound signal combining device of the present invention, each channel module includes a sound channel input and output, an audio bus, and each channel module includes an adjustable switch. By allowing the possible switches to include one or more channel modules coupled to at least one of the bus lines,
Through appropriate software control, each channel module can be connected to a desired bus line, and the connection can be interrupted or modified appropriately. Therefore, even when the audio studio device is used in various ways, the audio device can be used appropriately and optimally.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment of a sound signal combining device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 channel module 3, 4, 5, 6 level adjustment member 7, 8, 9, 10 switch 11, 12, 13, 14 summing resistor 15, 16, 17, 18 bus line 19 audio bus system 20 summing device 21 Switch 22 Level adjusting member 23 Output 24, 25, 26 Switch 27 Summing resistor 28 Sound channel input 29 Coupling matrix 30, 31 Processor

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. Sound channel input (28) and output (2)
3), as well as an audio bus (19), each channel module (1, 2) including an adjustable switch (7, 8, 9, 10), each adjustable channel module (1, 2) Switch (7,8,9,1
0) A sound signal coupling device including one or more channel modules (1, 2) in which 0) is coupled to at least one of the bus lines (15, 16, 17, 18). 2. A summing resistor is coupled to the coupling of each adjustable switch (7,8,9,10) and each bus line (15,16,17,18) of the channel module (1,2). The device according to claim 1, wherein 3. Each coupling of a channel module (1, 2) to an audio bus (19) comprises an adjustable level adjustment member (3) in front of a respective summing resistor (11, 12, 13, 14). , 4, 5, 6, 6) according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises: 4. A channel module (1, 2) whose input is coupled to at least one bus line (15) via an adjustable switch (21), the output of which is direct or another. 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a summing device (20) which is coupled to the output of the channel module (1, 2) via a possible level adjusting member (22). 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the individual bus lines (15, 18) in the channel module (1, 2) can be interrupted by adjustable switches (24, 25). . 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the output of the summing device is coupled to the bus line (16) via an adjustable switch (26) and a summing resistor device 27). . 7. The sound channel input (28), the output of the adder, the input of the level adjusting member (3,4,5,6) and the output (23) of the channel module (1,2), Arrangement optionally connected to one another via an adjustable matrix (29).
The device according to. 8. A matrix (29) according to claim 7, characterized in that further processing units (30, 31) included in the channel module (1, 2) can be coupled to the sound channel path. apparatus. 9. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the processing device (30, 31) is formed by an equalizer or a dynamic unit. 10. The switch (7, 8, 9, 10, 2)
1, 24, 25, 26), the level adjusting member (3,
4,5,6,22), said processing device (30,13) and said matrix (29) of channel modules (1,2) are digitally adjustable. The apparatus according to claim 1. 11. All channel modules (1,
Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the audio bus (19) coupling 2) is mounted as a ring. 12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a controller unit.