WO2014074091A1 - Système sans fil extrêmement souple pour pédales de télécommande d'effets audio - Google Patents

Système sans fil extrêmement souple pour pédales de télécommande d'effets audio Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014074091A1
WO2014074091A1 PCT/US2012/063743 US2012063743W WO2014074091A1 WO 2014074091 A1 WO2014074091 A1 WO 2014074091A1 US 2012063743 W US2012063743 W US 2012063743W WO 2014074091 A1 WO2014074091 A1 WO 2014074091A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
main unit
audio
state
physically
actuated switch
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2012/063743
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Michael J. VUMBACO
James Arcidiacono
Original Assignee
Fxconnectx, Llc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fxconnectx, Llc filed Critical Fxconnectx, Llc
Priority to PCT/US2012/063743 priority Critical patent/WO2014074091A1/fr
Publication of WO2014074091A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014074091A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
    • G10H1/00—Details of electrophonic musical instruments
    • G10H1/32—Constructional details
    • G10H1/34—Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments
    • G10H1/344—Structural association with individual keys
    • G10H1/348—Switches actuated by parts of the body other than fingers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
    • G10H2240/00—Data organisation or data communication aspects, specifically adapted for electrophonic musical tools or instruments
    • G10H2240/171—Transmission of musical instrument data, control or status information; Transmission, remote access or control of music data for electrophonic musical instruments
    • G10H2240/201—Physical layer or hardware aspects of transmission to or from an electrophonic musical instrument, e.g. voltage levels, bit streams, code words or symbols over a physical link connecting network nodes or instruments
    • G10H2240/211—Wireless transmission, e.g. of music parameters or control data by radio, infrared or ultrasound

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the use of effects pedals when performing music, and more particularly to a system for using wireless connections to eliminate cabling in configuring an instrument or microphone with audio effects, effects pedal boards, mixers, and other studio equipment.
  • the present invention relates to wireless control of audio signal switching.
  • a wireless transmitter transmits control signals to a wireless receiver in a main unit, which, in response, switches an audio signal accordingly.
  • the system for wireless switching and controlling of audio signals may be used for musical audio applications such as audio effects, effects pedal boards, mixers, and studio equipment.
  • a system for forming a wireless connection to a remote pedal board including: a main unit, and a floor unit; the main unit including an audio input, an audio output, a main unit wireless transmitter and a main unit wireless receiver; the floor unit including an effects send output, an effects return input, a floor unit wireless transmitter and a floor unit wireless receiver; the main unit wireless transmitter configured to transmit an audio signal to the floor unit wireless receiver and the floor unit wireless transmitter configured to transmit the audio signal to the main unit wireless receiver; the floor unit configured to route the audio signal from the floor unit wireless receiver to the effects send output; and from the effects return input to the floor unit wireless transmitter; and the main unit configured to selectively operate in a first audio control state, wherein, when the main unit is selected to operate in the first audio control state, the audio signal is routed from the audio input to the main unit wireless transmitter; and from the main unit wireless receiver to the audio output.
  • the main unit is further configured to selectively operate in a second audio control state, wherein, when the main unit is selected to operate in the second audio control state, the audio signal is routed from the audio input to the audio output.
  • the main unit further includes a physically actuated switch, configured to cause the main unit to operate in the first audio control state when the physically actuated switch is activated, and to operate in the second audio control state when the physically actuated switch is deactivated.
  • the physically actuated switch is a manually actuated switch.
  • the main unit further includes a physically actuated switch, and the main unit is configured to transition from one of the first audio control state and the second audio control state to the other one of the first audio control state and the second audio control state when the physically activated switch is activated after having been deactivated.
  • the floor unit further includes a physically actuated switch; the floor unit wireless transmitter is further configured to transmit a control signal from the physically actuated switch to the main unit wireless receiver; and the main unit is configured to operate in the first audio control state when the physically actuated switch is activated, and to operate in the second audio control state when the physically actuated switch is
  • the physically actuated switch is a foot actuated switch.
  • the floor unit further includes a physically actuated switch
  • the floor unit wireless transmitter is further configured to transmit a control signal from the physically actuated switch to the main unit wireless receiver
  • the main unit is configured to transition from one of the first audio control state and the second audio control state to the other one of the first audio control state and the second audio control state when the physically activated switch is activated after having been deactivated.
  • the main unit further includes a first physically actuated switch; the floor unit further includes a second physically actuated switch; the floor unit wireless transmitter is further configured to transmit a control signal from the physically actuated switch to the main unit wireless receiver; and the main unit is configured to transition from one of the first audio control state and the second audio control state to the other one of the first audio control state and the second audio control state when the first physically activated switch is activated after having been deactivated, or the second physically activated switch is activated after having been deactivated.
  • the main unit is further configured to selectively operate in an unmuted state or a muted state, wherein, when the main unit is selected to operate in the muted state, the audio output is disabled.
  • the main unit further includes a physically actuated switch, and the main unit is configured to operate in the muted state when the physically activated switch is activated.
  • the floor unit wireless transmitter is further configured to transmit a control signal from the physically actuated switch to the main unit wireless receiver, and the main unit is configured to operate in the muted state when the physically activated switch is activated.
  • the main unit further comprises a switching control connector comprising a conductor; and the main unit is further configured to selectively operate in a first control output state or a second control output state, wherein, when the main unit is selected to operate in the first control output state, the conductor is configured to be disconnected, and when the main unit selected to operate in the second control output state, the conductor is configured to be connected to ground.
  • the floor unit wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the audio signal to the main unit wireless receiver using a wireless link having multiple channels.
  • the wireless link employs spread spectrum technology.
  • the audio input is a wireless audio input.
  • the system includes a main unit, and an audio amplifier, including a preamplifier input; a preamplifier output; and a power amplifier input; wherein an audio signal source is connected to the preamplifier input; the preamplifier input is connected to the audio input; and the audio output is connected to the power amplifier input.
  • the audio signal source is connected to the preamplifier input via a wireless audio link.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for wireless remote installation of effects pedals according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system for wireless remote installation of effects pedals between preamplifier and power amplifier stages according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 3A is a block diagram of a system for wireless remote installation of effects pedals in the loop active state according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 3B is a block diagram of a system for wireless remote installation of effects pedals in the bypass state according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system for wireless remote installation of effects pedals with a mute function according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a system for wireless remote installation of effects pedals with an A/B select control capability according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 6A is a block diagram of a system for wireless remote installation of effects pedals with state changing capability in a floor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 6B is a block diagram of a system for wireless remote installation of effects pedals with state changing capability in a floor unit and in a main unit according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a system for wireless remote installation of effects pedals including a central control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a system for wireless remote installation of effects pedals with a wireless audio source connection according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • a main unit 120 may be used together with a floor unit 110 to locate effects pedals 150 remotely from the main unit 120 without the use of cables.
  • An audio source 130 such as an electric guitar, microphone, piece of studio equipment, or the like, may be connected to the main unit 120, within which the signal from the audio source 130 may be transmitted to the floor unit 110 over an outbound wireless link composed of a main unit wireless transmitter 140 and a floor unit wireless receiver 145.
  • the received audio signal may be routed from the floor unit wireless receiver 145 to a send output, from which it may be routed through one or more effects pedals 150 and back to the return input on the floor unit 110.
  • the audio signal may be returned to the main unit 120 via the return wireless link, and routed, through a main unit audio output 138, to an amplifier 165.
  • the amplifier 165 amplifies the audio signal and transmits, to external speakers, an electrical signal suitable for driving such speakers, or, if the amplifier 165 includes integral speakers, it may output an amplified acoustic signal.
  • the main unit wireless transmitter 140 and the main unit wireless receiver 160 are illustrated as wholly independent parts, they may be integrated into one component of the main unit 120, sharing, for example, an antenna that may be used both to transmit and to receive.
  • the floor unit wireless receiver 145 and the floor unit wireless transmitter 155 may also similarly be integrated into one unit. In operation, a musician may position the floor unit 110 and effects pedals 1 0 at the front of a stage, and perform there, while the amplifier and main unit are located at the back of the stage.
  • the embodiment comprising a main unit 120 and a floor unit 110 may also be employed in a configuration in which the amplifier 165 includes separate preamplifier 210 and power amplifier 215 stages.
  • the amplifier 165 includes separate preamplifier 210 and power amplifier 215 stages.
  • a musician may obtain superior sound by connecting the effects pedals 150 in between the preamplifier 210 and the power amplifier 215.
  • such an audio signal chain may require considerable lengths of cabling.
  • three cables, each spanning the distance from the front to the back of the stage may be needed: one to connect the instrument to the input of the preamplifier 210, one to connect the output of the preamplifier 210 to the input of the chain of effects pedals 150, and one to connect the output of the chain of effects pedals 150 to the power amplifier 215.
  • two of these three cables are unnecessary, and the attendant trip hazards and degradation of audio quality may be avoided.
  • the main unit 120a may further include an audio signal routing block 380, and the main unit 120a may be configured to operate in either of two audio control states, for selecting whether or not effects are applied to the audio signal.
  • a first audio control state the audio signal may be routed by the audio signal routing block 380 as illustrated in FIG. 3 A, viz., to the floor unit 1 10, through the effects pedals 150, and back to the main unit 120a.
  • This state may be referred to as the loop active state, because in this state the effects loop is active.
  • the audio signal in a second audio control state, may be routed directly from the main unit audio input 135 to the main unit audio output 138, bypassing the floor unit 110 and the effects pedals 150.
  • This state may be referred to as the bypass state because in this state the effects loop is bypassed.
  • a main unit control switch 310 which may for example be a physically actuated switch installed on the front panel of the main unit 120a, may be used to select between the two audio control states.
  • the main unit 120b may include a mute block 128 having the effect that when the main unit 120b is in a muted state, the audio output is disabled, for example by being connected to ground. Whether the main unit 120b is in a muted or unmuted state may be controlled by a main unit control switch 310, which may for example be a physically actuated switch installed on the front panel of the main unit 120b.
  • the main unit 120c has one or more main unit control outputs 12S for causing external equipment or devices to switch between states.
  • the amplifier 165 may have two preamplifier inputs identified as "A" and "B" respectively, and an A/B select control input which may be used to control which of the two inputs is selected to be amplified.
  • Such a control input may be controlled by a main unit control output 125 which is either in a grounded state or in an open state.
  • the main unit control output 125 may include a switching control connector having a conductor which in in one state is conductively connected to ground and in the other state is disconnected.
  • a similar control output may also be used to control an effects pedal 150 designed to accept such a control input.
  • Each main unit control output 125 may be controlled, via a control block 190, by a main unit control switch 310, which may for example be a physically actuated switch installed on the front panel of the main unit 120c.
  • Each main unit control switch 310 may be a physically actuated switch on the main unit 120c, e.g., a finger-actuated toggle or pushbutton switch on a the main unit enclosure, or any other switch including without limitation an external foot pedal connected to the main unit 120c by a cable.
  • a switch may be a maintained contact switch, with an active position and an inactive position (e.g., the up position and the down position, for a toggle switch) so that, for example, when the switch is in the active position the main unit 120c is muted, and when the switch is in the inactive position, the main unit 120c is unmuted.
  • the state of the main unit control output 125 may be controlled by, for example, a toggle switch, so that when the toggle switch is in the up position, the main unit 120c controls the preamplifier 210 to select the A input, and when the toggle switch is in the down position, the main unit 120c controls the preamplifier 210 to select the B input.
  • Control of various aspects of the main unit state may also be accomplished, in one embodiment, from the floor unit 1 10, via a suitably configured wireless link.
  • the floor unit wireless transmitter 155 may, for example, be capable of transmitting multiple independent channels, and the main unit wireless receiver 160 may be capable of receiving the channels independently. This may be accomplished using different frequencies for the different channels, or by some other technique such as code division multiple access (CDMA) or other spread spectrum technology.
  • CDMA code division multiple access
  • one such channel is used to transmit the audio signal back to the main unit 120d, and a separate channel is used to control the audio control state, the muting state, or the control output state of the main unit 120d.
  • the floor unit 110 may be equipped with one or more physically actuated switches 610, such as foot pedal switches integrated into the floor unit 110, or, as in the case of the main unit 120c (FIG. 5), any other variety of physically actuated switch. These floor unit control switches 610 may then control the state of the main unit 120d, via the additional channels in the wireless link, in the same manner as the main unit control switches 310 (FIG. 5).
  • the audio signal routing block 380, mute block 128, and control blocks 190 in the main unit 120d may be constructed using relays, which may select the path the audio signal takes, or connect the audio output to ground, or connect a main unit control output 125 to ground, respectively.
  • relays which may select the path the audio signal takes, or connect the audio output to ground, or connect a main unit control output 125 to ground, respectively.
  • FIG. 6A if the main unit state is under the control of the floor unit 1 10, then outputs from the corresponding channels of the main unit wireless receiver 160 may be connected to the coils of the corresponding relays to energize or de- energize them.
  • FIG. 6A if the main unit state is under the control of the floor unit 1 10, then outputs from the corresponding channels of the main unit wireless receiver 160 may be connected to the coils of the corresponding relays to energize or de- energize them.
  • FIG. 6A if the main unit state is under the control of the floor unit 1 10, then outputs from the corresponding channels of the
  • control of the state of the main unit 120c may be accomplished directly by the main unit control switches 310, each of which may, depending on its setting, connect the coil of a relay in a corresponding audio signal routing block 380, mute block 128, or control block 190 to a source of power to energize the relay, or, in the other setting of the switch, disconnect the coil of the relay to de-energize it.
  • control switches may be present on both the main unit 120e and the floor unit 110 and control may be effected by any of the switches, any of which may cause a corresponding relay to be energized when the switch is in the appropriate position.
  • the main unit 120f may contain a central control unit 170 which may control the audio signal routing block 380, mute block 128, or control blocks 190.
  • the central control unit 170 may include one or more processors executing computer program instructions and interacting with other system components for perfonning the various suitable functionalities described herein.
  • the computer program instructions may be stored in a memory implemented using a standard memory device, such as, for example, a random access memory (RAM).
  • the computer program instructions may also be stored in other non-transitory computer readable media such as, for example, a CD- ROM, flash drive, or the like.
  • the central control unit 170 may merge control inputs received from the floor unit 110 and from the main unit control switches 310, to effect any desired state changes.
  • the central control unit 170 may, for example, receive control inputs from the main unit wireless receiver 160 and from the main unit control switches 310 and determine the appropriate control signal for an audio signal routing block 380, a mute block 128, or a control block 190.
  • the central control unit 170 may allow a state change in the main unit 120f to be triggered by momentary activation of a momentary contact switch, so that, for example, pressing and releasing a mute button once may switch the main unit 120f into the muted state, and pressing and releasing the mute button again may switch the main unit 120f into the unmuted state.
  • the mute control switches on the main unit 120f and on the floor unit 110 are both momentary contact switches and a toggle effect is desired, in which the main unit 120f toggles between a muted state and an unmuted state each time either switch is pressed and released, then the central control unit 170 may provide this functionality using a state machine implemented in hardware or software or a combination thereof.
  • the need for a cable between the audio source 130 and the main unit or the amplifier 165 may be eliminated using an additional wireless link.
  • the main unit 120g may contain an additional wireless receiver, which in this embodiment acts as the main unit audio input 135b.
  • the audio source 130 may then be connected to a corresponding audio source wireless transmitter 810, so that the audio signal is transmitted from the audio source 130 to the main unit audio input 135b via the additional wireless link.
  • the wireless transmitter 810 may be a body-pack wireless transmitter 810, e.g., a wireless transmitter 810 suitable for being secured to the body of a musician, who may then plug a signal source 130 into the body-pack wireless transmitter 810.
  • the signal source 130 may for example be a microphone, electric guitar, or a piece of studio equipment.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Circuit For Audible Band Transducer (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système pour réaliser des connexions sans fil lors de la configuration d'un instrument ou d'un microphone avec des effets audio, des pédaliers à effets, des mélangeurs, et autres équipements de studio. Le signal provenant d'une source audio telle qu'un instrument ou un microphone est connecté à une unité principale, de laquelle il est transmis par l'intermédiaire d'une liaison sans fil à une unité au sol, connectée à une ou plusieurs pédales d'effets ou à un autre équipement de studio. Après traitement, le signal audio est renvoyé par liaison sans fil à l'unité principale puis est acheminé à un amplificateur.
PCT/US2012/063743 2012-11-06 2012-11-06 Système sans fil extrêmement souple pour pédales de télécommande d'effets audio WO2014074091A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2012/063743 WO2014074091A1 (fr) 2012-11-06 2012-11-06 Système sans fil extrêmement souple pour pédales de télécommande d'effets audio

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2012/063743 WO2014074091A1 (fr) 2012-11-06 2012-11-06 Système sans fil extrêmement souple pour pédales de télécommande d'effets audio

Publications (1)

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WO2014074091A1 true WO2014074091A1 (fr) 2014-05-15

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PCT/US2012/063743 WO2014074091A1 (fr) 2012-11-06 2012-11-06 Système sans fil extrêmement souple pour pédales de télécommande d'effets audio

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR3031223A1 (fr) * 2014-12-29 2016-07-01 Eric Papillier Invention permettant le test et l'utilisation de pedales d'effets pour instruments de musique ou de systemes comportant une entree et une sortie audio, a distance, via le reseau internet

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080216638A1 (en) * 2007-03-05 2008-09-11 Hustig Charles H System and method for implementing a high speed digital musical interface
US20090129605A1 (en) * 2007-11-15 2009-05-21 Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab Apparatus and methods for augmenting a musical instrument using a mobile terminal
KR20110107516A (ko) * 2010-03-25 2011-10-04 안영준 휴대형 무선 이펙터
WO2012058646A1 (fr) * 2010-10-28 2012-05-03 Gibson Guitar Corp. Pédale d'effets sans fil actionné au pied pour instrument de musique électrique à cordes
US20120160079A1 (en) * 2010-12-27 2012-06-28 Apple Inc. Musical systems and methods

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080216638A1 (en) * 2007-03-05 2008-09-11 Hustig Charles H System and method for implementing a high speed digital musical interface
US20090129605A1 (en) * 2007-11-15 2009-05-21 Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab Apparatus and methods for augmenting a musical instrument using a mobile terminal
KR20110107516A (ko) * 2010-03-25 2011-10-04 안영준 휴대형 무선 이펙터
WO2012058646A1 (fr) * 2010-10-28 2012-05-03 Gibson Guitar Corp. Pédale d'effets sans fil actionné au pied pour instrument de musique électrique à cordes
US20120160079A1 (en) * 2010-12-27 2012-06-28 Apple Inc. Musical systems and methods

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR3031223A1 (fr) * 2014-12-29 2016-07-01 Eric Papillier Invention permettant le test et l'utilisation de pedales d'effets pour instruments de musique ou de systemes comportant une entree et une sortie audio, a distance, via le reseau internet

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