Sound processing method, audio device, and sound processing system

Abstract

To provide a sound processing method capable of executing functions of not only an acoustic apparatus such as a mixing console but also a sound processing device to be connected to the acoustic apparatus.SOLUTION: A sound processing method includes: allowing an operator arranged in an acoustic apparatus to function as the first operator to execute a function to be arbitrarily assigned with respect to the acoustic apparatus in a first mode; allowing the operator to function as the second operator to execute a fixed function with respect to a sound processing device to be connected to the acoustic apparatus in a second mode; and receiving processing for a changeover from the first mode to the second mode when connection between the acoustic apparatus and the sound processing device is detected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] One embodiment of the present invention relates to a sound processing method, an acoustic device, and a sound processing system.

Background Art

[0002] The mixing console of Patent Document 1 has 24 user-defined keys to which any function can be assigned. Above the user-defined keys, four switching keys for switching banks A, B, C, and D are arranged.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The user-defined keys can only be assigned any function of the mixing console.

[0005] An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a sound processing method capable of executing functions not only of an acoustic device such as a mixing console but also of a sound processing apparatus connected to the acoustic device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A sound processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention causes an operator provided in an acoustic device to function as a first operator that executes an arbitrarily assigned function for the acoustic device in a first mode, and as a second operator that executes a fixed function for a sound processing apparatus connected to the acoustic device in a second mode, and accepts a switching process from the first mode to the second mode when a connection between the acoustic device and the sound processing apparatus is detected.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, not only an audio device such as a mixing console but also the functions of an audio processing device connected to the audio device can be executed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an audio processing system. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of an audio mixer. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the signal processing block of an audio mixer. FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of an audio mixer.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the sound processing system 1 includes an audio mixer 10 and a personal computer (PC) 11 connected to the audio mixer 10. The audio mixer 10 and the PC 11 are connected by, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable. The audio mixer 10 is an example of the acoustic device of the present invention. The audio mixer 10 inputs a sound signal from another device connected to itself or outputs a sound signal to another device.

[0011] The audio mixer 10 inputs a sound signal from an acoustic device such as a microphone or an instrument. The audio mixer 10 performs signal processing such as mixing or effects on the input sound signal. The audio mixer 10 transmits the sound signal after signal processing to the PC 11.

[0012] The audio mixer 10 includes a display 101, an operation unit 102, an audio I / O (Input / Output) 103, a signal processing unit (DSP) 104, a network I / F (interface) 105, a USB I / F 106, a CPU 107, a flash memory 108, and a RAM 109. These components are connected via a bus 210.

[0013] The CPU 107 controls the operation of the audio mixer 10. The CPU 107 performs various operations by reading a program stored in the flash memory 108, which is a storage medium, into the RAM 109 and executing it. Note that the program does not necessarily have to be stored in the flash memory 108 of the device itself. For example, it may be downloaded from another device such as a server each time and read into the RAM 109.

[0014] The CPU 107 controls the input and output of sound signals in the audio I / O 103, the mixing process in the signal processing unit 104, the effect process, and the change of the values of parameters related thereto.

[0015] The display 101 is composed of, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and displays various information according to the control of the CPU 107. The operation unit 102 receives operations on the audio mixer 10 from the user. The operation unit 102 is composed of various operators. Also, the operation unit 102 may be composed of a touch panel laminated on the display 101.

[0016] The signal processing unit 104 is composed of a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) for performing various signal processes such as mixing process or effect process. The signal processing unit 104 performs signal processes such as mixing process or effect process on the audio signal input from the audio I / O 103, the network I / F 105, or the USB I / F 106. The signal processing unit 104 outputs the audio signal after the signal process via the audio I / O 103, the network I / F 105, or the USB I / F 106.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, the signal processing block 901 is composed of an input channel 951, a bus 952, and an output channel 953. In this example, the input channel 951 has 16 channels (1 - 16). The bus 952 has various buses such as a stereo bus, a MIX bus, and a MATRIX bus. The output channel 953 is a block that processes the audio signal sent from each bus.

[0018] Each channel of the input channel 951 performs effect processes such as an equalizer (EQ) or a compressor (COMP) on the input audio signal. Each channel of the input channel 951 sends the audio signal after the signal process to the subsequent bus 952. The level of the audio signal sent by the input channel is adjusted by an operator such as the fader 41.

[0019] The bus 952 mixes the audio signals sent from each input channel and outputs them to the output channel 953.

[0020] The output channel 953 performs effect processing such as an equalizer or a compressor on the input audio signal. The audio signal after being subjected to signal processing is supplied to the audio I / O 103, the network I / F 105, or the USB I / F 106.

[0021] In the example of FIG. 1, the audio mixer 10 and the PC 11 are connected via a USB cable. The audio mixer 10 transmits an audio signal to the PC 11 via the USB I / F 106.

[0022] The PC 11 is an example of the audio processing apparatus of the present invention. The PC 11 executes an application program of a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). The user performs operations such as recording and editing of the audio signal received from the audio mixer 10 via the DAW of the PC 11. In this case, the PC 11 functions as an editing device.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the audio mixer 10 includes a housing 20. A display 101 is disposed at the upper front of the housing 20. An operation panel 25 is disposed at the lower front of the housing 20. The operation panel 25 has a channel strip section 27, a fader bank area 51, and a user-defined key area 52 disposed thereon.

[0024] The channel strip section 27 includes eight input channel sections and one master section. A plurality of operators including a fader 41 are disposed in each channel section. The user operates the fader 41 to adjust the levels of each input channel and output channel.

[0025] Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the fader bank area 51 and the user-defined key area 52. The fader bank area 51 has a 1-8 bank switch 511, a 9-16 bank switch 512, an ST-IN switch 513, an OUTPUT switch 514, a CUSTOM switch 155, and a CUSTOM switch 156. The user-defined key area 52 has six switches (switch 521, switch 522, switch 523, switch 524, switch 525, and switch 526).

[0026] When the 1-8 bank switch 511 is selected, the eight input channel sections in the channel strip section 27 become the sections of input channels 1 to 8. When the 9-16 bank switch 512 is selected, the eight input channel sections in the channel strip section 27 become the sections of input channels 9 to 16.

[0027] When the ST-IN switch 513 is selected, the eight input channel sections in the channel strip section 27 become various input section levels including stereo channels. When the OUTPUT switch 514 is selected, the eight input channel sections in the channel strip section 27 become sections for adjusting the send amounts to various buses such as the stereo bus, the MIX bus, and the MATRIX bus.

[0028] When either the CUSTOM switch 155 or the CUSTOM switch 156 is selected, the user can assign any channel to the fader 41. The eight input channel sections in the channel strip section 27 become the sections of any channel assigned by the user. Also, when the CUSTOM switch 155 and the CUSTOM switch 156 are selected simultaneously, the eight input channel sections in the channel strip section 27 become sections for adjusting the parameters for each track being edited in the DAW of the PC11.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the PC 11, and FIG. 7 is an example of a GUI (Graphical User Interface) in the DAW. The PC 11 includes a display 111, a user I / F 112, a CPU 113, a flash memory 114, a RAM 115, and a USB I / F 116. These components are connected via a bus 151.

[0030] The display 111 is composed of, for example, an LCD, and displays various information according to the control of the CPU 113. The user I / F 112 is composed of a mouse or a keyboard, etc., and accepts user operations. The user I / F 112, together with the display 111, constitutes the GUI.

[0031] The CPU 113 reads out the program stored in the flash memory 114, which is a storage medium, to the RAM 115 to realize a predetermined function. For example, the CPU 113 reads out the application program of the DAW from the flash memory 114 to realize such a GUI as shown in FIG. 7.

[0032] The GUI shown in FIG. 7 is an example of a track editing screen 70 for creating multi-track content in the DAW. The CPU 113 displays a track list 75 and a timeline 76 on the track editing screen 70.

[0033] One or more tracks are displayed in the track list 75. The user selects any one of the tracks in the track list 75. When the user selects a track, the timeline waveform etc. of the selected track is displayed on the timeline 76. In this way, the user can record and edit the selected track.

[0034] When the user simultaneously selects the CUSTOM switch 155 and the CUSTOM switch 156 of the audio mixer 10, the various operators of the audio mixer 10 are switched from the first mode that functions as the first operator for executing the functions for the audio mixer 10 to the second mode that functions as the second operator for executing the functions for the DAW.

[0035] In the second mode, the CPU 107 of the audio mixer 10 causes, for example, the eight input channel sections in the channel strip section 27 to function as sections for adjusting the parameters for each track in the track list 75.

[0036] In this case, the CPU 107 transmits a volume adjustment value corresponding to the operation position of the fader 41 of each input channel section to the PC 11. The PC 11 adjusts the volume of the corresponding track according to the received volume adjustment value.

[0037] Also, in the second mode, the CPU 107 displays, for example, "DAW REMOTE" on the display 101, and notifies the user that the audio mixer 10 has switched to the second mode for controlling the DAW.

[0038] In the first mode, the six switches (switch 521, switch 522, switch 523, switch 524, switch 525, and switch 526) in the user-defined key area 52 function as the first operator for executing arbitrarily assigned functions for the audio mixer 10. In the second mode, the six switches (switch 521, switch 522, switch 523, switch 524, switch 525, and switch 526) in the user-defined key area 52 function as the second operator for executing fixed functions for the DAW.

[0039] In the example of FIG. 5, when the user selects switch 521, CPU 107 executes a function of moving back one track selected in the DAW. For example, when the user operates switch 521 when track 2 is selected in the DAW, the selected track changes to track 1. Since the upper part of switch 521 is marked with "BACK", the user can immediately determine that the function fixed to switch 521 is the function of moving back one track.

[0040] When the user selects switch 522, CPU 107 executes a function of advancing the track selected in the DAW by one. For example, when the user operates switch 522 when track 2 is selected in the DAW, the selected track changes to track 3. Since the upper part of switch 522 is marked with "FEED", the user can immediately determine that the function fixed to switch 522 is the function of advancing the track by one.

[0041] When the user selects switch 523, CPU 107 executes a function of rewinding (fast rewinding) the time of timeline 76. Since the upper part of switch 523 is marked with "REW", the user can immediately determine that the function fixed to switch 523 is the fast rewinding function.

[0042] When the user selects switch 524, CPU 107 executes a function of advancing (fast forwarding) the time of timeline 76. Since the upper part of switch 524 is marked with "FF", the user can immediately determine that the function fixed to switch 524 is the fast forwarding function.

[0043] When the user selects switch 525, CPU 107 executes a function of stopping the playback. Since the upper part of switch 525 is marked with "STOP", the user can immediately determine that the function fixed to switch 525 is the playback stop function.

[0044] When the user selects switch 526, the CPU 107 executes a function to start (resume) playback. Since the upper part of switch 526 is marked with "PLAY", the user can immediately determine that the function fixed to switch 526 is the playback start function.

[0045] When the user operates switches 523 and 524 simultaneously, the CPU 107 executes a function to turn the DAW loop on / off. Since the line connecting switches 523 and 524 is marked with "ROOP", the user can immediately determine that operating switches 523 and 524 simultaneously can turn the DAW loop on / off.

[0046] When the user operates switches 525 and 526 simultaneously, the CPU 107 executes a function to start recording. Since the line connecting switches 525 and 526 is marked with "REC", the user can immediately determine that operating switches 525 and 526 simultaneously can start recording.

[0047] In this way, in the second mode, the audio mixer 10 may execute different functions when any one of the plurality of operators is operated and when two or more of the plurality of operators are operated simultaneously.

[0048] In the above example, when the user simultaneously selects the CUSTOM switch 155 and the CUSTOM switch 156 of the audio mixer 10, the mode is switched from the first mode to the second mode. However, the audio mixer 10 may automatically execute the switching from the first mode to the second mode when detecting the connection to the PC 11. Also, when detecting the disconnection from the PC 11, the audio mixer 10 may execute the switching process from the second mode to the first mode.

[0049] Furthermore, the audio mixer 10 may receive a confirmation instruction for the switching process from the user and execute the switching process from the first mode to the second mode after receiving the confirmation instruction. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the audio mixer 10. The audio mixer 10 determines whether it has detected a connection to the PC 11 (S11). When the audio mixer 10 detects a connection to the PC 11 (S11→YES), it displays a confirmation message such as "MOVE TO DAW REMOTE?" on the display 101 (S12). In addition, the audio mixer 10 displays options of "YES" and "NO" on the display 101 and determines whether it has received a confirmation instruction from the user (S13). When the user selects "YES", the audio mixer 10 receives a confirmation instruction for the switching process from the user (S13→YES) and executes the switching process from the first mode to the second mode (S14).

[0050] In this way, when the audio mixer 10 detects a connection to the PC 11, it may receive a confirmation instruction for the switching process from the user and execute the switching process from the first mode to the second mode after receiving the confirmation instruction. As a result, the user can control the DAW only by operating the audio mixer 10 without operating the PC 11 just by giving a confirmation instruction on the audio mixer 10. The user can perform operations such as mixing and editing operations only by operating the audio mixer 10 without operating a plurality of devices.

[0051] In the second mode, since both the audio mixer 10 and the DAW can be controlled by one device, it is preferable to execute the switching process in a state where the user clearly recognizes after receiving the confirmation instruction. On the other hand, in a state where the connection to the PC 11 is released, since the DAW is not controlled, the audio mixer 10 may execute the switching process from the second mode to the first mode without receiving a confirmation instruction when it detects the release of the connection to the PC 11.

[0052] The description of the present embodiment should be considered illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of the claims rather than the above-described embodiments. Further, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the user-defined key area 52 was shown as an example having six switches (switch 521, switch 522, switch 523, switch 524, switch 525, and switch 526), but the user-defined key may be one. Also, although an example where the function assigned to the user-defined key in the second mode is fixed was shown, the function assigned to the user-defined key in the second mode is not limited to the example where it is fixed.

[0054] Also, in the above embodiment, the sound processing device (PC11) connected to the audio mixer 10 which is an acoustic device is an editing device, and PC11 edits the sound signal sent from the acoustic device to the sound processing device, and the audio mixer 10 executed the function related to the editing in PC11 in the second mode. However, the sound processing device is not limited to an editing device. For example, the sound processing device may perform plug-in effect processing, and the acoustic device may execute the function of plug-in effect processing.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0055] 1…Sound processing system 10…Audio mixer 11…PC 20…Housing 25…Operation panel 27…Channel strip section 41…Fader 51…Fader bank area 52…User-defined key area 70…Track editing screen 75…Track list 76…Timeline 101…Display 102…Operation unit 103… Audio I / O 104… Signal processing unit 105… Network I / F 106… USB I / F 107… CPU 108… Flash memory 109… RAM 111… Display 112… User I / F 113… CPU 114… Flash memory 115… RAM 116… USB I / F 151… Bus 155, 156… CUSTOM switch 210… Bus 511… 1 - 8 bank switch 512… 9 - 16 bank switch 513… ST - IN switch 514… OUTPUT switch 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526… Switch 901… Signal processing block 951… Input channel 952… Bus 953… Output channel

Claims

1. A user-defined key provided in an audio mixer and used to execute a function arbitrarily assigned by a user to the audio mixer functions as a first operator for executing the arbitrarily assigned function in a first mode, and functions as a second operator for executing a fixed function for an audio processing device connected to the audio mixer in a second mode. When detecting the connection between the audio mixer and the audio processing device and receiving a specific operation from the user, it accepts the switching process from the first mode to the second mode. Audio processing method.

2. When detecting the disconnection between the audio mixer and the audio processing device, it accepts the switching process from the second mode to the first mode. The audio processing method according to claim 1.

3. Accept a confirmation instruction for the switching process from the user. After receiving the confirmation instruction, execute the switching process. The audio processing method according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The function assigned to the second operator is fixed. The audio processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The user-defined key includes a plurality of operators. The audio processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. In the second mode, different functions are executed when any one of the plurality of operators is operated and when two or more of the plurality of operators are operated simultaneously. The audio processing method according to claim 5.

7. The audio processing device is an editing device, and edits an audio signal sent from the audio mixer to the audio processing device. The audio mixer executes functions related to the editing in the second mode. The audio processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. An audio mixer provided with a user-defined key for executing a function arbitrarily assigned by a user to the audio mixer, The user-defined key functions as a first operator for executing the arbitrarily assigned function in the first mode, and functions as a second operator for executing a fixed function for an audio processing device connected to the audio mixer in the second mode. The audio mixer detects the connection between the audio mixer and the audio processing device, and accepts the switching process from the first mode to the second mode when receiving a specific operation from the user. An audio mixer provided with a control unit.

9. When the control unit detects the disconnection between the audio mixer and the audio processing device, it accepts the switching process from the second mode to the first mode. The audio mixer according to claim 8.

10. The control unit accepts a confirmation instruction for the switching process from the user, and executes the switching process after accepting the confirmation instruction. The audio mixer according to claim 8 or claim 9.

11. The function assigned to the second operator is fixed. The audio mixer according to any one of claims 8 to 10.

12. The user-defined key includes a plurality of operators. The audio mixer according to any one of claims 8 to 11.

13. In the second mode, different functions are executed depending on whether any one of the plurality of operators is operated or two or more of the plurality of operators are simultaneously operated. The audio mixer according to claim 12.

14. The sound processing device is an editing device, and edits the sound signal sent from the audio mixer to the sound processing device. The audio mixer executes a function related to the editing in the second mode. The audio mixer according to any one of claims 8 to 13.

15. A sound processing system including an audio mixer having a user-defined key for executing a function arbitrarily assigned by a user to the audio mixer, and a sound processing device, The audio mixer is The user-defined key functions as a first operator for executing the arbitrarily assigned function in the first mode, and functions as a second operator for executing a fixed function for the sound processing device connected to the audio mixer in the second mode. When the connection between the audio mixer and the sound processing device is detected and a specific operation is received from the user, the switching process from the first mode to the second mode is received. Sound processing system.

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