Mixer Channel Linking for FOH-Consistent Monitor Sends
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mixers in concert halls or recording studios fail to reflect the ON/OFF state and fader level of the Front of House (FOH) audio signal on audio signals for monitoring or recording, limiting their efficiency in generating signals for these purposes.
Innovation Solution
A mixer design that includes input channel adjustment units generating main system and MIX send signals, with linked gain and ON/OFF settings that mirror the main system settings, allowing independent control and assignment of audio signals to output ports, ensuring that the ON/OFF state and fader level of the FOH signal are reflected in monitoring or recording signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the signal is separated in the intermediate stage of generating the FOH audio signal for different purposes (monitoring, recording), then the audio signals for monitoring and recording can be generated separately with different processing, but the ON/OFF state and fader level of the FOH audio signal cannot be reflected on these separated signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the control mechanisms for FOH audio signals and separated audio signals (monitoring and recording) into a unified system. The fader and ON/OFF units that control the FOH signal are made to simultaneously control the separated signals, ensuring control consistency while maintaining the ability to generate different audio outputs for different purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The fader and ON/OFF control units are designed to serve multiple functions: they control both the main FOH audio signal and the separated audio signals for monitoring and recording. This multi-functionality allows a single control interface to manage multiple audio output paths with consistent control behavior.
2Productivity
If separate processing is applied to audio signals for monitoring and recording, then efficient generation of these signals is achieved, but additional control mechanisms are required to manage the separated signals independently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing control units (fader and ON/OFF units) universal by enabling them to control multiple audio signal paths simultaneously. Instead of adding separate control units for monitoring and recording signals, the same control units are configured to manage all audio outputs, thereby maintaining efficiency without increasing device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the fader level is not reflected on separated audio signals, then independent control of separated signals is possible, but control consistency and operational efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control of fader level across all audio signal paths (FOH, monitoring, and recording). The same fader unit that controls the FOH signal level also controls the level of separated signals, ensuring control consistency. This is achieved by configuring the fader to simultaneously affect multiple signal paths rather than requiring separate faders for each path.
Data Source
AI summary
In a mixer, each input channel adjustment unit includes a main system unit that generates a main system signal, and a plurality of MIX send units that generate a plurality of MIX send signals. In each MIX send unit, a signal selection unit selects an audio signal from a plurality of audio signals being involved in the main system unit and including at least an audio signal to be inputted to a filter unit of the main system unit and an audio signal to be inputted to a main system gain adjustment unit. A linked gain setting unit of the MIX send unit applies a gain that increases or decreases in linking with the gain of the main system gain adjustment unit, to the audio signal that is selected by the signal selection unit. A linked ON/OFF unit of the MIX send unit sets ON state or OFF state of the audio signal that is selected by the signal selection unit in linking with the ON state or OFF state of a main system ON/OFF unit.