Digital Mixer Panel Layout for Easier Channel Send Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital mixing systems face challenges in efficiently managing and adjusting monitoring signals for multiple channels, leading to increased burdens on human operators due to inconvenient operator arrangements on the console panel.
Innovation Solution
The operation panel structure is redesigned with input channel sections, selected channel control sections, and signal delivery control sections positioned in a way that allows for easy visualization and manipulation, featuring faders, switches, and a display for parameter settings, and sharing of operators for send level control and output master volume control across modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If input operators and output operators are arranged in vertical and horizontal rows respectively in conventional mixers, then the panel structure is simple, but the manipulation becomes very inconvenient and increases operator burden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reorganizes the operator layout by introducing a new spatial dimension arrangement. Instead of traditional vertical rows for inputs and horizontal rows for outputs, the control panel adopts a unified horizontal row structure where all operators (input operators, output operators, and monitoring operators) are arranged in sequential horizontal rows. This dimensional reorganization allows operators to access all control functions within a single horizontal scanning motion, eliminating the need to move between vertical and horizontal sections and significantly improving operational convenience.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple monitoring signal channels are output to satisfy performer-specific demands, then the system versatility is improved, but the operator burden increases due to heavy setting requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a unified control structure where the same horizontal row operator arrangement serves multiple functions simultaneously. The operators in the horizontal rows can control input levels, output levels, and monitoring signal distribution across multiple channels. This multi-functional design allows a single set of operators to manage diverse monitoring requirements for different performers without requiring separate control sections, thereby maintaining system versatility while reducing operator burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The control panel pre-organizes all necessary operators (input operators, output operators, monitoring operators) in fixed horizontal rows before operation begins. This preliminary arrangement ensures that regardless of which monitoring channel or performer requirement needs to be adjusted, all relevant controls are already positioned within easy reach in the horizontal layout, eliminating the need for dynamic reconfiguration during performance and reducing real-time operator burden.
3Ease of operation
If panel operators are arranged to allow easy manipulation, then ease of operation is improved, but the panel structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the previously separate input operator section and output operator section into a unified horizontal row structure. By combining these functions into a single continuous horizontal arrangement, the panel eliminates the need for complex vertical-hierarchical structures while maintaining all necessary control capabilities. This merging simplifies the overall panel structure despite the enhanced operational convenience achieved through the horizontal layout.
Data Source
AI summary
As viewed from the front of an operation panel, adjustment sections for individual input channels are positioned on the operation panel close to a human operator, and a display, a control section for setting an equalizer process, compressor process etc. for one selected channel and a signal delivery control section for setting signal delivery to mixing buses for the selected channel are positioned in a horizontal row remotely from the human operator. Operators in the delivery control section are varied in function in accordance with a selected operation mode. For example, in a mix send mode, a plurality of rotary operators are set to function as send level adjustment operators for the respective input channels so as to adjust send levels to a given mixing bus, while, in a mix master mode, the rotary operators are set to function as output gain adjustment operators for the respective mixing buses.