Portable Monitor Mixing System for Stage Mobility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Musicians in live performances face difficulties in hearing their music due to amplified environments, and existing music monitors restrict their movement and require complex adjustments, often leading to suboptimal mixes and communication challenges with sound engineers.

Innovation Solution

A portable electronic device system that allows musicians to programmatically select and control multiple audio channels, adjust volumes independently, and mix audio streams in real-time, enabling personalized audio mixes and greater stage mobility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a musician uses a fixed mixer connected to speakers or wired earphones, then the musician can monitor the music, but the musician's movement on stage is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemusician mobilityVSAvoidmonitoring system setup

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection system (fixed mixers connected to wired earphones or speakers) with a wireless communication system using portable electronic devices. Musicians receive audio streams wirelessly via Bluetooth or other wireless protocols, eliminating physical constraints and enabling free movement on stage while maintaining monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates digital copies of the audio mix for each musician's portable device. Instead of one physical mixer serving multiple musicians, the system generates separate audio streams that are copied and transmitted to each musician's device, allowing individual customization without requiring multiple physical mixers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If a sound engineer controls the mix off stage, then the musician does not need to operate complex equipment, but communication between musician and engineer is error-prone and difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemix control simplicityVSAvoidcommunication accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables musicians to control their own monitor mixes directly through their portable devices. Each musician can independently adjust volume levels, select channels, and customize their mix without requiring communication with the sound engineer, eliminating communication errors while maintaining operational simplicity through intuitive touch interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides real-time visual feedback to musicians through the portable device interface, showing which channels are active and how the mix is configured. This immediate feedback allows musicians to make precise adjustments without needing to verbally communicate with the engineer, reducing miscommunication while maintaining full control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If a musician has direct control of their mix, then the musician can adjust channels independently, but the mixer complexities may overwhelm the musician

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemix customizationVSAvoidmixer interface

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the audio control into discrete digital channels that can be independently selected and adjusted on the portable device. Each instrument or audio source appears as a separate controllable element, allowing musicians to customize their mix by selecting only the channels they need, rather than dealing with a complex analog mixer with numerous interconnected controls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the control parameters from traditional analog mixer settings (physical faders, knobs, patch cables) to digital parameters displayed on the portable device screen. Musicians adjust mixes by touching the screen to select channels and adjust volume levels, transforming the complex physical mixer interface into a simple, intuitive graphical interface that reduces cognitive load while maintaining full mixing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10001968B1Monitor mixing apparatus that presents each musician with summary control of both their contributed channels and the remaining channels, for rapid and accurate sound balance

Publication Date: 2018.06.19 AUDIO FUSION SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

In an embodiment, a monitor mixing system is provided in which each musician has one or more portable electronic devices (e.g. smart phones, tablets, etc.) that are programmable to select the owner of a plurality of channels of digital audio as either the musician or the band (e.g. one of the other musicians). The device may also be programmable to control the volume of the musicians own channel independently from the volume of the remaining channels, in an embodiment, and may be programmable with a master volume control as well. The plurality of channels of digital audio may be mixed according to the controls and played back for the musician over the device's audio output. In an embodiment, a simple and efficient interface may give the musician considerable control over his/her monitor mix and may free the musician to move about the stage as desired.