GB2570856A - Processing analogue audio signals - Google Patents

Abstract

The processing of analogue audio signals is shown in which a carrier is arranged to support a plurality of modules 501, 502, 503 and 601. A control-module 501 and a first-audio-module 502 are supported in the carrier and arranged to receive power from the carrier. The control-module includes a control-panel (504 fig. 5) with a control-data-input-device (505 fig. 5). The control-module includes a contactless-control-data-transmitter for transmitting control data. The first-audio-module includes a contactless-control-data receiver 802 for receiving control data transmitted from the control-data-transmitter and a power input device 801. Contactless communication may occur using optical devices. The audio modules may include a contactless input data relaying transmitter 804, return data transmitter 803 and return data receiver 805.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application represents the first application for a patent directed towards the invention and the subject matter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing analogue audio signals, implemented as an audio module. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for processing an analogue audio signal, of the type comprising a housing arranged to receive a plurality of processing modules via respective physical interfaces. The present invention also relates to a method of controlling an audio module having a power input device and an audio interface.

Audio environments are known, such as live performance environments, broadcasting environments and recording environments, in which analogue audio processing devices are deployed. This deployment may take place in a totally analogue configuration, possibly involving FM broadcasting or recording to magnetic tape.

Alternatively, analogue audio processing of this type may take place in deployments that also include digital equipment. Thus a recording facility may use predominantly digital equipment, possibly making use of a digital audio workstation. However, in some situations, analogue signals may be processed before being digitised by an analogue-to-digital convertor. Furthermore, some digital signals may be converted to analogue signals, processed in the analogue domain and then reconverted for storage in the digital domain.

Several widely adopted standards exist that allow analogue audiomodules to be rack mounted. Furthermore, modules exist that may be supported within a carrier, such that a loaded carrier may then in turn be mounted within a rack.

Many creators of audio assets have made significant investments in analogue equipment of this type and are often reluctant to replace it with a digital or software implementation. Furthermore, when carriers and racks of this type are available, they often provide space for similarly specified equipment to be added.

A problem with existing carriers of this type is that their specifications were often originally developed at a time when digital control was not available. In modern set-ups, digital control, possibly provided in accordance with established MIDI protocols for example, is used for initial set-up procedures and is sometimes used to deploy control data during a performance. The present applicant provides a system, identified by the registered trade mark “TOTAL RECAL” for automatically returning equipment to an original configuration. The present applicant also pioneered the use of motorised faders for providing automatic dynamic control. These features cannot be deployed on modules that do not include a means for providing digital control.

Thus, when introducing new modules to an existing carrier or rack, advantages could be gained from being in a position to make use of digital control data; from a digital mixing desk or a digital audio workstation for example. Thus, when implementing modules, it would then be possible for them to follow a conventional apologue approach, while at the same time responding to digital control data. Furthermore, within such a platform, it would be possible to introduce a greater degree of digital implementation.

However, a problem arises in that existing carriers do not include appropriate interfaces for receiving (and possibly transmitting) digital control data. Furthermore, if interfaces are provided on a front panel of a module, data distribution buses do not exist within the carrier itself for allowing the control data to be passed from one module to another. It is also appreciated that the amount of space available on a front panel of such a module is significantly restricted. Furthermore, introducing communication ports on a re-designed carrier would result in the production of non-standard equipment, such that it would not be possible to introduce new modules into an existing carrier; thereby significantly reducing the demand for a system of this type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for processing analogue audio signals, implemented as an audio-module, comprising: a power input device; an audio interface; a contactless control-data-input-receiver for receiving control data; and a dataprocessing-device configured to change operations performed by said audiomodule in response to receiving said control data.

In an embodiment, said audio interface is an analogue audio interface; and said operations performed by said audio module are performed upon analogue signals. In an embodiment, the control data receiver is configured to receive digital data. The control data receiver may be an optical receiver.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for processing analogue audio signals, comprising: a carrier arranged to support a plurality of audio modules; a control-module supported in said carrier and arranged to receive power from said carrier; and a first-audio-module supported in said carrier and arranged to receive power from said carrier; wherein: said control-module includes a control panel with a control-data-input-device; said first-audio-module includes an audio-data-output-device; said control-module includes a contactless controldata-transmitter for transmitting control data; and said first-audio-module includes a contactless control-data-receiver for receiving control data transmitted from said control-data-transmitter.

In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a second-audiomodule supported in said carrier and arranged to receive power from said carrier, wherein: said first-audio-module includes a contactless control-dataretransmitter for relaying control data received by said control-data-receiver; and said second audio module is substantially similar to said first audio module, such that said second audio module receives control data from said contactless control-data-retransmitter as if said control data had been received directly from the control-data-transmitter of said control-module.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling an audio module having a power-input-device and an audio interface, comprising the steps of: positioning a first-audio-module in a carrier, wherein said carrier supplies power to said power-input-device; locating a control-module in said carrier, wherein said control module includes a control data input for receiving control data from an external device; transmitting control data to said control module; receiving said control data at said first-audio-module, wherein said first-audio-module does not make physical contact with said control-module; and changing operations performed by said first-audio-module in response to said control data.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRWAINGS

Figure 1 shows an environment for processing audio signals;

Figure 2 shows an example of a digital mixing desk identified in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows an apparatus for processing analogue audio signals, of the type identified in Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a front view of a carrier identified in Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows audio-modules embodying the present invention;

Figure 6 shows the positioning of audio-modules within the carrier of Figure 3;

Figure 7 shows the reception of the carrier of Figure 3 within a rack;

Figure 8 shows a diagrammatic representation of communicating modules;

Figure 9 shows a schematic representation of a first-audio-module embodying the present invention, including a microcontroller; and

Figure 10 identifies operations performed by the microcontroller identified in Figure 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1

An environment for processing audio signals is illustrated in Figure 1, based around a digital-mixing-desk 101. The digital-mixing-desk 101 receives line inputs from line-input-devices 102. Line-input-devices 102 receive line level input signals from musical instruments, such as keyboards etc., and the digital-mixing-desk 101 includes analogue to digital converters for converting these line input signals into digital signals for subsequent mixing. After signals of this type have been mixed, a resulting stereo mix may be supplied to a digital-audio-recorder 103 that could be included within the digital-mixing-desk 101 and could include solid state storage devices.

In addition to storing recorded assets, the digital-audio-recorder 103, along with other internal storage devices, may also be used to store control data. This control data may establish initial start-up configurations. Furthermore, in sophisticated environments, the control data may also include dynamic data that is supplied to components during an actual recording procedure.

For the purposes of this illustration, the environment of Figure 1 includes a first-apparatus 104 for processing analogue audio signals, a second-apparatus 105 for processing analogue audio signals and a thirdapparatus 106 for processing analogue audio signals. However, it is appreciated that in many applications, the same physical equipment could be reconfigured for an alternative application at a different stage of the creative process.

In this embodiment, the first-apparatus 104 receives analogue input signals from microphone-input-devices 107. In this embodiment, the firstapparatus 104 is configured to amplify and possibly process input signals received from the microphone-input-devices 107. The first-apparatus includes a plurality of audio modules and an individual audio module may be allocated for each microphone input. Processed audio signals, conveyed by first-input-lines 108, are then digitised by the digital-mixing-desk 101.

The second-apparatus 105 for processing analogue audio signals operates within a send and return loop. The digital-mixing-desk 101 includes an analogue to digital converter, from which an analogue output signal is supplied on a first-output-line 109 to a module within the second-apparatus 105. Again, several lines of this type may be included, each supplying a selected analogue signal to a respective module.

A module contained within the second-apparatus 105 processes a received analogue signal in the analogue domain and returns a processed analogue signal on a second input line 110.

In addition to producing a digital mix, recorded on the digital-audiorecorder 103, the digital-mixing-desk 101 also produces an analogue version of an output mix, again by means of digital to analogue converters contained within the digital-mixing-desk 101. This analogue stereo mix is recorded by an analogue-audio-recorder 111, after the analogue signals have been processed by the third-apparatus 106 for processing analogue audio signals. In an implementation, a single module may process both channels of a stereo signal or, alternatively, separate modules may be allocated to each channel.

Figure 2

An example of the digital-mixing-desk 101 is illustrated in Figure 2. As is known in the art, an operator is responsible for controlling the relative contribution of each audio source into a final mix prior to the mix being recorded by the analogue-audio-recorder 111 or the digital-audio-recorder 103. In alternative configurations, the audio mix may be combined with video signals for broadcast purposes.

It should also be appreciated that similar environments are provided for public address systems and film post-production environments.

Figure 3

In an apparatus for processing analogue audio signals, such as the first-apparatus 104, a carrier 301 may be arranged to support a plurality of audio modules. A rear-view of an example of a carrier is illustrated in Figure

3. The carrier includes a power-lead 302, so that a control module supported within the carrier 301 may be arranged to receive power from the carrier. The carrier 301 is arranged to support a plurality of audio modules and in this example, the carrier is configured to support a total of ten audio modules.

Each module includes an interface for receiving power from the carrier 301. Furthermore, for each module, the carrier includes a carrier-outputsocket 303 and a carrier-input-socket 304. In this implementation, the carrieroutput-socket 303 is implemented as a female XLR connector, with corresponding carrier-input-connector 304 being implemented as a male XLR connector. However, it can be appreciated that many other different types of connector could be deployed for this application.

Figure 4

A front view of carrier 301 is illustrated in Figure 4. This shows a plurality of carrier interface sockets, including carrier-interface-socket 401 that supplies power to a connected module, connects the module to the carrier-output-socket 303 and connects the module to the carrier-inputsocket 304. The carrier also includes a first-mounting-bracket 402 and a second-mounting-bracket 403 for mounting the carrier 301 within a conventional rack, as described with reference to Figure 7.

Figure 5

A control-module 501 is shown in Figure 5 that is configured to be supported in the carrier 301 and is arranged to receive power from the carrier 301. In addition, a first-audio-module 502 is provided along with a secondaudio-module 503. The control-module 501 includes a control-panel 504 with a control-data-input-device 505. In this example, the control-data-inputdevice 505 is implemented in accordance with established MIDI protocols, although other physical connectors and communication protocols could be adopted. These include existing protocols and bespoke protocols developed for the specific application.

As described with reference to Figure 8, the control-module 501

I includes a contactless control data transmitter for transmitting control data. Furthermore, the first-audio-module 502 includes a contactless control data receiver for receiving control data transmitted from the control data transmitter.

In this embodiment, the control-panel 504 includes a return-dataoutput-device 506 and the first-module 502 includes a contactless return data transmitter. The control module includes a contactless return data receiver, such that the control module is configured to supply return data to the return-data-output-device 506. Again, in this embodiment, the returndata-output-device 506 follows established MIDI protocols.

Figure 6

As illustrated in Figure 6, the carrier 301 is arranged to support the audio-modules 501, 502 and 503. Thus, a second-audio-module 503 is supported in the carrier and again arranged to receive power from the carrier 301. The first-audio-module 302 includes a contactless control data retransmitter for relaying the control data received by the control data receiver. In this embodiment, the second-audio-module 503 is substantially similar to the first-audio-module 502, such that the second audio module receives control data from the contactless control data retransmitter as if this control data had been received directly from the control data transmitter of the control-module 501.

A third-audio-module 601 has been introduced, such that a first plurality of audio modules are provided that exhibit the functionality of the first-audio-module 501 and thereby mutually communicate control data via a contactless data network established by cooperating transmitters and receivers. In addition, a second-plurality 602 of audio modules have been restrained within the carrier 301, that do not exhibit this functionality. Thus, it is possible for modules embodying aspects of the present invention to be combined in a carrier with conventional modules that are not configured to operate in response to receiving digital control signals. However, in an embodiment, the first plurality of modules 501, 502, 503 and 601 are collectively located in adjacent proximity to maintain network communication.

Figure 7

After audio modules 501, 502 etc. have been received within the carrier 301, the carrier as a whole may be received within a conventional audio rack 701. The rack 701 may also be used to support other audio equipment, such as an amplifier 702 and the analogue-audio-recorder 111.

Figure 8

A diagrammatic representation of control-module 501 is shown in Figure 8, along with similar representations of the first-audio-module 502, the second-audio-module 503 and the third-audio-module 601. The first of the conventional modules 602 is also shown.

The second-audio-module 503 provides an apparatus for processing analogue audio signals, implemented as an audio module. It includes a power-input-device 801 and an audio interface configured to connect with a carrier interface socket, described with respect to Figure 4. A contactlesscontrol-data-input-receiver 802 receives control data. As described with reference to Figure 9, a data processing device is configured to change operations performed by the audio module in response to receiving control data. As described with respect to Figure 4, a carrier is configured to support a plurality of audio modules, each arranged to receive power from the carrier. Thus, in an embodiment, a second-audio-module 503 is substantially similar to the first-audio-module 502. The audio interfaces are analogue audio interfaces and operations performed by the audio module are performed upon analogue signals. However, the control-data-receiver 802 is configured to receive digital data and in an embodiment, the control-data-receiver 802 is an optical receiver.

The second-audio-module 503 includes a contactless-return-datatransmitter 803. In this embodiment, the first-audio-module 502 also includes a contactless-input-data-relaying-transmitter 804. Furthermore, the embodiment also includes a contactless-return-data-receiver 805.

The first audio module 502 may be considered as establishing a first transmission path, as indicated by input-arrow 806, along with a second transmission path, as indicated by output-arrow 805. The control-datareceiver 802 in combination with the control-data-transmitter 804 define a receiver/transmitter pair on either side of a printed circuit board. In an embodiment, communication between modules is achieved optically therefore by being provided on either side of the printed circuit board, optical isolation is provided. Optical isolation is also achieved between the first transmission path (input-arrow 806) and the return data path (output-arrow 807) given that a first pair is provided at the top of the assembly with a second pair being provided at the bottom of the assembly.

Thus, the receiver/transmitter pair at the top of the assembly facilitate communications from an external master device, such as the digital-mixingdesk 101. Similarly, the receiver/transmitter pair at the bottom of the assembly deal with communications from slave devices back to the master, effectively creating inbound traffic.

In an embodiment, optical communication is provided to achieve the contactless configuration. However, other forms of communication could be deployed, such as radio transmissions, possibly following established Bluetooth protocols. Appropriate multiplexing schemes may be deployed, as are known in the art.

Figure 9

A schematic representation of the first-audio-module 502 is illustrated in Figure 9. The first-audio-module 502 includes a data-processing-device 901, that may be implemented as a microcontroller. An analogue-processor 902 includes an audio interface, established by an analogue-audio-inputdevice 903 and an analogue-audio-output-device 904. The analogueprocessor 902, under the control of the microcontroller 901, performs processing operations upon analogue signals for various forms of application, as is known in the art. Manual-controls 905 provide data inputs to the microcontroller 901. In addition, further manual controls may be provided that provide direct analogue input to the analogue-processor 902. However, the data-processing-device 901 is configured to change operations performed by the analogue-processor 902 in response to receiving control data from the control-module 501.

The control-data-receiver 802 is implemented as a photo-diode 906 providing an output current that is amplified by a transimpedance-amplifier 907. The transimpedance-amplifier 907 also provides appropriate signal conditioning to allow the signal to be transferred to a universalasynchronous-receiver-transmitter 908. In this way, device 908 supplies control data to the microcontroller 901.

In response to receiving control data, the microcontroller may convey control data via control-data-lines 909 to the analogue-processor 902. In addition, control data is also relayed to a second-universal-asynchronousreceiver-transmitter 910.

The control-data-transmitter 804 is implemented as a buffer-amplifier 911 that supplies a drive voltage to a light-emitting-diode 912. Thus, an output from the second-universal-asynchronous-receiver-transmitter 910 relays the control data to the buffer-amplifier 911 for optical transmission via the light-emitting-diode 912.

As described with reference to Figure 8, control data from the controldata-transmitter 804 of a first-audio-module 502 is transmitted to a second control data receiver present within the second-audio-module 503. Thus, in order to establish a communication network, light emitted by light-emittingdiode 912 is received by a photo diode present within the adjacent module, substantially similar to photo-diode 906. Furthermore, a similar configuration of receiver/transmitter pairs is established for returning output data via devices 805 and 803 etc.

Figure 10

Operations performed by the microcontroller 901 are detailed in Figure 10. This allows a method to be implemented for controlling an audio module having a power input device and an audio interface. Initially, a first audio module is positioned in a carrier, thereby allowing the carrier to supply power to the power input device. A control-module 501 is located within the carrier, including a control-data-input 505 for receiving control data from an external-device 101. Control data is transmitted from the control module and received at the first audio module. The first audio module does not make physical contact with the control module but the communication allows operations performed by the audio module to be changed in response to the control data.

At step 1001 a message is received at the first-universalasynchronous-receiver-transmitter 908 which in turn instigates an interrupt that is handled at step 1002.

At step 1003 a question is asked as to whether the received message is relevant for the particular module. If answered in the affirmative, the message is stored for implementation at step 1004. At step 1005, an acknowledgement is returned (via the output transmission path indicated by output-arrow 807) back to the originating digital mixing desk.

Although the message was relevant to the module, following the question asked at step 1003 being answered in the affirmative, it may also be relevant to other modules therefore the message is retransmitted at step 1006, via the light-emitting-diode 912. Thereafter, at step 1007 the microcontroller returns to its local processing functions and as such implements the message that has been stored at step 1004.

If the question asked at step 1003 is answered in the negative, indicating that the message is not intended for the current module, the message is retransmitted to the next module at step 1006.

Claims (20)

CLAIMS The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for processing analogue audio signals, implemented as an audio-module, comprising:

a power-input-device;

an audio-interface;

a contactless control-data-input-receiver for receiving control data; and a data-processing-device configured to change operations performed by said audio-module in response to receiving said control data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said power-input-device is configured to receive power from a carrier; and said carrier is configured to support a plurality of audio modules.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein:

said audio-interface is an analogue audio-interface; and said operations performed by said audio module are performed upon analogue signals.

4. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said controldata-receiver is configured to receive digital data.

5. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said controldata-receiver is an optical receiver.

6. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a contactless return-data-transmitter.

7. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 6, further comprising contactless input-data relaying-transmitter.

8. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a contactless output-data relaying-transmitter.

9. An apparatus for processing analogue audio signals, comprising:

a carrier arranged to support a plurality of audio modules;

a control-module supported in said carrier and arranged to receive power from said carrier;

a first-audio-module supported in said carrier and arranged to receive power from said carrier; wherein:

said control-module includes a control-panel with a control-data-inputdevice;

said first-audio-module includes an audio-data-output-device;

said control-module includes a contactless control-data-transmitter for transmitting control data; and said first-audio-module includes a contactless control-data-receiver for receiving control data transmitted from said control-data-transmitter.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a second-audiomodule supported in said carrier and arranged to receive power from said carrier, wherein:

said first-audio-module includes a contactless control-dataretransmitter for relaying said control-data received by said control-datareceiver; and said second-audio-module is substantially similar to said first-audiomodule, such that said second-audio-module receives control-data from said contactless control-data-retransmitter as if said control-data had been received directly from said control-data-transmitter of said control-module.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

a first plurality of audio modules exhibit the functionality of said firstaudio-module and thereby mutually communicate control data via a contactless data network established by cooperating transmitters and receivers;

a second plurality of audio modules do not exhibit said functionality; and said first plurality are collectively located in adjacent proximity to maintain network communication.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 or claim 10, wherein:

said control-panel includes a return-data-output-device;

said first-module includes a contactless return-data-transmitter; and said control-module includes a contactless return-data-receiver, wherein said control-module is configured to supply return-data to said returndata-output-device.

13. The apparatus of any of claims 9 to 11, wherein said carrier is configured to be mounted in a rack.

14. A method of controlling an audio-module having a power-inputdevice and an audio-interface, comprising the steps of:

positioning a first-audio-module in a carrier, wherein said carrier supplies power to said power-input-device;

locating a control-module in said carrier, wherein said control module includes a control-data-input for receiving control data from an externaldevice;

transmitting control-data from said control-module;

receiving said control-data at said first-audio-module, wherein said first-audio-module does not make physical contact with said control-module; and changing operations performed by said audio-module in response to said control-data.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of: transmitting return-data from said first-audio-module; and receiving said return-data at said control-module, without physical contact between said control-module and said first-audio-module.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said return-data is transferred to said external-device from said control-module.

17. The method of claim 15 or claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

arranging a second-audio-module in said carrier;

relaying said control-data (received from said control-module) from said first-audio-module to said second-audio-module; and returning return-data from said second-audio-module to said firstaudio-module, for re-transmission to said control-module.

18. The method of any of claims 14 to 17, wherein said control-data is transmitted optically.

19. The method of any of claims 14 to 18, wherein said audio-module processes analogue audio signals.

20. The method of any of claims 11 to 13, wherein:

a first plurality of audio-modules having optical networking capability are located in said carrier collectively;

a second plurality of audio modules that do not have said capability are also located in said carrier; and said carrier is mounted in a rack.