Portable voice studio system and method

• US 20050092162A1
• Filed: 11/03/2003
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Supply Unlimited Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Supply Unlimited Incorporated
• Inventors: Whitener, Larry J., Lubbers, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,262,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/625
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0091 Means for obtaining special acoustic effects combined with modulation G10H1/043
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/366 with means for modifying or correcting the external signal, e.g. pitch correction, reverberation, changing a singer's voice
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/281 Reverberation or echo
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/211 Wireless transmission, e.g. of music parameters or control data by radio, infrared or ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios

Abstract

A portable voice studio apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a microphone, a music generation device, a processing unit, and a headphone. The processing unit is contained in a single housing. The processing unit is electrically coupled with the microphone and the music generation device for receiving a first input signal from the microphone and a second input signal from the music generation device. The processing unit is configured to amplify and add an intended effect to at least one of the first and second input signals to generate an output signal. The headphone receives the output signal from the processing unit to enable a user to hear the output.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a microphone;

a music generation device;

a processing unit contained in a single housing, said processing unit electrically coupled with said microphone and said music generation device for receiving a first input signal from said microphone and a second input signal from said music generation device, said processing unit configured to amplify and add an intended effect to at least one of the first and second input signals to generate an output signal; and

a headphone for receiving said output signal from said processing unit to enable a user to hear said output.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is portable such that a single user can transport said apparatus while utilizing said apparatus.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit comprises a wireless transmitter for transmitting said first input signal to a remote receiver.

4. The portable apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit further comprises at least one of a microphone pre-amplifier, an analog-to-digital converter, a multi-effects processor, a digital-to-analog converter, a mix device, and a headphone amplifier.

5. The portable apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a user input interface coupled to the housing of said processing unit, said user interface enables a user to control the amplification of at least one the first and second input signals, and effect at least one of the first and second input signals.

6. The portable apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said music generation device is at least one of an analog player, a digital player, and a musical instrument.

7. A portable apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a second microphone electrically coupled to said processing unit, said secondary microphone configured to communicate a third input signal to said processing unit.

8. A method for mixing and controlling sound, said method comprising:

transmitting a first input signal from a microphone to a processing unit;

communicating a second input signal from a portable music generating device to the processing unit; and

processing at the processing unit the at least one of the first and second input signals to add an intended effect for generating an output signal.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein transmitting a first input signal further comprises transmitting a first input signal from the microphone to a portable processing unit contained in a single housing such that a single user can transport the processing unit while utilizing the processing unit.

10. The method according to claim 8 further comprising transmitting wirelessly the first input signal to a remote receiver.

11. The method according to claim 8 further comprising recording the output signal with a portable recording device.

12. The method according to claim 8 wherein providing a second input signal from a portable music generating device further comprises providing a second input signal from at least one of an analog player, a digital player, and a musical instrument.

13. The method according to claim 8 further comprising:

receiving a third input signal from a remote audio source, the third input signal received by an input signal receiver, the input signal receiver in communication with the processing unit; and

generating an output signal by digitally altering at least one of first, second, and third input signals with the processing unit.

14. A sound system comprising:

a sound board for receiving, processing, and transmitting sound; and

a portable studio system comprising;

a microphone configured to transmit a first input signal from a user'"'"'s voice;

a music generation device configured to communicate a second input signal;

a processing unit contained in a single housing, said processing unit electrically coupled with said microphone and said music generation device for receiving said first and second input signals, said processing unit configured to amplify and add an intended effect to at least one of the first and second input signals to generate an output signal; and

a headphone configured to enable the user to receive said output signal.

15. The sound system according to claim 14, wherein said processing unit further comprises at least one of a microphone pre-amplifier, an analog to digital converter, a multi-effects processor, a digital to analog converter, a mix device, and a headphone amplifier.

16. The sound system according to claim 15, wherein said processing unit further comprises a wireless transmitter electrically coupled to said microphone pre-amplifier, said wireless transmitter configured to transmit said first input signal to said sound board.

17. The sound system according to claim 16, wherein said processing unit further comprises a receiver electrically coupled to said mix device, said receiver configured to receive a processed signal from said sound board such that said received processed signal may be controlled by said processing unit before said processing unit communicates said signal to said headphone.

18. The sound system according to claim 14, further comprising a user input interface coupled to the housing of said processing unit, said user interface enables a user to control the amplification of at least one the first and second input signals, and effect at least one of the first and second input signals.

19. The sound system according to claim 14 wherein said music generation device is at least one of an analog player, a digital player, and a musical instrument.

20. The sound system according to claim 14 further comprising a recording device in communication with said processing unit for recording at least one of said first and second input signals.

21. The sound system according to claim 14 wherein said sound board further comprises an input signal receiver for receiving a third input signal from a remote audio source, said processing unit configured to amplify and add an intended effect to at least one of said first, second, and third input signals to generate an output signal based on at least one of said first, second, and third input signals.

22. The sound system according to claim 21 wherein said third input signal includes at least one of a voice input signal different from said first input signal, a musical instrument, and a sound effect.