SOUND MIXING CONSOLE

• US 20090304207A1
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Music Tribe Global Brands Limited
• Original Assignee: Music Group IP Limited (Music Group Services US Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cooper, Alex
• Granted Patent: US 8,611,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/119
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/08 by combining tones G10H1/14, G10H1/16 take precedence; chord G10H1/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios

Abstract

A sound mixing console operative for combining or processing sound signals of a plurality of input channels is described. The sound mixing console (1) comprises a plurality of sound signal input channels (2a, 2b, 2c . . . ), an input channel fader control system (10, 12) having a plurality of input channel faders (16) which can be selectively coupled to respective ones of said plurality of sound signal input channels (2a, 2b, 2c . . . ). A master section (14) has a plurality of control group faders (17) each for collective control of a different selected group of sound signal input channels. Means are provided for coupling the sound signal input channels (36) of one of said selected groups to respective input channel faders (16) thereby to permit individual adjustment of the sound signals of the input channels of said selected group.

Claims

1. A sound mixing console having a plurality of sound signal input channels, the console being operative for combining or processing the sound signals of said plurality of input channels, the console comprising an input channel fader control section having a plurality of input channel faders which can be selectively coupled to respective ones of said plurality of sound signal input channels, a master section having a plurality of control group faders each for collective control of a different selected group of sound signal input channels, and means for coupling the sound signal input channels of one of said selected groups to respective input channel faders thereby to permit individual adjustment of the sound signals of the input channels of said selected group.

2. A sound mixing console according to claim 1, comprising a manually operable transducer associated with each one of the control group faders for facilitating user selection of a group of sound signal input channels associated with a given control group fader and coupling thereof to the input channel faders.

3. A sound mixing console according to claim 2, wherein said manually operable transducer is a switch positioned in the vicinity of the associated control group fader.

4. A sound mixing console according to claim 2, wherein said control group faders are touch sensitive to provide the manual operable transducer function.

5. A sound mixing console according to claim 2, wherein the selected group of sound signal input channels are coupled to the input channel faders in order of channel number.

6. A sound mixing console according to claim 1, comprising means for user assignment of sound signal input channels to the control group faders.

7. A sound mixing console according to claim 1, wherein in a case where there are fewer channels in one of said selected groups of sound signal input channels than input channel faders within said input channel fader control section, inoperative faders are disposed furthest away from the console operator'"'"'s normal working position.

8. A sound mixing console according to any one of the preceding claims claim 1, comprising a scrolling device for scrolling the coupling of the sound signal input channels of said selected group to the input channel faders in the event that there are more channels in said selected group than input channel faders within said input channel fader control section.

9. A sound mixing console according to claim 1, wherein the coupling means is implanted by way of logic gates.

10. A sound mixing console according to claim 1, wherein the coupling means is implemented by way of a microprocessor based system.

11. A sound mixing console according to claim 1, wherein each control group fader and said input channel fader control section has an associated display, said display being operative for indicating said selected group of sound signal input channels.

12. A sound mixing console according to claim 11, wherein the display(s) is(are) provided locally relative to the control group faders and input channel fader control section.

13. A sound mixing console according to claim 11, wherein the display(s) is(are) provided on a central module.

14. A sound mixing console according to claim 11, wherein the display(s) are operative for displaying different coloured indications representing different control group faders and their corresponding sound signal input channels.

15. A sound mixing console according to claim 11, wherein the display associated with an inoperative fader is blank.

16. A sound mixing console according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of input channel control sections, each comprising a plurality of input channel faders which can be selectively coupled to respective ones of said plurality of sound signal input channels, each of the plurality of input channel control sections representing a designated control area.

17. A sound mixing console according to claim 16, comprising means for switching each of said plurality of input channels between one designated control area and another.

18. A sound mixing console according to claim 16, comprising means for allocating each one of the control group faders to one of said plurality of input channel control sections.

19. A sound mixing console comprising:

means for assigning groups of sound signal input channels to respective master section control group faders, and means for coupling a group of sound signal input channels associated with a given control group fader to an array of input channel faders.

20. A sound mixing console according to claim 19, comprising:

means for assigning groups of sound signal input channels to respective master section control group faders, and means for coupling a group of sound signal input channels associated with a given control group fader to an array of input channel faders.

21. A sound mixing console according to claim 20, comprising a switch associated with said given control group fader to allowing an operator to couple said group of sound signal input channels to said array of input channel faders.

22. A method of operating a sound mixing console comprising:

assigning groups of sound signal input channels to respective master section control group faders, and coupling a group of sound signal input channels associated with a given control group fader to an array of input channel faders.

23. A method according to claim 22, including activating a switch associated with said given control group fader to couple said group of sound signal input channels to said array of input channel faders.