Processing Audio Signals

• US 20180196631A1
• Filed: 01/05/2018
• Published: 07/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solid State Logic UK Limited
• Original Assignee: Red Lion 49 Limited
• Inventors: Marshall, Andrew Ashley
• Granted Patent: US 10,445,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/02 Manually-operated control H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3005 in amplifiers suitable for low-frequencies, e.g. audio amplifiers H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios

Abstract

Audio signals are processed by a real-time digital-signal-processing system. A digital-audio-interface is arranged to be connected to a packet-based-network. A control-processor arranged presents a graphical-interface to a user and an audio-source is connected to the packet-based-network. The control-processor receives an instruction to connect the external-audio-source to the digital-signal-processing system via the packet-based-network. In response to receiving the instruction, the control-processor establishes a first-connection-node between the audio-source and the packet-based-network; creates a second-connection-node between the packet-based-network and the digital-audio-interface; and configures a third-connection-node between the digital-audio-interface and the digital-signal-processing system.

Claims

1. A machine for processing audio signals, comprising:

a real-time digital-signal-processing system;

a digital-audio-interface arranged to be connected to a packet-based-network;

a control-processor arranged to present a graphical-interface to a user; and

an external-audio-source connected to said packet-based-network, wherein;

said control-processor is configured to receive an instruction to connect said external-audio-source to said digital-signal-processing system via said packet-based-network; and

in response to receiving said instruction, said control-processor is arranged to;

establish a first-connection-node between said external-audio-source and said packet-based-network;

create a second-connection-node between said packet-based-network and said digital-audio-interface; and

configure a third-connection-node between said digital-audio-interface and said digital-signal-processing system.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein said digital-signal-processing system is implemented on a programmable system running a real-time operating system.

3. The machine of claim 1, wherein:

said digital-signal-processing system defines a plurality of individually controllable audio channels; and

said third-connection-node is configured to identify one of said audio channels.

4. The machine of claim 3, wherein said audio channels are controlled within an audio mixing console arranged to process, route and mix audio signals.

5. The machine of claim 4, wherein a selected audio-channel of said mixing console is specified in said instruction.

6. The machine of claim 1, wherein:

said digital-audio-interface is configured to receive data-packets from a plurality of sources, in which each said source appends a respective packet-address to each transmitted data packet; and

each packet with a similar packet address is located within a respective time-slot following the creation of a respective second-connection-node.

7. The machine of claim 6, wherein:

said control processor identifies a first-packet-address when a first-connection-node is established.

8. The machine of claim 6, wherein said control processor is configured to relay details of said first-packet-address to said digital-audio-interface during the creation of said second-connection-node.

9. The machine of claim 1, wherein said control-processor is also configured to transmit audio signals from said digital-signal-processing system back to said audio source.

10. The machine of claim 1, wherein said control-processor is configured to:

maintain details of audio-source functionality;

establish records of current audio connections; and

convey control signals to said audio-source.

11. A process operable upon audio signals, comprising the steps of:

receiving an instruction via a graphical interface to connect an audio-source to a channel of a digital-signal-processing system;

establishing a first-connection-node between said audio-source and a packet-based network;

creating a second-connection-node between said packet-based-network and a digital-audio-interface configured to convert packet-based data into a time-division-multiplex; and

configuring a third connection-node between a location in said time-division-multiplex of said digital audio-interface and a channel of said digital-signal-processing system.

12. The process of claim 11, wherein said configuring step identifies a channel of said digital-signal-processing system.

13. The process of claim 11, wherein said establishing step allocates an address for data-packets transmitted over said packet-based-network.

14. The process of claim 11, including the step of transmitting audio data from the digital-signal-processing system back through said packet-based network.

15. The process of claim 11, wherein control signals are conveyed back to said audio-source.

16. A manufacture of an audio environment, comprising the steps of:

connecting a real-time digital-signal-processing system to a digital-audio-interface that is in turn connected to a packet-based network;

controlling said digital-signal-processing system and said digital-audio-interface from a control-processor arranged to present a graphical-interface to a user;

connecting an audio-source to said packet-based-network, in response to receiving an instruction via said graphical-interface, and

said control processor;

establishes a first-connection-node between said audio-source and said packet-based-network;

creates a second-connection-node between said packet-based-network and said digital-audio-interface; and

configures a third-connection-node between said digital-audio-interface and said digital-signal-processing system.

17. The manufacture of claim 16, wherein said digital-signal-processing system is implemented on a computer system running a real-time operating system.

18. The manufacture of claim 16, wherein said digital-signal-processing system provides the functionality of a mixing console.

19. The manufacture of claim 18, wherein said audio-source includes a microphone and an analog-to-digital converter for producing a stream of data packets.

20. The manufacture of claim 19, wherein:

said audio-source includes an analog amplifier with input controls for signal gain and an application of phantom power; and

said input controls are controlled from said mixing console.