Audio system

Abstract

In an audio system, a control device includes a setting part that sets automatic compensation of each of a plurality of input ports of the input device into either ON state or OFF state and an adjusting part that adjusts an analog gain of each of the plurality of input ports. The input device includes the plurality of input ports, each input port including an amplifier that controls a level of an analog signal input to the input port based on the analog gain adjusted by the adjusting part, an AD converter that converts the analog signal from the amplifier into a digital signal, a compensator that controls a level of the digital signal from the AD converter based on a digital gain of the input port, and a selector that selects one of the digital signal from the AD converter and the digital signal from the compensator. when the automatic compensation of an input port of the input device is set into the ON state from the OFF state by the setting part of the control device, the digital gain of the input port varies in accordance with the analog gain of the input port so that a value change in the analog gain of the input port by the adjusting part is compensated by a value change in the digital gain of the input channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An audio system comprising a control device and a plurality of devices being connected to an audio network, the plurality of devices including an input device and a mixing device,
 wherein the control device controls each of the plurality of devices directly or via the audio network according to manipulation performed by an operator, the control device including a setting part that sets automatic compensation of each of a plurality of input ports of the input device into either ON state or OFF state and an adjusting part that adjusts an analog gain of each of the plurality of input ports, 
 wherein the input device includes the plurality of input ports and a sender, each input port including an amplifier that controls a level of an analog signal input to the input port based on the analog gain adjusted by the adjusting part and that outputs an analog signal, an AD converter that converts the analog signal output from the amplifier into a digital signal from the AD converter, a compensator that controls a level of the digital signal from the AD converter based on a digital gain of the input port and that outputs a digital signal, and a selector that selects one of the digital signal from the AD converter and the digital signal output from the compensator, and the sender sending the digital signals selected by the selectors of the plurality of input ports via the audio network, 
 wherein the mixing device includes a receiver that receives the digital signals sent by the input device via the audio network, a plurality of input channels, each of which controls characteristics of each one of the digital signals from received by the receiver, and a mix bus that mixes the digital signals from whose characteristics are controlled by the plurality of input channels, and 
 wherein, (a) when the automatic compensation of an input port of the input device is set into the ON state from the OFF state by the setting part of the control device, the digital gain of the input port is set to a predetermined value and the selector of the input port selects the digital signal output from the compensator, (b) while the automatic compensation of an input port is in the ON state, the digital gain of the input port varies in accordance with the analog gain of the input port so that a value change in the analog gain of the input port by the adjusting part is compensated by a value change in the digital gain of the input channel port, and, (c) when the automatic compensation of an input port of the input device is set into the OFF state from the ON state by the setting part, the selector of the input port of the input device selects the digital signal from the AD converter. 
 
     
     
       2. The audio system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control device comprises a console connected to the audio network as one of the plurality of devices, the consol console having a control panel which is provided thereon with a plurality of controls operable by an operator to control the audio system. 
     
     
       3. The audio system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control device comprises a personal computer connected to one of the plurality of devices, the personal computer running thereon a control program for controlling the audio system. 
     
     
       4. The audio system according to  claim 1 , in combination with another audio system connected to the audio network,
 wherein said another audio system comprises another control device having the same construction as the control device of the audio system, and another mixing device having the same construction as the mixing device of the audio system, said another mixing device being controlled exclusively by said another control device, 
 wherein the mixing device and the input device of the audio system are controlled exclusively by the control device of the audio system, 
 wherein said another mixing device includes a another receiver that receives the digital signals sent by the input device of the audio system via the audio network, a another plurality of input channels, each of which controls characteristics of each one of the digital signals from the another receiver, and a another mix bus that mixes the digital signals from the another plurality of input channels, and 
 wherein, while the automatic compensation of an input port o of the input device of the audio system is in the ON state, the another receiver of said another mixing device receives the a digital signal having the a level which is not changed by the analog gain of the input port adjusted by the adjusting part of the control device of the audio system. 
 
     
     
       5. The audio system according to  claim 1 , wherein the audio network is capable of transporting a plurality of audio signals and at least one control signal at the same time between the plurality of devices connected to the audio network. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus comprising:
 an audio input port for receiving an input analog audio signal, the audio input port comprising:
 an analog-amplifier for controlling a level of the input analog audio signal based on an analog gain parameter to output an output analog audio signal; 
 an AD converter for converting the output analog audio signal into an input digital audio signal; 
 a digital-amplifier for controlling a level of the input digital audio signal based on a digital gain parameter to output an output digital audio signal; and 
 a switch for selecting one of a first switch contact for outputting the output digital audio signal from the digital-amplifier and a second switch contact for outputting the input digital audio signal from the AD converter, 
   wherein,
 (a) when an on/off state of gain compensation of the audio input port is set into an ON state from an OFF state by the apparatus, 
 the digital-amplifier sets the digital gain parameter to a predetermined value and 
 the switch selects the first switch contact for outputting the output digital audio signal from the digital-amplifier, 
 (b) while the on/off state of the gain compensation of the audio input port is in the ON state,
 the digital-amplifier adjusts the digital gain parameter inversely to a direction of a value change of the analog gain parameter, and 
 
 (c) when the on/off state of the gain compensation of the audio input port is set into the OFF state from the ON state by the apparatus,
 the switch selects the second switch contact for outputting the input digital audio signal from the AD converter.  
 
   
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the digital-amplifier is configured for adjusting the digital gain parameter by an amount different from the value change of the analog gain parameter.  
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the switch is configured to perform, in accordance with a control signal from a remote device, the selecting of the first switch contact or the selecting of the second switch contact.  
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the gain compensation is automatic.  
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the digital-amplifier is configured for adjusting the digital gain parameter after the analog gain parameter is adjusted by the value change.  
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus is an IO device.  
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to claim 11, the IO device comprising the audio input port and another of the audio input port.  
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the on/off state of the gain compensation is set into the ON state or the OFF state in accordance with a control signal from a remote device.  
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the audio input port is configured for operably coupling to a plurality of channels,
 wherein the on/off state of the gain compensation of the audio input port is common to all channels of the plurality of channels.    
     
     
       15. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus is a device controlled by a control device, the control device comprising a console having a control panel which is provided thereon with a plurality of controls for controlling the device.  
     
     
       16. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus is a device controlled by a control device, the control device comprising a personal computer running thereon a control program for controlling the device.  
     
     
       17. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the audio input port is operably coupled to a first receiver of a first mixing device for receiving a first input audio signal, the first input audio signal based on the adjusted digital gain parameter,
 wherein the audio input port is operably coupled to a second receiver of a second mixing device for receiving a second input audio signal, the second input audio signal based on the adjusted digital gain parameter,   wherein, due to the adjusting, by the digital-amplifier, of the digital gain parameter inversely to the direction of the value change of the analog gain parameter, respective levels of the first input audio signal and the second input audio signal do not have to be respectively adjusted at the first mixing device and at the second mixing device inversely to the direction of the value change of the analog gain parameter.    
     
     
       18. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the audio input port is operably coupled to a first receiver of a first mixing device for receiving a first input audio signal, the first input audio signal based on the adjusted digital gain parameter,
 wherein the audio input port is operably coupled to a second receiver of a second mixing device for receiving a second input audio signal, the second input audio signal based on the adjusted digital gain parameter,   wherein, due to the adjusting, by the digital-amplifier, of the digital gain parameter inversely to the direction of the value change of the analog gain parameter, respective levels of the first input audio signal and the second input audio signal do not change at the first mixing device and at the second mixing device.    
     
     
       19. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus is one device among a plurality of devices operably coupled to an audio network, wherein the audio network is capable of transporting a plurality of audio signals and at least one control signal at the same time between the plurality of devices operably coupled to the audio network.  
     
     
       20. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the digital-amplifier is configured for adjusting the digital gain parameter by the same amount as the value change of the analog gain parameter.  
     
     
       21. A method comprising:
 receiving, by an audio input port, an input analog audio signal;   controlling a level of the input analog audio signal based on an analog gain parameter to output an output analog audio signal;   converting the output analog audio signal into an input digital audio signal;   controlling a level of the input digital audio signal based on a digital gain parameter to output an output digital audio signal;   wherein,
 (a) when an on/off state of gain compensation of the audio input port is set into an ON state from an OFF state,
 setting the digital gain parameter to a predetermined value and 
 selecting a first switch contact for outputting the output digital audio signal, 
 
 (b) while the on/off state of the gain compensation of the audio input port is in the ON state,
 adjusting the digital gain parameter inversely to a direction of a value change of the analog gain parameter, and 
 
 (c) when the on/off state of the gain compensation of the audio input port is set into the OFF state from the ON state,
 selecting a second switch contact for outputting the input digital audio signal.  
 
   
     
     
       22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the digital gain parameter is adjusted by the same amount as the value change of the analog gain parameter.  
     
     
       23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the digital gain parameter is adjusted by an amount different from the value change of the analog gain parameter.  
     
     
       24. The method according to claim 22 comprising:
 performing, in accordance with a control signal from a remote device, the selecting of the first switch contact or the selecting of the second switch contact.    
     
     
       25. The method according to claim 22, wherein the gain compensation is automatic.  
     
     
       26. The method according to claim 22, wherein the adjusting of the digital gain parameter is performed after the analog gain parameter is adjusted by the value change.  
     
     
       27. The method according to claim 22, wherein the method is performed in an IO device.  
     
     
       28. The method according to claim 27, the IO device including the audio input port and another audio input port, the method comprising:
 adjusting another digital gain parameter of the another audio input port inversely to another direction of another value change of another analog gain parameter of the another audio input port.    
     
     
       29. The method according to claim 22, wherein the on/off state of the gain compensation is set into an ON state or an OFF state in accordance with a control signal from a remote device.  
     
     
       30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the audio input port is configured for operably coupling to a plurality of channels,
 wherein the on/off state of the gain compensation of the audio input port is common to all channels of the plurality of channels.    
     
     
       31. The method according to claim 22, wherein the audio input port is operably coupled to a first receiver of a first mixing device for receiving a first input audio signal, the first input audio signal based on the adjusted digital gain parameter,
 wherein the audio input port is operably coupled to a second receiver of a second mixing device for receiving a second input audio signal, the second input audio signal based on the adjusted digital gain parameter,   wherein, due to the adjusting of the digital gain parameter inversely to the direction of the value change of the analog gain parameter, respective levels of the first input audio signal and the second input audio signal do not have to be respectively adjusted at the first mixing device and at the second mixing device inversely to the direction of the value change of the analog gain parameter.    
     
     
       32. The method according to claim 22, wherein the audio input port is operably coupled to a first receiver of a first mixing device for receiving a first input audio signal, the first input audio signal based on the adjusted digital gain parameter,
 wherein the audio input port is operably coupled to a second receiver of a second mixing device for receiving a second input audio signal, the second input audio signal based on the adjusted digital gain parameter,
 wherein, due to the adjusting of the digital gain parameter inversely to the direction of the value change in the analog gain parameter, respective levels of the first input audio signal and the second input audio signal do not change at the first mixing device and at the second mixing device.