Abstract:
A method for revealing changes in settings of an analogue control console, the method comprising:
       receiving a captured image of the analogue control console;   creating a composite image by superimposing the captured image and a live image of the analogue control console; and   displaying the composite image.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to analogue control console settings. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Sound mixing is the final process in music/sound production. The ‘mix’ determines how the recording will sound to the listener. It is well known that musicians, producers and sound recording/mixing engineers tend to make several mixes or change their mind regarding the final mix of a song or piece of music. Additionally, a DJ (disk jockey) may wish to apply certain settings to a recording when playing that recording. Mixing desks are also used during the recording of sound and during amplified live performances. 
         [0003]    Digital mixers and computer based mixing software have become very popular during the last 20 years or so due to their ability to easily save and recall many different mix settings. However digital mixers are many times more expensive than analogue mixers having equivalent functions. Analogue mixers are generally easier to operate and are more reliable. It is also the opinion of many musicians and producers that the sound quality of analogue mixing systems is better than their digital counterparts. Analogue mixers therefore still enjoy widespread use, especially where purchase cost is a factor; however their usefulness is limited by their inability to save individual mix settings. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The invention is defined by the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system for revealing changes in settings of an analogue control console in accordance with aspects of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an image showing a camera positioned over an analogue audio mixer, as used with aspects of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an image of an analogue audio mixer captured by the camera, as provided by aspects of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows a composite image formed by superimposing a live image of the analogue audio mixer received from the camera onto the captured image of  FIG. 3 , as provided by aspects of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a portion of the image of  FIG. 4  in which knobs that show a change in position are circled, to ease explanation of aspects of the present invention; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating a method for revealing changes in settings of an analogue control console in accordance with aspects of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    Referring firstly to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of a system  100  for revealing changes in settings of an analogue control console is shown. The system comprises computing apparatus  102 , also referred to herein as a computer  102 . The computer  102  has a processor  104  which is connected to and communicates with a memory  106 , RAM  108 , a user input interface  110 , a display interface  112  and a camera interface  114 . The user input interface  110  is configured to connect with user input hardware  116 . The display interface  112  is configured to connect with a display  118 . The camera interface is configured to connect with a camera  120 . The system also comprises an analogue control console  122 , which may also be referred to in this specification as “a console”, “a mixer”, “an analogue audio mixer”, “audio mixer” or “a mixing desk”. When the system  100  is in use, the camera  120  is directed at the console  122 . 
         [0013]    The computer  102  may be a laptop, netbook, tablet or desktop computer, for instance. It may run an operating system such as Mac OSX, Windows 7, or a Linux operating system such as Ubuntu. 
         [0014]    The processor  104  may be an integrated circuit of any kind or a collection of integrated circuits. The processor  104  may access RAM  108  in order to process data and may control the storage of data in memory  106 . Memory  106  may be a non-volatile memory of any kind such as a Read Only Memory (ROM), a flash memory and a magnetic drive memory. The RAM  108  may be volatile memory and may be of any type, for example Static RAM (SRAM), Dynamic RAM (DRAM) or Flash memory. The processor  104  operates under control of an operating system stored in the memory  106 . The operating system may comprise code relating to hardware such as the user input interface  110 , display interface  112  and camera interface  114 , as well as the basic operation of the computer  102 . The processor  104  is connected to and controls operation of the other components of the computer  102 . 
         [0015]    The memory  106  may also store one or more software programs relating to operation of the camera. This software may be installed on the computer  102  by a user or may be preloaded onto the computer  102 . The software may be specific to the make and model of the camera  122  or the software may be generic and suitable for use with any camera  120  connected via the camera interface  114 . The software may be configured to control operation of the camera  120 , for example by issuing commands to capture still images or relay live images in response to user inputs. The software may be configured to cause image data to be received from the camera  120  and (in conjunction with the processor  104 ) to cause the received image data to be displayed on a display  118 . The software may also be configured to modify images by causing multiple saved or live images to be overlaid and by applying a transparency effect to one or more saved or live images and to cause display of the modified images. The software program may be configured to provide a graphical user interface. 
         [0016]    The user input hardware  116  may take any suitable form, for example any combination of a keyboard, mouse, tablet, trackball or microphone. The user input hardware  116  may also comprise a touch screen, in which case the user input hardware  116  may be integral with the display  118 . The display  118  may be integrated with the computer  102 , such as with a laptop or tablet computer, or may be a separate device connected to the computer  102  via the display interface  112 . The display interface  112  may take any suitable form, for example VGA, DVI, SCART, S-Video, RCA or Display Port connections. The user input interface  110  may take any suitable form such as PS/2 or USB. 
         [0017]    Although only one display interface  112  and one user input interface  116  are shown, the computer  102  may have more than one of each of these interfaces and the computer  102  may have several different connection types of each of these interfaces. 
         [0018]    The camera  120  may comprise any image sensing device such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) or an active pixel sensor such as a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device. In some embodiments, the camera  120  may be a commercially available Webcam. The camera interface  114  may be any suitable connection such as USB. Alternatively any or all of the display interface  112 , user input interface  116  and camera interface  114  may connect wirelessly with the computer  102 , via any suitable protocol such as IEEE 802.11 (Wifi), Bluetooth or Wireless USB. 
         [0019]    The control console  122  may take one of several forms. In some embodiments, the console  122  is an analogue audio mixer, often referred to as a mixing desk. Audio mixers are used to adjust the volume and equalisation in sound recordings, particularly those having several audio channels. Audio mixers may also be used to adjust the levels in a live performance. Analogue audio mixers generally have a number of knobs and faders (generally referred to as adjusters or controls) which are adjusted manually by a user of the audio mixer. 
         [0020]    In some other embodiments, the console  122  is a lighting desk. The lighting desk may control the intensity and/or direction of lights in a performance venue, for example. The lighting desk may comprise a number of manually adjusted knobs and sliders. The control console  122  is however not limited to the control of light or sound output/input and embodiments may include any analogue control console  122  requiring the manual adjustment of knobs, sliders and the like to achieve different settings of the console  122 . 
         [0021]    In the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the control console  122  is an analogue audio mixer  122 . Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an image  200  of a part of the system  100  comprising the camera  120  and the audio mixer  122  is shown. The camera  120  is shown suspended above the audio mixer  122 . The camera  120  is directed at the mixer  122 . The camera  120  is a webcam capable of capturing still images and live images. A rig  202  may be provided for mounting the camera  120  such that the camera  120  is positioned at a suitable distance from the mixer  122 . This may ensure that the entire mixer  122  is within the field of view of the camera  120 . The camera  120  may be positioned over the approximate centre of the mixer  122 . The rig  202  may also ensure that the camera  120  is in the same position relative to the mixer  122  for each image capture or live image relay. Alternatively, the camera  120  may be affixed, permanently or temporarily, to a wall or other vertical surface behind or to one side of the mixer  122 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows an image  300  of a typical analogue audio mixer  122  which has been captured by the camera  120 . The image  300  may be a colour image. The mixer  122  shown has 16 channels, however the number of channels which the mixer  122  may control is merely an example. Each channel has a number of corresponding knobs  302  which may control, for instance, the input signal gain, the master output volume, the output or input volumes of various frequency ranges (equalisation controls), the clipping or shaping of the audio signal or the degree of an audio effect applied to the signal. This is not an exhaustive list and mixers are known which have many more functions. The mixer  122  may alternatively or in addition comprise a number of sliders for controlling the same or other sound properties. The particular functions present are merely examples and the apparatus may be suitable for use with any analogue audio mixer  122 . 
         [0023]    The positions of the knobs  302  and/or sliders of the mixer  122  define a particular mix setting. During sound recording or an amplified live performance, the positions of the knobs  302  and/or sliders determine directly how the performance will sound. 
         [0024]    A user of the system  100  may cause the image  300  of the audio mixer  122  to be captured by operating a switch or button on the camera  120  itself, or by interacting with the software program stored in the memory  106  of the computer  102  via user input hardware  116 . For example, a user may operate user input hardware  110  such as a mouse or keyboard to open and run the software application such that live or periodically updated images are received from the camera  120  and displayed on the display  118 . The user may then cause an image of the mixer  122  to be captured by selecting an appropriate icon within the software program&#39;s graphical user interface. The captured image may be automatically saved in the memory  106  of the computer  102 . Alternatively, the user may be prompted to specify a file name and location for the captured image prior or subsequent to image capture. 
         [0025]    Capturing an image  300  of the audio mixer  122  allows the user to quickly and easily make a visual record of that particular mix setting. At some later time, the user may wish to recall that mix setting and apply it to the same or another sound recording or performance. To this end, the software program may be configured to overlay a live or periodically updated image of the analogue audio mixer  122  over the captured image  300  of the mixer  122 . The software may apply a transparency effect to both of these images such that both images are visible after the overlay and any differences between the images are discernable by eye. In the context of the invention, the term “live image” should be understood to mean any image representing the recent appearance of the console  122 . For example, although some cameras  120  suitable for use with the invention may capture several images per second, giving the impression of a video feed, some other cameras  120  may capture only one image per second or one image every few seconds. These periodic images may represent a “live image” of the console  122 , however a camera  120  which captures at least one image per second in live image mode is preferable. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show a composite image  400  formed by the overlay of the live and captured images of the mixer  122  with a transparency effect applied to each image.  FIG. 4  shows the entire composite image  400  which is produced. This image may be displayed on the display  118 .  FIG. 5  shows a portion of the composite image  400  where differences have been highlighted by circles around those knobs  302  having a different rotational position. It will be appreciated that these circles may not be displayed, and are provided to allow the reader to better understand the effects of the operation of the apparatus. 
         [0027]    The composite image  400  may be displayed in a graphical user interface window of the software program. The application of the transparency effect and the display of the composite image may be performed in response to user selection of an icon on the graphical user interface. This icon may be any suitable graphic, for example two overlapping rectangles and may have a tag reading “overlay” or “overlay saved image” for instance. The software program may be configured to cause the image  400  to be maximised to fill the whole of display  118  and/or to allow the user to zoom in to view a portion of the composite image  400  in greater detail. 
         [0028]    The overlaying process may require that the camera  120  is in the same position relative to the mixer  122  when relaying the live images as it was when the still image  300  was captured. If the position of the camera  120  is adjustable, for example if the camera may slide along the supporting rig  202 , the user may adjust the position of the camera  120  until the images are aligned. The user may judge the alignment by observing the composite image on the display  118 . Alternatively, if the captured image  300  and live image are misaligned, the software program may be configured to align the images automatically. For example, the software program may be configured to detect edges of the mixer  122  and to reposition and resize the captured image  300  to match the live image. Whether the alignment of the captured and live images is performed manually or automatically, the analogue audio mixer  122  in question should be the same make and model such that the knobs  302  are in the same locations on the mixer  122  and represent the same audio property. 
         [0029]    The transparency effect applied to the images may be of any degree suitable to allow differences between the images to be discerned by eye when the images are overlaid. In particular, differences between the rotational positions of the knobs  302  are discernable. The transparency applied to each image may be 50%, however a range of transparencies may be suitable, for example 40-60%. The transparencies of each of the images may not be the same. 
         [0030]    Alternatively or in addition, differences between the live and captured images may be detected automatically by the software program either before or after the overlay has occurred. The software program may be configured to highlight the differences on the composite image  400  when the image  400  is displayed. 
         [0031]    While the composite image  400  is being displayed, the user may manually adjust a knob  302  until no difference in the composite image  400  can be seen. At this point, the knob  302  is in the same position as it was when the saved image  300  was captured. By performing this step for each of the adjusters (knobs, sliders or others) which show a difference in position, the mix settings represented in the captured image  300  can be recalled. 
         [0032]    A method for revealing changes in settings of the analogue control console  122  will now be described with reference to the flow chart of  FIG. 6 . The method begins at step  600 . At this stage the computer  102  and camera  120  have been powered on and the camera  120  is positioned such that it is directed at the analogue audio mixer  122 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0033]    At step  602  an image  300  of the mixer  122  is captured by the camera  120 . A typical image  100  of an audio mixer  122  is shown in  FIG. 3 . This step may be performed in response to a user command which is interpreted by the software program running on the computer  102  and which controls operation of the camera  120 . The user command may be received via a graphical user interface of the software program or via a hardware button on the camera  120  itself. At step  604 , the image data representing the captured image  300  is saved in the memory  106  of the computer  102 . Alternatively, or in addition, the image data may be saved remotely, for example on a remote server accessed via the internet. Before the image  300  is saved at step  604 , the user may be prompted via the graphical user interface of the software program to specify a file name and/or location for the image  300 . 
         [0034]    At some later time, a live image of the mixer  122  is received via the camera  120  at step  606 . The live image may be a periodically updated image as described above. This step may also be performed in response to a user command which is interpreted by the software program. The user command may be received via a graphical user interface of the software program or via a hardware button on the camera  120  itself. 
         [0035]    At step  608  a transparency effect is applied to both the live image and the saved image  300 . As previously mentioned, the degree of transparency applied to each image may not be equal. The software program may allow a user to adjust the degree of the transparency effect applied to each image. 
         [0036]    At step  610 , a composite image  400  consisting of an overlay of the live and saved images, each with a transparency effect applied, is created. At step  612 , the composite image  400  is displayed on a display screen  118 . Step  612  may occur automatically and immediately after the creation of the composite image  400  in step  610 . An exemplary composite image of an audio mixer  122  is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . As the composite image  400  is comprised of a still image and a live image, the composite image  400  is a live image which is continuously updated as the live image is updated. Thus the composite image  400  could be described as a “composite image feed” or “live composite image”. In some embodiments, the software program may be configured to adjust the composite image  400  such that the contrast is optimised, allowing differences between the images to be more easily discerned. This adjustment may be automatic or manual and may involve adjusting brightness, colour, hue and the degree of transparency applied to either image. 
         [0037]    At step  614 , a user of the audio mixer  122  adjusts the settings of the mixer  122  by moving the individual adjusters (knobs  302 , sliders, faders etc.) where a difference in position is visible. As the composite image  400  is being displayed on a display, any changes are observable in real time on the display  118 . Thus, a user is able to adjust the settings of the mixer  122  while observing the effects directly on the display  118 . This allows a user to make quick and accurate adjustments. 
         [0038]    The user may continue to adjust the settings of the mixer  122  until no differences can be seen in the composite image  400 . At this point, the earlier mix represented by the saved image  300  has been recalled. However, the user is not limited to returning the mixer  122  exactly to a previous setting and may only wish to recall some of the previous settings. For example, the user may wish to return channels  1 - 8  to an earlier setting, but apply new settings to channels  9 - 16 . The present invention does not impose a settings change on the mixer  122 , but reveals differences such that a user can easily make the desired changes. 
         [0039]    The system described above provides a relatively quick method for recalling settings on an analogue control console  122 . Current camera technology allows high resolution images to be captured such that any differences in adjuster positions can be easily discerned by observation by a user of the console  122 . The system is also relatively inexpensive to implement. Additionally, it can be retrofitted to virtually any existing analogue console  122 . 
         [0040]    It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments are purely illustrative and are not limiting on the scope of the invention. Other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reading the present application. Moreover, the disclosure of the present application should be understood to include any novel features or any novel combination of features either explicitly or implicitly disclosed herein or any generalization thereof and during the prosecution of the present application or of any application derived therefrom, new claims may be formulated to cover any such features and/or combination of such features.