Patent Publication Number: US-2017364321-A1

Title: Universal remote monitor mixer system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a universal remote monitor mixer system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Audio mixing consoles are often used for combining, routing and altering the dynamics of audio signals. Such consoles may be controlled by various mobile devices such as phones and table by application driven interfaces. Often times these applications also perform various audio processing techniques in response to the commands at the mobile device. 
     SUMMARY 
     An apparatus for acting as an intermediary between a user control device and an audio mixing console may include a controller configured to receive a signal from an audio mixing console, determine a model of the audio mixing console, and identify at least one attribute associated with the model of the audio mixing console. The controller may be further configured to receive a variable control signal indicative of an audio command from a control device; and transmit a mixer message to the audio mixing console based on the variable control signal and the attribute specific to the model of the audio mixing console to provide the audio mixing console with a model specific mixer message. 
     A system may include a mobile device configured to transmit at least one system variable control signal indicative of an audio processing command, and a translation controller distinct and separate from the mobile device. The translation controller may be configured to receive the system variable control signal, and transmit a mixer message in a protocol specific to an audio mixing console based on the system variable control signal, the mixer message including at least one audio processing command. 
     A method may include receiving a signal from an audio mixing console and determining a model of the audio mixing console. The method may further include identifying attributes associated with the audio mixing console model, receiving a variable control signal indicative of an audio command; and then transmitting a mixer message to the audio mixing console based on the variable control signal and the model of the audio mixing console. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments of the present disclosure are pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. However, other features of the various embodiments will become more apparent and will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompany drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example system diagram for an audio mixing system including a translation controller, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates another example a system diagram for an audio mixing system; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example flow chart for the audio mixing system; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates example look-up tables for the audio mixing system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
     Generally disclosed herein is a universal remote monitor mixer system including a translation controller configured to interface with a digital mixing console to facilitate auxiliary control of the mixing console. The translation controller permits a selection of one or more consoles and facilitates bi-directional communication with the console via Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI), or similar, commands. The translation controller may include a database of console specifications so that the translation controller may transmit commands to any number of consoles. The translation controller may transmit the required send level of each appropriate mixer channel to the auxiliary output with a proprietary protocol. 
     A traditional mechanism for monitor mixing is to require a front-of-house or monitor engineer to configure mixing for each artist from a remote location, typically employing the auxiliary sends on a console. This mechanism can create communication issues, and often result in a poor monitor mix for the artist. Typically, for personal monitor systems, the standard implementation is to pass audio from a console or on-ramp device to several connected small-format mixers, one per monitor mix. This can frequently add considerable expense for a customer, for example, a system for four band members would be expensive. In addition, an element of re-education is involved, since the signal path configuration is different from the long-established auxiliary output approach. 
     Mobile devices may be used to configure auxiliary sends of a console. This approach on stage is less robust, more prone to configuration and setup difficulty and less optimizable for the function. 
     Accordingly, the disclosed apparatus and method provides for a simple, cheaper control solution that is universal and programmable easily by the operator to integrate into any digital console, specifically those with Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) specifications. Furthermore, monitor setup remains consistent, as well as audio routing, eliminating the re-education required in other systems. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example remote monitor mixer system  100  including a mixing console  105 , at least one speaker  110 , a mobile device  115  and a translation controller  120 .  FIG. 2  illustrates an example remote monitor mixer system  200  including a mixing console  105 , at least one speaker  110 , and a mobile device  115  having a translation controller  120 . 
     The mixing console  105  may be an audio mixer, sound board or mixer contained within a personal computer (PC) as part of a stand-alone mix application or a digital audio workstation mixer. The mixing console  105  may be configured to combine or mix various incoming audio signals and to alter the parameters of the incoming audio signals for an audio recording system. The mixing console  105  may also route, change a level, and adjust a tone for the incoming audio signals. The mixing console  105  may include a plurality of input ports configured to receive signals from various instrument devices, as well as output ports configured to output audio signals or audio commands via a wired or wireless communication path  150  to output devices such as the speaker  110 . 
     The mixing console  105  may include a wireless transceiver (not shown) for receiving and/or transmitting wirelessly transmitted signals. The mixing console  105  may include a processor  160  and a controller memory (not shown) configured to analyze incoming signals. 
     The speaker  110  may audibly generate the mixed audio signal provided by the mixing console  105 . A user may adjust the audio signal using the mobile device  115  based on the sound emitted from the speaker  110 . Although not shown, additional devices such as amplifiers may be in communication with the speaker  110 . 
     The mobile device  115  (also referred to herein as user control device) may be a mobile device such as a cellular phone, tablet, personal digital assistant, e-reader, laptop computer, smart watch, etc. The mobile device  115  may also be a personal monitor controller, or any other device configured to allow users to customize audio mixes. The mobile device  115  may include a processor  155  and database (not shown). The processor  155  is generally configured to execute a number of the functions associated with the mobile device  115  as disclosed herein. The mobile device  115  may be configured to transmit signals wirelessly to the translation controller  120  and/or the mixing console  105 . 
     The processor  155  of the mobile device  115  may be configured to execute an application that provides a user interface via an interface or display  125  on the mobile device  115  to facilitate control of the mixing console  105 . In one example, the mobile device  115  may be with a musician, or the user, and function as a front-of-house controller. The mobile device  115  may transmit system variable control signals to the translation controller  120 . Such control signals may indicate a change in specific channel volumes, as well as selecting solo and mute controls. For example, the mobile device  115  may include a graphical user interface (GUI)  125  that simulates controls present on the mixing console  105  such as sliders, knobs, push buttons, etc. for the user to select. The mobile device  115  may then transmit the variable content signal to the translation controller  120  in response to the user selecting the controls via the GUI  125 . In turn, the translation controller  120  may provide the variable content signal to the mixing console  105  to change a volume setting for a specific channel on the mixing console  105  as well as to mute the volume setting for a specific channel or to simply select one channel or a solo channel and to mute all other channels. 
     The translation controller  120  may be a stand-alone device including both hardware and software components capable of receiving commands from the mobile device  115  and transmitting a message to the mixing console  105 . The translation controller  120  may also be integrated as part of the mobile device  115 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The translation controller  120  may include a processor  135  and a database  130 . The database  130  may be configured to maintain various protocols and look-up tables associated therewith. The database  130  may also maintain mixing console attributes, specifications and characteristics. The mixing console attributes may dictate a certain protocol recognized by a certain mixing console  105 . Furthermore, the mixing console attributes may include commands specific to the mixing console so that commands from the mobile device  115  may be translated into console messages understood by the mixing console  105 . 
     The translation controller  120  may rely on various libraries within the database  130  that may maintain details on the possible control parameters for each third party mixing console model. The libraries may include look-up tables (see  FIG. 4  for examples) specific to the mixing console model. Other matrices and tables for each parameter may also be maintained in the libraries via the database  130 . Such tables and libraries may ensure that when a variable control signal is received from the mobile device  115 , the translation controller  120  may appropriately translate the signal for the specific mixing console model. 
     The translation controller  120  may communicate with the mobile device  115  and the mixing console  105  using Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) protocol. MIDI is capable of carrying information regarding specific notation, pitch and velocity. MIDI may also carry control signals for sound parameters such as volume, mute, audio panning, cues, and clock signals. In using MIDI, the translation controller  120  may easily communicate with other instruments and devices. Most digital audio workstations (DAWs) are designed to understand MIDI. 
     The translation controller  120  may be in communication with the mobile device  115  via a first communication path  140  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The translation controller  120  may be in communication with the mixing console  105  via a second communication path  145  (shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ). The communication paths  140 ,  145  may be wired or wireless communication paths configured to transmit commands, data, messages, etc., between the devices of the system either bi-directionally or uni-directionally. The communications paths  140 ,  145  may be facilitated by wireless networks, such as Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, ZigBee, cellular networks, ad-hoc wireless networks, etc. Other wired communication networks may also be used such as local area networks (LANs) including Ethernet, fiber optics, etc. The translation controller  120  may include various ports and connections to receive wired communication paths, as well as wireless transceivers configured to facilitate wired communication paths. 
     In the example above where the translation controller  120  communicates with the mixing console  105  and the mobile device  115  using MIDI, a MIDI connector and cable may be used to physically connect the devices at the first communication path  140  and the second communication path  145 . The first and second communication paths  140 ,  145  may also include wireless transmissions of MIDI signals over Wi-Fi and BLUETOOTH. Open Sound Control (OSC) or High Definition MIDI (MIDI HD), or another communications protocol may also be implemented. 
     In practice, a user at the mobile device  115  may adjust instrument sounds using a fader, mute button, etc. As explained, this adjustment may be made via the display  125  on a mobile device, monitor or screen. The translation controller  120  may receive the adjustment in the form of a system variable signal. The system variable signal may include MIDI signals. The translation controller  120  may in turn identify the mixing console  105  and map the received system variable signal with the specific mixing console attributes, as outlined in the database  130 . 
     The translation controller  120  may then transmit a mixer message to the mixing console  105  based on the received system variable signal. The mixing console  105  may perform various audio processing in response to receiving the variable signal such as adjusting a volume of a specific output. The mixing console  105  may then transmit the audio signal to the speaker  110  for playback. 
     The translation controller  120  may periodically receive software and database updates which may include additional/new console models and associated attributes. By having dedicated hardware element responsible for the translation between the mobile device  115  and the mixing console  105 , set-up configuration and optimization may be decreased for the user. The translation controller  120  also supplies a universal control-only solution to processing audio that can be easily integrated by the user. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example process  300  for the universal remote monitor mixer system  100 . The process  300  begins at block  305  where the translation controller  120  may detect various hardware components via wired or wireless connections therewith. In one example, the translation controller  120  may receive a message from the mixing console  105  identifying the mixing console via a mixing console identification (console ID) and/or a mixing console model. In another example, the translation controller  120  may continuously transmit request signals and once a mixing console  105  is within a wireless range of the translation controller  120 , the mixing console  105  may transmit a response signal indicating the console ID. The console ID may include various console attributes, including the mixing console make, model, and various operating characteristics such as which instruments are electrically coupled to the mixing console  105 , etc. The instruments may comprise a guitar, drum, microphone, keyboard, etc. 
     Additionally or alternatively, the console model may be manually entered at the mobile device  115 . That is, the user may manually select from a list of console models, or manually input the console model. The display  125  may facilitate such manual inputs and various selectable models. Manual entry of the console model may be available in the event that the translation controller  120  does not automatically detect the mixing console  105 . 
     At block  310 , the translation controller  120  may identify various mixer commands/attributes within the database  130 . Commands or attributes may include the number of input or output channels, the amount of signal processing available, or parameter ranges for levels adjustments. The mixer commands may be specific to the console model. That is, each console model may be configured to transmit and receive messages across a specific profile, such as MIDI. Further, each console model may also be configured to understand certain pre-set mixer messages instructing the mixing console  105  to perform various audio processing effects. The database  130  may maintain the attributes. The mixer commands/attributes may be mapped using the console ID and/or the mixing console model. Additionally or alternatively, the mixer commands may be retained on another database distinct from the database  130 . For example, the commands may be maintained at the mobile device  115   
     At block  315 , the translation controller  120  may receive a system variable control signal from the mobile device  115 . The variable control signal may include instructions as received at the mobile device  115  for audio processing at various audio channels. As explained, these commands may be received at the display  125  of the mobile device  115  via an application. 
     At block  320 , the translation controller  120  may translate the received variable control signal and at block  325 , transmit the same to the mixing console  105 . The translation controller  120 , in translating the variable control signal, may look-up corresponding commands/attributes based on the identified mixing console model or console ID and convert the control signal to MIDI format, for example, before transmitting the mixer message to the mixing console  105 . In addition or alternative to MIDI, other protocols may also be implemented. 
     The process  300  may then end. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates example look-up tables for the audio mixing system  100 . The database  130  may maintain one or more look-up tables, each associated with a certain mixing console  105 .  FIG. 4  illustrates an example first look-up table  405 A and a second look-up table  405 B (collectively referred to herein as look-up tables  405 ). The first look-up table  405 A may include parameters for a first console, for example, a Yamaha CL Series Mixer. The second look-up table  405 B may include parameters for a second console, for example, a Behringer XR Series Mixer. The look-up tables  405  may include a sound parameters for specific channels such as MUTE, and Fader settings. The look-up tables  405  may also include a HiQnet message associated with the parameter, as well as a MIDI command that may be used as the mixing message to convey the audio processing effect associated with the parameter. That is, using the look-up table, the controller  120  may translate the variable control signal received from the mobile device  115  to a protocol recognized by the mixing console  105  (e.g., provide a model specific mixer message). 
     Accordingly, a stand-alone translation controller may be implemented in the universal mixing system in order to allow multiple console models to be implemented with a mobile device. The translation controller may maintain model specific attributes, and provide for a seamless set-up and use of the mixing console within the mixing system. 
     Computing devices, such as the processor, mixer, mobile device, external server, etc., generally include computer-executable instructions, where the instructions may be executable by one or more computing devices such as those listed above. Computer-executable instructions may be compiled or interpreted from computer programs created using a variety of programming languages and/or technologies, including, without limitation, and either alone or in combination, Java™, C, C++, Visual Basic, Java Script, Perl, etc. In general, a processor (e.g., a microprocessor) receives instructions, e.g., from a memory, a computer-readable medium, etc., and executes these instructions, thereby performing one or more processes, including one or more of the processes described herein. Such instructions and other data may be stored and transmitted using a variety of computer-readable media. 
     While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.