System and method for audio control

Abstract

The present invention comprises a system that provides a convenient and easy-to-use means for controlling audio input and output for recording. The system includes a first input adapted to receive a high fidelity microphone such as a low impedance microphone, and a second input adapted to receive a musical instrument. The system also includes at least two outputs, each adapted to transmit analog signals to an input of a sound card ( 30 ) of a computer ( 20 ), and electrical circuitry coupling the inputs to the outputs. More specifically, the system further comprises at least one additional input adapted to receive analog signals from an output of the sound card ( 30 ) and at least one additional output adapted to transmit analog signals to a receiver. The electrical circuitry couples the additional input to the additional output, and is operable to transmit analog signals from the first and second inputs to the receiver and to the input of the sound card ( 30 ). The electrical circuitry is further operable to resistively isolate the analog signals transmitted from the output of the sound card ( 30 ) from the input of the sound card ( 30 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An audio voice control system, comprising: 
 a. a first input switchably coupled to a sound card output at first selection circuitry of an audio adapter;    b. a first output switchably coupled to a sound card input at second selection circuitry of the audio adapter;    c. a voice communication device coupled to and operable to activate control circuitry, the voice communication device further operable to receive and to transmit analog signals to the control circuitry; and    d. the control circuitry coupled to the first selection circuitry, the second selection circuitry, and the voice communication device, the control circuitry operable to cause analog signals to be transmitted from the first input to the voice communication device from the sound card input and to cause analog signals to be transmitted from the voice communication device through the first output to the sound card input when activated for voice communication, and to cause analog signals to be transmitted from input circuitry to the sound card input and to cause analog signals to be transmitted from the sound card output to the output circuitry when activated for a music session, the input circuitry operable to receive analog signals from at least one of a microphone and a musical instrument.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the input circuitry is further operable to perform common mode rejection on the analog signals from the at least one of the microphone and the musical instrument.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first selection circuitry and the second selection circuitry comprises circuitry from one of the group consisting of a multiplexer and a switch.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first input is releasably switchably coupled to the sound card output at the first selection circuitry, and the first output is releasably switchably coupled to the sound card input at the second selection circuitry.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the output circuitry is operable to maintain resistive isolation of the analog signals transmitted to the sound card input from the analog signals transmitted from the sound card output to the output circuitry.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the output circuitry is operable to maintain resistive isolation of the analog signals from the at least one of the microphone and the musical instrument from the analog signals transmitted from the sound card output to the output circuitry.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the analog signals caused by the control circuitry to be transmitted from the first input to the voice communication device from the sound card output when activated for voice communication comprise signals converted from digital voice communication data received from a computer coupled to the sound card input and the sound card output.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the voice communication device is wirelessly coupled to the control circuitry.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the voice communication device is releasably coupled to the control circuitry.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a. the control circuitry is further operable to receive an activation signal from the voice communication device;    b. the voice communication device comprises a sensor operable to sense whether a user is activating the device and to, if the user is activating the device, automatically send the activation signal to the control circuitry and cause the transmission of the analog signals from the first input to the voice communication device from the sound card input and from the voice communication device through the first output to the sound card input and to, when the user is not activating the device, automatically allow the analog signals to be transmitted from the input circuitry to the sound card input and from the sound card output to the output circuitry;    c. the sensor is selected from the group consisting of an inductive sensor, a capacitive sensor, an infrared sensor, an electromechanical switch, and an optical sensor.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a hook and cradle device coupled to the control circuitry and operable to receive analog signals transmitted from the first input from the sound card input and to send analog signals to be transmitted through the first output to the sound card input when activated for voice communication.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the voice communication device comprises a headset.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the voice communication device comprises a hook and cradle device.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising volume monitoring circuitry coupled to the sound card output and the first selection circuitry and operable to monitor at least one parameter of the analog signals transmitted to the first output, the at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of amplitude and frequency.  
     
     
         15 . An audio voice communication method, comprising: 
 a. switchably coupling a first input to a sound card output at first selection circuitry of an audio adapter;    b. switchably coupling a first output to a sound card input at second selection circuitry of the audio adapter;    c. coupling a voice communication device to control circuitry, the voice communication device operable to activate the control circuitry and receive from, and transmit analog signals to, the control circuitry; and    d. coupling the control circuitry to the first selection circuitry, the second selection circuitry, and the voice communication device, the control circuitry operable to cause analog signals to be transmitted from the first input to the voice communication device from the sound card input and to cause analog signals to be transmitted from the voice communication device through the first output to the sound card input when activated for voice communication, and to cause analog signals to be transmitted from input circuitry to the sound card input and to cause analog signals to be transmitted from the sound card output to the output circuitry when activated for a music session, the input circuitry operable to receive analog signals from at least one of a microphone and a musical instrument.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the input circuitry being further operable to perform common mode rejection on the analog signals from the at least one of the microphone and the musical instrument.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one of the first selection circuitry and the second selection circuitry comprising circuitry from one of the group consisting of a multiplexer and a switch  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising releasably switchably coupling the first input to the sound card output at the first selection circuitry, and releasably switchably the first output to the sound card input at the second selection circuitry.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the analog signals caused by the control circuitry to be transmitted from the first input to the voice communication device from the sound card output when activated for voice communication comprising signals converted from digital voice communication data received from a computer coupled to the sound card input and the sound card output.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising the output circuitry being operable to maintain resistive isolation of the analog signals transmitted to the sound card input from the analog signals transmitted from the sound card output to the output circuitry.