Multi-mode led indicators for recording devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for indicating the status of a track in a multi-track recorder is described. An indicator light capable of outputting different colored lights is used to indicate the status of a track in the multi-track recorder. The color and the blinking sequence of the indicator light indicates the status of the track.

1 . A multi-track recording system comprising:
 a plurality of level meters, each of the plurality of level meters corresponding to a track in the multi-track recording system; and   a plurality of indicator lights, each indicator light in the plurality of indicator lights corresponding to a level meter of the plurality of level meters and configured to indicate a status representing a current state of the corresponding track of the level meter.   
   
   
       2 . The multi-track recording system of  claim 1  wherein each of said indicator lights further comprising:
 a first light emitting diode to output a first color;   a second light emitting diode to output a second color; and   a transparent housing enclosing the first light emitting diode and the second light emitting diode.   
   
   
       3 . The multi-track recording system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of level meters display the level of an input signal which is not being recorded by outputting an alternating blinking sequence between the first color and the second color. 
   
   
       4 . The multi-track recording system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of level meters display the level of an input signal which is not being recorded by outputting an alternating blinking sequence between two colors. 
   
   
       5 . The multi-track recording system of  claim 2 , wherein the first light emitting diode and the second light emitting diode alternate between blinking and solid light so as to generate the status. 
   
   
       6 . The multi-track recording system of  claim 5 , wherein the status is one of the level of an input signal being recorded and the level of an input signal not being recorded. 
   
   
       7 . The multi-track recording system of  claim 1  wherein
 the status is a signal strength of a signal corresponding to the track.   
   
   
       8 . The multi-track recording system of  claim 1  wherein
 the status is a signal strength being a recorded level of the track.   
   
   
       9 . The multi-track recording system of  claim 1  wherein
 the status is the signal strength of a signal being received from microphones or a mixer.   
   
   
       10 . A method indicating a level of each track in a multi-track recording system comprising:
 determining the level of each track in a multi-track recording system;   providing at least one indicator light; and   adjusting the output of the indicator light to indicate the level of each track, and wherein
 a first output indicates a corresponding track is not being recorded, and 
 a second output indicates a corresponding track is being recorded, the second output being an alternating sequence between a first color and a second color. 
   
   
   
       11 . The method indicating a level of each track in a multi-track recording system multi-track recording system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one indicator light further comprises
 a first light emitting diode to output the first color;   a second light emitting diode to output the second color; and   a transparent housing enclosing the first light emitting diode and the second light emitting diode.   
   
   
       12 . The method indicating a level of each track in a multi-track recording system multi-track recording system of  claim 10 , wherein the output of the indicator light indicates a signal strength of a signal corresponding to the track. 
   
   
       13 . The method indicating a level of each track in a multi-track recording system multi-track recording system of  claim 10 , wherein the output of the indicator light indicates a signal strength being a recorded level of the track. 
   
   
       14 . The method indicating a level of each track in a multi-track recording system multi-track recording system of  claim 10 , wherein the output of the indicator light indicates the signal strength of a signal being received from microphones or a mixer.