Mixing input channel signals to generate output channel signals

Abstract

Techniques for mixing multiple input channel signals into multiple output channel signals are provided. A graphical user interface (GUI), which includes multiple indicators, is displayed. The input channel signals are mixed to produce multiple output channel signals. The mixing is performed based on the distance between the indicators' positions in the GUI. According to one embodiment of the invention, the mixing is also performed based on the angle formed between the indicators. Thus, the extent to which an input channel signal is carried by an output channel signal is, in one embodiment of the invention, a function of both the distance between the indicators and an angle formed by the indicators in the GUI.

1 . A computer-implemented method for generating output channel signals based on input channel signals, the method comprising:
 displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes a plurality of indicators and a movable point;   wherein the plurality of indicators includes
 a first indicator that represents a first input channel signal; and 
 a second indicator that represents a second input channel signal; and 
   mixing a plurality of input channel signals, including the first input channel signal and the second input channel signal, to produce a plurality of output channel signals;   wherein a particular point serves as a vertex of an angle formed by
 a first vector that extends from the particular point through the first indicator; and 
 a second vector that extends from the particular point through the second indicator; 
   in response to input that moves the movable point without moving the particular point, moving both the first indicator and the second indicator without changing the angle formed by the first vector and the second vector;   wherein, for each output channel signal of the plurality of output channel signals, the relative intensities of the input channel signals on that output channel signal are based, at least in part, on said angle;   wherein the steps of displaying, mixing, and moving are performed by one or more computing devices.   
   
   
       2 . A computer-implemented method for generating output channel signals based on input channel signals, the method comprising:
 displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes:
 a first indicator that represents a first input channel signal; and 
 a second indicator that represents a second input channel signal; 
   in response to user input, rotating the first indicator and the second indicator around a point without changing an angle defined by vectors from the point through the first visual indicator and the second visual indicator; and   mixing a plurality of input channel signals, including the first input channel signal and the second input channel signal, to produce a plurality of output channel signals;   wherein, for each output channel signal of the plurality of output channel signals, the relative intensities of the input channel signals on that output channel signal are based, at least in part, on said angle;   wherein the steps of displaying, rotating, and mixing are performed by one or more computing devices.   
   
   
       3 . A computer-implemented method for generating output channel signals based on input channel signals, the method comprising:
 displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes:
 a first indicator that represents a first input channel signal; 
 a second indicator that represents a second input channel signal; and 
 a movable point; 
   wherein a vector extends from a point through the movable point;   wherein the vector intersects a midpoint between the first indicator and the second indicator;   receiving user input that specifies a movement of the movable point without moving the point;   wherein the movement specified by the user input rotates the movable point around the point, and changes the distance between the movable point and the point;   in response to user input that moves the movable point without moving the point, rotating the first indicator and the second indicator around the point so that the vector that extends from the point through the movable point continues to intersect the midpoint between the first indicator and the second indicator; and   mixing a plurality of input channel signals, including the first input channel signal and the second input channel signal, to produce a plurality of output channel signals;   wherein, for each output channel signal of the plurality of output channel signals, the relative intensity of the first input channel signal on that output channel signal is based, at least in part, on the position of said first indicator and the position of the movable point; and   wherein, for each output channel signal of the plurality of output channel signals, the relative intensity of the second input channel signal on that output channel signal is based, at least in part, on the position of the second indicator and the position of the movable point;   wherein the steps of displaying, rotating, and mixing are performed by one or more computing devices.   
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . A volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 1 . 
   
   
       6 . A volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 2 . 
   
   
       7 . A volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 3 . 
   
   
       8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . A computer-implemented method for mixing audio, the method comprising steps of:
 receiving user input that specifies an angle between (a) a leftmost speaker in a speaker configuration and (b) a rightmost speaker in a speaker configuration, with a listener positioned at a vertex of the angle;   based at least in part on the angle specified by the user input, distributing audio from an input audio signal among at least two output channel signals, thereby mixing the input audio signal;   wherein the steps are performed by one or more computing devices.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein distributing the audio based on the angle comprises recording a sound field represented by the input audio signal as though the sound field had a first width that corresponds to the angle rather than a second width that is inherent in the input audio signal. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein receiving user input comprises receiving particular user input that signifies an increase in the angle, and in response to receiving the particular user input, increasing the angle by equal extents on both a left side and a right side, keeping a center of the angle relative to the listener constant. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein receiving user input comprises receiving particular user input that signifies a decrease in the angle, and in response to receiving the particular user input, decreasing the angle by equal extents on both a left side and a right side, keeping a center of the angle relative to the listener constant. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 displaying a user interface that graphically indicates the angle as an arc between the leftmost speaker and the rightmost speaker on a circular perimeter.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein distributing audio from the input audio signal among at least two output channel signals comprises:
 determining a first distance from a leftmost edge of an arc to a position of a first speaker of a speaker configuration, and sending audio from the input channel signal to a first output channel signal with an intensity that is based on the first distance; and   determining a second distance from a rightmost edge of the arc to a position of a second speaker of a speaker configuration, and sending audio from the input channel signal to a second output channel signal with an intensity that is based on the second distance.   
   
   
       15 . A volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 9 . 
   
   
       16 . A volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 10 . 
   
   
       17 . A volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 11 . 
   
   
       18 . A volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 12 . 
   
   
       19 . A volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 13 . 
   
   
       20 . A volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 14 .