System, apparatus and method for foot-operated effects

Abstract

A system including a foot-operated pedal for programming audio and other effects, including an HMI or Human-Machine Interface that digitally communicates with a CPU, providing the parameters of effects set by the user, where a PC Interface is responsible for the mediation of the communication between the CPU and an external computer used to program the settings and adjustments of the device, with the audio interface having the function of promoting the compatibility between the electrical signal from the musical instrument and the CPU. A graphical user interface to facilitate the creation of an audio effect using icons, a given configuration of icons and interconnections being modeled and employed to generate a given audio effect.

1 . A system for creating audio effects comprising:
 a graphical user interface with a display;   a plurality of audio effect icons within at least one memory, at least one of said audio effect icons being selected by a user of said graphical user interface;   a selection tool, connected to said graphical user interface and said display, at least one of said audio effect icons selected by said user being placed within said graphical user interface;   a foot-operated device, said foot-operated device having a plurality of switches thereon, at least one of said plurality of audio effect icons being correlated by a user of said graphical user interface to a respective one of said plurality of switches,   wherein said at least one of said audio effect icons selected creates respective audio effect,   whereby, upon activation of a respective switch by a foot movement of said user, an audio effect is initiated corresponding to said at least one of said plurality of audio effect icons.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said user in creating said at least one of said plurality of audio effects manipulates at least two audio effect icons on said graphical user interface to create a respective audio effect therefrom. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of audio effects are modelled by said user on a graphical user interface. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two audio effect icons for at least one of said plurality of audio effects are interconnected by said user on said graphical user interface, creating a configuration for employment using said foot-operated device, said configuration for said at least one of said plurality of audio effects being downloaded to said memory. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of audio effect icons are arranged in serial on said graphical user interface. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein at least two of said audio effect icons interconnected by said user on said graphical user interface are serially connected. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of audio effect icons are arranged in parallel on said graphical user interface. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein at least two of said icons interconnected by said user on said graphical user interface are connected in parallel. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said user on said graphical user interface adjusts at least one of said plurality of one audio effect icons in real time. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said system employs LV2 as an application program interface. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of audio effects icons includes corresponding metadata. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said system employs plug & play capability. 
     
     
         13 . A method for generating an audio effect comprising:
 dragging, using a mouse, at least one audio effect icon onto a working panel of a graphical user interface;   connecting said at least one audio effect icon to at least one input and at least one output, creating a configuration for employment in a foot-operated device; and   generating an audio effect result for said configuration,   whereby said configuration is representative of a desired audio effect for later use by a user in said foot-operated device.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein in said step of connecting, at least two audio effect icons are interconnected, where a first audio effect icon is connected to said at least one input and another audio effect icon, and a second audio effect icon is connected to said at least one output. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein a plurality of audio effect icons are arranged in serial on said graphical user interface. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein a plurality of audio effect icons are arranged in parallel on said graphical user interface. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 downloading said configuration to said foot-operated device; and   executing said configuration on said foot-operated device.   
     
     
         18 . A graphical user interface comprising:
 a working panel, a plurality of audio effect icons selectable by a user for placement onto said working panel;   a plurality of interconnections to inputs and outputs for said working panel between at least one audio effect icon, said interconnections thereto being created by a user,   whereby a configuration of said audio effect icons and said plurality of interconnections are made by the user, said configuration being representative of an audio effect.   
     
     
         19 . The graphical user interface according to  claim 18 , wherein said graphical user interface employs LV2 as an application program interface. 
     
     
         20 . The graphical user interface according to  claim 18 , wherein said plurality of audio effects icons includes corresponding metadata.