Operation panel structure and control method and control apparatus for mixing system

Abstract

As viewed from the front of an operation panel, adjustment sections for individual input channels are positioned on the operation panel close to a human operator, and a display, a control section for setting an equalizer process, compressor process etc. for one selected channel and a signal delivery control section for setting signal delivery to mixing buses for the selected channel are positioned in a horizontal row remotely from the human operator. Operators in the delivery control section are varied in function in accordance with a selected operation mode. For example, in a mix send mode, a plurality of rotary operators are set to function as send level adjustment operators for the respective input channels so as to adjust send levels to a given mixing bus, while, in a mix master mode, the rotary operators are set to function as output gain adjustment operators for the respective mixing buses.

1 . A mixing system comprising:
 a plurality of input channels;   a mixing bus configured to mix sound signals to be supplied from the plurality of input channels with respective send levels of the sound signals controlled individually;   a channel selection manual-operator operable by a user to select one of the input channels as a selected input channel; and   an ON/OFF switching manual-operator operable by the user to switch between on and off of supplying of the sound signal from the selected input channel to the mixing bus.   
     
     
         2 . The mixing system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 another mixing bus configured to mix sound signals to be supplied from the plurality of input channels with respective send levels of the sound signals controlled individually; and   another ON/OFF switching manual-operator operable by the user to switch between on and off of supplying of the sound signal from the selected input channel to the another mixing bus.   
     
     
         3 . The mixing system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mode selection manual-operator operable by the user to select one of a first operation mode and a second operation mode, and   wherein, when the first operation mode is selected via the mode selection manual-operator, the ON/OFF switching manual-operator is operable to switch between on and off of supplying of the sound signal from the selected input channel to the mixing bus,   wherein, when the second operation mode is selected via the mode selection manual-operator, the ON/OFF switching manual-operator is operable to switch between on and off of outputting of a sound signal from the mixing bus.   
     
     
         4 . The mixing system as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a mode selection manual-operator operable by the user to select one of a first operation mode and a second operation mode, and   wherein, when the first operation mode is selected via the mode selection manual-operator, each of the ON/OFF switching operators is operable to switch between on and off of supplying of the sound signal from the selected input channel to its corresponding mixing bus,   wherein, when the second operation mode is selected via the mode selection manual-operator, each of the ON/OFF switching manual-operators is operable to switch between on and off of outputting of a sound signal from its corresponding mixing bus.   
     
     
         5 . A method of operating a mixing system, the mixing system including: a plurality of input channels; a mixing bus configured to mix sound signals to be supplied from the plurality of input channels with respective send levels of the sound signals controlled individually; a channel selection manual-operator operable by a user to select one of the input channels as a selected input channel; and an ON/OFF switching manual-operator operable by the user, the method comprising:
 in response to an operation of the ON/OFF switching manual-operator, switching between on and off of supplying of the sound signal from the selected input channel to the mixing bus.   
     
     
         6 . The method of operating a mixing system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the mixing system includes another mixing bus configured to mix sound signals to be supplied from the plurality of input channels with respective send levels of the sound signals controlled individually, and another ON/OFF switching manual-operator operable by the user to switch between on and off of supplying of the sound signal from the selected input channel to the another mixing bus. 
     
     
         7 . The method operating a mixing system as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 selecting one of a first operation mode and a second operation mode, and   switching, when the second operation mode is selected, between on and off of outputting of a sound signal from the mixing bus in response to an operation of the ON/OFF switching manual-operator, and   wherein the switching between on and off of the supplying of the sound signal from the selected input channel to the mixing bus is performed when the first operation mode is selected.   
     
     
         8 . The method operating a mixing system as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 selecting one of a first operation mode and a second operation mode, and   switching, when the second operation mode is selected, between on and off of outputting of a sound signal from one of the mixing buses in response to an operation of the corresponding ON/OFF manual-switching operator, and   wherein the switching between on and off of the supplying of the sound signal from the selected input channel to one of the mixing buses is performed, in response to an operation of the corresponding ON/OFF switching manual-operator, when the first operation mode is selected.