Multiband dynamic range control graphical interface

1. A method for providing a graphical interface for dynamic range control of an audio signal, the method comprising:

displaying a main rectangle on a display, wherein the rectangle's horizontal axis represents audio frequency and the rectangle's vertical axis represents audio amplitude;

dividing the main rectangle into a plurality of frequency band rectangles, wherein each frequency band rectangle represents a different frequency band, and wherein each frequency band rectangle is separated from another frequency band rectangle by a line that is movable horizontally by a user to change the frequency at which the frequency bands are divided; and

dividing each of the plurality of frequency band rectangles into a plurality of controller rectangles, wherein each controller rectangle represents a different dynamic range controller to be applied for a particular frequency band, and wherein each controller rectangle is separated from another controller rectangle by a line that is movable vertically by a user to change an amplitude threshold at which the corresponding controller should begin to apply dynamic range control on the audio signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio amplitude is represented in decibels in a logarithmic scale displayed on a vertical of the main rectangle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio frequency is represented in hertz on a scale displayed on a horizontal of the main rectangle.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each controller rectangle within a frequency band rectangle is displayed using a different color, wherein the color of the controller rectangle represents the type of controller corresponding to the controller rectangle.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

for each type of controller, displaying an area in which the user can assign a ratio representing the effect of the type of controller.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

for each type of controller, displaying an area in which the user can assign an attack time and a release time for the type of controller.

7. A graphical interface for dynamic range control of an audio signal, the graphical interface comprising:

a main rectangle displayer configured to display a main rectangle on a display, wherein the rectangle's horizontal axis represents audio frequency and the rectangle's vertical axis represents audio amplitude;

a frequency band rectangle divider coupled to said main rectangle displayer and configured to divide the main rectangle into a plurality of frequency band rectangles, wherein each frequency band rectangle represents a different frequency band, and wherein each frequency band rectangle is separated from another frequency band rectangle by a line that is movable horizontally by a user to change the frequency at which the frequency bands are divided; and

a controller rectangle divider coupled to said frequency band rectangle divider and configured to divide each of the plurality of frequency band rectangles into a plurality of controller rectangles, wherein each controller rectangle represents a different dynamic range controller to be applied for a particular frequency band, and wherein each controller rectangle is separated from another controller rectangle by a line that is movable vertically by a user to change an amplitude threshold at which the corresponding controller should begin to apply dynamic range control on the audio signal.

8. The graphical interface of claim 7 , further comprising:

an audio amplitude logarithmic decibel scale displayer coupled to said main rectangle displayer.

9. The graphical interface of claim 7 , further comprising:

an audio hertz frequency scale displayer coupled to said main rectangle displayer.

10. The graphical interface of claim 7 , further comprising:

a user assignable controller ratio area displayer coupled to said main rectangle displayer.

11. The graphical interface of claim 7 , further comprising:

a user assignable controller attack and release time area displayer coupled to said main rectangle displayer.

12. An apparatus for providing a graphical interface for dynamic range control of an audio signal, the apparatus comprising:

means for displaying a main rectangle on a display, wherein the rectangle's horizontal axis represents audio frequency and the rectangle's vertical axis represents audio amplitude;

means for dividing the main rectangle into a plurality of frequency band rectangles, wherein each frequency band rectangle represents a different frequency band, and wherein each frequency band rectangle is separated from another frequency band rectangle by a line that is movable horizontally by a user to change the frequency at which the frequency bands are divided; and

means for dividing each of the plurality of frequency band rectangles into a plurality of controller rectangles, wherein each controller rectangle represents a different dynamic range controller to be applied for a particular frequency band, and wherein each controller rectangle is separated from another controller rectangle by a line that is movable vertically by a user to change an amplitude threshold at which the corresponding controller should begin to apply dynamic range control on the audio signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the audio amplitude is represented in decibels in a logarithmic scale displayed on a vertical of the main rectangle.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the audio frequency is represented in hertz on a scale displayed on a horizontal of the main rectangle.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein each controller rectangle within a frequency band rectangle is displayed using a different color, wherein the color of the controller rectangle represents the type of controller corresponding to the controller rectangle.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:

for each type of controller, means for displaying an area in which the user can assign a ratio representing the effect of the type of controller.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:

for each type of controller, means for displaying an area in which the user can assign an attack time and a release time for the type of controller.

18. A computer readable medium readable by a computer system, the computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer system to perform a method for providing a graphical interface for dynamic range control of an audio signal, the method comprising:

displaying a main rectangle on a display, wherein the rectangle's horizontal axis represents audio frequency and the rectangle's vertical axis represents audio 20 amplitude;

dividing the main rectangle into a plurality of frequency band rectangles, wherein each frequency band rectangle represents a different frequency band, and wherein each frequency band rectangle is separated from another frequency band rectangle by a line that is movable horizontally by a user to change the frequency at 25 which the frequency bands are divided; and

dividing each of the plurality of frequency band rectangles into a plurality of controller rectangles, wherein each controller rectangle represents a different dynamic range controller to be applied for a particular frequency band, and wherein each controller rectangle is separated from another controller rectangle by a line that 30 is movable vertically by a user to change an amplitude threshold at which the corresponding controller should begin to apply dynamic range control on the audio signal.

19. The program storage device of claim 18 , wherein the audio amplitude is represented in decibels in a logarithmic scale displayed on a vertical of the main rectangle.

20. The program storage device of claim 18 , wherein the audio frequency is represented in hertz on a scale displayed on a horizontal of the main rectangle.

21. The program storage device of claim 18 , wherein each controller rectangle within a frequency band rectangle is displayed using a different color, wherein the color of the controller rectangle represents the type of controller corresponding to the controller rectangle.

22. The program storage device of claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises:

for each type of controller, displaying an area in which the user can assign a ratio representing the effect of the type of controller.

23. The program storage device of claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises:

for each type of controller, displaying an area in which the user can assign an attack time and a release time for the type of controller.

24. A method for providing a graphical interface for dynamic range control of an audio signal, the method comprising:

displaying a main rectangle on a display, wherein the rectangle's horizontal axis represents audio frequency and the rectangle's vertical axis represents audio amplitude;

dividing the main rectangle into a plurality of frequency band rectangles, wherein each frequency band rectangle represents a different frequency band, and wherein each frequency band rectangle is separated from another frequency band rectangle by a line that is movable horizontally by a user to change the frequency at which the frequency bands are divided;

dividing each of the plurality of frequency band rectangles into a plurality of controller rectangles, wherein each controller rectangle represents a different dynamic range controller to be applied for a particular frequency band, and wherein each controller rectangle is separated from another controller rectangle by a line that is movable vertically by a user to change an amplitude threshold at which the corresponding controller should begin to apply dynamic range control on the audio signal;

displaying the divided main rectangle with divided frequency band rectangles on the display; and

outputting an audio signal based upon the amplitude thresholds in the frequency band rectangles and the lines separating frequency band rectangles.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the outputting includes applying an amplitude identified in a particular frequency band rectangle to a frequency range identified by lines separating the particular frequency band rectangle from other frequency band rectangles.

26. The method of claim 24 , wherein each controller rectangle within a frequency band rectangle is displayed using a different color, wherein the color of the controller rectangle represents the type of controller corresponding to the controller rectangle.

27. The method of claim 24 , further comprising:

for each type of controller, displaying an area in which the user can assign an attack time and a release time for the type of controller.