Differential audio amplifier

1. Differential audio amplification apparatus with common mode rejection, comprising:

a first input current path and a second input current path with a shunting input resistance therebetween;

a first output current path and a second output current path with a shunting output resistance therebetween;

differential amplifiers with feedback connecting the input paths with the output paths and providing an output signal; wherein

said output shunting resistance includes a controllable resistance circuit and is controlled to provide gain control while maintaining common mode rejection.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a resistor is in parallel with said controllable resistance circuit.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said controllable resistance circuit includes:

a first branch connected to an emitter of a first transistor; and

a second branch connected to an emitter of a second transistor.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said first branch includes an amplification circuit with an input and an output.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein a resistor is placed between said amplification circuit output and the emitter of the second transistor.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said amplification circuit input receives an adjustable input.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an input stage from a microphone is connected with said first and second input current paths.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said apparatus forms an input stage to one of the following:

a mixing console,

an audio processing system,

an audio recording system and

an audio broadcast system.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

the first input current path and the first output current path are connected via a first current mirror; and

the second input current path and the second output current path are connected via a second current mirror.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

said first input current path includes a first transistor;

said second input current path includes a second transistor.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein:

said first transistor is a bipolar transistor having an emitter, a collector and a base and a first audio input signal of a differential pair is applied to said base; and

said second transistor is a bipolar transistor having an emitter, a collector and a base and a second audio input signal of said differential pair is applied to the base of said second bipolar transistor.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said shunting input resistance is connected between the emitter of the first transistor and the emitter of the second transistor.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

the first output current path includes a first transistor and a first current source; and

the second output current path includes a second transistor and a second current source.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein:

the first transistor is a bipolar transistor with a collector, base and emitter; and

the second transistor is a bipolar transistor with a collector, base and emitter.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein:

the first input current path and the first output current path are connected via a first current mirror,

the second input current path and the second output current path are connected via a second current mirror, and

the collectors of said first and second transistors are connected to respective ones of said current mirrors.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the bases of said first and second transistors receive a differential signal from said first input current path and said second input current path.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the shunting output resistance is connected between the emitter of the first transistor and the emitter of the second transistor.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein a first current source is connected to the emitter of the first transistor and a second current source is connected to the emitter of the second transistor.

19. A method of amplifying a differential input signal having a first part and a complementary second part, comprising the steps of:

applying a first part of a differential signal to a first input current path;

applying a second part of a differential signal to a second input current path, in which said second current path is connected to said first current path via a shunting input resistance;

supplying signals from said first and second input current paths via differential amplifiers to first and second output current paths; and

controlling the resistance of an output shunting resistance connected between the first output current path and the second output current path to provide input gain control while maintaining common mode rejection.

20. A method of providing input stage amplification for a differential input signal produced by a microphone, comprising the steps of:

applying a first part of a differential input signal to a first input current path;

applying a second part of a differential input signal to a second input current path;

supplying signals from said input current paths to a first output current path via a first operational amplifier;

supplying signals from said input current paths to a second output current path via a second operational amplifier;

connecting said first input current path to said first output current path via a first current mirror;

connecting said second input current path to said second output current path via a second current mirror; and

controlling the resistance of an output shunting resistance connected between the first output current path and the second output current path to provide input stage gain control while maintaining common mode rejection.