Processing audio signals

1. A machine for processing audio signals, comprising:

a real-time digital-signal-processing system;

a digital-audio-interface arranged to be connected to a packet-based-network;

a control-processor arranged to present a graphical-interface to a user; and

an external-audio-source connected to said packet-based-network, wherein:

said control-processor is configured to receive an instruction to connect said external-audio-source to said digital-signal-processing system via said packet-based-network; and

in response to receiving said instruction, said control-processor is arranged to:

establish a first-connection-node between said external-audio-source and said packet-based-network;

create a second-connection-node between said packet-based-network and said digital-audio-interface; and

configure a third-connection-node between said digital-audio-interface and said digital-signal-processing system;

wherein:

said digital-audio-interface is configured to receive data-packets from a plurality of sources, in which each said source appends a respective packet-address to each transmitted data packet; and

each packet with a similar packet address is located within a respective time-slot following the creation of a respective second-connection-node.

2. The machine of claim 1 , wherein said digital-signal-processing system is implemented on a programmable system running a real-time operating system.

3. The machine of claim 1 , wherein:

said digital-signal-processing system defines a plurality of individually controllable audio channels; and

said third-connection-node is configured to identify one of said audio channels.

4. The machine of claim 3 , wherein said audio channels are controlled within an audio mixing console arranged to process, route and mix audio signals.

5. The machine of claim 4 , wherein a selected audio-channel of said mixing console is specified in said instruction.

6. The machine of claim 1 , wherein:

said control processor identifies a first-packet-address when a first-connection-node is established.

7. The machine of claim 1 , wherein said control processor is configured to relay details of a first-packet-address to said digital-audio-interface during the creation of said second-connection-node.

8. The machine of claim 1 , wherein said control-processor is also configured to transmit audio signals from said digital-signal-processing system back to said external-audio-source.

9. The machine of claim 1 , wherein said control-processor is configured to:

maintain details of audio-source functionality;

establish records of current audio connections; and

convey control signals to said external-audio-source.

10. A process operable upon audio signals, comprising the steps of:

receiving an instruction via a graphical interface to connect an external audio-source to a channel of a digital-signal-processing system;

establishing a first-connection-node between said audio-source and a packet-based network;

creating a second-connection-node between said packet-based-network and a digital-audio-interface configured to convert packet-based data into a time-division-multiplex data;

configuring a third connection-node between a location in said time-division-multiplex data of said digital audio-interface and a channel of said digital-signal-processing system; and

configuring said digital-audio-interface to receive data-packets from a plurality of sources, in which each said source appends a respective packet-address to each transmitted data packet; and

wherein each packet with a similar packet address is located within a respective time-slot following the creation of a respective second-connection-node.

11. The process of claim 10 , wherein said configuring step identifies a channel of said digital-signal-processing system.

12. The process of claim 10 , wherein said establishing step allocates an address for data-packets transmitted over said packet-based-network.

13. The process of claim 10 , including the step of transmitting audio data from the digital-signal-processing system back through said packet-based network.

14. The process of claim 10 , wherein control signals are conveyed back to said audio-source.

15. A process to establish an audio environment, comprising the steps of:

connecting a real-time digital-signal-processing system to a digital-audio-interface that is in turn connected to a packet-based network;

controlling said digital-signal-processing system and said digital-audio-interface from a control-processor arranged to present a graphical-interface to a user;

connecting an external audio-source to said packet-based-network, in response to receiving an instruction via said graphical-interface, and

said control processor:

establishes a first-connection-node between said audio-source and said packet-based-network;

creates a second-connection-node between said packet-based-network and said digital-audio-interface; and

configures a third-connection-node between said digital-audio-interface and said digital-signal-processing system;

configuring said digital-audio-interface to receive data-packets from a plurality of sources, in which each said source appends a respective packet-address to each transmitted data packet; and

wherein each packet with a similar packet address is located within a respective time-slot following the creation of a respective second-connection-node.

16. The manufacture of claim 15 , wherein said digital-signal-processing system is implemented on a computer system running a real-time operating system.

17. The manufacture of claim 15 , wherein said digital-signal-processing system provides the functionality of a mixing console.

18. The manufacture of claim 17 , wherein said audio-source includes a microphone and an analog-to-digital converter for producing a stream of data packets.

19. The manufacture of claim 18 , wherein:

said audio-source includes an analog amplifier with input controls for signal gain and an application of phantom power; and

said input controls are controlled from said mixing console.