Audio control system and related methods
Some embodiments of the invention are directed to an audio production system which is more portable, less expensive, faster to set up, and simpler and easier to use than conventional audio production tools. An audio production system implemented in accordance with some embodiments of the invention may therefore be more accessible to the typical user, and easier and more enjoyable to use, than conventional audio production tools.
1. A method for use with an audio system comprising at least one amplifier, the method comprising acts of:
(A) receiving, at the audio system, audio input produced by at least one audio source;
(B) determining a gain level associated with the audio input;
(C) automatically, without intervention by a user of the audio system, adjusting a gain level of the at least one amplifier, so that subsequent output of the at least one amplifier falls within a dynamic range delimited by a lower gain level and an upper gain level;
wherein the at least one audio source comprises at least one musical instrument, the act (A) comprises identifying the at least one musical instrument from the received audio input, and the act (C) comprises adjusting the gain level of the at least one amplifier in a manner corresponding to the identified musical instrument; and
wherein the act (A) comprises identifying the at least one musical instrument as a guitar, voice, bass or drum, and the act (C) comprises setting the gain level of the at least one amplifier to be a different gain level if the at least one musical instrument were identified as a guitar or voice than if the at least one musical instrument were identified as a bass or drum.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the act (A) comprises identifying the at least one musical instrument as a guitar or voice, and the act (C) comprises setting the gain level of the at least one amplifier to be a higher gain level than if the at least one musical instrument were identified as a bass or drum.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the act (A) comprises identifying the at least one musical instrument as a bass or drum, and the act (C) comprises setting the gain level of the at least one amplifier to be a lower gain level than if the at least one musical instrument were identified as a guitar or voice.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio system comprises a sound emitting device coupled to the at least one amplifier, and wherein the act (C) comprises adjusting a gain level of the at least one amplifier and/or the sound emitting device so that subsequent output of the at least one amplifier and the sound emitting device falls within a dynamic range in which response of the at least one amplifier and of the sound emitting device is substantially linear.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio system comprises a sound emitting device coupled to the at least one amplifier, and wherein the act (C) comprises adjusting a gain level of the at least one amplifier and/or of the sound emitting device so that subsequent output of the at least one amplifier and the sound emitting device includes less than 10% harmonic distortion.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the act (C) comprises adjusting a gain level of the at least one amplifier and/or of the sound emitting device so that subsequent output of the at least one amplifier and the sound emitting device includes less than 5% harmonic distortion.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the act (C) comprises adjusting a gain level of the at least one amplifier and/or of the sound emitting device so that subsequent output of the at least one amplifier and the sound emitting device includes less than 3% harmonic distortion.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one amplifier comprises a plurality of amplifiers, and the act (C) comprises adjusting a gain level of each of the plurality of amplifiers so that subsequent output produced by the plurality of amplifiers is within the dynamic range.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of amplifiers comprises at least one amplifier of an audio controller and at least one amplifier of a mobile device.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one amplifier comprises a plurality of amplifiers, and the act (C) comprises setting a gain level of each of the plurality of amplifiers to be substantially equal.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the act (B) comprises analyzing spectral content of the received audio input in each of a plurality of frequency sub-bands, and the act (C) comprises adjusting the spectral content of subsequent output of the at least one amplifier in one or more of the frequency sub-bands.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the act (C) comprises equalizing a gain level across one or more of the frequency sub-bands.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the act (C) comprises attenuating a gain level in one or more of the frequency sub-bands.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the act (C) comprises increasing a gain level in one or more of the frequency sub-bands.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one audio source comprises one or more of a human voice and a musical instrument.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio system comprises a mobile device, and wherein one or more of the acts (A), (B) and (C) are performed using components of the mobile device.
17. An audio system, comprising:
at least one amplifier;
at least one computer-readable storage medium, having instructions encoded thereon; and
at least one computer processor, operatively coupled to the at least one amplifier, the at least one computer processor being programmed via the instructions to:
receive audio input produced by at least one audio source;
determine a gain level associated with the audio input;
automatically, without intervention by a user of the audio system, adjust a gain level of the at least one amplifier, so that subsequent output of the at least one amplifier falls within a dynamic range delimited by a lower gain level and an upper gain level;
wherein:
the at least one audio source comprises at least one musical instrument;
the at least one computer processor is programmed via the instructions to identify the at least one musical instrument from the received audio input, and to adjust the gain level of the at least one amplifier in a manner corresponding to the identified musical instrument;
the at least one computer processor is programmed via the instructions to identify the at least one musical instrument as a guitar, voice, bass or drum, and to set the gain level of the at least one amplifier to be a different gain level if the at least one musical instrument is identified as a guitar or voice than if the at least one musical instrument is identified as a bass or drum.
18. The audio system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one computer processor is programmed via the instructions to identify the at least one musical instrument as a guitar or voice, and to set the gain level of the at least one amplifier to be a higher gain level than if the at least one musical instrument were identified as a bass or drum.
19. The audio system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one computer processor is programmed via the instructions to identify the at least one musical instrument as a bass or drum, and to set the gain level of the at least one amplifier to be a lower gain level than if the at least one musical instrument were identified as a guitar or voice.
20. The audio system of claim 17 , comprising a sound emitting device coupled to the at least one amplifier, and wherein the at least one computer processor is programmed via the instructions to adjust a gain level of the at least one amplifier and/or the sound emitting device so that subsequent output of the at least one amplifier and the sound emitting device falls within a dynamic range in which response of the at least one amplifier and of the sound emitting device is substantially linear.
21. The audio system of claim 17 , comprising a sound emitting device coupled to the at least one amplifier, and wherein the at least one computer processor is programmed via the instructions to adjust a gain level of the at least one amplifier and/or of the sound emitting device so that subsequent output of the at least one amplifier and the sound emitting device includes less than 10% harmonic distortion.
22. The audio system of claim 21 , wherein the at least one computer processor is programmed via the instructions to adjust a gain level of the at least one amplifier and/or of the sound emitting device so that subsequent output of the at least one amplifier and the sound emitting device includes less than 5% harmonic distortion.
23. The audio system of claim 22 , wherein the at least one computer processor is programmed via the instructions to adjust a gain level of the at least one amplifier and/or of the sound emitting device so that subsequent output of the at least one amplifier and the sound emitting device includes less than 3% harmonic distortion.
24. The audio system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one amplifier comprises a plurality of amplifiers, and the at least one computer processor is programmed via the instructions to adjust a gain level of each of the plurality of amplifiers so that subsequent output produced by the plurality of amplifiers is within the dynamic range.
25. The audio system of claim 24 , wherein the plurality of amplifiers comprises at least one amplifier of an audio controller and at least one amplifier of a mobile device.
26. The audio system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one amplifier comprises a plurality of amplifiers, and the at least one computer processor is programmed via the instructions to set a gain level of each of the plurality of amplifiers to be substantially equal.
27. The audio system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one computer processor is programmed via the instructions to analyze spectral content of the received audio input in each of a plurality of frequency sub-bands, and to adjust the spectral content of subsequent output of the at least one amplifier in one or more of the frequency sub-bands.
28. The audio system of claim 27 , wherein the at least one computer processor is programmed via the instructions to equalize a gain level across one or more of the frequency sub-bands.
29. The audio system of claim 27 , wherein the at least one computer processor is programmed via the instructions to attenuate a gain level in one or more of the frequency sub-bands.
30. The audio system of claim 27 , wherein the at least one computer processor is programmed via the instructions to increase a gain level in one or more of the frequency sub-bands.
31. The audio system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one audio source comprises one or more of a human voice and a musical instrument.
32. The audio system of claim 17 , comprising a mobile device, and wherein the at least one computer processor comprises a component of the mobile device.