Abstract: A management software process establishes management sessions with DAW processes and controllers on a network. Further, control sessions are established between the DAW processes and controllers, respectively. Thus, the control sessions between DAW processes and controllers included in one music system can be managed together by the management software process via a dedicated management session.

Abstract: A controller includes a plurality of channel strips to which are allocated any one of a plurality of channels to be handled in a DAW. Each of the channel strips includes a channel strip display section, a movable fader capable of indicating a sound volume level of the allocated channel by means of a knob position of the fader, and a slide operation reception section operable to successively change the allocated channel. During a slide operation on the reception section, a CPU continuously updates only displayed content on the channel strip display section of each of the channel strips by a variation amount corresponding to the slide operation. Upon completion of the slide operation on the reception section, the CPU moves, through automatic control, the knob position of the movable fader of each of the channel strips.

Abstract: Each of DAW processes and UI devices which are controllers of the DAW processes regularly sends a heartbeat signal including identification information of a music system which the DAW process or UI device belongs to, to a network by broadcast or multicast. The heart beat signal can be transmitted to the network using an Ethernet frame for UDP including the heartbeat signal in the data body, as a heartbeat packet. Based on the received heartbeat signal, it can be distinguished that the DAW process or UI device which sent the heartbeat signal is which of a device or music software process belonging to the relevant music system, a device or music software process belonging to another music system, and a device or music software process not belonging to any music system.

Abstract: A controller includes an operating member operable by user's depression, and a touch detection device constructed to detect a depressing touch on the operating member. The touch detection device includes a movable contact pattern provided on the lower surface of the operating member, and a fixed contact pattern disposed underneath the operating member. One of the fixed and movable contact patterns is a coil-shaped contact pattern while the other of the fixed and movable contact patterns is a uniform surface pattern, at least one of the fixed and movable contact patterns has flexibility, and at least one of the fixed and movable contact patterns has a surface slanted from the center of the coil toward the outer peripheral edge of the coil. The coil-shaped contact pattern comprises first and second contact elements constituting a dual coil pattern.

Abstract: A system includes at least one controller device connectable to a computer where a mixer function is implemented by application software. The controller device includes: a communication interface connectable to the computer; a plurality of faders capable of remote-controlling parameters of channels assigned thereto; a channel shift button; and a bank shift button. The channels assigned to the faders are collectively shifted by one channel in response to an instruction given via the channel shift button, or collectively shifted by the one bank in response to an instruction given via the bank shift button. For each of the controller devices, identification information of the controller device and information of a first channel of all of the assigned channels is stored so that the stored information is used at the time of activation of the software for restoring previous settings stored at the time of last deactivation of the software.

Abstract: A controller includes a plurality of channel strips to which are allocated any of a plurality of channels to be handled in a DAW. Each of the channel strips includes a slide operation reception section that receives a slide operation. The slide operation reception sections of the plurality of channel strips are constructed to function as a single slide operation reception unit and to receive a slide operation performed in an arranged direction of the channel strips. Thus, by the slide operation, a user can intuitively and collectively change the allocated channels of the strip channels with a feeling as if merely changing (shifting) the allocated channel of a given channel strip to another channel strip.

Abstract: A management software process establishes management sessions with DAW processes and controllers on a network. Further, control sessions are established between the DAW processes and controllers, respectively. Thus, the control sessions between DAW processes and controllers included in one music system can be managed together by the management software process via a dedicated management session.

Abstract: Each of DAW processes and UI devices which are controllers of the DAW processes regularly sends a heartbeat signal including identification information of a music system which the DAW process or UI device belongs to, to a network by broadcast or multicast. The heart beat signal can be transmitted to the network using an Ethernet frame for UDP including the heartbeat signal in the data body, as a heartbeat packet. Based on the received heartbeat signal, it can be distinguished that the DAW process or UI device which sent the heartbeat signal is which of a device or music software process belonging to the relevant music system, a device or music software process belonging to another music system, and a device or music software process not belonging to any music system.

Abstract: A controller includes a plurality of channel strips to which are allocated any one of a plurality of channels to be handled in a DAW. Each of the channel strips includes a channel strip display section, a movable fader capable of indicating a sound volume level of the allocated channel by means of a knob position of the fader, and a slide operation reception section operable to successively change the allocated channel. During a slide operation on the reception section, a CPU continuously updates only displayed content on the channel strip display section of each of the channel strips by a variation amount corresponding to the slide operation. Upon completion of the slide operation on the reception section, the CPU moves, through automatic control, the knob position of the movable fader of each of the channel strips.

Abstract: One electrode and another electrode adjoining an upper end region of the one electrode in an operating direction of a fader sensor are divided by a boundary line extending zigzag in a generally M shape transversely relative to the operating direction, so that upper and lower apex portions of the one electrode and the other electrode bite into each other. Similarly, the one electrode and another electrode adjoining a lower end region of the one electrode each other are divided by a boundary line extending zigzag in a generally M shape transversely relative to the operating direction. As a finger touches the fader sensor, the finger simultaneously touches the three electrodes, and corresponding output signals are output therefrom. A weighted average of the output signals is calculated so that position information of the finger having touched the sensor can be acquired with a high resolution.

Abstract: A controller includes an operating member operable by user's depression, and a touch detection device constructed to detect a depressing touch on the operating member. The touch detection device includes a movable contact pattern provided on the lower surface of the operating member, and a fixed contact pattern disposed underneath the operating member. One of the fixed and movable contact patterns is a coil-shaped contact pattern while the other of the fixed and movable contact patterns is a uniform surface pattern, at least one of the fixed and movable contact patterns has flexibility, and at least one of the fixed and movable contact patterns has a surface slanted from the center of the coil toward the outer peripheral edge of the coil. The coil-shaped contact pattern comprises first and second contact elements constituting a dual coil pattern.

Abstract: A system includes at least one controller device connectable to a computer where a mixer function is implemented by application software. The controller device includes: a communication interface connectable to the computer; a plurality of faders capable of remote-controlling parameters of channels assigned thereto; a channel shift button; and a bank shift button. The channels assigned to the faders are collectively shifted by one channel in response to an instruction given via the channel shift button, or collectively shifted by the one bank in response to an instruction given via the bank shift button. For each of the controller devices, identification information of the controller device and information of a first channel of all of the assigned channels is stored so that the stored information is used at the time of activation of the software for restoring previous settings stored at the time of last deactivation of the software.

Abstract: A signal transmission apparatus is connected to a network as one node among a plurality of nodes involved in the network which is provided with an audio signal transmission period for transmitting a plurality of channels of audio signals each transmission cycle and a control data transmission period for transmitting control data of the plurality of the nodes each control cycle by using an idle time period other than the audio signal transmission period. In the signal transmission apparatus, a storage section stores configuration information of the one node. A transmitting section transmits the control data including an error checking code of the configuration information. A receiving section receives request data from another node, the request data requesting the one node for transmission of an information block of the configuration information. A control section controls the transmitting section to transmit the information block in response to the request data.

Abstract: A communication management system is consisted of a plurality of apparatuses connected to a network. Each apparatus comprises: a transmitter that transmits first setting information representing all setting status of own apparatus to the other apparatuses connected to the network; a receiver that receives second setting information representing all setting status of the other apparatuses connected to the network from the other apparatuses; and a storing device that stores the first and the second setting information. Desired data relating to all the devices connected to the network can be confirmed quickly.

Abstract: A signal transmission apparatus is connected to a network as one node among a plurality of nodes involved in the network which is provided with an audio signal transmission period for transmitting a plurality of channels of audio signals each transmission cycle and a control data transmission period for transmitting control data of the plurality of the nodes each control cycle by using an idle time period other than the audio signal transmission period. In the signal transmission apparatus, a storage section stores configuration information of the one node. A transmitting section transmits the control data including an error checking code of the configuration information. A receiving section receives request data from another node, the request data requesting the one node for transmission of an information block of the configuration information. A control section controls the transmitting section to transmit the information block in response to the request data.

Abstract: A signal transmission apparatus is connected to a network as one node among a plurality of nodes involved in the network which is provided with an audio signal transmission period for transmitting a plurality of channels of audio signals each transmission cycle and a control data transmission period for transmitting control data of the plurality of the nodes each control cycle by using an idle time period other than the audio signal transmission period. In the signal transmission apparatus, a storage section stores configuration information of the one node. A transmitting section transmits the control data including an error checking code of the configuration information. A receiving section receives request data from another node, the request data requesting the one node for transmission of an information block of the configuration information. A control section controls the transmitting section to transmit the information block in response to the request data.

Abstract: A communication management system is consisted of a plurality of apparatuses connected to a network. Each apparatus comprises: a transmitter that transmits first setting information representing all setting status of own apparatus to the other apparatuses connected to the network; a receiver that receives second setting information representing all setting status of the other apparatuses connected to the network from the other apparatuses; and a storing device that stores the first and the second setting information. Desired data relating to all the devices connected to the network can be confirmed quickly.

Abstract: A communication management system is consisted of a plurality of apparatuses connected to a network. Each apparatus comprises: a transmitter that transmits first setting information representing all setting status of own apparatus to the other apparatuses connected to the network; a receiver that receives second setting information representing all setting status of the other apparatuses connected to the network from the other apparatuses; and a storing device that stores the first and the second setting information. Desired data relating to all the devices connected to the network can be confirmed quickly.

Abstract: There is provided an electronic music apparatus that can make effective use of song data by separately controlling external outputting of the song data according to songs while protecting the rights. When song data is selected, the song data is read from a second ROM or a flash memory and written into a RAM together with a copyright flag CRF indicating that the song data has a copyright, when it is set to “1”. When an external output instruction is given, when the copyright flag CRF corresponding to the selected song data is set to “0”, it is judged that the song data has no copyright to be protected. Then, the song data is output according to the external output instruction. On the other hand, if CRF=1 holds, it is judged that the song data has a copyright to be protected, and then an output inhibition message is displayed to inhibit external outputting of the song data.

Abstract: A signal transmission apparatus is connected to a network as one node among a plurality of nodes involved in the network which is provided with an audio signal transmission period for transmitting a plurality of channels of audio signals each transmission cycle and a control data transmission period for transmitting control data of the plurality of the nodes each control cycle by using an idle time period other than the audio signal transmission period. In the signal transmission apparatus, a storage section stores configuration information of the one node. A transmitting section transmits the control data including an error checking code of the configuration information. A receiving section receives request data from another node, the request data requesting the one node for transmission of an information block of the configuration information. A control section controls the transmitting section to transmit the information block in response to the request data.