Audio effects system and method

Abstract

A method and a system of organizing, arranging and rear-ranging the number and sequential order of audio effects circuit modules by the changing, including inserting, removing, exchanging and interchanging, of said modules providing noiseless, uninterrupted signal flow through a system during each of said changing operations. A preferred embodiment of the method comprises an audio signal processing system which includes a main housing, containing a main circuit apparatus, module-receiving recesses, and modules, fabricated to be received in the recesses, each module having an electronic audio effect circuit which affects the signal in a unique way to provide a different sound output. A plurality of switches and potentiometers lie on either the main housing or the module, and each module has markings indicating which controls are to serve its operation. In order to avoid the generation of spurious signals into the main signal path during the changing of a module, and to maintain the uninterrupted flow of the main signal path through the system, switching means are connected such that the main signal path is noiselessly routed: passing either into and out of a recess and through a module which is fully seated therein, or passing by the recess to the next recess. The modules are inserted and removed producing the quiet appearance and disappearance of the audio effect produced by the module. Panel-mounted switches and foot switches are provided to command bypass of any or all recesses even though the modules are fully seated.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.