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Signal Flow Concepts

Each Space has a Signal Flow view to design the signal processing for that Space. Cognio addresses many of the historic drawbacks and issues with designing open-architecture signal processing systems. The concepts below explain how Cognio's signal flow differs from traditional DSP design tools. For step-by-step instructions, see the Cognio DesignOps Walkthrough.

Flexible Modules

You build a signal flow by adding modules from the toolkit. Cognio modules are flexible rather than fixed:

  • You can add, insert, replace, and duplicate modules quickly.
  • Many modules let you change how many inputs and outputs they have. A matrix mixer, for example, can grow input by input as you need it.
  • Double-clicking a module adds it to the flow and advances to the next position, so you can build a long channel strip or a large mixer with a few rapid clicks.

The result is that repetitive designs, like an 8-in / 8-out mixer with EQ, compression, limiting, and delay on every leg, can be built far faster than in traditional tools.

No Manual Wires

The biggest slowdown Cognio set out to eliminate is the time spent manually drawing wires between modules. In Cognio, what matters is the connection, not the act of clicking one endpoint and dragging it to another.

Cognio's automatic wiring (now patented) handles connections for you:

  • Modules placed on the same row connect automatically.
  • A module with nothing after it simply has no outgoing connection until you add one.
  • Drop a module directly onto an existing wire and it is inserted in place, with connections made automatically.
  • Drag a module on top of another to replace it.
  • Insert a module and the downstream modules shift to make room, keeping connections intact.
  • Delete a module and the wire reconnects across the gap.

Because connections are automatic and dynamic, you spend your time designing the system instead of drawing it.

Signals and Channels

Cognio uses software patching. Any input can be routed to any output, and the endpoints do not have to be physical.

When you patch a signal, the available sources include:

  • Physical inputs — such as USB and Dante channels.
  • Virtual inputs — other signals within the design.

Because patching is done in software, you can route audio between modules, across an internal signal, or between spaces, all without physically rewiring anything. This is how audio moves from one space to another: an output in one space is patched to an input in another.

Note

Inputs and outputs in a signal flow are not automatically tied to specific physical connectors. You assign the physical or virtual source for each through software patching.

Integrated Meters

Metering is built into the signal flow and works even without hardware, thanks to Cognio's offline emulation.

In operation mode, the meters in your signal flow show real audio activity. You can patch in a built-in signal generator, watch live meters respond, and confirm that audio is flowing where you expect. If a level is too high, the meter clips and turns red, so you can stage gain through the entire system before you ever arrive on site.

Because this is true emulation, the metering reflects the actual behavior of the Cognio processors, not a simulation. See Offline Emulation in the walkthrough for details.