The new DM7 Series Digital Mixers, with Assist functions
Assist the mixing with autonomous functions!?
AI technologies are progressing dramatically, and they are becoming a part of our daily lives. In recent years, Yamaha has focussed its technologies on how to collaborate between Humans and AI Machines for music production. Performing with musical instruments is one of the most important artistic acts. In addtion, mixing the sounds to make a more attractive musical production is another important aesthetic work.
Indeed, mixing is one of the essential acts of music production. For example, adjusting the sound volume and balancing multiple tracks are mandatory exercises for making attractive “music”. Mixing requires an aesthetic musical sense. However, it must not be forgotten that some steady procedural tasks are also required. “Assist” functions support these procedural tasks in order to provide more creative time for the sound engineers.
“Assist” the engineer to focus on creativity
“Assist” takes care of some important, but more procedural tasks, by “suggesting” essential audio engineering parameters to help engineers focus on more creative workflows and communication.
HA Assist：
this function observes the input signal level and calculates the statistical behaviour from a signal histogram. Each ideal HA level is estimated using a mathematical algorithm, suggesting a suitable HA level to start with.
Naming Assist：
The machine learning technique estimates the type of musical instrument or voice from the input signal. It “listens” to the sound on an input channel to suggest an icon/channel name. The channel name is then used by Fader Assist for balancing the channel levels.
Fader Assist：
Finding a balance is one of the mandatory aspects of mixing music. Fader Assist observes the input signal level for each channel, and can control the fader level through a mathematical convergence algorithm to reach the target balance. The target balance holds enough musical sense, though is not too artistic. The resulting suggested fader balance for the assigned channels could be the starting point, allowing operators to reach more creative goals in less time, through further manual adjustment.
Screen example of Fader Assist
Research direction: towards a “virtual mixing partner”
“Assist” establishes a human-machine collaboration to help with routine procedural tasks. This function allows a stronger focus upon creativity. In other words, statistics and mathematics are being employed to help the human become more artistic.
Of course, AI technology contains statistics and mathematics. And there is some concern that many human acts might be replaced by AI. However, it is more natural that humans and AI could display a harmonious relationship with the concept that music is mandatory for human beings to enjoy life.
For now, “Assist” functions just help with the procedural mixing tasks. However, a harmonious relationship would depend on more individual or personal aesthetic senses. The direction of Yamaha’s research is in considering the “virtual mixing partner”. So in the future, “Assist” should be a kind of budy, to help with more personal, tailored, mixing activities.