Patents by Inventor Masaaki Okabayashi

Masaaki Okabayashi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20160211933
    Abstract: As viewed from the front of an operation panel, adjustment sections for individual input channels are positioned on the operation panel close to a human operator, and a display, a control section for setting an equalizer process, compressor process etc. for one selected channel and a signal delivery control section for setting signal delivery to mixing buses for the selected channel are positioned in a horizontal row remotely from the human operator. Operators in the delivery control section are varied in function in accordance with a selected operation mode. For example, in a mix send mode, a plurality of rotary operators are set to function as send level adjustment operators for the respective input channels so as to adjust send levels to a given mixing bus, while, in a mix master mode, the rotary operators are set to function as output gain adjustment operators for the respective mixing buses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventor: Masaaki OKABAYASHI
  • Patent number: 9331801
    Abstract: As viewed from the front of an operation panel, adjustment sections for individual input channels are positioned on the operation panel close to a human operator, and a display, a control section for setting an equalizer process, compressor process etc. for one selected channel and a signal delivery control section for setting signal delivery to mixing buses for the selected channel are positioned in a horizontal row remotely from the human operator. Operators in the delivery control section are varied in function in accordance with a selected operation mode. For example, in a mix send mode, a plurality of rotary operators are set to function as send level adjustment operators for the respective input channels so as to adjust send levels to a given mixing bus, while, in a mix master mode, the rotary operators are set to function as output gain adjustment operators for the respective mixing buses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Okabayashi
  • Patent number: 9332341
    Abstract: A processing apparatus communicatively connected with a mixer apparatus and having an audio recording function is capable of recording in real time audio signals of one or more channels output from the mixer apparatus. When a snapshot change is to be made for collectively changing a state of a set of signal-processing setting data, the mixer apparatus transmits, to the processing apparatus, a command for setting a given parameter. Upon receipt of the command, the processing sets and records the given parameter, instructed by the received command, into a project that is recording in real time the audio signals of one or more channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Okabayashi
  • Patent number: 9325439
    Abstract: An output channel processing an audio signal after mixing in a mixing bus in a digital mixer is configured such that output points PreHPF and PostON are provided at locations before and after a signal processing module group composed of signal processing modules from a high-pass filter to an ON/OFF control module, an output selecting switch selects one of the output points to supply the audio signal at the selected output point to a direct-out output module which is provided corresponding to the output channel and includes an ON/OFF control module and a level adjustment module so that the audio signal can be outputted via the direct-out output module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Okabayashi
  • Patent number: 9264158
    Abstract: An audio signal processing apparatus has a plurality of channels for controlling a plurality of audio signals. In the apparatus, a volume setting unit sets volume parameters of the plurality of channels. A group generation unit determines a plurality of groups each including one or more channels among the plurality of channels. An attenuation setting unit sets an attenuation amount for each group. An on/off setting unit sets each group to either an on-state or an off-state. A plurality of volume controllers control the plurality of channels, a volume controller of each channel, which belongs to a group in the off-state, controlling a level of the channel and a volume controller of each channel, which belongs to a group in the on-state, generating a volume value by attenuating the volume parameter set to the channel by the attenuation amount set to the group and controlling a level of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Okabayashi
  • Publication number: 20150254055
    Abstract: When recalling a preliminary stored scene including parameter values regarding a plurality of input/output ports respectively receiving or outputting an audio signal with respect to outside, a plurality of transmission/reception ports respectively transmitting or receiving an audio signal with respect to another equipment via a network, a signal processing channel processing an audio signal, and a patch transmitting an audio signal among the plurality of input/output ports, the plurality of transmission/reception ports and the signal processing channel, a setting to leave parameter values defining connection between the input/output ports and the transmission/reception ports by the patch before the recall as they are can be performed by a particular group safe setting button.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Masaaki OKABAYASHI, Masaru AISO
  • Patent number: 9048961
    Abstract: An audio signal processing apparatus performs audio signal process composed of a plurality of channels each having parameters used in the audio signal process. The audio signal processing apparatus has a plurality of channel strips, each being assigned with a channel and being provided with controls for adjusting values of the parameters of the assigned channel, and has a plurality of storing sections having different priorities relative to each other, each storing section being capable of storing a setting indicative of a channel set to a channel strip for assignment thereto. A changing section changes a setting stored in a storing section. A clearing section clears a setting stored in a storing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Fujita, Masaaki Okabayashi, Kotaro Terada
  • Patent number: 9036834
    Abstract: An audio signal processing apparatus performs audio signal process composed of a plurality of channels each having parameters used in the audio signal process. The audio signal processing apparatus has a plurality of channel strips, each channel strip being assigned with a channel and being provided with manipulators for adjusting values of the parameters of the assigned channel. There are provided a plurality of storing sections having different priorities relative to each other, each storing section being capable of storing a setting indicative of a channel set to a channel strip for assignment thereto. A changing section changes the settings stored in the storing sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Fujita, Masaaki Okabayashi
  • Publication number: 20150092961
    Abstract: In a digital mixer, when a patch of a certain channel is changed, values of parameters of one port which has been connected to the certain channel is applied as parameters of a newly connected port, thereby enabling to hand over parameters of the one port which have been set for the certain channel. Further, when a newly connected port is already connected to another channel, the digital mixer asks the user whether or not to apply the parameters of the one port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Masaaki OKABAYASHI
  • Patent number: 8935444
    Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of external devices is performed on a computer which is set up with a plurality of remote control processes corresponding to the plurality of the external devices, and a management process for managing the remote control processes while communicating with the remote control processes. The management process is called to display icons corresponding to the remote control processes in a display field provided by the management process. Further, the management process acts when a specified operation is applied to one of the icons on the display field for sending a screen open instruction to one of the remote control processes corresponding to the icon to which the specified operation is applied. The remote control process which receives the screen open instruction is activated to display a control screen for use in remotely controlling the corresponding external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Umeo, Takao Yamamoto, Masaaki Okabayashi, Hideo Miyamori
  • Publication number: 20140376748
    Abstract: While level of the inputted analog signal is adjusted according to a set analog gain value and then analog-digital converted and outputted, when an automatic compensation is on and a difference of the analog gain value and a target value is compensated by level adjustment in a digital amplifier, the analog gain value is displayed by a gain knob, and in response to an operation to turn on the automatic compensation, a present value of the analog gain value at that time is displayed as a target gain value by a mark near the analog gain value, and in response to an operation to turn off the automatic compensation, display of the target gain value is erased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Masaaki OKABAYASHI, Hideki Hagiwara, Masaru Aiso
  • Patent number: 8913763
    Abstract: N input channel signals from an input channel section having N input channels are selectively supplied to M mixing buses and cue buses. Mixed outputs from the mixing buses are supplied, via talkback input sections, to an output channel section having M output channels, and M output channel signals from the output channel section are patched to output ports via an output patch section. Talkback signal from a talkback supply section is supplied to the talkback input sections. When a talkback function is ON, a talkback signal is mixed with the mixed outputs from the mixing buses and then output to the output channels, during which time the mixed outputs are temporarily attenuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Okabayashi, Takamitsu Aoki
  • Patent number: 8879753
    Abstract: Mixer and one or more external devices, related to audio signal processing, are interconnected via a communication network, such as a LAN. For a particular one of the external devices for which communication with the mixer via the communication network is to be established, a network address unique to the particular external device and a communication protocol to be used for data communication with the particular external device are designated by entry operation by a user. Logical connection is established such that data communication is performed, in accordance with the designated communication protocol, between the mixer and the particular external device corresponding to the designated network address. Thus, data communication is performed, via the communication network, between the mixer and the particular external device for which the logical connection has been established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Okabayashi
  • Patent number: 8867760
    Abstract: In a mixer, each input channel adjustment unit includes a main system unit that generates a main system signal, and a plurality of MIX send units that generate a plurality of MIX send signals. In each MIX send unit, a signal selection unit selects an audio signal from a plurality of audio signals being involved in the main system unit and including at least an audio signal to be inputted to a filter unit of the main system unit and an audio signal to be inputted to a main system gain adjustment unit. A linked gain setting unit of the MIX send unit applies a gain that increases or decreases in linking with the gain of the main system gain adjustment unit, to the audio signal that is selected by the signal selection unit. A linked ON/OFF unit of the MIX send unit sets ON state or OFF state of the audio signal that is selected by the signal selection unit in linking with the ON state or OFF state of a main system ON/OFF unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Okabayashi
  • Patent number: 8744096
    Abstract: Once a human operator operates a fader knob of a desired channel downwardly toward a predetermined position, resistance force against the fader knob is generated. As the human operator further lowers the fader knob beyond another predetermined position against the resistance force, the channel is set in a CUE-ON state, so that an audio signal (pre-fader signal) of the channel can be test-listened to as a CUE signal. Then, once the human operator operates the fader knob upwardly, the CUE-ON state of the signal is canceled, so that a sound volume level of the channel can be controlled in accordance with an operating position of the fader knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Aiso, Masaaki Okabayashi
  • Patent number: 8705768
    Abstract: Digital mixer includes a plurality of input ports each capable of performing gain adjustment, and a plurality of signal processing channels. Signal of each of the input ports is allocated to one or more desired ones of the channels. Each of the input channels includes an attenuator and can control the level of each signal supplied thereto. Gain value of any one of the input ports is updated in accordance with the gain adjustment performed in that input port, and, when an automatic gain adjustment function is ON in any one of the input channels set as patched-to destinations of the input port, an attenuator value of the input channel is automatically adjusted so as to cancel out an amount of variation of the gain value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Aiso, Masaaki Okabayashi, Takamitsu Aoki
  • Patent number: 8687825
    Abstract: Main and sub assignable controls are provided for each channel strip. Predetermined screens, each including a parameter display, are displayed dividedly or separately on first and second display devices. Thus, any one of a plurality of parameters included in the predetermined screen, being displayed on the first display device, is variably assigned to the main assignable control, while any one of a plurality of parameters included in the predetermined screen, being displayed on the second display device, is variably assigned to the sub assignable control. Further, when a predetermined pop-up screen, including at least a parameter display, is to be further displayed, in response to a screen display switching instruction, over the predetermined screen being displayed on the first display device, a parameter included in the pop-up screen is fixedly assigned to each of the main and sub assignable controls. In this way, the plurality of assignable controls can be used properly in accordance with a screen display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Okabayashi
  • Publication number: 20130322654
    Abstract: A PC (DAW) records audio signals of input channels outputted from a mixer. When the PC (DAW) newly creates a project for recording, the PC (DAW) obtains channel configuration information from the mixer, creates the same number of tracks as the number of the channels indicated in the channel configuration information, and gives the each track the same name as the corresponding channel indicated in the channel configuration information. It is thereby enabled to easily perform setting at a time of recording.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki OKABAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20130310954
    Abstract: A specification of one of a plurality of controls is accepted, a specification of a plurality of items is accepted with respect to parameters, and among the plurality of controls, a plurality of controls to which parameter items are to be assigned are determined with reference to the control for which the specification is accepted. To each of the determined plurality of controls, one of the plurality of items for which the specification is accepted is assigned, and each of the plurality of controls is made to function as a control for operating the set value of the item assigned to this control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki OKABAYASHI
  • Patent number: 8526639
    Abstract: On a digital mixer, each channel is given a channel definition defining whether the channel is to be used individually or to be used as a group along with a certain channel. When a channel strip to which a user desires to assign and a channel which the user desires to assign are selected, it is determined whether the selected channel is a channel to be used individually or to be used as a group. When it is determined that the selected channel is to be used as a group, channels belonging to the group are assigned to the selected channel strip so that the user can concurrently control respective channels' values of a parameter by use of an operating element provided on the selected channel strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Kotaro Terada, Hiroaki Fujita, Masaaki Okabayashi