Abstract: A content searching method includes the steps of: detecting movements of a user as movement information; detecting a movement pattern of the user as key information from the movement information; and searching for a piece of content having a content pattern according to the key information among a plurality of pieces of content.

Abstract: Relating higher-level descriptive musical metadata to lower-level musical elements to enable creation of a song map, song model, backing track, or the like. The musical elements are queried based on input metadata to create a set of musical elements of varying types such as notes, chords, song structures, and the like. The set of musical elements is provided to a user for selection of particular musical elements The selected musical elements represent the song model.

Abstract: A system for playing music is provided. The system includes: a mood categorizer categorizing a mood of a music file; a similar music search module searching for similar music having a mood similar to music which a user desires by referring to the categorized mood; a highlight detector detecting a highlight section of the music file; and a theme categorizer categorizing a theme of the music file.

Abstract: Rack mountable, user-programmable electronic modules are disclosed that may be used separately, or combined into an integrated system, to analyze, display, troubleshoot, or perform signal conversion on contents or a Musical Instrument Data Interface (MIDI) data stream. Signal conversion capabilities include conversion from a standard MIDI unbalanced current-driven signal format to other electronic forms, such as a balanced differential voltage format, or optical fiber or wireless media formats, that are more suitable for longer distance transmission, and include conversion from a format suitable for long distance back to a standard MIDI format.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pianoforte instrument comprising a musical mechanism with keys. Also provided are strings which are struck via a mechanism when the keys are actuated and are made to vibrate. The vibrations of the strings are transmitted to a sound board. A device is provided for delivering additional oscillating energy into the sound board. Also provided are sensors which directly or indirectly detect actuation of the keys of the musical mechanism. The measured values of the sensors are fed to a sound-amplifying device. The sound-amplifying device is equipped with units which compile data corresponding to a desired characteristic sound in accordance with the measured values of the sensors. The sound amplifying device supplies the sound board with additional oscillation energy via the delivering device according to the determined data.

Abstract: A music training and entertainment system allows a user to input a selection of source music in a native format, and isolates a desired vocal or instrument component within the source music. The user selects the component of the source music against which to be compared. The system suppresses the non-selected components of the source content to isolate the user-selected component. The system receives user input corresponding to the isolated component, and matches the user's performance to the original performance on the basis of pitch, rhythm, and quality comparisons. In a graphical user interface, avatars representing the user and judges are displayed in relation to an audience. Audience reaction is configured to reflect a score obtained by the user. A lyric extraction and generation process displays lyrics to a song in real time to the user as the music track is played.

Abstract: An electronic music apparatus has a sound generator for generating a music sound signal according to music data and a display device for displaying information associated with music data. In the electronic music apparatus, a storage medium stores a plurality of music data files, each being written with music data for use in generating the music sound signal. An information retention section retains file information for use in displaying a name or an icon of the respective music data. A reading command section issues a command of reading out a target music data file from the storage medium.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes a performance operation portion that is operated by fingers of a performer, a contact portion that is adapted to be brought into contact with a lower lip of the performer, a contact pressure detection portion that detects the contact pressure at which the lower lip is brought into contact with the contact portion, and generates a pressure value in accordance with the detected contact pressure, and a control portion that specifies sound of a pitch in accordance with an operation status of the performance operation portion and changes the pitch of the sound in accordance with the pressure value.

Abstract: An individual entertainment display device which can produce lights and sounds as part of an entertainment presentation, and can be used individually or as part of a coordinated entertainment presentation with other display devices.

Abstract: A music playing system includes a computer and user interface to access a media database. A wireless base station device has a line out port providing two channel output. An automatic player piano has analog MIDI inputs, and a piano keyboard mechanism. The computer communicates wirelessly with the base station device, and the line out of the base station device outputs two channels which are connected to the analog MIDI inputs. A musical work, including related audio and MIDI data codes, is stored in the media database, with the different data codes in association with two different channels. The music data is sent via the wireless base station to the corresponding inputs of the piano. The piano sound system produces sound from the audio data codes and sends actuation signals to the keyboard mechanism, based on the MIDI codes.

Abstract: A video game controller includes: a string instrument-shaped housing comprising a body portion and a neck portion, said body portion including a opening; a console interface for coupling with a game console; and a strum interface coupled to the console interface. The strum interface includes: a pin having a central portion and distal end portions; a pin support structure for supporting the distal end portions of the pin; a strum bar comprising a body portion rotatably coupled to the central portion of the pin and a flange portion protruding from the opening in the housing; a compressible liner provided between at least a portion of the strum bar and the pin; an upper button positioned adjacent the strum bar so as to be depressed when the strum bar is rotated in a first direction; and a lower button positioned adjacent the strum bar so as to be depressed when the strum bar is rotated in a second direction.

Abstract: The invention provides an actuator for actuating a pallet of a pipe organ under the command of a key of an organ. The actuator comprises a movable member, adapted to be connected to the pallet of the organ pipe and a magnetic plunger, mounted on the movable member. It also comprises an electromagnet having a gap within which the magnetic plunger can be inserted and moved, wherein the electromagnet when energized moves the member to thereby actuate the pallet. A controller roller unit controls a current in the electromagnet to provide a controlled actuation of the pallet that is proportional to a key dip of the key. It also provide for a system based on a digital serial link for controlling an assembly of organ pallets that are actuated by electromagnets.

Abstract: A musical interaction assisting apparatus is to enhance friendliness between an electronic musical instrument and the player. The player's actions are detected acoustically, visually or physically, and the interaction assisting apparatus interprets the detected player's actions and generates interactive responses thereto. The interactive responses are outputted acoustically, visually or physically for the player, and electronically to control the electronic musical instrument. The interaction assisting apparatus also has a learning function to provide proper responses to the player.

Abstract: Once performance event information is supplied in real time in accordance with a progression of a performance, a time indicative of temporal relationship between at least two notes to be generated in succession is measured on the basis of the performance event information supplied in real time. Comparison is made between a preset rendition style determination condition including time information and the measured time, and a rendition style that is to be applied to a current tone to be performed in real time is determined on the basis of the comparison result. With the arrangement that a rendition style to be applied to the current tone is determined on the basis of the comparison result, it is possible to execute a real-time performance while automatically expressing a tonguing rendition style.

Abstract: A “Concatenative Synthesizer” applies concatenative synthesis to create a musical output from a database of musical notes and an input musical score (such as a MIDI score or other computer readable musical score format). In various embodiments, the musical output is either a music score, or an analog or digital audio file. This musical output is constructed by evaluating the database of musical notes to identify sets of candidate notes for each note of the input musical score. An “optimal path” through candidate notes is identified by minimizing an overall cost function through the candidate notes relative to the input musical score. The musical output is then constructed by concatenating the selected candidate notes. In further embodiments, the database of musical notes is generated from any desired musical genre, performer, performance, or instrument. Furthermore, notes in the database may be modified to better fit notes of the input musical score.

Abstract: The keys in a reproducing piano are actuated by a plurality of solenoids, one for each key to be played. The solenoids are arranged along the width of the keyboard and deviated from each other in the front-back direction of the keys in a staggered manner. A consequence of this arrangement is that the mechanical lever advantage of some solenoids is greater than the mechanical lever advantage of others, and as a result, some keys are played more loudly than others. In order to correct this problem, the drive applied to a solenoid is adjusted to compensate for the mechanical lever advantage, thereby allowing a performance to be accurately reproduced.

Abstract: Plural key switches are arranged in two dimensions along X- and Y-coordinate axes, and an X-coordinate position of each of the key switches is associated with tone generation timing while a Y-coordinate position of each of the key switches is associated with a tone pitch. Storage section stores a music piece data set that includes tone generating data having data of tone pitches and tone generation timing associated with the key switches. In a repeat-section setting mode, a repeat-section setting section causes the plural key switches to function as setting operators and sets a repeat section of the music piece data set on the basis of the X-coordinate position of any operated one of the key switches. In reproduction of the stored music piece data set, a reproduction section repetitively reproduces the tone generating data of the music piece data set which are included in the set repeat section.

Abstract: The present invention provides a retrograde recombinant composition algorithm that creates new musical compositions based on existing musical compositions that are preferably written in software and is suitable for implementation in electro-mechanical and electronic devices that generate musical works based on existing bodies of music. The retrograde approach to recomposition according to the present invention provides a highly simplified code that executes at a high speed, and accordingly a reduced need for computational resources.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a waveform synthesizer apparatus that synthesizes a waveform of a musical sound based on musical performance event information. In particular, a music synthesizer includes an overlap detector that detects whether a first and second musical sound overlap, and a sound length meter that determines a sound length of the first musical sound. If the first and second musical sounds overlap, the synthesizer instantly terminates synthesizing of the first sound and starts synthesizing the second sound, provided the length of the first sound does not exceed a predetermined length. If the first and second sounds do not overlap, synthesis of the first sound is terminated, and the synthesis of the second sound is initiated, if it is determined that the length of rest between the two sounds does not exceed a predetermined length, and that the first sound does not exceed a predetermined length.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a system for playing a music sequence such as a MIDI file in synchronization with a prerecorded digital audio data file, such as an MP3 file. The synchronization is accomplished by using the digital media sample rate as a common time base for progression of the playing of the digital media and the music sequence.