Abstract: Watermark information indicative of content of music piece performance data to be reproduced in synchronism with a first audio signal is embedded into the first audio signal, and the resultant signal is acquired as a second audio signal. In parallel to the above-mentioned processing, the watermark information is decoded from the second audio signal, the content of music piece performance data to be reproduced is identified on the basis of the decoded watermark information, and then a tone signal based on the music piece performance data is reproduced in accordance with the identified content.

Abstract: A performance system includes a plurality of performance information output devices, a storage device, and a plurality of automatic performance devices. At least one performance information output device transmits performance data having the combination of an identifier, time information, and the performance information to at least one automatic performance device through the storage device without passing through a video distribution server. The at least one performance information output device transmits a synchronization signal to the at least one automatic performance device through the video distribution server. The at least one automatic performance device reproduces the performance information in synchronization with a video distributed at the time when the synchronization signal is distributed, at the timing corresponding to the time indicated by the time information and the time indicated by the synchronization signal.

Abstract: In a musical instrument, such as a piano, having a sound board, the sound board vibrates in response to vibrations of a string responsive to depression of a key. A waveform corresponding to such vibrations of the sound board is detected and recorded into a memory for each of the keys. The recorded vibration waveform is usable for reproduction of a sound based on sound board vibrations. In a sound reproduction apparatus, such as a piano, having a sound board, an excitation device physically excitable in response to an input waveform is provided on the sound board. In response to an operation of a key, a sound board vibration waveform corresponding to the operated key is read out from the memory, and the excitation device is driven in accordance with the read-out waveform signal so that the sound board is vibrated.

Abstract: In a musical instrument, such as a piano, having a sound board, the sound board vibrates in response to vibrations of a string responsive to depression of a key. A waveform corresponding to such vibrations of the sound board is detected and recorded. The recorded vibration waveform is usable for reproduction of a sound based on sound board vibrations. In a sound reproduction apparatus, such as a piano, having a sound board, an excitation device physically excitable in response to an input waveform is provided on the sound board. A signal indicative of a vibration waveform of the sound board is received, and the excitation device is driven in accordance with the received waveform signal so that the sound board is vibrated. Thus, a sound based on the sound board vibrations can be replicated or reproduced with a high quality.

Abstract: A performance system includes a plurality of performance information output devices, a storage device, and a plurality of automatic performance devices. At least one performance information output device transmits performance data having the combination of an identifier, time information, and the performance information to at least one automatic performance device through the storage device without passing through a moving image distribution server. The at least one performance information output device transmits a synchronization signal to the at least one automatic performance device through the moving image distribution server. The at least one automatic performance device reproduces the performance information in synchronization with a video distributed at the time when the synchronization signal is distributed, at the timing corresponding to the time indicated by the time information and the time indicated by the synchronization signal.

Abstract: An automatic performance device includes a performance data receiving unit that receives performance data transmitted from a storage device without passing through a moving image distribution server, the storage device configured to store the performance data having a combination of performance information and time information, the time information indicating the time when the performance indicated by the performance information was carried out; a synchronization signal receiving unit that receives a synchronization signal by using an audio signal transmission path for an audio via the moving image distribution server; and a reproducing unit that reproduces the performance information of the performance data in synchronization with a video distributed at the time when the synchronization signal is distributed, at the timing corresponding to the time indicated by the time information and the time indicated by the synchronization signal.

Abstract: A signal modulator includes a discriminator for discriminating a modulation technique through which a carrier signal was modulated to a quasi audio signal and a signal demodulation module for reproducing a continuous data stream from the quasi audio signal through a demodulating technique corresponding to the discriminated modulation technique; the discriminator includes a sampling circuit for extracting groups of samples from the quasi audio signal during each period of the carrier signal, an integrator calculating an integrated value on each group of samples, a comparator comparing the integrated value with a threshold for a neighborhood of zero so as to determine the groups of samples with the integrated value less than the threshold and a determiner measuring the time period between the groups of two modulation period and discriminating 16DPSK when the time period is equal to the modulation period.

Abstract: An acoustic effect impartment apparatus detects striking of any one of strings by a corresponding hammer in an acoustic piano like a grand piano, and vibrates a vibration section with a driving waveform signal obtained by synthesizing sine wave signals of the fundamental frequency and harmonic frequency of the hammer-struck string. Such vibration of the vibration section is transmitted to the keys via a soundboard and bridge of the piano. Thus, vibration is excited in the hammer-struck string by the striking with the hammer but also by the driving waveform signal, so that an acoustic effect corresponding to the driving waveform signal is imparted. Because the driving waveform signal is a simple signal using the sine wave signals corresponding to the fundamental frequency of the string, a natural feeling of the acoustic piano will not be lost even when the acoustic effect is imparted.

Abstract: Watermark information indicative of content of music piece performance data to be reproduced in synchronism with a first audio signal is embedded into the first audio signal, and the resultant signal is acquired as a second audio signal. In parallel to the above-mentioned processing, the watermark information is decoded from the second audio signal, the content of music piece performance data to be reproduced is identified on the basis of the decoded watermark information, and then a tone signal based on the music piece performance data is reproduced in accordance with the identified content.

Abstract: A modulation device includes: a spread code generation unit which generates a spread code having a predetermined cycle; an audio signal input unit to which an audio signal is input; a first modulation unit which phase-modulates the spread code in each cycle on the basis of a data code; and a combining unit which combines the audio signal with a modulation signal which has been generated on the basis of the phase-modulated spread code and distributed in a frequency range higher than a predetermined frequency to output a combined signal.

Abstract: A signal modulator includes a discriminator for discriminating a modulation technique through which a carrier signal was modulated to a quasi audio signal and a signal demodulation module for reproducing a continuous data stream from the quasi audio signal through a demodulating technique corresponding to the discriminated modulation technique; the discriminator includes a sampling circuit for extracting groups of samples from the quasi audio signal during each period of the carrier signal, an integrator calculating an integrated value on each group of samples, a comparator comparing the integrated value with a threshold for a neighborhood of zero so as to determine the groups of samples with the integrated value less than the threshold and a determiner measuring the time period between the groups of two modulation period and discriminating 16DPSK when the time period is equal to the modulation period.

Abstract: A portable tuning device samples discrete values on a fundamental frequency component of an audio signal, which is equivalent to sound waves produced in a musical instrument, and extracts plural series of fundamental frequency components to be converted to plural bit strings of 1s and 0s; since a time delay equal to the inverse of target frequency is introduced between the first bit of one bit string and the first bit of the next bit string, a series of gradation data has a bit string identical with the bit strings at the consistency with the target frequency, and the series of gradation data has bit strings different from the bit strings at the inconsistency regardless of a cycle time so that user recognizes the tuning state from the bit strings.

Abstract: A tuning device includes an analog-to-digital converter for converting sound waves propagated from a piano to an audio signal in synchronism with a sampling signal and a data processor for visualizing a difference between a target pitch of a tone and an actual pitch of the tone; since the sampling signal is less accurate in frequency, the data processor previously determines the frequency difference between a design frequency and an actual frequency of the sampling signal by using a calendar clock signal as a measure; the data processor eliminates noise due to the sampling signal from visual images of the pitch difference, and makes the visual images more accurate.

Abstract: A portable tuning device includes a microphone, a data processing system and a touch-panel liquid crystal display device, and assists a user in a tuning work on an upright piano; when the user depresses a key, sound waves, which expresses a tone, are propagated to the microphone, and are converted to an audio signal, the waveform of which is converted to audio data codes; the data processing system firstly calculates an introductory autocorrelation on the audio data codes for a small number of delayed waveform so as to determine a register to which the tone belongs, and, thereafter, calculates a principal autocorrelation on the audio data codes for delayed waveforms within the register so as to estimate the pitch of the tone; since the compass is narrowed to the register through the introductory autocorrelation, the amount of calculation is relatively small in the principal autocorrelation.

Abstract: A tuning device assists a worker in a tuning work on a musical instrument such as an upright piano; the tuning device firstly converts a tone to a series of audio data, and analyzes a series of audio data so as to compare an actual pitch of the tone with a target pitch of the tone; when a pitch difference is found, the existence of pitch difference is visualized as a moving light pattern, and the direction of pitch difference is further visualized as a light pattern; the worker acknowledges the present tuning status of the musical instrument through the tuning device so that the worker accurately quickly tunes the musical instrument.

Abstract: A tuning device includes an analog-to-digital converter for converting sound waves propagated from a piano to an audio signal in synchronism with a sampling signal and a data processor for visualizing a difference between a target pitch of a tone and an actual pitch of the tone; since the sampling signal is less accurate in frequency, the data processor previously determines the frequency difference between a design frequency and an actual frequency of the sampling signal by using a calendar clock signal as a measure; the data processor eliminates noise due to the sampling signal from visual images of the pitch difference, and makes the visual images more accurate.

Abstract: A portable tuning device includes a microphone, a data processing system and a touch-panel liquid crystal display device, and assists a user in a tuning work on an upright piano; when the user depresses a key, sound waves, which expresses a tone, are propagated to the microphone, and are converted to an audio signal, the waveform of which is converted to audio data codes; the data processing system firstly calculates an introductory autocorrelation on the audio data codes for a small number of delayed waveform so as to determine a register to which the tone belongs, and, thereafter, calculates a principal autocorrelation on the audio data codes for delayed waveforms within the register so as to estimate the pitch of the tone; since the compass is narrowed to the register through the introductory autocorrelation, the amount of calculation is relatively small in the principal autocorrelation.

Abstract: A portable tuning device samples discrete values on a fundamental frequency component of an audio signal, which is equivalent to sound waves produced in a musical instrument, and extracts plural series of fundamental frequency components to be converted to plural bit strings of 1s and 0s; since a time delay equal to the inverse of target frequency is introduced between the first bit of one bit string and the first bit of the next bit string, a series of gradation data has a bit string identical with the bit strings at the consistency with the target frequency, and the series of gradation data has bit strings different from the bit strings at the inconsistency regardless of a cycle time so that user recognizes the tuning state from the bit strings.