Sampling (e.g., With A/d Conversion) Patents (Class 84/603)
  • Patent number: 6992245
    Abstract: A frequency spectrum is detected by analyzing a frequency of a voice waveform corresponding to a voice synthesis unit formed of a phoneme or a phonemic chain. Local peaks are detected on the frequency spectrum, and spectrum distribution regions including the local peaks are designated. For each spectrum distribution region, amplitude spectrum data representing an amplitude spectrum distribution depending on a frequency axis and phase spectrum data representing a phase spectrum distribution depending on the frequency axis are generated. The amplitude spectrum data is adjusted to move the amplitude spectrum distribution represented by the amplitude spectrum data along the frequency axis based on an input note pitch, and the phase spectrum data is adjusted corresponding to the adjustment. Spectrum intensities are adjusted to be along with a spectrum envelope corresponding to a desired tone color. The adjusted amplitude and phase spectrum data are converted into a synthesized voice signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Kenmochi, Alex Loscos, Jordi Bonada
  • Patent number: 6972362
    Abstract: An electronic sound generation device is adapted to start arithmetic processing with a start signal. When the arithmetic processing is not completed in a period between two sampling signals of a constant period, a start signal for starting next arithmetic processing signal for the next period is output after the completion of the on-going arithmetic processing. The electronic sound generation device is also adapted to hold resultant data of arithmetic processing, which is output in synchronism with the sampling signal. An address for designating waveform data in a waveform memory is calculated upon the address arithmetic parameters received from a digital signal processor (DSP) having a sum-of-products arithmetic circuit. Using fractional parts of the addresses, the data read out from the waveform memory are interpolated, and supplied to the DSP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6921856
    Abstract: There is provided a performance tone providing apparatus that enables the user to listen to musical tones sounded from a desired musical instrument according to his/her performing operation even if the desired musical instrument does not exist in the vicinity of the user. Musical tone data including data specifying pitches of musical tones is received from a communication terminal. A CPU causes a predetermined musical instrument to carry out automatic performance based on the received musical tone data. Performance tone data representative of musical tones sounded from the predetermined musical instrument by the automatic performance is transmitted to a communication terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Koseki
  • Patent number: 6909924
    Abstract: A method for shifting a pitch of acoustic signals, which are expressed in terms of a series of digital signals, to an optional pitch, uses a compacting and/or expanding process on the time axis and cross-fades a fade-in acoustic signal, stored in a memory with a fade-out acoustic signal, also stored in memory. The compaction and/or expansion of the time axes minimizes phase differences between the fade-in and fade-out acoustic signals to minimize tremolo in the output signal. The reduction in phase difference employs fundamental tones of the two series of signals selected by low-pass filtering the acoustic signal. One embodiment performs two-step compensation with a rough compensation using blocks of the digital signals and a fine compensation using samples from blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Kumamoto, Naoyuki Katou
  • Patent number: 6900381
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for changing the pitch of a tabulated waveform in wavetable based synthesizers. Harmonics that normally would be aliased before a transposition process are removed by a discrete time low pass filter at the same time that the tabulated waveform is reconstruction and resampling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Ulf Lindgren, Alberto Jimenez Feltström, Thomas Jacobsson
  • Patent number: 6881892
    Abstract: A method is provided for designing an acoustic correction filter applicable to a stringed instrument, which is composed of a string member operable to undergo a vibration, a support member for supporting the string member, a body member responsive to the vibration transmitted through the support member for generating a natural sound and a mute attachment for muting the natural sound. The acoustic correction filter is operable when the natural sound is muted by the mute attachment for filtering a signal derived from the vibration so as to create an artificial sound instead of the muted natural sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Miyazaki, Shinji Kishinaga, Youjiro Takabayashi
  • Patent number: 6867356
    Abstract: There is provided a musical tone generating apparatus that is capable of generating more natural musical tones even when musical tone waveform data is generated at a recording sampling frequency lower than a sampling frequency, by recovering harmonic components missing in the musical tone waveform data. All frequency components included in musical tone waveform data read out from a tone color data memory are shifted in a positive direction by a predetermined frequency lower than half the recording sampling frequency. The lower frequency components of the shifted frequency components than the half the recording sampling frequency are cut off by an HPF. The amplitude of the musical tone waveform data from which the frequency component is cut off is adjusted by a multiplier. Then, the musical tone waveform data adjusted in amplitude and the original musical tone waveform data read out are added together, and a musical tone is generated based on a result of the addition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuo Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 6867357
    Abstract: Enhancing the sound quality of a mechanical acoustic sound generation device that has a plurality of notes that have a perceived low sound quality by digital sampling the corresponding notes of a mechanical acoustic sound generation device and playing them in conjunction with the notes of the device when a note having a lower perceived sound quality is generated by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventor: Curtis Rex Carter, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6858790
    Abstract: A digital sampling instrument for multi-channel interpolatative playback of digital audio data stored in a waveform memory provides improved interpolation of musical sounds by use of a cache memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: David P. Rossum
  • Patent number: 6856923
    Abstract: A method for analyzing digital-sounds using sound-information of instruments and/or score-information is provided. Particularly, sound-information of instruments which were used or which are being used to generate input digital-sounds is used. Alternatively, in addition to the sound-information, score-information which were used or which are being used to generate the input digital-sounds is also used. According to the method, sound-information including pitches and strengths of notes performed on instruments used to generate the input digital-sounds is stored in advance so that monophonic or polyphonic pitches performed on the instruments can be easily analyzed. Since the sound-information of instruments and the score-information are used together, the input digital-sounds can be accurately analyzed and output as quantitative data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: AMUSETEC Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Doill Jung
  • Publication number: 20040255758
    Abstract: In a method for generating an identifier for an audio signal including a tone generated by an instrument, a discrete amplitude-time representation of the audio signal is generated at first, wherein the amplitude-time representation, for a plurality of subsequent points in time, comprises a plurality of subsequent amplitude values, wherein a point in time is associated to each amplitude value. Subsequently, an identifier for the audio signal is extracted from the amplitude-time representation. An instrument database is formed from several identifiers for several audio signals including tones of several instruments. By means of a test identifier for an audio signal having been produced by an unknown instrument, the type of the test instrument is determined using the instrument database. A precise instrument identification can be obtained by using the amplitude-time representation of a tone produced by an instrument for identifying a musical instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Frank Klefenz, Karlheinz Brandenburg
  • Publication number: 20040226433
    Abstract: Enhancing the sound quality of a mechanical acoustic sound generation device that has a plurality of notes that have a perceived low sound quality by digital sampling the corresponding notes of a mechanical acoustic sound generation device and playing them in conjunction with the notes of the device when a note having a lower perceived sound quality is generated by the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventor: Curtis Rex Carter
  • Publication number: 20040211309
    Abstract: A waveform adjusting system for a music file suitable in hand held devices is described. A music file includes a plurality of tones, and the waveform adjusting system includes a maximum magnitude estimating module and an adjusting module. The waveform adjusting system is capable of analyzing the whole music file, superposing the magnitudes of all the tones, and calculating a scale factor according to the maximum superposed magnitude and a predetermined level. The adjusting module multiplies the magnitude of each tone by the scale factor K, thus the volume of the music is kept to a suitable level without suffering from too small volume problem or signal distortion due to too large volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Applicant: MediaTek Inc.
    Inventor: Yu-Cheng Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6787689
    Abstract: A real time, multi-function beat counting system used in machine perception of musical rhythms employs a high speed stable algorithm including down sampling and group summing of the original signal, pulse matching on peak points, and check-frame decision making. The down sampled and group summed signal is utilized to derive an onset peak train formed of a series of data points. The onset peak train is divided into frames, and a threshold value is determined for each frame. In each frame, peak profiles are determined, each comprising successive data points within the frame having values greater than the threshold value. Within each peak profile, a peak point is identified. An algorithm is employed to compare the onset peak train with a plurality of unit data pulse sequences having different periods, and a match is determined between the onset peak train and the closest one of the unit data pulse sequences to identify the period of the rhythm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute Computer & Communication Research Laboratories
    Inventor: Fang-Chu Chen
  • Publication number: 20040163527
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide a information processing apparatus that includes information accumulating means for accumulating image motion information, display means for displaying images, and control means for detecting, from music information, a division at which tune change occurs and/or a climax section of music, selecting said image motion information on the basis of a result of the detection, and displaying on said display means a moving image in accordance with the reproduction of said music information by use of the selected image motion information in accordance with the reproduction of said music information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Kawai, Naoto Ishida, Masaaki Miyazawa, Masafumi Hatanaka, Makoto Okazaki, Nao Tazaki
  • Patent number: 6762357
    Abstract: Resonance is realized at a desired plurality of tone pitches even after the musical tone signals of a plurality of channels have been synthesized; synthesized musical tone signals are successively delayed, the musical tone signals that are successively delayed are weighted, synthesized and output; the delayed, weighted, synthesized and outputted musical tone signals are fed back, and a series of successive delays, weights, synthesizes and outputs by the feed back are repeated and thus resonance characteristics is imparted; the amount of weighting the musical tone signals successively delayed is determined based upon a relationship among the delay feedback period, the period of sampling the generated musical tone signals and the tone pitch period of the resonance sound imparted with resonance characteristics, and a frequency of the resonance characteristics are determined; Therefore, the resonance characteristics are added at a desired tone pitch after the plurality of musical tone signals are synthesized into
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Kawai Musical Instruments Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Washiyama, Seiji Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6734351
    Abstract: An apparatus for sampling partial audio information from audio information and storing it in a memory device provided with: a sampling device for sampling the partial audio information from the audio information in the sampling time which is a integral multiple of a time interval between each beat and the next in the audio information, and a storing device for storing the sampled partial audio information in a memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Youichi Yamada, Takeaki Funada, Kazuo Kamei, Gen Inoshita, Kou Atsumi, Junichi Takagaki, Akiharu Yagi
  • Publication number: 20040069118
    Abstract: Compressed waveform data structure is proposed which is suited for segmentation of a plurality of samples of compressed waveform data into a plurality of frames and subsequent storage of each of the frames. The number of bits per sample of the compressed waveform data is variable between the frames, but uniform, i.e. the same among all of the samples, within each of the frames. Each of the frames has a same data storage size. Each of the frames includes, in a predetermined layout, an auxiliary information area for storing auxiliary information that includes compression-related information to be used for decompressing the compressed waveform data, and a data area for storing a plurality of samples of the compressed waveform data of the frame with each of the samples comprising a same number of bits. Thus, respective start positions of the frames and compressed waveform data in a memory can be fixed at predetermined positions common to the frames, so that readout control can be performed with ease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masatsugu Okazaki, Tokio Shirakawa
  • Publication number: 20040055443
    Abstract: A performance processing apparatus is operable by a user with an aide of a control device and a sound device for providing sample music data to a data management apparatus. In the performance processing apparatus, a storage section stores original music data representing a music piece composed of tones. An acquisition section acquires input information from the control device which has a detector for detecting either of physical action or physiological state of the user and which is operated by the user to provide the input information indicating the detection result by the detector. A processing section controls a performance parameter according to the input information for enabling the sound device to generate tones of the music piece which is represented by the original music data and which is altered by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Yoshiki Nishitani, Kenji Ishida, Eiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6700047
    Abstract: Enhancing the sound quality of a mechanical acoustic sound generation device that has a plurality of notes that have a perceived sound quality that is lower that the perceived sound quality of corresponding notes produced by a second mechanical acoustic sound generation device by digital sampling the corresponding notes of the second device and playing them in conjunction with the notes of the first device when a note having a lower perceived sound quality is generated by the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Curtis Rex Carter, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040003705
    Abstract: Enhancing the sound quality of a mechanical acoustic sound generation device that has a plurality of notes that have a perceived sound quality that is lower that the perceived sound quality of corresponding notes produced by a second mechanical acoustic sound generation device by digital sampling the corresponding notes of the second device and playing them in conjunction with the notes of the first device when a note having a lower perceived sound quality is generated by the first device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Inventor: Curtis Rex Carter
  • Publication number: 20030205123
    Abstract: An apparatus for sampling partial audio information from audio information and storing it in a memory device provided with: a sampling device for sampling the partial audio information from the audio information in the sampling time which is a integral multiple of a time interval between each beat and the next in the audio information, and a storing device for storing the sampled partial audio information in a memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youichi Yamada, Takeaki Funada, Kazuo Kamei, Gen Inoshita, Kou Atsumi, Junichi Takagaki, Akiharu Yagi
  • Patent number: 6640257
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a system that provides a convenient and easy-to-use means for controlling audio input and output for recording. The system includes a first input adapted to receive a high fidelity microphone such as a low impedance microphone, and a second input adapted to receive a musical instrument. The system also includes at least two outputs, each adapted to transmit analog signals to an input of a sound card (30) of a computer (20), and electrical circuitry coupling the inputs to the outputs. More specifically, the system further comprises at least one additional input adapted to receive analog signals from an output of the sound card (30) and at least one additional output adapted to transmit analog signals to a receiver. The electrical circuitry couples the additional input to the additional output, and is operable to transmit analog signals from the first and second inputs to the receiver and to the input of the sound card (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Electronics Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: M. David MacFarlane
  • Patent number: 6639142
    Abstract: A waveform data processing apparatus includes a waveform data recording device which records waveform data representing waveform samples, and a waveform events track recording device which records, on a waveform events track defining a musical progression with respect to time, waveform event data representing events for employing waveform samples to constitute a musical performance as the alignment of the waveform samples. The waveform event data contains trigger signals at time points where respectively corresponding ones of the waveform samples are to be employed along the musical progression on the waveform events track. As the waveform events track is played back, the respective trigger signals serve to trigger the playback of the corresponding waveform samples to constitute a musical performance with such waveform samples. Each of the waveform samples represented by the waveform data defines a musical tone having a build-up point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6630621
    Abstract: An apparatus for sampling partial audio information from audio information and storing it in a memory device provided with: a sampling device for sampling the partial audio information from the audio information in the sampling time which is a integral multiple of a time interval between each beat and the next in the audio information, and a storing device for storing the sampled partial audio information in a memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Youichi Yamada, Takeaki Funada, Kazuo Kamei, Gen Inoshita, Kou Atsumi, Junichi Takagaki, Akiharu Yagi
  • Publication number: 20030150319
    Abstract: There is provided a musical tone generating apparatus that is capable of generating more natural musical tones even when musical tone waveform data is generated at a recording sampling frequency lower than a sampling frequency, by recovering harmonic components missing in the musical tone waveform data. All frequency components included in musical tone waveform data read out from a tone color data memory are shifted in a positive direction by a predetermined frequency lower than half the recording sampling frequency. The lower frequency components of the shifted frequency components than the half the recording sampling frequency are cut off by an HPF. The amplitude of the musical tone waveform data from which the frequency component is cut off is adjusted by a multiplier. Then, the musical tone waveform data adjusted in amplitude and the original musical tone waveform data read out are added together, and a musical tone is generated based on a result of the addition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuo Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 6583347
    Abstract: A music apparatus has a central processor, a plurality of generator modules, and a program memory storing instructions for causing the central processor to execute a process of synthesizing a musical tone signal with the generator modules. The process includes the steps of commanding each of the generator modules to generate a predetermined number of samples of the musical tone signal at a common sampling period, and collecting the samples from each of the generator modules and processing the collected samples at the common sampling period to thereby synthesize the musical tone signal. The generator modules include a synchronous generator module that does generate the predetermined number of the samples at the common sampling period, and an asynchronous generator module that does not generate the predetermined number of the samples at the common sampling period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Motoichi Tamura
  • Publication number: 20030106413
    Abstract: A system and method that allows users to find a song name, artist and performance without having to proceed through many false results. In one aspect, the system and method use signal matching to produce reliable matches. In another aspect, the system and method use a combination of signal and feature representation and an automatic decision rule together with a human-in-the-loop approach. A feature vector and a processed time signal are computed for each song in a database and extracted from a microphone-recorded sample of music. The database songs are first sorted by feature space distance with respect to the feature vector of the recorded sample. The processed time signals of the database songs and the processed time signal from the recorded sample are processed using signal matching. A decision rule presents likely matches to the user for confirmation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Ramin Samadani, Amir Said
  • Patent number: 6573444
    Abstract: In a music apparatus 50 of this invention, digital data received at a digital input terminal 20 are stored in a primary memory area 22a on a hard disk drive 22. Subsequently, a music data converter 23 performs a predetermined conversion of the digital data stored in the primary memory area 22a to obtain digital data having a different form, and the altered data are thereafter stored in a secondary memory area 22a on the hard disk drive 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Yamamoto, Reisuke Sato, Yasufumi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6541691
    Abstract: A method for generating accompaniment to a musical presentation, the method comprising steps of providing a note-based code representing musical information corresponding to the musical presentation, generating a code sequence corresponding to new melody lines by using said note-based code as an input for a composing method, and providing accompaniment on the basis of the code sequence corresponding to new melody lines. Providing the note-based code representing the musical information comprises steps of receiving the musical information in the form of an audio signal, and applying an audio-to-notes conversion to the audio signal for generating the note-based code representing the musical information, the audio-to-notes conversion comprising the steps of estimating fundamental frequencies of the audio signal for obtaining a sequence of fundamental frequencies, and detecting note events on the basis of the sequence of fundamental frequencies for obtaining the note-based code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Oy Elmorex Ltd.
    Inventors: Tero Tolonen, Ville Pulkki
  • Patent number: 6534700
    Abstract: During mixing of two musical tracks, the variations in combined output volume are reduced by analyzing either the intrinsic amplitude at which each track was mastered or the output amplitude (i.e. subsequent to amplification of the audio signal), and modifying either the intrinsic amplitude or amplification during the mixing phase. Musical clashes during mixing are avoided by analyzing intrinsic amplitudes of the two tracks at similar frequencies to detect the likelihood of a clash, and in the event a clash is detected, reducing the output amplitude of one of the tracks at the relevant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: David Trevor Cliff
  • Patent number: 6509519
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating musical tones are provided. Musical tones are generated based on musical tone waveform samples generated through a plurality of channels, and performance information is input. Control information is input depending on an amount of operation of an operating element operated by a user. Musical tone waveform samples are generated for each of the channels corresponding to the performance information input within a predetermined time period, in a number corresponding to the input control information, whenever the predetermined time period elapses. Musical tones are generated based on the generated musical tone waveform samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Motoichi Tamura
  • Publication number: 20020194976
    Abstract: A digital sampling instrument for multi-channel interpolatative playback of digital audio data stored in a waveform memory provides improved interpolation of musical sounds by use of a cache memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: Creative Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: David P. Rossum
  • Publication number: 20020189426
    Abstract: There is provided a portable mixing recorder which enables a user to readily produce music using overdubbing and/or other recording techniques while suppressing degradation of sound quality to the minimum without excessive concern for space restriction. An input analog audio signal is converted to a digital audio signal by an A/D converter section. A decoder reads out a compressed audio signal from an original source file stored in a memory card, and then extends the compressed audio signal to a digital audio signal. A mixing section mixes the digital audio signal obtained by the A/D conversion by the A/D converter section and the digital audio signal obtained by the extension by the decoder. An encoder compresses the digital audio signal obtained by the mixing by the mixing section to a compressed audio signal (mixed file). The mixed file obtained by the compression by the encoder is stored as a new source file in the memory card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Hirade, Ryohsuke Ohtani
  • Patent number: 6486389
    Abstract: When adjoining, i.e. Preceding and succeeding, waveform-forming module data are to be interlined, a mutual approaching rate is designated, and the preceding and succeeding module data are modified in accordance with the designated mutual approaching rate. The modification based on the mutual approaching rate allows the preceding and succeeding module data to approach each other and thus provides for smooth link or connection between the two module data. Further, by designating a link starting point in the preceding module data and/or a link ending point in the succeeding module data, the preceding and succeeding module data are interlined to an appropriate degree depending on a difference or degree of similarity between the two module data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Hideyuki Masuda
  • Patent number: 6479739
    Abstract: A method is designed for controlling a plurality of tone generating drivers by an integrating driver installed in an operating system to generate music tones according to performance data created by a music application software. In the method. the performance data created by the music application software is inputted into the integrating driver through an application program interface provided by the operating system. The performance data is distributed from the integrating driver to one or more of the tone generating drivers provisionally registered to the integrating driver. The registered tone generating driver is operated to generate waveform data of a music tone at a specific sampling frequency based on the distributed performance data. The waveform data is streamed back from the registered tone generating driver to the integrating driver. The specific sampling frequency of the streamed waveform data is converted into a common sampling frequency by the integrating driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Motoichi Tamura
  • Patent number: 6469240
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of extracting a representation of its rhythmic structure, from a given signal. The representation is designed to yield a similarity relation between item titles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Sony France, S.A.
    Inventors: François Pachet, Olivier Delerue
  • Publication number: 20020134217
    Abstract: A music apparatus has a central processor, a plurality of generator modules, and a program memory storing instructions for causing the central processor to execute a process of synthesizing a musical tone signal with the generator modules. The process includes the steps of commanding each of the generator modules to generate a predetermined number of samples of the musical tone signal at a common sampling period, and collecting the samples from each of the generator modules and processing the collected samples at the common sampling period to thereby synthesize the musical tone signal. The generator modules include a synchronous generator module that does generate the predetermined number of the samples at the common sampling period, and an asynchronous generator module that does not generate the predetermined number of the samples at the common sampling period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation, Japan
    Inventor: Motoichi Tamura
  • Patent number: 6441290
    Abstract: Sample data stored in a storage device, such as a hard disk, are sequentially read out and transferred to a buffer memory, and the sample data are read out from the buffer memory, one sample per sampling period. Sample data at addresses of the buffer memory, where sample data read out has been completed, are sequentially updated with sample data newly read out from the storage device. Jump-from address and jump-to address are set while the sample data are being read out, sample by sample, from the buffer memory. When the read address of the buffer memory reaches the set jump-from address, the read address of the buffer memory is caused to jump to the jump-to address to carry on reading out the sample data from the jump-to address onward. Such readout control for the address jump is used for reproduction of silent data and repetitive sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Fujita, Keisuke Mikata
  • Patent number: 6437229
    Abstract: A digital music server, a music digitizing station, and at least one listening stations connected in a network. Each listening station includes an earphone, keyboard, display, and bar code reader. The bar code on a compact disk (CD) is scanned using the bar code reader at a listening station, and stored containing tracks from the selected CD are quickly accessed. By using the display and keyboard, the desired track is selected, and the sound volume is controlled. As the selected song file is downloaded from the server to the listening station. The listening station plays the selected track by means of an audio adapter through the earphone of said listening station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Itautec Phico S/A
    Inventor: Fernando H. Nobumoto
  • Patent number: 6437227
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods for recognizing and for selecting a tone sequence, particularly a piece of music, which permit a user to request a particular piece of music by singing a section of the piece of music, whose title is unknown to him.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd.
    Inventor: Wolfgang Theimer
  • Patent number: 6417435
    Abstract: An audio—acoustic proficiency test method transduces, captures, measures, compares, analyzes, records, and reports on the actual performance of at least one performer's produced orderly sound sequence (pitch and rhythm). It also issues proficiency performance certificates, certified copies of the audio—acoustic performance, performance growth and statistics, or player rewards in game modes, lessons or practice scheduling and training through a transport means selected from the group of the Internet, television, and a computer network. The apparatus comprises a performer or sound generation source, transducer, central processing unit, random access memory, archival storage unit, output printer, user display and user input devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Inventors: Constantin B. Chantzis, Daniel I Rosen
  • Publication number: 20020043150
    Abstract: A music apparatus is constructed for processing a music tone signal in response to a clock signal at each sampling period. In the music apparatus, a clock generator generates the clock signal. A signal processor is operable in synchronization to the clock signal for time-divisionally processing a plurality of music tone signals through a plurality of channels within one sampling period. A clock controller is operative during a supply duration allocated within one sampling period for supplying the clock signal to the signal processor from the clock generator to thereby operate the signal processor, and is operative during other than the supply duration within one sampling period for stopping the supplying of the clock signal to the signal processor to thereby suspend the signal processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Okamura, Tetsuji Ichiki
  • Patent number: 6365816
    Abstract: A digital sampling instrument for multi-channel interpolatative playback of digital audio data stored in a waveform memory provides improved interpolation of musical sounds by use of a cache memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: David P. Rossum
  • Patent number: 6365817
    Abstract: Set of sample identification information and representative-point designating data is generated in accordance with performance data or the like, and sample data is obtained by referring to a database in accordance with the generated sample identification information. If necessary, the thus-obtained sample data is adjusted or modified on the basis of the representative-point designating data. Characteristic of the sample data can be controlled appropriately and efficiently by the representative-point designating data specifying representative sample points for which sample data adjustment is to be performed. For example, particular sample data that is located at a given representative sample point designated by the representative-point designating data is adjusted in accordance with adjustment information, and other sample data that is located at another sample point is adjusted simultaneously with such adjustment at the representative sample point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Hideyuki Masuda
  • Patent number: 6362409
    Abstract: A software based digital wavetable synthesizer receives musical data from an external source and generates a plurality of digital sample values corresponding to the musical source. The musical source may be a synthesized music source or an actual instrument. In an exemplary embodiment, a sample for each semi-tone for the musical instrument is sampled and stored. A subsequent process analyzes the sampled and selects a single cycle representing that musical instrument at each of the semi-tones. The data is subsequently normalized such that each cycle begins with a zero value and the normalized data is stored in a data structure along with labels indicative of the musical instrument and the musical note. In subsequent use, the user can create synthesized music by selecting the desired instrument and notes. Additional musical rules, such as rules associated with Indian classical music, may be applied to specify the synthesis process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: IMMS, Inc.
    Inventor: Sharadchandra H. Gadre
  • Patent number: 6359206
    Abstract: A music apparatus is constructed for processing a music tone signal in response to a clock signal at each sampling period. In the music apparatus, a clock generator generates the clock signal. A signal processor is operable in synchronization to the clock signal for time-divisionally processing a plurality of music tone signals through a plurality of channels within one sampling period. A clock controller is operative during a supply duration allocated within one sampling period for supplying the clock signal to the signal processor from the clock generator to thereby operate the signal processor, and is operative during other than the supply duration within one sampling period for stopping the supplying of the clock signal to the signal processor to thereby suspend the signal processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Okamura, Tetsuji Ichiki
  • Publication number: 20020029683
    Abstract: A method is designed for controlling a plurality of tone generating drivers by an integrating driver installed in an operating system to generate music tones according to performance data created by a music application software. In the method, the performance data created by the music application software is inputted into the integrating driver through an application program interface provided by the operating system. The performance data is distributed from the integrating driver to one or more of the tone generating drivers provisionally registered to the integrating driver. The registered tone generating driver is operated to generate waveform data of a music tone at a specific sampling frequency based on the distributed performance data. The waveform data is streamed back from the registered tone generating driver to the integrating driver. The specific sampling frequency of the streamed waveform data is converted into a common sampling frequency by the integrating driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventor: Motoichi Tamura
  • Patent number: 6355869
    Abstract: A method and a system for obtaining a musical score from a musical recording is disclosed. The present invention further provides a method and system for creating an editable music file from a musical recording, such that a user may modify the musical recording and obtain a musical score from the modified musical recording. The method comprises operations of: (1) storing a musical recording as a wave file; (2) generating a pseudo wave file for each segment of interest from the wave file; (3) generating a sequence file for each of the pseudo wave files; (4) generating a list of events from the sequence files; (5) converting the list of events from the sequence file into a MIDI or other notation readable program file; and (6) importing the MIDI or other file into the notation program in order to print the musical score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Inventor: Duane Mitton
  • Patent number: 6353170
    Abstract: A method and system are provided that allows a user to interactively compose music and create a video of an animated character that dances to the rhythm and beat of the composed music. To compose music, the user interactively selects and arranges a plurality of music samples for a plurality of instruments. Music samples are independent pieces of music that can be seamlessly looped to compose the musical work. A harmonizer program allows the user to hammonize the music samples that play simultaneously, thereby allowing the user to compose a music piece without knowledge or experience in musical theory or training. The user creates a video of an animated character that dances to the rhythm and beat of the music using an animation program. The animation program provides the user with a plurality of video clips from which the user can select and arrange to create the video. Once completed, the user can play, edit, and save the composed music and the video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: INTERLEGO AG
    Inventors: Adriana Eyzaguirre, Ole Ivanoff