Expression Or Special Effects (e.g., Force Or Velocity Responsive, Etc.) Patents (Class 84/626)
  • Patent number: 6054646
    Abstract: Arbitrary input sounds are analyzed and the coefficients of a low-dimensional representation, such as LPC or MFCC, are determined as a measure of the timbre of the sounds. The coefficients can be employed in different ways to control output events, such as the generation of synthesized sounds. In one approach, the individual coefficients are mapped to the control parameters of a sound synthesizer, to enable highly complex output sounds to be generated in response to simple input sounds. In another approach, pattern recognition techniques are employed with respect to the coefficients, to classify the input sounds. Each classification is mapped to a control parameter, to cause different events to occur in response to the respective input sounds. In one example, the sounds of different musical instruments are generated in dependence upon the classification of the input sounds. These analysis techniques have low latency, and thereby allow events to be controlled without perceptible delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Interval Research Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Pal, Malcolm Slaney, Robert L. Adams
  • Patent number: 6008446
    Abstract: A synthesizer system includes a CPU and host memory operating a software routine. The software routine stores a first part of each waveform signal in a sample pool of host memory and provides remaining portions of selected musical sounds from the hard drive to a stream cell array without an audio perceivable delay. The synthesizer system utilizes a caching system which allows low cost, high storage devices to be utilized in an audio synthesizer system. MIDI control signals are provided to an audio processor for selecting appropriate digital waveform signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Van Buskirk, Joseph A. Bibbo
  • Patent number: 6002080
    Abstract: There are provided a plurality of keys for designating a pitch and a plurality of sensors for detecting operating states of the keys. Main pitch determination section identifies respective ON/OFF states of the keys on the basis of output values from the sensors to thereby determines a performed pitch. When the output value from the sensor, corresponding to a particular one of the keys determined to be in the ON or OFF state, presents a predetermined intermediate value, a subsidiary pitch determination section determines another pitch on the basis of predetermined assumptive ON/OFF states of the keys. The assumptive ON/OFF states are similar to the ON/OFF states of the keys identified by the main pitch determination section except that the ON or OFF state of the particular key is inverted to the OFF or ON state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Yahama Corporation
    Inventor: So Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5998724
    Abstract: Basic tone waveform corresponding to a designated tone color and pitch is generated in each of a plurality of channels. Effect is imparted to the basic tone waveform in accordance with an algorithm for providing a predetermined effect, independently for each of the channels. The effect to be imparted is controlled in accordance with the designated tone pitch, separately for each of the channels. The effect impartment may be conducted using a processor, such as a DSP, executing a predetermined program containing a predetermined effect-imparting algorithm. In one example of the effect-imparting algorithm, a delay loop is employed through which an input exciting signal is circulated while being delayed, and an effect specific to an electromagnetic pickup of an electric guitar can be approximated by controlling the delay amount in the delay loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Chifumi Takeuchi, Toru Kitayama, Toshifumi Kunimoto
  • Patent number: 5990404
    Abstract: A performance data editing apparatus is realized by a computer system and/or an electronic musical instrument to provide rich expressions of an automatic performance by performing a variety of editing processes on performance data. Herein, the performance data correspond to multiple parts of the music played by the automatic performance, so at least one of the parts is designated as an editing part. For example, a velocity expander editing process is provided to broaden a distribution range of velocity data representing tone volumes of musical tones of the editing part. Thus, it is possible to emphasize ups and downs in variations of the tone volumes with respect to the editing part. A sound duplication editing process is provided to duplicate generation of a same musical tone under a condition where a shortage of tone-generation channels does not occur. Thus, it is possible to produce a marrowy and thick musical tone with respect to the editing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhisa Miyano
  • Patent number: 5977471
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for enhancing an audio signal to reflect positional information of a sound emitting object in a simulation are described. The method includes determining a parameter describing a location of the sound emitting object. A setting for the audio signal is adjusted based on the first parameter by sending an adjustment command to an audio interface device. Either the whole audio signal, or a portion thereof is transferred to the audio interface device after the adjustment command. The apparatus includes a processor, a memory, and an audio interface coupled to a bus. The memory contains an audio adjustment routine which, when executed by the processor, sends an adjustment command to the audio interface device to adjust a characteristic of an audio signal. The adjustment command reflects a spatial location of an emitter in a simulated environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Michael D. Rosenzweig
  • Patent number: 5969284
    Abstract: A parameter setting apparatus is provided in an electronic music instrument for editing a configure of parameters in accordance with a manipulation amount to set a tone generator which creates a desired timbre of musical tones upon setting. In the apparatus, a first memory device stores a first subset of parameters containing a Boolean parameter having a first Boolean value and a numerical parameter having a first numerical value. A second memory device stores a second subset of parameters containing the Boolean parameter having a second Boolean value and the numerical parameter having a second numerical value. An operating device provides a manipulation amount for editing parameters. An interpolating device interpolates the first numerical value and the second numerical value in accordance with the manipulation amount to determine an edited numerical value of the numerical parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Yamamoto, Toshifumi Kunimoto, Takeshi Komano, Chifumi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 5962802
    Abstract: Groove data for imparting a variation to one or more predetermined factors, such as generation timing, gate time and velocity, of a tone based on the automatic performance data are stored in a memory as a groove template. Further, modification data for modifying variation amounts of the predetermined factors are stored in the memory in a time series in corresponding relation to progression of an automatic performance. Automatic performance is carried out by modifying the variation amounts of the one or more predetermined factors in the groove template in accordance with the modification data and thus modifying the predetermined factors of the tone, based on the automatic performance data, in accordance with the thus-modified variation amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Iizuka
  • Patent number: 5952599
    Abstract: An improved music generation system that facilitates artistic expression by non-musician and musician performers in both individual and group performance contexts. Mappings are provided between 1) gestures of a performer as indicated by manipulation of a user input device, 2) displayed motion of a graphic object, and 3) global features of a musical segment. The displayed motions and global features are selected so as to reinforce the appearance of causation between the performer's gestures and the produced musical effects and thereby assist the performer in refining his or her musical expression. The displayed motion is isomorphically coherent with the musical segment in order to achieve the appearance of causation. The global features are segment characteristics perceivable to human listeners. Control at the global feature level in combination with isomorphic visual feedback provides advantages to both non-musicians and musicians in producing artistic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Interval Research Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Dolby, Tom Dougherty, John Eichenseer, William Martens, Michael Mills, Joy S. Mountford
  • Patent number: 5951673
    Abstract: A digital signal processing device (e.g., DSP), employed by electronic musical instruments and the like, is designed to perform a variety of digital signal processings. The digital signal processing device contains an arithmetic unit which is configured by at least an adder and a multiplier. There are provided first and second microprograms, each of which consists of microinstructions and each of which is designed to perform a specific kind of digital signal processing. The first and second microprograms are alternatively selected in accordance with a preset sequence of processing; and consequently, data supplied to the arithmetic unit are changed in response to the microprogram selected. Thus, the arithmetic unit performs arithmetical operations, using the data selectively supplied thereto, in accordance with the microprogram selected. By changing the sequence of processing, it is possible to easily change a manner of digital computing performed by the digital signal processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Tomomi Miyata
  • Patent number: 5949012
    Abstract: A music performance information inputting apparatus for inputting music performance information to be supplied to an electronic musical instrument is arranged by a switch and a touch panel. This switch is used to select single basic music performance information from plural types of basic music performance information stored in a table memory. The music performance information inputting apparatus changes the content of the single basic music performance information selected by the switch based on the data derived from the touch panel so as to produce music performance information. This music performance information is merged with another music performance information received by a receiving unit from an external appliance, and the merged music performance information is transmitted by a transmitting unit to the external appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Katsushi Ishii
  • Patent number: 5939655
    Abstract: A musical tone generating apparatus has a processing device that produces either musical tone synthesis parameters or musical tone waveform data corresponding to input performance data, depending upon a type of the input performance data. An encoder/decoder circuit includes a tone generator circuit that generates musical tone waveform data in accordance with the musical tone synthesis parameters produced by the processing device, a buffer circuit storing the musical tone waveform data produced by the processing device, a mixing circuit that mixes the musical tone waveform data produced by the tone generator circuit and the musical tone waveform data stored in the buffer circuit, and a conversion circuit that converts mixed musical tone waveform data generated from the mixing circuit into a musical tone signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 5936182
    Abstract: A musical sound synthesizing apparatus synthesizes plural-series overtones having different inharmonicity and amplitude level so as to generate a musical sound close to a natural sound. Inharmonicity coefficients K1 and K2 are read out for each overtone of different series in accordance with a timbre and a pitch, preferably modified according to a touch velocity, and then inputted to the first and second overtone frequency generators 19 and 20. Two series of overtones respectively computed in first and second overtone generators 21 and 22 on the basis of fundamental and overtone frequencies computed using of the coefficients K1 and K2, are controlled in its amplitude by the multipliers 25 and 26, and then synthesized so as to be outputted as a musical sound signal. In the multipliers 25 and 26, respective overtones are multiplied by amplitude coefficients Lk1 and Lk2 determined for each series in accordance with the touch velocity so that their amplitude levels are modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Gen Izumisawa
  • Patent number: 5932826
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument has an effect adder circuit for adding sound effect which is controlled by coefficients for filtering operations and amplitude control. The instrument also has a smoothing circuit for smoothly changing a coefficient to a target value by interpolating between the coefficient current value and the coefficient target value to be updated. Smoothing is implemented by repeatedly adding or subtracting a given value to or from the coefficient current value until it reaches the coefficient target value. The precision of the smoothing coefficient depends on the word length of the coefficient current value so that the word length of the coefficient target value can be smaller than that of the coefficient current value. The effect adder circuit and smoothing circuit are independently provided to operate in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakkiseisakusho
    Inventor: Taichi Kosugi
  • Patent number: 5922982
    Abstract: A performance data generation apparatus generates performance data for controlling the tone generation condition of a tone to be generated based on a string vibration signal obtained from the string vibration of a stringed instrument. The performance data generation apparatus includes an operation member for selecting a predetermined performance operation mode and a control device responsive to the operation member. When the predetermined performance operation mode is selected by operating the operation member, the control device does not output note-on data or note-off data among performance data that is generated based on the string vibration signal, and outputs specified performance data other than the note-on data and the note-off data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Susumu Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 5922983
    Abstract: An electronic keyboard musical instrument stores first key touch data codes representative of a first reaction component and grouped into first data groups by a key velocity, second key touch data codes representative of a second reaction component and grouped into second data groups by a key position and third key touch data codes representative of a third reaction component and grouped into third data groups by the key position, and produces a digital key position signal representative of current key position, a digital key velocity signal representative of current key velocity and a digital key acceleration signal representative of current key acceleration so that a solenoid-operated actuator generates a resistance against the key motion on the basis of the first key touch data code selected by using the digital key position signal and the digital key velocity signal, the second key touch data code selected by using the digital key velocity signal and the digital key position signal and the third key touch
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 5920024
    Abstract: There is described a motion-to-sound apparatus which provides for musical scores and accompaniments, and lyrics and in response to a movement in three-dimensional space along more than one plane. Further disclosed is a motion-to-sound apparatus for producing sounds responsive both to the final position, or direction of movement, of the detector in space and the acceleration of the device towards that position or along that plane. Control of sound production is oriented such as to be intuitively familiar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Inventor: Steven Jerome Moore
  • Patent number: 5905222
    Abstract: A silent violin converts vibrations of strings to an electric signal, and the electric signal is supplied to two delay circuits and, thereafter, two multipliers so as to produce a left sound signal and a right sound signal different in delay time and magnitude; when a headphone produces stereophonic sounds from the left/right sound signals, the player feels the source of stereophonic sounds to be at a certain point on the silent violin same as an acoustic violin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiya Yamada
  • Patent number: 5900565
    Abstract: An auto-play apparatus has an edit function for thinning out various kinds of music tone control information indicating analog control amounts contained in auto-play data pre-stored in units of parts. A data sequence of music tone control information to be edited is received to detect if the target data and its preceding and succeeding data indicate one of an increment data sequence and decrement data sequence, and thins out the target data to reduce the data volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Toshinori Matsuda
  • Patent number: 5900568
    Abstract: A method for automatically adjusting the parameters of a synthesizer includes generating a first synthesized signal based on an initial set of synthesizer parameters, comparing the first synthesized signal to an input sound signal, and generating a control signal for adjusting a subset of parameters of the synthesizer to minimize the differences between the first synthesized signal and the input sound signal. These steps may be iteratively performed for a predetermined number of additional subsets of synthesizer parameters, until a final output of the synthesizer is obtained which represents an optimization of the synthesis of the input sound signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Steven R. Abrams
  • Patent number: 5895878
    Abstract: In a music apparatus, an operator panel designates a first style of automatic play. A tone generator sequentially generates musical tones to produce the automatic play in the designated first style. A DSP applies a first effect to the musical tones in matching with the first style of the automatic play. A CPU operates when the operator panel commands a style change from the first style to a second style during the course of the automatic play for controlling the tone generator to switch the automatic play to the second style. The CPU further operates when the style change necessitates an effect change from the first effect to a second effect matching the second style in a transient period for controlling the DSP before the controlling of the tone generator to complete the effect change within the transient period so that the DSP can apply the second effect to the musical tones timely when the automatic play is switched from the first style to the second style.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 5892165
    Abstract: An automatic player piano prolongs acoustic sounds in playback as if a player pushes down a sostenuto pedal, and a controller is responsive to a first piece of music data information representative of key-on state, a second piece of music data information representative of key-off state, a third piece of music data information representative of pedal-on state and a fourth piece of music data information representative of pedal-off state so as to play a tune by using key actuators associated with the keys; when the first piece of music data information is supplied to the controller for a key, the controller instructs the key actuators to change associated the key from the key-off state to the key-on state; when the second piece of music data information is supplied to the controller without the third piece of music data information for a key, the controller instructs the key actuator to change the key from the key-on state to the key-off state; when the second piece of music data information is supplied to the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Oba, Yuji Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 5880389
    Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument is fabricated on the basis of an upright piano, and an electronic sound generating system is incorporated therein so as to selectively generate an acoustic piano sound and an electronic sound; a plurality of leaf spring members are provided for the keys of the acoustic piano for imparting a key touch like an electronic keyboard, and a change-over mechanism selectively engages key action mechanisms with the keys and the leaf spring members with the keys so that a player can select the piano key touch or the other key touch like the electronic keyboard depending upon the sound for a performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 5880392
    Abstract: An improved control structure for music synthesis is provided in which: 1) the sound representation provided to the adaptive function mapper allows for a greatly increased degree of control over the sound produced; and 2) training of the adaptive function mapper is performed using an error measure, or error norm, that greatly facilitates learning while ensuring perceptual identity of the produced sound with the training example. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, sound data is produced by applying to an adaptive function mapper control parameters including: at least one parameter selected from the set of time and timbre space coordinates; and at least one parameter selected from the set of pitch, .DELTA.pitch, articulation and dynamic. Using an adaptive function mapper, mapping is performed from the control parameters to synthesis parameters to be applied to a sound synthesizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: David Wessel, Michael Lee
  • Patent number: 5869782
    Abstract: Each musical performance data of a source file includes time data, note data indicative of music sound start or music sound stop at a moment indicated by the time data, and accent data indicative of sound velocity. The time data, the note, and either the music sound start or the music sound stop are recorded in a first recording area in accordance with the time data. The accent data is recorded in a second recording area. The second recording area is separated from the first recording area. The recorded data in the first and second areas are combined to obtain a target file. And, the another file is recorded in a recording medium. A reproducing apparatus reproduces the recorded musical performance data. The musical performance data are decoded and temporarily stored into a storage medium. The decoded and temporarily stored data are controlled such that the note and accent data are reproduced before the control data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Shishido, Toshio Kuroiwa
  • Patent number: 5861568
    Abstract: An improved method for generating various wave functions for use in musical tone generation in FM synthesis so as to substantially reduce computational and storage requirements. The waveform desired to be used is mathematically modeled using piecewise linear approximation. A reduced number of coefficients of the piecewise linear approximation, representing the angles and offsets of the linear segments, are stored in memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Eduardo Abreu, Jalil Fadavi-Ardekani
  • Patent number: 5848164
    Abstract: An audio effects processing system and method performs audio effects processing on a subband-by-subband basis using less memory and computational resources than audio effects produced through post processing of a fullband audio signal. The input fullband audio signal is split into subbands and the compressed subbands may be stored in memory of the system as compressed audio subband data or may be generated by real time processing of a fullband audio signal. The system stores in memory a set of prototype subband effects filters, the set including echo, flange, chorus, and reverberation effects filters. A subband filter customization procedure allows a sound system designer to build customized versions of the prototype subband effects filters. One or more of the customized subband effects filters are applied to one or more of the subbands comprising the compressed audio subband data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventor: Scott Levine
  • Patent number: 5814751
    Abstract: A musical tone generating apparatus is capable of reproducing natural musical tones while waveform memories of a nominal capacity. The apparatus comprises a first waveform memory 1a for storing first waveform data of one period of a stationary first waveform existing after an elapse of a certain period from the beginning of generation of a musical tone and a second waveform memory 1b for storing second waveform data of one period of a second waveform representing differential spectral components derived from spectral differences between a fundamental wave component and harmonic components of the non-stationary waveform determined immediately after the beginning of generation of the musical tone and a fundamental wave component and harmonic components of the first waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Seikosha Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Miyuki Imamura
  • Patent number: 5811707
    Abstract: An effect adding system for use in Karaoke performance applications is provided which, when one person sings, singing with different height from that of the actual singing, or singing with different timing from that of the actual singing, is automatically carried out to yield, in part, the same effect as if a chorus, duet, round, or the like is performed by a plurality of persons. In one embodiment, the effect adding system accomplishes this by means of pitch conversion and/or delay of the aural input signal in response to pitch conversion and/or delay information deriving from stored performance information for a particular musical composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Roland Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ikutaro Kakehashi, Tsuneo Higuchi
  • Patent number: 5792971
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for editing digital audio information, such as musical material. Original musical parameters (302) are extracted and/or inputted from recorded original digital audio material (300). The original musical parameters (302) are then edited. The resulting edited musical parameters (304) are compared to the original musical parameters (302) to provide time varying control functions (308, 310, 312). The original digital audio material (300) is then processed with signal processing algorithms (314, 316, 318) which are controlled by the time varying control functions (308, 310, 312). This processing changes the original digital audio material (300) into new digital audio material (320) having musical characteristics which correspond to the edited musical parameters (304).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Opcode Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Timis, David Gerard Willenbrink
  • Patent number: 5783765
    Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument includes an electromagnetic key touch generator for imparting a piano-like key touch to black/white keys, and the electromagnetic key touch generator has leaf spring members respectively held in contact with the upper surface of the black/white keys for urging the black/white keys toward the end positions and coil springs urging plungers of solenoid-operated key actuators to urge the black/white keys toward the rest positions; the resilient force of each leaf spring member is balanced with the resilient force of the associated coil spring at the rest position of the associated black/white key, and the solenoid-operated key actuator is expected to partially cancel the resilient force of the coil spring so as to build up resistance to the black/white key depressed by a player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 5773743
    Abstract: An effect control method, an effect control device with the following configuration is provided on a karaoke system, which is one of audio regenerator or synthesizer systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sachio Ogawa, Atsushi Kitahara, Shigenori Yokoe
  • Patent number: 5763803
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to obtain musical tones being equivalent to those of an acoustic guitar with a hollow body with only an electric guitar with a solid body. For the sake of attaining this object, the effecting system according to the present invention is composed of an absolute value detecting means for detecting absolute values of musical tone signals in response to oscillations of the strings, a delay time setting means for setting a delay time based on the absolute values detected by the above described absolute value detecting means, and a delay means for delaying the above described musical tone signals by the delay time which was set by the above described delay time setting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Roland Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Hoshiai, Koji Iida
  • Patent number: 5763800
    Abstract: An audio data format in which an instrument is described using a combination of sound samples and articulation instructions which determine modifications made to the sound sample is provided. The instruments form a first, initial layer, with a second layer having presets which can user defined to provide additional articulation instructions which can modify the articulation instructions at the instrument level. The articulation instructions are specified using various parameters. The present invention provides a format in which all of the parameters are specified in units which relate to a physical phenomena, and thus are not tied to any particular machine for creating or playing the audio samples. The articulation parameters include generators and modulators, which provide a connection between a real-time signal and a generator. The parameter units are specified in perceptually additive units, to make the data portable and easily edited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Creative Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: David P. Rossum, Michael Guzewicz, Robert S. Crawford, Matthew F. Williams, Donald F. Ruffcorn
  • Patent number: 5760326
    Abstract: An automatic performance section and an effect imparting section or (and) a pitch measuring section are provided in combination within a single device, and the operations of these sections are collectively controlled by a processor. To an external sound signal input from outside the device, the effect imparting section imparts an effect designated by designating data. For tuning purposes, the pitch measuring section detects zero-cross points of the external sound signal to measure the pitch of the signal. Under the control of the processor, the automatic performance section, which has automatic performance data and change data stored therein, under the control of the processor, reads out the performance data to perform an automatic performance process and also reads out the change data for changing the designating data to thereby change an effect to be imparted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Susumu Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 5753845
    Abstract: In a karaoke apparatus, a pickup device picks up a live singing voice of a music piece to convert the same into a vocal signal. A music source device provides a music signal representative of a karaoke accompaniment of the music piece to accompany the live singing voice, and also provides effect control information which is predetermined in matching with a mood and a tempo of the music piece and which is effective to create and control a vocal effect. A vocal effecter device processes the vocal signal according to the provided effect control information to apply the vocal effect to the live singing voice and to control the applied vocal effect. A mixer device mixes the provided music signal and the processed vocal signal with each other to concurrently reproduce the karaoke accompaniment and the live singing voice which is modified by the applied vocal effect so as to enrich karaoke performance of the music piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Nagata, Satoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5750914
    Abstract: Effect data designating a desired sound effect is introduced from the outside, and a tone generator generates a tone imparted with an effect based on the introduced effect data. A conversion table is provided which classifies predetermined effects impartable by the tone generator into groups in accordance with characteristics of the effects and stores for each of the groups effect data indicative of effect belonging to the group. If it is ascertained, from the table, that the introduced effect data designates an effect not impartable by the tone generator, the effect data indicative of another effect belonging to one of the groups which corresponds to a characteristic of the introduced effect data is extracted from the table. The tone generator imparts the tone the effect designated by the extracted effect data in place of the introduced effect data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5744741
    Abstract: A plurality of digital signal processors are provided in parallel relation to each other, and a series of operations for desired sound signal synthesis or processing is divided into a plurality of operation groups to be allocated to the signal processors. First and second buses are connected to each of the signal processors so that parameters necessary for the operations are distributively supplied to the signal processors via the first bus and the operation result of each of the signal processors is transferred to another digital signal processor or an output port via the second bus. One digital signal processor receives the output data from another digital signal processor via the second bus so as to perform a predetermined operation using the received data. The desired sound signal processing is thus executed by combinations of the operations performed by such signal processors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyoshi Nakajima, Masahiro Koyama
  • Patent number: 5744742
    Abstract: A parametric signal modeling musical tone synthesizer utilizes a multidimensional filter coefficient space consisting of many sets of filter coefficients to model an instrument. These sets are smoothly interpolated over pitch, intensity, and time. The filter excitation for a particular note is derived from a collection of single period excitations, which form a multidimensional excitation space, which is also smoothly interpolated over pitch, intensity and time. The synthesizer includes effective modeling of attacks of tones, and the noise component of a tone is modelled separately from the pitched component. The input control signals may include initial pitch and intensity, or the intensity may be time-varying. A variety of instruments may be specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: EuPhonics, Incorporated
    Inventors: Eric Lindemann, Jeffrey Barish
  • Patent number: 5734726
    Abstract: A device and method for producing sound which simulates the sound of an engine, whereby sound segments are digitally stored in memory and accessed by a microcontroller which is responsive to a user accessible switch. When the switch is activated and the device is producing an acceleration or deceleration sound, the device will "match" the acceleration or deceleration sound with a closely matched deceleration or acceleration sound, respectively, so that a realistic engine sound is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Pragmatic Designs, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph F. Truchsess
  • Patent number: 5726371
    Abstract: In a musical tone waveform generation apparatus for outputting musical tone signals generated by a software program at predetermined time intervals, sound source methods can be selected in units of tone generation channels. In the musical tone waveform generation apparatus, the sound source method or the tone color of a musical tone signal to be output is determined in accordance with performance data (pitch data, touch data, music part data, and the like). A musical tone signal is generated by CPU upon execution of a sound source processing program, associated with a modulation method stored in a memory. The generated musical tone signal is output at predetermined time intervals. As for sound source processing based on the modulation method, at least one operator processing, and algorithm processing for determining an input/output relationship among the operator processing operations are independently executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kosuke Shiba, Koichiro Daigo, Kazuo Ogura, Ryuji Usami, Jun Hosoda
  • Patent number: 5703310
    Abstract: An automatic performance data processing system for reading automatic performance data from storage means at a predetermined period and supplying the automatic performance data to a musical sound generating system, the automatic performance data including event data representative of the contents of each performance event and time data representative of a time when the performance event occurs, the automatic performance data processing system including: a CPU for processing the automatic performance data; means for judging operation-capacity of the CPU; and a unit for determining an execution period of processing the automatic performance data in accordance with the judged CPU operation-capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Kurakake, Shigehiko Mizuno
  • Patent number: 5703313
    Abstract: A music synthesizer includes main resonator, such as a digital waveguide network, that is coupled to a digital passive nonlinear filter. The passive nonlinear filter receives traveling wave signals from the resonator and generates modified traveling wave signals having a different frequency spectrum than the received traveling wave signals without changing the received traveling wave signals' energy content. The passive nonlinear filter then transmits the modified traveling wave signals back into the resonator. The passive nonlinear filter includes a first memory element for retaining an internal energy state and a dual-mode signal generator that generates the modified traveling wave signal from the received signals and the internal energy state using a first signal processing method when the internal energy state has a negative value and using a second distinct signal processing method when the internal energy state has a positive value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: John R. Pierce, Scott A. Van Duyne
  • Patent number: 5703312
    Abstract: There are provided a tone source for generating tone signals in plural channels independently and effect impartment sections, provided in corresponding relations to the channels, for imparting individual effects to the tone signals of the channels generated by the tone source. Each of the effect impartment sections, in accordance with tone control information unique to the tone signal of the corresponding channel, controls a parameter of the effect to be imparted. In a case where any of the effect impartment sections uses a signal delaying memory to impart an effect, when a damping (or truncating process) is performed in any of the channels, the storage area to be used for the channel is switched to another unused storage area so as to prevent any preceding tone's delayed signal from being undesirably mixed into the signal of a new tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Takahashi, Kiyoshi Hasebe
  • Patent number: 5684259
    Abstract: A system and method for synthesizing musical melodies on a computer displays a plurality of figures on a display device, one or more of which can be selected by a user for conversion into a series of sounds to create a melody to be played through an electronic musical instrument. In operation, various sub-routines stored within a system processor are used to manipulate attributes such as position, shape, color, and size of the displayed figures to generate corresponding sounds having a desired pitch, intensity, timbre, and sound length. The displayed figures are then made to move in accordance with user-selected rules, or with melodies played on an electronic musical instrument. An octave filter or wide range filter may be employed to change other attributes of the individual sounds comprising the melody, or of the entire melody itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Nippon Columbia Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Youichi Horii
  • Patent number: 5654517
    Abstract: Automatic performance data are stored by recording into a memory event data and timing data in correspondence to desired performance events. In recording the automatic performance data, predetermined data (for example, velocity data) contained in the event data is used as control information to modify the timing data, and the modified timing data is recorded into the memory. In reproducing the automatic performance data, the event and timing data are read out from the memory, and the performance events are then sequentially reproduced on the basis of the read-out data for effecting automatic performance. Thus, the reproduction timing of each performance event is finely controlled to modify by use of the control information, and this achieves automatic performance rich in expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Hiromu Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 5650583
    Abstract: A pattern memory stores plural accompaniment patterns for each of plural accompaniment components. Each of the accompaniment components is composed of one or more musical instrument parts for an accompaniment performance. There are provided operating members which are used for selectively designating a desired component and a touch sensor for detecting an operation touch applied to the operated operating member. Any of the plural accompaniment patterns corresponding to the designated component is selected in accordance with the detected operation touch, and the selected accompaniment pattern is read out from the memory. The entire accompaniment performance pattern is provided by a combination of the accompaniment patterns thus selected for the respective components. In order to allow the selected pattern to be changed freely, modifiers representing how to make the change may be utilized by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Tod Machover, Joseph Chung, Fumiaki Matsumoto, Alex Rigopulos
  • Patent number: 5635658
    Abstract: A data set including data representing volume levels of an original sound and of an effect-imparted sound that has been set by a first musical instrument is transmitted to a second musical instrument. If any effect corresponding to the transmitted effect volume level data is not achievable by the second musical instrument, the second musical instrument modifies the original sound volume level in accordance with the effect volume level data, to thereby control a total volume balance. When tone color designating information is transmitted from the first instrument to the second instrument and tone color designated by the information is achieved by the second instrument, data representing a tone color group having been achieved by the second instrument is stored. Then, when any tone color group not achievable by the second instrument is designated, the designated tone color group is replaced with the stored tone color group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Kondo, Yoshihiro Shiiya
  • Patent number: 5619003
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having keys that include a first set of keys for generating program commands in real time such as chord and scale selections in response to being depressed, and a second set of keys for generating input device signals in response to being played. The electronic musical instrument also has a memory adapted to store a plurality of translation tables. The translation tables being adapted to translate the input device signals received from the second set of keys into corresponding control signals. A translator to the input device signals, the translation tables, and the program commands generating control signals which are used by an electronic signal generator. The electronic musical interface also includes an interface for providing access between the translator and at least one external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: The Hotz Corporation
    Inventor: Jimmy C. Hotz
  • Patent number: 5606145
    Abstract: An improved code changing method for an electronic musical instrument with an automatic accompaniment function allows a chord code change during a play in accordance with a tone of an musical instrument being used in the current accompaniment just before a new code representing a new chord is inputted for the next music play. The method includes judging the possibility of a slur processing by recognizing a tone being used in the automatic accompaniment when the new code information is inputted, performing the slur processing when the slur processing is judged to be possible, and performing a retriggering process or an automatic accompaniment by neglecting the new code information, when the slur processing is judged to be impossible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Moon K. Kim