Expression Or Special Effects Patents (Class 84/662)
  • Patent number: 10102837
    Abstract: An electronic piano including a plurality of keys and a sound source device (sound emission section) that emits a sound by pressing down the key, is provided with a resonance circuit that stereo-inputs a sound source from the sound source device corresponding to the each key, a plurality of resonance circuit groups that execute a stereo mix process with the plurality of resonance circuits being made one group, and delay circuits that provide a time difference to each stereo output from the each resonance circuit group, and outputs of the respective delay circuits are synthesized to obtain a stereo output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: KAWAI MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kaoru Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 10049651
    Abstract: In an electronic piano including plural keys and a sound source device (sound emission section) that emits a sound by pressing of the key, an intermediary resonance state of a resonance sound can be reproduced by including a resonance circuit that inputs a sound source from the sound source device corresponding to the each key and outputs a resonance sound, a position detection sensor (multi-stage switch section) in which plural switches close sequentially according to a key pressing state of the key, and a resonance sound control device that controls the resonance sound by an open/close state of plural switches by the position detection sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: KAWAI MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kaoru Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 9208798
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer-usable non-transitory storage device for dynamic voice codec adaptation are disclosed. The voice codec adapts in real time to devote more bits to audio quality when it is most needed, and fewer bits to less important parts of utterances are disclosed. Dialog knowledge is utilized for compression opportunities to adjust the bitrate moment-by-moment, based on the inferred value of each frame. Frame importance and appropriate transmission fidelity is predicted based on prosodic features and models of dialog dynamics. This technique provides the same communications quality with less spectrum needs, fewer antennas, and less battery drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Nigel Ward, Timo Baumann, Shreyas A. Karkhedkar, David G. Novick
  • Patent number: 9040806
    Abstract: A multi-channel noise reduction system provides improved noise reduction with direct instrument tracking of all channels. In a two channel noise reduction system, both channels detect and track the input level and dynamic range of the guitar directly with one channel of dynamic noise reduction between the guitar and the input of a guitar amplifier to eliminate the noise of the instrument and another channel of noise reduction connected in the effects loop of the guitar amplifier. Multiple channels of noise reduction can be implemented with separated threshold controls and with low level expansion and dynamic filtering being combined so as to detect and track the input level and dynamic range of the guitar directly. A buffer amplifier can be used to feed the direct guitar signal to the detectors of the noise reduction system and the input of a stereo guitar system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Inventor: James K. Waller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8981198
    Abstract: A stringed instrument includes a body, a string, a string exciting device and a bridge. The body supports the string, the string exciting device and the bridge. The string has a scale length determined by a distance between a first support point and a second support point. The string exciting device is designed to be driven by an electrical signal having a certain frequency and vibrate the string by applying an excitation signal having a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the electrical signal. The bridge has the first support point and a surface located between the first support point and the second support point and designed to come into contact with the string during vibration of the string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventor: Toru Nakatani
  • Patent number: 8940992
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method including generating a user interface implemented on a touch-sensitive display configured to generate a virtual dual flywheel system for modulating a lifecycle of a musical note or chord. The dual flywheel system (DFS) includes a first VFS and a second VFS, where the first virtual flywheel system series connected to the second virtual flywheel system such that an output of the first virtual flywheel system is coupled to an input of the second virtual flywheel system. Upon receiving a user input on the user interface, the dual flywheel system determines a virtual momentum for the first virtual flywheel based on the user input and a predetermined mass coefficient of the first virtual flywheel system, and determines a virtual momentum for the second virtual flywheel based on the virtual momentum of the first virtual flywheel system and a predetermined mass coefficient of the second virtual flywheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alec H. Little, Eli T. Manjarrez
  • Patent number: 8901408
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument has a front side, back side, right side, and left side with respect to a perspective of a performer of the musical instrument, and comprises: a planar surface having a first speaker positioned on the front side and the left side, a second speaker positioned on the front side and the right side, and a third speaker positioned on the back side; a first localized sound processing section receives left and right channel signals of tone signals assigned as first localized sounds and produces sound signals to the first speaker, the second speaker and the third speaker to form a first sound image; and a second localized sound processing section receives left and right channel signals of tone signals assigned as second localized sounds and produces sound signals to the first speaker, the second speaker and the third speaker to form a second sound image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Roland Corporation
    Inventor: Tadashi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8895831
    Abstract: An electronic piano includes a tone signal synthesizing system implemented by software, keys and key sensors monitoring the keys and reporting the key positions to the tone signal synthesizing system, and the tone signal synthesizing system includes damper model calculating modules for determining resistance against vibrations of wires of an a piano, a hammer model calculating module for determining force exerted on the wires, string model calculating modules for determining force exerted on an instrument body of the piano by the wires on the basis of the resistance and force exerted on the wires, an instrument body model calculating module for determining displacements of instrument body on the basis of the force exerted on the instrument body and an air model calculating module for determining a sound pressure at an observation point from the displacement of instrument body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Tominaga
  • Patent number: 8859876
    Abstract: Multi-channel audio signal processing systems and techniques are provided for electronic instruments having multiple and distinct output channels. Such systems may be used in conjunction with instruments comprising multiple vibrating elements, each with a dedicated signal output. Each received audio signal channel may be directed to a dedicated or shared signal processor for variably changing selected attributes of pitch, timing, timbre, and amplitude in ways that are unique for each signal. Signal processors may be shared using an allocating mixer, allocating switch, or both. An output mixer may be used to mix signal processor output signals into one or more outgoing mixed audio signals. Signal processors, mixers, and switches may be configured by stored program control and controlled in real-time. Real-time pitch variations can be used to change the pitch organization of fixed-pitch vibrating elements within an electronic musical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8842847
    Abstract: The invention provides an audio signal processing system for simulating sound engineering effects. The audio signal processing system may simulate, emulate or model sound engineering effects that may be present in a sample audio signal contained in a sound recording. The audio signal processing system may include an input signal, a first filter system, a nonlinear effect simulator and a second filter system. The input signal may include an audio signal and the sample audio signal. The audio signal may be a signal generated with a musical instrument and the sample audio signal may be a previously processed signal for a sound recording. The first filter system may include a chain of filters configured to condition the audio signal. The nonlinear effect simulator may receive the audio signal processed by the first filter system and modify the audio signal nonlinearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Jeremy Adam Geisler
  • Patent number: 8822802
    Abstract: A guitar amplifier system is disclosed. Specific implementations for the guitar amplifier system may comprise an audio input for an audio signal, a preamplifier coupled to the audio input, a tone control element coupled to the preamplifier, a power amplifier coupled to the tone control element, and an audio output coupled to the power amplifier. In an implementation, the tone control may be configured to control at least one of sound equalization, compression distortion, chorus or reverb. In an implementation, at least one of the preamplifier and the power amplifier may comprise at least one distortion multiplier circuit. The distortion multiplier circuit may comprise an audio signal multiplier configured to amplify an audio signal and output an amplified audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: James Mark McGillivary
  • Patent number: 8766081
    Abstract: A first contact and a second contact are provided at each of a plurality of keys, and are successively closed in accordance with a key press operation. On the basis of respective closed sense signals from the first contact and the second contact, a duration from when the first contact is closed until the second contact is closed is counted as a first count value and then a duration after this counting has ended is counted as a second count value. An attainment duration value and the second count value are compared, and when a predetermined condition is satisfied, a control signal is outputted. When this control signal is received, sound emission information instructing an emission of a sound by a sound emission controller is sent. The sound emission information includes touch information based on the first count value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Goro Sakata
  • Patent number: 8754316
    Abstract: A string signal generator generates a string signal representing vibration of a string corresponding to a specified pitch in response to a note-on instruction such that the string signal rises and then attenuates in response to a note-off instruction. The string signal generator distributes the generated string signal to a plurality of loop circuits of a string resonance simulator. The plurality of the loop circuits correspond to a plurality of pitches and circulate resonant signals of the corresponding pitches, each loop circuit having a delay element for delaying the resonant signal by a time depending on the corresponding pitch, and an attenuation element for variably attenuating the resonant signal according to an attenuation coefficient. A controller respectively provides attenuation coefficients to the attenuation elements in the plurality of the loop circuits based on the note-on instruction, the note-off instruction, a damper-pedal-on instruction, and a damper-pedal-off instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8697977
    Abstract: This display is a light-emitting display that is capable of creating unique and/or pleasing visual effects. It incorporates a light-emitting diode (LED) display into a sound-generating portion of a sound-generating system. The two are interactive with each other. The idea behind this product line is to create a circuit that “listens” to the music that is being played, and then changes the output state of several lights or LEDs based on the pulses that are being generated by the music. The lights or LEDs would be embedded directly into the musical instrument or speaker cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventors: Travis Lysaght, Richard Lysaght
  • Patent number: 8686274
    Abstract: A pitch shift device provides pitch-shifted sounds based on performance sounds generated by an electronic string musical instrument. The pitch shift device has a device that detects vibrato. When vibrato is detected, an interpolation device of a pitch shift control device performs a control of interpolating for a pitch shift change in the musical sound signal accompanying a change in pitch shift information stored in a pitch information storage device and read out by a pitch shift readout device from a group of pitch shift information. Therefore, unnatural pitch changes in pitch-shifted sound can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Roland Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Fukuda, Shoichi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8674206
    Abstract: A method for generating music via a computing system includes providing a website coupled to a computing system. A music application is executed on the computing system. Generated music is audibly played at least in part using the computing system. As a first step musical data is provided for a complete music piece, and the musical data for the complete music piece includes one or more seed parameter values transmitted by the website that are determinative of the complete music piece and based on which the music is generated. At least one seed parameter value is processed by a pseudorandom number generator routine to generate the music.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Medialab Solutions Corp.
    Inventor: Alain Georges
  • Patent number: 8620661
    Abstract: A system for controlling digital effects in live performances with vocal improvisation is described. The system features a controller that utilizes several switches attached to clothing that is worn by an artist during a live performance. The switches activate a digital vocal processor unit that provides a dual mode, multi-channel phrase looping capability wherein individual channels can be selected for recording and replay during the performance. This combination of features allows a sequence of digital audio and video effects to be controlled by the artist during a performance while maintaining the freedom of movement desired to enhance the performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventor: Momilani Ramstrum
  • Patent number: 8609973
    Abstract: This invention introduces several methods, apparatus, and systems for controlling musician audio effects or musical instruments wirelessly from the performer's footwear. In one embodiment, the performer's foot motions are monitored using a motion detection device and compared against a set of criteria by a microprocessor to activate or deactivate one or more audio effects that are ready or “armed.” Once the foot controller is activated, a radio transmits sampled foot pressure that is used by the Base Unit to modulate all armed audio effects capable of being modulated. Tactile feedback is provided in the footwear as a means to confirm system status changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: CleanStage LLC
    Inventor: John Robert D'Amours
  • Patent number: 8525014
    Abstract: Methods and a system for providing electronic musical instruments are disclosed. Through novel combinations of sensor inputs and processing, they allow simulation of acoustic instruments including but not limited to a Trombone, Trumpet, and Saxophone. Sensor inputs are configured to trigger playback and transitioning of sound and control its various attributes alone, or in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Spoonjack, LLC
    Inventor: Tom Ahlkvist Scharfeld
  • Patent number: 8471136
    Abstract: An effects pedal including a first stage configured to asymmetrically limit an input signal, and a second stage configured to symmetrically clip the asymmetrically limited signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Fulltone Musical Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Fuller
  • Patent number: 8450592
    Abstract: A method and a system for providing sound generation instructions from a digitized input signal are provided. The invention comprises transforming at least part of the digitized input signal into a feature representation, extracting characteristic features of the obtained feature representation, comparing at least part of the extracted characteristic features against stored data representing a number of signal classes, selecting a signal class to represent the digitized input signal based on said comparison, and selecting from stored data, which represents a number of sound effects, sound effect data representing the selected signal class. Sound volume data is determined from stored reference volume data corresponding to the selected signal class and/or sound effect and from at least part of the obtained characteristic features, and sound generation instructions are generated based at least partly on the obtained sound effect data and the obtained sound volume data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Circle Consult APS
    Inventors: Kai Feng, Lars Fox, Lauge Rønnow
  • Patent number: 8389847
    Abstract: A piano with an electronic tone generator capable of outputting musical sound signals of a reverberation and/or a resonance, in accordance with whether an external output is performed or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Toshinori Matsuda
  • Patent number: 8378201
    Abstract: A resonance generation device of an electronic musical instrument, including: a key depression state detecting means detecting whether a key which is in a specific relation with a played key is already depressed or not when a key playing operation is performed; a specific relation detecting means detecting the relation between the played key and the depressed key when the key depression state detecting means detects that the key in the specific relation with the played key is already depressed; and a musical sound generation means sound generating a musical sound of the played key when the specific relation detecting means detects that the played key and the depressed key are in the specific relation set in advance, and generating a predetermined musical sound based on the relation between the played key and the depressed key so that a position of the depressed key is to be a sound generation source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Hiroshi Sato
  • Patent number: 8309833
    Abstract: A data sonification method for representing multidimensional numerical information with a plurality of variable-timbre channels rendered in a sound field is described. The method includes generation of a plurality of variable-timbre audio waveforms, each having an audio frequency parameter and at least one timbre modulation parameter having an adjustable value that affects the timbre of the audio waveform. The method includes associating aspects of multidimensional numerical data with the timbre modulation parameter of each audio frequency waveform using a mapping element. The mapping element varies values of timbre modulation parameters responsive to selected values from the multidimensional numerical data. The method also positions each audio frequency waveform within a sonically-rendered sound field, associating aspects of multidimensional numerical data with the sonically-rendered position within the sound field. The sound field can be stereo, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8311657
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a computer system for processing an audio track. This system includes at least on DSP for processing the audio track. It also includes an application for editing the audio track. To process audio data in a first interval of the audio track, the application first asks and obtains from the DSP an impulse response parameter related to the DSP's processing of audio data. From the received impulse response parameter, the application identifies a second audio track interval that is before the first interval. To process audio data in the first interval, the application then directs the DSP to process audio data within the first and second intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alan C. Cannistraro, William George Stewart, Roger A. Powell, Kevin Christopher Rogers, Kelly B. Jacklin, Doug Wyatt
  • Patent number: 8283547
    Abstract: A method for use with a musical instrument includes receiving a signal representative of a sound produced by the musical instrument, receiving a selection of an audio effect from a wireless controller, applying the audio effect to the signal representative of a sound produced by the musical instrument, and providing an output signal representative of the audio effect applied to the sound produced by the musical instrument. Other methods include causing an image to be responsive to a signal representative of motions of the musical instrument, and causing an image to be responsive to a signal representative of sound produced by the musical instrument. A computer readable storage medium may store a computer program adapted to cause a processor based system to execute the steps of any one or more of these methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC
    Inventors: Mark Francis Villa, Gary M. Zalewski
  • Patent number: 8237042
    Abstract: Methods and a system for providing electronic musical instruments are disclosed. Through novel combinations of sensor inputs and processing, they allow simulation of acoustic instruments including but not limited to a Trombone, Trumpet, and Saxophone. Sensor inputs are configured to trigger playback and transitioning of sound and control its various attributes alone, or in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Spoonjack, LLC
    Inventor: Tom Ahlkvist Scharfeld
  • Patent number: 8115092
    Abstract: An electronic piano includes a tone signal synthesizing system implemented by software, keys and key sensors monitoring the keys and reporting the key positions to the tone signal synthesizing system, and the tone signal synthesizing system includes damper model calculating modules for determining resistance against vibrations of wires of an a piano, a hammer model calculating module for determining force exerted on the wires, string model calculating modules for determining force exerted on an instrument body of the piano by the wires on the basis of the resistance and force exerted on the wires, an instrument body model calculating module for determining displacements of instrument body on the basis of the force exerted on the instrument body and an air model calculating module for determining a sound pressure at an observation point from the displacement of instrument body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Tominaga
  • Patent number: 8106287
    Abstract: Virtual damper position data, simulatively representing a position of a damper member provided for suppressing vibration of a string in a physical tone generating mechanism of the acoustic piano, is generated on the basis of key-on data, key-off data, released key position data, damper pedal position data, sostenute pedal-on data and sostenute pedal-off data. Release characteristic of a tone signal to be generated is controlled on the basis of the virtual damper position data. When the sostenute pedal-on data or key-on data has been supplied, the virtual damper position data is set at a value corresponding to a maximum damper release position. Virtual damper position data is variably generated on the basis of at least one of the released key position data, damper pedal position data supplied after the supply of the sostenute pedal-off data or key-off data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Hasebe
  • Patent number: 8106282
    Abstract: There is provided a music accompaniment apparatus that is connected to at least one external device to reproduce an audio or video signal, the music accompaniment apparatus including: an audio input section for inputting an external audio signal; an audio signal processing section for processing an audio signal including an accompaniment signal internally provided and an external audio signal input through the audio input section, and externally outputting the processed audio signal; a video signal processing section for processing a video signal including a caption signal, and externally outputting the processed video signal; a time delay calculating section for calculating the difference between a transmission time of a check signal to the at least one external device and a reception time of the check signal from the at least one external device to compute a time delay representing a delay of the audio or video signal for the at least one external device; and a control section for controlling the whole oper
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignees: Enter Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 8067684
    Abstract: In a filter device, a filter coefficient calculation circuit has a parameter table. The parameter table stores a plurality of sets of filter coefficients associated with a first parameter based on a frequency and a second parameter based on respective plurality of levels representing a degree of attenuation or enhancement of a gain of a filter in filter characteristics. The filter coefficient calculation circuit extracts a set of filter coefficients from a parameter table with the use of the first parameter and the second parameter determined according to a frequency and a strength of a musical sound signal, and outputs the extracted set of filter coefficients to the filter. The filter circuit performs filter processing for the musical sound signal, based on the filter characteristics determined by the set of filter coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoji Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8030565
    Abstract: This invention provides a signal processing and signal synthesis technique from a family of signal processing and signal synthesis techniques designed to readily interwork or be used individually in creating new forms of rich musical timbres. A plurality of audio signal delays, each with high resonance positive feedback, distortion characteristics, and selectable delay times corresponding to a desired resonant frequency, provide twang and resonance synthesis for moments of sparkle or vibrantly-responsive ongoing backdrops. The selectable delay times may match a musical scale or other resonant frequency distribution. Delay, feedback, and signal processing characteristics and parameters may be recalled from stored program control or modulated in real-time by arbitrary control signals, including those derived from the original input signal. The invention may be used individually or in conjunction with other signal processing and signal synthesis techniques in creating new forms of rich musical timbres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 7947891
    Abstract: A product-sum operation circuit has delay circuits of the first to the (n?1)th stage for delaying musical tone data, multiplying circuits 60-6(n?1) for multiplying the musical signal data or the delayed musical signal data output from the delay circuits by impulse response coefficients, and adders 71-7(n?1) for summing up data output from the multiplying circuits. The product-sum operation circuit is provided with a feed back circuit. The feed back circuit includes a multiplying circuit 80 that receives the delayed data from the delay circuit at the (n?1)th stage and multiplies the received data by a multiplication coefficient, and an adder 81 for adding data from the multiplying circuit 80 to the delayed data from the delay circuit at the “p”th stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuichi Nakae
  • Patent number: 7915515
    Abstract: A device for digitally producing signals representative of sounds having a sonority simulating that of an instrument with keyboard and strings that are linked to a sounding board of the instrument, these sounds each corresponding to a note of the instrument. The device produces at least one signal representative of a keyboard and stringed instrument sound on the basis of at least one trigger signal and parameters, termed physical parameters. The physical parameters include at least one parameter, the so-called sounding-board parameter, characteristic of a sounding board of a keyboard and stringed instrument to be simulated. Furthermore, the physical parameters according to the invention comprise at least one parameter, termed the string(s) parameter, characteristic of at least one string of the keyboard and stringed instrument to be simulated. The device includes elements (9, 10, 11, 33) for inputting at least one physical parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Modartt
    Inventor: Philippe Guillaume
  • Patent number: 7872190
    Abstract: Tone synthesis apparatus synthesizes a tone of a wind instrument generated in response to vibration of a reed contacting a lip during a performance of the wind instrument. First arithmetic operation section solves a motion equation representative of behavior of the reed in an equilibrium state with external force acting on the lip and a second motion equation representative of behavior of the lip in the equilibrium state, to thereby calculate displacement yb(x), y0(x) of the lip and reed in the equilibrium state. Second arithmetic operation section solves a motion equation of coupled vibration of the lip and reed with calculation results of the first arithmetic operation section used as initial values of the displacement yb(x), y0(x) of the lip and reed, to thereby calculate the displacement y(x, t) of the reed. Tone is synthesized on the basis of the displacement y(x, t) calculated by the second arithmetic operation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Hideyuki Masuda
  • Patent number: 7868240
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus is disclosed which processes an audio signal. The signal processing apparatus includes a detection section which detects a first tempo from an audio signal, a calculation section which calculates a speed feeling that indicates whether the first tempo is fast or slow, and a determining section which determines a second tempo by correcting the first tempo using the speed feeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7820904
    Abstract: Musical instrument effects pedals are powered from adjacent pedals by providing electrical connectors between adjacent pedals and by providing tip-ring-sleeve jacks in the pedals and three wire connectors with tip-ring-sleeve connectors, which carry sound signals from an instrument through sequential pedals and electrical power in an opposite direction to the pedals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventors: Jason O. Robling, Michael B. Milbert
  • Patent number: 7812242
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing a musical tone control device for carrying out appropriate control in user-performed operations. A pitch parameter value PB set by a pitch bend wheel may be loaded and a determination may be made whether the pitch parameter value PB is within a specified range. If the pitch parameter value PB is within the specified range, a time t may advance by 1, and a determination may be made whether the time t has reached t1. If the time t has reached t1, an amplitude value from a low frequency oscillator (LFO) table corresponding to the time t may be read out from the LFO table. The vibrato value VI may be calculated by multiplying the amplitude value and the vibrato depth. The pitch parameter value PB and the vibrato value VI may be added and transmitted to the sound source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Roland Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Yamabata, Taro Umemoto, Hiroyuki Yasunaga
  • Patent number: 7795525
    Abstract: When it is determined that Insertion Effect Block 20n for adding the same acoustic effect is found, CPU 13 assigns the Insertion Effect Block 20n for adding the same acoustic effect to a tone color part PTs whose tone color information has been changed, and when it is determined that Insertion Effect Block 20n for adding the same acoustic effect is not found, CPU 13 sets acoustic-effect information included in tone color information set to the tone color part PTs whose tone color information has been changed, thereby assigning the Insertion Effect Block 20n to the tone color part PTs whose tone color information has been changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroki Sato
  • Patent number: 7781665
    Abstract: A device (1) is arranged for synthesizing sound represented by sets of parameters, each set comprising noise parameters (NP) representing noise components of the sound and optionally also other parameters representing other components, such as transients and sinusoids. Each set of parameters may correspond with a sound channel, such as a MIDI voice. In order to reduce the computational load, the device comprises a selection unit (2) for selecting a limited number of sets from the total number of sets on the basis of a perceptual relevance value, such as the amplitude or energy. The device further comprises a synthesizing unit (3) for synthesizing the noise components using the noise parameters of the selected sets only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Marek Zbigniew Szczerba, Albertus Cornelis den Brinker, Andreas Johannes Gerrits, Arnoldus Werner Johannes Oomen, Marc Klein Middelink
  • Patent number: 7728217
    Abstract: A sound generator including a plurality of synthesis generators each configured to generate a sound from a note, and a dynamic voice allocation circuit configured to select a new note to be supplied to the plurality of synthesis generators depending on a priority that is associated with the new note and the generated sounds and the volumes of the generated sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Matthias Obermeier
  • Patent number: 7723604
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to output a musical tone is disclosed. More particularly, disclosed is an apparatus and method to output a musical tone according to motion, which divides a space in which a terminal can move into a plurality of subspaces, and matches the subspaces with different musical tones, so that the terminal can output a musical tone matched with a specific subspace when the terminal has moved into the specific subspace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-chul Bang, Jun-il Sohn, Ji-hyun Choi, Eun-seok Choi, Dong-yoon Kim, Yeun-bae Kim
  • Patent number: 7709726
    Abstract: A foot controlled effects knob controls a variable electronic component. A receptacle couples with a spindle of the variable electronic component. One or more wings extend from the receptacle to facilitate control of the spindle, and thus the variable electronic component, by a user's foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Inventor: Chad C. Smith
  • Patent number: 7663051
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques that make use of a plurality of hardware elements that operate simultaneously to service synthesis parameters generated from one or more audio files, such as musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) files. In one example, a method comprises storing audio synthesis parameters generated for one or more audio files of an audio frame, processing a first audio synthesis parameter using a first audio processing element of a hardware unit to generate first audio information, processing a second audio synthesis parameter using a second audio processing element of the hardware unit to generate second audio information, and generating audio samples for the audio frame based at least in part on a combination of the first and second audio information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Nidish Kamath, Eddie L. T. Choy, Prajakt Kulkarni, Samir K Gupta, Stephen Molloy, Suresh Devalapalli
  • Patent number: 7663049
    Abstract: Multiple kernel-mode audio processing modules or filters are combined to form a module or filter graph. The graph is implemented in kernel-mode, reducing latency and jitter when handling audio data (e.g., MIDI data) by avoiding transfers of the audio data to user-mode applications for processing. A variety of different audio processing modules can be used to provide various pieces of functionality when processing audio data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Martin G. Puryear
  • Patent number: 7652208
    Abstract: This invention provides a signal processing and signal synthesis technique from a family of signal processing and signal synthesis techniques designed to readily interwork or be used individually in creating new forms of rich musical timbres. A multi-channel cross-flanger with differing modulation signals for each flanger element deepens synthesized sounds. The configuration may process outputs from a plurality of distortion signal processors, each driven by a related signal, to create new levels of distortion richness. Each distortion signal processor may be driven by an output of a multiple-output spatializing signal processor. The characteristics and parameters of the processors and modulations may be recalled from stored program control or varied by real-time control signals, including those derived from the original input signal. The invention may be used individually or in conjunction with other signal processing and signal synthesis techniques in creating new forms of rich musical timbres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 7642445
    Abstract: A music sound generator imitates released key string vibration sounds (RKSV) and cabinet resonances of an acoustic piano. When a key is pressed, waveform is readout from a normal music sound waveform memory 15. The normal sound waveform is inputted into a filter 21, and inputted into a filter 22 through a band-pass filter 33. Output waveform of a cabinet resonance waveform memory 17 is inputted into a filter 23 when the key is pressed. Outputs of the filters are synthesized by an adder 27 through multipliers 24 through 26. When the key is pressed, a cut-off frequency of the filter 22 is sufficiently low and RKSV is not generated. If the damper is not on when key-releasing, the cut-off frequency is returned to normal and RKSV is generated. A level controller 32 attenuates the RKSV and the cabinet resonance for a longer time than the normal music sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Gen Izumisawa
  • Patent number: 7643640
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a display and method for conducting sound system design. The display is configured to simultaneously show a sound system model comprising both audio components and sound environment components, a plurality of parameters and a graphic representation of a calculated sound system performance attribute. In response to receiving input from the user and without any additional user intervention, the display re-displays a newly-calculated sound system performance attribute such as, for example, a graphic representation in the sound system model of a sound path associated with a user-selected reflected sound identifier. A processor also simulates, based on the sound system configuration, the sound performance that a user would expect to hear positioned in an identified listening position of the sound system model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Morten Jorgensen, Michael C. Monks, Lisa Debettencourt, Matthew Douglas, Thomas Birkle, Christopher B. Ickler, Kenneth Dylan Jacob
  • Patent number: 7622665
    Abstract: In a filter device, a filter coefficient calculation circuit has a parameter table. The parameter table stores a plurality of sets of filter coefficients associated with a first parameter based on a frequency and a second parameter based on respective plurality of levels representing a degree of attenuation or enhancement of a gain of a filter in filter characteristics. The filter coefficient calculation circuit extracts a set of filter coefficients from a parameter table with the use of the first parameter and the second parameter determined according to a frequency and a strength of a musical sound signal, and outputs the extracted set of filter coefficients to the filter. The filter circuit performs filter processing for the musical sound signal, based on the filter characteristics determined by the set of filter coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoji Kaneko
  • Patent number: 7612281
    Abstract: A reverberation effect adding device comprising a first convolution circuit which in turn comprises FIR filters (80-1 to 80-4) and an adder (accumulator) (81) which adds outputs from the FIR filters, a moving average circuit (82) which receives musical sound waveform data delayed by a predetermined number of stages in the first convolution circuit and which outputs averaged second musical sound waveform data obtained by sampling at a second sampling frequency lower than the first sampling frequency, a second convolution circuit which in turn comprises FIR filters (80-5 to 80-28) which sequentially receive the second musical sound waveform data obtained by sampling at the second sampling frequency and an adder (accumulator) (83), an interpolator (84) which receives an output from the adder (83) of the second convolution circuit, calculates an interpolated value of the output value from the adder (83), and provides the output from the adder (83) and the interpolated value from the interpolator (84) sequentially
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuichi Nakae