Abstract: Systems and methods for a creating a music-based video game are described as is a portable music and video device housing a memory for storing executable instructions and a processor for executing the instructions. Creating video game content using musical content supplied from a source other than the game includes analyzing musical content to identify at least one musical event extant in the musical event; determining a salient musical property associated with the at least one identified event; and creating a video game event synchronized to the at least one identified musical event and reflective of the determined salient musical property associated with the at least one identified event.

Abstract: A simulated musical instrument may be used to alter the audio of a video game, the video aspects of video game, or both. Use of a controller simulating a musical instrument allows a rhythm-action game can be enjoyed in a manner closer to a realistic state of playing an instrument.

Abstract: A simulated musical instrument may be used to alter the audio of a video game, the video aspects of video game, or both. Use of a controller simulating a musical instrument allows a rhythm-action game can be enjoyed in a manner closer to a realistic state of playing an instrument.

Abstract: A method for providing real-time musical interaction among a plurality of players connected via a network includes the steps of receiving input from a local player representing a musical performance, generating audio output responsive to the received input, receiving second music performance data from a remote player representing a musical performance by the remote player, creating emulation data representing the remote musical performance, and using the emulation data to generate a local approximation of the remote musical performance.

Abstract: A simulated musical instrument may be used to alter the audio of a video game, the video aspects of video game, or both. Use of a controlled simulating a musical instrument allows a rhythm-action game can be enjoyed in a manner closer to a realistic state of playing an instrument.

Abstract: A method for providing real-time musical interaction among a plurality of players connected via a network includes the steps of analyzing local player's musical performance to extract emulation data that represents the musical performance; transmitting emulation data to remote players over a network; receiving emulation data from remote players over the network; and using the emulation data to emulate the remote player's musical performance by locally generating approximations of the performances.

Abstract: A method for displaying musical data in three dimensions includes displaying musical data along a spatial path that does not lie within the image plane of a display. Graphical symbols corresponding to the musical data may be displayed on graphical surfaces aligned with the spatial path. The graphical surfaces form, in some embodiments, a tunnel through which the time axis associated with the musical data runs. The musical data may be manipulated to provide the viewer with the appearance of motion along the time axis associated with the musical data. In some embodiments, the viewer is represented by a virtual camera in the three-dimensional environment and the virtual camera is “moved” to provide the appearance of motion. A corresponding apparatus is also discussed.

Abstract: Described are a system and method for achieving near real-time musical collaboration by a group of users using computers connected by a network. Each computer system plays a stream of musical data to each user. The musical data stream played to each user corresponds to the musical collaboration produced by the users. The playing of the musical data streams is staggered such that each user is located at a different time in the musical collaboration than every other user. This staggering separates any two users by a temporal offset that exceeds the maximum time required to transmit musical data from one user to another user over the network. Each user is allowed to modify the portion of the musical data stream that is currently being played to that user. Such musical data modifications are transmitted to other users over the network to become incorporated into the musical data streams played to those other users.

Abstract: A system, and related method, for creating music in real time includes an input device and a real-time music generator. The input device is used by a user to provide rhythm-related signals and pitch-related signals to the real-time music generator. The real time music generator receives the rhythm-related and pitch-related signals and creates or composes in real time music that includes pitches based on the pitch-related signals and rhythmic activity based on the rhythm-related signals. The input device can provide pitch related and rhythm-related signals that are representative of position, velocity, or acceleration. The real-time music generator can derive position, velocity, or acceleration from the pitch-related and rhythm-related signals and compose in real time music comprising pitches and rhythm activity based on the derived information.

Abstract: An electronic music system has an input device, one or more computer storage media, a rhythm generator, a pitch selector, and a sound generator. The input device generates rhythm-related input signals and pitch-related input signals in response to manipulations of the input device by a user attempting to create and play a solo. The computer storage media have a plurality of user-selectable musical accompaniment tracks over which the user can create and play the solo and a plurality of rhythm blocks wherein each rhythm block defines, for at least one note, at least a time at which the note should be played. The computer storage media also store at least a portion of the solo created by the user over a predetermined time interval in the immediate past.

Abstract: An electronic music system has an input device, one or more computer storage media, a rhythm generator, a pitch selector, and a sound generator. The input device generates rhythm-related input signals and pitch-related input signals in response to manipulations of the input device by a user attempting to create and play a solo. The computer storage media have a plurality of user-selectable musical accompaniment tracks over which the user can create and play the solo and a plurality of rhythm blocks wherein each rhythm block defines, for at least one note, at least a time at which the note should be played. The computer storage media also store at least a portion of the solo created by the user over a predetermined time interval in the immediate past.