Abstract: The invention relates to a playback control unit which is connected with a playback device for CDs or records, wherein these provide coded information by means of which the playback device can be controlled. In this way, in addition to the playback speed, further functions can be controlled, namely selecting elements from a list, in particular a music archive, or determining skip marks or controlling software modules or the length of audio loops or a continuous modification of parameters, in particular audio effect parameters, for volume, filter, flange, echo, delay or a playback control of video sequences or parameters of video sequences, in particular colour, resolution or parameters and positioning of objects in computer games.

Abstract: A system and method of enhancing guitar instruction based on Tablature Plus encoding of playing techniques within a MIDI file or other data structure, that may be rendered on an associated player application that provides multimedia output of the piece being played including a number of playing techniques. The system hardware for encoding the information includes string motion monitoring, and optionally a hand motion and finger positioning sensor, such as a data glove or a video motion capture system, for simultaneously registering the actions of the guitarist while playing the piece. The software comprises algorithms for determining note pitch and duration, and for extracting playing techniques from the data being collected. Multimedia player software is also described which renders a visual and audio output for the Tablature Plus encoded file, wherein the encoded playing techniques are represented within the display output. The system is adaptable to instruction for any instrument.

Abstract: A guitar interface device for a digital guitar system is adapted to receive digital signals, convert those signals into analog signals, and output the analog signals, so that the digital guitar system may be utilized with conventional analog equipment. The interface device includes an input assembly to receive the digital signals, a processing circuit to generate the analog signals, and an output assembly to output the analog signals.

Abstract: A musical information displaying apparatus is to display musical notes in progression along the time axis on a musical staff together with chords and words based on the respective event data contained in a music performance data file representing a musical performance. The chords are displayed at their event positions along the time axis in the open space above and nearest to the musical staff. If two adjacent chords would overlap in part when displayed at the same vertical level in view of the respective display lengths, the vertical position of the latter chord will be shifted to prevent overlapping. The character representing the root of the chord will be displayed in an enhanced font than the other characters of the chord name. Where the words are displayed in correspondence to the notes, the words are to be displayed primarily at the positions along the time axis corresponding to the notes.

Abstract: A digital guitar system and method includes a digital guitar and a digital guitar interface device, and a method of converting a conventional guitar into a digital guitar. The guitar is adapted to generate analog audio signals, convert those signals into digital signals, format the digital signals according to a digital communication protocol, and to output the formatted signals. The guitar may include a novel multi-signal guitar pickup that generates some of the analog audio signals. The guitar is further adapted to receive digital signals, convert those signals into analog signals, and output the analog signals. The interface device is adapted to receive digital signals, convert those signals into analog signals, and output the analog signals.

Abstract: Various systems and methods described above permit a user's content experience (e.g. music playing experience) to be monitored and for metadata describing this experience to be collected. This metadata can be dynamically updated as a user experiences media content and then used to impart to the user a personalized experience that is tailored to that specific user. A user's metadata can, in some instances, provided across a wide variety of computing devices on which the user may experience the media content, thus standardizing the user's personalized media experience. In addition, intelligent or “smart” playlists can be provided which, in some instances, can be dynamically and automatically updated to reflect current user experiences, thus providing a highly personalized and enjoyable content experience.

Abstract: A “music mixer”, as described herein, provides a capability for automatically mixing arbitrary pieces of music, regardless of whether the music being mixed is of the same music genre, and regardless of whether that music has strong beat structures. In automatically determining potential mixes of two or more songs, the music mixer first computes a frame-based energy for each song. Using the computed frame-based energies, the music mixer then computes one or more potentially optimal alignments of the digital signals representing each song based on correlating peaks of the computed energies across a range of time scalings and time shifts without the need to ever compute or evaluate a beats-per-minute (BPM) for any of the songs. Then, once one of the potentially optimal time-scalings and time-shifts has been selected, the songs are then simply blended together using those parameters.

Abstract: Light emitting sections are provided in proximity to a plurality of performance operators that are provided, on the body of an electronic musical instrument, for performing tone-generation instructing operation corresponding to operation of strings on a natural musical instrument, and the light emitting sections illuminate the performance operators with controlled light emission. Thus, a human operator can visually identify the position of each performance operator to be operated with an enhanced visibility. Further, because the light emitting sections are provided in proximity to the performance operators to allow the instrument body to appear shining to persons viewing the human player playing the musical instrument, the persons can view the performance operation by the human player with an enhanced visibility.

Abstract: A method of utilizing previous event feedback information from historical derived hammer velocity data, such as associated with a MIDI record function, for providing non-real-time feedback when controlling actuators. The use of non-real-time feedback within the present invention provides a number of advantages over the use of conventional real-time feedback mechanisms. Utilization of the non-real-time (historical) key actuation information reduces the amount of circuitry necessary for correcting the operation of the actuators (i.e. solenoids) during playback on the instrument. By way of example, a programmable circuit element receives velocity information on previous key strikes for adjusting the actuator velocity output signal which will be generated for future key strikes. The accuracy of key strike normalization provided by this method approaches that which is achievable using real-time feedback, because the velocity profiles for each key remain substantially constant during playback.

Abstract: A reverberation apparatus is designed for generating a reverberation sound from an input sound with use of an impulse response based on an instruction. In the reverberation apparatus, a first storage section stores first impulse response data representative of a first impulse response. A second storage section stores second impulse response data representative of a second impulse response which is different from the first impulse response represented by the first impulse response data. A new data creating section operates based on the first impulse response data and the second impulse response data for creating new impulse response data representative of a new impulse response in accordance with the instruction.

Abstract: There is provided an operator member displaceable, in response to operation by a human operator, relative to at least one displacement axis (more preferably, multi-dimensionally). Operating state of the operator member is detected and model operation information, indicative of an operating state to be taken by the operator member, is generated, so that reaction information is generated in accordance with a difference between the detected actual operating state and an operating state indicated by the model operation information. Reactive force is imparted to the operator member in accordance with the generated reaction information. In this way, a model operation amount can be informed to the human operator in the form of the reactive force. Further, by imparting separate reactive forces to a multi-axially operable operator member, appropriate information can be provided to the human operator during operation of the operator member, thereby achieving sensory feedback to the human operator.

Abstract: In a method for generating an identifier for an audio signal including a tone generated by an instrument, a discrete amplitude-time representation of the audio signal is generated at first, wherein the amplitude-time representation, for a plurality of subsequent points in time, comprises a plurality of subsequent amplitude values, wherein a point in time is associated to each amplitude value. Subsequently, an identifier for the audio signal is extracted from the amplitude-time representation. An instrument database is formed from several identifiers for several audio signals including tones of several instruments. By means of a test identifier for an audio signal having been produced by an unknown instrument, the type of the test instrument is determined using the instrument database. A precise instrument identification can be obtained by using the amplitude-time representation of a tone produced by an instrument for identifying a musical instrument.

Abstract: Sound data output and manipulation with haptic feedback. Haptic sensations are associated with sound data to assist in navigating through and editing the sound data. The sound data is loaded into computer memory and played such that sound is output from an audio device. The sound playing is controlled by user input for navigation through the sound data. Haptic commands are generated based on the sound data and are used to output haptic sensations to the user by a haptic feedback device manipulated by the user. The haptic sensations correspond to one or more characteristics of the sound data to assist the user in discerning features of the sound data during the navigation through and editing of the sound data.

Abstract: A media organizer and entertainment center includes an importer for importing individual media/data selections and automatically assigning each selection at least one associated category flag pursuant to predetermined or user defined criteria. The center also includes a storage device for storing compressed data corresponding to the plurality of individual media/data selections and the associated category flags and a retriever for retrieving selections from the storage device based upon user selection of one or more of the associated category flags, and a data decompresser that translates the compressed data into playable digital or audio media data. With the center, playable digital or audio media data can be advantageously transported, organized, played or recorded through or on a variety of products or devices.

Abstract: An electronic musical apparatus having an interface for connecting to a communication network comprises: a memory; a receiver that receives, from the communication network via the interface, a first performance setting information used for executing musical performance in accordance with a first performance information on the electronic musical apparatus or the other electronic musical apparatus; a controller that controls the received first performance setting information to store into the memory; an input device that inputs a second performance information; and a musical tone generator that generates a musical tone in accordance with the second performance information and the stored first performance setting information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus implement time compression and expansion of audio data, with dynamic tempo change during playback. Dynamic changes in tempo are implemented at specific points in the audio signal corresponding to local minimums in the fade-in and fade-out characteristics of the compression/expansion scheme. An audio signal is marked to define temporal slices of audio data. Mark positions may be selected to minimize significant transient activity midway between consecutive marks. Fade-in and fade-out functions are associated with the leading side and trailing side, respectively, of each mark, creating a series of cross-fading “mounds” with peaks at each mark. When a tempo change is requested (e.g., a user selects a new tempo value in a user interface), the tempo change is delayed until the start of the next “mound” (i.e., the next fade-in). Thus, despite the tempo change, each mound uses a contiguous set of audio data, preventing the clicks and pops associated with skips in the audio data.

Abstract: A noise sensing bobbin-coil assembly for use in conjunction with a musical instrument pickup is disclosed. In particular, the bobbin of the bobbin-coil assembly is adapted to resist induced eddy currents thereby allowing a fewer number of coils to be used which in turn reduces undesirable interaction with the musical instrument pickup.

Abstract: A singing voice synthesizing method for synthesizing the singing voice from performance data is disclosed. The input performance data are analyzed as the musical information of the pitch and the length of sounds and the lyric (S2 and S3). A track as the subject of the lyric is selected from the analyzed musical information (S5). A note the singing voice is allocated to is selected from the track (S6). The length of the note is changed to suit to a song being sung (S7). The voice quality suited to the singing is selected based on e.g. the track name/sequence name (S8) and singing voice data is prepared (S9). The singing voice is generated based on the singing voice data (S10).

Abstract: In the field of music, good practice in the writing of harmony has been encapsulated in an extensive set of formal rules. It is a difficult and tedious mental task to check music for compliance. However, music so harmonized almost always sounds pleasing. In the present invention, a Harmonizer harmonizes a melody in accordance with the rules using an iterative technique of chord selection, permutation and submission to the rules until solutions are found. At difficulties, the Harmonizer can compromise preferences, in order to produce an optimum solution. The process is characterized by advances and retreats along the melody and is therefore suited to subsequent performance and not to real-time applications.

Abstract: A plurality of play style dependence tone colors belonging to one kind of musical instrument tone color but being different from one another in terms of play styles are respectively assigned to different values of velocity and note number. For example, play style dependence tone colors such as open soft and open middle of a steel guitar are assigned to tone pitch ranges C2 to B5, and the play style dependence tone colors are respectively assigned to different velocity values. Play style dependence tone colors such as strumming and fret noise of a steel guitar are assigned to tone pitch ranges C6 to G8, and the play style dependence tone colors are respectively assigned to different note number values. By setting the note number and velocity values in note-on event data in various ways, musical tone signals of various play style dependence tone colors are generated even if the program change and bank select data are not changed.