Abstract: An automatic performance apparatus reproduces, by a program process executed on a computer, automatic performance data comprising a series of performance data which is assigned to one channel of a plurality of channels and to which a channel number representative of the assigned channel is added. The automatic performance data contains identification data representative of a musical instrument or performance part to be performed by the performance data which is assigned to each channel. To the identification data, a channel number representative of the assigned channel is also added. Based on the identification data, musical instruments or performance parts to be performed by each of the performance data are identified.

Abstract: A sound control apparatus is provided in a portable terminal for sounding a music tone in association with operation of the portable terminal, which is controlled by a main CPU. In the sound control apparatus, a memory memorizes music information representing a music tone and configuration information associated to a timbre of the music tone. An information acquiring section acquires the music information and the configuration information from the memory. A tone generating section is configured by the acquired configuration information to create a timbre specified by the configuration information. The tone generating section operates according to the acquired music information to generate the music tone being represented by the music information and having the specified timbre. A dedicated CPU is provided separately from the main CPU for controlling the memory, the information acquiring section and the tone generating section.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for electronically displaying music scores use a music object file format to store and display music scores. A music score file is translated into a music object file. The music object file includes music data structures that correspond to notation objects that represent music symbols of a music score. The measure is the fundamental grouping unit. The music data structures are processed to form a page image that includes the notation objects of the music symbols to be displayed. An annotation is input to a touch sensitive display using one's finger or a stylus and displayed overlaying the displayed music score. Modifications to a displayed music score include transposing, resizing, expanding, and marking measures.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument which can be designed compact in longitudinal size and is excellent in acoustic characteristics. A musical instrument main body (1) has at least one keyboard device (12), and left and right lateral side panels (13 and 13?). A musical tone signal is generated by a controller (101) through operation of the keyboard device. The musical tone signal generated by the controller is acoustically converted by at least one speaker (31 or 31?). The musical instrument main body is supported by left and right front legs (2 and 2?) in the vicinity of the left and right lateral side panels of the musical instrument main body. An upper part of each front leg is secured to the musical instrument main body, and a lower part thereof extends to a floor surface on which the electronic musical instrument is placed. The speaker is held in a speaker box (3 or 3?). The speaker box serves as a supporting member that supports a rear side part of the musical instrument main body.

Abstract: A polyphonic instrument comprises a geometric system coupled with a user interface and a method for generating tone using fluid. The geometric system is arranged such that each point corresponds to a mechanism underlying a malleable surface and is sequentially based upon the 12 tone system of music. The instrument also provides a new method for generating tone by the means of using fluid, whereby a specific frequency is picked up by a separate hydrophone or fluid based transducer submerged in a sealed and removable fluid containment unit having a rotational element also contained within for each note indicated. The rotational element when arranged in a series of graduated units and/or in combination with graduated sub-containment units of fluid changing in scale for separate frequencies, will generate separate tones which may be manipulated through physical and/or analog/digital electronic means.

Abstract: A system and methods use music features extracted from music to detect a music mood within a hierarchical mood detection framework. A two-dimensional mood model divides music into four moods which include contentment, depression, exuberance, and anxious/frantic. A mood detection algorithm uses a hierarchical mood detection framework to determine which of the four moods is associated with a music clip based on the extracted features. In a first tier of the hierarchical detection process, the algorithm determines one of two mood groups to which the music clip belongs. In a second tier of the hierarchical detection process, the algorithm then determines which mood from within the selected mood group is the appropriate, exact mood for the music clip. Benefits of the mood detection system include automatic detection of music mood which can be used as music metadata to manage music through music representation and classification.

Abstract: A programmable/semi-programmable pickup and transducer switching system includes a control, a plurality of switches communicatively interconnected to the control, an encoder communicatively interconnected to the control, a memory/buffer/drive with switching element options for passive or active pickup switching, said memory/buffer/drive being communicatively interconnected to the control, and a display system communicatively interconnected to the memory/buffer/drive. The display system includes at least one transparent fastening screw with an associated light emitting diode configured to provide a visual indication of an associated pickup activity.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a haptic effect to a musical instrument is described. One method described comprises receiving a first signal having a set of parameters relating to sound, determining a haptic effect associated with at least one predetermined parameter from the set of parameters, and outputting a second signal associated with the haptic effect. The haptic effect can be determined using at least one predetermined parameter from the set of parameters to select the haptic effect from a database having one or more look-up tables. The second signal is provided to an actuator for causing a haptic effect at the musical instrument in response to receiving the second signal. The second signal can be applied to an input member, such as a key on a keyboard or a string on a guitar, or to the housing of the musical instrument, such as the neck of a guitar.

Abstract: An electric double-bass is broken down into a trunk, a detachable framework assembled with the trunk, coupling units provided between the trunk and the detachable framework, accessory parts, strings stretched over the trunk and an electric sound generating system for generating electric tones like acoustic tones of a double-bass, and any resonator is formed in the electric double-bass, wherein a string player disassembles the detachable framework from the trunk for storing the electric double-bass in a case, thereby enhancing the portability of the electric double-bass.

Abstract: An electronic percussion instrument modifies the effect applied to note generated in response to a strike based on the intensity of the strike. A plurality of patches are stored in the waveform memory. Each patch includes settings for the effects applied to each pad of the instrument. The patch also includes a setting indicating whether the parameters of the effects applied to the pads are to be modified in accordance with strike intensity. Subsequently, during performance, when a strike is detected the intensity of the strike is used to determine whether the parameters of the effect applied to the note are to be modified, and if so the parameters are modified in correspondence to the intensity of the strike. This allows the performer to easily modify the effect applied to the notes of the percussion instrument during performance.

Abstract: An integrated system and software package for creating and performing a musical score including a user interface that enables a user to enter and display the musical score, a database that stores a data structure which supports graphical symbols for musical characters in the musical score and performance generation data that is derived from the graphical symbols, a musical font that includes a numbering system that corresponds to the musical characters, a compiler that generates the performance generation data from the database, a performance generator that reads the performance generation data from the compiler and synchronizes the performance of the musical score, and a synthesizer that responds to commands from the performance generator and creates data for acoustical playback of the musical score that is output to a sound generation device. The synthesizer generates the data for acoustical playback from a library of digital sound samples.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating, modifying, interacting with and playing music are provided, particularly systems and methods employing a top-down process, where the user is provided with a musical composition that may be modified and interacted with and played and/or stored (for later play). The system preferably is provided in a handheld form factor, and a graphical display is provided to display status information, graphical representations of musical lanes or components which preferably vary in shape as musical parameters and the like are changed for particular instruments or musical components such as a microphone input or audio samples.

Abstract: There is provided a musical tone reproducing apparatus which is capable of recovering proper timing of musical tone generation even in a situation where processing of events takes much time such that the sounding timing of musical tones is delayed. Duration data read out from a FIFO 30 are added together by a duration forward counter 32b. A comparator circuit 32d compares the count value of an absolute time counter 32c and the count value of the duration forward counter 32b, and delivers the comparison result i to a FIFO controller 3 when the former becomes equal to or more than the latter. The FIFO controller 31 causes the FIFO 30 to read out event information and delivers the same to a decoder 32a, which in turn converts the event information into tone generator control data having a format peculiar to a tone generator 33 and delivers the same data to a register write controller 32e.

Abstract: In response to a readout instruction, tone reproducing digital data are read out which include information indicative of tone generating events and time lengths. Then, degrading processing is performed to change the information indicative of tone generating events and time lengths, included in the read-out tone reproducing digital data, in accordance with payment of a necessary charge for the digital data, and then the changed tone reproducing digital data are output. By thus performing the degrading processing on the read-out tone reproducing digital data in accordance with the payment of the necessary charge when the digital data are to be transferred or reproduced, there can be achieved an advantageous effect of reliably preventing unauthorized use of the digital data.

Abstract: An automatic player piano includes an acoustic piano and an electronic system for reenacting a performance on the acoustic piano; a self-diagnosis subroutine program runs on a microprocessor of the electronic system so as to diagnose solenoid-operated actuators with built-in plunger sensors and component parts of the acoustic piano such as keys, pedals, action units and hammers on the basis of pieces of plunger data, pieces of key data and pieces of hammer data; thus, the mechanical components of the piano are diagnosed as well as the electric components through the execution of the self-diagnosis subroutine program.

Abstract: A musical score display apparatus reads note data and lyric data, and displays the read note data and lyric data on a displayed musical score. In the case where the lyric data are displayed to match the displayed note data, a position where character strings of the lyric data overlap is detected, and the display range of the note data and the lyric data which contains the detected position is extended. Further, the character strings of the lyric data are scrolled within the display range of the lyric data which contains the detected position. Thus, even when the character stings of the lyric overlap on the displayed musical score, a user can read the lyric without any special operation.

Abstract: Various arpeggio patterns are provided for an automatic arpeggio performance in an electronic musical apparatus, in which arpeggio notes are sounded in various timbres and appropriate arpeggio types are selected for the respective timbres. For each of a plurality of timbres, plural available arpeggio types are prepared which are appropriate for the timbre, and are assigned to plural arpeggio type selecting buttons, respectively. According to the manipulation of an arpeggio type selecting button, the assigned type is selected and the arpeggio pattern data of the selected arpeggio type are outputted for the successive sounding of the notes as an arpeggio. The assignment of the arpeggio types to the selecting buttons are alterable by the user.

Abstract: A computerized method and apparatus for creating a scratch effect through a MIDI interface. In one form, timing signals are derived from a turntable whose direction and speed of rotation are manually controlled by a disk jockey. The timing signals are processed by a microcomputer into a MIDI protocol recognizable by a conventional MIDI instrument. Preferably, the microcomputer is coupled to control a computer which interprets the MIDI protocol output and uses the output to regulate speed and direction of playback of a musical and/or visual presentation.

Abstract: A music work filed for application through on-line transmission or the like is subjected to viewing/listening by audiences through plural kinds of media. The audiences make access to an internet homepage on an internet server 4 of the holder of the audition through a PC (personal computer) 1 or 2, and performs trial-listening of the music work. The audiences also view and/or listen to a live performance in a performance hall. Alternatively, the audiences may view and/or listen to a video performance of television broadcast. Evaluation data based on the results of viewing/listening is input on the internet homepage by the audiences through a PC 6 or a portable communication terminal device 7 on evaluation items conforming to the characteristics of the media. A music work is selected based on the above evaluation.

Abstract: A stringed instrument having a stationary support; one part of the instrument interfacing with the musician's sternum, another part pivotally interfacing with the support using two pivot axes mounted perpendicular to each other, first axis dependent on second axis. The longitudinal axis of the instrument is aligned with the musician's anatomical median plane; the support enabling congruent movement between the instrument and the musician's swaying torso while preventing rotation of the instrument around its longitudinal axis, thus improving ergonomic posture and technique. The instrument has an effective string length less than that of a cello and greater than that of a viola, for enabling such ergonomic positioning.