Patents by Inventor Masao Sakama

Masao Sakama has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7640501
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for editing music on a computer. A preferred embodiment according to the present invention provides a score window display containing various types of execution graphical icon layers onto which graphical execution ions (representing musical symbols such as bend-up/down, grace-up/down, dynamics, glissando, tremolo) can be attached and arranged in conformity with a progression of a musical tune on a screen of the display. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, may select desired execution icons from an icon select palette that provides lists of execution icons and attach or detach them to the displayed layers via graphical drag-and-drop operations to edit the underlying musical score. In addition, a user may modify parameters of a specific icon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama, Eiji Akazawa
  • Patent number: 7539941
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a performance data editing system embodied within a computer system (or electronic musical instrument) equipped with a display and a mouse. The present invention provides a score window containing various types of execution icon layers onto which execution ions representing exection-related data for adding articulation to a music tone are attached and arranged in conformity with a progression of a musical tune on a screen of the display. Each layer can be controlled in response to various commands. The present invention further allows a user (or music editor) to select desired execution icons from an icon select palette that provides lists of execution icons which are registered in advance. In addition, the present invention allows a user to modify parameters of a specific icon, as well as add icons to or delete icons from a prescribed display area (e.g., layer window) using drag-and-drop operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama, Eiji Akazawa
  • Patent number: 7495165
    Abstract: A performance data editing system is actualized by a computer system (or electronic musical instrument) which is equipped with a display and a mouse. The system initially provides a score window containing various types of execution icon layers onto which execution icons (representing musical symbols such as bend-up/down, grace-up/down, dynamics, glissando, tremolo) are attached and arranged in conformity with a progression of a musical tune on a screen of the display. Each of the layers is independently controlled in response to various commands such as display-on, small-scale display, display-off and vertical rearrangement. The system allows a user (or music editor) to select desired execution icons from an icon select palette that provides lists of execution icons which are registered in advance. In addition, the system also allows the user to modify parameters of a specific icon which is selected from among the execution icons attached onto the score window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama, Eiji Akazawa
  • Patent number: 7470855
    Abstract: Rendition style parameters for realizing various release rendition styles and/or attack rendition styles are stored in a memory. Operation-related time lengths are detected which pertain to turning-on and/or turning-off operation of a pedal operator. Any one of the release rendition style parameters is selected from the memory on the basis of the detected operation-related time length, and the release of a tone is controlled with a characteristic of the selected rendition style parameter. Alternatively, any one of the release or attack rendition style parameters is selected from the memory on the basis of a velocity of the turning-on and/or turning-off operation of the pedal operator detected operation-related time length, and the release or attack of a tone is controlled with a characteristic of the selected rendition style parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Sakama, Shinya Koseki
  • Patent number: 7194686
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing a score window containing various types of execution icon layers onto which execution icons are attached and arranged in conformity with a progression of a musical tune on a screen of the display. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, each layer is controlled in response to various display commands. The system allows a user to select desired execution icons from an icon select palette that provides lists of execution icons which are registered in advance. Specifically, the user may select and “drag” an execution icon from the palette and place it at a position in correspondence with a particular point of progression of the music to be edited, causing the editing function corresponding to the execution icon to be effected at the point of progression of the musical piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama, Eiji Akazawa
  • Publication number: 20050211074
    Abstract: Rendition style parameters for realizing various release rendition styles and/or attack rendition styles are stored in a memory. Operation-related time lengths are detected which pertain to turning-on and/or turning-off operation of a pedal operator. Any one of the release rendition style parameters is selected from the memory on the basis of the detected operation-related time length, and the release of a tone is controlled with a characteristic of the selected rendition style parameter. Alternatively, any one of the release or attack rendition style parameters is selected from the memory on the basis of a velocity of the turning-on and/or turning-off operation of the pedal operator detected operation-related time length, and the release or attack of a tone is controlled with a characteristic of the selected rendition style parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Sakama, Shinya Koseki
  • Patent number: 6872877
    Abstract: A method of generating musical tones and a storage medium storing a program for executing the method are provided. Musical piece data is decomposed into phrases, the musical piece data being formed of pieces of performance data arranged in the order of performance. The pieces of performance data of the musical piece data are analyzed for each of the phrases obtained by the decomposing step. Tone color control data is prepared for each of the phrases according to results of the analyzing. The pieces of performance data of the musical piece data are reproduced by sequentially reading the pieces of performance data at timing at which the pieces of performance data are to be performed to the order of performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama, Yoshimasa Isozaki
  • Patent number: 6798427
    Abstract: Score of a given music piece is visually shown on a display. When a particular style of rendition is to be imparted to a desired note on the musical score, a user selects a desired one of style-of-rendition icons and designates a desired note location on the musical score as a pasting location of the selected style-of-rendition icon. Thus, the selected style-of-rendition icon is shown on the display in corresponding relation to the designated pasting location. The style-of-rendition icons are appropriately associated with sets of style-of-rendition parameters, so that performance data, i.e., tonal characteristics of the note, corresponding to the pasted location of the style-of-rendition icon is controlled, in accordance with the style-of-rendition parameters corresponding to the pasted style-of-rendition icon on the musical score, to thereby achieve a performance in the style of rendition corresponding to the pasted icon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama
  • Publication number: 20040098404
    Abstract: A performance data editing system is actualized by a computer system (or electronic musical instrument) which is equipped with a display and a mouse. The system initially provides a score window containing various types of execution icon layers onto which execution icons (representing musical symbols such as bend-up/down, grace-up/down, dynamics, glissando, tremolo) are attached and arranged in conformity with a progression of a musical tune on a screen of the display. Each of the layers is independently controlled in response to various commands such as display-on, small-scale display, display-off and vertical rearrangement. The system allows a user (or music editor) to select desired execution icons from an icon select palette that provides lists of execution icons which are registered in advance. In addition, the system also allows the user to modify parameters of a specific icon which is selected from among the execution icons attached onto the score window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama, Eiji Akazawa
  • Publication number: 20040094017
    Abstract: A performance data editing system is actualized by a computer system (or electronic musical instrument) which is equipped with a display and a mouse. The system initially provides a score window containing various types of execution icon layers onto which execution icons (representing musical symbols such as bend-up/down, grace-up/down, dynamics, glissando, tremolo) are attached and arranged in conformity with a progression of a musical tune on a screen of the display. Each of the layers is independently controlled in response to various commands such as display-on, small-scale display, display-off and vertical rearrangement. The system allows a user (or music editor) to select desired execution icons from an icon select palette that provides lists of execution icons which are registered in advance. In addition, the system also allows the user to modify parameters of a specific icon which is selected from among the execution icons attached onto the score window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama, Eiji Akazawa
  • Publication number: 20040070621
    Abstract: A performance data editing system is actualized by a computer system (or electronic musical instrument) which is equipped with a display and a mouse. The system initially provides a score window containing various types of execution icon layers onto which execution icons (representing musical symbols such as bend-up/down, grace-up/down, dynamics, glissando, tremolo) are attached and arranged in conformity with a progression of a musical tune on a screen of the display. Each of the layers is independently controlled in response to various commands such as display-on, small-scale display, display-off and vertical rearrangement. The system allows a user (or music editor) to select desired execution icons from an icon select palette that provides lists of execution icons which are registered in advance. In addition, the system also allows the user to modify parameters of a specific icon which is selected from among the execution icons attached onto the score window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama, Eiji Akazawa
  • Patent number: 6687674
    Abstract: Waveform data of a plurality of loop waveforms are prestored along with initial phase information corresponding to the loop waveforms. Two of the loop waveforms are selected and repeatedly read out to thereby form loop-reproduced waveforms corresponding to the selected two loop waveforms. These loop-reproduced waveforms are connected together, for example, through cross-fade synthesis, during which time the phases of the loop-reproduced waveforms are adjusted to match with each other using the corresponding initial phase information. Generation of loop read addresses is carried out in such a way that first and second address signals for reading out first and second loop waveforms, respectively, are caused to loop while maintaining a difference between the first and second addresses corresponding to a difference between the initial phases of the selected loop waveforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama, Umeyama Yasuyuki
  • Patent number: 6584442
    Abstract: Input waveform data are processed by Fast Fourier Transform or otherwise to separate a harmonic wave component from the waveform data while a non-harmonic wave component is separated by subtracting the harmonic wave component from the waveform data. Vector quantization is performed on the harmonic wave component by selecting and using one of prestored harmonic vectors as a representative vector for the harmonic wave component, and vector quantization is performed on the non-harmonic wave component, independently of the harmonic wave component, by selecting and using one of prestored non-harmonic vectors as a representative vector for the non-harmonic wave component. Then, using harmonic and non-harmonic vectors indicated by vector information of a waveform to be reproduced, waveforms of harmonic and non-harmonic wave components are generated separately and then combined to thereby reproduce/generate the waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama
  • Patent number: 6570081
    Abstract: A performance date editing system is designed to efficiently convert normal performance data to execution-related performance data with simple operations and without errors. Herein, data portions which are subjected to conversion to execution-related data are extracted from input performance data corresponding to MIDI data. In addition, it is possible to further extract specific types of data, which are related to prescribed musical parameters (or events) such as attack, release, modulation and accent-plus-duration, from the extracted data portions. Hence, the extracted data portions or the specific types of data being further extracted are subjected to conversion to the execution-related data, which are supplied to an execution-related sound source. Herein, a remaining part of the input performance data excluding the extracted data portions is supplied to a normal sound source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama
  • Publication number: 20020178006
    Abstract: Waveform data of a plurality of loop waveforms are prestored along with initial phase information corresponding to the loop waveforms. Two of the loop waveforms are selected and repeatedly read out to thereby form loop-reproduced waveforms corresponding to the selected two loop waveforms. These loop-reproduced waveforms are connected together, for example, through cross-fade synthesis, during which time the phases of the loop-reproduced waveforms are adjusted to match with each other using the corresponding initial phase information. Generation of loop read addresses is carried out in such a way that first and second address signals for reading out first and second loop waveforms, respectively, are caused to loop while maintaining a difference between the first and second addresses corresponding to a difference between the initial phases of the selected loop waveforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: HIDEO SUZUKI, MASAO SAKAMA, YASUYUKI UMEYAMA
  • Patent number: 6452082
    Abstract: A method of generating musical tones and a storage medium storing a program for executing the method are provided. Musical piece data is decomposed into phrases, the musical piece data being formed of pieces of performance data arranged in the order of performance. The pieces of performance data of the musical piece data are analyzed for each of the phrases obtained by the decomposing step. Tone color control data is prepared for each of the phrases according to results of the analyzing. The pieces of performance data of the musical piece data are reproduced by sequentially reading the pieces of performance data at timing at which the pieces of performance data are to be performed to the order of performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Yahama Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama, Yoshimasa Isozaki
  • Publication number: 20020053273
    Abstract: A method of generating musical tones and a storage medium storing a program for executing the method are provided. Musical piece data is decomposed into phrases, the musical piece data being formed of pieces of performance data arranged in the order of performance. The pieces of performance data of the musical piece data are analyzed for each of the phrases obtained by the decomposing step. Tone color control data is prepared for each of the phrases according to results of the analyzing. The pieces of performance data of the musical piece data are reproduced by sequentially reading the pieces of performance data at timing at which the pieces of performance data are to be performed to the order of performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama, Yoshimasa Isozaki
  • Patent number: 6362411
    Abstract: Control data are extracted from tone waveforms obtained by actually playing acoustic musical instruments in various styles of rendition, and a plurality of these control data are stored in memory to provide databases. Automatic or manual music performance data are supplied in real or non-real time. Desired one or more notes are selected from among the supplied music performance data, and a desired style of rendition is selected in corresponding relation to the selected notes. Then, one or more control data corresponding to the selected style of rendition are read out from the memory so that generation of a tone corresponding to the selected notes can be controlled in accordance with the read-out control data. In this way, characteristics of the selected style of rendition can be imparted to any particular note or notes included in the music performance data. The control data are stored in the memory in association with partial sounding segments such as an attack, body and release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama
  • Patent number: 6281420
    Abstract: A performance data editing system is actualized by a computer system (or electronic musical instrument) which is equipped with a display and a mouse. The system initially provides a score window containing various types of execution icon layers onto which execution icons are attached and arranged in conformity with a progression of a musical tune on a screen of the display. The system provides an icon modify window that allows the user to modify parameters of a specific icon which is selected from among the execution icons attached onto the score window by double clicks of the mouse. Herein, the score window shows a part of a musical score (or a staff notation with notes), while the icon modify window shows an edited portion of the musical score by magnification, wherein a range of execution-related data being edited on the icon modify window is automatically indicated on the musical score of the score window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama, Eiji Akazawa
  • Patent number: 6255576
    Abstract: Sets of waveform data of unit waveforms stored in a memory each include first and second loop waveform segments at both ends of a non-loop waveform segment and any one of the unit waveform data sets can be selectively readout from the memory. The waveform data set of a desired one of the unit waveforms is read out from the memory and is connected with another waveform preceding or following the read-out unit waveform using the first or second loop waveform segment in the read-out unit waveform. Thus, a smooth connection between the read-out unit waveform and the other waveform is achieved with ease. This is because the loop waveform can be smoothly connected with any other waveform through cross-fade synthesis or phase-matched connection technique performed at an appropriate point in the loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama, Motoichi Tamura