Abstract: Captured vocals may be automatically transformed using advanced digital signal processing techniques that provide captivating applications, and even purpose-built devices, in which mere novice user-musicians may generate, audibly render and share musical performances. In some cases, the automated transformations allow spoken vocals to be segmented, arranged, temporally aligned with a target rhythm, meter or accompanying backing tracks and pitch corrected in accord with a score or note sequence. Speech-to-song music applications are one such example. In some cases, spoken vocals may be transformed in accord with musical genres such as rap using automated segmentation and temporal alignment techniques, often without pitch correction. Such applications, which may employ different signal processing and different automated transformations, may nonetheless be understood as speech-to-rap variations on the theme.

Abstract: A synthetic multi-string musical instrument captures a stream of expressive gestures indicated on a multi-touch sensitive display for note/chord soundings and associated performance effects and embellishments. Visual cues in accord with a musical score may be revealed/advanced at a current performance tempo, but it is the user's gestures that actually drive the audible performance rendering via digital synthesis. Opportunities for user expression (or variance from score) include onset and duration of note soundings, tempo changes, as well as uncued string bend effects, vibrato, etc. Gesturing mechanism are provide to allow user musicians to sound chords without having to register precisely accurate multi-touch screen contacts. This can be especially helpful for mobile phone, media player and game controller embodiments, where there is generally limited real-estate to display six (6) or more strings, and user fingers are generally too fat to precisely contact such strings.