Note Sequence Patents (Class 84/609)
  • Patent number: 8373054
    Abstract: When musical performance data is input to the electronic musical instrument in accordance with user's operation for musical performance, the electronic musical instrument detects a chord in accordance with the input musical performance data at the defined timing T3 at which the chord detection timing ends. On the electronic musical instrument, furthermore, the application of the detected chord to the musical performance is instructed by user's pedal (foot switch) operation of turning off the pedal. In a case where the instruction to apply the chord has been already accepted at the chord detection timing T3 or in a case where the instruction to apply the chord has been accepted by user's pedal-off operation at a point in time (Tpf) situated between the chord detection timing T3 and the time limit T4, the detected chord is to be applied to the musical performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Akihide Hara, Yasuhiro Kawano
  • Patent number: 8367923
    Abstract: The teachings described herein are generally directed to a system, method, and apparatus for learning music through an educational audio track embodied on a computer readable medium. The system can comprise components including a processor, an input device, a database, a transformation module, an emulation recording module, an integration engine, an output module, and an output device, wherein each component is operable in itself to perform it's function in the system and operable with other system components to provide a system to a user for learning music.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Jammit, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Humphrey
  • Patent number: 8367921
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for assessing a performance of a musical composition in relation to a model performance of the same composition. In particular, as even a model performance does not follow a score of a composition precisely, the present invention initially correlates the model performance to a score of the performed composition. This allows for an accurate assessment of the timing of the assessable performance, relative to the timing of the model performance. The invention is of particular use where the assessable performance is performed along with the model performance, but the two performances are remote from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Starplayit Pty Ltd
    Inventors: David Evans, Benjamin Ruciak, William Thorpe
  • Patent number: 8362348
    Abstract: Tone pitch information is extracted from the received input note information. A scale is determined on the basis of retrieved tonality information. A reference scale note is determined on the basis of the extracted tone pitch information and the determined scale. A tone pitch of a harmony note is determined by counting scale notes which form the determined scale from the determined reference scale note until reaching a scale note designated by the retrieved degree information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 8357847
    Abstract: The method according to the invention includes the creation of a reference multimedia sequence structure, the breaking down of this structure into basic components (tracks P1, P2, Pn) each containing a series of basic subcomponents (bricks B11-Bn4), the association to each one of these basic subcomponents of a plurality of homologous subcomponents (homologous bricks B11 Hi, B21 Hj, B?1 Hk) to each of which are assigned attributes and an automatic composition phase of a new multimedia sequence containing the maintaining of the subcomponents or their replacing with homologous subcomponents chosen algorithmically according to an algorithm determining the probability of the subcomponents of being chosen, considering its attributes, then by performing a random choice in respect of these probabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: MXP4
    Inventors: Sylvain Huet, Jean-Philippe Ulrich, Gilles Babinet
  • Publication number: 20130000464
    Abstract: Systems and method for performing adaptive audio signal processing using music as a measurement stimulus signal. A musical stimuli generator may be used to generate musical stimulus signals composed to provide a stimulus with a spectrum that is substantially dense, and ideally white or pink, over a selected frequency range, so that all frequencies of interest are stimulated. The musical stimuli generator may generate melodically pleasing musical stimulus signals using music clips that include any of: a chromatic sequence, a chromatic sequence including chromatic tones over a plurality of octaves, a chromatic sequence including chromatic tones over a selected plurality of octaves, or an algorithmically composed chromatic sequence, to cover a selected frequency range. The musical stimulus signal may be generated as sound into the environment of use. An audio input picks up the sound from the environment, and a sound processor uses the received musical stimulus signal to determine a transfer function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: James Kirsch, Harsha Inna Kedage Rao
  • Publication number: 20130000466
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for automatically converting audio input signal data into musical score representation data. Embodiments of the invention identify a change in frequency information from the audio signal that exceeds a first threshold value; identify a change in amplitude information from the audio signal that exceeds a second threshold value; and generate a note onset event, each note onset event representing a time location in the audio signal of at least one of an identified change in the frequency information that exceeds the first threshold value or an identified change in the amplitude information that exceeds the second threshold value. The generation of note onset events and other information from the audio input signal may be used to extract note pitch, note value, tempo, meter, key, instrumentation, and other score representation information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: MuseAmi, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Taub, J. Alexander Cabanilla
  • Publication number: 20130000467
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable storage medium generates an audio fingerprint for an input audio clip that is robust to differences in key, instrumentation, and other performance variations. The audio fingerprint comprises a sequence of intervalgrams that represent a melody in an audio clip according pitch intervals between different time points in the audio clip. The fingerprint for an input audio clip can be compared to a set of reference fingerprints in a reference database to determine a matching reference audio clip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Richard F. Lyon, Thomas C. Walters, David Ross
  • Publication number: 20130000465
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transforming character strings and musical input are provided herein. According to some embodiments, methods for transforming character strings into musical output may include executing instructions stored in memory via a processor to determine a scheme for converting character strings into musical output, receive the character string, parse the character string into character segments, and convert the character segments into individual musical notes according to the scheme to create the musical output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventor: Randy Gurule
  • Patent number: 8338686
    Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing audio comprising a first interface and a harmonizing module is disclosed. The first interface receive a first audio segment from a first source. The harmonizing module is coupled to the first interface. The harmonizing module is configured to identify at least one musical property of the first audio segment; calculate a subset of notes that are harmonious with the first audio segment based on the at least one musical property; and select from the subset of notes to generate an audio track to be played substantially synchronously with the first audio segment. A second interface may also be provided to receive a second audio segment from a second source. In this case, the harmonizing module may be configured to generate the audio track by transforming one or more notes of the second audio segment. A method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Music Mastermind, Inc.
    Inventors: David Mann, Francesco Gerald Capodieci, Reza Rassool
  • Patent number: 8330033
    Abstract: An example graphical programming interface system includes a processor. A grid matrix defined by a plurality of coordinate axes, having selectable matrix positions is displayed on a display device. Multiple movable object icons, each representing an object having a predefined output sound are also displayed on the display device. In one aspect, a single object data file is associated with each matrix position on said grid matrix. In this aspect, once a user places an object icon on a matrix position, the processor causes the predefined output sound associated with the object icon in accordance with the object data file associated with the matrix position at which the object icon is placed, and outputs the processed sound to an output device. This allows a user to program musical sequences by placing one or more object icons each on the selectable matrix positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Gerhard Lengeling, Jan-Hinnerk Helms
  • Publication number: 20120297958
    Abstract: A method for providing audio data corresponding to a requested musical note is disclosed, the method comprising: (a) providing a render cache having a plurality of cache entries, each of the cache entries corresponding to a different note; (b) receiving a request for a first note from a client; (c) identifying a first cache entry corresponding to the first note; (d) determining that a first audio segment corresponding to the first cache entry is not available; (e) identifying a second audio segment corresponding to a near-hit cache entry in the render cache; and (f) processing the second audio segment into a third audio segment that is substantially similar to the first audio segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Reza Rassool, Darren Warner, Matt Serletic
  • Patent number: 8314319
    Abstract: A plurality of musical instrument is connected to a server device through a network to form a storage system. The musical instrument generates performance data, and sends the performance data to the server device every time the performance data is generated. The server device receives the performance data sent from the musical instrument. The server device has a clock unit that measures date and time, and a storage unit that stores the performance data received by the receiving unit. Further, a file generation unit of the server device divides a polarity of the performance data stored in the storage unit into blocks based on the date and time of the performance data measured by the clock unit when the performance data is received by the receiving unit, and generates performance files corresponding to the blocks of the performance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Taro Yokoyama, Haruki Uehara, Yoshiki Kasahara, Yutaka Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8314320
    Abstract: CPU 21 decides a current melody tone CM relating to a key depressed at a the leading position of a current beat and a previous melody tone PM relating to a key depressed at the leading position of a beat coming directly before the current beat, based on time information, in particular, beat information, controlling progress of automatic accompanying data in operation in a melody sequence progressing in response to manipulation of a keyboard 11. Further, CPU 21 performs a chord name deciding process to decide a current chord name, based on the decided current melody tone, previous melody tone, and a previous chord name PreCH, or a chord name at the previous beat. When deciding a melody tone, CPU 21 decides the current melody tone CM and the previous melody tone PM based on what number the current beat is in a measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroko Okuda
  • Patent number: 8309834
    Abstract: Processor-implemented methods and systems for polyphonic note detection are disclosed. The method includes converting a portion of a polyphonic audio signal from a time domain to a frequency domain. The method includes detecting a fundamental frequency peak in the frequency domain. The method then detects a defined number of integer-interval harmonic partials. If a defined number of integer-interval harmonic partials relative to the fundamental frequency peak are detected the fundamental frequency is recorded as a detected note. This process is repeated for each fundamental frequency until each note in the polyphonic audio signal has been detected. For example, this method allows detection of each note in a strummed guitar chord to provide feedback on the tuning of each string in a strummed chord or allows detection and feedback of the timing and pitch errors for guitar chords played along with a reference track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steffen Gehring, Markus Sapp, Pierre Fournier
  • Patent number: 8307285
    Abstract: The present invention comprises recording an audio file that is representative of a particular horn. Each audio file is stored in a memory that can be integrated within a single device together with a keypad, a display, a power source, and/or a data port. The device is accessed by the system user through a keypad. A display indicates to the user a set of choices from among the different audio files that can be accessed, and the user makes a choice. Entering of a request command to play the selected audio file causes the file to be played through one or more speakers, head phones, or store audio system. The system can also be linked to a printer that can print a receipt or a ticket corresponding to the selected horn type. The device can comprise a volume control; and, power to the system can be supplied by battery, AC, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Wolo Mfg. Corp.
    Inventor: Stanley Solow
  • Publication number: 20120269344
    Abstract: A method of operating a music creation system is disclosed. The method includes receiving an input of characters, executing an algorithm to transform the characters into a string of musical notes, displaying the string of musical notes in a human readable format through the at least one output device, and acoustically outputting the string of musical notes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventor: Kel R. VanBuskirk
  • Publication number: 20120266738
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of processing musical information. A user can perform a musical piece, using a real musical instrument (e.g. a guitar), which is received as audio input. The audio input is then assessed to determine whether it meets various quality standards—for example, whether the user played at the right pitch, at the right time, or at the right volume. If the audio input meets the standards, audio output is then provided of a professional performance of the musical piece, such that it sounds as if the user is performing the professional audio. The standards can be adjusted to different levels, depending on the user's skill on the musical instrument. At an easy level, low standards may be applied, such that even unskilled or beginner musicians can sound like a professional. For more skilled users, the standards may be more difficult to meet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: STARPLAYIT PTY LTD
    Inventors: David Evans, Doug Hardy, Robert Wolf
  • Patent number: 8294015
    Abstract: Methods and systems for utilizing a gaming instrument controller are described. In one embodiment, a musical interaction recording of a song may be accessed. The musical interaction recording may include a backing audible portion of the song and a user reproduction indication associated with the song. The user reproduction indication may be presented in synchronization with the song. A plurality of musical note selections may be received from a gaming instrument controller based on the presenting of the user reproduction indication. A plurality of musical notes for the song may be generated based on the receiving of the plurality of musical note selections. The backing audible portion and the plurality of musical notes may be reproduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Inventors: Randy Lawrence Canis, Timothy Burton Clise
  • Patent number: 8294016
    Abstract: A method of teaching reading includes displaying, by an application executing on a computing device, a singing exercise configured to allow a user to sing along as a song is played. Lyrics of the song are displayed as the song plays, thus allowing the user to read the lyrics as the user sings along to the song. An audio input is monitored as the song is played. A score representing how accurately the audio input matches the song is calculated. The score is provided to the user. A series of target pitch lines representative of target pitches on the display and a target pitch area encompassed about each target pitch line may be displayed. A pitch tracking line from the audio input may be computed and displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Electronic Learning Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. Franzblau
  • Patent number: 8296390
    Abstract: A customer for music distributed over the interne may select a composition from a menu of written identifiers (such as the song title and singer or group) and then confirm that the composition is indeed the one desired by listening to a corrupted version of the composition. If the customer has forgotten the song title or the singer or other words that provide the identifier, he or she may hum or otherwise vocalize a few bars of the desired composition, or pick the desired composition out on a simulated keyboard. A music-recognition system then locates candidates for the selected composition and displays identifiers for these candidates to the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Inventor: Lawson A. Wood
  • Patent number: 8290769
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for producing audio and/or visual effects according to a correlation between reference data and estimated note data derived from an input acoustic audio waveform. Some embodiments calculate a pitch score as a function of a pitch estimate derived from the input waveform, a reference pitch, and a real-time-adjustable pitch gating window. Other embodiments calculate the pitch score as a function of pitch and timing estimates derived from the input waveform, reference pitch and note timing data, an adjustable rhythm gating window, and an adjustable pitch gating window. The audio and/or visual effects are produced according to the pitch score, and may be used to generate outputs (e.g., in real time) for affecting a live performance, an audio mix, a video gaming environment, an educational feedback environment, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: MuseAmi, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Taub, J. Alexander Cabanilla, Jonathan Sheldrick, George Tourtellot
  • Patent number: 8283548
    Abstract: Method for recognizing similarly recurring patterns of notes in a piece of music containing note sequences distributed among parallel channels, the method having the steps of: a) repeatedly segmenting each channel and, for each type of segmentation, determining segments which are similar to one another and storing the latter in lists of candidate patterns with the respective entities thereof; b) calculating an intrinsic similarity value for each list; c) calculating coincidence values for each list for each channel with respect to the lists for all other channels; and d) combining the intrinsic similarity and coincidence values for each list to form a total value for each list, and using the pattern candidates in the lists with the highest total value in each channel as recognized note patterns in the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventors: Stefan M. Oertl, Brigitte Rafael
  • Patent number: 8283546
    Abstract: An input sequence of musical notes is converted to a melodic contour by detecting note interval changes, e.g., in semitones, between consecutive musical notes in the sequence and mapping the detected note interval changes to corresponding change codes in a defined set of change codes, which have non-uniform step sizes for quantizing note interval changes. Correspondingly, a system, such as a local and/or a remote computer system system (e.g., a web-based melody search server) compares input melodic contours with a database of stored melodic contours to determine matching information, which can be provided to the users that generated the input sequences of musical notes. The system may be configured to search computer networks to identify audio files for representation in the database of stored melodic contours. Further, an embodiment provides for a graphical keyboard for entry of musical note sequences and/or provides for receiving such sequences through a MIDI port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventors: Jan L. van Os, Florian U. Bomers
  • Patent number: 8283547
    Abstract: A method for use with a musical instrument includes receiving a signal representative of a sound produced by the musical instrument, receiving a selection of an audio effect from a wireless controller, applying the audio effect to the signal representative of a sound produced by the musical instrument, and providing an output signal representative of the audio effect applied to the sound produced by the musical instrument. Other methods include causing an image to be responsive to a signal representative of motions of the musical instrument, and causing an image to be responsive to a signal representative of sound produced by the musical instrument. A computer readable storage medium may store a computer program adapted to cause a processor based system to execute the steps of any one or more of these methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC
    Inventors: Mark Francis Villa, Gary M. Zalewski
  • Patent number: 8280539
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method and storage media for automatically segueing between a first audio track and a second audio track. The first audio track and the second audio track may be analyzed to determine a preferred transition window. Segueing from the first track to the second track may occur during the preferred transition window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: The Echo Nest Corporation
    Inventor: Tristan Jehan
  • Patent number: 8278545
    Abstract: A morphed musical piece generation system that enables even a user with little knowledge of music to easily generate a morphed musical piece between two different musical pieces is provided. A first intermediate time-span tree data generation section 6 selectively removes difference information between common time-span tree data and first time-span tree data from the first time-span tree data. Also, a second intermediate time-span tree data generation section 7 performs the same operation to obtain second intermediate time-span tree data. A data combining section combines the first intermediate time-span tree data and the second intermediate time-span tree data to generate combined time-span tree data. A musical piece data generation section generates a morphed musical piece on the basis of the combined time-span tree data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Agency
    Inventor: Masatoshi Hamanaka
  • Patent number: 8280920
    Abstract: Grouping media files via playlists on a computer-readable medium. One or more media files are selected according to a grouping criterion to define one or more playlists from the media files. A container group is associated with the playlists and stores values identifying each of the playlists associated with the container group along with references to each of the playlists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignees: Microsoft Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ian Cameron Mercer, Kevin Leigh LaChapelle, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Yoshifumi Yanagawa, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Chiyoko Matsumi
  • Patent number: 8273977
    Abstract: An audio player is connected to an automatic playing musical instrument, and command files and audio data files are prepared in the file format defined in the Red Book in the audio player, although the time data are stored in the time data fields of the longitudinal time codes, the user's data fields are available for commands to the automatic player and identification of a music data file; when a user instructs the audio player to control the automatic player for a solo performance, a quasi audio signal is produced from the command data for the solo performance; when a user instructs to a performance in collaboration with the automatic player, the audio signal, which expresses the pieces of audio data and a music data file, is supplied to the automatic player so as to reproduce the music tune through the acoustic tones and electric tones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Haruki Uehara
  • Patent number: 8275203
    Abstract: A sheet music processing method of processing, by an image processing apparatus, image data of sheet music input by an input device, the method comprising setting, by a user using a designation unit of the image processing apparatus, a unit in which the image data of the sheet music is processed; dividing the image data of the sheet music into units corresponding to the unit; determining whether image data of a first one of the units is repeated in one or more others of the units; and processing the image data, when the image data of the first one of the units is determined to be repeated in the one or more others of the units, to append information using the image processing apparatus to the image data of the first one of the units and the image data of the one or more others of the units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ayumi Hori, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Fumihiro Goto, Manabu Yamazoe, Maya Ishii, Tohru Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8269091
    Abstract: Mask generation section generates an evaluating mask, indicative of a degree of dissonance with a target sound per each frequency along a frequency axis, by setting, for each of a plurality of peaks in spectra of the target sound, a dissonance function indicative of relationship between a frequency difference from the peak and a degree of dissonance with a component of the peak. Index calculation section collates spectra of an evaluated sound with the evaluating mask to thereby calculate a consonance index value indicative of a degree of consonance or dissonance between the target sound and the evaluated sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastian Streich, Takuya Fujishima
  • Patent number: 8265246
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a device and method for implementing a Coloring Ring Back Tone (CRBT) service and a device for acquiring a CRBT file. The device for implementing a CRBT service includes a first receiving module adapted to receive CRBT access information, a channel management module adapted to acquire a real-time CRBT file according to the CRBT access information, and a playing module adapted to play the real-time CRBT file. The method for implementing a CRBT service includes acquiring a real-time CRBT file customized by a subscriber according to CRBT access information and playing the real-time CRBT file to a calling subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sifang Zhang
  • Patent number: 8253006
    Abstract: A method to automatically match keys between music being reproduced and music being performed includes detecting a key from an audio signal being reproduced from a storage medium or audio source, detecting a key from a sound signal representing music being played by a user, and performing a transposition by adjusting the key of the audio signal to match the key of the sound signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 8253004
    Abstract: A media application for providing outputs (e.g., audio outputs) in response to inputs received from an input device is provided. The media application may connect input mechanisms of an input device with parameters of channel strips (e.g., which may define output sounds) using an intermediate screen object. The media application may first assign an input mechanism to a screen object, and separately map a screen object to a channel strip parameter. The media application may map a screen object to several channel strips simultaneously such that, based on the value of the screen object, the volume of each of the several channel strips changes. The media application may provide a graphical representation of available channel strips using layers. As the media application accesses a channel strip, the appearance of the portion of the layer associated with the channel strip may change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Clemens Homburg
  • Publication number: 20120210844
    Abstract: A personal music mixing system with an embodiment providing beats and vocals configured using a web browser and musical compositions generated from said beats and vocals. Said embodiment provides a plurality of beats and vocals that a user may suitably mix to create a new musical composition and make such composition available for future playback by the user or by others. In some embodiments, the user advantageously may hear a sample musical composition having beats and vocals with particular user-configured parameter settings and may adjust said settings until the user deems the musical composition complete.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: FUNK MACHINE INC.
    Inventors: Louis Willacy, Randy Locklair
  • Patent number: 8247676
    Abstract: Methods for generating music are disclosed. A music data file is generated at a first node. The music data file is transmitted from the first node and received at a second node. Musical definition data that provides information regarding a data structure and data for musical parameters is extracted from the music data file at the second node. The musical definition data is processed and music is generated at the second node for playback in accordance with the data structure and the musical parameters. A modified music data file is generated at the second node and transmitted to the first node. Modified music is generated at the first node based on the modified music data file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Medialab Solutions Corp.
    Inventors: Alain Georges, Voislav (“Voit”) Damevski, Peter M. Blair, Eric Laurent, Frederic Flohr, Jean-Phillipe Chevreau, Alan R. Loudermilk
  • Patent number: 8244546
    Abstract: There is provided a singing synthesis parameter data estimation system that automatically estimates singing synthesis parameter data for automatically synthesizing a human-like singing voice from an audio signal of input singing voice. A pitch parameter estimating section 9 estimates a pitch parameter, by which the pitch feature of an audio signal of synthesized singing voice is got closer to the pitch feature of the audio signal of input singing voice based on at least both of the pitch feature and lyric data with specified syllable boundaries of the audio signal of input singing voice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Tomoyasu Nakano, Masataka Goto
  • Patent number: 8242344
    Abstract: The present invention is method and apparatus for music performance and composition. More specifically, the present invention is an interactive music apparatus comprising actuating a signal that is transmitted to a processing computer that transmits output signals to a speaker that emits sound and an output component that performs an action. Further, the present invention is also a method of music performance and composition. Additionally, the present invention is an interactive wireless music apparatus comprising actuating an event originating on a remote wireless device. The transmitted event received by a processing host computer implements the proper handling of the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Fingersteps, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel W. Moffatt
  • Patent number: 8229754
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for graphically displaying audio data are provided. In some implementations, a method is provided. The method includes displaying a graphical visual representation of digital audio data, the representation displaying a feature of the audio data on a feature axis with respect to time on a time axis. The method also includes receiving an input in the graphical visual representation selecting a range with respect to the feature and automatically extending the selected range with respect to time to define a selected region of the visual representation, where the extended range with respect to time is predefined and ignoring any component of the received input with respect to time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel Ramirez, Todd Orler, Shenzhi Zhang, Jeffrey Garner
  • Patent number: 8218790
    Abstract: User interface signals representing volume change requests are converted to volume control signals using a mapping. The mapping is overridden (modified) within a given time interval after starting (which includes resuming) playback. During this interval, the mapping for volume decreases is modified so that the resulting volume decreases are accelerated relative to those that would be generated by the default mapping. This allows the user to quickly reduce the volume of the device when begins playing very loud music. The mapping for volume increases can be modified during this interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: William Bull, Policarpo Wood, Kourtny Minh Hicks, Benjamin Andrew Rottler, Eric James Hope, Alan Cannistraro
  • Publication number: 20120167748
    Abstract: A method of automatically acquiring a feature segment in a music file includes receiving, with a processing device, a music file; converting the music file into a character string; evaluating at least one character string segment in the character string based on one or more music features; and determining, based on an evaluation result, at least one music segment corresponding to at least one character string segment in the character string as a feature segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shenghua Bao, Jian Chen, Zhong Su, Xin Ying Yang
  • Patent number: 8212135
    Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating higher confidence matches are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a memory that stores computer executable components, and a microprocessor that executes the computer executable components stored in the memory. The components can include a metadata matching component that determines a metadata match level between metadata of a plurality of files, and a thresholding component. The thresholding component may compare a metadata threshold with the metadata match level and output a signal configured to cause a decrease in a melody matching strength threshold from a first value to a second value based at least on the metadata match level being greater than the metadata threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Sharifi, David Ross, Gheorghe Postelnicu, Yaniv Bernstein, Jay Michael Ponte
  • Publication number: 20120160078
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable storage medium generates an audio fingerprint for an input audio clip that is robust to differences in key, instrumentation, and other performance variations. The audio fingerprint comprises a sequence of intervalgrams that represent a melody in an audio clip according pitch intervals between different time points in the audio clip. The fingerprint for an input audio clip can be compared to a set of reference fingerprints in a reference database to determine a matching reference audio clip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Richard F. Lyon, Thomas C. Walters, David Ross
  • Patent number: 8207438
    Abstract: The teachings described herein are generally directed to a system, method, and apparatus for learning music through an educational audio track embodied on a computer readable medium. The system can comprise components including a processor, an input device, a database, a transformation module, an emulation recording module, an integration engine, an output module, and an output device, wherein each component is operable in itself to perform it's function in the system and operable with other system components to provide a system to a user for learning music.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Jammit, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Humphrey
  • Patent number: 8207435
    Abstract: A tool is provided for assisting in teaching music to a player of a steel pan/drum. The tool comprises a substantially circular base divided into twelve radial sectors, a central sector, and three concentric, radially spaced rings, thereby having 37 elements. Each element bears an indicium representative of a unitary, distinct note name in a range of three consecutive octaves plus a first note in a fourth consecutive octave. Each ring is arranged in so that a counter-clockwise-adjacent note name is separated by an interval of a fifth and a clockwise-adjacent note name is separated by an interval of a fourth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Pangenuity, LLC
    Inventor: Beverley I. Charles
  • Patent number: 8208648
    Abstract: The sound field reproducing apparatus includes: a signal obtaining unit which obtains input audio signals of plural channels; an effect adding unit which gives an effect on an output to a sound field; and an effect amount control unit which controls an amount of the effect based on a characteristic of the input audio signal. The sound field reproducing apparatus receives input audio signals of plural channels from a medium such as a DVD, and gives a sound effect to them to output. The amount of the effect given to the input audio signal is controlled based on the characteristic of the input audio signal, especially the cross correlation of the reverberation component between the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime Yoshino, Akira Hattori
  • Publication number: 20120144978
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method, modeled on research observations in human perception and cognition, capable of accurately segmenting primarily (although not exclusively) melodic input in performance data and encoded digital audio data, and mining the results for defining motives within the input data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: ORPHEUS MEDIA RESEARCH, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory W. Wilder
  • Patent number: 8193436
    Abstract: A method (100) and apparatus (200) are disclosed for transcribing a humming signal into a sequence of musical notes. The method begins by grouping (305) the signal into frames of data samples. Each frame is then processed to derive (320) a frequency distribution for each frames. The frequency distributions are processed to derive (410) a Harmonic Product Energy (HPE) distribution over the frames. The HPE distribution is then segmented (115, 120) to obtain boundaries of musical notes. The frequency distributions of the frames are also processed to derive (412) a fundamental frequency distribution. A pitch for each note is determined (125) from the fundamental frequency distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong Hwee Sim, Chun Woei Teo, Sua Hong Neo, Kok Seng Chong
  • Publication number: 20120132056
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for recognition. The method includes inputting a melody and obtaining pitch tracking information of the melody; obtaining beat information of the melody; determining a clarity value according to the pitch tracking information; implementing a first comparison process first to filter a first set of candidate songs from a database and then implementing a second comparison process to filter a second set of candidate songs from the first set of candidate songs if the clarity value is larger than a predetermined threshold; and determining at least one final candidate song from the second set of candidate songs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Wen-Nan WANG, Jyh-Shing Jang, Tzu-chun Yeh, Chung-Che Wang, Hsin-Wen Yu, Cheng-Yu Hsu
  • Publication number: 20120125178
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes providing a music collection of a particular scale, determining a distance parameter for locality sensitive hashing based at least in part on the scale of the music collection and constructing an index for the music collection. Another exemplary method includes providing a song, extracting snippets from the song, analyzing time-varying timbre characteristics of the snippets and constructing one or more queries based on the analyzing. Such exemplary methods may be implemented by a portable device configured to maintain an index, to perform searches based on selected songs or portions of songs and to generate playlists from search results. Other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Rui Cai, Lei Zhang, Wei-Ying Ma