Selecting Circuits Patents (Class 84/615)
  • Patent number: 6573444
    Abstract: In a music apparatus 50 of this invention, digital data received at a digital input terminal 20 are stored in a primary memory area 22a on a hard disk drive 22. Subsequently, a music data converter 23 performs a predetermined conversion of the digital data stored in the primary memory area 22a to obtain digital data having a different form, and the altered data are thereafter stored in a secondary memory area 22a on the hard disk drive 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Yamamoto, Reisuke Sato, Yasufumi Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20030089218
    Abstract: A system and a method for predicting the musical taste and/or preferences of the user The present invention receives, on one hand, ratings of a plurality of songs from the user and/or other information about the taste of the user, and on the other hand information about the songs in the catalog from which recommendations are to be given The method then combines both types of information in order to determine the musical preferences of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Dan Gang, Daniel Lehmann
  • Patent number: 6548748
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument has a tone generation instruction operation member for instructing to start tone generation, and a tone generation control unit for starting a tone generation process upon operation of the tone generation instruction operation member, continuing the tone generation process even after the tone generation instruction operation member is released, and executing a mute process when the identical tone generation instruction operation member is operated again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Tadayuki Ishida, Hiroshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20030066413
    Abstract: Performance interface system includes a motion detector provided for movement with a performer, and a control system for receiving detection data transmitted from the motion detector and controlling a performance of a tone in response to the received detection data. State of a performer's motion is detected via a sensor of the motion detector, and detection data representative of the detected motion state is transmitted to the control system. The control system receives the detection data from the motion detector, analyzes the performer's motion on the basis of the detection data, and then controls a tone performance in accordance with the analyzed data. With this arrangement, the performer can readily take part in the tone performance in the control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiki Nishitani, Satoshi Usa, Masaki Sato, Eiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6541687
    Abstract: Performance data processing apparatus includes a memory for storing settings input by a user and a processor for performing various control in accordance with the settings stored in the memory. Performance data are displayed in one or more display forms desired by the user. Marker or repeat mark is displayed in response to an instruction for displaying the marker or repeat mark. The performance data are reproduced in accordance with the input mark indicating that a performance should be repeated within a predetermined range. Further, a chord name is converted in accordance with a designated type of transposing instrument, and the converted chord name is displayed or stored in memory. Because the various control is performed in accordance with the memory-stored user settings, the user is allowed to change convenience-of-use or operability of the performance data processing apparatus in creating/editing of the performance data, by just changing the settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Hiromu Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 6538189
    Abstract: A wind controller is disclosed which provides glitch-free playing of the instrument by using key position sensors which produce tristate logic signals indicating released, held, or transition positions of each key. Logic circuitry processes the key position signals and prevents any note from sounding when any of the keys is in transition between the released and held positions. The controller also allows the player to select alternate fingering charts which avoid “mine field” fingerings and which are created and downloaded to the wind controller using a personal computer. A set of chord keys and a computer program allows the player to register, without sounding, a series of notes to make up a chord using a registration key and an enable/disable key which alternately activates the last registered chord for playing or deactivates it to return to monophonic mode. Another registration key is provided to register another chord whereby an endless progression of chords can be played in succession.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Inventor: Russell A. Ethington
  • Patent number: 6528715
    Abstract: A method and system for creating a musical query are disclosed that graphically generate a musical segment that represents a portion of a desired piece of music. Audio feedback is provided to a user by playing the musical segment. Then, a musical query is generated based on the musical segment. Optionally, the graphical generation the musical segment and audio feedback steps can be repeated until the user acknowledges the musical segment is acceptable. Then, after the user has acknowledged the musical segment is acceptable, the musical query is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Ullas Gargi
  • Patent number: 6525254
    Abstract: Tone control data are stored in a volatile first memory such as a RAM, and a color or other factor of a tone to be generated is set or controlled in accordance with the tone control data. User can set contents of the tone control data stored in the first memory. In response to the setting of the tone control data, the stored contents of the first memory are automatically transferred to and stored into a non-volatile second memory, at which time the tone control data are transferred to the second memory within an idle time period when no other operation is being carried out. A plurality of sets of the tone control data, updated at different time points, are stored in the second memory, and arrangements are also made such that, when an error occurs in the course of newest tone control data, data recovery can be made using the second newest set of the tone control data stored in the second memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Tsutsumi
  • Publication number: 20030005815
    Abstract: Method for electronically reproducing the sound of an acoustic accordion, that is provided with a number of keys/buttons, which can be pressed individually so as to excite a corresponding number of reeds that are coupled with every single key/button; for electronically reproducing the sound generated by pressing each key/button, the sounds that are characteristic of each reed that is coupled with a key/button are generated individually and electronically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Luigi Bruti, Demetrio Cuccu', Roberto Gaetani
  • Patent number: 6504090
    Abstract: A chord performance training system is realized on a personal computer having a display and a keyboard in accordance with music application software. The display provides a user with three types of windows on a screen, namely a main window for displaying chord progression, a select window for displaying a list of genre names for selection and a score window for displaying a score. On the select window, the user selects a specific single genre name to activate model performance information containing chord parts, a percussion part, a chord text and a song text, so that the main window shows chord progression representing chord names and generation timings of chords which are to be sequentially played by the user. Multiple sets of model performance information are provided to suit to different levels, namely a beginners' level and an expert level, which are set to the user in playing chord performance on the keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Tom Jen Tsai, Masahiko Wakita
  • Patent number: 6504089
    Abstract: A music search system easily operable by a user to search for a musical piece with accuracy, a method for operating the system, and a recording medium for use with the system. A plurality of music search factors can be successively input to the system, and one or more candidate pieces are presented based on effective inputs in the input music search factors. A user can efficiently supply the system with various sorts of music search information, and can obtain an optimal search result by using a search method particularly suitable for search by each sort of information. Input score information is reproduced according to the input operation, so that the user can immediately confirm most ambiguous score information when using the score information as search information, thereby reducing the probability of the system making an unnecessary search.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirokazu Negishi, Kenichi Nagasawa, Yoshisuke Teshima, Toshihiro Sugikubo
  • Publication number: 20020194985
    Abstract: A movement limiting suited for use with air gathering means that may also generate tones as a result of motion created by the energy of the wind gathered, is disclosed. The wind gathering means may be either flexible, or substantially rigid. The means are usually planar but may also be three dimensional. The motion is limited to an arc of less than 360 degrees, about a pivot point. The pivot may also be on the longitudinal access of a pole to which wind gathering means, such as flags or banners may be attached. The tone generation means may either generate original tones or cause the regeneration of preselected tones. An advantage of one embodiment of the rotation limitation device is that it prevents flags or banners from wrapping around the flagpole. In another embodiment of the device multiple tones may be generated by the relative motion of the tone actuator and tone generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph Willenbecher Dickinson
  • Publication number: 20020189430
    Abstract: A music apparatus generates a plurality of music tones arranged in a set of performance parts of a music piece from a plurality of channels based on sequence data. A tone generator has a plurality of tone generating elements in correspondence to the plurality of the channels for generating therethrough the music tones in parallel manner. An assigning section assigns the plurality of the channels to the set of the performance parts such that each performance part may involve one or more of the channels. A sequencer processes the sequence data to sequentially provide parameters for use in the tone generating elements, the sequencer being operative when the assigning section assigns two or more channels to one performance part for providing first parameters set individually to each of said two or more channels and a second parameter set commonly to said two or more channels assigned to said one performance part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: Masahiro Mukojima
  • Patent number: 6492584
    Abstract: A plurality of units for generating or controlling a tone are used in an electronic musical instrument, the number of which is variable depending on a performance grade of the electronic musical instrument. There is supplied control information for generating or controlling a tone, such as performance event data. Each of the units has identification information defining control information to be used by the unit and determines, in accordance with the identification information, whether or not a tone signal based on the supplied control information is to be generated or controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Tadahiko Ikeya
  • Publication number: 20020152877
    Abstract: An initial note series is collected from a real-time source of musical input material such as a keyboard or a sequencer playing back musical data, or extracted from musical data stored in memory. The initial note series may be altered to create variations of the initial note series using various mathematical operations. The resulting altered note series, or other data stored in memory is read out according to one or more patterns. The patterns may have steps containing pools of independently selectable items from which random selections are made. A pseudo-random number generator is employed to perform the random selections during processing, where the random sequences thereby generated have the ability to be repeated at specific musical intervals. The resulting musical effect may additionally incorporate a repeated effect, or a repeated effect can be independently performed from input notes in the musical input material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventor: Stephen R. Kay
  • Patent number: 6452083
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method designed to be used to compute music sequences in all possible contexts and situations, including: Internet adaptive radio, Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) with intelligent scheduling, music recommendation systems, and other innovative Electronic Music Distribution (EMD) services in general. These sequences are generated “iteratively”, and step by step. To the above end, there is provided a method of generating incrementally a sequence of items from a database containing said items, characterized in that the sequence is generated by implementing in combination a sequence completion system and a user profiling system, thereby taking into account both sequence coherence and user profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Sony France S.A.
    Inventors: François Pachet, Daniel Cazaly
  • Publication number: 20020117044
    Abstract: A bus system interconnects a plurality of devices of various categories constituting an electronic music instrument apparatus for exchanging signals among the devices having unique addresses. The bus system has a serial clock line for transmission of a clock signal, and a serial data line for transfer of a data signal from a source device to a destination device in synchronization with the clock signal. The source device operates as a master to commence a communicating session such as to send the clock signal to the serial clock line and to send the data signal to the serial data line in synchronization with the clock signal. The destination device operates as a slave so as to receive the data signal based on the clock signal. The source device formulates the data signal containing a unique address specifying the destination device such that the destination device can receive the data signal exclusively from the source device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Shinya Sakurada, Akira Iizuka, Harumichi Hotta, Shizuhiko Kawai, Kozo Tokuda, Masaki Kudo
  • Patent number: 6437229
    Abstract: A digital music server, a music digitizing station, and at least one listening stations connected in a network. Each listening station includes an earphone, keyboard, display, and bar code reader. The bar code on a compact disk (CD) is scanned using the bar code reader at a listening station, and stored containing tracks from the selected CD are quickly accessed. By using the display and keyboard, the desired track is selected, and the sound volume is controlled. As the selected song file is downloaded from the server to the listening station. The listening station plays the selected track by means of an audio adapter through the earphone of said listening station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Itautec Phico S/A
    Inventor: Fernando H. Nobumoto
  • Publication number: 20020108484
    Abstract: An electronic music instrument system, comprising: an electronic music instrument, having selectable groups of reproducible sounds and individually selectable reproducible sounds; a signal generator for energizing an audio amplifier responsive to different digital audio sources, including the groups of sounds and the individual sounds a graphical user interface for displaying at least one control graphic representing controllable parameters of the audio signals generated by the generator; and, a controller responsive to operation of the control graphic for adjusting the controllable parameters of the generator and for selectively coupling different ones of the sources to the generator. The graphical user interface can comprise: a video display; and, a touch-responsive overlay. The controllable parameters can include multiple instrument sound selection and sound layer assignment, controlled responsive to operation of the at least one control graphic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Rob C. Arnold, Warren W. Westlund, David Van Koevering, Robert D. Lawson, Lance E. Lyda, Kenneth R. Noyce, Robert Phillips, John M. Pursey, Gary L. Snethen
  • Publication number: 20020092412
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument has a tone generation instruction operation member for instructing to start tone generation, and a tone generation control unit for starting a tone generation process upon operation of the tone generation instruction operation member, continuing the tone generation process even after the tone generation instruction operation member is released, and executing a mute process when the identical tone generation instruction operation member is operated again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Tadayuki Ishida, Hiroshi Kato
  • Patent number: 6407326
    Abstract: In an electronic musical apparatus having a generator for generating a tone, a play member is provided for playing a music such that a key-on touch operation and a key-off touch operation are performed on the play member to input a note of the music. A detector detects the key-on touch operation and the key-off touch operation to generate key-on information and key-off information. A controller operates based on the key-on information and the key-off information for controlling the generator to generate a tone corresponding to the note. The detector detects a transitional state of the key-off touch operation for generating a sequence of first key-off information and second key-off information indicative of the transitional state of the key-off touch operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Kondo
  • Patent number: 6408129
    Abstract: A system for playing a selected one of multiple audio tracks recorded in synchronized fashion with a motion picture on an optical disk. The optical disk has encoded on it a mixing master music and effects (“M&E”) track, or a switching master M&E track. Individual audio tracks are provided for language-specific versions of the same motion picture, but these tracks have data recorded in them only where there is dialog. In this way, for many a motion picture, all tracks but masters will have data recorded for well less than half of the running time of the motion picture. When a mixing master is used, it is mixed with a language-specific track when the latter has dialog; the mixing master contains no dialog. If a switching master is used, it may contain dialog recorded with the M&E; when a language-specific track has dialog recorded in it, it also contains M&E and the track is played to the exclusion of the switching master.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Time Warner Entertainment Co, LP
    Inventors: Christopher J. Cookson, Lewis S. Ostrover, Warren N. Lieberfarb
  • Publication number: 20020046640
    Abstract: In an electronic musical apparatus having a generator for generating a tone, a play member is provided for playing a music such that a key-on touch operation and a key-off touch operation are performed on the play member to input a note of the music. A detector detects the key-on touch operation and the key-off touch operation to generate key-on information and key-off information. A controller operates based on the key-on information and the key-off information for controlling the generator to generate a tone corresponding to the note. The detector detects a transitional state of the key-off touch operation for generating a sequence of first key-off information and second key-off information indicative of the transitional state of the key-off touch operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventor: Masao Kondo
  • Patent number: 6376759
    Abstract: An electronic keyboard instrument is basically configured by a keyboard, a microcomputer, a tone generator and a sound system as well as sensors, switches and foot switches. Each of keys of the keyboard is equipped with a variety of sensors and switches such as a touch sensor, make switches, a key-stroke sensor, key-depression pressure sensors and a hammer-depression pressure sensor, while the foot switches correspond to a damper pedal, a soft pedal and a sostenuto pedal as well as a slur foot switch and a portamento foot switch. Herein, various acoustic instruments are related to different performance techniques respectively. So, operating a foot switch designate a specific performance technique detection rule in response to a desired tone color corresponding to an acoustic instrument whose sounds are being simulated. Then, a performance technique is detected in accordance with the performance technique detection rule on the basis of outputs of the sensors, at least one of which is selectively used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6369311
    Abstract: A harmony tone generating apparatus receives a voice wave signal bearing musical tone pitches such as a singer's or a speaker's human voice signal and a musician's instrumental voice signal, and plural kinds of performance data, each representing a musical note pitch, from plural kinds of performance sources. The latest received performance data from among the plural performance sources is captured and supplied to a harmony tone data generator, which in turn generates harmony tone data defining a tone pitch which is determined by the note pitch represented by the performance data. As the harmony tone data generator includes a limited number of data generation-channels, the limited number of the latest captured performance data pieces are assigned thereto for harmony data generation, truncating the oldest supplied performance data for new data assignment, where there is no empty channel left and newly captured performance data is supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhide Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 6348648
    Abstract: A system and method for coordinated music composition and display among musicians is presented. The system and method enables a conductor, composer or band leader to interactively edit one or more score parts of a composition using a pen-based interface, mouse, alphanumeric keyboard, or a musical keyboard. Hand-written music editing, which is entered with the pen-based interface, may be flexibly converted to a digital music notation format. Connected to the composer station are one or more musician stations that may be arranged as an orchestra. The musical score parts may be selectively transmitted to one or more musician stations by the composer. Thus, an operator of the conductor station can flexibly write and edit music score parts and transmit the parts to musicians over the network. The system and method can also be used to conduct the orchestra in rehearsals or performances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Inventor: Harry Connick, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020014147
    Abstract: A communications apparatus for tone generator setting information includes a timer for providing an instruction at a constant time interval and a transmitting unit for transmitting initial tone generator setting information before sound information is transmitted and thereafter periodically transmitting the real time subsequent tone generator setting information corresponding to the initial tone generator setting information, in response to instructions from the timer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventor: SATORU MOTOYAMA
  • Patent number: 6320112
    Abstract: A process for the automatic selection of musical or tonal compositions to be replayed from a collection of musical or tonal compositions includes the step of assigning evaluation data to each of said compositions which describe its characteristics. Parameters are established describing a target corresponding to a selected behavior of an audience. Status data is generated based on an evaluation of audience behavior. The parameters are then compared with the status data to generate requirement data based on the comparison. The requirement data is compared with the evaluation data and a composition is selected based on the comparison of the requirement data with the evaluation data. A device is also provided for the automatic selection of musical or tonal compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: Martin Lotze
  • Patent number: 6316711
    Abstract: A musical sound signal generation apparatus for producing a sound corresponding to an operated key can produce a sound of a newly-operated key even if all the musical sound signal generation means for generating a musical sound signal are in use. On producing the new sound, the apparatus prevents the players and the audience from having a sense of incongruity derived from the change in sound production. Especially, when a chord has been produced, it can maintain the state of chord production normally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Eiji Matsuda, Jiro Tanaka, Tsutomu Saito
  • Publication number: 20010027715
    Abstract: Tone control data are stored in a volatile first memory such as a RAM, and a color or other factor of a tone to be generated is set or controlled in accordance with the tone control data. User can set contents of the tone control data stored in the first memory. In response to the setting of the tone control data, the stored contents of the first memory are automatically transferred to and stored into a non-volatile second memory, at which time the tone control data are transferred to the second memory within an idle time period when no other operation is being carried out. A plurality of sets of the tone control data, updated at different time points, are stored in the second memory, and arrangements are also made such that, when an error occurs in the course of newest tone control data, data recovery can be made using the second newest set of the tone control data stored in the second memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: Yamaha
    Inventor: Satoru Tsutsumi
  • Publication number: 20010027714
    Abstract: While a normal tone of a designated pitch is being generated in response to key depression or other performance operation on a keyboard or other performance operation device, the tone is controlled in response to manipulation of a pedal or other auxiliary performance operator. Namely, once the auxiliary performance operator is manipulated during generation or sounding of the normal tone, generation of an additional tone related to the normal tone is initiated. In this case, in correspondence with ON/OFF operation of the auxiliary performance operator, a resonant tone is generated, as the additional tone, which is peculiar to the currently-generated normal tone and which is also peculiar to the ON/OFF operation of the auxiliary performance operator. Particularly, if the normal tone is still being generated when the auxiliary performance operator has been returned from the ON state to the OFF state, a returning tone related to the currently-generated normal tone is generated as another additional tone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Masao Kondo, Satoshi Miyata
  • Publication number: 20010022130
    Abstract: A plurality of units for generating or controlling a tone are used in an electronic musical instrument, the number of which is variable depending on a performance grade of the electronic musical instrument. There is supplied control information for generating or controlling a tone, such as performance event data. Each of the units has identification information defining control information to be used by the unit and determines, in accordance with the identification information, whether or not a tone signal based on the supplied control information is to be generated or controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Tadahiko Ikeya
  • Patent number: 6291757
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to, in the music data processing apparatus, reduce the complex processings in each of the computing units and access to the shared region of the main memory unit and to generate more efficiently the music data. According to the music data processing apparatus, the computing units (31) to (33) of the operating device unit (2) perform specified operations on data necessary for generating music that is stored in a main memory (3) and store “1” as the respective flags indicating the completion of the operating process in a synchronization notification information designating part (9) of the main memory (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Kaoru Yamanoue
  • Patent number: 6281422
    Abstract: A music performance assisting system analyzes a set of music data codes representative of a series of notes and rests forming a tune, and selectively assigns the notes to the five fingers of each hand of a player, wherein the music performance assisting system temporarily assigns notes of each of plural note groups to the fingers in accordance with rules of a fingering for obtaining candidates of a finger pattern, and, thereafter, evaluates the candidates on the basis of rules of a desirable fingering so as to determine the optimum use of fingers so as to decrease the data base and speed up the data processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20010015123
    Abstract: Performance interface system includes a motion detector provided for movement with a performer, and a control system for receiving detection data transmitted from the motion detector and controlling a performance of a tone in response to the received detection data. State of a performer's motion is detected via a sensor of the motion detector, and detection data representative of the detected motion state is transmitted to the control system. The control system receives the detection data from the motion detector, analyzes the performer's motion on the basis of the detection data, and then controls a tone performance in accordance with the analyzed data. With this arrangement, the performer can readily take part in the tone performance in the control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Inventors: Yoshiki Nishitani, Satoshi Usa, Masaki Sato, Eiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6274798
    Abstract: Settings of a table as to correspondence between performance parts and tracks can be changed as desired through operation by a user. If the settings of the table have been changed when a visual performance guide is to be provided for a given performance part, the changed settings are automatically referred to so that performance data of a particular track related with the given performance part is selected and used for the performance guide. Namely, whenever the settings of the table are changed, corresponding relationship between tracks and performance parts can be newly set in an automatic fashion, so that it is possible to eliminate a need for a user to repeat a same cumbersome changing operation each time an automatic performance is to be initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Suzuki, Takeo Shibukawa
  • Patent number: 6263313
    Abstract: A method of automatically selecting processing parameters for encoding digital content. Metadata containing the genre of the digital content, receiving the compression level selected for encoding the digital content is received. An algorithm selected for encoding the digital content is received. And a previously defined table to select the processing parameters for encoding the digital content based on the genre of the content, the compression level selected and the algorithm selected is indexed and the processing parameters are retrieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Louis Milsted, Kha Dinh Nguyen, Qing Gong
  • Publication number: 20010007220
    Abstract: A hybrid keyboard musical instrument includes two electric tone generators, music strings selectively struck with hammers driven for rotation by action mechanisms and a silent system for changing a hammer stopper between a free position and a blocking position, and a controlling system supplies instructions for changing the hammer stopper to the silent system and parameters for electronic tones to the tone generators, wherein a user registers pieces of status information in a hard disk unit, and selectively calls the pieces of status information from the hard disk unit during a performance by manipulating buttons so that the user quickly changes the status of the hybrid keyboard musical instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Publication date: July 12, 2001
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Koseki, Haruki Uehara
  • Publication number: 20010003940
    Abstract: There are provided a musical tone-generating apparatus and a musical tone-generating method which make it possible to distribute tone generation loads evenly between a plurality of musical tone-generating sections, even if musical tones designated for tone generation are more concentrated in some specific tone ranges,, to thereby reduce a tone generation load applied to each of the musical tone-generating sections, and a storage medium storing a program for executing the musical tone-generating method. Performance information is supplied which simultaneously instructs a start of generation of musical tones corresponding to each of a plurality of tone pitches. Each of a plurality of tone generators generates musical tones of at least one pitch name independently of each other, all of the tone generators being capable of generating musical tones of all pitch names.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: June 21, 2001
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION OF JAPAN
    Inventor: Masao Kondo
  • Publication number: 20010003943
    Abstract: A musical sound signal generation apparatus for producing a sound corresponding to an operated key can produce a sound of a newly-operated key even if all the musical sound signal generation means for generating a musical sound signal are in use. On producing the new sound, the apparatus prevents the players and the audience from having a sense of incongruity derived from the change in sound production. Especially, when a chord has been produced, it can maintain the state of chord production normally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Publication date: June 21, 2001
    Inventors: Eiji Matsuda, Jiro Tanaka, Tsutomu Saito
  • Patent number: 6201176
    Abstract: A system and method for querying a music database, the database containing a plurality of indexed pieces of music, where the query is performed by forming a database request consisting of a conditional expression relating to the name and/or attributes of the desired piece of music. Associated features are derived from the database query, and compared with corresponding features for the other pieces of music in the database. A desired piece of music is determined by searching for a minimum distance between the database query features and those associated with the pieces of music in the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Zhenya Yourlo
  • Patent number: 6198035
    Abstract: There is disclosed a musical sound signal generation apparatus for creating vacant channels by monaural sounding, in which a left/right balance is maintained and the total sound volume can be increased. When there is a key-on, and there is no vacant channel, a pair of channels for stereo sounding are selected, one channel of the pair of channels is released at a high rate, the panning coefficient of the other channel is changed, and a monaural sound is outputted from left and right output systems. Similarly, another pair of channels are selected, one channel of the pair of channels is released at the high rate, the panning coefficient of the other channel is changed, and the monaural sound is outputted from the left and right output systems. The L and R channels of the new key-on are assigned to two vacant channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Tsutomu Saito, Jiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6194648
    Abstract: Embodiments of the instant invention include a plurality of first operators which, together with the assignment of each of the musical tones being possible, designate the start of reproduction of the musical tones that have been assigned in accordance with their operation and a first control means with which any of the first operators are selected from among the plurality of the first operators and together with the cancellation of the assignment to the first operators that have been selected of the musical tones that had previously been assigned to the selected first operators, the musical tones themselves that had previously been assigned to the selected first operators or the pointers that indicate the musical tones that had previously been assigned to the selected first operators are stored and a second control means in which the musical tones themselves or the pointers that indicate the musical tones which have been stored in the first control means and any of the first operators from among the plurality
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Roland Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Takahashi, Hiromu Katayama
  • Patent number: 6166313
    Abstract: The apparatus stores musical performance data of a polychord stringed musical instrument such as a guitar. A series of performance data on each of the plural strings are recorded on each of a plurality of recording tracks provided correspondingly to the plural strings, the recording data in combination constituting tablature data for exhibiting a tablature notation of the music on the stringed instrument in the display screen. The tablature notation includes a plurality of horizontal lines representing the plural strings and fret numbers at positions of the note generation on each string. Using a mouse or cursor keys, the user can select a desired fret number on a desired string, and alter the fret number to alter the note pitch to be generated on the same string or drag the selected fret number on the selected string to another string to alter the string of the tone generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Hiromu Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 6162983
    Abstract: A music apparatus capable of adding various effects to musical sounds comprises: a processor; a waveform generator; and a program memory storing instructions for causing the processor to execute a musical sound generating process according to first performance information, the musical sound generating process comprising the steps of: (a) receiving the first performance information; (b) creating second performance information according to said received first performance information or third performance information formed by processing said created second performance information; (c) selectively repeating said creating step (b); (d) selectively designating said repeatedly creating step (c) to create fourth performance information different from the previously created performance information; and (e) generating musical sound according to the second, third or fourth performance information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6162980
    Abstract: To provide an electronic upright piano providing a key touch of an acoustic upright piano. An action load simulation member (2) provided in the electronic upright piano is composed of a wippen (15) rotating and rising when a depressed key (11) is rotated, a jack (17) rising together with the wippen (15) until a jack tail (17a) contacts a regulating button (16), a hammer butt (18) rotatably supported by a center pin (18b) for contacting or leaving the jack (17), a hammer shank (21) connected to the hammer butt (18) and provided with a hammer (23), and a hammer stopper (32) which can contact the tip of the hammer (23). The wippen (15), the jack (17) and the hammer butt (18) are rotated about separate axes, respectively. In the electronic upright piano, the let-off timing is the same as that in an acoustic upright piano.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Riichi Kitashima, Muneo Ishida, Masaji Kimura, Shinichiro Miwa
  • Patent number: 6160213
    Abstract: An electronic music instrument system, comprising: an electronic music instrument, having selectable groups of reproducible sounds and individually selectable reproducible sounds; a signal generator for energizing an audio amplifier responsive to different digital audio sources, including the groups of sounds and the individual sounds a graphical user interface for displaying at least one control graphic representing controllable parameters of the audio signals generated by the generator; and, a controller responsive to operation of the control graphic for adjusting the controllable parameters of the generator and for selectively coupling different ones of the sources to the generator. The graphical user interface can comprise: a video display; and, a touch-responsive overlay. The controllable parameters can include multiple instrument sound selection and sound layer assignment, controlled responsive to operation of the at least one control graphic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Van Koevering Company
    Inventors: Rob C. Arnold, Warren W. Westlund, II, David Van Koevering, Robert D. Lawson, Lance E. Lyda, Kenneth R. Noyce, Robert Phillips, John M. Pursey, Gary L. Snethen
  • Patent number: 6147292
    Abstract: There are provided a data-setting system and method that permit easy operation even with one hand, and are capable of calling or selecting a desired one of functions for setting modes of generation of musical tones, which are associated with respective ones of a group of operating elements, or changing any of the functions to a desired one in a short time, and a recording medium storing a program for executing the method. A plurality of data-editing screens including a plurality of function-selecting screens for selecting the functions are switchably displayed on a display device for permitting editing of setting data. In response to an operation of one of the operating elements after operation of a direct access operating element, one of the data-editing screens which is associated with the operated operating element is directly displayed on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Ito
  • Patent number: 6143972
    Abstract: A keyboard-based device for simultaneously reading and playing music on the basis of the conventional written score thereof is disclosed. The device includes a microcomputer and a graphic tablet for holding a paper sheet or a set of score sheets to be processed sequentially, and recognizing any X and Y axis position of the score touched by the tip of a pointer handled by a performer. Each of the graphic tablet X and Y signals thus activated is transmitted to the microcomputer, which has software preprogrammed according to the score in question. Programming is such that any X-Y pair activated on the page triggers a signal that initiates a signal stream for inputting into a sound generator optionally built into the device. The generator then outputs the note closest to the contact point with the pointer on the score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Inventor: Jacques Ladyjonsky
  • Patent number: RE37422
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument, which is configured to simulate one or more instruments, provides a sound source, a display unit and a control portion. Herein, under control of the control portion, the display unit displays the predetermined graphic pattern corresponding to the tone-generation mechanism, i.e., tone-generation algorithm of an instrument to be simulated. The sound source contains a drive portion, a tone-generation portion and a resonance-radiation portion, each of which further contains a digital signal processor (DSP). All of these portions function to create a digitized musical tone signal corresponding to a simulated sound of the instrument by combining operation data outputted from the DSPs. By controlling the display unit, it is possible to arbitrarily vary the contents of the displayed tone-generation algorithm, so that the performer can easily and freely perform a music on this electronic musical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Yamada, Masahiro Shimizu