Abstract: Methods, system and/or computer program products for detection of a note include receiving an audio signal and generating a plurality of frequency domain representations of the audio signal over time. A time domain representation is generated from the plurality of frequency domain representations. A plurality of edges are detected in the time domain representation and the note is detected by selecting one of the plurality of edges as corresponding to the note based on characteristics of the time domain representation.

Abstract: A bibliographic-information impression word is generated from a bibliographic information segment about selected one of music pieces. An acoustic feature quantity of an audio signal representing the selected music piece is calculated. A feature-quantity impression word is generated from the calculated acoustic feature quantity. A degree of conformity between the bibliographic-information impression word and the feature-quantity impression word is determined. Both the bibliographic-information impression word and the feature-quantity impression word are. selected as final impression words when the determined conformity degree is greater than a predetermined threshold value. One is selected from the bibliographic-information impression word and the feature-quantity impression word as a final impression word when the determined conformity degree is not greater than the predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: There is provided a tempo detection apparatus capable of detecting, from the acoustic signal of a human performance of a musical piece having a fluctuating tempo, the average tempo of the entire piece of music and the correct beat positions, and further, the meter of the musical piece and the position of the first beat.

Abstract: A grand piano generates acoustic tones through vibrations of strings and sound board so that the acoustic tones are converted to analog audio signals at recording points over the sound board, and a group of waveform data sets are produced from the analog audio signal through sampling and analog-to-digital conversion; when electronic tones are generated, delay parameters and volume parameters are determined on the basis of differences between the recording points and tone radiating points occupied by loud speakers, the sets of waveform data series are sequentially read out from the group of waveform data sets and are modified with the delay parameters and volume parameters so that the electronic tones become close to the acoustic tones.

Abstract: A fluid user interface is presented for applications such as immersive multimedia. In one embodiment, one or more sprays or jets create an immersive multimedia environment in which a participant can interact within the immersive multimedia environment by blocking, partially blocking, diverting, or otherwise engaging with a fluid, to create computational input. When the fluid is air, a keyboard can be implemented on cusions of air coming out of various nozzles or jets. When the fluid is water, the invention may be used in environments such as showers, baths, hot tubs, waterplay areas, gardens, and the like to create a fun, playful, or wet user-interface. In some embodiments, the spraying is computationally controlled, so that the spray creates a tactile user-interface for the control of such devices as new musical instruments. These may be installed in public fountains to result in a fluid user interface to music by playing in the fountains.

Abstract: A tuning device includes an analog-to-digital converter for converting sound waves propagated from a piano to an audio signal in synchronism with a sampling signal and a data processor for visualizing a difference between a target pitch of a tone and an actual pitch of the tone; since the sampling signal is less accurate in frequency, the data processor previously determines the frequency difference between a design frequency and an actual frequency of the sampling signal by using a calendar clock signal as a measure; the data processor eliminates noise due to the sampling signal from visual images of the pitch difference, and makes the visual images more accurate.

Abstract: An audio management application includes a recombiner and aggregation rules to manipulate and recombine segments of a musical piece such that the resulting finished composition includes parts (segments) from the decomposed piece, typically a song, adjustable for length by selectively replicating particular parts and combining with other parts such that the finished composition provides a similar audio experience in the predetermined duration. The architecture defines the parts with part variations of independent length, identified as performing a function of starting, middle, (looping) or ending parts. Each of the parts provides a musical segment that is integratable with other parts in a seamless manner that avoids audible artifacts (e.g. “pops” and “crackles”) common with conventional mechanical switching and mixing.

Abstract: Signals in two different bands (band components) are extracted from an input signal by an HPF and a BPF, and frequency-shift processing is performed by an MPY. Further, in order to adjust levels of an interface between the band components of shifted frequency to a high-frequency band side and the input signal, band components with which the input signal is adjacent to the high-frequency band extension components are extracted by an HPF. Then, a gain is controlled on the basis of the output values from the HPF and the HPF so as to reduce a difference between the components of shifted frequencies and the level of the input signal by the level correction coefficient calculating unit and the MPY. Then, the shifted components are added to the high-frequency band of the input signal by an ADDER.

Abstract: An initial positive trigger value is above a minimum positive trigger value which is above an input signal DC component value. An initial negative trigger value is under a maximum negative trigger value which is under the input signal DC component value. Maximum and minimum signal values are measured and then they are used for the next positive and negative trigger value calculations. A positive signal half period is measured by measuring the time interval from the time point when a signal value becomes greater than the positive trigger value, to a time point where the input signal becomes less than the negative trigger value when the negative half period measuring starts. The negative half period measuring ends when the input signal value becomes greater than the positive trigger value. Positive and negative half period measurements are repeated several times and measured half periods are stored to memory.

Abstract: Respective pitch values are estimated for an audio signal. Candidate harmonic segments of the audio signal are identified from the estimated pitch values. Respective levels of harmonic content in the candidate harmonic segments are determined. An associated classification record is generated for each of the candidate harmonic segments based on a harmonic content predicate defining at least one condition on the harmonic content levels. An associated classification record also may be generated for each of the audio signal segments classified into a harmonic segment class based on a classification predicate defining at least one condition on the estimated pitch values. The classification records that are associated with ones of the harmonic segments satisfying the classification predicate include an assignment to a speech segment class. The classification records that are associated with ones of the harmonic segments failing to satisfy the classification predicate include an assignment to a music segment class.

Abstract: Beat matching for two audio streams extracts beats from each, computes a conversion ratio from one stream to the other stream by an initial beat alignment plus a stability-maintaining beat alignment. A variable resampling converter or time scale modifier adjusts one stream to align beats with those of the other (reference) stream. Thus for cross-fading two music streams the beats of the fading-in stream can be matched to those of the fading-out stream for a seamless transition.

Abstract: A control unit controls to access the beat guide file for timings of beats, cues, lyrics, and messages of musical sound data to be reproduced, and controls an image processing unit to display beat guide objects (52a and 52b), which respectively represent beat timings and reproducing pitches of selected musical sound data. This allows a user to reproduce musical sound data at will by referring to the beat guide objects (52a and 52b) and visually recognizing beat progression, reproducing pitches, cue positions, lyrics, and messages of the musical sound data to be reproduced.

Abstract: A game apparatus includes an operating switch and a microphone. A player operates a player object through intuition by the operating switch or inputting a sound. The number of zero crossings contained in waveform of a sound input through the microphone is detected, and also individual interval times between the zero crossings are detected. Then, it is determined whether or not the distribution of the interval times, i.e. the frequency distribution matches the distribution of interval times (frequency distribution) related to a breath sound stored in advance. If there is a match between the two, the input sound is recognized as a breath sound, and a game process based on the breath (wind) is carried out. For example, a game screen depicting the breath or wind is displayed on an LCD.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a pitch using frequency analysis are provided. An externally input digital signal is analyzed into frequency component values at predetermined time intervals, and positions of peaks of the digital signal are detected based on the frequency component values. It is determined whether a frequency at a maximum peak position among the peak positions is a pitch or a n-order harmonic frequency of the pitch to detect a pitch. Then, the range of the pitch is determined based on the range of a harmonic frequency of the detected pitch. Accordingly, an error range for the pitch detected using frequency analysis is minimized, thereby more exactly detecting a pitch when the pitch is detected using the frequency analysis.

Abstract: A music information retrieval system and method that involve a query-by-humming (QbH) database system for processing queries in the form of analog audio sequences which encompass recorded parts of sung, hummed or whistled tunes, recorded parts of a melody played on a musical instrument or a speaker's recorded voice articulating at least one part of a song's lyrics to retrieve textual background information about a musical piece whose score is stored in an integrated database of said system after having analyzed and recognized said melody.

Abstract: To store main information with associated additional information incorporated therein, data constituting the additional information is divided into a plurality of small-size data pieces of, e.g., one bit. Then, the respective values of particular ones of predetermined data units (e.g., bytes) constituting the main information are subjected to arithmetic operations in accordance with a predetermined algorithm containing the value of each of the data pieces as a parameter. In this way, the respective values of the particular data units in the main information are modulated in accordance with the values of the individual data pieces in the additional information; at that time, only some of the data unit values are altered with the others left unaltered. The thus-arithmetically-operated main information is stored into a storage.

Abstract: When a first bar-division determination section determines that the bass note changes in a bar or when a second bar-division determination section determines that the degree of change in the chord in the bar is large, a chord-name determination section divides the bar and detects chords. This operation allows correct chords to be detected even when the chord changes within a bar, while the bass note is maintained.

Abstract: A self-adjusting music scrolling method comprises providing a display screen, selecting a music score to be played by a musician, wherein the music score is cataloged and stored in a music score database as a first MIDI file, displaying a first portion of the selected music score on the display screen, recording musical notes played by a musician with a digital device, storing the recorded musical notes in memory as a WAV file, converting the WAV file into a second MIDI file, comparing the first MIDI file and the second MIDI file with a MIDI comparison algorithm, determining if the first MIDI file substantially matches the second MIDI file, automatically adjusting the music score on the display screen to show a second portion of the selected music score upon determining that the first MIDI file substantially matches the second MIDI file, and displaying one or more mistakes detected on the display screen upon determining that the first MIDI file does not substantially match the second MIDI file.

Abstract: In an image controlling apparatus, an image data input from an image reproducing device 14 to a motion picture recording unit 71 is stored in a RAM 72 by making the image data corresponding to an event by a pad operation in a recording mode RM. Also, in a play mode PM, a data reading unit 73 selectively reads the image data from the RAM 72 in accordance with an event by a pad operation. In an external controlling mode, an image data is selectively read from the RAM 72 in accordance with detection of an event from an external input signal. An image controlling unit 74 generates an image signal in accordance with the read image data, adds an image effect, synthesizes with a real time image signal from the image reproducing device 14, and displays a corresponding image on an image display 15.

Abstract: A scale information inputting section receives an input of scale information of a musical composition. Based on the scale information of the musical composition inputted to the scale information inputting section, an appearance probability calculating section calculates appearance probabilities of pitch names included in the scale information for each of the pitch names. A template storing section stores 24 types of previously created templates respectively corresponding to 24 types of keys. Based on an appearance probability distribution of the musical composition calculated by the appearance probability calculating section and each of the templates stored in the template storing section, a load ratio calculating section calculates load ratios respectively corresponding to the templates.

Abstract: An electronic stringed instrument is provided where the value of a pitch that has been currently detected and the value of a pitch that has been stored are compared. A determination is made as to whether or not the pitch has dropped roughly a half tone. In those cases where the currently detected pitch has dropped roughly a half tone from the pitch detected a specified period earlier, a tone generator begins the attenuation of a musical tone that is generated and the note height of the musical tone is controlled so that the note height does not change.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for outputting audio data and a musical score image, displaying a musical score image corresponding to reproduced audio data, and outputting audio data corresponding to a musical score image are provided, in which a tone is extracted, the tone is converted into a frequency, a monotone or polyphonic tone is identified, the frequency corresponding to a monotone or polyphonic tone is converted into tone information data, and the tone information data is stored, and a musical score is displayed. Also, audio data corresponding to a musical score are output, in which the musical score is photographed, musical signs from the photographed musical score are extracted, a pitch of a tone is extracted from music paper and musical note information of the musical signs, a duration of the tone from the musical note information of the musical signs is extracted, and audio data are output.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a musical piece extraction program stored in a computer-readable storage medium, the program causing a computer to perform a process including the steps of, detecting a musical piece likeliness of each of pieces of processing-unit data that constitute input audio data, based on a result of the detection of the musical piece likeliness, identifying a musical piece candidate section within the audio data, based on the musical piece candidate section and musical piece information acquired from an external server, determining a musical piece section within the audio data, and recording the musical piece information onto a recording medium so as to be associated with the musical piece section.

Abstract: A sound analysis apparatus employs tone models which are associated with various fundamental frequencies and each of which simulates a harmonic structure of a performance sound generated by a musical instrument, then defines a weighted mixture of the tone models to simulate frequency components of the performance sound, further sequentially updates and optimizes weight values of the respective tone models so that a frequency distribution of the weighted mixture of the tone models corresponds to a distribution of the frequency components of the performance sound, and estimates the fundamental frequency of the performance sound based on the optimized weight values.

Abstract: A music search engine is invented to find a desired song in the database by comparing the melodies. This invention comprises two major parts: a client-end and a server-end. The client-end converts various input formats into a note sequence and sends it to the server-end engine. The server-end then compares the note sequence with the melodies in the database and finds the closest match. This invention enables us to search music by its melodic content instead of titles, lyrics or other annotated information. Moreover, this invention tolerates inaccurate inputs so that even less skilled people can hum to the system with inaccurate melody and find the target song.

Abstract: MIDI compression and decompression methods that reduce the size of a standard MIDI file and maintains information to play the MIDI music. The exemplary method of the invention makes use of the high correlation and repetitions between a look-ahead MIDI event and previous set of MIDI events. An adjustable size Lempel-Ziv-like MIDI Event Search Window (MESW) is created during the compression and decompression process to allow searching of matched events or event elements in previous window size of MIDI events. Further reduction of the MIDI events can be made by discarding the matched events in the event search window. Therefore, with 4-bit of MIDI event search window, the number of MIDI events stored in the window can be more than 16.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument that includes an input means for inputting first performance data from a first performer side and a second performance data from a second performer side, wherein the input includes at least pitch information, query performance data and response performance data. A mode switch is for switching between a first mode and a second mode. The first mode uses the first performance data as the query performance data, and the second performance data as the response performance data. The second mode uses the second performance data as the query performance data, and the first performance data as the response performance data. A condition determination at least determines whether the response performance data matches the query performance data. A controller automatically operates the mode switch based on the condition determination. The musical instrument enhances learning musical tone discrimination via a game like interaction.

Abstract: A karaoke apparatus and the method thereof are provided, which guarantees the pitch of the karaoke music conforms to the pitch of the user. The apparatus comprises an audio input unit, a scale detector, a memory unit, a processor and a scale control unit. The audio input unit receives a test sound. The scale detector analyzes at least one test step of the test sound. The memory unit stores a plurality of standard steps. The processor finds out the highest step among the test steps, compares the highest step with the standard steps, and obtains a target step from the comparison; wherein, the target step is the standard step closest to the highest step. Finally, the scale control unit adjusts the pitch of the karaoke music so that the pitch is lower than that of the target step.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a ring tone for an electronic device takes as input a phrase sung in a human voice and transforms it into a control signal controlling, for example, a ringer on a cellular telephone. Time-varying features of the input signal are analyzed to segment the signal into a set of discrete notes and assigning to each note a chromatic pitch value. The set of note start and stop times and pitches are then translated into a format suitable for controlling the device.

Abstract: A nibble stream containing MIDI music data words and synchronous nibbles and an external audio signal are selectively converted to an audio-frequency signal, which in turn is converted to a set of PCM codes for storing it in a compact disc; and the audio frequency signal, which is demodulated from the PCM data codes, is analyzed to see which is the origin of the audio frequency signal on the basis of the signal level and what sort of modulation technique was employed on the basis of features of the audio frequency signal such as peak-to-peak intervals and similarity to reference waveforms so that the nibble stream or the external audio signal is exactly reproduced from the audio frequency signal.

Abstract: For grouping temporal segments of an audio piece, which is structured into main parts repeatedly occurring in the audio piece, into various segment classes, at first a similarity representation for the segments is provided, wherein the similarity representation for each segment comprises an associated plurality of similarity values, wherein the similarity values indicate how similar the segment is to every other segment of the audio piece. Hereupon, using the similarity values associated with the segment, a similarity threshold value for a segment is calculated in order to then associate a segment with a segment class when the similarity value of the segment meets a predetermined relation with reference to the similarity threshold value. With this, clustering is achieved, which also works efficiently and correctly where there are segments with strongly different or almost equal combined similarity values.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for shifting pitch to target pitch without detecting the original pitch directly, and for extracting the pitch of the audio waveform exactly. A phase compensator extracts 2 or more frequency channels each having frequency components of a harmonic overtone whose frequency is 1 or more times as higher than frequency of a fundamental tone of the original sound, from the frequency channels from which the frequency components are extracted by fast Fourier transform. The phase compensator calculates a scaling value to be used for converting the fundamental tone to another target fundamental tone, and performs phase compensation in accordance with the scaling value. A pitch shifter performs pitch scaling in accordance with the scaling value onto the audio data resultant from inverse fast Fourier transform onto the phase compensated frequency components. Thus, audio data representing the target fundamental tone are generated.

Abstract: A sound analysis apparatus stores sound source structure data defining a constraint on one or more of sounds that can be simultaneously generated by a sound source of an input audio signal. A form estimation part selects fundamental frequencies of one or more of sounds likely to be contained in the input audio signal with peaked weights from various fundamental frequencies during sequential updating and optimizing of weights of tone models corresponding to the various fundamental frequencies, so that the sounds of the selected fundamental frequencies satisfy the sound source structure data, and creates form data specifying the selected fundamental frequencies. A previous distribution imparting part imparts a previous distribution to the weights of the tone models corresponding to the various fundamental frequencies so as to emphasize weights corresponding to the fundamental frequencies specified by the form data created by the form estimation part.

Abstract: In an instrument performance learning apparatus, a storage section stores model performance waveform data representing a time series of individual performance sounds of a model performance. An input section inputs real performance waveform data representing a time series of individual performance sounds of a real performance. A pitch graph display control section detects each pitch of each individual performance sound from the stored model performance waveform data and from the inputted real performance waveform data, and displays a pitch graph representing transitions of the detected pitches.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument internally stores automatic performance data. The electronic musical instrument reads automatic performance data to perform an automatic performance, while incrementing melody tone pitch data contained in the automatic performance data. The electronic musical instrument obtains a valve state signal from an operated state of a plurality of performance operators. The electronic musical instrument automatically generates pitch data corresponding to a pitch of a voice on the basis of the melody tone pitch data. The electronic musical instrument extracts tone pitch candidates on the basis of the valve state signal, and determines a tone pitch in accordance with the automatically generated pitch data and the tone pitch candidates. The timing at which the determined tone pitch matches the melody tone pitch data is regarded as the timing to increment the melody tone pitch data.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument provides a player with an assisted performance to offer him/her the pleasure of performing on a musical instrument, and to help him/her in practicing the electronic musical instrument on which a tone pitch of a musical tone to be generated is determined in accordance with the operation of a combination of performance operators, as in the case of a wind instrument such as a trumpet. A number of operating modes are provided to allow the player to independently practice their ability with respect to one or more performance operators or to simply play the electronic musical instrument without an assisted performance.

Abstract: For the segment class designation the temporal position of segments in two candidate segment classes is used for the stanza/refrain selection by means of a segment class designation means, wherein the highest-order segment class is designated as refrain segment class only when it has a segment following temporally later in the audio piece than the latest segment of the other candidate segment class. With this, segment class labeling with a low error rate is achieved, which can at the same time be implemented with easy effort and is further predestined for automated flow.

Abstract: The method of the present invention utilizes machine-learning techniques, particularly Support Vector Machines in combination with a neural network, to process a unique machine-learning enabled representation of the audio bitstream. Using this method, a classifying machine is able to autonomously detect characteristics of a piece of music, such as the artist or genre, and classify it accordingly. The method includes transforming digital time-domain representation of music into a frequency-domain representation, then dividing that frequency data into time slices, and compressing it into frequency bands to form multiple learning representations of each song. The learning representations that result are processed by a group of Support Vector Machines, then by a neural network, both previously trained to distinguish among a given set of characteristics, to determine the classification.

Abstract: For changing a segmentation of an audio piece after a segment class assignment, at first a short segment is selected, which has a length shorter than a predetermined minimum length. This short segment is preferably merged with the corresponding successor segment or predecessor segment using information on a segment class membership of the short segment itself, but also the successor segment or the predecessor segment, in order to obtain a changed segmentation of the audio signal. With this, a not over-segmented segment representation of the audio signal is obtained, which further includes all audio information, i.e. is not a representation of the audio piece with holes.

Abstract: An audio processing system includes a first audio detecting device for detecting a first audio signal stored in a storage module and a beat length of the first audio signal, a second audio detecting device for detecting a second audio signal and a beat length of the second audio signal, and a processor coupled to the first audio detecting device and the second audio detecting device for transforming the first audio signal and the beat length of the first audio signal and the second audio signal and the beat length of the second audio signal into corresponding information.

Abstract: A mobile communication terminal provided with a tuning function, which saves a player the trouble of carrying around a tuning meter or the like and facilitates the tuning of instruments. A user designates a reference pitch stored in a memory, and inputs the sound of an instrument or a voice into a microphone. A synthesizer generates a sound that most approximates the sound input through the microphone according to the reference pitch designated by the user. The sound generated by the synthesizer is compared with the sound input through the microphone, and the result of the comparison is displayed on a display.

Abstract: Genetic music generated by decoding and transcribing genetic information within a DNA sequence into a music signal having melody and harmony, and useful in the producion of novely consumer products, identification systems, and diagnostic tools.

Abstract: In one aspect thereof this invention provides a method to estimate pitch in an acoustic signal. The method includes initializing a function ƒt and a time t, where t=0, x?0=ƒ0(F0), x?0 is a pitch estimate at time zero and F0 is a frequency of the acoustic signal at time zero; determining at least one pitch estimate using the function x?t=ƒt(Ft) by an iterative process of creating ƒt+1(Ft+1) based at least partly on pitch estimates x?t, x?t?1, x?t?2, x?t?3, . . . , and functions ƒt(Ft), ƒt?1(Ft?1), ƒt?2(Ft?2), ƒt?3(Ft?3) . . . and incrementing t; and calculating at least one final pitch estimate. Embodiments of this invention can be applied to pitch extraction with various different input acoustic signal characteristics, such as just intonation, pitch shift in the frequency domain, and non-12-step-equal-temperament tuning.

Abstract: A system for supporting performer interactions with a self-organizing chemical reaction based on monitoring and interpretation of a controllable self-organizing chemical reaction contained within a reaction vessel. The self-organizing chemical reaction initially includes two or more constituent chemical reactants which may be controllably replenished. Controller elements, responsive to reaction control signals, influence the reaction. Reaction control signals are generated by a processor in response to incoming performance signals. Selectable control-conversion algorithms may be used for this purpose, permitting an incoming performance signal to responsively influence the self-organizing chemical reaction. One or more electrodes or chemical sensors, a video camera, or other monitoring devices may be used to monitor the chemical reaction and produce outgoing control signals for controlling synthesizers, signal processing, lighting, or video synthesis.

Abstract: In a method for generating an identifier for an audio signal including a tone generated by an instrument, a discrete amplitude-time representation of the audio signal is generated at first, wherein the amplitude-time representation, for a plurality of subsequent points in time, comprises a plurality of subsequent amplitude values, wherein a point in time is associated to each amplitude value. Subsequently, an identifier for the audio signal is extracted from the amplitude-time representation. An instrument database is formed from several identifiers for several audio signals including tones of several instruments. By means of a test identifier for an audio signal having been produced by an unknown instrument, the type of the test instrument is determined using the instrument database. A precise instrument identification can be obtained by using the amplitude-time representation of a tone produced by an instrument for identifying a musical instrument.

Abstract: A method and a device for computing sense data, which automatically compute data relating to feelings or senses generated by the human sensations by analyzing signals, such as audio signals, relating to the sensations. In the device, a MP3 decoder storing unit stores digital sound data which has been recorded using MP3 system. A decompression unit decompresses MP3 data which has been decompressed, and outputs as sound pressure value data at each frequency area. A sense data computation unit includes a feeling analysis unit and a rhythm analysis unit. The rhythm analysis unit obtains count of beats per unit time based on the sound pressure value data. The feeling analysis unit obtains a few kinds of feeling parameter values based on the sound pressure value data, determines the kind and level of feelings based on the value of feeling parameter and the count of beats per unit time, and writes the results thereof into a sense data accumulation unit.

Abstract: The song search apparatus for searching a song among songs including lyrics and performances, comprises: a song feature information database which stores song feature information indicating acoustic feature of the performances or feature of the lyrics included in the songs; an input unit which inputs a search word representing the song to be searched and formed of a word representing a subjectivity; a search song feature information database which stores search song feature information indicating the acoustic feature or the feature of the lyrics of the songs; a search process unit which compares input search song feature information corresponding to the inputted search word with each of the stored song feature information, extracts a song most similar to the input search song feature information, and makes a display display an image indicating the input search song feature information and an image indicating the song feature information of the extracted song.

Abstract: The present invention provides a music playback system which uses an interface to easily play back a characteristic musical structure section with a music audio data playback apparatus. The interface 13 includes a function of selecting an arbitrary characteristic music structure section from a plurality of characteristic music structure sections, and a function of visualizing a characteristic music structure section. The characteristic music structure section specifying data for specifying the selected arbitrary characteristic music structure section is given to a music audio data playback apparatus 3. The music audio data playback apparatus 3 changes a playback position of the music audio data to the characteristic music structure section specified by the characteristic music structure section specifying data given by a specifying data providing means 12.

Abstract: In a music video game, a player's performance is digitally sampled while the player performs a musical composition. The player's performance is compared with a reference performance of the musical composition provided by the music video game. Performance feedback is presented to the player based on the results of the comparison. In some embodiments, sample times associated with digital samples of the player's live vocal performance are compared against timestamps of data records embedded or otherwise accompanying the reference performance audio track. Pitch and rhythm information is retrieved from the data record having a timestamp that most closely matches the sample time of interest. The pitch and rhythm data is used to compute pitch and rhythm errors, which are used to generate performance evaluation data. The performance evaluation data is used to present performance feedback to the player while the player is performing the musical composition.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for detecting the energy of a tone signal. A pre-process unit takes absolute values of transmitted samples and outputs the values to a delay unit for delaying the transmitted samples according to a predetermined delay interval. An operation unit subtracts the value calculated by multiplying the magnitudes of the samples transmitted before and after the burst detection from the square value of the magnitude of the sample at the time of burst detection among the delayed transmitted samples. A detection unit detects the burst by confirming whether peaks corresponding to the number of the samples transmitted before the sample of the burst detection are detected by a signal of an value input from the operation unit. Therefore, the present invention can reduce a probability of a false alarm caused by an impulse error and burst errors and thus perform stable burst detection.