Transposition Patents (Class 84/619)
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Patent number: 11020652Abstract: A modifiable pinball machine includes a processing device, a memory storing instructions executable by the processing device, a communications interface coupled to the processing device for receiving new music data from a source external to the pinball machine for storage in the memory, and a speaker coupled to the processing device for playing music retrieved from the memory. The new music data is provided with data useable by the instructions to cause the processing device to automatically retrieve from the memory the new music data in lieu of originally provisioned music data, for playing via use of the speaker, when the pinball machine is caused to operate in a predetermined operating state.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Stern Pinball, Inc.Inventors: George A. Gomez, Gary Stern
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Patent number: 10818277Abstract: A musical instrument includes a hollow body with an air inlet to blow air into the body, and an air outlet to allow the air to exit the body. A number of holes are provided which are suitable to be closed by a player. A sensor group includes proximity sensors located near the holes to detect if the holes are closed or open. One control unit is electrically connected to the sensor group, and power supply unit is connected to the sensor group and the control unit to power up the sensor group and the control unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: ARTINOISE S.R.L.Inventor: Davide Mancini
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Patent number: 10360884Abstract: An electronic wind instrument according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of performance keys for specifying pitches, a breath sensor which detects at least a breath input operation, and a controller (CPU), wherein the controller (CPU) selectively switches between a first mode of outputting first sound waveform data generated on the basis of the breath input operation and operation of at least one performance key from among the plurality of performance keys, and a second mode of, when the breath input operation is detected, outputting second sound waveform data based on musical piece data regardless of whether operation of the at least one performance key is detected or is not detected.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2018Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroko Okuda, Ryutaro Hayashi
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Patent number: 10319354Abstract: A modulating keyboard having a relative transposition in an electronic keyboard musical instrument and a method for relative transposition are provided. An instrument includes a keyboard having a plurality of first keys alternating with a plurality of second keys and a modulator system coupled to the keyboard. The modulator system is configured to assign note values to each of the first keys and the second keys such that, for each key signature, notes associated with the key signature are assigned to the plurality of first keys and notes not in the key signature are assigned to the plurality of second keys.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2017Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: Mercurial Modulation, LLCInventors: D. Kevin Laughlin, James L. Laughlin
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Patent number: 9099150Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method and apparatus for phase coherent stretching of audio clips on an editing timeline. The method comprising receiving a selection of a plurality of audio clips for stretching; determining a stretch ratio for the selection of audio clips based on a selection and repositioning one of a clip head or a clip tail of a selected one of the audio clips for stretching; and stretching each audio clip of the selection of audio clips by the stretch ratio, wherein during stretching, each selected audio clip remains synchronized with all other audio clips selected for stretching, by repositioning both of the clip head and the clip tail of each selected audio clip relative to the editing timeline, except for one clip head or clip tail which is not repositioned.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2012Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATEDInventors: Matthew Gehring Stegner, Joseph Todd Orler
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Patent number: 8642875Abstract: A process and a system are disclosed for some embodiments of the invention that map MIDI signals in a manner which always puts the harmony and melody octaves of an electronic MIDI keyboard in perfect pitch for a user of the keyboard. The process of some embodiments includes (i) receiving a selection of a key signature, (ii) receiving a selection of a scale, (iii) organizing the left side octave(s) (“chord” side) into a chord generator that places all scale tones on white keys and applies a chord effect to each white key, relative to the scale tone position, and (iv) organizing the right side octave(s) (“melody” side) into a melody lock that provides multiple settings for mapping the seven scale tones onto white keys.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2013Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Inventor: Zachary Charles Kinter
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Patent number: 8609969Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 21, 2011Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Shenghua Bao, Jian Chen, Zhong Su, Xin Ying Yang
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Patent number: 8253006Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 31, 2008Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Sung-Yong Kim
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Patent number: 8198525Abstract: A computer implemented method allows a user to collectively adjust tracks in a digital workstation. The method includes causing the display of at least one internal track and at least one external track. The method then allows the collective adjusting of the tempo, tempo and pitch, or tuning of each internal track and each external track in response to receiving a command. The adjusted tempo and/or adjusted tuning value can be displayed.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2009Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Clemens Homburg
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Patent number: 7968785Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting standard musical notes to natural musical notes based upon Rod formats. A signal of standard musical notes is input and the frequency of each note in the signal is analyzed. A Rod format natural harmonic resonance is selected and the frequency of each note in the signal is converted to a natural frequency corresponding to the selected Rod format natural harmonic resonance. A signal consisting of the converted notes is output. An apparatus capable of performing the inventive process on a signal of standard musical notes includes a signal input port and a signal output port, means for converting the frequency of standard musical notes to a corresponding natural frequency corresponding to a Rod format, means for selecting a Rod format natural harmonic resonance, and a frequency analyzer.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2009Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Inventor: Alan Steven Howarth
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Patent number: 7838757Abstract: A process for converting standard musical notes to Ra format musical notes comprising inputting a signal of standard musical notes, analyzing the frequency of each note in the signal, selecting a Ra format natural harmonic resonance, converting the frequency of each note in the signal to a Ra format frequency corresponding to the selected Ra format natural harmonic resonance, and outputting signal consisting of the converted notes. An apparatus including a processor capable of performing the inventive process on a signal of standard musical notes. The apparatus (12) includes a signal input port (14) and a signal output port, means for converting the frequency of standard musical notes to a corresponding frequency of Ra musical notes, means for selecting a Ra format natural harmonic resonance, and a frequency analyzer (26).Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2006Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Inventors: Alan Steven Howarth, Wesley Howard Bateman
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Patent number: 7718883Abstract: The present invention provides a complete orchestration system to generate melodic lines of any length in real time to provide a new musical accompaniment with no repeated phrases each time a particular style is played, and which can generate accompaniment styles played by groups of any size up to full symphony orchestras. It instructs a computer processing unit to compose and orchestrate a particular style of music by merely describing, to the orchestration system, the attributes of that style. An original musical score can be generated and performed that can be synchronized to the scenes in a video production to provide a complete orchestration video system.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2006Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Inventor: Jack Cookerly
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Patent number: 7615701Abstract: A method for keying human voice audio frequency includes the steps of setting the human factor of the singer; recording the singing of the singer; calculating the audio frequency by an audio frequency counter; recording the maximum ground frequency by the recorder; estimating a maximum fundamental audio frequency thereof by the diapason estimator; and converting the maximum fundamental audio frequency into musical terminology, the best audio frequency of the singer being determined. The method for keying human voice audio frequency is very easy and fast.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2005Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: Tiao-Pin Cultural Enterprise Co., Ltd.Inventor: Wen-Hsin Lin
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Publication number: 20090193960Abstract: The present invention provides a complete orchestration system to generate melodic lines of any length in real time to provide a new musical accompaniment with no repeated phrases each time a particular style is played, and which can generate accompaniment styles played by groups of any size up to full symphony orchestras. It instructs a computer processing unit to compose and orchestrate a particular style of music by merely describing, to the orchestration system, the attributes of that style. An original musical score can be generated and performed that can be synchronized to the scenes in a video production to provide a complete orchestration video system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2006Publication date: August 6, 2009Inventor: Jack Cookerly
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Patent number: 7563975Abstract: A music production system is presented that includes a music module to access computer software applications and produce music compositions. The system in a first mode records and corrects the pitch of a tune, typically a tune sung by a user at a microphone. The user may produce additional tracks with the software applications including instruments playing the recorded and corrected tune or to accompany the user while singing the tune. In a second mode, the system generates virtual characters such as band members, a producer and/or a manager to simulate the production and presentation of the recorded tune as a stage show as part of a recording industry. Virtual characters may assist in the use of user interface functions during music composition development and orchestration.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2006Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Leahy, James Zielinski, Mark Barthold, Lucas Pope
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Patent number: 7560637Abstract: In a portable multimedia device, a method, apparatus, and system for providing user supplied configuration data are described. In one embodiment, a hierarchically ordered graphical user interface is provided. A first order, or home, interface provides a highest order of user selectable items each of which, when selected, results in an automatic transition to a lower order user interface associated with the selected item. In one of the described embodiments, the lower order interface includes other user selectable items associated with the previously selected item from the higher order user interface.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2005Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey L. Robbin, Steve Jobs, Timothy Wasko, Greg Christie, Imran Chaudhri
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Patent number: 7435891Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to an automated method and system component for generating variations of one or more musical selections directed to particular students or to particular skill-levels into which students may be classified. The method and system component may be included in a wide variety of different music rendering, music display, and music instruction systems. In one embodiment, variations are generated by filtering each layer of a musical selection with respect to a number of common, musical elements, with the filtering chosen to reflect a selected or desired skill-level. In this embodiment, the layers of a musical selection include a melody line, a chord progression, and a bass line, and musical elements include key-signature, rhythm, pitch range, tempo and meter, and technique. Skill-level may be based on a numerically-encoded range of skill-levels, or may include a number of fixed skill-levels, such as beginning, easy, intermediate, and advanced levels.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2006Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Inventor: James C. Perla
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Patent number: 7420116Abstract: A music data modifier receives pieces of original music data from a master hybrid piano, and partially modifies the pieces of original music data to pieces of modified music data for a slave hybrid piano; each piece of original music data contains a series of values of a piece of motion data expressing continuous motion of the associated key, a series of values of a piece of time data expressing each expressing a time to obtain the associated value of the motion data and a piece of identification code expressing the key number assigned to the key; even if the music data modifier changes the piece of identification data from the key number to another key number, the piece of motion data still expresses the continuous motion of the key so that the slave hybrid piano exactly reproduce the key motion.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2005Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventor: Yuji Fujiwara
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Patent number: 7365262Abstract: Plural pieces of music data (performance data) each corresponding to each of plural music pieces are stored in a rewritable external storage device 25. Further, tone range restriction data indicating a sound generable range of a tone is stored in the external storage device 25 as associated with each piece of performance data or each piece of tone color data for controlling a tone color of a tone. A CPU 21 transposes the music piece corresponding to the selected performance data by the inputted transposition amount by the program process. In case where a part of the pitch of the transposed music piece is outside the sound generable range indicated by tone range restriction data corresponding to the selected performance data or to the selected tone color data, the transposition amount of all of or a part of the music piece including at least a note corresponding to the aforesaid part of the pitch is changed.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventor: Tokuji Hayakawa
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Patent number: 7342168Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2006Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masaru Setoguchi
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Patent number: 7314994Abstract: An audio processing device receives, processes, and outputs music and audio files to a variety of electronic and paper-based formats. In one embodiment, the audio processing device generates a score based on a music or audio file, and/or can match the file to melodies stored in a pre-existing database. In an embodiment, the audio processing device and a PC share the processing load. In yet another embodiment, the musical segments identified in a score are mapped to an audio or music file so that a user can access the specific segments at a later point.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2004Date of Patent: January 1, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Jonathan J. Hull, Jamey Graham, Peter E. Hart
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Patent number: 7197149Abstract: A cellular phone is provided with a melody sound reproducing unit comprising: a speaker for providing specified output in a range between a first frequency and a second frequency; a signal generator for supplying an audio signal to the speaker; a memory for storing signal data corresponding to an audio signal to be generated by the signal generator; and a controller for controlling the signal generator based on the signal data, wherein the signal data is stored in the memory when the frequency of the corresponding audio signal is in a range between the first frequency and the second frequency, and the audio signal whose frequency is in a range between the first frequency and the second frequency is supplied to the speaker.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2000Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Ryota Mita, Akio Shinagawa
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Patent number: 7169997Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 24, 2003Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Inventor: Stephen R. Kay
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Patent number: 7119268Abstract: A sound control apparatus is provided in a portable terminal for sounding a music tone in association with operation of the portable terminal, which is controlled by a main CPU. In the sound control apparatus, a memory memorizes music information representing a music tone and configuration information associated to a timbre of the music tone. An information acquiring section acquires the music information and the configuration information from the memory. A tone generating section is configured by the acquired configuration information to create a timbre specified by the configuration information. The tone generating section operates according to the acquired music information to generate the music tone being represented by the music information and having the specified timbre. A dedicated CPU is provided separately from the main CPU for controlling the memory, the information acquiring section and the tone generating section.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2003Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventors: Tsuyoshi Futamase, Yasushi Kurakake, Kensuke Ide, Shigehiko Mizuno, Shuzo Karakawa, Kosei Terada, Yutaka Hasegawa, Takashi Kunii
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Patent number: 7005571Abstract: A MIDI controller pedalboard for composing and playing music such as pipe organ music is disclosed. The MIDI controller pedalboard provides pedals, and switches for the playing of notes and the manipulation of sound data in a MIDI format.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2002Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Inventor: Warren R. Groff
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Patent number: 6958442Abstract: A software solution to the pitch limitations inherent in the MIDI standard. The invention uses the Polyphonic Aftertouch (also known as “Key Aftertouch”) messages available in the basic MIDI standard to retune selected notes, according to the following process: First, a standard note lying on the Western scale is played. Then, a Polyphonic Aftertouch signal is immediately sent to shift the pitch of the standard note to transform it into a non-standard note. The Polyphonic Aftertouch message follows immediately behind the Note On message and pitch value creating the standard note. Thus, the standard note only sounds for about 960 microseconds. The shortest temporal resolution of the human ear is approximately 2–3 milliseconds. As a result, the human ear does not hear the first standard note, since it does not sound for a sufficient length of time. The human ear only perceives the pitch shifted note.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2003Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Assignee: Florida State University Research FoundationInventor: Ahmed Shawky Moussa
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Patent number: 6664458Abstract: A selected span of a music composition data file containing note data in the MIDI format which discriminates twelve notes per octave is examined with respect to respective tonalities to find an optimum tonality. Out of all the notes contained in the selected span, the number of notes that fall on the intrinsic notes of a tonality is counted with respect to each of the tonalities. The tonality which has the greatest count of intrinsic notes is determined to the optimum tonality. When the music composition is transposed, the chord names are altered according to the amount of the transposition. Then, the altered chord names are subjected to adjustment in expression according to the musical grammar. Accidental signs are adequately determined from among enharmonic notations.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2002Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventors: Satoshi Hiratsuka, Takashi Ikeda, Masao Kondo, Hiroshi Munekawa
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Patent number: 6657114Abstract: Sound signal indicative of a human voice or musical tone is input, and the pitch of the input sound signal is detected. Then, a scale note pitch is determined which is nearest to the detected pitch of the input sound signal. In the meantime, a scale note pitch of an additional sound or harmony sound to be added to the input sound is specified in accordance with a harmony mode selected by a user. The scale note pitch of the additional sound to be generated is modified in accordance with a difference between the determined scale note pitch and the detected pitch of the input sound signal. Because the additional sound is generated with the modified pitch, it can appropriately follow a variation in the pitch of the input sound to be in harmony with the input sound, rather than exactly agreeing with the scale note pitch.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2001Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventor: Kazuhide Iwamoto
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Patent number: 6448486Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing music on an electronic instrument in which individual chord progression chords can be triggered in real-time, while simultaneously making the individual notes of the chord, and/or possible scale notes and non-scale notes to play along with the chord, available for playing in separate fixed-locations on the instrument. The method of performance involves the designation of a chord progression section on the instrument, then assigning chords or individual chord notes to this chord progression section according to the defined customary scale or customary scale equivalent of a song key. Further, as each chord is played in the chord progression section, the individual notes of the currently triggered chords are simultaneously made available for playing in separate fixed locations on the instrument. Fundamental and alternate notes of each chord may be made available for playing in separate fixed locations for performance purposes.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2000Date of Patent: September 10, 2002Inventor: Jeff K. Shinsky
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Patent number: 6417438Abstract: In addition to a general transposition setting device for setting a transposition for an entire musical instrument, there is provide an automatic-performance transposition setting device for optionally setting a transposition value for automatic performance. Automatic performance data is transposed in accordance with the transposition value set by the automatic-performance transposition setting device and a visual performance guide display based on the transposed automatic performance data is provided via a key display as an automatic performance process is advanced on a desired music piece. Human player depresses keys in accordance with the visual performance guide display so that tones corresponding to the depressed keys are generated.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1999Date of Patent: July 9, 2002Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventors: Kazuo Haruyama, Takeo Shibukawa
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Patent number: 6395970Abstract: An automatic music composing apparatus comprises: a memory that stores a plurality of chord-progression data in a specific key; an input device that inputs motif melody data; a selector that selects at least one chord-progression data from the memory; a detector that detects a key of the input motif melody data; a transposer that transposes the selected chord-progression data into the detected key in accordance with relation between the detected key and the specific key; and a melody data generator that generates a melody in the detected key in accordance with the input motif melody data and the transposed chord-progression data.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2001Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventor: Eiichiro Aoki
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Patent number: 6369311Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 22, 2000Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventor: Kazuhide Iwamoto
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Patent number: 6166316Abstract: An automatic performance apparatus that is responsive to a manual player of an input implement for producing either an arpeggio performance or a pattern performance in a modified form. Specifically, the present invention includes: a sequencer block that is responsive to manual play for generating a sequence of original note data representing either the arpeggio performance or the pattern performance; an input block to set control parameters; a play effector block to process the original note data according to the control parameters; a transposer block that shifts the altered note data by a predetermined interval to thereby generate shifted note data; a note effector block that generates additional note data in superposed relation to the shifted note data; a tone generator block that is receptive of the shifted note data and the additional note data for generating corresponding musical tones to thereby provide the modified form of either of the arpeggio performance and the pattern performance.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 1999Date of Patent: December 26, 2000Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventors: Makoto Takahashi, Yoshihisa Ito
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Patent number: 6156966Abstract: A method and apparatus for composing and performing music on an electronic instrument in which individual chord progression chords can be triggered in real-time, while simultaneously generating the individual notes of the chord, and/or possible scale and non-scale notes to play along with the chord, and making them available for playing in separate fixed-locations on the instrument. The method of composition involves the designation of a chord progression section on the instrument, then assigning chords or individual chord notes to this chord progression section according to a song key's defined customary scale or customary scale equivalent. Further, as each chord is played in the chord progression section, the individual notes of the currently triggered chords are generated and simultaneously made available for playing in a separate fixed location on the instrument. Fundamental and alternate notes of each chord may be generated and made available in separate fixed locations for composing purposes.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 1998Date of Patent: December 5, 2000Inventor: Jeff K. Shinsky
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Patent number: 6121533Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 28, 1999Date of Patent: September 19, 2000Inventor: Stephen Kay
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Patent number: 6121532Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 28, 1999Date of Patent: September 19, 2000Inventor: Stephen R. Kay
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Patent number: 6057503Abstract: A method and apparatus for composing and performing music on an electronic instrument in which individual chord progression chords can be triggered in real-time, while simultaneously making the individual notes of the chord, and/or possible scale and non-scale notes to play along with the chord, available for playing in separate fixed-locations on the instrument. The method of composition involves the designation of a chord progression section on the instrument, then assigning chords or individual chord notes to this chord progression section according to the defined customary scale or customary scale equivalent of a song key. Further, as each chord is played in the chord progression section, the individual notes of the currently triggered chords are simultaneously made available for playing in separate fixed locations on the instrument. Fundamental and alternate notes of each chord may be made available for playing in separate fixed locations for composing purposes.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1999Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Inventor: Jeff K. Shinsky
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Patent number: 6051770Abstract: A system and method for creating and composing musical works by selecting existing musical elements and applying modification modules to them. Existing musical selections reside in a database as metrics, or targets for the composition of new pieces. The present invention composes a new piece of music by, for example, specifying component musical features in the selected targets that should be modified or retained in creating the new work. Such musical features include, for example, rhythmic characteristics, harmonic characteristics, and the like. In this manner, a user who is, musically untutored is able to create satisfying, original works having desired characteristics as specified by the user.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1998Date of Patent: April 18, 2000Assignee: Postmusic, LLCInventors: Andy M. Milburn, Jay Hardesty, Joseph P. Lubin
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Patent number: 6015949Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for altering the harmonic referent of segments of a music composition while maintaining conformity to a harmonic rule-base. It enables one to make changes to the harmonic referent (i.e. chord progression) underlying a segment of music, which causes a change in the pitches within that segment so that the pitches are have a compatible analysis within the new chord progression. The invention can advantageously preserves the harmonic function of each pitch in the segment, while changing the harmonic content of the passage. Further, the invention can preserve the shape of a melody line during such a transformation.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1998Date of Patent: January 18, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Daniel P. Oppenheim, Steven R. Abrams, Donald P. Pazel, James L. Wright
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Patent number: 6011211Abstract: The present invention enables non-musicians to effectively compose music using a computer, and provides them with the means to manipulate musical content in an intuitive fashion without the need for formal musical training. The invention combines a representation of musical knowledge with a representation of musical data in such a way that permits transposition of the data to be constrained to conform to a set of harmonic rules. The user can select pitches to be moved higher or lower, and a system insures that it sounds good (where good is defined to mean "satisfies the conditions of the harmonic rule base").Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 1998Date of Patent: January 4, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven R. Abrams, Daniel Vincent Oppenheim, Donald P. Pazel, James Lawton Wright
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Patent number: 5973252Abstract: A device and method is disclosed to correct intonation errors and generate vibrato in solo instruments and vocal performances in real time. The device determines the pitch of a musical note produced by voice or instrument and shifts the pitch of that note to produce a very high quality, high fidelity output. The device includes a pitch detector that automatically recognizes the pitch of musical notes quickly. The detected pitch is then used as an input to a pitch corrector that converts the pitch of the input to an output with a desired pitch. The corrected musical note is then in tune with the pitch standard. The device and method employ a microprocessor that samples the signal from a musical instrument or voice at regular intervals using an analog-to-digital converter and then utilizes data derived from an auto-correlation function of the waveform to continuously determine the period of the waveform. The period of the waveform is then compared to a desired period or periods (such as found in a scale).Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1998Date of Patent: October 26, 1999Assignee: Auburn Audio Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Harold A. Hildebrand
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Patent number: 5963907Abstract: A voice converter provides for pitch and formant shifting of an input voice signal. An audio filter extracts the volume level of the input voice signal, and outputs the extracted volume level as first volume data. A second audio filter extracts the volume level of an output voice signal, and outputs the extracted volume level as second volume data. A difference judging circuit compares the first and second volume data with each other, and determines a volume gain and a distorting factor which is supplied to a distortion circuit. When the volume of the output voice after conversion is smaller than that of the input voice, the volume gain is increased.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1997Date of Patent: October 5, 1999Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventor: Shuichi Matsumoto
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Patent number: 5908997Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 23, 1997Date of Patent: June 1, 1999Assignee: Van Koevering CompanyInventors: 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
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Patent number: 5900567Abstract: A system and a method for the notes of one track to move in a harmonically separate manner from the notes of another track when the notes of each track are played against a chord progression. Each track is associated with a chord function. The notes of the tracks are then played against a progression of polychords, where each polychord consists of one or more chords. In addition, each chord of a polychord is associated with one or more chord functions. During operation, each note of a track is mapped against a chord of the currently playing polychord. The chord for each track is selected by identifying the chord of the polychord that is associated with the same chord function as the track. Furthermore, individual tracks, groups of notes, or single notes can be assigned to one of several playback modes. Each note includes a field that identifies a playback mode. In addition, each track is associated with a playback mode.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 1997Date of Patent: May 4, 1999Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Todor C. Fay, David G. Yackley
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Patent number: 5859382Abstract: A plurality of display units are provided in corresponding relations to individual performance keys. A table stores, for each of a plurality of chords, information which defines plural groups of notes that are always available for the chord, temporarily available (e. g., a tension note) for the chord and unavailable for the chord. In response to designation of a chord according to a chord progression, the information is read out from the table and the display units are controlled according to the read-out information so as to dislay in different forms, depending on which one of the groups the performance keys corresponding to the display units correspond to. A performer can operate a desired key in consideration of different display forms. Thus, there is provided a music performance assisting system which is suited for use in executing an adlib performance with notes well conforming to a designated chord.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 1997Date of Patent: January 12, 1999Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventor: Tomoyuki Funaki
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Patent number: 5783767Abstract: A method for composing and performing music on an electronic instrument are provided. The method provides a technique in which individual chord progression chords can be triggered in real-time, while simultaneously generating the individual notes of the chord, and/or possible scale and non-scale notes to play along with the chord, and making them available for playing in separate fixed-locations on the instrument. The method of composition involves the designation of a chord progression section on the instrument, then assigning chords or individual chord notes to this chord progression section according to a song key's defined customary scale or customary scale equivalent song keys and scales. Further, as each chord is played in the chord progression section, the individual notes of the currently triggered chords are generated and simultaneously made available for playing in a separate fixed location on the instrument.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 1997Date of Patent: July 21, 1998Inventor: Jeff K. Shinsky
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Patent number: 5770813Abstract: A sound reproducing apparatus used in Karaoke and the like uses a record medium or a communication medium on which an accompaniment sound signal, data indicative of a scale, and song standard information are recorded. The sound reproducing apparatus includes a reproducing section, a signal generating section and an adding section. The reproducing section reproduces the accompaniment sound signal and the data indicative of the scale from any of the media. The signal generating section generates a harmony signal relative to a sound signal from a microphone on the basis of the data indicative of the scale reproduced by the reproducing section and the song standard information. The adding section adds the sound signal from the microphone, the accompaniment sound signal reproduced by the reproducing section, and the harmony signal from the signal generating section to produce an output signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 1997Date of Patent: June 23, 1998Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Junichi Nakamura
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Patent number: 5756916Abstract: In an automatic arrangement apparatus having an accompaniment information memory for memorizing an accompaniment pattern, a specific basic part such as a melody part for arrangement of a musical tune, a chord progression and an arrangement condition are applied to select an accompaniment pattern conformed with the arrangement condition from the accompaniment information memory thereby to produce musical information in the form of a pattern sequence of plural parts relative to the basic part, and the pattern sequence of the plural parts is converted in tone pitch in accordance with the chord progression.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 1996Date of Patent: May 26, 1998Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventors: Eiichiro Aoki, Kazunori Maruyama
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Patent number: 5739453Abstract: An electronic musical instrument including: a mode selecting unit for selecting a mode from a plurality of modes including an automatic performance mode and a manual performance mode; a musical style storage for storing performance atmosphere data of a plurality of musical styles; a performance data storage for storing performance data of a plurality of programs each matching one of the musical styles; a musical style selection member responsive to a manipulation by a performer for selecting a musical style from the performance atmosphere data stored in the musical style storage; a musical tone signal generator for generating a musical tone signal in accordance with a musical tone parameter; and a musical tone parameter generating unit for generating and outputting the musical tone parameter to the musical tone signal generator during the automatic performance mode, in accordance with the performance atmosphere data representing the musical style selected by the musical style selection member and the performaType: GrantFiled: March 14, 1995Date of Patent: April 14, 1998Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventors: Masanobu Chihana, Hiroyuki Torimura
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Method and apparatus for processing discontinuities in digital sound signals caused by pitch control
Patent number: 5687240Abstract: Small discontinuities in digital sound data caused by a pitch control operation are processed by using a secondary FIR filter and smoothing the discontinuities. When lowering the key, the data value subject to the pitch down operation is moderately approximated to that of one sampling period before over a cycle of small discontinuity occurrence. when raising the key, the data value subject to the pitch up operation is moderately approximated to the current data value over a cycle of small discontinuity occurrence. By this method, the extent of the data discontinuity is greatly reduced. Large discontinuities for every segment are also processed by cross fading two converted data sequences which are produced from the input sound data and have different timings of large discontinuity occurrence, one data value being increased from its discontinuity point while the other data value is decreased from the same point in time.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 1994Date of Patent: November 11, 1997Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akira Yoshida, Hiroyuki Saito