Abstract: Computer-based systems, devices, and methods for generating variations of musical compositions are described. Musical compositions stored in digital media include one or more music data object(s) that encode notes. A first set of notes is characterized and a transformation is applied to replace at least one note in the first set of notes with at least one note in a second set of notes. The transformation may explore or call upon the full range of musical notes available without being constrained by conventions of musicality and harmony. For each particular note in the second set of notes that replaces a note in the first set of notes, whether the particular note is in musical harmony with other notes in the music data object is separately assessed and, if not, the particular note is adjusted to bring it into musical harmony with other notes in the music data object.

Abstract: A method of automatically acquiring a feature segment in a music file includes receiving, with a processing device, a music file; converting the music file into a character string; evaluating at least one character string segment in the character string based on one or more music features; and determining, based on an evaluation result, at least one music segment corresponding to at least one character string segment in the character string as a feature segment.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

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.

Abstract: A data compression method and apparatus for the compression of sound data utilized in digital sampling keyboard instructs. The present invention reduces memory requirements for sampled sounds without compromising sound quality, using three techniques. The third technique improves the defect of formant distortion when sampled sounds are transposed.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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").

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A data compression method and apparatus for the compression of sound data utilized in digital sampling keyboard instruments. The present invention reduces memory requirements for sampled sounds without compromising sound quality, utilizing processing of sound data samples to delete sound data between the attack portion and just before the loop start portion. The improved method further includes a step of digitally splicing the remaining attack and loop portions to form a spliced data sample.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument has a means used by a player to set a key name to which transposition is to be made and a part number to designate a transposition excluding part. Tone data in parts other than the transposition excluding part are exclusively subjected to transposition processing, and transposed tones are produced. For example, play data of a keyboard are set as a transposition excluding part, and their tones are produced in C major key as the key played. On the other hand, the keys of accompanying tones such as chord tones, rhythm tones, and the like programmed in keys other than C major key in a storage medium are transposed to C major key to produce transposed tones, allowing an ensemble play in common key.

Abstract: A sound pitch converting apparatus for shifting a pitch of a sound signal, the apparatus utilizes a first windowing device for dividing the sound signal into a series of multiple frames and shaping an envelope of the frames, a pitch frequency detecting device for detecting a pitch frequency within each frame, a Fourier transform device for transforming each frame signal into a frequency domain, a frequency shift device for shifting all frequency components in the Fourier transformed frame signal higher or lower by a desired degree, a harmonics level controlling device for controlling levels of harmonics contained in the frequency shifted frame signal responsive to a detected pitch frequency, an inverse Fourier transform device for transforming the harmonics level controlled frame signal back into a time domain, and a second windowing device for shaping an envelope of frame signal outputted from the inverse Fourier transform device and for combining the respective frames into a pitch changed sound signal.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An apparatus for playing back a recording medium on which a plurality of accompaniment signals and identification information indicative of respective genres of the accompaniment signals are recorded includes a playback device, at least one tone converter, and first and second mixers. The playback device plays back a recording medium loaded in the apparatus. The tone converter converts an inputted voice signal from a microphone into a voice signal having a tone spaced a given pitch from the tone of the inputted voice signal. The first mixer mixes the voice signal converted by the tone converter with the inputted voice signal, and the second mixer mixes a voice signal outputted from the first mixer with an accompaniment signal outputted from the playback device.

Abstract: 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 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 to this chord progression section according to particular song keys and scales. 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 a separate fixed location on the instrument. Fundamental and alternate (fifth) notes of each chord may be made available in separate fixed locations for composing purposes.

Abstract: In an automatic accompaniment information producing apparatus, tone pitch information of an accompaniment pattern applied from an external device is converted in tone pitch in accordance with a designation chord, an original chord based on the accompaniment pattern and attribute information of the tone pitch information, the converted tone pitch information is produced as automatic accompaniment information.

Abstract: In an automated system for learning to play a musical instrument, music data and tone control data for a musical composition of an exemplary musical instrument is stored in machine readable form. An audio signal generated by a musical instrument being played, corresponding to the exemplary musical instrument, is inputted through a musical effects apparatus wherein the musical tone of the musical instrument being played is mixed with the stored music data. The musical effects apparatus is utilized, under digital control, to match the musical tone of the musical instrument being played with that of the exemplary musical instrument. More particularly, the music data and tone control data of the musical composition are stored on a conventional CD-ROM. The tone control data is utilized to create control parameters which can be used to control one or more electronic effects devices in an automated fashion.

Abstract: A musical composition/arrangement assisting apparatus for assisting a composition/arrangement of a multi-part music receives performance information such as melody information, chord information, or the like, and detects candidate tones harmonizing with the performance information. The candidate tones are notes on an available scale determined by a tonality and a chord. Avoid notes are excluded in terms of a chord tone architecture from the candidate tones. Furthermore, tones parallel to melody tones or tones in a minor ninth relation to melody tones are excluded from the candidate tones. The candidate tones are informed a user of and presented to him or her. The user selects tones from the candidate tones to generate musical tone data of another part. The user can compose/arrangement other parts of a music from the candidate tones presented in consideration of musical harmony. Therefore, all the composed/arranged parts are musically harmonized with each other.

Abstract: A karaoke sound processor that automatically adjusts to the pitch of the singer's voice is provided. The pitch of the song signal recorded in the accompaniment recording medium for karaoke is detected by a first pitch detecting facility. The pitch of the song signal of the singer entered from the microphone is detected by a second pitch detecting facility. The two song signal pitches are compared in a comparing facility. When the pitches of the two signals are different, the output signal of the accompaniment is automatically changed by a pitch changing facility. The output signal of the pitch changing means and the signal of the microphone are summed up by an adder and produced. Without requring the singer to set the pitch change value, a karaoke sound processor capable of correcting the pitch automatically to a register comfortable for the singer is provided.

Abstract: A pitch control system for the automatic pitch correction according to a harmony-dependent tuning, especially the harmonic tuning, for a musical instrument, having an input device for the input of note input signals in a pre-determined fixed tuning, especially the tempered tuning, and having a note generation device to which the note input signals are applicable, comprises a chord recognition circuit which ascertains at each input signal pattern corresponding to a chord whether this input signal pattern corresponds to a chord pattern from a pre-determined quantity of chord patterns, a signal pattern store circuit in which for each chord pattern of the pre-determined quantity of chord patterns a signal pattern is stored, and a control circuit which, when the chord recognition circuit ascertains that an input signal pattern is present corresponding to one of the pre-determined chord patterns, causes the signal pattern store circuit to emit the signal pattern, corresponding to the ascertained chord pattern, to t

Abstract: Disclosed is a tone generating apparatus which is provided with a timbre select switch to specify a timbre and a scan circuit for generating key codes corresponding to keys. Pitch control values corresponding to the timbres and key codes are stored in the form of a pitch control table in a ROM. When a predetermined key is depressed, a pitch control value specified by the key code associated with that key and the timbre selected by the timbre select switch is read out from the pitch control table in the ROM, and a tone frequency is determined by the pitch control value and key code. Tone generation is controlled based on the tone frequency.A pitch control value read out from the pitch control table in the ROM is given a predetermined offset to produce a musical tone having vibrato.Further, a pitch control value read out from the pitch control table in the ROM is multiplied by a value specified by an operation panel to alter the degree of adding the pitch.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument is provided with an operator and a function switch, adding to a controller having a shape similar to that of woodwind instrument and a tone source unit. The function switch selects a function such as a controll function of a musical tone parameter, or a musical play expression to be assigned to the operator such as a wheel switch or a foot switch. The operator performs the function assigned by the function switch during playing. Player can widen range of playing by selecting proper function and play effectively with the proper music play expression.

Abstract: A system to transfer information from a video screen. A sensor embedded in a suction cup detects an increase in intensity of a synchronizing scan line and an increase in intensity of a data scan line and utilizes the time differential between the two events to determine the location of the increase in intensity of the data scan line. In an alternative embodiment, the intensity increase location may be transferred to an electronic musical instrument where it is analyzed by a microprocessor and the information is used to assign notes to the keys of a keyboard.

Abstract: This invention realizes a musical instrument, automatically transposing the pitches of the sounds reproduced from the musical instruments played by a performer, based on the pitch changes of the reproduced sounds caused by the changes in the reproduction speeds of audio equipment.Thus, this invention enables a performer to play an electronic musical instrument at a desired speed without having to retune it, when performer play musical instrument accompanying music sound reproduced by audio equipment.

Abstract: The tonality of scale of electronic musical instrument is set by setting a standard sound pitch (sound pitch of "do"). When a tone color is selected, this setting is automatically performed according to this tone color. In the case when the tone color is similar to that of natural musical instrument, setting is executed so that the tonality of pertinent musical instrument is set.

Abstract: A tone pitch changing device comprising an operation content memory for storing the contents of an operation required for generating a sound having a pitch which belongs to one of a group of pitches, a frequency interval between each pair of adjacent pitches of each group being different among the groups of pitches, a group selecting unit for selecting and indicating one of the groups of pitches, an operation content reading unit for reading the contents of an operation, required for generating a sound having a pitch of the group selected and indicated by the group selecting unit, from the operation content storing unit, an operating unit for performing an operation in accordance with the contents of the operation read from the operation content reading unit, an operation result memory for storing the result of the operation performed by the operating unit, a pitch indicating unit for indicating a pitch of the group, and an operation result reading unit for reading the result of the operation performed with r

Abstract: There is provided an electronic musical instrument for transposing the key comprising a key transpose switching means, a key board having multiple keys each assigned with an identification number, a microcomputer for processing the state signals of the switching means and the depressed key signals of the key board to produce key transpose data, a sound generator for producing the key-transposed sound according to the key transpose data produced from the microcomputer, a D/A converter for converting the key-transposed sound into an analog signal, an amplifier for amplifying the analog signal of the D/A converter, and a low pass filter for filtering the amplified sound to deliver it to a speaker.

Abstract: When an operation to give a transposition instruction is performed during generation of musical tone, the transposition is not performed for the musical tone being generated but the transposition is performed for only the specific musical tone to which the musical tone generating instruction is given newly.