Mixing Patents (Class 84/660)
  • Patent number: 7476797
    Abstract: According to which a damper is operated before or after keying, one of two resonances is generated. A second waveform storage 18 storing original waveform data of a first resonance based on a music sound including an impact sound of keying according to a before-key-pressing pedaling, and a third waveform storage 19 storing original waveform data of a second resonance based on a music sound which does not include an impact sound of keying according to an after-key-pressing pedaling, are provided. A switch 20 is switched according to the state of the pedal at the time of key pressing to supply selected resonance waveform data to a resonance generating unit 16. The resonance signal outputted from the resonance generating unit 16 and a music sound signal of a direct sound of keying are added by an adder 24 and inputted into a sound system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Gen Izumisawa, Akihiro Fujita, Katsushi Ishii
  • Patent number: 7470854
    Abstract: Electronic music apparatus includes: a tone generator section for generating a tone signal in response to operation of a performance operator unit; an external input section for receiving a tone signal from the outside; a mixer section for generating mixed tone signals by mixing the tone signal generated by the tone generator section and the tone signal received via the external input section; an external output section for outputting the tone signal, generated by the tone generator section, to the outside before that tone signal is mixed with the tone signal received via the external input section; and an audio output section for audibly outputting the mixed tone signals from the mixer section. Because the tone signal received via the external input section is not fed to the external output section, no unwanted howl is produced even where a plurality of the electronic music apparatus are connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Koyama
  • Patent number: 7450728
    Abstract: Non-linear functions to be used for automatically varying current values of parameters to be set, independently of each other, are prepared in corresponding relation to a plurality of parameter setting operator members, such as faders of a mixer. In response to an automatic setting instruction, such as a scene recall instruction, the current value of the parameter, to be set via each of the operator members, is caused to vary gradually toward a given target value with a characteristic based on a corresponding one of the non-linear functions. For example, the non-linear function is defined by a start offset for setting a delay in a start of the variation, and a fade time necessary for actually causing the parameter to vary up to the target value after the variation start. Processing of a predetermined type of event (e.g., GPI event) may be delayed to allow for a time delay that would result during execution of automatic setting processing of each parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Aiso, Takamitsu Aoki
  • Patent number: 7440577
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automatically mixing a plurality of audio channels by adjusting respective gains of the audio channels using a control signal based on an aggregate of input levels of respective audio signals of the audio channels; and reducing the gain of a given one of the audio channels when an input level of the audio signal of that audio channel exceeds a threshold, irrespective of whether the control signal would permit the gain to rise higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Peavey Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Elon Ray Coats
  • Patent number: 7436970
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for indicating the status of a track in a multi-track recorder is described. An indicator light capable of outputting different colored lights is used to indicate the status of a track in the multi-track recorder. The color and the blinking sequence of the indicator light indicates the status of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: James Mercs, Ara Derderian
  • Patent number: 7433745
    Abstract: A method is designed for controlling a total mixing system including a first mixing system and a second mixing system, which are operated in a linked manner. In the method, the first mixing system stores first scene data specifying contents of a mixing process matching a scene. The second mixing system stores second scene data specifying contents of a mixing process matching a scene. The first mixing system transmits a scene recall request to the second mixing system when a recall event of the first scene data occurs. The second mixing system transmits back a recall enabling response to the first mixing system after receipt of the scene recall request. The first mixing system reconstructs the contents of the mixing process on the basis of the first scene data after the reception of the recall enabling response. The second mixing system reconstructs the contents of the mixing process on the basis of the second scene data after the transmission of the recall enabling response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Takamitsu Aoki, Kei Nakayamai
  • Patent number: 7305097
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for controlling a surround sound system having multiple input signals and multiple spatially diverse transducers may include defining a first control region and a second control region. When operating in the first control region, a first set of functions is performed. For example, for each of the spatially diverse transducers, an input signal may be selected, a relative strength of the selected input signal may be adjusted, and the adjusted input signal may be applied to the transducer. When operating in the second control region, a second set of functions is performed. For example, for each of the spatially diverse transducers, two or more input signals may be selected, a relative strength of the selected input signals may be adjusted, the adjusted input signals may be mixed, and the mixed input signals may be applied to the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Rosen, Tobe Barksdale, Christopher Ludwig
  • Patent number: 7233832
    Abstract: Systems implementing the invention allow a user to time stretch an audio track without changing the pitch of the sound, and to produce optimal audible qualities of the output signal. The approach utilized in the invention relies on providing several time stretching methods, each one of which is selected based on one or more criteria of the audio data properties. One method relies on crossfading pairs of segments of audio data while running one segment backward every other repetition. The second time stretching method detects inaudible segments and inserts longer periods of audible data within those segments. The third method utilizes a reverb to create a reverb segment that is played after the original segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sol Friedman, Chris Moulios
  • Patent number: 7208672
    Abstract: A system for creating a variation of an audio track from audio building blocks is presented, where track variation may be created during a live performance. Two or more of the presented systems may be coupled to automatically maintain a beat mix between two or more playing audio track building blocks. Audio building blocks are prepared in advance to include features that may enable the creation of the track variation and the automatic maintaining of the beat mix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Inventor: Noam Camiel
  • Patent number: 6945784
    Abstract: Generating a pitched musical part from an electronic music file comprised of instrumental parts includes generating a control stream that indicates which of the instrumental parts has a highest value for a period of time, selecting one of the instrumental parts for the period of time based on the control stream, and outputting the selected instrumental part for the period of time to produce the musical part. Generating a non-pitched musical part from an electronic music file includes identifying patterns in the electronic music file and selectively combining the patterns to produce the musical part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Namco Holding Corporation
    Inventors: John Paquette, Robert Ferry
  • Patent number: 6919502
    Abstract: A musical tone generation apparatus is basically configured by a main sound source device installing an extension board. Herein, the main sound source device is configured by a CPU, memories, operators, a music synthesizer, a mixer, an effector and a sound system, while the extension board is configured by fabricating a CPU (or sequencer), memories and a music synthesizer (or effector). When the extension board is installed in the main sound source device, function setting data regarding new functions installed on the extension board is automatically transferred to the main sound source device so that a user is capable of adequately setting and controlling the new functions by using the operators. If the extension board corresponds to a tone color extension board that provides extended tone colors which differ from preset tone colors being installed in the main sound source device in advance, the main sound source device is capable of generating musical tones using the extended tone colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6849795
    Abstract: This invention provides a signal processing and signal synthesis technique from a family of signal processing and signal synthesis techniques designed to readily interwork or be used individually in creating new forms of rich musical timbres. A real-time controllable mix of a plurality of multiple output frequency-reduced signals and the cross-products of these signals provides rich animated harmonically partitioned spectra. Mixing parameters may be recalled from stored program control or modulated in real-time by arbitrary control signals, including envelope generators, low-frequency oscillators, and those derived from an original input signal, and specifically including the amplitude of an original input signal. The real-time controllable mix may have multiple outputs and be subjected to further signal processing and multiple-channel amplification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 6815601
    Abstract: A system for delivering music is provided, which reduces further the data amount of music to be delivered. A music delivery subsystem, which generates a delivering data from an original music data including a voice data and a performance data, comprises a compression coder and a multiplexer. The coder compression-codes the voice data of the original music data, thereby generating a compression-coded voice data. The multiplexer multiplexes the compression-coded voice data and the performance data, thereby generating a delivering data. At least one music reproduction subsystem, which reproduces an original music corresponding to the original music data from the delivering data transmitted through a computer or communications network, comprises a demultiplexer, a performance data configurer, a voice data decoder, and a mixer. The demultiplexer demultiplexes the delivering data to the compression-coded voice data and the performance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Masatoshi Yano
  • Patent number: 6806413
    Abstract: An oscillator for digital music synthesis that provides a smooth waveform that is rich in harmonic content and whose shape is continuously and dynamically variable over a wide range of harmonically rich shapes. The oscillator is efficient in that it generates the shapes in a time consonant with sampling rates commonly used in music synthesis, and is generally free of discontinuities which would otherwise create audible alias components on subsequent signal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Young Chang Akki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Chidlaw, Ralph Muha
  • Publication number: 20040159221
    Abstract: A system for creating a variation of an audio track from audio building blocks is presented, where track variation may be created during a live performance. Two or more of the presented systems may be coupled to automatically maintain a beat mix between two or more playing audio track building blocks. Audio building blocks are prepared in advance to include features that may enable the creation of the track variation and the automatic maintaining of the beat mix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventor: Noam Camiel
  • Patent number: 6678380
    Abstract: An audio system includes a circuit (12) for processing an audio signal, this circuit (12) having an input (20) for receiving the audio signal and an output (26) for supplying an output signal. The circuit (12) further includes a harmonics generator (22) coupled to the input (20) for generating harmonics of the audio signal, and an adding circuit (24) coupled to the input (20) as well as to the harmonics generator (22) for supplying a sum of the audio signal and the generated harmonics to the output (26). The harmonics generator (22) is embodied so as to limit the amplitude of the generated harmonics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Ronaldus M. Aarts
  • Patent number: 6548749
    Abstract: Multipliers respectively multiply a tone signal supplied from a sound source and a tone signal corrected by a filter according to hearing correction characteristics by balance control coefficients generated by a control coefficient generator based on tone volume control data, and an adder adds the products to adjust the tone volume balance. A multiplier multiplies the tone signal output from that adder by a tone volume control coefficient generated by the control coefficient generator based on the tone volume control data to adjust the tone volume. Frequency characteristics for correcting hearing characteristics are given to the tone signal in accordance with the tone volume of tones to be generated, thus maintaining tone volume balance upon hearing among tone colors of tones to be generated by an electronic musical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Masayuki Suda
  • Patent number: 6479739
    Abstract: A method is designed for controlling a plurality of tone generating drivers by an integrating driver installed in an operating system to generate music tones according to performance data created by a music application software. In the method. the performance data created by the music application software is inputted into the integrating driver through an application program interface provided by the operating system. The performance data is distributed from the integrating driver to one or more of the tone generating drivers provisionally registered to the integrating driver. The registered tone generating driver is operated to generate waveform data of a music tone at a specific sampling frequency based on the distributed performance data. The waveform data is streamed back from the registered tone generating driver to the integrating driver. The specific sampling frequency of the streamed waveform data is converted into a common sampling frequency by the integrating driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Motoichi Tamura
  • Patent number: 6456718
    Abstract: An audio system includes a circuit (12) for processing an audio signal, this circuit (12) having an input (20) for receiving the audio signal and an output (26) for supplying an output signal. The circuit (12) further includes a harmonics generator (22) coupled to the input (20) for generating harmonics of the audio signal, and an adding circuit (24) coupled to the input (20) as well as to the harmonics generator (22) for supplying a sum of the audio signal and the generated harmonics to the output (26). The harmonics generator (22) is embodied so as to limit the amplitude of the generated harmonics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: US Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Ronaldus M. Aarts
  • Patent number: 6438241
    Abstract: A rotary control for control surface on a processor, like on a large scale audio mixer or other system, includes an illuminated display for angular position, such as lights arranged in an arcuate pattern indicating the value of a parameter by an angular position, on the top of the knob. By placing the display directly on the top of the knob, a crisp illumination is provided allowing an operator to obtain rapid visual feedback concerning the parameters under control. Furthermore, the display allows a variety of display modes, which are suited to the particular parameter under control. The rotary control comprises a stator mounted on the control surface which has a proximal end adjacent to control surface and a distal end. An array of lights is mounted on the distal end of the stator and arranged in an arcuate pattern. A rotor is mounted on the stator, and operable by an operator. The rotor has a shape near the distal end so that the array of lights is visible to the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Euphonix, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Silfvast, Kent A. Suzuki, Arthur H. Zarnowitz
  • Publication number: 20020069748
    Abstract: Multipliers respectively multiply a tone signal supplied from a sound source and a tone signal corrected by a filter according to hearing correction characteristics by balance control coefficients generated by a control coefficient generator based on tone volume control data, and an adder adds the products to adjust the tone volume balance. A multiplier multiplies the tone signal output from that adder by a tone volume control coefficient generated by the control coefficient generator based on the tone volume control data to adjust the tone volume. Frequency characteristics for correcting hearing characteristics are given to the tone signal in accordance with the tone volume of tones to be generated, thus maintaining tone volume balance upon hearing among tone colors of tones to be generated by an electronic musical instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventor: Masayuki Suda
  • Publication number: 20020009205
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for indicating the status of a track in a multi-track recorder is described. An indicator light capable of outputting different colored lights is used to indicate the status of a track in the multi-track recorder. The color and the blinking sequence of the indicator light indicates the status of the track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Applicant: Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: James Mercs, Ara Derderian
  • Patent number: 6317503
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for indicating the status of a track in a multi-track recorder is described. An indicator light capable of outputting different colored lights is used to indicate the status of a track in the multi-track recorder. The color and the blinking sequence of the indicator light indicates the status of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment
    Inventors: James Mercs, Ara Derderian
  • Patent number: 6288320
    Abstract: An electric musical instrument is provided, which enables rich and diverse expressions to be achieved in musical performance. A driving member drives a tone generating source. A driving member-side signal generator obtains a signal from the driving member and outputs the obtained signal. A musical tone signal generator generates a musical tone signal using the signal output by the driving member-side signal generator and outputs the generated musical tone signal. In another aspect of the invention, a tone generating source-side signal generator obtains a tone generating source-side signal from the tone generating source and outputs the obtained signal, and a driving member-side signal generator obtains a driving member-side signal from the driving member and outputs the obtained signal. A modulation device frequency-modulates one of the tone generating source-side signal and the driving member side signal with the other signal. The modulated signal is output from the modulation device as a sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Yahama Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Murakami, Hideo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6271454
    Abstract: A method is designed for controlling a plurality of tone generating drivers by an integrating driver installed in an operating system to generate music tones according to performance data created by a music application software. In the method, the performance data created by the music application software is inputted into the integrating driver through an application program interface provided by the operating system. The performance data is distributed from the integrating driver to one or more of the tone generating drivers provisionally registered to the integrating driver. The registered tone generating driver is operated to generate waveform data of a music tone at a specific sampling frequency based on the distributed performance data. The waveform data is streamed back from the registered tone generating driver to the integrating driver. The specific sampling frequency of the streamed waveform data is converted into a common sampling frequency by the integrating driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Motoichi Tamura
  • Patent number: 6259014
    Abstract: This application describes a method for musical signal analysis and synthesis using global waveform fitting (GWF). GWF uses a sinusoidal model with quadratic phase. GWF tries to fit the entire data record (signal waveform) to the assumed signal model. The model parameters obtained by GWF have clear physical interpretations or meanings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Xiaoshu Qian, Yinong Ding
  • Patent number: 6184455
    Abstract: For a given tone generating channel, tone waveform sample data corresponding to a plurality of sampling cycles (e.g., 100 samples) are arithmetically formed collectively. Once performance information such as MIDI event data is supplied to a tone generator MIDI driver from an application program such as a MIDI sequencer, the MIDI driver, in response to an input MIDI signal, assigns new tone generation to a designated tone generating channel of a tone generator task, and prepares tone controlling parameters to be set in the designated channel. The tone generator task arithmetically forms tone waveform data by use of the tone controlling parameters and passes the tone waveform data to a CODEC circuit functioning as an A/D converter. The program and a general-purpose operating system are sequenced and executed by a preemptive multitask management program. In this way, it is possible to reduce overheads involved in arithmetically forming tone waveform samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Motoichi Tamura
  • Patent number: 6143974
    Abstract: This invention provides a method of additive synthesis of sound wherein the amplitude A of a plurality of harmonics having frequency n*f, where f is the fundamental frequency and n is the harmonic number, is calculated by use of a formula selected from those belonging to the family described by Formula I:A(n)=P*[(1/n.sup.a)(sin)(.pi.n(X%)).sup.b (cos(.pi.n(X%)).sup.c (sin(.pi.n(X'%)).sup.b' (cos(.pi.n(X'%)).sup.c' (sin(.pi.n(X"%)).sup.b" (cos(.pi.n(X"%)).sup.c" . . . ]+Q*[(1/n.sup.d)(sin(.pi.n(Y%)).sup.e (cos(.pi.n(Y%)).sup.g (sin(.pi.n(Y'%)).sup.e' (cos(.pi.n(Y'%)).sup.g' (sin(.pi.n(Y"%)).sup.e" (cos(.pi.n(Y"%)).sup.g" . . . ]+ [I]wherein coefficients P; a; X, X', X", etc.; Q; d; Y, Y', Y", etc.; are real numbers, and coefficients b, b', b", etc.; c, c', c", etc.; e, e', e", etc.; g, g', g", etc. are non-negative integers;or Formula II:A(n)=P*[(1/n.sup.a).times..vertline. sin(.pi.n(X%).vertline..sup.b .times..vertline. cos(.pi.n(X%).vertline..sup.c .times..vertline. sin(.pi.n(X'%).vertline..sup.b' .times..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Inventor: Philip Y. Dahl
  • Patent number: 6127617
    Abstract: A music apparatus is constructed for producing a music sound while applying thereto a desired sound field effect according to a control parameter. In the music apparatus, a source device provides an input music sound composed of at least two sound components separable from each other. A multiplier device multiplies levels of the two sound components by different multiplication factors for undergoing a level change of the two sound components separately from each other. An adder device adds the two sound components with each other after the level change to produce an output music sound. An effector device applies the sound field effect to the output music sound according to the control parameter which characterizes the sound field effect. A controller device adjusts the respective multiplication factors according to the control parameter so that the levels of the two sound components can be regulated provisionally in matching with the sound field effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Hideo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6069309
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Monahan, Donna L. Murray
  • Patent number: 5981859
    Abstract: A multi tone generator having a module for instructing a start of generating a musical tone signal, a module for designating a tone generator type for generating the musical tone signal, from a plurality of tone generator types; a module for performing a common process shared by the plurality of tone generator types, when the start of generating the musical tone signal is instructed; and a module for performing a process specific to the designated tone generator type, by using results of the common process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Hideo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5969282
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for independently adjusting the pitch and timbre of an input signal within a modified Lent shifter. A method of adjusting the pitch and timbre of an input signal includes receiving an input signal and determining a window length corresponding to the input signal. A finite length spectrally smoothed signal is created from the input signal by synchronously windowing the input signal. The timbre of the finite length spectrally smoothed signal is adjusted thereby creating a finite length timbre adjusted signal. The finite length timbre adjusted signal is recombined at a rate necessary to produce a desired output pitch thereby reducing artifacts introduced by processing the finite length timbre adjusted signal and minimizing latency between receiving the input signal and producing a desired output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Aureal Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: David P. Berners, William R. Ciullo
  • Patent number: 5939655
    Abstract: A musical tone generating apparatus has a processing device that produces either musical tone synthesis parameters or musical tone waveform data corresponding to input performance data, depending upon a type of the input performance data. An encoder/decoder circuit includes a tone generator circuit that generates musical tone waveform data in accordance with the musical tone synthesis parameters produced by the processing device, a buffer circuit storing the musical tone waveform data produced by the processing device, a mixing circuit that mixes the musical tone waveform data produced by the tone generator circuit and the musical tone waveform data stored in the buffer circuit, and a conversion circuit that converts mixed musical tone waveform data generated from the mixing circuit into a musical tone signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 5936182
    Abstract: A musical sound synthesizing apparatus synthesizes plural-series overtones having different inharmonicity and amplitude level so as to generate a musical sound close to a natural sound. Inharmonicity coefficients K1 and K2 are read out for each overtone of different series in accordance with a timbre and a pitch, preferably modified according to a touch velocity, and then inputted to the first and second overtone frequency generators 19 and 20. Two series of overtones respectively computed in first and second overtone generators 21 and 22 on the basis of fundamental and overtone frequencies computed using of the coefficients K1 and K2, are controlled in its amplitude by the multipliers 25 and 26, and then synthesized so as to be outputted as a musical sound signal. In the multipliers 25 and 26, respective overtones are multiplied by amplitude coefficients Lk1 and Lk2 determined for each series in accordance with the touch velocity so that their amplitude levels are modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Gen Izumisawa
  • Patent number: 5900570
    Abstract: This invention provides a circuit for synthesizing musical sounds. In one embodiment, the circuit includes a first order FIR highpass filter that is placed between a modulation phase increment oscillator and a carrier phase increment oscillator. The invention may also include waveshaping circuits, adders, multipliers, time division multiplexing, and other types of filters. Another embodiment of the invention provides a music synthesis method where a modulation phase increment is multiplied by a modulation index to produce a modulation signal. That modulation signal is then filtered and added to a carrier phase increment. Finally, that sum is multiplied by an amplitude envelope to produce a signal representing a musical sound. The method may include using a first order FIR highpass filter, waveshaping of both sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal waveforms, additional multiplying and time division multiplexing. The invention also includes self-modulation and cascading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Creative Technology, Ltd.
    Inventor: David P. Rossum
  • Patent number: 5895877
    Abstract: For a given tone generating channel, tone waveform sample data corresponding to a plurality of sampling cycles (e.g., 100 samples) are arithmetically formed collectively. Once performance information such as MIDI event data is supplied to a tone generator MIDI driver from an application program such as a MIDI sequencer, the MIDI driver, in response to an input MIDI signal, assigns new tone generation to a designated tone generating channel of a tone generator task, and prepares tone controlling parameters to be set in the designated channel. The tone generator task arithmetically forms tone waveform data by use of the tone controlling parameters and passes the tone waveform data to a CODEC circuit functioning as an A/D converter. The program and a general-purpose operating system are sequenced and executed by a preemptive multitask management program. In this way, it is possible to reduce overheads involved in arithmetically forming tone waveform samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Motoichi Tamura
  • Patent number: 5877446
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Creative Technology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Monahan, Donna L. Murray
  • Patent number: 5834672
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a tone (e.g. for music) without use of a waveform memory and using a feedback loop. The feedback loop includes a waveform generator which calculates, in real time, a parabolic approximation to a sine wave. The feedback loop includes a delay phase differencer to eliminate hunting. The output waveform from the feedback loop is provided to a sine function generator which approximates a sine value using a third order polynomial, to provide the output tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Chromatic Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Avery L. Wang
  • Patent number: 5802187
    Abstract: Disclosed is a programmable sound generator for generating digital outputs of tone and noise signals used for producing computer sound effects. The programmable sound generator includes at least two channels generating digital output serving as either tone signal or noise signal. A mixer is used to process the outputs of the channels in a digital, time-sharing manner. A volume controller coupled to the mixer is used to control the volume of the sound in a digital pulse width modulation (PWM) manner. Also, the volume controller allows its output to become floating when the programmable sound generator is not in use so as to allow another sound generating means to share the same sound transducing means. In the programmable sound generator, the tone generation and the noise generation share the same hardware, which allows low-cost production of the programmable sound generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Jerry Hsu
  • Patent number: 5774566
    Abstract: Device for treating signals. A device for treating signals having multiple inputs for the reception of signals, including adjustable elements for the treatment of signals, wherein the adjustable elements are connected with control elements for control purposes, with the control elements being provided on a control surface, wherein, in order to provide better overview of the control surface, the control surface includes, for the treatment of signals, an image display for each adjustable element for the actual adjustment thereof, with the control surface including additional control elements and additional displays which can be selectively associated with one of the adjustable elements, with the device including connections between each adjustable element, the additional control elements and the additional displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Studer Professional Audio AG
    Inventors: Robert Huber, Peter Fisch
  • Patent number: 5756919
    Abstract: A musical sound generating system not requiring a memory unit or interpolation device for generating a tone having a tone color including a large number of harmonic components. The tone is generated with few operations and ready predictability of tone color. The musical sound generating system includes an adder for phase modulating a carrier wave by adding modulating wave data to carrier wave phase angle data; a pseudo-sinusoidal wave operator for outputting a pseudo-sinusoidal wave in response to phase-modulated carrier wave phase angle data from the adder; and a multiplier for generating a tone signal by multiplying the pseudo-sinusoidal wave by amplitude coefficient data. The pseudo-sinusoidal wave operator controls modulation of the pseudo-sinusoidal wave in accordance with a function modulation coefficient that is supplied to the operator as an external parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Korg Inc.
    Inventors: Masato Adachi, Junichi Ikeuchi
  • Patent number: 5747714
    Abstract: A tone synthesizer for complex tone modeling, synthesis, or reproduction for simple to complex instruments, both real and imagined. The tone synthesizer has a wave generator that is responsive to a key signal from a key signal generator to produce an analog or digital wave. The key signal corresponds to a discrete musical note value. A preferred digital wave generator for a digital tone synthesizer is a DSP with componentry to read from a digital memory, generally a large RAM, one or more previously recorded, or sampled, digital waveforms loaded to the RAM. The digital wave generators selectably respond to a key signal to produce a primary note output in the from of a digital wave, or to a sympathetic note signal from a sympathetic note signal generator to produce a sympathetic digital wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: James N. Kniest
    Inventors: James Kniest, Jay Dee Petersen
  • Patent number: 5741994
    Abstract: A musical tone-synthesizing apparatus has a plurality of waveguide networks each including at least one waveguide, each of which has a closed loop in which a circulating signal circulates in response to an external excitation signal. The closed loop has an output through which the circulating signal is output as a waveguide output signal, and an input port through which a signal is input to be superposed on the circulating signal. A network output signal is formed based on the waveguide output signal. A connection means is connected to corresponding ones of the waveguide networks and carries out signal processing on the network output signal delivered from each of the corresponding waveguide networks, based on an external modulating signal, and inputs the resulting processed signal to the input port of the closed loop of each of the corresponding waveguide networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Chifumi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 5719345
    Abstract: An audio synthesis circuit is disclosed that incorporates a phase accumulator, adder, sinusoid computing circuit, feedback controller, modulation controller and output accumulator. The audio synthesis circuit generates harmonically complex audio tones, which are output from the sinusoid computing circuit via the output accumulator through the use of frequency modulation of the phase of the audio tones. Instead of feeding back the audio tone to modulate the current phase, the disclosed audio synthesis circuit feeds back the current phase, which is converted by the feedback controller into a scaled feedback factor generated through a process using a waveform computing circuit that, without log-linear conversion, computes a preset cyclical function at an argument equal to the current phase. The feedback factor is then added to the current phase to generate a modulated phase value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: OPTi Inc.
    Inventor: Iou-Din Jean Chen
  • Patent number: 5712437
    Abstract: In an audio signal processor, an input device inputs a polyphonic audio signal containing a plurality of melodic parts which constitute a music composition. A detecting device detects a particular one of the melodic parts contained in the input polyphonic audio signal. An extracting device extracts the detected melodic part from the input polyphonic audio signal. A harmony generating device shifts a pitch of the extracted melodic part to generate a harmony audio signal representative of an additional harmony part. An output device mixes the generated harmony audio signal to the input polyphonic audio signal so as to sound the music composition which contains the additional harmony part derived from the particular one of the melodic parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Kageyama
  • Patent number: 5684262
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Nakamura, Masakazu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5652797
    Abstract: A sound effect imparting apparatus, which is employed in the electronic musical instrument in order to impart a variety of sound effects to the musical tones in a variety of manners, is mainly configured by an effect program memory, a sound-effect operation portion, a mixer and a mixing information supply portion. The effect program memory stores a plurality of effect programs, respectively corresponding to a plurality of sound effects to be imparted to musical tone data, in advance. The sound-effect operation portion performs arithmetic operations and/or logical operations on its input data in accordance with the effect programs read from the effect program memory, thus imparting desired sound effects to the musical tone data. The mixer receives the musical tone data, given from an external device, and operation data, outputted from the sound-effect operation portion, representing the musical tone data to which the sound effects have been imparted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Okamura, Yoshio Fujita
  • Patent number: 5648629
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having a pitch designating unit capable of designating pitches of a plurality of tone signals to be generated, a plurality of tone signal generating channels for selectively generating and outputting a plurality of tone signals having a different pitch designated by the pitch designating unit, a mixing unit for mixing tone signals generated by the plurality of tone signal generating units, a plurality of resonance signal generating units each having a different resonance frequency characteristic, for receiving a mixed tone signal from the mixing unit and generating and outputting a plurality of different resonance signals, and an input level controller provided on the input side of the plurality of resonance signal generating units, for controlling a level of the mixed tone signal from the mixing unit for each resonance signal generating unit, in accordance with a pitch of each of a plurality of tone signals to be generated, and supplying the level controlled mixed tone signal
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Kozuki
  • Patent number: 5621805
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for digital mixing and sample rate conversion in a computer system is disclosed. The fully digital mixer of the present invention comprises: 1) a digital input receiver for receiving a plurality of digital data input signals and a corresponding plurality of input clock signals. The digital input receiver also receives an output clock signal. The digital input receiver further includes a data rate converter for converting the plurality of digital data input signals to a sampling rate corresponding to the output clock signal. The data rate converter produces a plurality of converted digital data output signals; 2) a digital filter unit coupled to the digital input receiver. The digital filter unit includes a plurality of digital filters for filtering the plurality of converted digital data output signals to produce a plurality of filtered digital data output signals; and 3) a digital blending unit coupled to the digital filter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Aztech Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Ngiang G. Loh, Jesper B. Henriksen
  • Patent number: 5608807
    Abstract: A programmable identification panel used in conjunction with an audio mixing sound system. The identification panel includes a changeable visual display, such as a liquid crystal display, for identifying a specific instrument or sound that has been assigned to a particular channel on the audio mixing device. The invention is particularly useful to audio engineers in that it helps to distinguish channel identification for multiple musical configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Inventor: Thoedore M. Brunelle