Monthly Archives: March 2010
Simulated musical rainmaker
AbstractA lightweight, disposable musical toy for school-age children with a long brush-like baffle inserted into the casing that creates the sound of rain as particulate material flows through the baffle. Visual and aural enhancements include a brightly colored coveting, a molded covering of plants and animals from the rainforest, a clear casing through which the viewer sees the particulate material flowing through the baffle, and one or more sound circuits that broadcasts the sound of rain, animal calls, or musical instruments which is activated when the casing is tipped.ClaimsWhat I claim is:
Musical tone synthesizing apparatus utilizing an all-pass filter having a variable fractional delay
AbstractThe musical tone synthesizing apparatus is mainly configured by a closed loop which at least provides a delay circuit and an all-pass filter. The delay circuit delays an input signal (e.g., excitation wave signal) by a first delay time corresponding to a certain integral number of sampling periods. The all-pass filter functions to at least delay an output of the delay circuit by a second delay time corresponding to a decimal fraction of the sampling period, so that an output of the all-pass filter is fed back to the delay circuit. The whole delay time of the closed loop consists of the first and second delay times which can be respectively controlled. Thus, a musical tone signal representing a synthesized musical tone (e.g., an attenuating sound which is produced from an percussion instrument) is picked up from the closed loop. Incidentally, the whole configuration of the closed loop can be embodied by a digital signal processor (DSP).Claims
Method and apparatus for representing musical information
AbstractA method for electronically processing and storing musical information involves separating the musical information into a plurality of segments, each representing some portion of a measure, and assigning a sequential time dimension value to each segment. The musical information is also separated into plurality of channels, with each channel representing a sound source and having a sound dimension value assigned to it. The musical information for a given channel and segment is stored in a memory array by associating the musical information corresponding to a given channel and segment with the memory array node specified by the time dimension value and sound dimension value assigned to the given channel and segment.ClaimsI claim:
Music search by interactive graphical specification with audio feedback
AbstractA method and system for creating a musical query are disclosed that graphically generate a musical segment that represents a portion of a desired piece of music. Audio feedback is provided to a user by playing the musical segment. Then, a musical query is generated based on the musical segment. Optionally, the graphical generation the musical segment and audio feedback steps can be repeated until the user acknowledges the musical segment is acceptable. Then, after the user has acknowledged the musical segment is acceptable, the musical query is generated.Claims
Method and apparatus for generating musical tone waveforms by user input of sample waveform frequency
AbstractA method and apparatus for generating musical tones are provided. Musical tones are generated based on musical tone waveform samples generated through a plurality of channels, and performance information is input. Control information is input depending on an amount of operation of an operating element operated by a user. Musical tone waveform samples are generated for each of the channels corresponding to the performance information input within a predetermined time period, in a number corresponding to the input control information, whenever the predetermined time period elapses. Musical tones are generated based on the generated musical tone waveform samples.Claims
Graphic/tactile musical keyboard and nomographic music notation
AbstractA graphic/tactile musical instruction system includes a three-row equal temperament whole tone graphic/tactile keyboard and a nomographic system of music notation. In a first embodiment of the keyboard, an upper row of keys produces the notes C.sup.# /Db, D.sup.# /Eb, F, G, A and B, with the C.sup.# /Db and D.sup.# /Eb keys being extended forward. The upper row keys are narrower in the highest octaves. The middle row produces the notes C, D, E, F.sup.# /Gb, G.sup.# /Ab and A.sup.# /Bb, with the F.sup.# /Gb, G.sup.# /Ab, and A.sup.# /Bb keys extended forward. The lower row keys are aligned with and play the same notes as the upper row keys. In a second embodiment of the keyboard, the upper row keys are narrower in the upper octaves. The F and G upper row keys have raised top surfaces, extended and beveled front ends, and darkened surfaces. The middle row C keys have extended and beveled front ends, raised top surfaces, and darkened surfaces. The lower row F and G keys are raised and darkened.The nomographic notation is correlated to the keyboard by nomographically marking the lines and spaces of the stave adjacent the key signature and similarly graphically marking the notes played on the upper or lower row with a diagonal slant ” “.ClaimsI claim:
Suspension of musical instruments
AbstractA three-point harness for suspending a musical instrument, such as a guitar, about the body of a musician, with a first connector for attaching the harness to one attachment point on the instrument, a second connector for attaching the harness to another attachment point on the instrument, and a third connector between the first and second connectors, attached to the instrument for limiting the extent to which the instrument can be displaced from the harness.Claims
Hand-held percussion musical instrument comprising elongate tube shaped as a ring, incorporating dividers, and incoporating contained sound-generating elements
AbstractDisclosed is a hand-held percussion musical instrument in the form of a rigid tubular ring, which includes a plurality of elongate hollow tubes, the tubes having rigid tubular walls and opposite end walls defining closed hollow tube interiors. Steel shot is loosely contained within the hollow interiors of the tubes, whereby the ring may be hand manipulated to cause the shot to impact the walls to create audible percussion sounds.Claims
Method and apparatus for achieving timbre modulation in an electronic musical instrument
AbstractIn a digital musical instrument, timbre modulation is effected through the use of a digital magnitude comparator and associated digital logic. Selected note frequency signals and selected scale factors are compared in the digital magnitude comparator. Selected comparator outputs are applied to the associated digital logic in conjunction with a sample gating signal. This modulation results in a segmentation of the audio waveshape in accordance with the frequency signals selected for use in the comparator. Hence, choice of lower pitched frequency signals will result in a wider segmentation period, while choice of higher pitched frequency signals will narrow the segmentation period. Timbre modulation may be employed during note attack and/or decay.ClaimsI claim:
Method and apparatus for teaching musical notation to young children
AbstractA method for teaching musical notation to children. Each note is associated with a distinctly identifiable color, which is in turn associated with an object which naturally occurs in this color. Each object, in turn, is associated with a cartoon character which prominently incorporates an image of the object. Each character is endowed with a distinctly identifiable personality characteristic which enables the child to utilize the cartoon character in an educational activity. These relationships allow the child to apply relatively sophisticated symbolization techniques which are a part of the child’s natural developmental process in order to master the musical notation system.Claims