Ekstrom Peter

Musical tone synthesizing apparatus utilizing an all-pass filter having a variable fractional delay
2010-03-29 00:00:00
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

What is claimed is:

1. A musical tone synthesizing apparatus comprising:

first delay means for delaying an input signal by a first delay time corresponding to an integral number of a sampling period;

second delay means for delaying an output of said first delay means by a second delay time corresponding to a decimal fraction of said sampling period, said first delay means and said second delay means being connected together in a closed loop so that an output of said second delay means is fed back to said first delay means;

delay calculating means for calculating a total delay amount applied to said closed loop, said total delay amount comprising an integral-part delay time and a decimal-part delay time, said integral-part delay time corresponding to said first delay time and said decimal-part delay time corresponding to said second delay time; and

control means for controlling said integral-part delay time and said decimal-part delay time in an interrelated manner to minimize discontinuity in an output of said second delay means, whereby a musical tone signal representing a synthesized musical tone is output from said closed loop.

2. A musical tone synthesizing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said second delay means is a all-pass filter which acts upon a filter coefficient supplied thereto, while said control means produces and supplies said filter coefficient to said all-pass filter such that a delay operation corresponding to said second delay time can be carried out by said all-pass filter.

3. A musical tone synthesizing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means controls said decimal-part delay time to be approximately equal to zero when said control means controls said integral-part delay time to be increased, while said control means controls said decimal-part delay time to correspond to one sampling period when said control means controls said integral-part delay time to be decreased.

4. A musical tone synthesizing apparatus comprising:

delay means for delaying an input signal by a first delay time corresponding to a certain integral number of sampling periods;

an all-pass filter for receiving an output of said delay means and for delaying said output by a second delay time corresponding to a decimal fraction of said sampling period in response to a filter coefficient supplied thereto, said delay means and said all-pass filter being connected together in a closed loop so that an output of said all-pass filter is fed back to said delay means;

delay calculating means for calculating a whole delay amount applied to said closed loop, said whole delay amount consisting of an integral-part delay time and a decimal-part delay time, said integral-part delay time corresponding to said first delay time, while said decimal-part delay time corresponds to said second delay time;

control means for controlling said integral-part delay time which is applied to said delay means as said first delay time and said filter coefficient such that said first and second delay times are controlled in an interrelated manner to minimize a discontinuity in an output of said all-pass filter; and

an interpolation means for performing an interpolation operation on said filter coefficient in response to a variation of said integral-part delay time controlled by said control means, whereby a musical tone signal representing a synthesized musical tone is obtained from said closed loop.

5. A musical tone synthesizing apparatus comprising:

excitation wave producing means for producing an excitation wave signal;

an adder for receiving said excitation wave signal;

delay means for receiving an output of said adder so as to delay it by a first delay time which corresponds to an integral number of sampling periods;

an all-pass filter, responsive to a filter coefficient supplied thereto so as to at least delay an output of said delay means by a second delay time which corresponds to a decimal fraction of said sampling period;

a low-pass filter for performing a low-pass filtering operation on an output of said all-pass filter;

a multiplier for multiplying an output of said low-pass filter by a loop gain supplied thereto, wherein said adder, said delay means, said all-pass filter, said low-pass filter and said multiplier are connected together to form a closed loop so that an output of said multiplier is fed back to said adder in which it is added to said excitation wave signal; and

a delay control means for controlling said first delay time and said second delay time, respectively, in an interrelated manner to minimize discontinuity in said output of said all-pass filter, whereby a musical tone signal representing a synthesized musical tone is obtained from said output of said adder, while a tone pitch of said musical tone is continuously controlled by said control means.

6. A musical tone synthesizing apparatus comprising:

a signal producing portion for producing a signal;

a loop-circuit portion connected with said signal producing portion, said loop-circuit portion receiving said signal outputted from said signal producing portion so as to circulate it therethrough, resulting that said signal is modified in accordance with a characteristic of said loop-circuit portion while circulating through said loop-circuit portion,

said loop-circuit portion further including an integral-stage delay means having an integral delay amount and a decimal-stage delay means having a decimal delay amount, said integral-stage delay means providing at least one delay means of which delay amount corresponds to an integral "1" while said decimal delay amount of said decimal-stage delay means is smaller than said delay amount of said delay means,

wherein a whole delay amount of said loop-circuit portion is determined by a sum of said integral delay amount and said decimal delay amount; and

delay control means for controlling said integral-stage delay means and said decimal-stage delay means such that when said whole delay amount of said loop-circuit portion is continuously increased while said integral delay amount is incremented, said decimal delay amount is firstly set substantially equal to "0", and then, said decimal delay amount is gradually increased, whereas when said integral delay amount is decremented, said decimal delay amount is first set substantially equal to "1" corresponding to one sampling period, and then, said decimal delay amount is gradually decreased.

7. A musical tone synthesizing apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said decimal-stage delay means is embodied by an all-pass filter.

8. A musical tone synthesizing apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said all-pass filter is configured by a delay circuit and an operation circuit, while said delay control means provides a coefficient generator which generates a coefficient to be supplied to said operation circuit so that said decimal delay amount is determined by said coefficient.

9. A musical tone synthesizing apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said delay control means further provides an interpolation circuit which interpolates said coefficient in response to a variation of said integral delay amount so as to supply an interpolated coefficient to said all-pass filter.

10. A musical tone synthesizing apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said decimal-stage delay means is configured by a register and an operation circuit, while said delay control means provides a coefficient generator which generates a coefficient to be supplied to said operation circuit so that said decimal delay amount is determined by said coefficient.

11. A musical tone synthesizing apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said delay control means controls said decimal-stage delay means such that when said integral delay amount is increased, said register is reset while said coefficient generator is controlled to generate said coefficient by which said decimal delay amount is roughly set at "0" whereas when said integral delay amount is decreased, a value which was set at said register at a preceding moment which is one sampling period prior to a current moment is set to said register again while said coefficient generator is controlled to generate said coefficient by which said decimal delay amount is set substantially equal to "1".

12. A musical tone synthesizing apparatus as defined in claim 6 further comprising an extracting means for extracting said signal circulating through said loop-circuit portion as a musical tone signal representing a musical tone to be produced.

13. A musical tone synthesizing apparatus comprising:

a signal producing portion for producing a signal;

a delay portion connected with said signal producing portion, said delay portion receiving said signal outputted from said signal producing portion so as to eventually delay it by a whole delay amount,

said delay portion further including an integral-stage delay means having an integral delay amount and a decimal-stage delay means providing at least one delay means of which delay amount corresponds to an integral "1" representing one sampling period, while said decimal delay amount of said decimal-stage delay means is smaller than said delay amount of said delay means,

wherein said whole delay amount of said delay portion is determined by a sum of said integral delay amount and said decimal delay amount;

delay designating means for designating said whole delay amount to be embodied by said delay portion; and

delay control means for controlling said integral-stage delay means and said decimal-stage delay means such that when said whole delay amount is continuously increased while said integral delay amount is incremented, said decimal delay amount is firstly set substantially equal to "0", and then, said decimal delay amount is gradually increased, whereas when said whole delay amount is continuously decreased while said integral delay amount is decremented, said decimal delay amount is firstly set substantially equal to "1", and then, said decimal delay amount is gradually decreased.

14. A musical tone synthesizing apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said decimal-stage delay means is embodied by an all-pass filter.

15. A musical tone synthesizing apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said all-pass filter is configured by a delay circuit and an operation circuit, while said delay control means provides a coefficient generator which generates a coefficient to be supplied to said operation circuit so that said decimal delay amount is determined by said coefficient.

16. A musical tone synthesizing apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said delay control means further provides an interpolation circuit which interpolates said coefficient in response to a variation of said integral delay amount so as to supply an interpolated coefficient to said all-pass filter.

17. A musical tone synthesizing apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said decimal-stage delay means is configured by a register and an operation circuit, while said delay control means provides a coefficient generator which generates a coefficient to be supplied to said operation circuit so that said decimal delay amount is determined by said coefficient.

18. A musical tone synthesizing apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said delay control means controls said decimal-stage delay means such that when said integral delay amount is increased, said register is reset while said coefficient generator is controlled to generate said coefficient by which said decimal delay amount is roughly set at "0" whereas when said integral delay amount is decreased, a value which was set at said register at a preceding moment which is one sampling period prior to a current moment is set to said register again while said coefficient generator is controlled to generate said coefficient by which said decimal delay amount is set substantially equal to "1".

19. A musical tone synthesizing apparatus as defined in claim 13 further comprising an extracting means for extracting said signal circulating through said loop-circuit portion as a musical tone signal representing a musical tone to be produced.Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a musical tone synthesizing apparatus which is suitable for synthesizing musical tones produced from percussion instruments.

b 2. Prior Art

Recently, several kinds of musical tone synthesizing apparatuses are developed such that by activating a simulation model simulating a tone-generation mechanism of the non-electronic musical instrument, the musical tones of the non-electronic musical instrument can be simulated well. Some of these musical tone synthesizing apparatuses are designed to synthesize percussive sounds produced from the percussion instruments. General characteristic of the percussive sounds is inability to sustain sounds, in other words, the percussive sound is rapidly attenuated in tone volume. Hereinafter, the percussive sound having the above-mentioned characteristic will be referred to as "an attenuating sound". As the circuitry to synthesize the attenuating sound, a closed-loop circuitry which contains an adder 1, a delay circuit 2 and a filter 3 as shown in FIG. 17 is known. This type of circuitry is designed on the basis of a so-called delay-feedback-type circuitry.

The delay circuit 2 is configured by a shift register. The shift register provides plural flip-flops of which number (simply referred to as a stage number) is determined responsive to a number of bits of a digital signal which is supplied to the delay circuit 2 from the adder 1. Each of the flip-flop receives a clock which is produced by each sampling period 蟿s. A delay time 蟿p of the delay circuit 2 is equivalent to a result of multiplication in which the sampling period 蟿 is multiplied by a stage number N of the shift register, i.e., "N蟿s ". The filter 3 imparts a desired attenuation characteristic to a signal which circulates through the closed loop.

Meanwhile, an analog signal containing frequency components like a noise signal is modulated by a PCM (i.e., Pulse Code Modulation) technique by each sampling period 蟿s, resulting that a time-series digital signal is obtained. Such time-series digital signal is applied to the musical tone synthesizing apparatus as its input signal. This input signal is supplied to the adder 1, from which it is supplied to the filter 3 by means of the delay circuit 2. Then, the signal is fed back to the adder 1. Thus, the input signal circulates through the closed loop.

When ignoring a phase delay occurring in the filter 3, a time which is required for the input signal to circulate the closed loop once is assumed to be equal to the delay time 蟿p. In this case, the gain of the closed loop has a frequency characteristic of which maximum point is emerged at an integral multiple of a fundamental frequency f1=1/蟿p. Since the closed-loop gain is slightly smaller than "1", the signal which repeatedly circulates through the closed loop is gradually attenuated in amplitude. During an attenuating process of the signal, the output of the adder 1 is extracted and is subjected to digital-to-analog conversion. Thus, it is possible to obtain an attenuating signal having a fundamental wave and the other higher harmonic waves of which frequencies correspond to integral multiples of the fundamental frequency. By use of the above-mentioned closed loop, it is possible to excite the musical tone signal having the fundamental-wave component and higher-harmonic components like the real musical sound which is produced from the stringed instrument. Such musical tone signal is gradually attenuated in amplitude in a lapse of time.

In the circuitry shown in FIG. 17, the delay time 蟿 can be set in response to the integral multiple of the sampling period 蟿, in other words, the delay time 蟿 cannot be arbitrarily changed other than the delay times each corresponding to the integral multiple of the sampling period. In order to obtain an arbitrary delay time which is shifted from the delay time corresponding to the integral multiple of the sampling period 蟿s, an all-pass filter 4 must be inserted between the delay circuit 2 and the filter 3 as shown in FIG. 18. This all-pass filter 4 is designed on tile basis of the known configuration of the primary digital filter. It is configured by adders 41, 42, multipliers 43, 44 and a delay circuit 45. As similar to the delay circuit 2, the delay circuit 45 receives a clock by each sampling period 蟿s.

In the all-pass filter 4, the output of the delay circuit 2 is added with an output of the multiplier 44 by the adder 41. The output of the adder 41 is delivered to the adder 42 by means of the delay circuit 45. In addition, the output of the adder 41 is also delivered to the multiplier 43 wherein it is multiplied by a multiplication coefficient "-伪". Then, a result of the multiplication performed by the multiplier 43 is supplied to the adder 42. On the other hand, the multiplier 44 multiplies the output of the delay circuit 45 by a multiplication coefficient "伪", and then, a result of the multiplication performed by the multiplier 44 is supplied to the adder 41. The adder 42 adds the output of the delay circuit 45 to the output of the multiplier 43. A result of the addition is outputted to the filter 3. As each of the multiplication coefficients "伪" and "-伪" which are respectively used in the multipliers 43 and 44, it is possible to use a value which exists between "-1" and "1".

The function of the all-pass filter 4 described above can be expressed by use of a transfer function H(z) which is denoted by an equation (1) as follows:

H(z)=伪 z-1 /1 伪z-1 (1)

By replacing the term "z" by another term "exp(-j蠅蟿s)" in the equation (1), it is possible to obtain an equation (2), which represents a frequency characteristic F(蠅) of the all-pass filter 4.

F(蠅)=伪 exp(-j蠅蟿s)/1 伪*exp('j蠅蟿....

Method and apparatus for representing musical information
2010-03-26 00:00:00
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:

1. An apparatus for electronically storing and processing music information comprising:

means for receiving electronic signals representing a time-ordered sequence of notes and rests in musical composition to be performed by one or more sound sources;

means for identifying in said electronic signals the pitch of each note and the duration of each note and rest and means for assigning each note and rest to a first measure and succeeding sequentially ordered measures; and

means for storing an electronic representation of the pitch and duration of each note and the duration of each rest in a computer memory array comprised of a two dimensional framework of storage nodes, each storage node being associated with a unique one of said first and succeeding measures and a unique one of said one or more sound sources.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the pitch of each note is expressed as a base value and a displacement from said base value.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the duration of each note and each rest is expressed as one or more beat units said beat unit being a specified absolute time interval.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for storing an electronic representation of the pitch and duration of each note and the duration of each rest is a digital computer memory having a field format that is the same for each note.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein sid field format comprises:

a comparator field for defining a sequential position;

a tag field for differentiating various acoustic or graphic attributes associated with a note, a rest, or a musical composition; and

a data field containing encoded data expressing one or more of said attributes or a pointer leading to one or more of said attributes.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said memory array has at least one additional dimension implemented by vectors associated with one or more of said storage nodes, with said vectors containing additional electronic representations specifying graphical representations of textual, interpretive, pitch or duration attributes associated with the notes in the storage node associated with said vector.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

means for retrieving the electronic representations of the pitch and duration of each note and the duration of each rest from said memory array;

means for translating all of the retrieved electronic representations stored in each storage node associated with a single sound source into a graphical representation of a musical staff with notes and rests; and

means for placing in the graphical representation of a musical staff, measure markers that demarcate the notes associated with the first and succeeding measures as indicated by the storage mode at which each note and rest is stored.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

means for retrieving said electronic representations of the pitch and duration of each note and the duration of each rest from said memory array, starting with the notes in the storage node corresponding to the first measures stored in said memory array for each sound source and continuing sequentially for notes in the storage nodes corresponding to the second and succeeding measures in said memory array; and

means for translating the retrieved electronic representations into electronic output signals to at least one sound source, starting with the first note in any measure of the storage node corresponding to the first measures stored in said memory for each sound source and joining with said first note any notes to be performed at the same time, then continuing with the next succeeding note and any notes to be performed in said first measure and further continuing with the notes in measures of the storage node corresponding to the second and succeeding measures at the same time.

9. A method for electronically processing and storing musical information using a programmable data processing system, the steps comprising:

providing the programmable data processing system with a plurality of data signals representing musical information; and

using the programmable data processing system to perform the steps of:

separating the musical information into a plurality of segments, each segment representing some portion of a measure;

assigning a sequential time dimension value to each segment;

separating the musical information into a plurality of channels, each channel representing a sound source;

assigning a sound dimension value to each channel; and

storing the musical information for a given channel and segment by associating the musical information corresponding to a given channel and segment with the time dimension value and sound dimension value assigned to the given channel and segment.

10. A music processing apparatus for representing musical information comprising:

means for selectively inputting musical information;

programmable data processing means operably connected to the means for selectively inputting musical information for electronically representing, storing and retrieving the musical information in a memory means associated with the programmable data processing means for storing information; and

a multi-dimensional data structure framework within the memory means of the programmable data processing means having:

a time dimension for separating the musical information into a plurality of segments, each segment representing some portion of a measure; and

a sound dimension for separating the musical information into a plurality of channels, each channel representing a sound source, such that a plurality of framework intersection points are defined by the intersections of the time dimension and the sound dimension,

whereby the musical information for a given sound source and measure is stored at the framework intersection point corresponding to a time dimension value and a sound dimension value that correspond to the given instrument and measure.

11. The music processing apparatus of claim 10 wherein the framework further comprises a performance dimension accessible at each framework intersection point for storing additional musical information representing one or more multiple renditions of a particular measure as played by a particular instrument.

12. A method for processing musical information comprising the steps of:

inputting the musical information into a programmable data processing means for electronically representing the musical information;

separating the musical information into a plurality of measures;

assigning a time dimension value to each measure;

separating the musical information into a plurality of channels;

assigning a sound dimension value to each channel;

storing the musical information for a given channel and measure by associating the musical information corresponding to a given channel and measure with an array location specified by the time dimension value and the sound dimension value assigned to the given instrument and measure.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

retrieving the musical information for a specified range of instruments and measures by:

specifying all of the combinations of time dimension values and the sound dimension values for the specified range of instruments and measures;

determining whether musical information exists for each combination of the time dimension values and sound dimension values;

retrieving the musical information for each combination of time dimension value and sound dimension value that exists; and

generating a whole rest for each combination of a time dimension value and a sound dimension value that has no associated musical information; and

outputting the retrieved musical information.

14. A method for electronically representing musical information using a programmable data processing system, the steps comprising:

providing the programmable data processing system with a plurality of data signals representing musical information; and

using the programmable data processing system to perform the steps of:

storing a plurality of entries that represent rhythmic, melodic, and interpretive aspects of the musical information, each entry comprising one unit of music data selectively representing a rest, a note or a chord and a set of details associated with the entry;

linking successive entries for a given instrument together in time sequence order;

grouping a portion of a sequence musical information to be associated with a specified measure for a given instrument by:

assigning a first pointer to the successive entries for the given instrument to designate the first entry to be included in the measure; and

assigning a last pointer to the successive entries for the given instrument to designate the last entry to be included in the measure.

15. A method for electronically representing pitch information associated with musical information using a programmable data processing system, the steps comprising:

providing the programmable data processing system with a plurality of data signals representing pitch information; and

using the programmable data processing system to perform the steps of:

defining a harmonic reference as an absolute frequency;

defining a tone center as an octave key signature relative to the harmonic reference;

defining a diatonic displacement for dividing the tone center into diatonic steps; and

representing the pitch information for a note as a relative displacement of diatonic steps from the tone center,

whereby the octave key signature associated with a given note is transposed without computation as a result of a change in the tone center.

16. A music processing apparatus for representing musical information, the musical information comprising a plurality of entries with each entry representing one unit of music data that may be a rest, a single note or a chord and a set of attributes associated with that entry, comprising:

a programmable data processing means for executing a program; and

memory means operably connected to the programmable data processing means for storing the musical information, the memory means including;

a multi-dimensional data structure framework for storing the musical information having:

a time dimension for separating the musical information into a plurality of segments, each segment representing some portion of a measure; and

a sound dimension for separating the musical information into a plurality of channels, each channel representing a sound source,

such that a plurality of framework intersection points are defined by a pair of discrete values of the time dimension and the sound dimension;

an entry pool for storing the entries that comprise the musical information; and

a plurality of frames assigned to the framework intersection points, each frame having:

a first and last pointer to the entry pool for designating entries to be included in that frame; and

a frame specification record for storing additional attributes associated with the musical information contained in the frame.

17. A music processing apparatus including programmable data processor means for executing a program and memory means for storing musical information, comprising:

a plurality of frames included in the memory means, each frame for storing musical information associated with a measure for one of a plurality of sound sources;

a plurality of assignment records included in the memory means, each assignment record indicating the measure and instrument assigned to that frame; and

means for retrieving the musical information from the memory means by searching the assignment records for sequential measures for a given sound source and retrieving the musical information stored in the corresponding frame if an assignment record is found and placing a whole rest in the measure if an assignment record is not found for the measure and sound source being searched for.

18. A common data structure for representing musical information comprising:

a music framework having a sound dimension and a time dimension:

means for storing page-related data for the music framework such that the page-related data is identified by a page number;

means for storing instrument-related data along the sound dimension of the music framework such that the instrument-related data is identified by an instrument number;

means for storing measure-related data along the time dimension of the music framework whereby the measure-related data is identified by a measure number;

means for storing frame-related data at intersection points of the sound dimension and the time dimension of the music framework such that the frame-related data is identified by a frame number;

means for storing entry-related data such that the entry-related data is identified by an entry number; and

means for relating designated portions of the entry-related data to the frame-related data stored at a designated intersection point of the sound dimension and the time dimension of the music framework.

19. A data structure for representing musical information comprising:

memory means for storing the musical information in a machine-readable format; and

a multi-dimensional framework having:

a time dmension for separating the musical information into a plurality of segments, each segment representing some portion of a measure; and

a sound dimension for separating the musical information into a plurality of channels, each channel representing an instrument,

such that a plurality of framework intersection points are defined by the combination of a time dimension value and a sound dimension value;

whereby the musical information for a given channel and segment is stored in the memory means at the framework intersection point corresponding to the time dimension value and the sound dimension value that correspond to the given channel and segment.

20. The data structure of claim 19 wherein the framework further comprises a performance dimension accessible at each framework intersection point for storing additional musical information representing one or more multiple renditions of a particular measure as played by a particular instrument.

21. A data structure for representing musical information comprising:

entry pool means for storing a plurality of entries that represent rhythmic, melodic, and interpretive aspects of the musical information, each entry comprising:

one unit of music data selectively representing a rest, a note or a chord;

a set of details associated with the entry; and

a pointer to a next sequential entry in a time sequence of the entries;

a plurality of frame records for designating the musical information associated with a given measure for a given instrument, each frame record having:

a first pointer to the entry pool for designating the first entry to be included in the measure; and

a last pointer to the entry pool for designating the last entry to be included in the measure.

22. The data structure of claim 21 wherein the entry pool means is a two dimensional double link list array having as a first dimension the time sequence of the entries and as a second dimension a relationship among entries occurring in a same time interval.

23. The data structure of claim 22 wherein each entry comprises:

a last pointer defining the previous entry in the time sequence;

a next pointer defining the subsequent entry in the time sequence;

an up pointer defining a first related entry occurring during the same time sequence;

a down pointer defining a second related entry occurring during the same time sequence;

a duration value defining the duration of the entry;

a position value defining the position of the entry;

a note value defining the pitch of the entry; and

an effect value defining a set of attributes that effect the appearance and functionality of the entry.

24. The data structure of claim 23 wherein the duration value defines a relative duration of the entry.

25. The data structure of claim 23 wherein the position value defines a relative horizontal position of the entry and musical staff.

26. The data structure of claim 23 wherein the note value defines a relative pitch of the entry.

27. A method for processing musical information comprising the steps of:

inputting the musical information into a programmable data processing means for electronically representing the musical information;

identifying a plurality of measures in the musical information;

assigning a time dimension value to each measure;

identifying at least one instrument in the musical information;

assigning a sound dimension value to each instrument;

storing the musical information for a given instrument and measure by storing the time dimension value and the sound dimension value assigned to the given instrument and measure and storing the musical information associated with the given instrument and measure.

28. The method for representing musical information of claim 27 further comprising the steps of:

identifying a plurality of entries that represent rhythmic, melodic, and interpretive aspects of the musical information, each entry comprising one unit of music data selectively representing a rest, a note or a chord and a set of details associated with the entry;

linking successive entries for a given instrument together;

designating the musical information to be associated with the given instrument and measure by;

assigning a first pointer to the successive entries for the given instr...

Music search by interactive graphical specification with audio feedback
2010-03-25 00:00:00
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

What is claimed is:

1. A method of creating a musical query comprising:

graphically generating a musical segment that represents a portion of a desired piece of music;

providing audio feedback to a user by playing at least a portion of the generated musical segment;

generating a musical query based on the generated musical segment;

retrieving at least one music piece from a music database based on the generated musical query;

selecting at least a portion of one of the retrieved music pieces;

creating a graphical representation of the selected music portion; and

generating a second musical query based on the created graphical representation of the selected music portion.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

synthesizing the musical segment prior to the step of providing the audio feedback.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

repeating the step of graphically generating the musical segment and the step of providing audio feedback, until the musical segment has been acknowledged as acceptable; and

wherein the step of generating the musical query based on the graphically generated musical segment is performed after the musical segment has been acknowledged as acceptable.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising:

displaying a list containing the retrieved music pieces;

selecting at least one of the retrieved music pieces; and

playing the selected at least one of the retrieved music pieces to the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the musical query is in a string format.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the musical query is in a MIDI format.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the musical query is in an audio format.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented in a software program accessible by a graphical interface for graphically generating the musical segment via a web browser over a network.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising:

modifying the musical segment produced during the step of graphically generating in response to user inputs to change characteristics of the musical segment.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising:

replacing the generated musical segment with the created graphical representation of the selected music portion,

graphically adjusting the replaced generated musical segment; and

providing audio feedback to a user by playing at least a portion of the adjusted generated musical segment.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising:

repeating the step of graphically adjusting the replaced generated musical segment and the step of providing audio feedback from the adjusted generated musical segment, until the adjusted generated musical segment has been acknowledged as acceptable; and

wherein the step of generating the second musical query is performed after the adjusted generated musical segment has been acknowledged as acceptable.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising:

graphically adjusting the replaced generated musical segment in response to user inputs to change characteristics of the musical segment.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated musical segment comprises a bass and/or a rhythm section for generating the musical query.

14. The method of claim 1, comprising:

graphically adjusting the tempo of the generated musical segment to fine tune the tempo of the musical segment.

15. A computer-based system for creating a musical query comprising:

logic that graphically generates a musical segment that represents at least a portion of a desired piece of music;

logic that provides audio feedback to a user by playing at least a portion of the generated musical segment;

logic that generates a musical query based on the generated musical segment;

logic that retrieves at least one music piece from a music database based on the generated musical query;

logic that selects at least a portion of one of the retrieved music pieces;

logic that creates a graphical representation of the selected music portion; and

logic that generates a second musical query based on the created graphical representation of the selected music portion.

16. The computer-based system of claim 15, comprising:

logic that synthesizes the musical segment prior to providing the audio feedback.

17. The computer-based system of claim 15, comprising:

logic that allows the user to repeat graphically generating the musical segment and providing audio feedback, until the musical segment has been acknowledged as acceptable; and

wherein the logic that generates the musical query is activated after the musical segment has been acknowledged as acceptable.

18. The computer-based system of claim 15, comprising:

logic that displays a list containing the retrieved music pieces;

logic that selects at least one of the retrieved music pieces; and

logic that plays the selected at least one of the retrieved music pieces to the user.

19. The computer-based system of claim 15, wherein the musical query is in a string format.

20. The computer-based system of claim 15, wherein the musical query is in a MIDI format.

21. The computer-based system of claim 15, wherein the musical query is in an audio format.

22. The computer-based system of claim 15, wherein the logic for graphically generating the musical segment is implemented in a software program accessible by a graphical interface for graphically generating the musical segment via a web browser over a network.

23. The computer-based system of claim 22, wherein the computer-based system is a local client, the network is the internet, and the desired piece of music resides on a server connected to the local client via the Internet.

24. The computer-based system of claim 15, comprising:

logic that modifies the generated musical segment in response to user inputs to change characteristics of the musical segment.

25. The computer-based system of claim 15, comprising:

logic that replaces the generated musical segment with the created graphical representation of the selected music portion;

logic that graphically adjusts the replaced generated musical segment; and

logic that provides audio feedback to a user by playing at least a portion of the adjusted generated musical segment.

26. The computer-based system of claim 25, comprising:

logic that allows the user to repeat graphically adjusting the replaced generated musical segment and providing audio feedback from the adjusted generated musical segment, until the adjusted generated musical segment has been acknowledged as acceptable; and

wherein the logic that generates the second musical query is activated after the adjusted generated musical segment has been acknowledged as acceptable.

27. The computer-based system of claim 26, comprising:

logic that graphically adjusts the replaced generated musical segment in response to user inputs to change characteristics of the musical segment.Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to multimedia asset management systems, and in particular to the location and retrieval of multimedia files based on a graphically entered music search.

2. Background Information

Audio searching of large multimedia databases has many important applications. Large multimedia databases or collections can contain both audio and video files. Conventional systems store and retrieve specific information from a database using, for example, descriptive information regarding the image file, such as file creation date, file name, file extension and the like. This form of data search and retrieval is not significantly different from the any other digital information.

By relying on the file information, only cursory information can be obtained about the file and nothing at all specifically related to the audio content of the file. For example, an audio file could have a name that has no relation to the features or content of the file, such as a file containing samples of barking dogs could have the file name "cats". Other systems can provide additional information based on the content of the file. However, this is usually done by keyword annotation, which is a laborious task.

Multimedia databases containing music files can have a variety of formats. However the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) format, which has been used since 1983, is the most prevalent. The MIDI format has many advantages for representing music in a digital form. One of the most relevant features of the MIDI format for musical searching is the standardization of the musical scale into a range of integers, from 0 to 127. For example, middle C is assigned integer value of 60, corresponding notes above and below middle C are represented by corresponding integers (i.e., the C# above middle C is MIDI note 61). Additionally, the MIDI format allows for multiple tracks containing musical notes, percussion, timing, and the like, which provides a rich environment for digitally describing a musical piece. Therefore, the MIDI format is used in the following description. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be practiced on any file format that can be stored in a searchable format. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the music files can be stored in related databases, where a searchable data set (e.g., MIDI files) is linked to a data set containing music files that are not easily searchable (e.g., raw audio files).

The amount of multimedia information available today due to the evolution of the internet, low-cost devices (e.g., digital video cameras, digital cameras, video capture cards, MIDI devices, audio cards, digital audio, and the like) to generate multimedia content, and low-cost storage (e.g., hard disks, CDs, DVD, flash memory, and the like) increases the need to search and retrieve relevant multimedia data efficiently. Unlike text-based retrieval, where keywords are successfully used to index into documents, multimedia data retrieval has no easily accessed indexing feature.

One approach to searching audio portions of multimedia collections is to hum a portion of the audio as the search criteria. A query by humming system is described in Ghias et al., "Query by Humming: Musical Information Retrieval in an Audio Database", ACM Multimedia 95 Proceedings, 1995, pages 231-236, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Query by humming requires a user to hum a portion of the audio file, which is then converted into a musical contour (i.e., a relative pitch stream of audio symbols). The musical contour can be represented as a simple string of characters, such as "U, D, S", where U represents that the current note is higher than previous note, D represents that the current note is lower than previous note, and S represents that the current note is the same pitch as previous note. Files in a multimedia database that are being searched can be converted to this nonstandard string representation, so these files can be compared to the hummed query.

Although the query by humming system allows the user to search a database containing audio files based on the content of the audio file, it is limited to only the melody of the music. Important features of the audio file are not searched, such as the rhythm section, bass line and percussion of the musical piece. Additionally, the string representation does not correspond to traditional musical timing, which eliminates another valuable part of the musical composition, i.e., the duration of the notes (eighth, quarter, whole, etc.) is not used to search the audio files. The query by humming system relies on the user's ability to accurately reproduce a portion of the desired audio file by humming. Therefore, the user's ability to hum is a key and uncontrollable variable in determining the perfor...

Method and apparatus for generating musical tone waveforms by user input of sample waveform frequency
2010-03-24 00:00:00
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

What is claimed is:

1. A method of generating musical tones which is executed on a computer, comprising:

a performance information receiving step of receiving performance information which designates a pitch of each of the musical tones to be generated;

a control information receiving step of receiving control information;

a generating step of carrying out, at predetermined time intervals, a musical tone waveform calculation in response to the received performance information, for generating a plurality of musical tone waveform samples for each of a plurality of channels, wherein the predetermined time intervals are longer than a sampling cycle of the musical tone waveform samples, each of the musical tone waveform samples generated has the pitch designated by said performance information, and the number of said waveform sample generated is controlled by said control information; and

a reproducing step of playing back said musical tone waveform samples generated by said generating step.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the received control information is input based on an input operation by a user.

3. A method of generating musical tones which is executed on a computer, comprising:

a receiving step of receiving a plurality of pieces of performance information corresponding respectively to a plurality of performance parts, wherein the received performance information designates a pitch of each of the musical tones to be generated;

a generating step of carrying out, at predetermined time intervals, a musical tone waveform calculation in response to the received performance information, for generating a plurality of musical tone waveform samples corresponding to said plurality of performance parts, wherein the predetermined time intervals are longer than a sampling cycle of the musical tone waveform samples, each of the musical tone waveform samples generated has the pitch designated by said performance information, and a sampling frequency of the musical tone waveform samples generated corresponding to at least one of said plurality of performance parts is different from the sampling frequency of the musical tone waveform samples generated corresponding to the other performance parts; and

a reproducing step of playing back said musical tone waveform samples generated by said generating step.

4. A method of generating musical tones which is executed on a computer, comprising:

a first receiving step of receiving a plurality of pieces of performance information for commanding to generate musical tones;

a second receiving step of receiving limitation information defining a maximum number of channels for generating tones;

a generating step of carrying out, at predetermined time intervals longer than a sampling cycle, a musical tone waveform calculation of a plurality of sounding channels which said performance information has commanded to generate tones, for generating a plurality of musical tone waveform samples in said plurality of sounding channels, wherein when said performance information commands to start generation of a new tone, one new sounding channel is added to said plurality of sounding channels, and when the tone generation in one of said plurality of sounding channels is finished, said one of said plurality of sounding channels is removed from said plurality of sounding channels; and

a reproduction step of outputting said plurality of musical tone waveform samples, sample by sample, every sampling cycle;

wherein said generating step generates said musical tone waveform samples by said musical tone waveform calculation in a manner such that a maximum number of said plurality of sounding channels is limited in accordance with said limitation information by inhibiting said musical tone waveform calculation for some of said plurality of sounding channels when a total number of said sounding channels exceeds the maximum number defined by said limitation information.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the received limitation information is input based on a setting operation by a user.

6. A method of generating musical tones which is executed on a computer, comprising:

a first receiving step of receiving a plurality of pieces of performance information for commanding to generate musical tones;

a second receiving step of receiving limitation information defining a maximum amount of processing capacity of a processor of the computer which can be employed for tone generation;

a generating step of carrying out, at predetermined time intervals longer than a sampling cycle, a musical tone waveform calculation of a plurality of sounding channels which said performance information has commanded to generate tones, for generating a plurality of musical tone waveform samples in said plurality of sounding channels, wherein when said performance information commands to start generation of a new tone, one new sounding channel is added to said plurality of sounding channels, and when the tone generation in one of said plurality of sounding channels is finished, said one of said plurality of sounding channels is removed from said plurality of sounding channels; and

a reproduction step of outputting said plurality of musical tone waveform samples, sample by sample, every sampling cycle;

wherein said generating step generates said musical tone waveform samples by said musical tone waveform calculation in a manner such that a total number of said plurality of sounding channels is limited in accordance with said limitation information by inhibiting said musical tone waveform calculation for some of said plurality of sounding channels when a total amount of processing capacity of the processor which is used by the musical tone waveform calculation in the generating step exceeds the maximum amount of processing capacity of the processor defined by said limitation information.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the received limitation information is input based on a setting operation by a user.

8. A method of generating musical tones which is executed on a computer, comprising:

a performance information receiving step of receiving performance information which designates a pitch of each of the musical tones to be generated;

a control information receiving step of receiving control information;

a waveform sample generating step of carrying out, at predetermined time intervals longer than a sampling cycle, a musical tone waveform calculation of a plurality of sounding channels which said performance information has commanded to generate tones, for reading musical tone waveform samples from a memory, interpolating the read musical tone waveform samples in a manner selected by the control information, at a rate corresponding to a pitch designated for each of said sounding channels by said performance information, and generating a plurality of musical tone waveform samples for each of said sounding channels based on the musical tone waveform samples interpolated, wherein said musical tone waveform samples generated has the pitch designated by said performance information; and

a reproducing step of outputting said musical tone waveform samples generated by said waveform sample generating step, sample by sample, every sampling cycle.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the received control information is input based on a setting operation by a user.

10. A method of of generating musical tones which is executed on a computer, comprising:

a first receiving step of receiving performance information;

a second receiving step of receiving instruction information for instructing a digital filter to switch on or off;

a generating step of carrying out, at predetermined time intervals longer than a sampling cycle, a musical tone waveform calculation in response to the received performance information, for generating a plurality of musical tone waveform samples, and storing the generated plurality of musical tone waveform samples in a memory, wherein said musical tone waveform calculation includes a digital filtering step of filtering said generated plurality of musical tone waveform samples to control a tone color of said musical tone waveform samples, only when said instruction information for instructing the digital filter to switch on is received by said second receiving step; and

a reproducing step of outputting said plurality of musical tone waveform samples, sample by sample, every sampling cycle.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the received instruction information is input based on a setting operation by a user.

12. A method of generating musical tones which is executed on a computer, comprising:

a first receiving step of receiving performance information;

a second receiving step of receiving instruction information for instructing a low frequency oscillator to switch on or off;

a generating step of carrying out, at predetermined time intervals longer than a sampling cycle, a musical tone waveform calculation in response to the received performance information, for generating a plurality of musical tone waveform samples, and storing the generated plurality of musical tone waveform samples in a memory, wherein said musical tone waveform calculation includes a low frequency oscillator step of imparting vibrato to said generated plurality of musical tone waveform samples, only when said instruction information for instructing the low frequency oscillator to switch on is received by said second receiving step; and

a reproducing step of outputting said plurality of musical tone waveform samples, sample by sample, every sampling cycle.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the received instruction information is input based on a setting operation by a user.

14. A method of generating musical tones which is executed on a computer, comprising:

a first receiving step of receiving performance information;

a second receiving step of receiving selection information;

a generating step of carrying out, at predetermined time intervals longer than a sampling cycle, a musical tone waveform calculation in response to the received performance information, for generating a plurality of musical tone waveform samples for each of a plurality of channels, mixing the generated plurality of musical tone waveform samples for each of the plurality of channels, and storing the mixed plurality of musical tone waveform samples in a memory, wherein said musical tone waveform calculation includes

a characteristic control processing step of controlling a characteristic of the mixed plurality of musical tone waveform samples in a manner selected by said selection information; and

a reproducing step of outputting said plurality of musical tone waveform samples generated by said generating step, sample by sample, every sampling cycle.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the plurality of characteristic control processing include at least one of reverberation effect applying processing and low pass filter processing.

16. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the received selection information is input based on a setting operation by a user.

17. An apparatus for generating musical tones, comprising:

a computer for executing a musical tone generating process and outputting musical tones corresponding to musical tone waveforms, wherein said musical tone generating process comprises:

a performance information receiving step of receiving performance information which designates a pitch of each of the musical tones to be generated;

a control information receiving step of receiving control information;

a generating step of carrying out, at predetermined time intervals, a musical tone waveform calculation in response to the received performance information, for generating a plurality of musical tone waveform samples for each of a plurality of channels, wherein the predetermined time intervals are longer than a sampling cycle of the musical tone waveform samples, each of the musical tone waveform samples generated has the pitch designated by said performance information, and the number of said waveform sample generated is controlled by said control information; and

a reproducing step of playing back said musical tone waveform samples generated by said generating step.

18. An apparatus for generating musical tones, comprising:

a computer for executing a musical tone generating process and outputting musical tones corresponding to musical tone waveforms, wherein said musical tone generating process comprises:

a receiving step of receiving a plurality of pieces of performance information corresponding respectively to a plurality of performance parts, wherein the received performance information designates a pitch of each of the musical tones to be generated;

a generating step of carrying out, at predetermined time intervals, a musical tone waveform calculation in response to the received performance information, for generating a plurality of musical tone waveform samples corresponding to said plurality of performance parts, wherein the predetermined time intervals are longer than a sampling cycle of the musical tone waveform samples, each of the musical tone waveform samples generated has the pitch designated by said performance information, and a sampling frequency of the musical tone waveform samples generated corresponding to at least one of said plurality of performance parts is different from the sampling frequency of the musical tone waveform samples generated corresponding to the other performance parts; and

a reproducing step of playing back said musical tone waveform samples generated by said generating step.

19. An apparatus for generating musical tones, comprising:

a computer for executing a musical tone generating process and outputting musical tones corresponding to musical tone waveforms, wherein said musical tone generating process comprises.

a first receiving step of receiving a plurality of pieces of performance information for commanding to generate musical tones;

a second receiving step of receiving limitation information defining a maximum number of channels for generating tones;

a generating step of carrying out, at predetermined time intervals longer than a sampling cycle, a musical tone waveform calculation of a plurality of sounding channels which said performance information has commanded to generate tones, for generating a plurality of musical tone waveform samples in said plurality of sounding channels, wherein when said performance information commands to start generation of a new tone, one new sounding channel is added to said plurality of sounding channels, and when the tone generation in one of said plurality of sounding channels is finished, said one of said plurality of sounding channels is removed from said plurality of sounding channels; and

a reproduction step of outputting said plurality of musical tone waveform samples, sample by sample, every sampling cycle;

wherein said generating step generates said musical tone waveform samples by said musical tone waveform calculation in a manner such that a maximum number of said plurality of sounding channels is limited in accordance with said limitation information by inhibiting said musical tone waveform calculation for some of said plurality of sounding channels when a total number of said sounding channels exceeds the maximum number defined by said limitation information.

20. An apparatus for generating musical tones, comprising:

a computer for executing a musical tone generating process and outputting musical tones corresponding to musical tone waveforms, wherein said musical tone generating process comprises:

a first receiving step of receiving a plurality of pieces of performance information for commanding to generate musical tones;

a second receiving step of receiving limitation information defining a maximum amount of processing capacity of a processor of the computer which can be employed for tone generation;

a generating step of carrying out, at predetermined time intervals longer than a sampling cycle, a musical tone waveform calculation of a plurality of sounding channels which said performance information has commanded to generate tones, for generating a plurality of musical tone waveform samples in said plurality of sounding channels, wherein when said performance information commands to start generation of a new tone, one new sounding channel is added to said plurality of sounding channels, and when the tone generation in one of said plurality of sounding channels is finished, said one of said plurality of sounding channels is removed from said plurality of sounding channels; and

a reproduction step of outputting said plurality of musical tone waveform samples, sample by sample, every sampling cycle;

wherein said generating step generates said musical tone waveform samples by said musical tone waveform calculation in a manner such that a total number of said plurality of sounding channels is limited in accordance with said limitation information by inhibiting said musical tone waveform calculation for some of said plurality of sounding channels when a total amount of processing capacity of the processor which is used by the musical tone waveform calculation in the generating step exceeds the maximum amount of processing capacity of the processor defined by said limitation information.

21. An apparatus for generating musical tones, comprising:

a computer for executing a musical tone generating process and outputting musical tones corresponding to musical tone waveforms; and

a memory for storing musical tone waveform samples;

wherein said musical tone generating process comprises:

a performance information receiving step of receiving performance information which designates a pitch of each of the musical tones to be generated;

a control information receiving step of receiving control information;

a waveform sample generating step of carrying out, at predetermined time intervals longer than a sampling cycle, a musical tone waveform calc...

Graphic/tactile musical keyboard and nomographic music notation
2010-03-23 00:00:00
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:

1. A graphic/tactile musical instruction system, comprising:

tone producing means for producing a musical note in response to the actuation of a selected key of a keyboard;

a graphic/tactile keyboard wherein actuation of any two adjacent keys within a single row causes the tone producing means to produce two musical notes separated by a whole tone, and actuation of any two adjoining keys in adjacent rows produces two musical notes separated by a half-tone, the keyboard having:

an upper row of keys positioned relatively farther away from the player, the upper row keys producing the notes C鈾?/D鈾? D鈾?/E鈾? F, G, A and B, wherein adjacent upper row keys are separated by a gap, and wherein selected upper row keys are graphically and tactilely differentiated from the remaining upper row keys, the upper row keys in a predetermined one or more highest octaval groupings being narrower than the upper row keys in octaval groupings below said narrower keys;

a middle row of keys positioned lower and relatively closer to the player than the upper row, the middle row keys producing the notes C, D, E, F鈾?/G鈾? G鈾?/A鈾?and A鈾?/B鈾? wherein a longitudinal centerline of each middle row key is parallel to and laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline of an adjacent upper row key, and wherein the middle row keys have a uniform width approximately equal to the width of any selected one of the upper row keys plus the width of the gap separating the upper row key from an adjacent upper row key, and wherein selected middle row keys are graphically and tactilely differentiated from the remaining middle row keys; and

a lower row of keys positioned lower and relatively closer to the player than the middle row, wherein the longitudinal centerline of each of said lower row keys is aligned with the longitudinal centerline of a corresponding upper row key which produces the same note as said lower row key, wherein said lower row keys have a uniform width equal to the uniform width of the middle row keys, and wherein the frontmost ends of all said lower row keys are coplanar; and

a nomographic music notation system comprising musical notation wherein notes to be played on one row of the keyboard are graphically marked while notes to be played on another row of the keyboard are unmarked, said notation system, in addition to conventional key signature symbols, including in the key signature area nomographic symbols indicating the lines and spaces on which said graphically marked notes occur.

2. A musical instruction system according to claim 1, wherein the graphic markings on certain notes and the nomographic markings in the key signature are alike.

3. The musical instruction system of claim 1, wherein notes are marked with a diagonal slant " " through the body of the note.

4. The musical instruction system of claim 1, wherein the upper row C鈾?/D鈾?and D鈾?/E鈾?keys are graphically and tactilely differentiated from the remaining upper row keys by lengthening the upper row C鈾?/D鈾?and D鈾?/E鈾?keys so that from ends thereof are relatively closer to the player than front ends of the remaining upper row keys, and

wherein the F鈾?/G鈾? G鈾?/A鈾? and A鈾?/B鈾?keys are graphically and tactilely differentiated from the remaining middle row keys by lengthening the F鈾?/G鈾? G鈾?/A鈾? and A鈾?/B鈾?keys so that front ends thereof are relatively closer to the player than front ends of the remaining middle row keys.

5. The musical instruction system of claim 1, wherein the upper row F and G keys are both graphically and tactilely differentiated from the remaining upper row keys by darkening the top and front surfaces of the upper row F and G keys, and by lengthening the upper row F and G keys so that front ends thereof are relatively closer to the player than front ends of the remaining upper row keys, and by beveling top surfaces and opposing side surfaces of the upper row F and G keys at the front ends thereof; and

wherein the C keys are both graphically and tactilely differentiated from the remaining middle row keys by darkening the top and front surfaces thereof, and by lengthening and bevelling the front ends thereof, said F, G, and C keys thus tactilely providing a major scale index.

6. The musical instruction system of claim 5, wherein top surfaces of the upper row F and G keys are raised above top surfaces of the remaining upper row keys by about one-eighth inch (3 mm).

7. The musical instruction system of claim 5, wherein top surfaces of the C keys are raised above top surfaces of the remaining middle row keys by about one-eighth inch (3 mm).

8. The musical instruction system of claim 5, wherein the lower row F and G keys are graphically differentiated from the remaining lower row keys by darkening top and front surfaces of the lower row F and G keys.

9. The musical instruction system of claim 8, wherein top surfaces of the lower row F and G keys are raised above top surfaces of the remaining lower row keys by about one-eighth inch (3 mm).

10. A graphic/tactile musical instruction system, comprising:

tone producing means for producing a musical note in response to the actuation of a selected key of a keyboard;

a graphic/tactile keyboard wherein actuation of any two adjacent keys within a single row causes the tone producing means to produce two musical notes separated by a whole tone, and actuation of any two adjoining keys in adjacent rows produces two musical notes separated by a half-tone, the keyboard having:

an upper row of keys positioned relatively farther away from the player, the upper row keys producing the notes C鈾? D鈾? D鈾?/E鈾? F, G, A and B, wherein adjacent upper row keys are separated by a gap, and wherein selected upper row keys are graphically and tactilely differentiated from the remaining upper row keys, the upper row keys in a predetermined one or more highest octaval groupings being narrower than the upper row keys in octaval groupings below said narrower keys;

a middle row of keys positioned lower and relatively closer to the player than the upper row, the middle row keys producing the notes C, D, E, F鈾?/G鈾? G鈾?/A鈾?and A鈾?/B鈾? wherein a longitudinal centerline of each middle row key is parallel to and laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline of an adjacent upper row key, and wherein the middle row keys have a uniform width approximately equal to the width of any selected one of the upper row keys plus the width of the gap separating the upper row key from an adjacent upper row key, and wherein selected middle row keys are graphically and tactilely differentiated from the remaining middle row keys; and

a lower row of keys positioned lower and relatively closer to the player than the middle row, wherein the longitudinal centerline of each of said lower row keys is aligned with the longitudinal centerline of a corresponding upper row key which produces the same note as said lower row key, and wherein said lower row keys have a uniform width equal to the uniform width of the middle row keys, and wherein the frontmost ends of all said lower row keys are coplanar; and

a nomographic music notation system comprising musical notation wherein notes to be played on one row of the keyboard are graphically marked while notes to be played on another row of the keyboard are unmarked, said notation system, in addition to conventional key signature symbols, including in the key signature area nomographic markings indicating the lines and spaces on which said graphically marked notes occur.

11. A graphic/tactile musical instruction system, comprising:

tone producing means for producing a musical note in response to the actuation of a selected key of a keyboard;

a graphic/tactile keyboard wherein actuation of any two adjacent keys within a single row causes the tone producing means to produce two musical notes separated by a whole tone, and actuation of any two adjacent keys in adjacent rows produces two musical notes separated by a half tone, said keyboard having an upper row of keys positioned relatively farther away from the player, said upper row keys producing the notes C鈾?/D鈾? D鈾?/E鈾? F, G, A and B, wherein adjacent upper row keys are separated by a gap, wherein front ends of the upper row C鈾?/D鈾?and D鈾?/E鈾?keys are relatively closer to the player than front ends of the upper row F, G, A and B keys, and wherein the upper row keys in a predetermined one or more of the lowest octaval groupings are wider than the remaining upper row keys, and wherein the gaps between said wider upper row keys are proportionately narrower than the gaps between the remaining upper row keys,

a middle row of keys positioned lower and relatively closer to the player than the upper row, said middle row keys producing the notes C, D, E, F鈾?/G鈾? G鈾?/A鈾?and A鈾?/B鈾? wherein a longitudinal centerline of each middle row key is parallel to and laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline of an adjacent upper row key, and wherein said middle row keys have a uniform width approximately equal to the width of any selected one of the upper row keys plus the width of the gap separating said upper row key from an adjacent upper row key, and wherein front ends of the F鈾?/G鈾? G鈾?/A鈾? and A鈾?keys are relatively closer to the player than front ends of the C, D and E keys,

a lower row of keys positioned lower and relatively closer to the player than the middle row, wherein the longitudinal centerline of each of said lower row keys is aligned with the longitudinal centerline of a corresponding upper row key which produces the same note as said lower row key, and wherein said lower row keys have a uniform width equal to the uniform width of the middle row keys, and wherein front ends of the lower row keys are coplanar; and

a nomographic music notation system comprising musical notation wherein notes to be played on one row of the keyboard are graphically marked while notes to be played on another row of the keyboard are unmarked, said notation system, in addition to conventional key signature symbols, including in the key signature area nomographic markings indicating the lines and spaces on which said graphically marked notes occur.

12. A musical keyboard comprising:

an upper row of keys positioned relatively farther away from the player, the upper row keys producing the notes C鈾?/D鈾? D鈾?/E鈾? F, G, A and B, wherein adjacent upper row keys are separated by a gap, and wherein the upper row F and G keys are graphically and tactilely differentiated apart from the remaining upper row keys, the upper row keys in a predetermined one or more highest octaval groupings being narrower than the upper row keys in octaval groupings below said narrower keys;

a middle row of keys positioned lower and relatively closer to the player than the upper row, the middle row keys producing the notes C, D, E, F鈾?/G鈾? G鈾?/A鈾?and A鈾?/B鈾? wherein a longitudinal centerline of each middle row key is parallel to and laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline of an adjacent upper row key, and wherein the middle row keys have a uniform width approximately equal to the width of any selected one of the upper row keys plus the width of the gap separating the upper row key from an adjacent upper row key, and wherein the C keys are graphically and tactilely differentiated from the remaining middle row keys; and

a lower row of keys positioned lower and relatively closer to the player than the middle row, wherein the longitudinal centerline of each lower row key is aligned with the longitudinal centerline of a corresponding upper row key which produces the same note as the lower row key, and wherein the lower row keys have a un...

Suspension of musical instruments
2010-03-20 00:00:00
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

What is claimed:

1. A harness for the suspension of a musical instrument, which includes a plurality of attachment points, comprising

suspension means;

means for attaching said suspension means to one of said attachment points of said instrument;

means for attaching said suspension means to another one of said attachment points of said instrument;

means for attaching said suspension means to still another one of said attachment points of said instrument;

the attachment of said suspension means to said instrument limiting the extent to which said suspension means can be displaced from said instrument.

2. A harness as defined in claim 1 wherein said instrument is a guitar having said plurality of attachment points, and said suspension means is attached to said guitar at three separated ones of said attachment points.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said suspension means comprises

a main strap with a first end including said means for attaching said suspension means to said one of said attachment points, and a second end including said means for attaching said suspension means to said another of said attachment points and a secondary strap with a first end including said means for attaching said suspension means to said still another of said attachment points, and a second end including means for attachment to said main strap at a position intermediate said first and said second ends of said main strap.

4. A harness as defined in claim 1 wherein said suspension means comprises

first, second and third straps, each having first and second ends, with the first ends conjoined and the second ends connected separately to said attachment points on said instrument.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a ring having a circumference and said suspension means comprises first, second and third straps, each having first and second ends;

said first ends containing means for looping about and securing to said circumference of said ring; and

said second ends being connected to attachment points on said instrument.

6. A harness as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said means for attaching said suspension means to said one of said attachment points, said means for attaching said suspension means to said another of said attachment points or said means for attaching said suspension means to said still another of said attachment points is connected removably to said instrument.

7. Apparatus as defined in clam 4 wherein said second end of said secondary strap loops about said main strap, allowing said secondary strap to slide along the length of said main strap while remaining secured to said main strap.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein the length of said secondary strap is adjustable.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said main strap has a width, and a thickness less than said width, and said means for attachment of said second end of said secondary strap to said main strap is removable.

10. A method of balancing an instrument on the body of a player, comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching a harness to three distinctive positions on said instrument; and

(b) positioning said harness on said body of said player.

11. The method as defined in claim 10 further including the step of positioning said harness on said body of said player between two of said positions.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said instrument is a guitar and said player has a neck extending from said body, further including the steps of (a) extending said harness about said neck between two separated positions of said instrument and (b) moving said harness to achieve a balanced orientation of said instrument without applying a countervailing torque to said instrument.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said harness includes a strap of adjustable length, further including the step of adjusting said length to alter the position of said guitar in relation to said body of said player.

14. A harness as defined in claim 1 for positioning and stabilizing a musical stringed instrument, wherein:

(a) said suspension means comprises a backpiece;

(b) said means for attaching said suspension means to said one of said attachment points comprises a first segment having a first and second end; a first attachment means for attaching said first end of said first segment to said backpiece; a first anchoring means for anchoring said second end of said first segment to said instrument;

(c) said means for attaching said suspension means to said another of said attachment points comprises a second segment having a first and second end; a first attachment means for attaching said first end of said second segment to said backpiece; a second anchoring means for anchoring said second end of said second segment to said instrument;

(d) said means for attaching said suspension means to said still another of said attachment points comprises a third segment having a first and second end; a third attachment means for attaching said first end of said third segment to said backpiece; a third anchoring means for anchoring said second end of said third segment to said instrument; wherein each of said first, second and third segments is independent from any other of said segments.

15. A harness for positioning and stabilizing a musical stringed instrument as recited in claim 14, including means for adjusting the length of said first, second and third segments.

16. A harness for positioning and stabilizing a musical stringed instrument as defined in claim 14 wherein:

(a) said first segment has said second end anchored to a first instrument anchoring means of said instrument;

(b) said second segment has said second end anchored to a second instrument anchoring means of said instrument;

(c) said third segment has said second end anchored to a third instrument anchoring means of said instrument;

wherein each of said first, second and third segments is independent from any other of said segments.

17. A harness for positioning and stabilizing a musical stringed instrument, as recited in claim 16, including means for adjusting the lengths of said first, second and third segments.

18. Apparatus for the suspension of a musical instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said suspension means comprises a main strap having first and second ends;

said means for attaching said suspension means to said one of said attachment points attaches said first end of said main strap to said instrument;

said means for attaching said suspension means to said another of said attachment points attaches said second end of said main strap to said instrument; and

said means for attaching said suspension means to said still another of said attachment points attaches said main strap to said instrument at a position thereon displaced from said means for attaching said suspension means to said one of said attachment points and said means for attaching said suspension means to said another of said attachment points;

thereby to limit the extent to which said main strap can be displaced from said instrument.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said means for attaching said suspension means to said still another of said attachment points has a length that is adjustable; comprised of a loop that enables said means for attaching said suspension means to said still another of said attachment points to be attached at any position along the length of said main strap between said first and second ends; said main strap being provided with more than one discrete location providing means for connection to said means for attaching said suspension means to said still another of said attachment points, which is comprised of a secondary strap having first and second ends, with said first end of said secondary strap attached to said main strap and said second end of said secondary strap attached to said instrument; and said main strap is comprised of a ring and two minor straps, each having a first end and a second end, with said first ends of said minor s...

Hand-held percussion musical instrument comprising elongate tube shaped as a ring, incorporating dividers, and incoporating contained sound-generating elements
2010-03-18 00:00:00
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

I claim:

1. A hand-held percussion musical instrument, comprising:

(a) structural means defining a rigid tubular ring having an external diameter in a range of about 7 to about 12 inches, said ring including a plurality of at least five elongate hollow tubes connected end-to-end, with each tube having a rigid tubular wall and rigid opposite end walls defining a closed hollow tube interior, and

(b) a plurality of hard solid masses loosely contained within said hollow interior of each of a plurality of said tubes, whereby the instrument may be hand-held and manipulated so as to cause the solid masses to impact the tubular walls and end walls to create audible percussion sounds, and may be conveniently used as an attractive instrument to accompany and lend emphasis to singing and/or dancing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said elongate tubes are approximately straight and are connected end-to-end as a polygon-configured tubular ring, with said tubular walls being sufficiently thin, hard and rigid to act as soundboards for acoustically coupling induced vibrations from said solid masses audibly to the surrounding atmosphere.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said tubular ring is in the form of a regular hexagon.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said rigid tubular ring is formed principally of injection molded hard and rigid plastic material, such as polycarbonate or acrylic plastic, or the equivalent.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said tubular walls are approximately circular in cross-section about central axes and have an external diameter within a range of about 1 to about 13/4 inches, with a tubular wall thickness within a range of about 1/16 to about 3/16 inches.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said rigid tubular ring is formed in an upper unitary half and a lower unitary half having interlocking mating surfaces which join in a median plane, said plane bisecting said ring along and through its circumference.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said solid masses are metallic masses and are spherical.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said masses are metallic, and are approximately spherical, and the diameters of the majority of said masses are within a range of about 1/16 to about 4/8 inches.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said tubular walls and end walls have smooth surfaces.

10. A percussion musical instrument, which comprises:

(a) wall means to define a tube that bends upon itself so as to be a closed figure,

said wall means being formed of a hard substance having such characteristics, and being sufficiently thin, that when hard solid masses are disposed loosely within said tube, and said tube is shaken, percussion vibrations will be created in the air surrounding said tube due to the impacting of said masses on said wall means,

the diameter of said closed figure being sufficiently small that said closed figure is readily lifted and shaken by one hand of a performer, and being sufficiently large that said one hand may at different times grasp said tube at several nonoverlapping regions therealong,

the diameter of said tube being sufficiently small that said tube may be readily grasped by said one hand,

(b) divider means provided at spaced points along said tube to divide the length of said tube into chambers at least some of which are adapted to contain hard solid masses,

(c) hard solid masses loosely disposed in at least some of said chambers to impact said wall means and create said audible percussion vibrations when said tube is shaken by said one hand,

(d) a mechanical-electrical transducer is associated with said wall means to generate an electric signal in response to impacting of said masses on said wall means, and

(e) amplifier and loudspeaker means connected to said transducer to convert said signal into amplified sound.

11. A percussion musical instrument, which comprises:

(a) wall means to define at least one chamber adapted to contain hard solid masses,

said wall means being sufficiently small to be readily grasped, lifted and shaken by one hand of a performer,

(b) hard solid masses disposed loosely in said chamber,

said wall means and said masses being so constructed and related that shaking of said wall means by said one hand of said performer causes said masses to impact said wall means and generate sound that is audible to said performer and others, and

(c) drumhead means mounted adjacent said wall means and connected thereto,

said drumhead means and wall means being so constructed and related to each other that striking of said drumhead means by the other hand of said performer creates combined sounds, one by said drumhead means, and one by said above-stated impacting of said wall means by said masses.

12. The invention as claimed in claim 11, in which said wall means is shaped as a closed figure having an opening defined thereby, and in which said drumhead means is provided across said opening.

13. The invention as claimed in claim 12, in which said wall means and drumhead means are disposed parallel to each other.

14. The invention as claimed in claim 11, in which said wall means is a tube formed of hard synthetic resin, said tube being bent into a closed figure, and in which said masses are disposed in said tube.

15. The invention as claimed in claim 14, in which a plurality of walls are provided internally of said tube at spaced points therealong to divide said tube into a plurality of tubes, said tubes defining at least said one chamber adapted to contain said masses.

16. The invention as claimed in claim 14, in which said drumhead means is a rigid rim across which a flexible drumhead is stretched under tension, and in which means are provided to fixedly mount said rim on said tube of hard synthetic resin.

17. A percussion musical instrument, which comprises:

(a) wall means to define an elongate tube

said wall means being formed of hard synthetic resin having such characteristics, and being sufficiently thin, that when hard solid masses are disposed loosely within said tube, and said tube is shaken, audible percussion vibrations will be created in the air surrounding said tube due to the impacting of said masses on said wall means,

the diameter of said tube being sufficiently small that said tube may be readily grasped by one hand of a musician,

(b) divider means provided at spaced points along said tube to divide the length of said tube into chambers at least some of which are adapted to contain hard solid masses, and

(c) hard solid masses loosely disposed in at least some of said chambers to impact said wall means and said divider means and create said audible percussion vibrations when said tube is shaken by said one hand.Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to hand-held percussion musical instruments for use by a performer to lend percussion sound emphasis to music, singing and/or dancing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Examples of percussion musical instruments designed to be held in one hand by a performer for lending motion and percussion sound emphasis to music, singing and/or dancing include the tambourine and the maraca. Typically the tambourine is a shallow one-headed drum with loose metallic discs at the sides and which is played by shaking, striking with the hand, or striking the instrument against other portions of the body. The typical maraca is a dried gourd or the like, as on a handle, the gourd being hollow and containing dried seeds or pebbles. In either case, such conventional instruments may be held in one hand and are used to lend emphasis to the body and arm movements of a singer or dancer, as well as to lend percussion sound emphasis to music whether or not accompanied by visual body movements of a singer or dancer.

The instrument of the present invention, albeit different in material respects, falls within this same general class of percussion instruments.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and unique hand-held musical percussion instrument, also suitable as an attractive prop for a singer or dancer, and which is convenient to manipulate and capable of producing unique percussion sounds and sound combinations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The percussion musical instrument comprises a hard elongate tube that is, in effect, bent upon itself so as to form a closed figure. The tube contains masses of relatively hard substance, such as steel, that impact against the tube wall and generates percussive sounds. Interior walls divide the tube into chambers, and the walls act as soundboards for the hard masses.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a hand-held percussion musical instrument is formed as a rigid tubular ring having an external diameter within a range of about 7 to about 12 inches. The ring includes a plurality of at least 5 or more elongate hollow tubes connected end-to-end, with each tube having a rigid tubular wall and rigid opposite end walls defining a closed hollow tube interior. Loosely contained within the hollow interior of a plurality of said tubes are the plurality of relatively small hard solid masses, whereby the instrument may be hand-held and manipulated so as to cause the solid masses to impact the tubular walls, end walls and each other to create audible percussion sounds, and whereby the instrument may be used to accompany and lend emphasis to singing and/or dancing.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the elongate tubes are approximately straight and connected end-to-end as a polygon configured ring, with the tubular walls being sufficiently thin, hard and rigid to act as soundboards for acoustically coupling induced vibrations from said solid masses audibly to the external surrounding atmosphere. The most favorable c...

Method and apparatus for achieving timbre modulation in an electronic musical instrument
2010-03-15 00:00:00
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:

1. Apparatus for achieving timbre modulation in an electronic musical instrument including an audio wave shape generator responsive to octavely related note frequency signals,comprising:

means for generating a variable magnitude digital signal,

means connected to the audio wave shape generator for generating octavely related note frequency signals,

digital magnitude comparator means for comparing said variable digital signal with said octavely related note frequency signals and for producing an output signal based on predetermined comparisons,

means for generating a sample gating signal indicative of the desired state of the audio wave shape generator, and

digital logic means connected to the audio wave shape generator for accepting said sample gating signal and said digital magnitude comparator output signal and for producing a timbre modulated sample gating signal for controlling the audio waveshape generator.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for generating said octavely related note frequency signals includes a multiplexed accumulator.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for generating said variable magnitude digital signal includes a multiplexed attack and decay scale factor generator.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for generating an attack and decay indicator signal for selectively enabling and disabling said digital logic.

5. The method of achieving timbre modulation of the wave shape generated by an audio wave shape generator, comprising:

(a) generating a variable magnitude digital signal,

(b) generating octavely related note frequency signals,

(c) comparing said variable magnitude digital signal with said octavely related note frequency signals and producing an output signal in response to predetermined comparisons,

(d) generating a digital sample gating signal indicative of the desired state of the audio wave shape generator, and

(e) combining said digital magnitude comparator output signal and said digital sample gating signal to produce a timbre modulated sample gating signal for controlling the audio wave shape generator.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said step (a) includes generating a multiplexed variable magnitude digital signal with respect to plural wave shape generator channels.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein said step (b) includes generating multiplexed octavely related note frequency signals with respect to plural wave shape generator channels.

8. The method according to claim 5 including the steps of generating an attack and decay indicator signal and selectively combining said digital magnitude comparator output signal and said digital sample gating signal based on said attack anddecay indicator signal.DescriptionBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention resides broadly in the field of electronic musical instruments and is particularly adaptable for use in instruments employing a time-division multiplexed signal for calling forth desired tones from those available in theinstrument. The principles of the present invention are applicable to any digital electronic musical instrument in which musical sounds are generated in response to the actuation of key switches regardless of whether those switches are actuateddirectly, e.g. by the musician's fingers, or indirectly, e.g. by the plucking of strings. The term key is used in a generic sense to include depressible levers, actuable on-off switches, touch or proximity responsive devices, closable apertures and soforth. More particularly, the present invention relates to timbre modulation for electronic musical instruments.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Prior art attempts to simulate the transient voice effects of musical timbre have included the momentary sounding of independent "chiff" tones. As a result, the chiff or transient voice effect took on an independent character with limiteddependence on the particular voices selected. U.S. Pat. No. 3,740,450 discloses a "chiff" of this type.

Prior art U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,908,504 and 3,972,259, while disclosing harmonic modulation and pulse width modulation respectively, employ complex and expensive hardware. The inventor knows of no prior art which affords the versatility and costeffectiveness of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a new and unobvious approach to the accomplishment of timbre modulation which is particularly useful in digital electronic musical instruments. The present invention may be used during attack, decay, or both,thereby providing a variety of desirable musical effects.

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a digital magnitude comparator which compares selected note frequency signals to selected scale factors. The outputs of the digital magnitude comparator are combined in digitallogic with a note attack and decay indicator signal. The output of this logic and a ...

Method and apparatus for teaching musical notation to young children
2010-03-12 00:00:00
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

What is claimed is:

1. A method for teaching a set of musical notes to a child, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a set of physical objects, each said object in said set of objects being characterized by a different color;

matching each musical note i n said set of notes with a selected one of said different colors of said objects in said set of objects;

forming a set of fanciful figures, each said figure in said set of figures prominently incorporating an image of a selected one of said physical objects in said set of objects; and

matching each note in said set of notes with that figure in said set of figures which incorporates an image of that object in said set of objects which is characterized by that color with which that note has been matched.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of matching each said note with a figure further comprises:

matching each object with said first display surface of that demonstration article which predominantly shows said color of that object thereon.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

displaying said second surface of each said demonstration article so as to predominantly show said black color thereon, so as to provide a visual correlation between said figure thereon and a corresponding musical note on a black-and-white musical score.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of forming said figure as a demonstration article having first and second display surfaces comprises:

forming said demonstration article as a two-sided article having an outline in the shape of said fanciful figure, so that said first and second surfaces can be displayed alternately by flipping said figure over, while said outline remains substantially the same in both positions.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of forming said figure as an article having first and second display surfaces comprises:

forming said article of an outer fabric layer predominantly showing said color of said object thereon and an inner fabric layer predominantly showing said black color thereon, said inner and outer fabric layers being joined to form a tubular fabric structure which is selectively eversible so as to alternately expose said inner and outer fabric layers while retaining said outline in the shape of said fanciful figure.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

forming a visual image of said figure which predominantly shows said color of said selected object thereon.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of matching said notes with said figures further comprises:

matching said selected object with said image of said figure which predominantly shows said color of said selected object thereon.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

changing the color of said visual image of said figure so as to predominantly show a black color thereon, so as to provide a visual correlation between said figure and a corresponding note on a black-and-white musical score.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

generating at least one musical tone which corresponds to said musical note, in conjunction with displaying said figure to said child.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of generating at least one musical tone comprises:

playing back a recorded script which incorporates said musical tone therein.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

providing a recorded script which is associated with said figure.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing said recorded script comprises:

providing a prerecorded script having blank portions at selected points therein; and

verbally interjecting a child's name into said blank portions in said prerecorded script using a recording apparatus, so that said recorded script forms a simulated dialog between said fanciful figure and a child having said name.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing said recorded script comprises:

providing a written script which is associated with said figure; and

dictating said written script into a recording apparatus so as to form said recorded script.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of providing said recorded script further comprises:

verbally interjecting a child's name at selected points in said written script so said recorded script forms a simulated dialog between said fanciful figure and a child having said name.Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the educational tools and display apparatus, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for teaching musical notation and auditory perception to young children, by providing a system of symbols endowed with distinctive characteristics which the child can associate individually with each of the musical notes.

2. Background

Many systems and aids have been proposed for teaching the musical scale to young children. A number of these systems have utilized colors and/or colored objects, while others have taken the form of card games. Illustrative examples of earlier approaches include those set forth in the following U.S. patents:

U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,539 (Searing) discloses a system which employs display cases having horizontal dividers which represent the lines on a staff. The cases hold flash cards showing objects having names which begin with letters which correspond with the positions on the scale, i.e., a flash card showing a pair of gloves is provided for the note "G". A cassette tape device generates the noun, the name of the note, and then the sound of the note, after which the student selects another card; the time required to remove all of the cards is clocked by the device.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,807,183 (Ney) discloses a portable dummy keyboard having a frame 56 which displays the musical staves above the keyboard. The frame supports wires on which colored markers representing each of the keys can be mounted.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,447,213 (Sledge) discloses a color code system in which each of the lines on a staff is provided with its own color, i.e. the "G" line is colored blue, and a small blue house is mounted at the end of the line, drawing the analogy to a street. Markers in the shape of animals having names which begin with the appropriate letters (i.e., a goose for "GG", a bear for the note "B", and so forth) are mountable on the display board and are colored to match the appropriate note line. For example, the goose is colored blue (and is also marked with the letter "G"), and the child is taught that the goose lives in the blue house at the end of the blue street. After the child learns the line with which each note is associated, the colored house for that line is moved to the appropriate key on a dummy piano keyboard made up of blocks 12.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,236,638 (Adams) discloses a device comprising a series of interfitting dummy key blocks which are identical in shape to the keys of a piano, but which are organized according to a color arrangement.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,315,793 (Jay) discloses a system which is somewhat similar to that of Sledge, in that each note has associated therewith the image of an animal whose name begins with the letter which represents that note; i.e., a picture of the head of a goat appears with the note "G" on the printed musical score, along with the letter "G" itself. This same symbol is also displayed on the sides of a hollow toy block which houses swinging chimes which emit the sound of the appropriate note when the block is shaken.

The prior art systems described above all employ some form of symbology, by associating colors and/or images with the notes of the musical scale. However, some of these systems (e.g. Searing) are overly complex for use by very young children, while others (e.g. Adams, Ney, and Sledge) are particularly adapted to teaching the use of a piano keyboard, which may or may not be the object of instructing the child.

More fundamentally, none of these earlier systems makes full use of the capabilities which symbolization offers in education of young children. Recently, it has come to be understood that children employ symbology in changing and increasingly complex patterns very early in life. It is now believed that, beginning at about the age of two, children pass through a series of developmental crests that have been termed "waves". As the child enters each wave, the use of symbolization becomes increasingly sophisticated. In particular, as children approach the more advanced stages of symbolization (around three to five years of age), they commonly show an attraction toward what has been referred to as "second-order" symbolization, in other words, a set of symbols or marks that itself refers to a first set of symbols or marks. It is believed that the impulse to create second-order symbol systems is a deep-seated human inclination which emerges with little provocation. The systems described above generally employ symbology in only the most basic forms, and thus do not take advantage of the powerful, higher-order levels of symbolization towards which children in this age group are naturally inclined.

Moreover, the development of "second-order" symbolization skills is valuable in and of itself. Once the child has devised a symbol system that itself refers to other symbol systems, the possibility of embeddedness emerges; complete systems can be systematically absorbed as component parts into ever more powerful systems, as, for example, when multiplication presumes addition, or when algebra presumes arithmetic. Such high-order systems of notation lie at the very center of many scholastic activities, and the capacity to engage readily in such activities is key to the academic success of a child. As will be described below, the present invention not only takes advantage of higher-order symbolization to achieve the immediate goal of instructing the child regarding the notes of the musical scale, but it fosters the early and continued development of such symbolization for the more general benefit of the child.

The preceding section has discussed the importance of higher-order symbolization in general. With respect the present invention, there are additional reasons for exercising the musical abilities of a child by employing a symbolization process. Firstly, it is now believed that what is generally referred to as human intelligence is actually made up of a plurality of distinct but interrelated "intelligences", each of which appears to be somewhat localized in separate regions of the brain, and each of which is susceptible to capture in a symbolic system. In particular, some specialists have theorized that there are at least seven identifiable "intelligences", namely (i) use of the body to solve problems or to make things, (ii) an understanding of other individuals, (iii) an understanding of ourselves, (iv) language, (v) logical-mathematical analysis, (vi) spatial representation, and (with respect to the present invention in particular) (vii) musical thinking (e.g., see The Unschooled Mind, Howard Gardner, Basic Books, Inc. (1991); Frames of Mind, the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, Howard Gardner, Basic Books, Inc. (1983)).

Although the first six "intelligences" listed above are reasonably well addressed by conventional education programs, there is relatively little emphasis on musical thinking, with the result that this particular intelligence tends to be widely undeveloped in modern Western society. In a broader context, musical intelligence is one of those intelligences which make up what is commonly referred to (from it location) as "right brain" thought; it has become recognized that, although traditional academic programs stress the development of "left brain" skills, it is in fact critical for both types of thought to become fully developed if the individual is to achieve their full potential.

Moreover, it is believed that, amongst all of the identifiable "intelligences", musical thinking is one of the first to be enabled in the development of a child (see references cited above). Therefore, to the extent that this particular intelligence is successfully developed as early as possible, the symbolization and other skills which the child thus acquires enable the other intelligences to be developed at an accelerated rate.

Therefore, there exists a need for a system for teaching musical notes and tones to young children which employs and takes full advantage of the natural ability and tendency of such children to engage in relatively high-order symbolization. Furthermore, there is a need for such a system which develops the child's musical ability or "intelligence" at a relatively early age, so as to enable the child to retain and utilize this ability in related developmental areas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has solved the problems cited above, and is a method for teaching musical notation to young children. Broadly, this comprises the steps of: (a) placing each musical note alongside a distinctly identifiable color, (b) placing each distinctly identifiable color alongside an object which is selected from a group of objects with which the child has previous experience and which has a color exhibited in its natural state which matches the distinctly identifiable color, and (c) placing each object alongside a cartoon character which is formed to prominently incorporate an image of the selected object.

The method may further comprise the step of forming the cartoon character as an article having a first display surface predominantly showing the distinctly identifiable color thereo...