Wavetable-modification instrument and method for generating musical sound2010-03-12representing the musical sound to be produced, including a wavetable unit for cyclically storing data
values for a delay period N, including initial
value means for storing input data
values into said wavetable unit with said input data
values having amplitudes determined at least in part randomly, including a modifier unit for combining two or more delayed data
values from said wavetable unit toform a modified data
value, and including selection means for selecting the modified data
value as a stored
value stored back into the wavetable unit for subsequent delay by the period N where the stored
value forms the output signal, means for selectingthe stored
value as the output signal at a rate independent of the pitch of the musical sound to be produced,
an output unit responsive to said output signal to produce the musical sund.
2. The musical instrument of claim 1 wherein said selection means includes means for selecting said modified data
value or a delayed data
value stochastically based upon a predetermined probability, d.
3. The instrument of claim 2 wherein said modifier unit includes an arithmetic unit for summing said two or more delayed data
values from said wavetable unit and for dividing the summed data
value by a number greater than unity to form saidmodified data
value.
4. The instrument of claim 3 wherein said number greater than unity is 2 whereby said two or more delayed data
values from said wavetable unit are averaged.
5. The instrument of claim 2 wherein said
value has an amplitude yn at a sample time n greater than or equal to 0 where yn is given as follows, ##EQU7## where yn-N is the data
value output from the wavetable after delay of N andwhere yn-(N 1) is the data
value output from the wavetable after a delay of N 1 and where xn is an input data
value at sample time n having a signal amplitude loaded for an initial number of samples M into the wavetable and where rn is arandom number between 0 and 1 generated at sample time n.
6. The instrument of claim 5 wherein said output signal, at sample time n, is the data
value having the amplitude yn.
7. The instrument of claim 5 wherein said wavetable unit is a random access memory, wherein the data
value, yn, is stored in said memory at a Write Pointer address and wherein the data
value yn-N is stored in said memory at a ReadPointer address, and wherein said Write Pointer address and said Read Pointer address are offset by a number of addresses equal to the number, N.
8. The instrument of claim 7 wherein the data
value yn-(N 1) is stored in said memory at a Read Pointer 1 address which is offset from said Read Pointer address by 1.
9. The instrument of claim 5 wherein the
values of xn initially stored in said wavetable represent "white noise".
10. The instrument of claim 9 wherein said
values of xn are given as follows:
where un is determined as 1 or -1 as a function of the output of a random number generator and where A is some amplitude.
11. The instrument of claim 5 including control means for producing the
values of yn for the output signal at a sampling frequency, fs, and wherein the fundamental frequency of the sound produced for a pitch number N is approximatelyequal to fs /(N d/2).
12. The instrument of claim 7 including means for storing said Write Pointer address, means for storing the pitch number, N, as an address offset, means for calculating said Read Pointer address by summing said Write Pointer address and N, andmeans for sequentially changing said Write Pointer address to a new address for each
value of yn stored.
13. The instrument of claim 12 wherein means for sequentially changing said Write Pointer address includes means for decrementing said Write Pointer address.
14. The instrument of claim 7 including means for storing said Write Pointer address, means for storing said Read Pointer address offset by an integer proportioned to N from said Write Pointer address, and means for sequentially changing saidWrite Pointer address and said Read Pointer address whereby the offset between said Write Pointer address and Read Pointer address remains the same.
15. The instrument of claim 2 wherein said generator means includes means for generating modified data
values at a sampling frequency.
Method for encoding music printing information in a MIDI message2010-03-10however, one aspect of the music which has not been addressed by and is not included in this standard, and for a very good reason. This aspect is the spelling of the musical pitches. This information: (1) does not come from a live performance, since the configuration of the musical keyboard does not distinguish between the spelling of pitches (e.g. C-# and D-鈾?are the same key); and (2) is irrelevant in a playback performance (e.g. an instruction to play a C-# or an instruction to play a D-鈾?would be "routed" to the same pitch on a standard MIDI playback device).
Aside from the fact that pitch spelling is neither "representable" on an electronic keyboard nor relevant to a MIDI playback, there is a technical reason why the framers of the extended MIDI standard did not include this attribute in their specifications. This information preferably should accompany every note that is struck, and the basic MIDI standard for representing "note events" does not allow space for communicating this information. At a minimum, this information should accompany any note which might have ambiguous spelling, particularly if the spelling is inconsistent with the general harmonic structure of the current key signature.
In particular, a note event in the conventional MDI encoding consists of four parts: (1) a time interval; (2) a command; (3) a pitch; and (4) a velocity. Under certain circumstances, the second part a (command) may be omitted. All of the other parts generally are necessary to properly communicate a note event. Referring to FIG. 3, a "note-on" event includes a channel identification (9), a command (turn note on) (9), a pitch (kk), and a velocity (vv). A note event may also include certain optional parts, such as after-touch and pitch-bend.
Each of the note-event parts command, the pitch and the velocity occupy one byte. By convention, each pitch and velocity byte must have its high order (most significant) bit be zero. This limits the range of these attributes to 128
values, i.e., 0 to 127.
The spelling of musical pitches in the printing of music
Although the spelling of a musical pitch generally is irrelevant to an electronic performance, it can be quite important to music printing. A piece of music printed with incorrect spellings is difficult for a musician to read correctly, and can be virtually unreadable in some cases (at least as far as performance of the music is concerned). Under the current MIDI standard it is not possible to include the information necessary for the proper printing of the music represented. The MIDI standard has become a de-facto method of exchanging musical data; yet no pr...
Control system for a musical instrument2010-03-09/>
a controller which receives said first signal, said controller having a program mode, wherein preset component
values for audio characteristics can be programmed by said musician, and an operation mode wherein audio characteristics for an audio signal produced by said musical instrument can be modified by said musician manipulating said plurality of user inputs; and
an audio signal modifier, responsive to signals from said controller which modifies said audio signal produced by said musical instrument in response to signals received from said controller.
2. The control system of claim 1, further comprising a transducer and wherein said tactile member comprises an air filled tube mounted on a surface of said musical instrument wherein depression of said air filled tube towards said surface of said musical instrument results in a proportionate change in pressure within said air filled tube and wherein said transducer produces said first signal in response to detecting said proportionate change in pressure.
3. The control system of claim 2, wherein said tactile member is positioned on the musical instrument in a location where said musician does not have to remove his or her hands to manipulate said tactile member.
4. The control system of claim 3, wherein said air filled tube has a square base with a rounded upper hemisphere, wherein said square base is mounted on said surface of said musical instrument.
5. The control system of claim 4, wherein said musical instrument comprises an electric guitar and said tactile member is mounted on said neck of said electric guitar.
6. The control system of claim 1, wherein said controller, when in said program mode, can be programmed by said musician to set an initial starting volume for a volume audio characteristic of said audio signal produced by said musical instrument.
7. The control system of claim 6, wherein said controller, when in said operation mode, produces an audio signal having a volume audio characteristic which is at least said initial starting volume and wherein said controller increases said volume audio characteristic from said initial starting volume in proportion to said first signal generated by said musician exerting pressure on said tactile member.
8. The control system of claim 7, wherein said controller, when in said operation mode, sustains the volume audio characteristic of said audio signal produced by said musical instrument at a first level, which is proportionate to the greatest amount of pressure exerted on said tactile member by said musician, until said musician exerts a greater amount of pressure on said tactile member.
9. The control system of claim 1, wherein said controller, when in said program mode, can be programmed by said musician to set a plurality of initial starting frequencies and a plurality of initial starting amplitudes of a tremolo audio characteristic of said audio signal produced by said musical instrument.
10. The control system of claim 9, wherein said controller, when in said operation mode, produces an audio signal having a tremolo audio characteristic having one of said plurality of initial starting frequencies and having one of said plurality of initial starting amplitudes.
11. The control system of claim 10, wherein said controller, when in said operation mode, increases the frequency of said tremolo audio characteristic in response to said musician exerting pressure on said tactile member.
12. The control system of claim 11, wherein said controller is configured, in said operation mode, so that said musician can switch between said plurality of starting frequencies and said plurality of starting amplitudes of said tremolo audio characteristic by manipulating said plurality of user inputs.Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a system for controlling the output-of a musical instrument and, in particular, concerns a system which includes a pressure sensitive control device which is mounted on a musical instrument to allow the player of the instrument to alter various characteristics of the audio output signal of the musical instrument.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electric guitars are extremely popular musical instruments as they can produce a wide range of different sounds when they are used in conjunction with an amplifier. The musician can produce sound signals having a wide range of volume with an electric guitar and the musician can also produce a sound signal from the electric guitar that has a particular sound quality. For example, using the amplifier, the musician can produce a sound signal having a characteristic which varies in volume over time. This characteristic is generally referred to as tremolo. Other types of sound signals that can be produced using an electric guitar include reverberation, vibrato and the like.
The sound signals produced by the guitar are generally adjusted by the musician either changing the settings of dials on the guitar, or by changing settings of dials on an amplifier. Foot pedals are also often used to change the characteristics of the audio signals produced by an electric guitar. It can be appreciated, however, that these devices for changing the characteristics of the sound signals have several disadvantages for the musician.
Specifically, if the musician has to remove his hands from the strings of the guitar to adjust a dial, he cannot continue playing the instrument during that interval. This causes disruptions in the melody that the musician is playing. This problem is somewhat solved by foot pedals which are linked to the amplifier and effectuate changes in characteristics of the audio signal. However, the foot pedals are generally fixedly positioned in one place which requires that the musician also remain in the same place. In many musical performances, the musicians prefer to move around the stage, and their ability to do so is hampered when they have to remain in the proximity of the foot pedals to effectuate changes in the characteristics of th...
Musical apparatus detecting maximum values and/or peak values of reflected light beams to control musical functions2010-03-08from the light source to the light sensor via the object, so that a detection
values is output according to the quantity of light received via a respective one of the light paths, and a musical controller which outputs music and controls a musical function when the correlation between the current
values of the detection
values of the various paths satisfies a specified relationship.Claims
We claim:
1. An electronic musical system which responds to the motion of an object within a specified space to control a sound function, wherein the electronic musical system comprises:
at least one radiation source that emits radiation into the specified space;
at least one sensor that receives radiation reflected along at least two different paths from an object in the specified space and provides at least one detection
value corresponding to a characteristic of radiation received from the two paths; and
a controller for generating a control signal for operating the sound function based on the detection
value.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one radiation source that emits radiation comprises a light source that emits at least one light beam and wherein the at least one sensor that receives radiation from each of the at least two different paths comprises at least two light detectors for detecting light in at least two light paths.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sound function is an audio signal.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sound function is a tone signal.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a central processing unit.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a digital signal processor.
7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sound source comprising a storage device for storing multiple tone waveform data, the multiple tone waveform data being readable for producing the sound function.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the radiation comprises magnitude of radiation.
9. A method of controlling music based on the motion of an object within a specified spate, the method comprising:
receiving radiation reflected from an object within the specified space along at least two light paths;
generating information based on a characteristic of radiation received from each of the at least two light paths;
receiving performance data from a performance signal source;
generating an audio signal based on the performance data; and
controlling a characteristic of the audio signal based on the generated information.
10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein receiving radiation reflected from an object comprises receiving light reflected from an object.
11. The method recited in claimed 9, wherein receiving performance data from a performance signal source comprises receiving performance data from a digital music signal source.
12. The method recited in claim 9, wherein receiving performance data from a performance signal source comprises receiving performance data from a Musical Instrument Digital Interface ("MIDI") signal.
13. The method recited in claim 9, wherein generating information based on a characteristic of radiation received from each of the at least two paths comprises:
generating at least two detection
values, each of which is based on a characteristic of radiation received from each of the at least two paths;
detecting a maximum
value of each of the at least two detection
values; and
Electronic music system and stringed instrument input device therefor2010-03-02with any one of said frets for producing and supplying to said voltage controlled tone generator, asthe driving input signal for said tone generator, a voltage signal having a voltage
value analogously related to the frequency of the musical tone assigned to the contacting string-fret pair, said voltage controlled tone generator including means forproducing an intermediate signal having a frequency related to said input voltage signal, an amplifier having a voltage controlled gain for varying the amplitude of said intermediate signal, an envelope generator for providing a voltage waveformcontrolling the gain of said amplifier, and means for turning said envelope generator on to initiate the production of a new voltage waveform therefrom in response to said at least one string being brought into contact with any one of said frets.
2. An electronic music system comprising a voltage controlled tone generator, a stringed instrument having a plurality of spaced parallel strings located over a fret board having a plurality of frets extending transversely of said strings andspaced one from another along the length of said fret board with each string-fret pair representing an assigned musical tone, and means responsive of any one of said strings being pressed into contact with any one of said frets for producing andsupplying to said voltage controlled tone generator, as the driving input for said tone generator, a voltage signal having a voltage
value analogously related to the frequency of the musical tone represented by the contacting string-fret pair.
3. A music system as defined in claim 2 further characterized by said voltage controlled tone generator including means for producing an intermediate signal having a frequency related to said input voltage signal, an amplifier having a voltagecontrolled gain for varying the amplitude of said intermediate signal, an envelope generator for producing a voltage waveform controlling the gain of said amplifier, and means for turning said envelope generator on to initiate the production of a newvoltage waveform therefrom in response to any one of said strings being brought into contact with any one of said frets.
4. A music system as defined in claim 3 further characterized by means for inhibiting the production of another voltage waveform from said envelope generator until after all of said strings are first out of contact with any of said frets.
5. An electronic music system comprising a voltage controlled tone generator, a stringed instrument having a plurality of spaced parallel strings and a plurality of frets spaced from one another along the length of said strings and eachextending transversely across all of said strings with each string-fret pair representing an assigned musical tone, and means responsive to any one or more of said strings being pressed into contact with any one or more of said frets for producing andsupplying to said voltage controlled tone generator, as the driving input signal for said tone generator, a voltage signal having a voltage
value analogously related to the frequency of the highest musical tone represented by the contacting string-fretpair or pairs.
6. An electronic music system as defined in claim 5 further characterized by said means for producing a voltage signal including means for applying a discrete voltage to each of said frets and which discrete voltage is different from thatapplied to other of said frets, an offset voltage source providing a plurality of offset voltages each assigned to a respective one of said strings and each of which offset voltages is different from the other of said offset voltages, and meansresponsive to any one of said strings being pressed into contact with any one of said frets for adding the voltage appearing on said one fret to the offset voltage assigned to said one string to produce a resultant voltage signal analogously related tothe tone represented by the contacting string-fret pair.
7. An electronic music system comprising a voltage controlled to...
Generation of noise-like tones in an electronic musical instrument2010-02-27 values representing the amplitudes of points defining the waveform of a musical tone are transferred to a digital-to-analog converter at a rate proportional to the pitch of the tone being generated. Noise is superimposed on the musical tone by means of a random binary signal generator which controls a circuit for modifying selected ones of the digital
values as they are transferred from the master data list to the converter. Modification of the selected
values may be by a right shift operation, a 2's complement operation, or by selective delay.ClaimsWhat is claimed is:
1. An electronic tone synthesizer for generating an audio signal having a predetermined waveform in which noise is superimposed on the audio signal, comprising: a group ofdigital words representing the relative amplitudes of equally spaced points defining the waveform of an audio signal, a digital-to-analog converter, means transferring the digital words sequentially from the generating means and applying the words inrepetitive sequence to the converter, the transferring means including means for modifying the digital
value of any selected word as it is being transferred, a random signal generator for generating an output signal at random time intervals, and meansresponsive to the random output signal for momentarily activating said means for modifying a word being transferred, whereby the digital words are modified at random during transfer.
2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for modifying said digital
values includes a right shift circuit for shifting the digital
values of the randomly selected words numerically at least one place to the right.
3. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for modifying said digital
values includes a 2's complement circuit for generating the 2's complement of the digital
values of the randomly selected words.
4. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for modifying said digital
values includes means for delaying the time of transfer at which a selected word is transferred from the generating means.
5. Apparatus of claim 2 wherein the transferring means further includes a shift register, a right shift circuit for transferring each of the digital words in seq...
Electronic musical instrument with exponential keyboard and voltage controlled oscillator2010-02-26divider comprising a plurality of resistance elements connected in series, each of said elements having different resistance
valueswhich bear an exponential relation to the resistance
values of the adjacent connected resistors such that the voltage at successive junctions of said resistance elements correspond to a geometric series, said resistance elements being formed of the samematerial and being physically located in close physical juxtaposition with each other, so that all said resistors are maintained at approximately the same temperature, with approximately constant relative resistances.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said resistance elements are formed simultaneously as portions of a single integrated thick-film circuit.
3. In an electronic musical instrument having an electrical power supply, a voltage controlled oscillator for producing a sound signal having a frequency proportional to a control voltage applied to it, a keyboard having a plurality of keys, aplurality of switches, one for each of said keys, each adapted to be operated by depression of its associated key, and connecting means connected with said switches for connecting a control voltage to said oscillator which corresponds to the position ofthe key associated with an operated one of said switches, the combination comprising a reference voltage generator connected to said electrical power supply for producing a reference voltage, and means connecting said oscillator to said reference voltagegenerator, said reference voltage generator being adapted to produce a shift in the level of said reference voltage in response to a change in the level of voltage of said electrical power supply, said shift having a magnitude and direction tending tocompensate for said change in power supply voltage level, whereby said oscillator frequency is substantially independent of said change.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said reference voltage generator comprises an inverter having an input connected with said power supply.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said oscillator comprises an integrator for integrating a voltage derived from said voltage divider, a comparator connected to said integrator and operative to compare an output produced by saidintegrator with said reference voltage, and means connected with said comparator and operative upon a comparison of said integrator output and said reference voltage for resetting said integrator for a subsequent cycle of integration.
6. An electronic musical instrument having a voltage controlled oscillator for producing a sound signal having a frequency proportional to a control voltage applied to it, a keyboard having a plurality of keys, a plurality of switches, one foreach of said keys, each adapted to be operated by depression of its associated key, a voltage divider connected with said switches for connecting a control voltage to said oscillator which corresponds to the position of the key associated with anoperated one of said switches, said voltage divider comprising a plurality of resistance elements connected in series, each of said elements having resistance
values which bear an exponential relation to the resistance
values of adjacent connectedresistors such that the voltage at successive junctions of said resistance elements correspond to a geometric series, means for supplying a selected potential across said series circuit, whereby said control voltage is dependent both on which of saidswitches is operated and on the selected potential, and selector means for selecting one of a plurality of potentials for application to said series circuit.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said selector means comprises means for selecting one of a plurality of discrete voltage levels for application to said series circuit, said discrete voltage levels differing from each other by factorswhich are powers of two, whereby the frequency of said sound signal falls within an octave selected by said selector means.
8. Apparatus according to claim 6, including means for producing an a.c. signal, means for coupling said a.c. signal to said voltage divider, and detector means connected with said contro...
transpose swih is meant 2010-02-21the ReMro-Bop.When the swih advaes the new
value vill be swihed through the 4016 or if the next step is off theprevious
value vill be held on2. Now we use a 4016 i...
Music Transcription2010-02-06exceeds a first threshold
value; identify a change in amplitude information from the audio signal that exceeds a second threshold
value; and generate a note onset event, each note onset event representing a time location in the audio signal of at least one of an identified change in the frequency information that exceeds the first threshold
value or an identified change in the amplitude information that exceeds the...
Envelope generator for use in an electronic musical instrument2009-09-22in a current
value of musical tone envelope data with respect to a target
value based on a parameter, a changing rate control unit for decrementing a change in the current
value such that the current
value becomes closer to the target
value, a detection unit to detect whether or not the rate of change becomes equal to 0, and a processing control unit control for stopping the evaluation the current
value in response to a result of the...
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