EP0452347B1 - Controleur universel pour un instrument de musique electronique - Google Patents

Controleur universel pour un instrument de musique electronique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0452347B1
EP0452347B1 EP90900583A EP90900583A EP0452347B1 EP 0452347 B1 EP0452347 B1 EP 0452347B1 EP 90900583 A EP90900583 A EP 90900583A EP 90900583 A EP90900583 A EP 90900583A EP 0452347 B1 EP0452347 B1 EP 0452347B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
note
selection
tables
signal
key
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP90900583A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP0452347A1 (fr
EP0452347A4 (en
Inventor
Jimmy C. Hotz
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Hotz Corp
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Hotz Corp
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Priority to EP97106076A priority Critical patent/EP0795850A3/fr
Publication of EP0452347A1 publication Critical patent/EP0452347A1/fr
Publication of EP0452347A4 publication Critical patent/EP0452347A4/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
    • G10H1/00—Details of electrophonic musical instruments
    • G10H1/18—Selecting circuits
    • G10H1/20—Selecting circuits for transposition
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
    • G10H1/00—Details of electrophonic musical instruments
    • G10H1/0033—Recording/reproducing or transmission of music for electrophonic musical instruments
    • G10H1/0041—Recording/reproducing or transmission of music for electrophonic musical instruments in coded form
    • G10H1/0058—Transmission between separate instruments or between individual components of a musical system
    • G10H1/0066—Transmission between separate instruments or between individual components of a musical system using a MIDI interface
    • G10H1/0075—Transmission between separate instruments or between individual components of a musical system using a MIDI interface with translation or conversion means for unvailable commands, e.g. special tone colors
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
    • G10H1/00—Details of electrophonic musical instruments
    • G10H1/02—Means for controlling the tone frequencies, e.g. attack or decay; Means for producing special musical effects, e.g. vibratos or glissandos
    • G10H1/04—Means for controlling the tone frequencies, e.g. attack or decay; Means for producing special musical effects, e.g. vibratos or glissandos by additional modulation
    • G10H1/053—Means for controlling the tone frequencies, e.g. attack or decay; Means for producing special musical effects, e.g. vibratos or glissandos by additional modulation during execution only
    • G10H1/055—Means for controlling the tone frequencies, e.g. attack or decay; Means for producing special musical effects, e.g. vibratos or glissandos by additional modulation during execution only by switches with variable impedance elements
    • G10H1/0558—Means for controlling the tone frequencies, e.g. attack or decay; Means for producing special musical effects, e.g. vibratos or glissandos by additional modulation during execution only by switches with variable impedance elements using variable resistors
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
    • G10H1/00—Details of electrophonic musical instruments
    • G10H1/44—Tuning means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
    • G10H7/00—Instruments in which the tones are synthesised from a data store, e.g. computer organs
    • G10H7/002—Instruments in which the tones are synthesised from a data store, e.g. computer organs using a common processing for different operations or calculations, and a set of microinstructions (programme) to control the sequence thereof
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
    • G10H2240/00—Data organisation or data communication aspects, specifically adapted for electrophonic musical tools or instruments
    • G10H2240/171—Transmission of musical instrument data, control or status information; Transmission, remote access or control of music data for electrophonic musical instruments
    • G10H2240/281—Protocol or standard connector for transmission of analog or digital data to or from an electrophonic musical instrument
    • G10H2240/311—MIDI transmission

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to electronic musical instruments. More particularly, the present invention relates to a versatile user-programmable musical instrument and more particularly to a controller for such instruments with the capability of transparently altering pitch and velocity for the user, so that only correct values relating to scale and chord value are available at any given moment.
  • Electronic keyboard and other electronic musical instruments are known in the prior art. Also known are electronic musical keyboard instruments which generate tone and velocity information compatible with the MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) standard which has come into wide usage in recent years. Numerous keyboard instruments, such as those manufactured by Roland, provide a powerful measure of performance.
  • MIDI Musical Instrument Digital Interface
  • Electronic musical instruments which provide for an automatic accompaniment to be generated by the instrument in response to a performer playing the instrument are also known in the art. Examples of such instruments are found in US-A-4,433,601, 4,508,002, and 4,682,526.
  • keyboard musical instruments provide for the automatic sharpening or flatting of a note on the white keys in response to a signal indicating that a scale is to be played in a key other than "C".
  • An example of such an instrument is shown in US-A-4,513,650.
  • US-A-4 777 857 relates to a MIDI address converter and router designed to be inserted into a MIDI communication line for carrying serial data between instruments.
  • the routing function effectively connects and disconnects MIDI cables in different ways to overcome dissimilar implementations of the MIDI standard that can occur in different manufacturers products.
  • the address converter allows a first byte called a MIDI address following a key on key off or control change status byte to be converted allowing transposition or performance of a control increment / de-increment operation. Only bytes relating to these MIDI addresses are manipulated, and even then they may only be incremented or de-incremented by the same fixed values as preselected by the user.
  • a musical instrument controller including:
  • the musical instrument controller may further comprise a means for electronically scanning said note selection means;
  • a method for controlling a musical instrument including means for selecting and deselecting notes, the method comprising the steps of:
  • an embodiment of the present invention includes a set of force sensitive transducers, arranged, for example as a keyboard.
  • the keyboard is electronically scanned and the identity of the key or keys being depressed, along with information relating to the velocity of that key depression, are stored.
  • Stored tables in memory convert that information to MIDI standard information relating to pitch and velocity for transmission to MIDI compatible tone generators or to MIDI messages for any MIDI event.
  • the tables may be standard tables employing chord voicing information, individual note information or other information relating to the MIDI events to be implemented.
  • the tables switch in real time at a speed sufficient to seem transparent to the user, thus allowing dynamic reconfiguration of the keyboard during the performance of the musical composition.
  • the tables are arranged such that during the interval of time in which a particular chord is being played, the depression of any key will result in the generation of a "correct" note in that chord or a "correct” note in a scale which is compatible with that chord. It is thus impossible for the musician to strike a wrong note.
  • the keyboard may be operated at 100% efficiency because the keys may be defined such that they are all utilizable at any time during the performance of the musical composition. This affords the musician the widest possible choice of correct notes and chords at any point in the performance.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a presently-preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of the data acquisition apparatus of a presently-preferred embodiment, of the invention, including the force sensing resistors and signal conditioning circuitry.
  • FIG. 3A is a flow diagram for the main loop executed by the software for the present invention.
  • FIG. 3B is a flow diagram for the output loop executed by the software for the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a presently-preferred embodiment of a layout of a force sensing resistor keyboard for use in the present invention.
  • FIGS. 5a-f are a flow diagram for the mapping software useful for the present invention.
  • FIGS. 6a-j illustrate screen contents when using a computer for editing tables.
  • the MIDI standard (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is utilized to define which note is to be played and the volume (velocity) at which that note is to be played.
  • the MIDI standard allows for both note pitch and note velocity (volume) information to be transmitted to a tone generator.
  • the MIDI standard is well known and the MIDI Specification 1.0 is hereby incorporated by reference.
  • FIG. 1 a block diagram of the musical instrument system 10 of the present invention, an array of input switching devices comprising force sensing transducers 12 is used as the interface between the musician and the instrument.
  • force sensitive transducer array 12 may be configured as a keyboard, having the appearance of a keyboard of a conventional musical instrument, including both white keys and black keys.
  • Other keyboard arrangements such as that shown in FIG. 4, may be used.
  • the human interface may also be configured to resemble a guitar neck, a series of percussion pad inputs, or the like.
  • keys for the purpose of simplicity, reference will be made herein to keys as if a keyboard is being discussed, but those of ordinary skill will realize that no limitation is intended by such usage.
  • Presently preferred force sensing transducers for the present invention are force sensing resistors such as those manufactured by Interlink Electronics of Santa Barbara, California. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, however, that other input switching devices may be used, such as those commonly found on presently available electronic keyboard instruments and the like.
  • n+1 force sensing resistors having outputs on lines 14 0 through 14 n .
  • These output lines 14 0 -14 n are connected to signal conditioning circuits 16.
  • the function of signal conditioning circuits 16 is to convert the output of each force sensing resistor in the array 12 to a DC voltage signal having a voltage range which can be utilized by the rest of the system.
  • the outputs from the signal conditioning circuits, shown on lines 18 0 -18 n are connected to multiplexer and analog to digital (A/D) converter circuit 20.
  • A/D analog to digital
  • the function of multiplexer and A/D circuit 20 is to select one of lines 18 0 through 18 n and connect it to an analog to digital converter which then converts the voltage appearing on that line to a multi-bit digital representation, as is well known in the art.
  • microprocessor 22 which is connected to a data bus 24 and an address bus 26.
  • the multi-bit digital output of the A/D converter portion of multiplexer and A/D converter 20 is connected to data bus 24.
  • Address bus 26 is connected to the multiplexer and A/D converter circuit 20 in order to control the addressing of the multiplexer.
  • program storage 28 which may be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), or other similar means known in the art, such as EPROMs, EEPROMs, etc.
  • Program storage 28 is connected to data bus 24 and address bus 26.
  • random access memory 30 is also connected to data bus 24 and address bus 26.
  • UART 32 is also connected to data bus 24 and address bus 26. As is well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, UART 32 is utilized to interface between the system 10 of the present invention and a series of one or more tone generators, which produce the musical sounds in response to the musician's manipulations of the keyboard containing the force sensing resistors.
  • a MIDI system exclusive message may be utilized via the UART for editing purposes. This message may originate from an external editing source, such as a computer, disclosed later herein, or a sequencer performing a systems exclusive data drive as is understood by those skilled in the art. MIDI patch change information is also communicated through this port.
  • an external editing source such as a computer, disclosed later herein, or a sequencer performing a systems exclusive data drive as is understood by those skilled in the art.
  • MIDI patch change information is also communicated through this port.
  • a force sensing resistor 12 x is shown connected at one end to a source of positive voltage 50.
  • a limiting resistor 52 is connected to the other end of the force sensing resistor 12 and at its other end to the non-inverting input of amplifier 54.
  • Resistor 56 is shown connected between the output of operational amplifier 54 and its inverting input.
  • Resistor 58 is connected between the output of operational amplifier 54 and ground.
  • Resistor 60 is connected between the inverting input of amplifier 54 and ground.
  • Resistor 62 is connected between the non-inverting input of operational amplifier 54 and ground.
  • the node comprising the bottom end of limiting resistor 52 and the non-inverting input of operational amplifier 54 is one of the lines 14 shown in FIG. 1.
  • the output of operational amplifier 54 is one of the lines 18 shown in FIG. 1.
  • amplifier 54 may be an LM324 operational amplifier and resistors 52, 56, 58, 60 and 62 may be 10 kOhms.
  • the output of the circuit of FIG. 2 is a DC voltage between approximately 0 volts and 4 volts with a power supply voltage of 5 volts.
  • its resistance may be greater than approximately 2 megaOhms.
  • a fingertip impulse to the force-sensing resistor can drive its resistance down to as low as 2 to 3 kOhms or lower.
  • an ADC0816 sixteen channel multiplexer and 8-bit A/D converter manufactured by National Semiconductor of Santa Clara, California, may be utilized.
  • An 8032 microprocessor manufactured by Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, California, is satisfactory to drive a modular system handling sixteen keys.
  • a program storage capacity of 32k is sufficient.
  • the tables necessary for operation of the present invention may also be stored in ROM.
  • a 32k dynamic random access memory is satisfactory for use in this preferred modular embodiment.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 The hardware of FIGS. 1 and 2 is driven by a software program.
  • the software includes one main loop and two interrupt-driven tasks.
  • step 100 the hardware of the system is initialized and all flags. are reset.
  • the initialization process includes the scanning of all of the force sensing resistors for the purpose of determining a noise margin.
  • the output of the A/D converter representing the output from each force sensing resistor circuit is stored and examined and a threshold, higher than the highest voltage reading, is set.
  • the software After hardware initialization, the software enters the main loop which reads the output of a timer at step 102. When the time out value has been reached'the program determines which of two loops it is in at step 104. There are two loops because, in a presently-preferred embodiment, the DC voltage output of each force sensing transducer driven operational amplifier 54 corresponding to a key on the keyboard is read twice. If it is determined at step 104 that the software is in the first loop, the DC voltage outputs of all of the operational amplifiers 54 are read and saved in memory at step 106. Next, at step 108, the loop 2 flag is set. The program then returns to step 102.
  • the program again reads all of the DC voltages at the outputs of operational amplifiers at step 110.
  • the DC voltage value read during execution of the second loop for each key on the keyboard is compared with the previously-stored DC voltage value for that key from the first loop, and the larger of the two values is selected.
  • the loop 2 flag is reset. The software then proceeds to an output loop.
  • the output loop of the presently-preferred embodiment is shown at FIG. 3b.
  • step 114 it is determined whether data from all keys on the keyboard have been processed. If so, the software exits from the output loop. If not, at step 116 it is determined whether the stored digitized DC voltage value for the next key on the keyboard is above the threshold determined during the initialization routine. If it is, the note-on flag for that particular key is read to see if it is set. If it is set, the program returns to step 114. If it has not been set, the note-on flag for that particular key is set at step 120.
  • step 122 the software refers to a note value table to define the note. In the presently-preferred embodiment, the note's definition will be a MIDI code. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that this note-on signal may be designated for any MIDI channel.
  • the velocity information relating to the note is also determined by reference to a table, which converts the raw digitized DC voltage value associated with each key on the keyboard to a MIDI velocity code.
  • a table which converts the raw digitized DC voltage value associated with each key on the keyboard to a MIDI velocity code.
  • step 116 it is determined that the DC voltage value corresponding to the key on the keyboard is below threshold
  • step 128 it is determined whether the note-on flag for that particular key has been reset. If it has, the program returns to step 114. If it has not, at step 130 the note-on flag for that particular key is reset.
  • step 132 the note value table is again consulted to determine the MIDI code for the note that has been assigned to the key being depressed.
  • Chord tables are normally accessed via a specified section of the keyboard (such as all black notes in a conventional keyboard.) These tables contain all possible notes within a given chord and may be assigned in any manner desired. For example, a C major chord consists of the three notes C,E, and G. In ascending pitch, the notes might be assigned to a particular key or group of keys in any, including, but not limited to the following: E-G-C, E-C-G, C-E-G, C-E-G-C, etc., with the ability to assign various octaves and instrument voices.
  • Scale tables contain all notes within a given scale and are likewise accessed by a specified section of the keyboard. Chord tables and scale tables may be switched independently of one another either in real time by the user or via predetermined computer control such as via a sequencer or the like.
  • chord and scale information may be stored along with pre-recorded music on musical media such as a CD disk and may be sent to the system of the present invention via a MIDI interface so that a musician can "play along" with prerecorded music. Since the chord change and any scale change timing is synchronously provided by the pre-recorded media, the musician has creative input but does not have the option of playing an incorrect chord or note.
  • chord changes requires only a fraction of the memory necessary to store melody and chord notes on a CD for playing along, thus making such an embodiment a practical reality.
  • a typical popular music selection would require up to 500K bytes of information to reproduce the parts contained on the recording.
  • a 10 song album could require 5M bytes or more of memory, and would not afford creative input by the listener.
  • only one MIDI message per chord change or scale change is required.
  • chord changes for an entire album could reside in less than 100K bytes of memory. This not only reduces cost to a practical level, but at the same time allows the listener to provide creative accompaniment to the recorded music.
  • the chord changes appear as MIDI patch changes at the moment the CD accesses the appropriate address during its play cycle.
  • the number of tables which may be associated with the system of the present invention is limited only by the size of the memory which is utilized with the system. For instance, with a memory size of 64K, scale tables and chord tables for sixteen of the most common chords for each root note for 128 different keyboard keys can be provided.
  • a first group of two sets of seven function keys preferably relate to chord tables. Depressing any one of keys 202-228 will result in the generation of MIDI codes representing a component note of a desired musical chord.
  • the section of keys just above keys 202-228 is arranged much like two octaves of a conventional keyboard. Keys bearing even reference numerals 230-256 are the white keys of the keyboard and keys bearing even reference numerals 258-276 are the black keys of the keyboard. Note that the particular layout permits playing black keys only by running a finger across the keyboard, since white keys do not extend all of the way between black keys.
  • the white keys 230-256 are assigned to individual notes from scale tables. However, unlike a conventional keyboard, keys 230-256 are all utilized in the playing of each scale. If the scale is arranged so that key 230 is always the root note, the keyboard may be arranged such that key 232 is always the second, key 234 is always the third, key 236 is always the fourth, key 238 is always the fifth, key 240 is always the sixth, key 242 is always the seventh, key 244 is octave and so on.
  • Table 1 shows the note assignments to keys 230-256 for the C major, C# minor, D# major, and F minor scales respectively.
  • the black keys, even reference numerals 258-276 may be configured as the notes which are components of selected chords. For example, Table 2 note assignments to keys 258-276 for a C major and D# minor chord respectively. TABLE 2 C Major D# Minor Key 258 C D# Key 260 E F# Key 262 G A# Key 264 C D# Key 266 E F# Key 268 G A# Key 270 C D# Key 272 E F# Key 274 G A# Key 276 C D#
  • MIDI note-on messages from keys 258-276 may be sent on a different MIDI channel to drive a voice different from that associated with keys 202-228.
  • Two sets of 16 vertical keys, even reference numerals 278-308 and even reference numerals 310-340 respectively may be used for numerous functions.
  • keys with reference numerals 278-308 are used to cause MIDI program commands which will transform the rest of the unit to an entire window of corresponding scale and chord information and may also sound a chord if desired.
  • Keys bearing reference numerals 310-340 may be configured to be a scale. Since white keys 230-256 are already configured as a scale, the two sets of scale keys can be used with different voices to create two scales of two different instruments. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the scales played on keys 230-256 and 310-340 respectively could even be different scales.
  • the two sets of three keys 342, 344 and 346, to the left of the double group of seven horizontal seven keys and 348, 350 and 352 to the right of the double group of seven horizontal keys may be used as MIDI control signals as positive pitch bend, negative pitch bend, modulation, etc.
  • the two sets of 15 keys above keys 230-276 may be used for any MIDI function. In a presently-preferred embodiment they may be used for any of the computer controlled functions disclosed with respect to FIGS. 6a-i.
  • FIG. 4 has been discussed in terms of specific key functions, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that any key may be assigned any MIDI function and that the embodiment of FIG. 4 is merely a practical illustrative and presently-preferred arrangement.
  • the set of 16 vertical keys shown at even reference numerals 278-308, may be configured to cause MIDI program commands which will change the chord configured on keys 202-228 and 258-276. Depressing these program change keys can optionally sound the chord which they select. In this manner, the musician may play a song and with one finger redefine the chord keys at the appropriate times so that the song may be played without the possibility of striking an incorrect note in a chord. Optionally one or more of these keys may also cause one or both banks of scale keys 230-256 and 310-340 to define a different scale if it is desired.
  • Another computer either integral with the system of FIG. 1, or an external computer may be used as a mapping tool to manipulate other MIDI compatible musical instruments as well as the musical instrument of the present invention.
  • One computer which has been found to be particularly suitable for use with the present invention is the Atari 1040 ST computer, which comes with a built-in MIDI interface.
  • FIGS. 5a-f show a flow diagram for the mapping software in a presently-preferred embodiment.
  • the main loop begins at step 400 where all the tables and indices are initialized as is well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.
  • step 402 it is determined whether a MIDI byte has been received. If a MIDI byte has been received, the program proceeds to the MIDI processing loop disclosed with respect to FIG. 5b. If not, at step 404 a determination is made whether one of the mouse buttons has been clicked. If not, the loop returns to step 402. If a mouse button has been clicked, the program proceeds to block 406 where the tables and indices are edited by user interface. After the user has edited the desired tables, a determination is made at step 408 whether it is desire to quit the program. If so, the program is ended and if not, it returns to step 402.
  • the MIDI processing routine is disclosed. First, at step 410 the received MIDI bytes are assembled into MIDI events. Next, at step 412, it is determined whether a complete MIDI event has been assembled. If not, the program returns to the main processing loop. If, however, a complete MIDI event has been assembled, if the event is a note-off, at step 414 a pseudo note-off command is changed to a real note-off command. Then, a determination is made at step 416 whether the events channel matches either the upper or the lower bank. If not, at step 420 the event is transmitted to the other MIDI units in the system and then at step 421 a determination is made regarding whether the program is in zoom mode. If not, the program returns to the main processing loop. If so, the program returns to zoom processing.
  • step 416 If, at step 416 the events channel has matched one of the two banks, a determination of what kind of MIDI event has been assembled is made at step 418. If it is a note-on event, the program proceeds to note-on processing described with respect to FIG. 5c. If the event is a note-off event, the program proceeds to note-off processing described with respect to FIG. 5d. If the event is a patch change, the program proceeds to patch change processing described with respect to FIG. 5e.
  • the note-on processing routine begins at step 424 where the computation of what value this note is mapped into is made.
  • the value is examined to see if it is less than zero. If the note is mapped into a value of less than zero, it indicates zoom processing and the program proceeds to zoom processing as disclosed with respect to FIG. 5f.
  • the events channel may optionally be changed if desired.
  • the mapped value for the incoming note number is substituted for the incoming note number.
  • this map value is stored in a table which indicates the note and channel on which it came in and the note and channel on which it went out. This table is used later to identify the note to be turned off in the event of an intervening patch change.
  • the mapped note-on event is transmitted over the MIDI channel.
  • the note-off processing routine is disclosed. First, at step 436, the note and channel out and note and channel in information are retrieved from the table in which they were stored. Next, the mapped value of the stored note to be turned off is substituted for the incoming note number at step 438. At step 440, the table channel is substituted for the event's channel and at step 442 the mapped note-off event is transmitted.
  • step 444 it is determined to which bank the patch change refers. If there is no match, the program returns to the main processing loop. If there is a match, at step 446 it is determined whether the current bank number is the same as the current channel number. If it is, at step 448 the channel indices are updated. Step 450, is performed after step 446 if there is no match between the channel number and the bank number, and after step 448 if there has been a match. After step 450, the patch change MIDI event is transmitted at 452.
  • zoom processing begins at step 454 where a zoom index is computed from the current map number.
  • step 456 the zoom index and the map index are swapped.
  • step 458 a loop is performed relating to the zoom depth. If the count is not completed, at step 462 a MIDI event is built from the map index and the loop.
  • step 464 the event is broken into bytes and the program proceeds to MIDI processing according to FIG. 5b.
  • the zoom index and map index are swapped in step 460 and the program returns to the main loop.
  • the tables which are used with the present invention may be conveniently divided into 256 eight-bit bytes.
  • the first set of 128 eight bit bytes define the 128 possible MIDI notes.
  • the second 128 eight bit bytes define the MIDI channels over which the notes will be transmitted.
  • the tables are switched by a dynamic table allocation process.
  • the tables are arranged in two banks of 128 tables each. Each table has 128 bytes. Each location in a table may hold a value of indicating one of 128 possible MIDI notes.
  • a MIDI note which comes into the UART is directed to either the upper or the lower bank of tables depending on the channel number assigned to that incoming MIDI note. Which table in the bank is selected by the position of a mouse used in conjunction with the computer. Alternatively, the table can be selected by a MIDI patch change over a MIDI channel reserved for patch changes.
  • the value of the incoming note (between zero and 127) determines the address to look at within the table. The contents of the table gives the note and channel number to be transmitted.
  • Note-off information may not be related to the table from which the note-on information was obtained because of the possibility that a patch change will change the table to be referenced before that particular key on the keyboard is released.
  • a second table transparent to the user, is used to enter the note-on information.
  • the transducer circuitry senses that a key has been released, the system looks to this user transparent table to determine which note to turn off to avoid errors due to patch changes.
  • zoom function is a powerful function which allows the musician greatly enhanced flexibility when composing and playing compositions. It allows a single pad to play many notes, as in a chord, in place of a single note, and further optionally allows patch change information to be sent to co-ordinate chord changes among a plurality of MIDI instruments.
  • FIGS. 6a - H show what the computer screen will show at various points in the zoom process.
  • FIG. 6a two tables are shown.
  • the upper table is from the first bank of tables and the lower table is from the second bank of tables both previously described.
  • the upper and lower bank of tables each contain 16 tables which are zoomable. These tables are found as the last two columns of eight entries in each of the upper and lower banks.
  • Each table of structures contains 128 structures. Each structure has six bytes. The first byte defines which of the 256 table of both the upper and lower bank to address. The second byte contains a start address from zero to 127 within that table. The third byte contains two nibbles. The high nibble contains an all/white/black mask which allows either all keys, white keys only or black keys only to be selected.
  • the low nibble decides how deep to zoom.
  • the depth of the zoom is the number of notes in an upward direction from the start note.
  • the fourth byte may contain an optional patch change which may be sent to other devices.
  • the fifth byte contains information defining a channel for the patch change to sent over. Byte six is currently reserved for a function to be defined later.
  • the zoom function is enabled as follows. Normally, the content of the note tables will be a note number. However, if the contents of the note table is minus one, a zoom table instead of a note table is referred to.
  • FIGS. 6a-j illustrate the use of a computer to perform editing on the tables of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 6a-j are printouts showing the screen configurations of a computer at various steps in the editing process.
  • the screen shows an upper matrix of 16 x 8 table positions and a lower matrix of 16 x 8 table positions.
  • the chord B minor in the second row of the twelfth column appears in reverse video, having been selected by a mouse.
  • the chord D in the eighth row of the fifteenth column has been selected.
  • the sixteen zoomable tables have been located in the last two columns of both the upper and lower matrices.
  • the selection of B minor in the upper matrix is not the selection of a zoomable table, but the selection of the D chord in the lower matrix is from a zoomable table.
  • a third screen is shown, differing from the second screen in that the indication "black” has been selected by the mouse in the field under the rectangle.
  • the 16 notes in the reverse video within the rectangular field have been selected by the mouse and correspond to the black key notations in the first column outside the rectangle.
  • the selected notes are all contained within a B minor chord.
  • This examples of white and black notes are not intended to indicate any limitation on the intermingling of white and black notes for any manipulation, as shown by the availability of the choice "all" in the "white/black/all” field under the rectangle.
  • FIG. 6d the indication "channels" has been selected by the mouse and appears in reverse video, indicating that the portion of the tables dealing with the channels over which the notes are to be sent has been accessed.
  • the screen shown in FIG. 6d corresponds to the screen shown in FIG. 6c, the reverse video images showing the channels over which the notes comprising the B minor chord shown in FIG. 6c are to be sent.
  • any one of the 16 MIDI channels could be selected for any of these notes, thus allowing a single keyboard to play any chord or scale in one or more of several voices.
  • FIG. 6e is included to show that any randomly chosen notes can be assigned to the selected black keys. Although not shown in FIG. 6e, the same is true for the white keys, which may have assigned to them any random note or other MIDI event.
  • the lower matrix of FIG. 6a had the D in the last row of column 15 selected.
  • the screen shown in FIG. 6f is brought up to edit the zoom function.
  • the event which equals the position in the matrix i.e., C# in the -2 octave (C# -2), will cause anything selected in the zoom edit page shown in FIG. 6g to be output, including patch change, note information or other MIDI events.
  • the first column within the rectangle of the screen of FIG. 6f contains chord information. In bold video the chords G, F, E minor, and C have been selected and are highlighted because the filters allowing zoom only are active, indicated by the indication "zoom" in reverse video. It should be understood that any one of the 128 positions within the rectangle on the screen of FIG. 6f are zoomable. The A minor chord is shown in reverse video to indicate that it has been selected.
  • the reverse video indications of "notes” and “black” show that the notes of A minor chord indicated by the five reverse video notes in the rectangular field have been selected to be played when the MIDI values corresponding to the black key (C# -2 as selected in FIG. 6f) has been received. This is indicated at the top of FIG. 6g.
  • the A minor chord has been composed of the five notes shown in reverse video and will play. Anytime that the key indicated at the top of this edit screen is depressed, when its host edit page (here FIG. 6f) has been selected, whatever is selected in the zoom rectangle will be output as indicated by the reverse video indication "black” in the field below the rectangle.
  • the "depth" of "05" appearing in the field under the rectangle indicates how many notes are to be played in the chord and/or scale. This number is user selectable.
  • the information "patch 026 16" in the field under the rectangle are user selectable and indicate that a MIDI patch change 026 will be sent out on channel 16.
  • the MIDI patch numbers are shown in FIG. 6h. Comparing the position 026 in FIG. 6h to the corresponding position in FIG. 6a confirms that the patch relates to the A minor chord.
  • FIG. 6i shows that patch changes for the lower matrix are transmitted on channel 16 and patch changes for the upper matrices are received on channel 16. Also shown in FIG. 6i is the transpose function, allowing a global transpose relative to the note C-3. If the note identifiers appearing in the upper and lower boxes are equal to C-3 no transposing will take place. Otherwise, all notes will be transposed up or down by the difference between the note C-3 and the contents of the upper and lower transpose boxes, allowing exploration of various keys without the need to reconfigure the tables being utilized.
  • FIG. 6j illustrates the map filling function which allows filling the upper and lower matrices automatically.
  • the reverse video indications show that the upper matrix from positions 18 to 32 in the matrix are to be filled with the table at MIDI number 17 in the upper matrix. It further indicates that the successive positions in the matrix are incremented by half steps and are displayed by names. Both chord and scale tables are changed; the selection of "all" "white", or “black” allows selection of chords, scales or both.
  • the name itself may be automatically transposed, thus avoiding the need to manually enter a new name in each corresponding table which has been transposed.
  • channel information may be selected so that a voicing arrangement may be placed on pre-existing tables without altering their note values.
  • both note and channel information may be altered by selecting "both".

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Electrophonic Musical Instruments (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)

Claims (15)

  1. Dispositif de commande d'un instrument de musique comprenant :
    - une pluralité de moyens (12), chacun étant destiné à générer un signal de sélection de notes en réponse à une telle sélection ainsi qu'un signal de suppression de sélection de notes en réponse à une telle suppression;
    - un moyen pour produire des notes lequel est connecté à cette pluralité de moyens de sélection de notes (12) pour produire une information d'identification de la note correspondant à chacun des moyens (12) ainsi qu'un signal de production de notes en réponse à ce signal de sélection, ce signal de production correspondant à l'information correspondante d'identification de notes;
    - un moyen de stockage (30) pour mémoriser cette information identifiant la note produite en réponse au signal de sélection de notes;
    - un moyen connecté à ce moyen de production de notes pour modifier cette information identifiant la note; et
    - un moyen connecté à cette pluralité de moyens de sélection de notes (12) et au moyen de stockage (30) pour produire un signal d'arrêt de production de notes en réponse au signal de suppression de sélection de notes, ce signal d'arrêt comprenant cette information identifiant la note mémorisée en réponse au signal de sélection de notes.
  2. Dispositif de commande d'un instrument de musique selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre :
    - un moyen pour analyser électroniquement les moyens de sélection de notes (12) dans lequel
    le signal de sélection de notes débute quand un des moyens de sélection de notes (12) avec lequel il est associé est activé et s'achève quand un de ces moyens (12) avec lequel il est associé est désactivé;
    le moyen de stockage (30) comprend une pluralité de tables d'un premier type convertissant chacune des signaux de sélection de notes en information d'identification de notes, chacune de ces tables d'un premier type définissant chacun des moyens de sélection de notes (12) comme étant une ou plusieurs notes de musique de telle sorte que deux tables ne définissent jamais cette pluralité de moyens (12) avec la même information d'identification de notes;
    - un moyen pour sélectionner une table de la pluralité de tables d'un premier type en réponse à une commande dans lequel
    le signal de production de notes correspond à cette ou à ces notes de musique définies pour les moyens activés de sélection de notes (12) se trouvant dans une des tables de la pluralité de tables d'un premier type sélectionnée à l'instant où le signal de sélection de notes débute
    le signal d'arrêt de la production d'une note correspond à cette ou à ces notes de musique définies pour les moyens de sélection de notes (12) se trouvant dans une des tables de la pluralité de tables d'un premier type laquelle a été sélectionné pendant que le moyen de sélection de notes (12) était activé.
  3. Dispositif de commande d'un instrument de musique selon la revendication 2, dans lequel le signal de sélection de notes possède une première partie identifiant un des moyens de sélection de notes (12) avec lequel il est associé.
  4. Dispositif de commande d'un instrument de musique selon la revendication 3, dans lequel chacun des signaux de sélection de notes possède une seconde partie se rapportant à l'importance de la force exercée par l'utilisateur sur le moyen de sélection de notes (12), un moyen générant des données concernant la rapidité de la note étant en outre mis en place, ces moyens comprenant une table d'un second type associée à la pluralité de moyens de sélection de notes (12) mémorisant les données relatives à la vitesse, le moyen générant ces données étant sensible à cette seconde partie du signal de sélection de notes pour générer ces données en fonction de la force exercée par l'utilisateur sur le moyen activé de sélection de notes (12).
  5. Dispositif de commande d'un instrument de musique selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 4 comprenant en outre :
    - un premier jeu de tables appartenant à la pluralité de tables d'un premier type ce premier jeu étant associé à un premier groupe extrait de la pluralité de moyens de sélection de notes (12) et un second jeu de tables appartenant à la pluralité de tables d'un premier type ce second jeu étant associé à un second groupe extrait de la pluralité de moyens de sélection de notes (12) dans lesquels
    le moyen destiné à sélectionner une des tables de la pluralité peut sélectionner séparément une table de ce premier jeu et une autre de ce second jeu à la suite de commandes;
    le début de ces signaux de sélection de notes provenant des moyens (12) associés appartenant soit au premier soit au second groupe;
    les signaux de production de notes correspondant à cette ou à ces notes de musique pour le moyen individuel activé de sélection de notes (12) dans une des tables de la pluralité de tables d'un premier type appartenant au jeu de tables, le premier ou le second, sélectionné à l'instant où le signal de sélection de notes débute;
    la fin du signal de sélection provenant du moyen désactivé de sélection de notes (12) appartenant soit au premier soit au second groupe ; et
    les signaux d'arrêt de la production d'une note correspondant à cette ou à ces notes définies pour le moyen individuel désactivé de sélection de notes (12) dans une des tables de la pluralité de tables d'un premier type ayant été sélectionné pendant que le moyen (12) individuel désactivé était activé provenant du jeu de tables approprié, le premier ou le second.
  6. Dispositif de commande d'un instrument de musique selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 5, dans lequel le moyen destiné à sélectionner les tables d'un premier type en réponse à ou aux commandes est sensible aux commandes provenant de l'utilisateur.
  7. Dispositif de commande d'un instrument de musique selon la revendication 6, dans lequel les commandes de l'utilisateur sont prédéterminées.
  8. Dispositif de commande d'un instrument de musique selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 5, dans lequel la ou les commandes comprennent des événements MIDI reçus.
  9. Dispositif de commande d'un instrument de musique selon la revendication 8, dans lequel ces événements MIDI sont prédéterminés.
  10. Dispositif de commande d'un instrument de musique selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 9, dans lequel les signaux de production et d'arrêt de production de notes sont des messages de production et d'arrêt de production de notes MIDI.
  11. Dispositif de commande d'un instrument de musique selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10, dans lequel la pluralité de moyens de sélection de notes (12) comprend un clavier.
  12. Dispositif de commande d'un instrument de musique selon la revendication 4, dans lequel l'information de vitesse comprend l'information de vitesse MIDI.
  13. Procédé de commande d'un instrument de musique, l'instrument comportant un moyen pour sélectionner et supprimer la sélection de notes, ce procédé comprenant les étapes consistant à :
    - générer un signal de sélection de notes en réponse à la sélection d'une note;
    - générer un signal de suppression de sélection de notes en réponse à la suppression de sélection de cette note;
    - générer un signal de production de notes comprenant une information d'identification de note correspondant à la note sélectionnée;
    - mettre en mémoire cette information d'identification de note;
    - modifier cette information d'identification en réponse au signal de production de notes et générer un signal d'arrêt de production de notes en réponse au signal de suppression de sélection de notes, ce signal d'arrêt comprenant l'information d'identification de notes mémorisée à la suite de la sélection de ladite note.
  14. Procédé selon la revendication 13 compatible avec les normes MIDI, dans lequel les signaux de production et d'arrêt de production de notes sont des messages de production et d'arrêt de production de notes MIDI.
  15. Procédé selon la revendication 14, dans lequel les signaux de sélection et de suppression de sélection sont commandés par un clavier.
EP90900583A 1989-01-03 1989-12-27 Controleur universel pour un instrument de musique electronique Expired - Lifetime EP0452347B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP97106076A EP0795850A3 (fr) 1989-01-03 1989-12-27 Dispositif de commande pour instrument de musique électronique

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US29296689A 1989-01-03 1989-01-03
US292966 1989-01-03
PCT/US1989/005703 WO1990007771A1 (fr) 1989-01-03 1989-12-27 Instrument de musique electronique universel

Related Child Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97106076A Division EP0795850A3 (fr) 1989-01-03 1989-12-27 Dispositif de commande pour instrument de musique électronique
EP97106076.9 Division-Into 1997-04-14

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0452347A1 EP0452347A1 (fr) 1991-10-23
EP0452347A4 EP0452347A4 (en) 1993-03-10
EP0452347B1 true EP0452347B1 (fr) 1997-10-29

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EP90900583A Expired - Lifetime EP0452347B1 (fr) 1989-01-03 1989-12-27 Controleur universel pour un instrument de musique electronique
EP97106076A Withdrawn EP0795850A3 (fr) 1989-01-03 1989-12-27 Dispositif de commande pour instrument de musique électronique

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97106076A Withdrawn EP0795850A3 (fr) 1989-01-03 1989-12-27 Dispositif de commande pour instrument de musique électronique

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JP (1) JPH04504006A (fr)
AT (1) ATE159833T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE68928414T2 (fr)
WO (1) WO1990007771A1 (fr)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2687244B1 (fr) * 1992-02-07 1995-08-11 Castello Francois Procede de restitution sonore et appareil de mise en óoeuvre de ce procede.
US5501130A (en) * 1994-02-10 1996-03-26 Musig Tuning Corporation Just intonation tuning
WO1997029480A1 (fr) * 1996-02-06 1997-08-14 Eventoff Franklin Neal Systeme d'instrument de musique a notes assistees
DE102006008260B3 (de) 2006-02-22 2007-07-05 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Analyse eines Audiodatums
DE102006008298B4 (de) 2006-02-22 2010-01-14 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Erzeugen eines Notensignals
GB2507177B (en) 2012-09-12 2015-06-24 Ableton Ag Dynamic diatonic instrument
JP6263946B2 (ja) * 2013-10-12 2018-01-24 ヤマハ株式会社 発音状態表示プログラム、装置及び方法
JP2015075754A (ja) 2013-10-12 2015-04-20 ヤマハ株式会社 発音割当てプログラム、装置及び方法

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US2253782A (en) * 1940-05-07 1941-08-26 Hammond Instr Co Keyboard for electrical musical instruments
US2557690A (en) * 1950-04-05 1951-06-19 John H Reuther Piano keyboard
DE3301354A1 (de) * 1983-01-18 1984-07-19 Matth. Hohner Ag, 7218 Trossingen Elektronisches musikinstrument
DE3318667C1 (de) * 1983-05-21 1984-10-11 WERSI-electronic GmbH & Co KG, 5401 Halsenbach Elektronisches Tastenmusikinstrument und Verfahren zu dessen Betrieb
IT1169083B (it) * 1983-11-18 1987-05-27 Arrigo Sestero Dispositivo dualizzatore musicale e relativo procedimento di dualizzazione
JPS60125892A (ja) * 1983-12-10 1985-07-05 株式会社河合楽器製作所 電子楽器
JPS616689A (ja) * 1984-06-20 1986-01-13 松下電器産業株式会社 電子楽器
US4776253A (en) * 1986-05-30 1988-10-11 Downes Patrick G Control apparatus for electronic musical instrument
US4794838A (en) * 1986-07-17 1989-01-03 Corrigau Iii James F Constantly changing polyphonic pitch controller
US4748887A (en) * 1986-09-03 1988-06-07 Marshall Steven C Electric musical string instruments and frets therefor
US4777857A (en) * 1987-03-10 1988-10-18 Stewart Benjamin U MIDI address converter and router

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0452347A1 (fr) 1991-10-23
WO1990007771A1 (fr) 1990-07-12
EP0795850A3 (fr) 1997-11-26
DE68928414T2 (de) 1998-09-03
EP0452347A4 (en) 1993-03-10
EP0795850A2 (fr) 1997-09-17
JPH04504006A (ja) 1992-07-16
ATE159833T1 (de) 1997-11-15
DE68928414D1 (de) 1997-12-04

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