Classifications

• • 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
• • 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
  • G10H1/0008—Associated control or indicating 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
  • G10H2240/00—Data organisation or data communication aspects, specifically adapted for electrophonic musical tools or instruments
  • G10H2240/011—Files or data streams containing coded musical information, e.g. for transmission
  • G10H2240/016—File editing, i.e. modifying musical data files or streams as such
• • 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
  • G10H2240/011—Files or data streams containing coded musical information, e.g. for transmission
  • G10H2240/046—File format, i.e. specific or non-standard musical file format used in or adapted for electrophonic musical instruments, e.g. in wavetables
  • G10H2240/061—MP3, i.e. MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, lossy audio compression
• • 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
  • G10H2240/011—Files or data streams containing coded musical information, e.g. for transmission
  • G10H2240/046—File format, i.e. specific or non-standard musical file format used in or adapted for electrophonic musical instruments, e.g. in wavetables
  • G10H2240/071—Wave, i.e. Waveform Audio File Format, coding, e.g. uncompressed PCM audio according to the RIFF bitstream format method

Definitions

• the present invention is directed towards musical software, and, more particularly, towards a system that integrates musical notation technology with a unique performance generation code and synthesizer to provide realistic playback of musical scores.
• Rhythmic notation was first introduced in the 13 th century, through the application of rhythmic modes to notated melodies. Franco of Cologne, in the 13 th century, introduced the modem way of encoding the rhythmic value of a note or rest into the notation character itself. Rhythmic subdivision into groups other than two or three was introduced by Petrus de Cruce at about the same time.
• MIDI Musical Instrument Digital Interface
• Digital performance generators which employ recorded sounds referred to as “samples” of live musical instruments under MIDI control, are theoretically capable of duplicating the effect of live performance.
• Sequencers allow several "tracks" of such information to be individually recorded, synchronized, and otherwise edited, and then played back as a multi-track performance. Because keyboard synthesizers play only one "instrument” at a time, such multi-track recording is necessary when using MIDI code to generate a complex, multi-layered ensemble of music.
• a MIDI keyboard Similar to other keyboard instruments, a MIDI keyboard is limited in its ability to control the overall shapes, effects, and nuances of a musical sound because it acts primarily as a trigger to initiate the sound. For example, a keyboard cannot easily achieve the legato effect of pitch changes without "re-attack" to the sound. Even more difficult to achieve is a sustained crescendo or diminuendo within individual sounds. By contrast, orchestral wind and string instruments maintain control over the sound throughout its duration, allowing for expressive internal dynamic and timbre changes, none of which are easily achieved with a keyboard performance.
• the present invention provides a system for creating and performing a musical score including a user interface that enables a user to enter and display the musical score, a database that stores a data structure which supports graphical symbols for musical characters in the musical score and performance generation data that is derived from the graphical symbols, a musical font that includes a numbering system that corresponds to the musical characters, a compiler that generates the performance generation data from the database, a performance generator that reads the performance generation data from the compiler and synchronizes the performance of the musical score, and a synthesizer that responds to commands from the performance generator and creates data for acoustical playback of the musical score that is output to a sound generation device, such as a sound card.
• the synthesizer generates the data for acoustical playback from a library of digital sound samples.
• the present invention further provides software for generating and playing musical notation.
• the software is configured to instruct a computer to enable a user to enter the musical score into an interface that displays the musical score, store in a database a data structure which supports graphical symbols for musical characters in the musical score and performance generation data that is derived from the graphical symbols, generate performance generation data from data in the database, read the performance generation data from the compiler and synchronize the performance of the musical score with the interface, create data for acoustical playback of the musical score from a library of digital sound samples, and output the data for acoustical playback to a sound generation device.
• the present invention provides a system that integrates music notation technology with a unique performance generation code and a synthesizer pre-loaded with musical instrument files to provide realistic playback of music scores.
• the invention integrates these features into a single software application that until now has been achieved only through the use of separate synthesizers, mixers, and other equipment.
• the present invention automates performance generation so that it is unnecessary for the operator to be an expert on using multiple pieces of equipment. Thus, the present invention requires that the operator simply have a working knowledge of computers and music notation.
• the software and system of the present invention comprises six general components: a musical entry interface for creating and displaying musical score files (the "editor"), a data structure optimized for encoding musical graphic and performance data (the “database”), a music font optimized for both graphic representation and music performance encoding (the "font”), a set of routines that generate performance code data from data in the database (the “compiler”), a performance generator that reads the performance code data and synchronizes the on screen display of the performance with the sound (“performance generator”), and a software synthesizer (the “synthesizer”).
• this component of the software is an intuitive user interface for creating and displaying a musical score.
• a musical score is organized into pages, systems, staffs and bars (measures).
• the editor of the present invention follows the same logical organization except that the score consists of only one continuous system, which may be formatted into separate systems and pages as desired prior to printing.
• a staff area is a vertical unit which normally includes a musical staff of one or more musical lines.
• a staff degree is the particular line or space on a staff where a note or other musical character may be placed.
• the editor's horizontal organization is in terms of bars and columns.
• a bar is a rhythmic unit, usually conforming to the metric structure indicated by a time signature, and delineated on either side by a bar line.
• a column is an invisible horizontal unit equal to the height of a staff degree. Columns extend vertically throughout the system, and are the basis both for vertical alignment of musical characters, and for determination of time-events within the score.
• the editor incorporates standard word-processor-like block functions such as cut, copy, paste, paste-special, delete, and clear, as well as word-processor-like formatting functions such as justification and pagination.
• the editor also incorporates music-specific block functions such as overlay, transpose, add or remove beams, reverse or optimize stem directions, and divide or combine voices, etc.
• Music-specific formatting options are further provided, such as pitch respelling, chord optimization, vertical alignment, rhythmic-value change, insertion of missing rests and time signatures, placement of lyrics, and intelligent extraction of individual instrumental or vocal parts.
• the cursor While in the client workspace of the editor, the cursor alternates, on a context-sensitive basis, between a blinking music character restricted to logical locations on the musical staff ("columns" and "staff degrees") and a non-restricted pointer cursor.
• the editor of the present invention enables the operator to double-click on a character in a score to automatically cause that character to become a new cursor character.
• This enables complex cursor characters, such as chords, octaves, and thirds, etc. to be selected into the cursor, which is referred to as cursor character morphing.
• cursor character morphing the operator does not have to enter each note in the chord one at a time or copy, paste, and move a chord, both of which require several keystrokes.
• the editor of the present invention also provides an automatic timing calculation feature that accepts operator entry of a desired elapsed time for a musical passage. This is important to the film industry, for example, where there is a need to calculate the speed of musical performances such that the music coordinates with certain "hit" points in films, television, and video.
• the prior art practices involve the composer approximating the speeds of different sections of music using metronome indications in the score. For soundtrack creation, performers use these indications to guide them to arrive on time at "hit" points. Often, several recordings are required before the correct speeds are accomplished and a correctly-timed recording is made.
• the editor of the present invention eliminates the need for making several recordings by calculating the exact tempo needed.
• the moving playback cursor for a previously-calculated playback session can be used as a conductor guide during recording sessions with live performers. This feature allows a conductor to synchronize the live conducted performance correctly without the need for conventional click tracks, punches or streamers.
• tempo nuances are preserved even when overall tempo is modified, because tempo is controlled by adjusting the note values themselves, rather than the clock speed (as in standard MIDI.)
• the editor preferably uses a constant clock speed equivalent to a metronome mark of 140.
• the note values themselves are then adjusted in accordance with the notated tempo (i.e., quarter notes at an andante speed are longer than at an allegro speed.) All tempo relationships are dealt with in this way, including fermatas, tenutos, breath commas and break marks.
• the clock speed can then be changed globally, while preserving all the inner tempo relationships.
• a time orientation status bar in the interface may show elapsed minutes, seconds, and SMPTE frames or elapsed minutes, seconds, and hundredth of a second for the corresponding notation area.
• the editor of the present invention further provides a method for directly editing certain performance aspects of a single note, chord, or musical passage, such as the attack, volume envelope, onset of vibrato, trill speed, staccato, legato connection, etc. This is achieved by providing a graphical representation that depicts both elapsed time and degrees of application of the envelope.
• the editing window is preferably shared for a number of micro-editing functions. An example of the layout for the user interface is shown below in Table 1.
• the editor also provides a method for directly editing panning motion or orientation on a single note, chord or musical passage.
• the editor supports two and four-channel panning.
• the user interface may indicate the duration in note value units, by the user entry line itself, as shown in Table 2 below.
• Prior art musical software systems support the entry of MIDI code and automatic translation of MIDI code into music notation in real time. These systems allow the user to define entry parameters (pulse, subdivision, speed, number of bars, starting and ending points) and then play music in time to a series of rhythmic clicks, used for synchronization purposes. Previously-entered music can also be played back during entry, in which case the click can be disabled if unnecessary for synchronization purposes.
• entry parameters pulse, subdivision, speed, number of bars, starting and ending points
• Previously-entered music can also be played back during entry, in which case the click can be disabled if unnecessary for synchronization purposes.
• These prior art systems make it difficult to enter tuplets (or rhythmic subdivisions of the pulse which are notated by bracketing an area, indicating the number of divisions of the pulse). Particularly, the prior art systems usually convert tuplets into technically correct, yet highly-unreadable notation, often notating minor discrepancies in the rhythm that the user did not intend, as well.
• the editor of the present invention overcomes this disadvantage while still translating incoming MIDI into musical notation in real time, and importing and converting standard MIDI files into notation.
• the editor allows the entry of music data via a MIDI instrument, on a beat-by-beat basis, with the operator determining each beat point by pressing an indicator key or pedal.
• this method allows the user to play in segments of music at any tempo, so long as he remains consistent within that tempo during that entry segment.
• This method has the advantage of allowing any number of subdivisions, tuplets, etc. to be entered, and correctly notated.
• the database is the core data structure of the software system of the present invention, that contains, in concise form, the information for writing the score on a screen or to a printer, and/or generating a musical performance.
• the database of the present invention provides a sophisticated data structure that supports the graphical symbols and information that is part of a standard musical score, as well as the performance generation information that is implied by the graphical information and is produced by live musicians during the course of interpreting the graphical symbols and information in a score.
• the code entries of the data structure are in the form of 16-bit words, generally in order of Least Significant Bit (LSB) to Most Significant Bit (MSB), as follows:
• markers are used in the database to delineate logical columns and staff areas, as well as special conditions such as the conclusion of a graphic or performance object.
• Other markers may be used to identify packets, which are data structures containing graphic and/or performance information organized into logical units. Packets allow musical objects to be defined and easily manipulated during editing, and provide information both for screen writing and for musical performance. Necessary intervening columns are determined by widths and columnar offsets, and are used to provide distance between adjacent objects. Alignment control and collision control are functions which determine appropriate positioning of objects and incidental characters in relation to each other vertically and horizontally, respectively.
• the database of the present invention has a small footprint so it is easily stored and transferred via e-mail to other workstations, where the performance data can be derived in real time to generate the exact same performances as on the original workstation. Therefore, this database addresses the portability problem that exists with the prior art musical file formats such as .WAV and .MP3. These file types render identical performances on any workstation but they are extremely large and difficult to store and transport.
• the font of the present invention is a unicoded, truetype musical font that is optimal for graphic music representation and musical performance encoding.
• the font is a logical numbering system that corresponds to musical characters and glyphs that can be quickly assembled into composite musical characters in such a way that the relationships between the musical symbols are directly reflected in the numbering system.
• the font also facilitates mathematical calculations (such as for transposition, alignment, or rhythm changes) that involve manipulation of these glyphs.
• Hexadecimal codes are assigned to each of the glyphs that support the mathematical calculations. Such hexadecimal protocol may be structured in accordance with the following examples:
• the compiler component of the present invention is a set of routines that generates performance code from the data in the database, described above. Specifically, the compiler directly interprets the musical symbols, artistic interpretation instructions, note-shaping "micro-editing" instructions, and other indications encoded in the database, applies context-sensitive artistic interpretations that are not indicated through symbols and/or instructions, and creates performance-generation code for the synthesizer, which is described further below.
• the performance generator reads the proprietary performance code file created by the compiler, and sends commands to the software synthesizer and the screen-writing component of the editor at appropriate timing intervals, so that the score and a moving cursor can be displayed in synchronization with the playback.
• the timing of the performances may come from four possible sources: (1) the internal timing code, (2) external MIDI Time Code (SMPTE), (3) user input from the computer keyboard or from a MIDI keyboard, and (4) timing information recorded during a previous user-controlled session.
• the performance generator also includes controls which allow the user to jump to, and begin playback from, any point within the score, and/or exclude any instruments from playback in order to select desired instrumental combinations.
• the performance generator determines the exact position of the music in relation to the video if the video starts within the musical cue, or waits for the beginning of the cue if the video starts earlier.
• the performance generator also allows the user to control the timing of a performance in real time. This may be achieved by the user pressing specially-designated keys in conjunction with a special music area in the score that contains the rhythms that are needed control the performance. Users may create or edit the special music area to fit their own needs. Thus, this feature enables intuitive control over tempo in real time, for any trained musician, without requiring keyboard proficiency or expertise in sequencer equipment.
• each keypress immediately initiates the next "event.” If a keypress is early, the performance skips over any intervening musical events; if a keypress is late, the performance waits, with any notes on, for the next event. This allows absolute user control over tempo on an event-by-event basis.
• keypresses do not disturb the ongoing flow of music, but have a cumulative effect on tempo over a succession of several events.
• Special controls also support repeated and "vamp until ready" passages, and provide easy transition from user control to automatic internal clock control (and vice versa) during playback.
• Some additional features of the performance generator include the incorporation of all rubato interpretations built into the musical score within the tempo fluctuations created by user keypresses and a music control staff area that allows the user to set up the exact controlling rhythms in advance. This allows variations between beats and beat subdivisions, as needed.
• the timing information may come from data recorded during a previous user-controlled session.
• the timing of all user-keystrokes in the original session is stored for subsequent use as an automatic triggering control that renders an identically-timed performance.
• the software synthesizer responds to commands from the performance generator. It first creates digital data for acoustical playback, drawing on a library of digital sound samples.
• the sound sample library is a comprehensive collection of digital recordings of individual pitches (single notes) played by orchestral and other acoustical instruments. These sounds are recorded and constitute the "raw" material used to create the musical performances.
• the protocol for these preconfigured sampled musical sounds is automatically derived from the notation itself, and includes use of different attacks, releases, performance techniques and dynamic shaping for individual notes, depending on musical context.
• the synthesizer then forwards the digital data to a direct memory access buffer shared by the computer sound card.
• the sound card converts the digital information into analog sound that may be output in stereo or quadraphonic, or orchestral seating mode.
• the present invention does not require audio playback in order to create a WAVE or MP3 sound file. Rather, WAVE or MP3 sound files may be saved directly to disk.
• the present invention also applies a set of processing filters and mixers to the digitally recorded musical samples stored as instrument files in response to commands in the performance generation code.
• Individual samples and fixed pitch parameters are "activated” through reception of note-on commands, and are “deactivated” by note-off commands, or by completing the digital content of non-looped samples.
• each active sample is first processed by a pitch filter, then by a volume filter.
• the filter parameters are unique to each active sample, and include fixed patch parameters and variable pitchbend and volume changes stemming from incoming channel and individual-note commands or through application of special preset algorithmic parameter controls.
• the output of the volume filter is then sent to panning mixers, where it is processed for panning and mixed with the output of other active samples.
• the resulting mix is sent to a maximum of three auxiliary buffers, and then forwarded to the sound card.
• the synthesizer of the present invention is capable of supporting four separate channels for the purpose of generating in surround sound format and six separate channel outputs for the purpose of emulating instrument placement in specific seating arrangements for large ensembles, unlike prior art systems.
• the synthesizer also supports an "active" score playback mode, in which an auxiliary buffer is maintained, and the synthesizer receives timing information for each event well in advance of each event.
• the instrument buffers are dynamically created in response to instrument change commands in the performance generation code. This feature enables the buffer to be ready ahead of time, and therefore reduces latency.
• the synthesizer also includes an automatic crossfading feature that is used to achieve a legato connection between consecutive notes in the same voice. Legato crossfading is determined by the compiler from information in the score.
• the present invention integrates music notation technology with a unique performance generation code and a synthesizer pre-loaded with musical instrument files to provide realistic playback of music scores.
• the user is able to generate and playback scores without the need of separate synthesizers, mixers, and other equipment.

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

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Citations (4)

• 2003
  • 2003-06-11 EP EP06019062A patent/EP1752964A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (4)

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