FR3008218A1 - "BOX OF SOUNDS" OPTICAL INTERACTIVE ITS ASSOCIATED SOLFEGE AND ITS SOCIAL NETWORK - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for learning and musical dialogue. This music box has a sound synthesizer (1.1) that does not read a sequence of signals in memory. He receives it from a rewritable drum (1.3) thanks to optical sensors (1.2) that trigger his internal sounds. This device is characterized in that it unleashes the potential of the traditional music box by associating it with new technologies. One of the innovations is to "release the sequence" of the digital world of the synthesizer and the rotating drum of the music box in order to put it in the mechanical world to allow its modification by the user. The interactive optical music box device is characterized by an optical signal flow which is combined with other more conventional streams and in that the user can mechanically intervene on these combined sound streams.

Description

This invention relates to a device for learning and musical dialogue made possible by the combination of the qualities of the classical music box and the sound synthesizer.

The classical music box is an automaton that reads a sequence of sounds. But the series of notes is frozen because it is engraved in the metal of the spikes of the rotating drum, the sounds are identical in duration, volume, timbre. The range is limited by the number of blades of the musical comb. The sequencer / synthesizer has the flexibility of sequences, nuances, note pitches and timbres. But the series of notes are "locked up" and frozen in the electronic box. You can not change the sequence of sounds from the outside. FIG. 1 of plate 1/5 shows that this music box is a sound synthesizer (1.1) which does not read sequences of signals stored digitally in its memory, but which reads them receives from a rewritable drum (1.3). ). Thanks to a series of optical sensors (1.2), the optical signals are converted by an electronic card and the internal sounds of the synthesizer are thus triggered and controlled. Like any synthesizer, the interactive optical music box makes it possible to assign and parameterize all types of sound at will on each of the channels connected to an optical sensor. FR27777107-A1 entitled "Optoelectronic Instrument of Music Interpretation" makes use of light rays that the user interrupts with a rod to produce a sound. One could consider that the signals that pass in front of the sensors do the same thing. This is not the case, since this is an automaton. In addition, this principle of sound generation is not part of its claims for the simple reason that it is already described in the patents WO8702168A1 and DE3436703A, both of which have passed into the public domain today.

The optical and interactive music box is characterized by its ability to unleash the potential of the traditional music box by combining it with new technologies. The section of the Figures demonstrates this with the aid of 5 boards: Plate 1/5: Overall diagram with drum (Fig. 1) Overall diagram with screen (Fig. 2) Plate 2/5: Global diagram with all entries and outputs (Fig.3) Plate 3/5: Signal generator: Drum, punched cards, screen (Fig. 4, 5,6) Plate 4/5: Signal processing (Fig. 7) Plate 5/5: Sheet music ( Fig. 8, 9, 10, 11) As explained in the next paragraphs, by its use, the sound sequence becomes flexible, modifiable, the piloted notes become richer, more varied. The sequence of the sounds becomes flexible: The first innovation is to leave the "sequence" of the digital world of the synthesizer and to also take it out of the rotating drum of the music box to put it in the mechanical world and to allow its modification at will by the 'user. An alternation of spots that contrast with the background will be the new type of partition. This editable partition that solicits the sensors, can be a sheet of paper glued to a drum (1.3) or any screen (re) programmable by the computer that scrolls contrasting signals. The modification of the score is done using a pencil and an eraser, (an ink and its solvent) if we solicit the optical sensors with a rewritable medium, or by programming if we solicit with a bright screen. The sequence of sounds has been released compared to a classical music box. The sequence of sounds of the rotating drum can be enriched: The interactive optical music box device is characterized in that this new optical signal flow that triggers sounds, will be combined with other more conventional streams (Midi, drum machine sensors, Smart Device, Wifi) and that the user can intervene mechanically on this new flow on the one hand, but also on the resultant of all the combined flows.

The note emitted becomes richer: The note of the classic music box is frozen in outfit, the sound blade always gives an identical note in duration and volume. Thanks to optical sensors, the shape of the detected spot gives indications of duration and intensity. The note issued becomes more varied. The note of the music box is fixed in timbre. From now on, the sounds assigned to each of the sensors are interchangeable thanks to the synthesizer part. The note of the music box is frozen in tessitura (because the series of blades is limited). Optics and electronics can make these limitations disappear. The sounds assigned to the channels are rechargeable at will by the user using "presets" (series of sounds assigned to the sensors for a variable time). The same sensor can therefore alternately control a bell, saxophone, voice or any other nature, depending on the selected preset. The melody of the music box becomes dissociable. You can divide the music into a track specific to an instrument or a desk, as a Sequencer does but the device allows - in addition to "silence" a track by a mechanical action upstream of the optical sensor (between the sensor and the partition ) OR downstream (between the sensor and the electronic board), by a switch.

Musical dialogue (jam session): Thanks to this possibility of mechanical intervention on the sequence of each track, this device allows the beginner without musical training other than his natural rhythm to solicit by musical phrases a confirmed musician playing his instrument. It is enough for the beginner to "hide" and "show" the sounds of the track intermittently, or even to add notes of the sound controlled on the chosen track, using a Pad rhythm drum classic. A new type of music theory: Some basic parameters of the MIDI protocol qualifying a sound, are translated into "graphic form" on paper, a form that is recognized by the sensor and translated by the electronic card. This graphic codification opens the voice to a new type of music theory. The device is characterized by its flexibility of coding music information on the different channels. Depending on the sensitivity of the sensor, as shown in the figures of Plate 5, transverse velocity partitions can be obtained (Fig. 8 of Plate 5/5) for which 4 channels play the same instrument at varying volumes of sound. Conversely, one can have partitions with integrated velocity (Figures 9 to 11 of the board 5/5) for which 4 channels play 4 different instruments with variable volumes of volumes during variable durations since the spots which solicit the sensors are more or less wide and long.

A social network: These new partitions allow the greatest number of people to express themselves without having any notion of traditional music theory. We use his sense of rhythm and basic geometry to translate the rhythm into distance and the volume into a spot size. When all these musicians begin to produce "geometric partitions" for this or that preset and this or that type of sensor, it will be necessary that it is possible to share the work of each on the Internet, to enrich it, to sell it or to offer it. This device is the source of a community of exchange type social network, kind of Facebook musical (GrooveBook?).

An open system: This new "sound box" does not read sequences of internal sounds, but receives them from outside a series of different sources (El to E4, E6 and E7 in Fig.3 of the board 2/5). The signals come from: A series of optical sensors (El) Novelty & Innovation From a Midi input (E2) Standard From a Smart device input (E3) New & Innovation From a Wifi input (or other wireless protocol) (E4) Novelty & Innovation From an XLR (wired audio) (E5) Standard From a digital input (USB, Firewire, Wii, ..) (E6) Standard From a keyboard on which you can type in rhythm (E7) ) Standard of an internal microphone (E8) Standard Figure 3 of the board 2/5 presents the device with all of its sources (E1 to E8) and its outputs (S1 to S7) according to the invention.

The device consists of a series of 1 to 64 optical sensors, connected to as many input channels on an electronic box. At the entrance of the channel, the signal is intercepted by a 3-level keyboard (see the upper part of 1-1 of Fig.1 of plate 1/5) which acts as a switch. The signal, if not filtered, is then combined with other sources requesting the same channel, digitally converted to sound, and finally mixed with the sounds of the other channels before being transmitted to an audio output (S1, S5 and S7) and / or digital (S2, S3, S4 and S6). The features of the device will be based on a range of more or less sophisticated products. In its most complete version, the outputs are: An internal speaker (S1) Standard A Midi output (S2) Standard A Smart Device output (S3) Standard A Wifi output (or other wireless protocol) (S4) New & Innovation An XLR (wired audio) (S5) output Standard A digital output (USB, FireWire, Wii, ..) (S6) Standard A mini jack for a headphone or a sound system (S7) Standard Inputs by optical sensors (El): The characteristics of an interactive optical music box model are related to the quality of the sensors used. In a basic version, all types of partitions will not be exploitable. Several sources are used to scroll the signals that excite the sensors. These sources (see Plate 3/5: rewritable rotary drum (Fig. 4), punched cards connected in a chain (Fig. 5), computer screen or smart device (Fig. 6)) scroll excitation signals (holes, or colored spots). It is the contrast of the signals with their support (whatever their nature) which excites the optical sensors. Any type of screen (computer monitor, smartphone screen, lpad or television ...) can be the source of the scrolling contrasting spots that excite these optical sensors.

Upon receiving the digitally converted optical signal, the card interactively generates a sound (associated with each sensor). The number of sensors is variable from 1 to 64 (1 in the case of a camera equipped with a signal processing module).

Inputs filtered by the top keyboard: In the upper part of the case 1.1 of FIG. 1 of plate 1/5, a "hierarchical 3-level" keyboard makes it possible to filter the flow of the signals emitted by one or a series of optical sensors. By alternately pressing one of its keys, the rate received by the sensors is inhibited or not. In the lower part of the case 1.1 of FIG. 1 of plate 1 [5, a second keyboard makes it possible, on the contrary, to add signals manually to the stream coming from the optical sensors by tapping on a "pad" associated with each of the channels. We tap this "Pad" with the finger (as shown in (E7) of Fig1 of the plate 1/5) or we fit on each channel a drum machine pad that is struck with chopsticks. Midi inputs (E2): The MIDI input allows adding a stream (from a sequencer or any Midi instrument) to one or more channels of the device. Smart Device Inputs: Thanks to an interface software and to one of the connections (physical on the box (E3 and E6) or Wifi (E4)), these inputs make it possible to add flows (with their own protocol) to one or several channels of the device. Microphone input (internal (E8) or via XLR pin (E5)): Customizable preset sounds are dynamically modified by the user. A microphone can record any sound desired by the user for each channel of these presets. Usage example 1: Discovery and Session Jam. In FIG. 1, the user chooses a graphic partition that it scrolls in front of the optical sensors using a rotating drum. In FIG. 2, the user chooses a digital partition that it scrolls in front of the optical sensors using a computer screen. A child or a novice musician can have fun hiding "musical sequences" by pressing the relative channel buttons that he wants to hear or not. It generates questions that a musician can answer with his instrument or with another "sound box". It redirects signals from optical sensors to its digital outputs to power a MIDI instrument or a Smart Device that will emit their own sounds. He taps on his "pads" to add signals to those emitted by the optical sensors. It can remove the sound that comes from the optical sensor of a channel and make the signal instead of it (learning by repetition). He received a digital stream through its Midi and Smart Device inputs to trigger its internal sounds. The sounds coming from the optical sensors are synchronized with the sounds received from other interfaces thanks to the Midi protocol. The user adapts a "pad" on each of the hand-held sensors and strikes them as on an electronic xylophone. This innovation makes music accessible to children who have no access to solfeggio or electronics (see new simplified scores in Fig. 8, 9, 10, 11). It is also an instrument of communication with and for the third world. Example of use 2: Geographic distribution of differentiated alarms. The device allows a simultaneity of standardized tasks for the improvement of the quality of a customer service. This accomplishes a faster execution of tasks and a reduction of the customer's expectations.

For example, if a deliveryman passes a Loto-style "grid" (which he manually checked) in front of the sensor series, simultaneously, a siren is triggered in the warehouse, harp notes are played in the accounts , 5 melodies are triggered at the logistics for the 5 packages that will be put in stock, and the names of the 5 handlers are called in their respective departments. Example of use 3: Musical learning by listening. In addition to the "jam session" aspect described above, we can learn by ear as follows: Discovery of increasingly rich jazz chords (9, 11 th, 13 th, 5+, etc ...) Progressive discovery and disassociated instruments in polyrhythmic music (salsa, samba, reggae, rai, African music ...), Tuning arrangements of a section of brass (for example), we scroll notes slowly putting hand on the drum. The tempo drops but not the pitch of the note. Education of the ear by the discovery of classical music dissociated in desks (violins, violas, cellos, double basses, reeds, brass, ...). We can imagine that we pilot a work of Beethoven by introducing progressively instrument desks as on Ravel bolero. We can imagine that we dissociate the 2 hands of a work for Bach's Piano and we work one hand while the device plays the other. Example of use 4: Sound editing workshop for the cinema. Interactively additional sounds and music can be triggered on the initial shot of the shoot.

Example of use 5: Help for the professional insertion of the visually impaired: The device emits complex personalized sound messages thanks to specific cards. By the exploitation of coded personal data (Big Data), a series of sounds will inform a bad sight that the young person who just sat in front of him, weighs 58 kg, measures 1,70m, that it has a bac +5, and ... she is visually impaired like him. Example of use 6: Help with mutes: Recording of sequences programmed by a wizard, then interactive reproduction in situation. Ex: "I do not agree with what has just been said, I need my slate", "What can I do to help you? »Example of use 7: Repeater of rengaines. We record and return on the fly repetitive sounds or phrases. "Family" version: Broadcast messages throughout the house "At table !! "Disk jokey" version: "ambient jingles" or by a manual drum movement forward and backward a sound is produced normally then upside down alternately (as a DJ does on a turntable).

"SNCF" version: Standard announcements (train or safety) by reading dedicated maps. Functional presentation of the capture and interpretation of signals. The sensor is able to detect the contrast of a "dark spot on a light background" (or the reverse) and generate a resulting analog signal. In the case of a sensitive sensor, the darker the line, the stronger the note is played. In FIG. 7 of the 4/5 board, we observe an example of more or less wide and long spots that cause analog signals interpreted by the electronic card in a differentiated manner. In the case of a sensor capable of detecting 4 line widths A, B, C and D (in ascending order), the output of the sensor requested by such a signal is: A - 3B - D - C - A - 5C. For a preset with built-in velocity, the same note will be played 6 times, the first time pianissimo, the second time piano three times longer, the third time fortissimo etc .... Various scrolling mechanisms make it possible to solicit the sensors Fig. 4 of plate 3/5 presents a rewritable drum (made of paper for example). By sticking the score on this rotating drum, we make the following improvements to the classical music box: A) we move the spots, so we change the rhythm. B) we replace everything, so we change the song (by replacing the sheet of paper) C) we vary the volume and the duration of the sound produced by lines less big and long D) we change the preset, to change the stamp of each channel E) the scroll goes forwards or backwards at an electronically or manually adjustable speed. In FIG. 5 of plate 3/5, we see a system of perforated cards connected to a barbaric organ. If a hole replaces the dark spot that solicits the sensor, the result is the same. All music coded in this form can be read by adjusting the optical sensors appropriately. The 5 points A) B) C) D) and E) remain valid but in addition F) the song does not loop anymore, its duration is extended. In FIG. 6 of plate 3/5, we see the screen of a smart phone that uses an application (called "Music Rain" for example) by generating digitally contrasting signals. All the music stored under the MIDI protocol can be transformed by a program into a rain of signals that solicit optical sensors. The points A) B) C) D) E) F) are valid and in addition the modification of the partition is done numerically, and the partitions share by social network and on Internet. The keyboard is broken down by 2 sub-keyboards. The "filter sub-keyboard" of the signal flow from the sensors (at the top of 1.1 of Fig1) has 3 rows of keys, therefore 3 hierarchical levels. The model presented in Fig.1 has only 16 channels instead of 64. First level: The 16 top buttons stop or pass (alternatively) the optical signal flow of the channel to which they are respectively assigned. Second level: The 4 buttons of the 2nd level stop or let the filtered streams of the signals of the 4 channels of the top simultaneously.

The button of the third level is called the "MASTER", it stops or lets pass the filtered streams of signals of the 4 buttons of the 2nd level (that of the 16 channels to their current filtering state).

The user's "insert sub-keyboard" (E7) on the channels (at the bottom of 1.1 of Fig1). Pressing one of its buttons causes the sound of the associated channel to sound. The result would be the same if a black spot passed in front of the optical sensor associated with this channel. Depending on the cost, the longevity, the comfort, the speed of the reaction, one will prefer a "tactile touch" or a "mechanical touch". To summarize, the interactive optical music box device is characterized in that an external stream of optical signals makes it possible to trigger internal sounds, that this stream is combined with other more traditional music data streams (Midi, sensors of drum machine, Smart Device, Wifi) and that the user can intervene mechanically on these different flows.

In addition, the preceding device is characterized in that the signals are generated by a rotating drum, manually moved, by a crank or by a motor. In this case, the signals are rewritable graphically at will. The previous device is also characterized in that the signals are generated by a screen that scrolls through contrasted spots by a computer program. In this case, the signals are rewritable numerically at will. The preceding device is characterized in that the signals are organized to form a new type of solfeggio. The organization of this music theory depends on the sounds programmed on each channel. The claim covers all its possible variants, in particular those presented on the plate 5/5.

The previous device is characterized in that the partitions generated with this new music theory will be put on the Internet, shared, exchanged and improved. This collaboration aims to found a community of "Facebook Musical" type. The optical and interactive music box claims the origin and foundation of this social network.

Claims (7)

REVENDICATIONS1. The interactive optical music box device is characterized in that an external stream of optical signals makes it possible to trigger internal sounds, that this stream is combined with other more conventional musical data streams (Midi, drum machine sensors , Smart Device, Wifi) and that the user can intervene mechanically on these different flows. 2. The device according to claim 1 is characterized in that the signals are generated by a rotary drum, manually moved, by a crank or by a motor. 3. The device according to claim 2 is characterized in that the signals are rewritable graphically at will. 4. The device of claim 1 is characterized in that the signals are generated by a screen that scrolls contrasted spots by a computer program. 5. The device according to claim 4 is characterized in that the signals are rewritable numerically at will. 6. The device according to claim 1 is characterized in that the signals are organized to form a new type of music theory. The organization of this music theory depends on the sounds programmed on each channel. The claim relates to all possible variants, including those shown on the board 5/5. 7. The device according to claim 6 is characterized in that the partitions 20 generated with this new solfège will be put on the Internet, shared, exchanged and improved. This collaboration aims to found a community of "Facebook Musical" type. This claim concerns the origin of this social network.