Patent Grant
7982118
This specification relates to the input or editing of musical data.
Digital audio data can include audio data in different digital audio tracks. Tracks are typically distinct audio files. Tracks can be generated mechanically (e.g., using a software application to enter individual notes on a visual representation of a musical instrument), or synthesized. A user can use, for example, a digital keyboard, a MIDI sequencer, a synthesizer, or a digital sampler as an input device. Audio data can represent musical sounds (e.g., notes on a piano).
Audio data can be displayed in various visual representations. For example, a piano roll editor (or MIDI key editor), shows a representation of musical notes (e.g., highlighted boxes) in the time-domain (e.g., a graphical display with time on the x-axis and piano keyboard octave indications on the y-axis). Musical notes are graphically represented in the piano roll editor as they are entered by the user or the system (e.g., using a MIDI instrument, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, or any other peripheral device for entering musical data). Tracks can be played and analyzed alone or in combination with other tracks. Additionally, audio data would require correction when the notes are entered incorrectly by the user.
The subject matter described in this specification can be implemented to provide methods, systems, and apparatus operable to adjust music data input according to a selected key and type of scale to yield musical composition data that in general is harmonically pleasing and consistent.
Particular embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented so as to realize one or more of the following advantages. Notes entered into the system, e.g., as incoming MIDI note data, are automatically adjusted to conform to a specified key and scale. Adjusting note data input to a specified key and scale allows a novice composer to create music without extensive knowledge of music theory (e.g., keys and scales). The automatic adjustment of note data to conform to an unfamiliar specified key and scale (e.g., D Major), designated for a certain period of time (e.g., four measures), allows a novice musician to play in a familiar key (e.g., C) and kind of scale (e.g., Major), while the system automatically adjusts the incoming MIDI note data into the non-familiar key. Additionally, MIDI note data may be automatically adjusted (e.g., transposed), between both scales and keys, allowing the user to switch a composition in a major key into a composition in a minor key. The automatic adjustment between scales and keys can be used to create consistent harmonic transpositions. Additional adjustments to the composition may be made manually after any automatic adjustments have taken place, allowing the user the freedom to create harmonically pleasing musical compositions. Music input by a user can be constrained to be in a selected key and kind of scale while maintaining the rhythmic features of the music.
The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.
A musical scale is a series of single notes progressing up or down stepwise, where the first note and the last note (the primary notes) are similar notes separated by an ordered series of musical intervals (e.g., an octave, or twelve semi-tones), which, along with the key or tonic, define the pitches. The smallest distance (or interval) between two notes in a scale is the semi-tome (or half-step). An interval consisting of two semi-tones is equivalent to a whole tone (or whole step).
The distances between each pair of notes in a scale is predetermined based on both the key and the type of scale being used. The key is the implied adherence, in any passage, to the note-material of any given type of scale, (e.g., major, minor, pentatonic, etc.) where one note is recognized as the controlling note, key-note, or tonic. Thus, a note is “in-scale” when the note is in a selected key (e.g., C) and a selected type of scale (e.g., Major). Some keys and types of scales are easier to remember and adhere to based on the number of accidentals (i.e., sharps and flats) that are in the key signature. For example, in the key of C Major, there are no sharps (e.g., notes which have to be adjusted up a semi-tone) or flats (e.g., notes which have to be adjusted down a semi-tone). In C Major, C is tonic, and the “in-scale” musical notes in a C Major scale are C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, where the intervals (/=semi-tone and /\=whole-tone) between the notes are C/\D/\E/F/\G/\A/\B/C. In contrast, the “in-scale” musical notes in a c natural minor scale include three flat notes. The in-scale musical notes in a c natural minor scale are C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, where the intervals between the notes are C/\D/Eb/\F/\G/Ab/\B/\C.
In addition to receiving 110 a selection of a musical scale (e.g., a selection of both a key and a type of scale), the system additionally receives 120 a selection of one or more musical notes from a universe of musical notes (e.g., any musical note pitches capable of being created in any way). In some implementations, the selection of musical notes is entered in real-time (e.g., as they are played) using a MIDI (Musical Instrument Data Interface) enabled electronic instrument. In other implementations, the user may enter musical notes using a graphic interface or on-screen virtual piano keyboard (e.g., a MIDI key editor or piano roll editor) like the one shown in
The correction of notes occurs automatically 140 when the user enables a “snap to scale” 280 feature. Snap to scale 280, when enabled, compares each note 270 to the selected key 220 and type of scale 230 to determine if the musical note is in the selected key 220 and type of scale 230. If not, the note 270 is adjusted to a nearest in-scale note. In the event two correct musical notes are an equivalent distance (interval) from the entered musical note, the higher note is selected as the correct musical note. In some implementations, the lower note is selected. In some implementations, whether to select the higher or lower note is a configuration or user-selectable option.
Once the entered musical note 270 has been replaced by the correct musical note, the correct musical note is recorded 150 (e.g., for subsequent playback).
The graphic representation of each musical note has corresponding audio musical data, and changes to the graphic representation of the musical note automatically changes the corresponding audio musical data accordingly.
In some implementations, the interval distance a note will be moved is selected first, and then the note is compared to the selected key and type of scale to determine 350 if a correction is necessary. For example, the tonic note of the selected group of notes in the first key and Major scale may be moved to the tonic note of the second key and Major scale, thus preserving the melody as a straight transposition. Additionally, the tonic note of the selected group of notes in the first key and Major scale may be moved to the tonic note of the second key and minor scale, creating an alternative and minor version of the original melody. Additionally, the tonic note of the selected group of notes in the first key and Major scale may be move to any note in the second key and scale, possibly creating a completely distorted (and perhaps unrecognizable version) of the original melody. By this method, complete melodies may be changed (e.g., for use as an alternative dissonant melody in the scary part of a video game).
With the snap to scale function enabled, e.g., by selecting icon 450, for each selected musical note 210, the move defines a new note 410. If the new note is valid for the selected musical key 430 and type of scale 440, the system records 355 the new note. If not, the new note is automatically corrected 360 to a nearest valid note as described above, and recorded 370 (e.g., for subsequent playback).
With the snap to scale function enabled, e.g., by selecting icon 750, as the musical notes are selected 630 or entered (e.g., on a piano keyboard or other device), the entered musical notes automatically become corrected musical notes according to the designated key and type of scale 710-740 for the time period in or for which the musical notes were entered, as described above, the system compares each musical note as it is entered, to the key and type of scale 710-740 for that time period to determine 640 if the value of the musical note is valid or correct (e.g., conforms to the selected key and type of scale 710-740 parameters). If the entered musical note is in-scale (e.g., conforms to the selected key and type of scale 710-740 parameters), the system records 645 the musical note. If not, the musical note is automatically corrected 650 to (or replaced by) a nearest in-scale note in the manner described above. Once the moved musical note has been replaced by the corrected musical note, the corrected musical note is recorded 660 (e.g., for subsequent playback).
Thus, in some implementations, a user could enter musical notes into a musical keyboard in a simple scale (e.g., C Major), and the entered musical notes would automatically be adjusted according to the selected scale (e.g., F Major) without any additional user input or knowledge of music theory. Additionally, any incorrect (non-harmonic) note entered by a user would be automatically adjusted to a correct (harmonic) note without requiring any further user interaction with the system. Thus, the user would be able to have a completely harmonically correct recording of every performance.
Embodiments of the subject matter and the functional operations described in this specification can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structures disclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. Embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented as one or more computer program products, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions encoded on a tangible program carrier for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus. The tangible program carrier can be a propagated signal or a computer-readable medium. The propagated signal is an artificially generated signal, e.g., a machine-generated electrical, optical, or electromagnetic signal, that is generated to encode information for transmission to suitable receiver apparatus for execution by a computer. The computer-readable medium can be a machine-readable storage device, a machine-readable storage substrate, a memory device, a composition of matter effecting a machine-readable propagated signal, or a combination of one or more of them.
The term “data processing apparatus” encompasses all apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including by way of example a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple processors or computers. The apparatus can include, in addition to hardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computer program in question, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, or a combination of one or more of them.
A computer program (also known as a program, software, software application, script, or code) can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, or declarative or procedural languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program does not necessarily correspond to a file in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in a markup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more modules, sub-programs, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers that are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.
The processes and logic flows described in this specification can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to perform functions by operating on input data and generating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performed by, and apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit).
Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for performing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks. However, a computer need not have such devices. Moreover, a computer can be embedded in another device, e.g., a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile audio or video player, a game console, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, to name just a few.
Computer-readable media suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, media and memory devices, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.
To provide for interaction with a user, embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse, a trackball or a musical instrument, by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.
Embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented in a computing system that includes a back-end component, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, e.g., an application server, or that includes a front-end component, e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an implementation of the subject matter described is this specification, or any combination of one or more such back-end, middleware, or front-end components. The components of the system can be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication, e.g., a communication network. Examples of communication networks include a local area network (“LAN”) and a wide area network (“WAN”), e.g., the Internet.
The computing system can include clients and servers. A client and server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other.
While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any invention or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments of particular inventions. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the embodiments described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all embodiments, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.
Particular embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification have been described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. For example, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. As one example, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.
This application claims priority to pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/970,528, filed Sep. 6, 2007, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3986422 | Coles | Oct 1976 | A |
| 5129303 | Coles | Jul 1992 | A |
| 5430244 | Ruffcorn et al. | Jul 1995 | A |
| 5495786 | Choi | Mar 1996 | A |
| 5501130 | Gannon et al. | Mar 1996 | A |
| 5502274 | Hotz | Mar 1996 | A |
| 5841053 | Johnson et al. | Nov 1998 | A |
| 6175069 | Longacre | Jan 2001 | B1 |
| 6204441 | Asahi et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
| 6327367 | Vercoe et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
| 6372973 | Schneider | Apr 2002 | B1 |
| 6388181 | Moe | May 2002 | B2 |
| 6448486 | Shinsky | Sep 2002 | B1 |
| 7053291 | Villa | May 2006 | B1 |
| 20030110924 | Miyamoto | Jun 2003 | A1 |
| 20030117400 | Steinberg et al. | Jun 2003 | A1 |
| 20060027080 | Schultz | Feb 2006 | A1 |
| 20060037458 | Guinness | Feb 2006 | A1 |
| 20080236366 | Van Os et al. | Oct 2008 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60970528 | Sep 2007 | US |
