Music – Instruments – Electrical musical tone generation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-21
2001-01-16
Donels, Jeffrey (Department: 2837)
Music
Instruments
Electrical musical tone generation
C084S645000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175071
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a performance data processing system and, more specifically, to a performance data processing system for effectively using auxiliary text data or character string information included in performance data.
2. Description of Related Art
Known performance data processing apparatuses such as electronic musical instruments, music sequencers, and rhythm machines have such common formats for sound source specification as GM (General MIDI) and XG (extended GM), and may treat automatic performance data formats such as SMF (Standard MIDI File) and DOC (Disk Orchestra). In addition, each particular model has its own unique data sequence format, sound source format, registration data (panel setting data) format, and timbre data format.
In automatic performance, when specifying a type of a sound source format used to reproduce performance data, it is necessary to provisionally embed in the performance data a “GM on” message for the specification of GM system sound source or an “XG on” message for the specification of XG system sound source as an exclusive message code (a data sequence defined by MIDI). When these messages included in the automatic performance data are reproduced and sent to a tone generator of a sound source, the tone generator is made ready for a sound generation mode based on the specified sound source system.
For local formats unique to various commercial products of music players, their exclusive message codes are also provisionally specified in terms of MIDI data sequences. These MIDI data sequences are included in music performance data to comply with the unique requirements of various commercial products.
However, the above-mentioned model messages in MIDI format and other format specifications for sound sources and so on are not standardized. Therefore, there is no generality in input operations of formats. For example, a message unique to a certain machine model and a GM format message are seldom recorded in the form of MIDI formats. These messages are often omitted from data input or otherwise are erroneously inputted. Consequently, in reproducing the performance data, the same may not be properly treated by a specific model of a music machine having a unique reproduction capability, thereby failing the proper reproduction of music.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a performance data processing apparatus such as an electronic musical instrument, a music keyboard, a music sequencer (including those dedicated to personal computer (PC)), a rhythm machine, and a personal computer having performance data processing capability. This performance data processing apparatus is adapted to interpret performance data and to recognize music control information from auxiliary text data representative of character strings other than music sequence data included in the performance data, the music control information specifying a sound source format, a timbre format, and a product type, for example.
According to the invention, a performance data processing apparatus comprises an input section that inputs performance data containing original music sequence data associated to a music performance and auxiliary text data other than the original music sequence data, a searching section that searches the auxiliary text data to recognize therefrom music control information, and an output section that converts the original music sequence data based on the recognized music control information into final music sequence data effective to reproduce the music performance.
The inventive performance data processing apparatus may further comprises an extracting section that extracts a message code representative of music control information from the original music sequence data. In such a case, the output section converts the original music sequence data based on the extracted message code into the final music sequence data. In a form, the searching section searches the auxiliary text data indicating a source of the inputted performance data so as to recognize the music control information.
In short, the music apparatus having a performance data processing system according to the invention recognizes the music control information from a keyword in the form of character strings such as “GM” other than the music sequence data included in the inputted performance data. On the basis of the music control information represented by the character strings, this system reads the body part or music sequence data part of the performance data, and outputs the reproduced music signal that corresponds to the body part of the performance data. Also, this system can extract music control information in the form of “GM on” message code or else out of the music sequence data included in the inputted performance data. On the basis of the extracted music control information, the system outputs the reproduced music signal. Furthermore, this system can obtain music control information from character strings such as copyright information indicative of a source of the performance data included in the inputted performance data.
This inventive system acquires the music control information indicative of music formats such as sound source specification, model specification, and other music format specifications not only in the direct form of message codes (for example, exclusive MIDI messages) embedded in the music sequence data (a music data part) of the performance data, but also in the indirect form of a keyword denoted by ASCII-based character strings written as comments or else in an auxiliary part outside the music sequence data (for example, in a header part) of the performance data. On the basis of this music control information, this system determines the format of the reproduced music signal. Consequently, even if the format specification message lacks from the music sequence data or contains erroneous information, this system can be adapted to any desired formats.
In the case of music control information dedicated to a specific model of the music performance machines, such information may not be expected for use in reproduction of the performance data by other general models. In such a case, a message code representing the music control information corresponding to that specific model may not be provided in a general data format. However, information such as the name of that model may be included in a comment part or display data part in addition to the music sequence data (music data part) of the performance data. This information can be automatically recognized as the music control information dedicated to that specific model. By use of the automatically recognized control information, the music performance machines of other models can properly treat and process the performance data according to the recognized control information.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5499921 (1996-03-01), Sone
patent: 5542000 (1996-07-01), Semba
patent: 5663515 (1997-09-01), Kato
patent: 5705762 (1998-01-01), Kang et al.
patent: 5739451 (1998-04-01), Winksy et al.
patent: 5765152 (1998-06-01), Erickson
patent: 5808223 (1998-09-01), Kurakake et al.
patent: 5854619 (1998-12-01), Kato
Donels Jeffrey
Morrison & Foerster
Yamaha Corporation
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