Music – Instruments – Electrical musical tone generation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-03
2001-01-23
Donels, Jeffrey (Department: 2837)
Music
Instruments
Electrical musical tone generation
C084S634000, C084S649000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06177624
ABSTRACT:
The present invention generally relates to a music arrangement apparatus or performance information converting apparatus and a computer readable medium recording a performance information conversion control program, which are suitable for automatically playing performance information associated with an automatic pattern while changing music tone elements or components such as a sounding timing, a gate time or duration, and a velocity.
Conventionally, the performance information converting techniques of the above-mentioned type are applied to automatic backing or accompaniment and automatic performance. One example is an automatic backing apparatus. In this apparatus, music data is read from automatic backing pattern data stored in a memory, and elements or components of this music data such as sounding timing, gate time (sound sustaining time), and velocity (or volume) are changed. On the basis of these changed elements, automatic backing sounds are generated. This operation provides a backing or accompaniment having a different atmosphere from that obtained by directly reproducing original music pattern data as it is. In a simple technique, the music performance is executed based only on the music pattern data, hence only monotonous performance determined by the music pattern data is reproduced. On the other hand, in the above-mentioned technique, performance information conversion or music arrangement is made to add or introduce a subtle drive or a sense of groove (or musician-unique mannerisms) to the reproduced performance.
Change information or arrangement data used for changing music tone elements has generally a length comparable to the backing pattern data, for example two measures. Further, the change information contains the arrangement data for specifying variables such as sounding timing, gate time, and velocity except for pitch. The arrangement data is read sequentially in step by step along with the reading of the music data from music pattern data. Each music element is changed or modified according to the arrangement data. This change information can be created and edited as required by the user. However, the melody of the music cannot be arranged.
However, with the conventional automatic backing apparatus, the change information can be edited only when the music performance is in the stopped state. The change information is edited in a so-called step manner such that each value of the arrangement data of the change information is displayed on an indicator or monitor, and the displayed value is incremented or decremented by operating a switch or a numeric key.
During the music performance, the change information selected at the start of the performance is used repeatedly, so that the same music performance repeats every predetermined length, resulting in lack of variety and therefore resulting in a monotonous performance. It should be noted that the monotonousness due to repetition could be resolved by creating a relatively long span of the change information but at the expenses of time and labor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wide variety of musical performance with a simple operation in a performance information converting apparatus or music arrangement apparatus by varying time-series of the components of the music data constituting performance information on the basis of time-series of the arrangement data constituting change information.
In carrying out the invention and according to one aspect thereof, there is provided a music arrangement apparatus comprising a music data block that provides a time-series of music data which can be sequentially processed to produce a music performance, an arrangement data block that provides a time-series of arrangement data in correspondence to the time-series of the music data, and a modifying block that modifies at least the pitch component of the music data according to the arrangement data so as to arrange at least a melody of the music performance.
According to the music arrangement apparatus constituted as above, the pitch component may be changed in the same manner as other components so as tempo, rhythm, volume and duration of tones, such that a melody itself included in the performance information may be changed, and a sense of groove based on the pitch change may be obtained. Consequently, the novel constitution allows the user to make a wide variety of music performance with a simple operation.
In carrying out the invention and according to another aspect thereof, there is provided a music arrangement apparatus comprising a music data block that provides a time-series of music data which contains at least a pitch component and which can be sequentially processed to produce a music performance, an arrangement data block that provides a time-series of arrangement data in correspondence to the time-series of the music data, the arrangement data being divided into a sequence of segments, a modifying block that modifies the music data according to the arrangement data so as to arrange the music performance, a selecting block that selects one or more of the segments of the arrangement data, and a setting block that sets the selected segment of the arrangement data.
According to the music arrangement apparatus constituted as above, any segment may be specified by the segment selecting block, and the arrangement data of the specified segment may be set by the arrangement data setting block. Consequently, the novel constitution allows the user to simply set the arrangement data of any segment, thereby producing a wide variety performance with a simple operation.
Preferably, in the music arrangement apparatus, the selecting block can select a group of consecutive segments at once. By such a manner, a plurality of segments may be simultaneously specified, thereby allowing the user to make a wider variety of performance with a simple operation.
Preferably, the music arrangement apparatus further comprises a display block that displays the selected group of the consecutive segments such as to enable the setting block to visually edit and set the arrangement data. Therefore, the setting state of the specified segments of the arrangement data may be displayed for easier operation.
Preferably, the music arrangement apparatus further comprises a generating block that sequentially processes the modified music data so as to generate a sound of the music performance. In such a case, the setting block can be manually operated even during the generating of the sound for editing the arrangement data so that the melody of the music performance is instantly rearranged during the generating of the sound. By such a manner, the sound elements may be changed real-time in the performance reproduction based on the arrangement data of the performance information, thereby allowing the user to make a wider variety of the music performance.
In carrying out the invention and according to yet another aspect thereof, there is provided a computer readable medium for use in a computer having a central processor and a memory. The medium contains program instructions executable by the central processor for causing the computer to perform a music arrangement process. The music arrangement process comprises the steps of preparing a time-series of music data in the memory, the music data being composed of at least, a pitch component and being sequentially processable to produce a music performance, preparing a time-series of arrangement data in correspondence to the time-series of the music data, and modifying at least the pitch component of the music data according to the arrangement data so as to arrange at least a melody of the music performance. Executing such a performance information conversion control program provides the same effects as those provided by the music arrangement apparatus.
In carrying out the invention and according to a different aspect thereof, there is provided a computer readable medium for use in a computer having a central processor and a memory. The medium contains
Ito Yoshihisa
Takahashi Makoto
Donels Jeffrey
Morrison & Foerster
Yamaha Corporation
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