Music – Instruments – Electrical musical tone generation
Reissue Patent
1997-08-26
2001-02-06
Witkowski, Stanley J. (Department: 2837)
Music
Instruments
Electrical musical tone generation
C084SDIG002
Reissue Patent
active
RE037041
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a voice processor which is capable of producing sound effects by pitch conversion of voices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
By now, there have come into practical use electronic musical instruments so arranged that when a monotone melody is played, additional harmonic tones are automatically generated for simplifying the playing thereof. Also, there have been devices practically available which are adapted to convert the pitch of a voice to be generated for its output to thereby increase special impression of tones as well as entertaining features thereof.
However, in such electronic musical instruments adapted to generate additional tones in connection with a monotone melody as above, only a separate tone generator for additional tones is provided in addition to a tone generator (tone waveform shaping circuit) for melodies.
Moreover, a conventional device adapted to automatically make pitch conversion for its output has been arranged only such that an input voice is simply transposed up or down by a specified interval (5th above, 3rd below, etc.). Thus, to its disadvantages, the device would result in noticeable monotonous performance when used for a long melody or in a dissonance due to exclusion of harmony with chords when a chord is generated in addition to a melody tone.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a voice processor which has overcome the foregoing problems by being adapted to convert the pitch of an input voice according to a chord input.
A voice processor of the present invention comprises: voice input means for inputting a voice signal having a pitch; chord information input means for inputting chord information; pitch conversion means for converting an input voice signal inputted from the voice input means into a pitch-converted voice signal having a pitch different from the pitch of the input voice signal according to chord information inputted from the chord information input means and for outputting the pitch-converted voice signal.
According to the voice processor of the invention, a voice is input through the voice input means, which may be given by a microphone, a line input device, or the like. Chord information is input through the chord information input means. The chord information is such information that includes the types of chords (e.g. major, minor, seventh) and roots. This chord information input means may be given by a real-time playing instrument (e.g. keyboard), a chord sequencer that can previously store chordal progression, or the like.
The pitch of a voice input through the voice input means is converted into a pitch according to the chord information input through the chord information input means.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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Bushida Takeshi
Koyama Hirohisa
Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP
Witkowski Stanley J.
Yamaha Corporation
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