Music – Instruments – Electrical musical tone generation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-18
2001-09-11
Witkowski, Stanley J. (Department: 2837)
Music
Instruments
Electrical musical tone generation
C084S47700R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06288318
ABSTRACT:
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §§119 and/or 365 to 991178.0 filed in United Kingdom on May 20, 1999; the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
This invention relates to an apparatus for and a method of processing analogue audio signals and, in particular, such an apparatus for and a method of receiving external analogue audio signals, processing such signals and subsequently outputting the processed signals in the form of sound and/or visual representations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
People who are fond of singing may also wish to compose songs, whether for themselves or others. However, for people not trained in singing, the notes which they sing may not be in the correct pitch. There are existing equipment, e.g. cassette tape recorders, which allows a user to input audio signals (sound) to a cassette tape by singing into a microphone connected to the cassette tape recorder. However, the song reproduced by the cassette tape recorder is intended to be the same as the one recorded. If, therefore, the singer does not sing to the correct pitch such will be clearly reflected when reproduced by the cassette tape recorder. In addition, for people not trained in musical theory, they may not know how to correctly represent what they are singing.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for and a method of processing analogue audio signals to cater for the aforesaid shortcomings, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the public.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for and method of processing analogue audio signals in which the outputted audio analogue signals correspond to the respectively correct pitch.
It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for and method of processing analogue audio signals in which the outputted analogue audio signals are visually represented, so as to allow the user to represent the inputted song in written form.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for processing at least one analogue audio signal, including means for receiving a first analogue audio signal, means for converting said first analogue signal into a first digital signal, means for comparing said first digital signal with data representing musical notes, means for selecting a datum representing a reference musical note from said data representing musical notes on the basis of result of comparing said first digital signal with said data representing musical notes, means for converting said datum into a second analogue audio signal, means for outputting said second analogue audio signal, and means for visually representing said second analogue audio signal.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of processing at least one analogue audio signal, including the steps of (a) receiving a first analogue audio signal; (b) converting said first analogue audio signal into a first digital signal; (c) comparing said first digital signal with data representing musical notes; (d) selecting a datum representing a reference musical note from said data representing musical notes on the basis of result of comparing said first digital signal with said data representing musical notes; (e) converting said datum into a second analogue audio signal, (f) outputting said second analogue audio signal, and (g) visually representing said second analogue audio signal.
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Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis L.L.P.
Witkowski Stanley J.
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