Systems and methods for creating, modifying, interacting with and playing musical compositions

• US 20040089139A1
• Filed: 12/18/2002
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medialab Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Medialab Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Georges, Alain, Laurent, Eric, Damevski, Voit
• Granted Patent: US 6,972,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/609
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0025 Automatic or semi-automatic music composition, e.g. producing random music, applying rules from music theory or modifying a musical piece automatically producing a series of tones G10H1/26
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/145 Sound library, i.e. involving the specific use of a musical database as a sound bank or wavetable; indexing, interfacing, protocols or processing therefor

Abstract

A method for playing a song in a handheld device is disclosed. A visual representation for a plurality of musical components is provided. The visual representation includes a plurality of lanes, with each lane corresponding to one of the musical components. User input is received for one or more musical components, and musical characteristics corresponding to the musical components are modified in accordance with the user input. In order to modify musical characteristics corresponding to a particular musical component, the user selects the particular lane corresponding to the particular musical component. A first user input may be received to modify musical characteristics corresponding to a particular musical component, and the user enters a first level of the visual representation beneath the particular lane and provides user input to modify the musical characteristics corresponding to the particular musical component. A second user input may be received, and in response to the second user input, at least a second level of the visual representation is entered beneath the first level. Program instructions may be executed, and one or more music composition algorithms may be applied to song data in accordance with a song data structure to generate music output for the song. The visual representation may include an animated display synchronized with one or more of the musical components. Modifications to musical data corresponding to a particular musical component may be accompanied by a change in a visual effect corresponding to the modifications to the musical characteristics.

Claims

1. A method for generating a song comprising the steps of:

providing a song data structure, wherein musical rules are applied to musical data in accordance with the song data structure to generate music output for the song;

receiving user input for one or more musical components, wherein musical data in accordance with the song data structure corresponding to the musical components are modified in accordance with the user input;

applying musical rules to the modified musical data, wherein the music output for the song is modified in accordance with the modified musical data;

wherein as a first step the user is provided with musical data in accordance with the song data structure for a complete song, wherein in response to the user input a modified song is created based on user modifications to the complete song.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input modifies music output corresponding to one or a plurality of instruments, audio samples or microphone input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified song is stored for subsequent playback and/or played in real time as a live performance.

4. A method for generating a song of a particular musical style comprising the steps of:

providing a song data structure, wherein musical rules are applied to musical data in accordance with the song data structure to generate music output for the song;

defining a plurality of levels of predetermined musical styles, wherein values of parameters in accordance with the song data structure are limited to predetermined ranges corresponding to the particular musical style and the particular level of musical style;

receiving user input for selecting a particular musical style at a particular level of musical style;

receiving user input for one or more musical components, wherein musical data in accordance with the song data structure corresponding to the musical components are modified in accordance with the user input, wherein the user input modifies the values of parameters within the predetermined ranges;

applying musical rules to the modified musical data, wherein the music output for the song is modified in accordance with the modified musical data;

wherein the predetermined ranges for a particular musical style at a first level of musical style provide a greater range for modifying the musical data as compared to the particular musical style at a second level of musical style, wherein in response to the user input a modified song is created based on user modifications to the song.

5. A method for generating a song comprising the steps of:

providing a song data structure, wherein musical rules are applied to musical data in accordance with the song data structure to generate music output for the song;

displaying a visual representation for a plurality of musical components, wherein the visual representation comprises a plurality of lanes, wherein each lane corresponds to one of the musical components;

receiving user input for one or more musical components, wherein musical data in accordance with the song data structure corresponding to the musical components are modified in accordance with the user input, wherein the user input is received by the user entering levels of the visual representation beneath the lanes, wherein to modify musical data corresponding to a particular musical component the user selects the lane corresponding to the particular musical component, enters a level of the visual representation beneath the particular lane and provides user input to modify the musical data corresponding to the particular musical component;

applying musical rules to the modified musical data, wherein the music output for the song is modified in accordance with the modified musical data;

wherein in response to the user input a modified song is created based on user modifications to the song.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein displayed graphics corresponding to the visual representation are customizable by the user.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein modifications to musical data corresponding to a particular musical component is accompanied by a change in a visual effect corresponding to the modifications to the musical data.

8. A method for generating a song comprising the steps of:

providing a song data structure, wherein musical rules are applied to musical data in accordance with the song data structure to generate music output for the song;

receiving user input for one or more musical components, wherein musical data in accordance with the song data structure corresponding to the musical components are modified in accordance with the user input;

applying musical rules to the modified musical data, wherein the music output for the song is modified in accordance with the modified musical data;

wherein in response to the user input a modified song is created based on user modifications to the song, wherein the musical rules are applied in accordance with pseudo random number generation or randomness associated with one or more particular user inputs.

9. A method for generating a song comprising the steps of:

providing a song data structure, wherein musical rules are applied to musical data in accordance with the song data structure to generate music output for the song;

receiving user input for one or more musical components, wherein musical data in accordance with the song data structure corresponding to the musical components are modified in accordance with the user input;

applying musical rules to the modified musical data, wherein the music output for the song is modified in accordance with the modified musical data;

wherein in response to the user input a modified song is created based on user modifications to the song, wherein a modified MIDI representation of music is employed in which musical rule information is embedded in MIDI pitch data.