MUSICAL SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20120160079A1
• Filed: 12/27/2010
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Little, Alexander Harry, Manjarrez, Eli T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,835,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/613
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0066 using a MIDI interface
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/38 Chord
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/096 using a touch screen touch screen note input, e.g. using a displayed keyboard G10H2220/241; personal digital assistant [PDA] G10H2230/015
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/121 for graphical editing of a musical score, staff or tablature mere score display G10H2220/015; score transcription G10H2210/086

Abstract

Musical performance/input systems, methods, and products can accept user inputs via a user interface, generate, sound, store, and/or modify one or more musical tones. The user interface can present one or more regions corresponding to related chords. A set of related chords and/or a set of rhythmic patterns are generated based on a selected instrument and a selected style of music. The related chords can be modified via one or more effects units.

Claims

1. A system comprising a user interface, the user interface comprising a browser for selecting from among a plurality of configurations, wherein at least one configuration comprises a predefined set of related chords, and wherein, upon selection of a configuration, the user interface displays the predefined set of related chords.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of chords in the predefined set of related chords comprise seven diatonic chords of a key.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one configuration comprises one or more sets of grooves, wherein each groove in a set of grooves comprises a rhythmic pattern of tones associated with a style of music.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each groove is a MIDI pattern.

5. A musical performance method comprising:

accepting user inputs via a user interface;

audibly sounding one or more tones;

accepting a user request to modify one or more tones in a set of tones;

modifying the one or more tones;

accepting a user request to switch between multiple sets of tones, wherein each set of tones includes a set of related chords; and

switching between the multiple sets of tones.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the set of related chords include seven diatonic chords of a key.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

translating the user inputs into a form that can be stored, recorded, or otherwise saved; and

storing, recording, or otherwise saving the user inputs.

8. The method according to claim 5, further comprising manipulating, rearranging, enhancing, or otherwise editing the stored, recorded, or saved inputs.

9. A musical performance product comprising a computer-readable medium and a computer-readable code stored on the computer-readable medium for causing a computer to perform a method comprising:

accepting user inputs via a user interface;

audibly sounding one or more tones;

accepting a user request to modify one or more tones in a set of tones;

modifying the one or more tones;

accepting a user request to switch between multiple sets of tones, wherein each set of tones includes a set of related chords; and

switching between the multiple sets of tones.

10. The product of claim 9, wherein the set of related chords comprise seven diatonic chords of a key.

11. The product of claim 9, further comprising:

translating the user inputs into a form that can be stored, recorded, or otherwise saved; and

storing, recording, or otherwise saving the user inputs.

12. The product of claim 11, further comprising manipulating, rearranging, enhancing, or otherwise editing the stored, recorded, or saved inputs.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium for musical performance comprising a computer-readable code stored thereon for causing a computer to perform a method comprising:

accepting user inputs via a user interface;

audibly sounding one or more tones;

accepting a user request to modify one or more tones in a set of tones;

modifying the one or more tones;

accepting a user request to switch between multiple sets of tones, wherein each set of tones includes a set of related chords; and

switching between the multiple sets of tones.

14. A system to allow a plurality of users to perform and/or record a musical performance simultaneously and in synchronicity comprising:

a first wireless device communicatively coupled to a second device, wherein the first and second device communicate data relating to a common music project, the data including configuration, effects, rhythmic patterns, setting, key, and tempo information.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first device is communicatively coupled to the second device through a wireless data connection.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first and second device are synchronized such that the second device adopts configuration and settings of the first device.

17. A method, in a processor, comprising:

detecting a user input swipe on a touch-sensitive input;

selecting a first MIDI pattern if the user input swipe included one finger;

selecting a second MIDI pattern if the user input swipe included two fingers;

selecting a third MIDI pattern if the user input swipe included three fingers;

selecting a fourth MIDI pattern if the user input swipe included four fingers; and

outputting a musical pattern by playing the selected MIDI pattern with a chosen software instrument.