Method and apparatus for controlling an electronic musical instrument using fuzzy logic

• US 5,292,995 A
• Filed: 11/22/1989
• Issued: 03/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Usa, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Roskoski, Bernard
• Assistant Examiner(s): DONELS, JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US07/440,869
• Time in Patent Office: 1,567 Days
• Field of Search: 84/600, 84/601, 84/602, 84/604, 84/615, 84/622, 84/625-627, 84/629, 84/647, 395/3, 395/900, 395/902
• US Class Current: 84/626
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2250/151 Fuzzy logic
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 7/08 by calculating functions or polynomial approximations to evaluate amplitudes at successive sample points of a tone waveform
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/90 Fuzzy logic

Abstract

Tone control of an electronic musical instrument is provided using fuzzy inferences for determining musical tone control parameters such as pitch, sounding level, effect, overtone composition, playing methods, etc. Several different kinds of play information are derived from controls operated by the performer and selectively taken into account using fuzzy inference rules to derive the musical tone control parameters. Several different types of play information, such as initial touch, after touch, key-on time, etc., may thus be combined to provide delicate nuances to the musical performance providing a more natural sounding tone and providing the capability to give the musical tone an expression corresponding to a method or technique of a musical performance.

Claims

1. A musical tone controlling method for an electronic musical instrument comprising the steps of:

detecting plural musical tone information signals, each of said musical tone information signals having a predetermined value;

determining a membership value for each of said musical tone information signals by providing a plurality of membership functions and comparing the status of said signals with said plurality of membership functions;

providing a tone control function based upon said membership values; and

controlling a musical tone of said musical instrument in accordance with said tone control function.

2. A musical instrument controlling method for an electronic musical instrument having means for generating a plurality of membership functions for defining musical tone controlling characteristics, comprising the steps of:

detecting plural musical tone information signals, each of said musical tone information signals having a predetermined value;

selecting membership values from said plurality of membership functions for each of said musical tone information signals;

defining a tone controlling function based on said membership values; and

controlling a musical tone of said instrument by use of said tone controlling function.

3. A musical tone controlling method for an electronic musical instrument having means for generating a plurality of membership functions, wherein said each of said membership functions defines a musical tone controlling parameter, comprising the steps of:

detecting a plurality of musical performance information, each having a predetermined value;

deriving a plurality of limited tone controlling functions from said musical performance information and said membership functions;

producing a new tone controlling function from a combination of said plurality of limited tone controlling functions; and

controlling a musical tone of said instrument by said new tone controlling function.

4. An electronic musical instrument, comprising:

mean for generating a plurality of membership functions for deciding a musical tone controlling function;

a plurality of detecting means for detecting musical tone controlling information;

modifying means for modifying said plurality of membership functions by said musical tone controlling information;

combining means for combining said plurality of membership functions modified by said modifying means to thereby produce a new controlling function; and

means for controlling said musical tone by use of said new controlling function.

5. A musical tone control method for controlling an electronic musical instrument comprising the steps of:

inputting musical performance data including note-on data representing note generation and at least two kinds of tone control data representing a desired musical performance state of said instrument;

performing a fuzzy inference operation based on said at least two kinds of control data and generating an operation result from said fuzzy inference operation;

generating a parameter according to said operation result; and

controlling said musical tone responsive to said note-on data and based on said parameter.

6. A musical tone control method as set out in claim 5, wherein said generating step includes the step of selecting vibrato of said tone as said parameter.

7. A musical tone control method as set out in claim 5, wherein said generating step includes the step of selecting tremolo of said tone as said parameter.

8. A musical tone control method as set out in claim 5, wherein said generating step includes the step of selecting overtone of said tone as said parameter.

9. A musical tone control method for controlling an electronic musical instrument, comprising the steps of:

inputting musical performance data including note-on data representing note generation and at least two kinds of tone control data representing a desired musical performance state of said instrument;

performing a fuzzy inference operation based on said at least two kinds of control data and generating an operation result from said fuzzy inference operation;

generating a parameter according to said operation result; and

controlling said musical tone responsive to said note-on data and based on said parameter;

wherein said generating step includes the step of selecting reverberation of said tone as said parameter.

10. A musical tone control method for controlling an electronic musical instrument, comprising the steps of:

inputting musical performance data including note-on data representing note generation and at least two kinds of tone control data representing a desired musical performance state of said instrument;

performing a fuzzy inference operation based on said at least two kinds of control data and generating an operation result from said fuzzy inference operation;

generating a parameter according to said operation result; and

controlling said musical tone responsive to said note-on data and based on said parameter;

wherein said generating step includes the step of selecting volume data of said note as said parameter.

11. A musical tone control method for controlling an electronic musical instrument, comprising the steps of:

inputting musical performance data including at least note-on data representing note generation;

detecting time data representing the time lapse from the last time when said note-on data changes;

performing a fuzzy inference operation based on said time data and deriving an operation result from said fuzzy inference operation;

generating a parameter according to said operation result; and

controlling said musical tone responsive to said note-on data and based on said parameter.

12. A musical tone control method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of inputting control data representing a desired musical performance state of said instrument.

13. A musical tone control method for controlling an electronic musical instrument, comprising the steps of:

inputting musical performance data including at least note-on data representing note generation and control data representing a desired musical performance state of said instrument;

detecting time data representing the time lapse from the last time when said note-on data changes;

performing a fuzzy operation based on said time data and said control data and deriving an operation result from said fuzzy operation;

generating a parameter according to said operation result; and

controlling said musical tone responsive to said note-on data and based on said parameter.

14. A musical tone control method for controlling an electronic musical instrument according to a performance technique, comprising the steps of:

inputting musical performance data including note-on date representing note generation and at least two kinds of tone control data representing a desired musical performance state of said instrument;

performing a fuzzy inference operation based on said at least two kinds of tone control data and generating an operation result representing the degree of said performance technique;

generating a parameter according to said operation result; and

to said note-on data and based on said parameter.

15. A musical tone control method according to claim 14, wherein said performing step includes the step of selecting tenuto as said performance technique.

16. A musical tone control method according to claim 14, wherein said performing step includes the step of selecting staccato as said performance technique.

17. A musical tone control method according to claim 14, wherein said performing step includes the step of selecting legato as said performance technique.

18. A musical tone control method according to claim 14, wherein said inputting step includes the step of selecting at least one of said at least two kinds of tone control data from the control data of the previously controlled musical tone.