Method and apparatus for editing performance data with modifications of icons of musical symbols

• US 6,281,420 B1
• Filed: 09/20/2000
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hideo, Akazawa, Eiji, Sakama, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): Nappi, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLETCHER, MARLON T
• Application Number:
  US09/666,352
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 846/00, 846/26--34, 846/62--66, 844/77.R, 84D/IG.6
• US Class Current: 84/477.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0008 Associated control or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/095 Inter-note articulation aspects, e.g. legato or staccato
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/101 for graphical creation, edition or control of musical data or parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 7/008 Means for controlling the transition from one tone waveform to another
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 84/06 Cathode-ray tube

Abstract

A performance data editing system is actualized by a computer system (or electronic musical instrument) which is equipped with a display and a mouse. The system initially provides a score window containing various types of execution icon layers onto which execution icons are attached and arranged in conformity with a progression of a musical tune on a screen of the display. The system provides an icon modify window that allows the user to modify parameters of a specific icon which is selected from among the execution icons attached onto the score window by double clicks of the mouse. Herein, the score window shows a part of a musical score (or a staff notation with notes), while the icon modify window shows an edited portion of the musical score by magnification, wherein a range of execution-related data being edited on the icon modify window is automatically indicated on the musical score of the score window. In addition, modification being effected on a note in the edited portion of the musical score is automatically reflected on note data and/or execution-related data in the performance data. The system also provides an icon select palette that shows latest selections of execution icons which are arranged in an up-to-date manner. The icon select palette shows a number of execution icons which the user frequently or lastly use. Thus, it is possible to improve performability and efficiency in editing performance data by using icons with simple operations and without errors.

Claims

1. A performance data editing method for a computer system having a display, comprising the steps of:

attaching an execution icon representative of execution-related data onto a musical score which is displayed on a screen of the display;

accepting a prescribed operation made by a user of the computer system with respect to the execution icon attached onto the musical score;

in response to the prescribed operation, opening an icon modify window for editing the execution icon on the screen of the display; and

editing the execution-related data by using the icon modify window.

2. A performance data editing method according to claim 1 wherein the prescribed operation corresponds to double clicks of a mouse.

3. A performance data editing method for a computer system having a display, comprising the steps of:

attaching an execution icon representative of execution-related data onto a musical score which is displayed on a screen of the display;

opening an icon modify window for editing the execution-related data of the execution icon being attached onto the musical score;

while the icon modify window is opened, controlling the computer system to indicate a range of the execution-related data, which is placed under edit, in the musical score displayed on the screen of the display; and

editing the execution-related data by using the icon modify window.

4. A performance data editing method for a computer system having a display, comprising the steps of:

attaching an execution icon representative of execution-related data onto a musical score which is displayed on a screen of the display;

opening an icon modify window for editing the execution-related data of the execution icon being attached onto the musical score, wherein the icon modify window has a score area for displaying an edited portion of the musical score corresponding to the execution-related data being edited;

editing the execution-related data by using the icon modify window; and

editing note data representing a note which is related to the edited portion of the musical score and which is being modified within the score area of the icon modify window.

5. A performance data editing method for a computer system having a display, comprising the steps of:

attaching an execution icon onto a musical score which is displayed on a screen of the display;

opening an icon modify window for editing the execution-related data of the execution icon being attached onto the musical score, wherein the icon modify window has a score area for displaying an edited portion of the musical score corresponding to the execution-related data being edited;

editing the execution-related data by using the icon modify window; and

further editing the execution-related data in response to modification being effected on a note which is related to the edited portion of the musical score and which is being modified within the score area of the icon modify window.

6. A performance data editing method for a computer system having a display, comprising the steps of:

controlling the computer system to display an icon select palette for providing a plurality of execution icons representative of execution-related data on a screen of the display;

attaching an execution icon, which is selected from among the plurality of execution icons on the icon select palette, onto a musical score which is displayed on the screen of the display; and

updating an arrangement of the execution icons on the icon select palette such that the icon select palette normally shows a plurality of execution icons which are latest selections made by a user of the computer system.

7. A performance data editing method according to claim 6 wherein the arrangement of the execution icons on the icon select palette is updated such that the icon select palette normally shows an execution icon, which is newly selected by the user, at a first place in order.

8. A performance data editing method for a computer system having a display, comprising the steps of:

controlling the computer system to display an icon select palette, which provides a plurality of execution icons representative of execution-related data, on a screen of the display;

allowing a user of the computer system to select an execution icon from among the plurality of execution icons on the icon select palette;

attaching the selected execution icon onto a musical score which is displayed on the screen of the display;

opening an icon modify window for editing execution-related data representative of the selected execution icon which is attached onto the musical score, wherein the selected execution icon is subjected to modification to produce a modified execution icon which derives from the selected execution icon; and

controlling the computer system to additionally display the modified execution icon on the icon select palette with a distinction from the selected execution icon.

9. A performance data editing method for a computer system having a display, comprising the steps of:

controlling the computer system to display an icon select palette, which provides a plurality of execution icons representative of execution-related data, on a screen of the display;

allowing a user of the computer system to select an execution icon from among the plurality of execution icons;

attaching the selected execution icon onto a musical score which is displayed on the screen of the display;

editing execution-related data of the selected execution icon being attached onto the musical score; and

changing the selected execution icon in a display attribute in response to at least one parameter of the execution-related data being edited.

10. A performance data editing method according to claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

further editing the execution-related data of the selected execution icon which is changed in the display attribute; and

further changing the selected execution icon in the display attribute in response to at least one parameter of the execution-related data being further edited.

11. A performance data editing method according to claim 9 wherein the display attribute corresponds to a shape or a size of the selected execution icon being displayed on the screen of the display.

12. A performance data editing method for a computer system having a display, comprising the steps of:

attaching an execution icon representative of execution-related data onto a musical score which is displayed on a screen of the display; and

controlling the computer system to provide a zero-start crescendo icon corresponding to the execution-related data and a non-zero-start crescendo icon corresponding to the execution-related data, wherein the zero-start crescendo icon by which a musical tone is increasing in tone volume from zero differs from the non-zero-start crescendo icon, by which a musical tone is increasing in tone volume from a prescribed tone volume, in shape.

13. A performance data editing method for a computer system having a display, comprising the steps of:

attaching an execution icon representative of execution-related data onto a musical score which is displayed on a screen of the display; and

controlling the computer system to provide a zero-end diminuendo icon corresponding to the execution-related data and a non-zero-end diminuendo icon corresponding to the execution-related data, wherein the zero-end diminuendo icon by which a musical tone is decreasing in tone volume to zero differs from the non-zero-end diminuendo icon, by which a musical tone is decreasing in tone volume to a prescribed tone volume, in shape.

14. A performance data editing method for a computer system having a mouse and a display, comprising the steps of:

displaying a score window showing a plurality of layers which are vertically arranged on a screen of the display in response to control parameters of music performance, wherein one of the layers shows a musical score indicating notes being sequentially arranged in progression of the music performance;

attaching execution icons corresponding to execution-related data onto the layers respectively at selected positions, which are arbitrarily selected by a user of the computer system;

displaying an icon modify window for allowing modification being effected on an execution icon selected from among the execution icons attached to the layers in response to a prescribed operation of the mouse being controlled by the user, wherein the icon modify window magnifies the execution icon that indicates an specific icon symbol representing a specific execution, and the icon modify window has a score area for displaying an edited portion of the musical score in connection with the execution-related data which is under modification; and

displaying an icon select palette in response to a user'"'"'s operation effected on a button of the score window with the mouse, wherein the icon select window provides a number of execution icons of different types for selection of the user.

15. A performance data editing method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of:

allowing the user to modify the execution icon such that the execution icon is stretched or shrunk while the icon symbol is changed in shape with the mouse on the icon modify window, so that the modification of the execution icon is automatically reflected on the score window such that an execution of the execution icon is modified in at least one parameter.

16. A performance data editing method according to claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

in response to modification, changing the execution icon in shape to produce a new execution icon which derives from the execution icon; and

additionally registering with the icon select palette the new execution icon which is displayed with a distinction from the execution icon.

17. A performance data editing method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of:

allowing the user to edit a note displayed in the score area of the icon modify window on the edited portion of the musical score, so that note date of the note is correspondingly edited on the score window.

18. A performance data editing method according to claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

allowing the user to select an execution icon from among the execution icons listed on the icon select palette; and

automatically relocating the selected execution icon at a high-order place in arrangement of the execution icons on the icon select palette.

19. A performance data editing method according to claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

allowing the user to select an execution icon from among the execution icons listed on the icon select palette; and

highlighting the selected execution icon on the icon select palette.

20. A performance data editing method according to claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

providing different shapes of execution icons with respect to a specific musical symbol used on the musical score; and

allowing the user to freely select desired one from among the different shapes of the execution icons.

21. A performance data editing method according to claim 20 wherein the specific musical symbol corresponds to a crescendo or a diminuendo, so that the different shapes of the execution icons are provided in connection with a starting tone volume or an ending tone volume.

22. A performance data editing apparatus comprising:

an icon provider for providing an execution icon representative of execution-related data, which is attached onto a musical score displayed on a screen of a display;

an operator for making a prescribed operation on the execution icon attached onto the musical score;

an icon modify window provider for in response to the prescribed operation, opening an icon modify window to allow edit of the execution icon on the screen of the display; and

an editor for editing the execution-related data by using the icon modify window.

23. A performance data editing apparatus comprising:

an icon provider for providing an execution icon representative of execution-related data, which is attached onto a musical score displayed on a screen of a display;

an icon modify window provider for opening an icon modify window to allow edit of the execution-related data of the execution icon being attached onto the musical score;

a range indicator for while the icon modify window is opened, indicating a range of the execution-related data, which is placed under edit, in the musical score displayed on the screen of the display; and

an editor for editing the execution-related data by using the icon modify window.

24. A performance data editing apparatus comprising:

an icon provider for providing an execution icon representative of execution-related data, which is attached onto a musical score displayed on a screen of a display;

an icon modify window provider for opening an icon modify window to allow edit of the execution-related data of the execution icon being attached onto the musical score, wherein the icon modify window has a score area for displaying an edited portion of the musical score corresponding to the execution-related data being edited;

an execution editor for editing the execution-related data by using the icon modify window; and

a note editor for editing note data representing a note which is related to the edited portion of the musical score and which is being modified within the score area of the icon modify window.

25. A performance data editing apparatus comprising:

an icon provider for providing an execution icon which is attached onto a musical score displayed on a screen of a display;

an icon modify window provider for opening an icon modify window to allow edit of the execution-related data of the execution icon being attached onto the musical score, wherein the icon modify window has a score area for displaying an edited portion of the musical score corresponding to the execution-related data being edited;

a first editor for editing the execution-related data by using the icon modify window; and

a second editor for further editing the execution-related data in response to modification being effected on a note which is related to the edited portion of the musical score and which is being modified within the score area of the icon modify window.

26. A performance data editing apparatus comprising:

an icon select palette provider for displaying an icon select palette for providing a plurality of execution icons representative of execution-related data on a screen of a display;

an icon provider for providing an execution icon which is selected from among the plurality of execution icons on the icon select palette and which is attached onto a musical score displayed on the screen of the display; and

an updating arranger for updating an arrangement of the execution icons on the icon select palette such that the icon select palette normally shows a plurality of execution icons which are latest selections.

27. A performance data editing apparatus comprising:

an icon select palette provider for displaying an icon select palette, which provides a plurality of execution icons representative of execution-related data, on a screen of a display;

an icon selector for selecting an execution icon from among the plurality of execution icons on the icon select palette;

an icon provider for providing the selected execution icon which is attached onto a musical score displayed on the screen of the display;

an icon modify window provider for opening an icon modify window to allow edit of execution-related data representative of the selected execution icon which is attached onto the musical score, wherein the selected execution icon is subjected to modification to produce a modified execution icon which derives from the selected execution icon; and

a display controller for additionally displaying the modified execution icon on the icon select palette with a distinction from the selected execution icon.

28. A performance data editing apparatus comprising:

an icon select palette provider for displaying an icon select palette, which provides a plurality of execution icons representative of execution-related data, on a screen of a display;

an icon selector for selecting an execution icon from among the plurality of execution icons;

an icon provider for providing the selected execution icon which is attached onto a musical score displayed on the screen of the display;

an editor for editing execution-related data of the selected execution icon being attached onto the musical score; and

a changer for changing the selected execution icon in a display attribute in response to at least one parameter of the execution-related data being edited.

29. A performance data editing apparatus comprising:

an icon provider for providing an execution icon representative of execution-related data, which is attached onto a musical score displayed on a screen of a display; and

a dynamics icon provider for providing a zero-start crescendo icon corresponding to the execution-related data and a non-zero-start crescendo icon corresponding to the execution-related data, wherein the zero-start crescendo icon by which a musical tone is increasing in tone volume from zero differs from the non-zero-start crescendo icon, by which a musical tone is increasing in tone volume from a prescribed tone volume, in shape.

30. A performance data editing apparatus comprising:

an icon provider for providing an execution icon representative of execution-related data, which is attached onto a musical score which is displayed on a screen of a display; and

a dynamics icon provider for providing a zero-end diminuendo icon corresponding to the execution-related data and a non-zero-end diminuendo icon corresponding to the execution-related data, wherein the zero-end diminuendo icon by which a musical tone is decreasing in tone volume to zero differs from the non-zero-end diminuendo icon, by which a musical tone is decreasing in tone volume to a prescribed tone volume, in shape.

31. A performance data editing apparatus comprising:

a score window provider for displaying a score window showing a plurality of layers which are vertically arranged on a screen of a display in response to control parameters of music performance, wherein one of the layers shows a musical score indicating notes being sequentially arranged in progression of the music performance;

an icon provider for providing execution icons corresponding to execution-related data to attach the execution icons onto the layers respectively at selected positions;

an icon modify window provider for displaying an icon modify window to allow modification being effected on an execution icon selected from among the execution icons attached to the layers in response to a prescribed operation of a mouse, wherein the icon modify window magnifies the execution icon that indicates an specific icon symbol representing a specific execution, and the icon modify window has a score area for displaying an edited portion of the musical score in connection with the execution-related data which is under modification; and

an icon select palette provider for displaying an icon select palette in response to a user'"'"'s operation effected on a button of the score window with the mouse, wherein the icon select window provides a number of execution icons of different types.

32. A machine-readable media storing programs and data that cause a computer system having a display to perform a performance data editing method comprising the steps of:

attaching an execution icon representative of execution-related data onto a musical score which is displayed on a screen of the display;

accepting a prescribed operation made by a user of the computer system with respect to the execution icon attached onto the musical score;

in response to the prescribed operation, opening an icon modify window for editing the execution icon on the screen of the display; and

editing the execution-related data by using the icon modify window.

33. A machine-readable media storing programs and data that cause a computer system having a display to perform a performance data editing method comprising the steps of:

attaching an execution icon representative of execution-related data onto a musical score which is displayed on a screen of the display;

opening an icon modify window for editing the execution-related data of the execution icon being attached onto the musical score;

while the icon modify window is opened, controlling the computer system to indicate a range of the execution-related data, which is placed under edit, in the musical score displayed on the screen of the display; and

editing the execution-related data by using the icon modify window.

34. A machine-readable media storing programs and data that cause a computer system having a display to perform a performance data editing method comprising the steps of:

attaching an execution icon representative of execution-related data onto a musical score which is displayed on a screen of the display;

opening an icon modify window for editing the execution-related data of the execution icon being attached onto the musical score, wherein the icon modify window has a score area for displaying an edited portion of the musical score corresponding to the execution-related data being edited;

editing the execution-related data by using the icon modify window; and

editing note data representing a note which is related to the edited portion of the musical score and which is being modified within the score area of the icon modify window.

35. A machine-readable media storing programs and data that cause a computer system having a display to perform a performance data editing method comprising the steps of:

attaching an execution icon onto a musical score which is displayed on a screen of the display;

opening an icon modify window for editing the execution-related data of the execution icon being attached onto the musical score, wherein the icon modify window has a score area for displaying an edited portion of the musical score corresponding to the execution-related data being edited;

editing the execution-related data by using the icon modify window; and

further editing the execution-related data in response to modification being effected on a note which is related to the edited portion of the musical score and which is being modified within the score area of the icon modify window.

36. A machine-readable media storing programs and data that cause a computer system having a display to perform a performance data editing method comprising the steps of:

controlling the computer system to display an icon select palette for providing a plurality of execution icons representative of execution-related data on a screen of the display;

attaching an execution icon, which is selected from among the plurality of execution icons on the icon select palette, onto a musical score which is displayed on the screen of the display; and

updating an arrangement of the execution icons on the icon select palette such that the icon select palette normally shows a plurality of execution icons which are latest selections made by a user of the computer system.

37. A machine-readable media storing programs and data that cause a computer system having a display to perform a performance data editing method comprising the steps of:

controlling the computer system to display an icon select palette, which provides a plurality of execution icons representative of execution-related data, on a screen of the display;

allowing a user of the computer system to select an execution icon from among the plurality of execution icons on the icon select palette;

attaching the selected execution icon onto a musical score which is displayed on the screen of the display;

opening an icon modify window for editing execution-related data representative of the selected execution icon which is attached onto the musical score, wherein the selected execution icon is subjected to modification to produce a modified execution icon which derives from the selected execution icon; and

controlling the computer system to additionally display the modified execution icon on the icon select palette with a distinction from the selected execution icon.

38. A machine-readable media storing programs and data that cause a computer system having a display to perform a performance data editing method comprising the steps of:

controlling the computer system to display an icon select palette, which provides a plurality of execution icons representative of execution-related data, on a screen of the display;

allowing a user of the computer system to select an execution icon from among the plurality of execution icons;

attaching the selected execution icon onto a musical score which is displayed on the screen of the display;

editing execution-related data of the selected execution icon being attached onto the musical score; and

changing the selected execution icon in a display attribute in response to at least one parameter of the execution-related data being edited.

39. A machine-readable media storing programs and data that cause a computer system having a display to perform a performance data editing method comprising the steps of:

attaching an execution icon representative of execution-related data onto a musical score which is displayed on a screen of the display; and

controlling the computer system to provide a zero-start crescendo icon corresponding to the execution-related data and a non-zero-start crescendo icon corresponding to the execution-related data, wherein the zero-start crescendo icon by which a musical tone is increasing in tone volume from zero differs from the non-zero-start crescendo icon, by which a musical tone is increasing in tone volume from a prescribed tone volume, in shape.

40. A machine-readable media storing programs and data that cause a computer system having a display to perform a performance data editing method comprising the steps of:

attaching an execution icon representative of execution-related data onto a musical score which is displayed on a screen of the display; and

controlling the computer system to provide a zero-end diminuendo icon corresponding to the execution-related data and a non-zero-end diminuendo icon corresponding to the execution-related data, wherein the zero-end diminuendo icon by which a musical tone is decreasing in tone volume to zero differs from the non-zero-end diminuendo icon, by which a musical tone is decreasing in tone volume to a prescribed tone volume, in shape.

41. A machine-readable media storing programs and data that cause a computer system having a mouse and a display to perform a performance data editing method comprising the steps of:

displaying a score window showing a plurality of layers which are vertically arranged on a screen of the display in response to control parameters of music performance, wherein one of the layers shows a musical score indicating notes being sequentially arranged in progression of the music performance;

attaching execution icons corresponding to execution-related data onto the layers respectively at selected positions, which are arbitrarily selected by a user of the computer system;

displaying an icon modify window for allowing modification being effected on an execution icon selected from among the execution icons attached to the layers in response to a prescribed operation of the mouse being controlled by the user, wherein the icon modify window magnifies the execution icon that indicates an specific icon symbol representing a specific execution, and the icon modify window has a score area for displaying an edited portion of the musical score in connection with the execution-related data which is under modification; and

displaying an icon select palette in response to a user'"'"'s operation effected on a button of the score window with the mouse, wherein the icon select window provides a number of execution icons of different types for selection of the user.