Interactive digital music recorder and player

• US 7,847,178 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2009
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medialab Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Medialab Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Georges, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US12/322,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20090241760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 667 Days
• Field of Search: 846/00, 846/03, 846/25, 846/45, 846/11, 846/35, 434/307.A, 715/727, 715/850, 715/851
• US Class Current: 84/645
• 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 1/0041 in coded form
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/151 using templates, i.e. incomplete musical sections, as a basis for composing
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/131 Library retrieval, i.e. searching a database or selecting a specific musical piece, segment, pattern, rule or parameter set
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/024 on tapes G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/028 with computer assistance
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/029 Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/036 Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

A digital multi-media device provides features for a user unskilled in musical arts or sound handling techniques that provides automatic musical score composition in accordance with contained composition instructions. Stored sound samples and interfaces for obtaining external signals provide signals for merger with visual and sound presentations to obtain altered presentations either time shifted or in real time. In this fashion the user can create simulated radio stations for playback of prearranged and composed audio material. Further, the automatically composed musical score may be mixed with synthesized, digitized signals from the stored sound samples and external signals obtained through the device interfaces.

Claims

1. A method of playing music using a music algorithm, comprising the steps of:

processing MIDI information, wherein the processed MIDI information is provided to a processing resource;

processing one or more sound samples, wherein audio sample data is provided to the processing resource;

synchronizing playback of the audio sample data with the MIDI information at a predetermined time between a beginning and an end of a musical bar.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing resource comprises a first portion associated with the MIDI information and a second portion associated with the audio sample data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a MIDI event associated with at least a part of the audio sample data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the MIDI event comprises a system exclusive MIDI message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio sample data is provided from a writable memory resource location.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the writable memory resource location comprises a flash memory.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sound samples is processed in response to user input.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein playback of at least a portion of the audio sample data starts at the beginning of a musical bar.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing resource comprises a hardware digital signal processor.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a USB interface configured to transfer audio files.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the music algorithm comprises a composition algorithm.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user interface supporting user interactivity with the music algorithm, wherein the user interface is comprised of a display of instrument lanes.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user interface supporting user interactivity with the music algorithm, wherein the user interface is comprised of a display of animated sound waves or animated pulses.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user interface supporting user interactivity with the music algorithm, wherein the user interface is comprised of colorful patterns having movements or shapes following the beat of specific instruments.