Performance apparatus and tone generation method

• US 8,008,565 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Nishibori, Yu, Iwai, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels; Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Millikin; Andrew R
• Application Number:
  US12/582,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20100037754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 84601-604, 846/06, 846/09, 846/14, 846/15, 846/16, 846/18, 846/26, 846/33, 846/44, 847/18, 847/43, 847/45, 84D/IG.7, 842/90, 844/64.R, 844/64.A
• US Class Current: 84/606
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0016 Means for indicating which keys, frets or strings are to be actuated, e.g. using lights or leds
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/22 for suppressing tones; Preference networks
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/26 for automatically producing a series of tones
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/34 Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/236 representing an active musical staff or tablature, i.e. with key-like position sensing at the expected note positions on the staff active keyboard representation on a touchscreen G10H2220/241
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/295 Switch matrix, e.g. contact array common to several keys, the actuated keys being identified by the rows and columns in contact

Abstract

Plural key switches are arranged in two dimensions along X- and Y-coordinate axes, and an X-coordinate position of each of the key switches is associated with tone generation timing while a Y-coordinate position of each of the key switches is associated with a tone pitch. Storage section stores a music piece data set that includes tone generating data having data of tone pitches and tone generation timing associated with the key switches. In a repeat-section setting mode, a repeat-section setting section causes the plural key switches to function as setting operators and sets a repeat section of the music piece data set on the basis of the X-coordinate position of any operated one of the key switches. In reproduction of the stored music piece data set, a reproduction section repetitively reproduces the tone generating data of the music piece data set which are included in the set repeat section.

Claims

1. A performance apparatus comprising:

a plurality of key switches arranged in two dimensions along X- and Y-coordinate axes, an X-coordinate position of each of said key switches being associated with tone generation timing, while at a same time, a Y-coordinate position of each of said key switches is associated with a discrete tone pitch;

a storage section that stores a music piece data set comprising tone generating data having data of tone pitches and tone generation timing associated with said key switches;

a repeat-section setting section that, in a repeat-section setting mode, causes the plurality of key switches to function as setting operators and sets a repeat section of the music piece data set on the basis of the X-coordinate position of any operated one of said key switches, wherein when the repeat-setting section sets the repeat section, the repeat-setting section does not set a tone pitch based on the Y-coordinate position of the key switch operated to set the repeat section;

a reproduction section that reproduces the music piece data set stored in said storage section, said reproduction section repetitively reproducing the tone generating data of the music piece data set included in the repeat section set by said repeat-section setting section; and

a tone-pitch-range setting section that, in a tone-pitch-range setting mode, causes the plurality of key switches to function as setting operators and sets a reproducible tone pitch range on the basis of the Y-coordinate position of any operated one of said key switches,

wherein said reproduction section reproduces, from among the tone generating data to be repetitively reproduced, only tone generating data having tone pitches within the reproducible tone pitch range set by said tone-pitch-range setting section and, consequently, does not reproduce at least part of the tone generating data because the part is outside of the reproducible tone pitch range set by said tone-pitch-range setting section.

2. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of upper and lower limits of the reproducible tone pitch range is set in advance, and said tone-pitch-range setting section sets other of the upper and lower limits on the basis of the Y-coordinate position of the operated key switch.

3. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said tone-pitch-range setting section sets each of the upper and lower limits of the reproducible tone pitch range on the basis of the Y-coordinate position of the operated key switch.

4. A method for generating a tone under control of a computer in a performance apparatus which includes:

a plurality of key switches arranged in two dimensions along X- and Y-coordinate axes, an X-coordinate position of each of the key switches being associated with tone generation timing, while at a same time, a Y-coordinate position of each of the key switches is associated with a discrete tone pitch;

a storage section that stores a music piece data set comprising tone generating data having data of tone pitches and tone generation timing associated with said key switches; and

the computer, said method comprising;

a repeat-section setting step of, in a repeat-section setting mode, causing the plurality of key switches to function as setting operators and setting a repeat section of the music piece data set on the basis of the X-coordinate position of any operated one of the key switches, wherein when the repeat-setting step sets the repeat section, the repeat-setting step does not set a tone pitch based on the Y-coordinate position of the key switch operated to set the repeat section;

a reproduction step of reproducing the music piece data set stored in the storage section, said reproduction step repetitively reproducing the tone generating data of the music piece data set included in the repeat section set by said repeat-section setting step; and

a tone-pitch-range setting step of, in a tone-pitch-range setting mode, causing the plurality of key switches to function as setting operators and setting a reproducible tone pitch range on the basis of the Y-coordinate position of any operated one of the key switches,

wherein said reproduction step reproduces, from among the tone generating data to be repetitively reproduced, only tone generating data having tone pitches within the reproducible tone pitch range set by said tone-pitch-range setting step and, consequently, does not reproduce at least part of the tone generating data because the part is outside of the reproducible tone pitch range set by said tone-pitch-range setting step.

5. A performance apparatus comprising:

a plurality of key switches arranged in two dimensions along X- and Y-coordinate axes, an X-coordinate position of each of said key switches being associated with tone generation timing, while at a same time, a Y-coordinate position of each of said key switches is associated with a discrete tone pitch;

a storage section that stores a music piece data set comprising tone generating data having data of tone pitches and tone generation timing associated with said key switches;

a tone-pitch-range setting section that, in a tone-pitch-range setting mode, causes the plurality of key switches to function as setting operators and sets a reproducible tone pitch range on the basis of the Y-coordinate position of any operated one of said key switches; and

a reproduction section that reproduces the music piece data set stored in said storage section, said reproduction section generating only the tone generating data, included in the music piece data set, having tone pitches within the reproducible tone pitch range set by said tone-pitch-range setting section and, consequently, does not reproduce at least part of the tone generating data because the part is outside of the reproducible tone pitch range set by said tone-pitch-range setting section.

6. A method for generating a tone under control of a computer in a performance apparatus which includes:

a plurality of key switches arranged in two dimensions along X- and Y-coordinate axes, an X-coordinate position of each of the key switches being associated with tone generation timing, while at a same time, a Y-coordinate position of each of the key switches is associated with a discrete tone pitch;

a storage section that stores a music piece data set comprising tone generating data having data of tone pitches and tone generation timing associated with the key switches; and

the computer, said method comprising;

a tone-pitch-range setting step of, in a tone-pitch-range setting mode, causing the plurality of key switches to function as setting operators and setting a reproducible tone pitch range on the basis of the Y-coordinate position of any operated one of the key switches; and

a reproduction step of reproducing the music piece data set stored in the storage section, said reproduction step generating only the tone generating data, included in the music piece data set, having tone pitches within the reproducible tone pitch range set by said tone-pitch-range setting step and, consequently, does not reproduce at least part of the tone generating data because the part is outside of the reproducible tone pitch range set by said tone-pitch-range setting step.