System for learning an isolated instrument audio track from an original, multi-track recording through variable gain control

• US 8,283,545 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2011
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jammit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jammit, Inc.
• Inventors: Humphrey, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Qin, Jianchun
• Application Number:
  US13/113,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20110252944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 844/70.R, 846/15
• US Class Current: 84/470.R
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/00 Teaching music metronomes G04F5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0041 in coded form
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0066 using a MIDI interface
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/056 for extraction or identification of individual instrumental parts, e.g. melody, chords, bass; Identification or separation of instrumental parts by their characteristic voices or timbres
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/061 for extraction of musical phrases, isolation of musically relevant segments, e.g. musical thumbnail generation, or for temporal structure analysis of a musical piece, e.g. determination of the movement sequence of a musical work
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/385 Speed change, i.e. variations from preestablished tempo, tempo change, e.g. faster or slower, accelerando or ritardando, without change in pitch
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/015 Musical staff, tablature or score displays, e.g. for score reading during a performance
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/091 Graphical user interface [GUI] specifically adapted for electrophonic musical instruments, e.g. interactive musical displays, musical instrument icons or menus; Details of user interactions therewith
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/135 Musical aspects of games or videogames; Musical instrument-shaped game input interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/005 Data structures for use in electrophonic musical devices; Data structures including musical parameters derived from musical analysis

Abstract

The teachings described herein are generally directed to a system, method, and apparatus for learning music through an educational audio track embodied on a computer readable medium. The system can comprise components including a processor, an input device, a database, a transformation module, an emulation recording module, an integration engine, an output module, and an output device, wherein each component is operable in itself to perform it'"'"'s function in the system and operable with other system components to provide a system to a user for learning music.

Claims

1. A system for learning an isolated instrument audio track from an original, multi-track recording through variable gain control, the system comprising:

a processor;

a memory embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for receiving

(i) an original, multi-track recording having an isolated instrument audio track, an emulation audio track; and

,

(ii) a tempo map;

and,

a transformation module embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, wherein the transformation module is operable by the user to select a variable gain ratio to produce any of a variety of ratios of volumes between (i) the isolated instrument audio track and (ii) the emulation audio track to assist the user in emulating the isolated instrument audio track, the gain selection in each of the tracks being one of at least three settings between a minimum setting and a maximum setting;

wherein, the system functions to provide the user with the tools to separate and emulate the isolated instrument audio track in the original, multi-track recording through variable gain control.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an audible, variable timing reference track that was created from the tempo map, the tempo map created after the recording of the original, multi-track recording and using variable tempos, rhythms, and beats using notes from the original, multi-track recording.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the notes are MIDI notes that were manually created using transients.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a transport state selection operable to allow the user to select an isolated beat, bar or bars of the original, multi-track recording, the transport state selection indicating a position in the piece of music according to the tempo map.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising an output module, output device, and a transport state selection, wherein the output device comprises a graphical user interface operable to display a looping page showing a beat, bar or bars of the isolated instrument audio track for repeated playback, wherein the beat, bar or bars are selected by the user for the repeated playback through the transport state selection, the transport state selection indicating a position in the piece of music according to the tempo map.

6. The system of claim 1 having tempo speed control.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an emulation recording module embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, wherein the emulation recording module is operable by the user to record the user'"'"'s emulated instrument audio track on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the recording of the emulated instrument audio track performed by the user with guidance from the selection of the variable gain ratio;

an integration engine embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, wherein the integration engine is operable by the user to combine the emulated instrument audio track with the isolated instrument audio track, the emulation audio track, the tempo map, or a combination thereof; and

,

an output module embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, wherein the output module is operable to transmit audio data to an output device, the output device operable to provide audio data to the user, wherein the audio data assists the user in learning a preselected piece of music;

wherein,

the system functions to provide the user with the tools to (1) obtain the multi-track digital audio file;

(2) transform the multi-track digital audio file by selecting the variable gain ratio;

(3) emulate the isolated instrument audio track with a preselected musical instrument;

(4) record the emulated instrument audio track;

(5) combine the emulated instrument audio track with the isolated instrument audio track, the emulation audio track, the tempo map, or a combination thereof;

(6) listen to the educational audio file; and

, (7) repeat the emulating, recording, combining, and listening until the preselected piece of music has been learned to a satisfaction of the user.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the output module transmits music transcription and tablature data to a graphical user interface, the music transcription and tablature data synchronized for the user to the original, multi-track recording through use of the tempo map.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is operable to function as a particular machine or apparatus directed to learning music and having the additional function of telecommunications, word processing, or gaming.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is operable to function as a particular machine or apparatus directed to learning music and not having other substantial functions.

11. The system of claim 1 having a means for independently adjusting the volume of each of (i) the isolated instrument audio track and (ii) the emulation audio track.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is contained in a hand-held device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the device is a cellular device.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the device is a handheld video gaming console.

15. A system for learning an isolated instrument audio track from a pre-recorded, multi-track recording, the system comprising:

a processor;

a memory embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for receiving

(i) a pre-recorded, multi-track recording having an isolated instrument audio track, an emulation audio track; and

,

(ii) a tempo map;

and,

a transformation module embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, wherein the transformation module is operable by the user to select a variable gain ratio to produce any of a variety of ratios of volumes between (i) the isolated instrument audio track and (ii) the emulation audio track to assist the user in emulating the isolated instrument audio track, the gain selection in each of the tracks being one of at least three settings between a minimum setting and a maximum setting;

wherein, the system functions to provide the user with the tools to separate and emulate the isolated instrument audio track in the pre-recorded, multi-track recording through variable gain control.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising an audible, variable timing reference track that was created from the tempo map, the tempo map created after the recording of the prerecorded, multi-track recording and using variable tempos, rhythms, and beats using notes from the prerecorded, multi-track recording.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the notes are MIDI notes that were manually created using transients.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a transport state selection operable to allow the user to select an isolated beat, bar or bars of the pre-recorded, multi-track recording, the transport state selection indicating a position in the piece of music according to the tempo map.

19. The system of claim 15 further comprising an output module, output device, and a transport state selection, wherein the output device comprises a graphical user interface operable to display a looping page showing a beat, bar or bars of the isolated instrument audio track for repeated playback, wherein the beat, bar or bars are selected by the user for the repeated playback through the transport state selection, the transport state selection indicating a position in the piece of music according to the tempo map.

20. The system of claim 15 having tempo speed control.

21. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

an emulation recording module embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, wherein the emulation recording module is operable by the user to record the user'"'"'s emulated instrument audio track on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the recording of the emulated instrument audio track performed by the user with guidance from the selection of a variable gain ratio;

an integration engine embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, wherein the integration engine is operable by the user to combine the emulated instrument audio track with the isolated instrument audio track, the emulation audio track, the tempo map, or a combination thereof; and

,

an output module embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, wherein the output module is operable to transmit audio data to an output device, the output device operable to provide audio data to the user, wherein the audio data assists the user in learning a preselected piece of music;

wherein,

the system functions to provide the user with the tools to (1) obtain the multi-track digital audio file;

(2) transform the multi-track digital audio file by selecting the variable gain ratio;

(3) emulate the isolated instrument audio track with a preselected musical instrument;

(4) record the emulated instrument audio track;

(5) combine the emulated instrument audio track with the isolated instrument audio track, the emulation audio track, the tempo map, or a combination thereof;

(6) listen to the educational audio file; and

, (7) repeat the emulating, recording, combining, and listening until the preselected piece of music has been learned to a satisfaction of the user.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the output module transmits music transcription and tablature data to a graphical user interface, the music transcription and tablature data synchronized for the user to the prerecorded, multi-track recording through use of the tempo map.

23. The system of claim 15 having a means for independently adjusting the volume of each of (i) the isolated instrument audio track and (ii) the emulation audio track.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the system is contained in a hand-held device.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the device is a cellular device.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the device is a handheld video gaming console.

27. A handheld device for learning an isolated instrument audio track from an prerecorded, multi-track recording through variable gain control, the device comprising:

a graphical user interface;

a processor;

a memory embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for receiving

(i) A prerecorded, multi-track recording having an isolated instrument audio track, an emulation audio track; and

,

(ii) a tempo map;

a transport state selection operable to allow a user to select an isolated beat, bar or bars of the original, multi-track recording, the transport state selection indicating a position in the piece of music according to the tempo map, the graphical user interface displaying a looping page showing a beat, bar or bars of the isolated instrument audio track for repeated playback;

and,

a transformation module embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, wherein the transformation module is operable by the user to select a variable gain ratio to produce any of a variety of ratios of volumes between (i) the isolated instrument audio track and (ii) the emulation audio track to assist the user in emulating the isolated instrument audio track, the gain selection in each of the tracks being one of at least three settings between a minimum setting and a maximum setting;

wherein, the handheld device functions to provide the user with the tools to separate and learn the isolated instrument audio track in the prerecorded, multi-track recording through the variable gain control.