System for separating and mixing audio tracks within an original, multi-track recording

• US 8,367,923 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2011
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jammit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jammit, Inc.
• Inventors: Humphrey, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): FLETCHER, MARLON T
• Application Number:
  US13/113,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20110252948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 84/625
• 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 with repetitive changes in pitch, e.g. scratch DJ effects G10H2210/241
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/015 Musical staff, tablature or score displays, e.g. for score reading during a performance. graphical musical score editing G10H2220/121; musical score displays resulting from a transcription G10H2210/086
• 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 GUI in general G06F3/048
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/135 Musical aspects of games or videogames; Musical instrument-shaped game input interfaces game background music G10H2210/026; musical game scoring or performance evaluation G10H2210/091
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/005 Data structures for use in electrophonic musical devices; Data structures including musical parameters derived from musical analysis audio retrieval G06F16/60

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 separating and mixing tracks within an original, multi-track recording, the system comprising:

a processor;

a memory embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for receiving an original, multi-track recording having

(i) an isolated instrument audio track; and

,

(ii) an emulation audio track;

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 mix 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 studying 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;

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, 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 studying 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 into an educational audio file by selecting the variable gain ratio;

(3) separate, mix and listen to the educational audio file; and

, (4) repeat the separating, mixing, and listening until the preselected piece of music has been studied to a satisfaction of the user.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a variable timing reference track that was created from a 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 a tempo map.

5. The system of claim 1, 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, 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

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

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the device is a cellular device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the device is a handheld video gaming console.

14. A system for separating and mixing tracks within a prerecorded, multi-track recording, the system comprising:

a processor;

a memory embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for receiving a prerecorded, multi-track recording having

(i) an isolated instrument audio track; and

,

(ii) an emulation audio track;

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 mix 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 studying 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;

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, 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 studying 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 into an educational audio file by selecting the variable gain ratio;

(3) separate, mix and listen to the educational audio file; and

, (4) repeat the separating, mixing, and listening until the preselected piece of music has been studied to a satisfaction of the user.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a variable timing reference track that was created from a 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.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the notes are MIDI notes that were manually created using transients.

17. The system of claim 14, 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.

18. The system of claim 14, 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 a tempo map.

19. The system of claim 14 having tempo speed control.

20. The system of claim 14, 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.

21. The system of claim 14 having a means for independently adjusting the volume of each of (i) the isolated instrument audio track and (ii) the emulation audio track.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the system is contained in a hand-held device.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the device is a cellular device.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the device is a handheld video gaming console.