Method and system for generating sequences of musical tones

• US 8,704,071 B1
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wolfram Research Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wolfram Research Incorporated
• Inventors: Wolfram, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Qin, Jianchun
• Application Number:
  US13/270,972
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 846/22
• US Class Current: 84/622
• 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 2210/111 Automatic composing, i.e. using predefined musical rules
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/131 Morphing, i.e. transformation of a musical piece into a new different one, e.g. remix
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/141 Riff, i.e. improvisation, e.g. repeated motif or phrase, automatically added to a piece, e.g. in real time
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/021 Mobile ringtone, i.e. generation, transmission, conversion or downloading of ringing tones or other sounds for mobile telephony; Special musical data formats or protocols herefor mobile telephone transmission specifically adapted for electrophonic musical tools or instruments G10H2240/251

Abstract

In a method for generating musical tones, a plurality of raw data sequences are generated using at least one recursive system implemented by a computing system. The plurality of raw data sequences are converted, using the computing system, into a plurality of sequences of musical tones that follow a set of aesthetic music principles.

Claims

1. A method for generating musical tones, the method comprising the acts of:

generating a plurality of raw data sequences using at least one recursive system implemented by a computing system; and

converting, using the computing system, the plurality of raw data sequences into a plurality of sequences of musical tones that follow a set of aesthetic music principles, wherein the act of converting comprises at least one of a and b;

a) mapping, using the computing system, the plurality of raw data sequences into a plurality of potential sequences of musical tones, and selecting, using the computing system, sequences of musical tones that follow the set of aesthetic music principles from the plurality of potential sequences of musical tones;

b) mapping, according to the set of aesthetic music principles, the plurality of raw data sequences into the plurality of sequences of musical tones, at least one of the aesthetic musical principles including a requirement specifying a characteristic other than (1) pitch duration or (2) a scale or set of scales to which to map.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein generating the plurality of raw data sequences comprises the act of generating the plurality of raw data sequences using at least one cellular automaton implemented by the computing system.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein mapping, using the computing system, the plurality of raw data sequences into the plurality of potential sequences of musical tones comprises mapping according to at least a first subset of aesthetic music principles from the set of aesthetic music principles.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

prompting, using the computing system, a user to provide configuration information to configure the recursive system;

receiving the configuration information; and

configuring the recursive system using the configuration information;

wherein generating the plurality of raw data sequences comprises using the recursive system after the recursive system has been configured using the configuration information.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

prompting, using the computing system, a user to provide configuration information regarding converting the plurality of raw data sequences into the plurality of sequences of musical tones; and

receiving the configuration information;

wherein converting the plurality of raw data sequences into the plurality of sequences of musical tones is implemented according to the configuration information.

6. A system for generating musical tones, the system comprising:

a raw data sequence generator including at least one recursive system, wherein the raw data sequence generator is configured to generate a plurality of raw data sequences using the at least one recursive system; and

a converter system to convert the plurality of raw data sequences into a plurality of sequences of musical tones that follow a set of aesthetic music principles, wherein the converter system comprises at least one of a and b;

a) a tone generator configured to map the plurality of raw data sequences into a plurality of potential sequences of musical tones, and a filter configured to select sequences of musical tones that follow the set of aesthetic music principles from the plurality of potential sequences of musical tones;

b) a tone generator configured to map, according to the set of aesthetic music principles, the plurality of raw data sequences into the plurality of sequences of musical tones, at least one of the aesthetic musical principles including a requirement specifying a characteristic other than (1) pitch duration or (2) a scale or set of scales to which to map.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one recursive system is configured to utilize at least one cellular automaton to generate the plurality of raw data sequences.

8. A system according to claim 6, further comprising a user interface system configured to:

prompt a user to provide configuration information to configure the recursive system; and

receive the configuration information;

wherein the at least one recursive system is configured to operate according to the configuration information.

9. A system according to claim 6, further comprising a user interface system configured to:

prompt a user to provide configuration information regarding converting the plurality of raw data sequences into the plurality of sequences of musical tones; and

receive the configuration information;

wherein the converter system is configured to convert the plurality of raw data sequences into the plurality of sequences of musical tones according to the configuration information.

10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon machine executable instructions, the machine executable instructions capable of causing, when executed by one or more processors, the one or more processors to:

generate a plurality of raw data sequences using at least one recursive system implemented by the one or more processors; and

convert the plurality of raw data sequences into a plurality of sequences of musical tones that follow a set of aesthetic music principles, wherein the machine executable instructions capable of causing the one or more processors to convert the plurality of raw data sequences into a plurality of sequences of musical tones comprises machine executable instructions capable of causing, when executed by one or more processors, the one or more processors to perform at least one of a and b;

a) map the plurality of raw data sequences into a plurality of potential sequences of musical tones, and select sequences of musical tones that follow the set of aesthetic music principles from the plurality of potential sequences of musical tones;

b) map, according to the set of aesthetic music principles, the plurality of raw data sequences into the plurality of sequences of musical tones, at least one of the aesthetic musical principles including a requirement specifying a characteristic other than (1) pitch duration or (2) a scale or set of scales to which to map.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 10, wherein the machine executable instructions capable of causing the one or more processors to generate the plurality of raw data sequences comprises machine executable instructions capable of causing, when executed by one or more processors, the one or more processors to generate the plurality of raw data sequences using at least one cellular automaton implemented by the one or more processors.

12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 10, wherein mapping, using the computing system, the plurality of raw data sequences into the plurality of potential sequences of musical tones comprises mapping according to at least a first subset of aesthetic music principles from the set of aesthetic music principles.

13. A method for generating musical tones, the method comprising the acts of:

generating a plurality of raw data sequences using a raw data sequence generator, implemented by a computing system, wherein the raw data sequence generator includes at least one recursive system; and

converting, using the computing system, the plurality of raw data sequences into a plurality of sequences of musical tones that follow a set of aesthetic music principles;

wherein the raw data sequence generator is configured according to at least a first subset of the aesthetic music principles in the set of aesthetic music principles to generate raw data sequences that, when converted to sequences of musical tones, result in sequences of musical tones that follow the at least the first subset of the aesthetic music principles, wherein at least one of the aesthetic musical principles in the first subset includes a requirement specifying a characteristic other than (i) pitch duration or (ii) a scale or set of scales.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein generating the plurality of raw data sequences using the raw data sequence generator comprises using an enumerated constraint system implemented by the computing system, wherein the enumerated constraint system is configured according to the at least the first subset of the aesthetic music principles.

15. A method according to claim 13, further comprising using a filter configured with the at least the first subset of the aesthetic music principles from the set of the aesthetic music principles to eliminate raw data sequences that will result in sequences of musical tones that do not follow the at least the first subset of the aesthetic music principles.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein converting the plurality of raw data sequences into a plurality of sequences of musical tones comprises:

mapping the plurality of raw data sequences into a plurality of potential sequences of musical tones; and

selecting, from the plurality of potential sequences of musical tones, sequences of musical tones that follow the set of aesthetic music principles.

17. A method according to claim 13, wherein converting the plurality of raw data sequences into a plurality of sequences of musical tones comprises:

mapping, according to at least some of the set of aesthetic music principles and using the computing system, the plurality of raw data sequences into the plurality of sequences of musical tones.

18. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

prompting, using the computing system, a user to provide configuration information to configure the recursive system;

receiving the configuration information; and

configuring the recursive system using the configuration information;

wherein generating the plurality of raw data sequences comprises using the recursive system after the recursive system has been configured using the configuration information.

19. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

prompting, using the computing system, a user to provide configuration information regarding converting the plurality of raw data sequences into the plurality of sequences of musical tones; and

receiving the configuration information;

wherein converting the plurality of raw data sequences into the plurality of sequences of musical tones is implemented according to the configuration information.

20. A system for generating musical tones, the system comprising:

a raw data sequence generator including at least one recursive system, wherein the raw data sequence generator is configured to generate a plurality of raw data sequences using the at least one recursive system; and

a converter system to convert the plurality of raw data sequences into a plurality of sequences of musical tones that follow a set of aesthetic music principles;

wherein the raw data sequence generator is configured according to at least a first subset of the aesthetic music principles in the set of aesthetic music principles, and is configured to generate raw data sequences that, when converted into sequences of musical tones, result in sequences of musical tones that follow the at least the first subset of the aesthetic music principles in the set of aesthetic music principles, wherein at least one of the aesthetic musical principles in the first subset includes a requirement specifying a characteristic other than (i) pitch duration or (ii) a scale or set of scales.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the at least one recursive system comprises an enumerated constraint system, wherein the enumerated constraint system is configured according to the at least the first subset of the aesthetic music principles.

22. A system according to claim 20, wherein the raw data sequence generator includes a filter configured with the at least the first subset of the aesthetic music principles from the set of the aesthetic music principles to eliminate raw data sequences that will result in sequences of musical tones that do not follow the at least the first subset of the aesthetic music principles.

23. A method for generating musical tones, the method comprising the acts of:

generating a plurality of raw data sequences using at least one recursive system implemented by a computing system; and

converting, using the computing system, the plurality of raw data sequences into a plurality of sequences of musical tones that follow a set of aesthetic music principles, wherein the act of converting includes at least one of a and b;

a) using a filter, implemented by the computing system, configured with at least some of the aesthetic music principles from the set of the aesthetic music principles to eliminate raw data sequences that will result in sequences of musical tones that do not follow the at least some of the aesthetic music principles; and

b) converting, using the computing system, the plurality of raw data sequences into a plurality of potential musical tone sequences, and selecting, using the computing system, sequences of musical tones, from the plurality of potential musical tone sequences, that follow the set of aesthetic music principles, wherein at least one of the aesthetic musical principles in the first subset includes a requirement specifying a characteristic other than (i) pitch duration or (ii) a scale or set of scales.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein generating the plurality of raw data sequences comprises the act of generating the plurality of raw data sequences using one recursive system implemented by the computing system.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein generating the plurality of raw data sequences comprises the act of generating the plurality of raw data sequences using a plurality of initial conditions to the one recursive system.

26. A method according to claim 23, wherein generating the plurality of raw data sequences comprises the act of generating the plurality of raw data sequences using at least one cellular automaton implemented by the computing system.

27. A method according to claim 23, wherein generating the plurality of raw data sequences comprises the act of generating the plurality of raw data sequences using a plurality of recursive systems implemented by the computing system.

28. A method according to claim 23, wherein generating the plurality of raw data sequences comprises the act of enumerating, using the computing system, at least a subset of variations that satisfy constraints associated with the set of aesthetic music principles.

29. A method according to claim 23, wherein converting the plurality of raw data sequences into the plurality of potential musical tone sequences comprises the act of mapping, using the computing system, the plurality of raw data sequences into the plurality of potential musical tone sequences.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein mapping the plurality of raw data sequences comprises the act of mapping, using the computing system, the plurality of raw data sequences into a plurality of potential musical tone sequences that follow at least some aesthetic music principles from the set of aesthetic music principles.

31. A method according to claim 23, wherein converting the plurality of raw data sequences comprises the act of converting, using the computing system, at least some of the plurality of raw data sequences into sequences of musical tones that conform to one of a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) format, a Waveform audio format, a Sun audio format, a Macintosh audio format, a RealAudio audio format, and a Moving Picture Experts Group Layer-3 Audio (MP3) format.

32. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the act of converting, using the computing system, a format of at least some of the plurality of sequences of musical tones into a format that conforms to one of a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) format, a Waveform audio format, a Sun audio format, a Macintosh audio format, a RealAudio audio format, and a Moving Picture Experts Group Layer-3 Audio (MP3) format.

33. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the act of transmitting, using the computing system, at least one musical tone sequence via a network.

34. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon machine readable instructions, the machine readable instructions, when executed by one or more computing devices, causing the one or more computing devices to:

generate a plurality of raw data sequences using at least one recursive system; and

convert the plurality of raw data sequences into a plurality of sequences of musical tones that follow a set of aesthetic music principles; and

at least one of a and b;

a) use a filter configured with at least some of the aesthetic music principles from the set of the aesthetic music principles to eliminate raw data sequences that will result in sequences of musical tones that do not follow the at least some of the aesthetic music principles; and

b) convert the plurality of raw data sequences into a plurality of potential musical tone sequences, and select, from the plurality of potential musical tone sequences, sequences of musical tones that follow the set of aesthetic music principles, wherein at least one of the aesthetic musical principles in the first subset includes a requirement specifying a characteristic other than (i) pitch duration or (ii) a scale or set of scales.

35. A system for generating musical tones, the system comprising:

a raw data sequence generator configured to use at least one recursive system to generate a plurality of raw data sequences; and

a converter configured to convert the plurality of raw data sequences into a plurality of sequences of musical tones that follow a set of aesthetic music principles, wherein the converter includes a tone sequence generator configured to convert raw data sequences into tone sequences, and includes at least one of a and b;

a) a first filter coupled to an input of the tone sequence generator, the first filter configured to eliminate raw data sequences that would result in sequences of musical tones that do not follow at least some aesthetic music principles in the set of aesthetic music principles; and

b) a second filter coupled to an output of the tone sequence generator, the second filter configured to eliminate sequences of musical tones that do not follow at least some aesthetic music principles in the set of aesthetic music principles, wherein at least one of the aesthetic musical principles in the first subset includes a requirement specifying a characteristic other than (i) pitch duration or (ii) a scale or set of scales.

36. A system according to claim 35, wherein the raw data sequence generator is configured to use at least one cellular automaton.

37. A system according to claim 35, wherein the raw data sequence generator comprises an enumerated constraint system.

38. A system according to claim 35, wherein the converter is configured to generate sequences of musical tones in a desired data format.

39. A system according to claim 35, wherein the raw data sequence generator and the converter are implemented by one or more computing devices executing machine readable instructions stored in one or more memory devices.