Sound sequencing system and method

• US 9,076,264 B1
• Filed: 08/06/2009
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Native Instruments
• Original Assignee: iZotope, Inc. (Soundwide GmbH)
• Inventors: Todd, Jeremy, Gillespie, Art, Regan, Brendan
• Primary Examiner(s): Amini, Javid A
• Application Number:
  US12/537,238
• Time in Patent Office: 2,161 Days
• Field of Search: 345/440, 345/619, 345/629, 345/581, 345/173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/42 comprising tone forming circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/106 using icons, e.g. selecting, moving or linking icons, on-screen symbols, screen regions or segments representing musical elements or parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2250/641 Waveform sampler, i.e. music samplers; Sampled music loop processing, wherein a loop is a sample of a performance that has been edited to repeat seamlessly without clicks or artifacts

Abstract

A system and method for displaying, playing and modifying song and percussion sequences. Users can easily view and modify such sequences using a User Interface (UI), including while the sequences are playing. A user may quickly “zoom in” on specific sounds and rhythms, and modify the sound and/or rhythm while it plays. Users can also “zoom out” to view and manipulate a song at a pattern level, or at a song level with multiple sections of different sounds and rhythms.

Claims

1. A user interface display for an audio sequencing device, comprising:

a part view comprising a square matrix of squares, wherein the squares in the matrix visually indicate a sequence of when a specific sound is to be played, and wherein when the sound sequence is being played, the part view matrix squares are highlighted sequentially as the indicated specific sound is played; and

a pattern view comprising a square matrix of squares, wherein at least one square in the pattern view matrix displays a part view related to the pattern view, and wherein when the pattern view is displayed and a song is being played, the part view matrix squares are still highlighted sequentially as the indicated specific sound is played;

wherein when a user is viewing the pattern view, the user may select one of the squares in the pattern view matrix, whereupon the selected part view will expand and be displayed instead of the pattern view.

2. The user interface display of claim 1, wherein each square in the part view matrix visually indicates a volume for the audio sound for when the sequence is played.

3. The user interface display of claim 1, further including:

a song view, comprising a square matrix of squares wherein at least one square within the song view matrix comprises a pattern view, wherein when a user is viewing the song view, the user may select one of the squares in the song view matrix, whereupon the selected pattern view will expand and be displayed instead of the song view.

4. The user interface display of claim 1, wherein the parts view shows parts in different colors based on a type of instrument related to the audio sound.

5. The user interface display of claim 1, wherein in the part view, each square in the matrix indicates a volume level by one or more lines that substantially fill the square for a high volume level indication, wherein consecutively fewer lines indicating lower volume level.

6. The user interface display of claim 1, including an input feature wherein a user may indicate a tempo by sequentially activating the input feature at a speed to indicate the desired tempo.

7. The user interface display of claim 1, wherein the specific sound is stored in an audio file.

8. A method of displaying a sequence of sounds to be played, comprising:

displaying by a processor, a pattern view on a display device, wherein the pattern view comprises a square matrix of squares, wherein at least one square within the matrix displays a part view;

upon receiving a signal, enlarging and displaying by a processor one of the part views on the display device, wherein the part view enlarges and replaces the pattern view, and wherein the part view comprises a square matrix of squares, and wherein each square in the part view matrix visually indicates whether a specific sound is played at a specific time in a sequence; and

when in play mode, sequentially highlighting each of the part view matrix squares, and simultaneously producing audio output if the highlighted square indicates that the specific sound should be played, wherein each square in the part view matrix visually indicates whether a specific sound is played at a specific time in a sequence even when displaying the pattern view on the display device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of displaying a pattern view includes:

if in play mode, for each part view in the pattern view, sequentially highlighting each square in the part view, and simultaneously producing audio output if the highlighted square indicates that the specific sound should be played;

wherein sequentially highlighting of each square in the part view is synchronized for all part views displayed in the pattern view.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein producing audio output includes producing audio output at a volume level as indicated in the highlighted square.

11. The method of claim 8, further including:

displaying by a processor, a song view on the display device, wherein the song view comprises a square matrix of squares, wherein at least one square within the matrix displays a pattern view; and

wherein upon receiving a signal, enlarging and displaying by a processor one of the pattern views on the display device, wherein the pattern view enlarges and replaces the song view.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium including executable instructions that when provided to a processor, cause the processor to perform:

displaying a pattern view on a display device, wherein the pattern view comprises a square matrix of squares, wherein at least one square within the matrix displays a part view;

upon receiving a signal, enlarging and displaying one of the part views on the display device, wherein the part view replaces that pattern view, and wherein the part view comprises a square matrix of squares, and wherein each square in the matrix visually indicates whether a specific sound is played at a specific time in a sequence; and

when in play mode, sequentially highlighting each of the part view matrix squares, and simultaneously producing audio output if the highlighted square indicates that the specific sound should be played, wherein each square in the part view matrix visually indicates whether a specific sound is played at a specific time in a sequence even when displaying the pattern view on the display device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, further including executable instructions that cause the processor to perform:

while displaying a pattern view, if in play mode, for each part view in the pattern view, sequentially highlighting each square in the part view, and simultaneously producing audio output if the highlighted square indicates that the specific sound should be played;

wherein sequentially highlighting of each square in the part view is synchronized for all part views displayed in the pattern view.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 further including executable instructions that cause the processor to perform producing audio output at a volume level as indicated in the highlighted square.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, further including executable instructions that cause the processor to perform:

displaying a song view on the display device, wherein the song view comprises a matrix of squares, wherein at least one square within the matrix displays a pattern view; and

wherein upon receiving a signal, enlarging and displaying by a processor one of the pattern views on the display device, wherein the pattern view enlarges and replaces the song view.