Music instrument system and methods
First Claim
1. An electronic music instrument comprising:
- a plurality of independently-controllable switches;
a plurality of independently-controllable programs, each such program comprising at least one sound element;
a first coupler, for allowing at least one of the switches to control at least one of the programs;
a plurality of independently-controllable electromagnetic beams;
a second coupler, for allowing at least one of the electromagnetic beams to control at least one of the switches in response to the interruption of the at least one electromagnetic beam; and
, a sound generator, for playing the programs.
15 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and methods which allow even a novice performer to easily play music which is not disharmonious and which is pleasing to the performer and his or her audience. The music is preferably created by a performer breaking one or more beams of light, which are emitted by one or more beam emitters and received, or detected, by one or more beam detectors. When a beam detector determines that a beam has been broken, a trigger is sent to a synthesizer, with such synthesizer preferably being a computer interfaced to the beam detectors via a Universal Serial Bus connection. The synthesizer selects from one or more electronic sounds, based on a pre-programmed collection of sounds, and a sound generator, such as an amplifier and speakers, plays the sound.
62 Citations
53 Claims
-
1. An electronic music instrument comprising:
-
a plurality of independently-controllable switches;
a plurality of independently-controllable programs, each such program comprising at least one sound element;
a first coupler, for allowing at least one of the switches to control at least one of the programs;
a plurality of independently-controllable electromagnetic beams;
a second coupler, for allowing at least one of the electromagnetic beams to control at least one of the switches in response to the interruption of the at least one electromagnetic beam; and
,a sound generator, for playing the programs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A music instrument comprising:
-
a plurality of independently-controllable trigger circuits;
a plurality of electromagnetic beams, arranged substantially horizontally and positioned within easy reach of a performer;
a plurality of independently-controllable programs stored in a synthesizer, each such program comprising sound elements;
a sound generator, comprised of at least one speaker and at least one amplifier, capable of simultaneously playing at least one program;
a MIDI controller, for allowing at least one of the switches to control at least one of the programs such that programs played by the sound generation means are not disharmonious, and for transposing the programs;
a plurality of independently-controllable electromagnetic beams; and
,a beam detector, for allowing at least one of the electromagnetic beams to control at least one of the switches in response to the interruption of the at least one electromagnetic beam.
-
-
32. A music instrument comprising:
-
a plurality of independently-controllable trigger circuits;
a plurality of electromagnetic beams, arranged substantially horizontally and positioned within easy reach of a performer;
a plurality of independently-controllable programs stored in a computer, each such program comprising sound elements;
a Universal Serial Bus controller, for allowing at least one of the switches to control at least one of the programs, including transposing the program;
a plurality of independently-controllable electromagnetic beams;
a beam detector, for allowing at least one of the electromagnetic beams to control at least one of the switches in response to the interruption of the electromagnetic beam; and
,a sound generator, comprised of at least one speaker and at least one amplifier, capable of simultaneously playing a plurality of programs.
-
-
33. A music instrument comprising:
-
a plurality of electromagnetic beam emitters, for emitting electromagnetic beams;
a plurality of electromagnetic beam detectors, for detecting at least one of the emitted beams;
a plurality of trigger circuits for determining when a beam detector has changed state;
a computer;
a first universal serial bus controller, for transmitting state change information to the computer;
a second universal serial bus controller, for receiving state change information;
a plurality of programs which permit the computer to generate an electronic sound equivalent; and
,at least one sound generation means for converting the electronic sound equivalent into audible sounds. - View Dependent Claims (34)
-
-
35. A sound scene creation method comprising:
-
developing an underpinning;
writing a first melody using a scale that fits sympathetically with the underpinning;
writing a counterpoint that is harmonious to the melody;
creating a transpose matrix; and
,writing at least one additional melody using alternate chords that fit sympathetically with the underpinning. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
-
- 38. A music instrument wherein the music elements which can be produced by the instrument are limited to a set of between three and seven different sounds, plus octaves of such sounds, wherein the sounds are related to each other in such a manner that the sounding together of any combination of the musical sounds would not be disharmonious.
-
40. A method of composing an electronic instrument program comprising:
-
selecting at least one first sympathetic scale;
selecting at least one first background composition, wherein substantially all notes are included in the first sympathetic scale;
selecting at least one first melody composition, wherein substantially all notes are included in the first sympathetic scale;
assigning the first background composition to at least one first control switch;
assigning the first melody composition to at least one second control switch; and
,arranging operation of the first and second control switches such that at least one performer may operate the first and second control switches to play the compositions assigned thereto. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
-
-
46. A method of configuring and performing an electronic musical instrument comprising:
-
assigning at least one sound element into at least one first program;
assigning at least one sound element to at least one second program;
assigning the first program to at least one first trigger;
assigning the second program to at least one second trigger;
assigning at least one function to at least one third trigger; and
,activating the triggers in a desired order to produce a musical performance. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49)
-
-
50. A method of configuring and performing an electronic musical instrument comprising:
-
assigning at least one sound element to at least one first program to create a background sound;
assigning at least one sound element into at least one second program, wherein the sound elements assigned are comprised of a chord that fits against the predominant scale of the first program;
assigning the first program to at least one first trigger;
assigning the second program to at least one second trigger;
assigning at least one transpose mapping to at least one third trigger; and
,activating the triggers in a desired order to produce a musical performance.
-
-
51. A portable, light beam based musical instrument comprising a plurality of beam emitters and beam detectors, a plurality of trigger circuits, a plurality of sounds, and at least one audible sound generator for playing the sounds, wherein the musical instrument is played by interacting with the beams emitted by the beam emitters.
-
52. A portable light beam based musical instrument comprising a plurality of beam emitters and beam detectors, a plurality of trigger circuits, a plurality of sounds, and at least one audible sound generator for playing the sounds, wherein the musical instrument is played by interacting with the beams emitted by the beam emitters, and wherein prolonged activation of one of the beams emitted by the beam emitters causes successive sounds to be played.
-
53. A music instrument comprising:
-
a plurality of independently-controllable switches;
a plurality of independently-controllable programs, each such program comprising at least one sound element;
a first coupler, for allowing at least one of the switches to control at least one of the programs;
a plurality of independently-controllable electromagnetic beams;
a second coupler, for allowing at least one of the electromagnetic beams to control at least one of the switches in response to the interruption of the at least one electromagnetic beam, wherein prolonged activation of one of the independently-controllable switches causes successive sound elements within at least one independently-controllable program to be played; and
,a sound generator, for playing the programs.
-
Specification