Interactive digital music recorder and player

• US 8,704,073 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2010
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medialab Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Media Lab Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Georges, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): FLETCHER, MARLON T
• Application Number:
  US12/928,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20110197741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 84/645
• 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 1/0041 in coded form
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/151 using templates, i.e. incomplete musical sections, as a basis for composing
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/131 Library retrieval, i.e. searching a database or selecting a specific musical piece, segment, pattern, rule or parameter set
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/024 on tapes G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/028 with computer assistance
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/029 Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/036 Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

A digital multi-media device provides features for a user unskilled in musical arts or sound handling techniques that provides automatic musical score composition in accordance with contained composition instructions. Stored sound samples and interfaces for obtaining external signals provide signals for merger with visual and sound presentations to obtain altered presentations either time shifted or in real time. In this fashion the user can create simulated radio stations for playback of prearranged and composed audio material. Further, the automatically composed musical score may be mixed with synthesized, digitized signals from the stored sound samples and external signals obtained through the device interfaces.

Claims

1. A method of processing audio comprising the steps of:

providing a computing resource for processing a series of MIDI events;

providing a memory area containing a plurality of sound samples, each comprised of an audio stream;

wherein one or more of the sound samples comprises a speech sentence;

wherein playback of a sound sample is temporally synchronized to the series of MIDI events in accordance with a musical rule; and

providing a digital light show through a TV/video interface, wherein the digital light show comprises colorful patterns having movements or shapes following a beat of at least one specific instrument, wherein the digital light show further comprises written song lyrics.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the musical rule is comprised of starting the playback of the sound sample at a predetermined time between the beginning and ending of a musical bar.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio is processed by an automatic music composition algorithm.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a microprocessor executing a microprocessor operating program, wherein the microprocessor comprises part of the computing resource; and

providing a download interface for receiving updates to the microprocessor operating program.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing a music database stored in digital form, wherein the computing resource accesses the music database.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing a download interface for receiving updates to the music database.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sound sample is processed in response to user input

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing one or more user input resources suitable for user interactivity;

wherein at least one user input resource can affect a pitch changing function.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing one or more user input resources suitable for user interactivity;

wherein at least one user input resource can affect a tempo changing function.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a graphical user interface suitable for user interactivity, comprised of instrument lanes.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the graphical user interface comprises animated sound waves or animated pulses.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a digital instrument tuner.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the music rule is based on a musical style.