Music synthesizer - Patent Review 4998960

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A synthesizer comprising:

(a) reproduction means for accepting input signals and producing, responsive to said input signals, output signals simulating sounds emitted by a vibratory element of a musical instrument so that each said output signal simulates the sound emitted by said vibratory element in response to one excitation thereof; and

(b) overlap means operative when said input signals call for said reproduction means to produce overlapping output signals simulating overlapping sounds emitted by said vibratory element upon closely-spaced excitations thereof for altering at least one of said output signals to change the individual sound simulated by each said altered output signal and thereby simulate a change in sound produced by said vibratory element occasioned by said closely spaced excitations.

2. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reproduction means includes means for producing output signals simulating sounds emitted by a plurality of separate vibratory elements and wherein said overlap means includes means for determining if said input signals call for said reproduction means to simulate overlapping sounds emitted by one of said vibratory elements and altering at least one of said output signals simulating sounds emitted by said one of said vibratory elements.

3. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reproduction means includes means for accepting input signals incorporating information defining magnitude of excitation and wherein said overlap means includes means for varying said at least one of said output signals to a degree dependent upon the magnitude of excitation defined by at least one of said input signals.

4. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 3 wherein said reproduction means includes means for accepting said input signals in temporal sequence and providing output signals in temporal sequence corresponding to the temporal sequence of said input signals.

5. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for providing output signals in temporal sequence includes means for providing an output signal responsive to each said input signal substantially immediately after receipt of such input signal.

6. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 5 wherein said overlap means includes means for altering an earlier output signal produced in response to an earlier input signal dependent upon the magnitude of excitation information in a later input signal.

7. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 5 wherein said overlap means includes means for altering a later output signal produced in response to a later input signal dependent upon the magnitude of excitation information in an earlier input signal.

8. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 4 wherein said reproduction means includes means for providing said output signals so that each output signal includes frequency information specifying frequencies in a sound to be simulated and wherein said overlap means includes means for altering said frequency information.

9. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 8 wherein said reproduction means includes waveform data storage means for storing a series of amplitude values representing a sound to be simulated, readout means for reading said stored series of amplitude values from said memory means at a preselected rate to provide a readout signal simulating a waveform, whereby said readout signal will include frequencies dependent upon said readout rate, and means for processing said readout signal to provide said output signal, said reproduction means further including means for selecting said rate dependent upon magnitude of excitation information in one of said input signals to provide an output signal responsive to said one of said input signals having frequency content dependent upon the magnitude of excitation information in said one of said input signals, said overlap means including means for adjusting said rate dependent upon the magnitude of excitation information in another one of said input signals.

10. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 9 wherein said means for adjusting said rate includes means for increasing said rate by an amount directly related to the magnitude of excitation indicated by said magnitude of excitation information in said another one of said input signals.

11. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 9 wherein said waveform data storage means includes means for storing a plurality of series of amplitude values representing a plurality of different sounds associated with a plurality of vibratory elements to be simulated, said readout means includes a plurality of voice units each operative to select one of said stored series and read out the selected stored series in response to a command specifying the particular series and specifying a readout rate and to continue such reading until further command is received or the end of the series is reached, said reproduction means further comprising command means for issuing, in response to each said input signal, a command indicating the identity of one of said plurality of stored series and a readout rate to one of said voice units, said overlap means including means for issuing, in response to a newly received input signal, a new command to one or more of said voice units which had been previously actuated in response to previous input signals.

12. A music synthesizer comprising:

(a) actuation means for providing input signals so that each such input signal includes an actuation strength value in a range between a weakest-actuation value and a strongest actuation value;

(b) generation and processing means for generating signals representing waveforms responsive to said input signals and processing said waveform-representing signals to derive output signals representing sounds and varying in accordance with a plurality of control parameters;

(c) storage means for storing, for each of said plurality of control parameters, weakest-actuation and strongest-actuation plots of the control parameter versus time each including a series of values of the control parameter; and

(d) interpolation means responsive to said input signals for interpolating between said weakest-actuation and strongest-actuation plots of each said control parameter to derive an interpolated plot of each said control parameter against time so that the interpolated plot for each said control parameter approaches said weakest-actuation plot for such parameter as the actuation strength value in the input signal approaches the weakest-actuation value and approaches the strongest-actuation plot for such parameter as the actuation strength value in the input signal approaches the strongest-actuation value and providing a series of values of each said control parameter defined by the interpolated plot thereof as values of the control parameter to said generation and processing means.

13. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 12 wherein said plurality of control parameters includes at least one frequency-related control parameter and said generation and processing means includes means for varying relative predominence of different frequencies within said output signals in accordance with said at least one frequency-related parameter.

14. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 13 wherein said plurality of control parameters includes a rate parameter, said storage means includes means for storing weakest-activation and strongest-activation plots of said rate parameter, said interpolation means includes means for providing an interpolated plot of said rate parameter, and said generation and processing means includes waveform data storage means for storing a series of amplitude values and readout means for reading out said series of values at a rate in accordance with said interpolated plot of said rate parameter to thereby provide said waveform-representing signals.

15. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 13 wherein said generation and processing means includes variable filter means for applying boost or cut of a selected magnitude to signals in a selected frequency range, and wherein said at least one frequency-related parameter includes the magnitude an sign of said boost or cut and at least one parameter specifying said range.

16. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 12 wherein said generation and processing means includes means for processing said waveform representing signal to derive stereo processed signals including spatial distribution information therefrom and wherein said at least one control parameter includes a pan parameter related to said spatial distribution information.

17. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 16 wherein said generation and processing means includes a plurality of signal paths, means for providing separate signals on each said signal path including amplitude information, and amplitude control means in each said signal path for controlling said amplitude information, said plurality of control parameters includes an overall amplitude parameter, said generation and processing means including means for adjusting each said amplitude control means responsive to said pan parameter and responsive to said overall amplitude parameter.

18. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 17 wherein said means for providing separate signals includes means for providing separate analog signals on each path, said amplitude control means includes a variable gain element on each path, and said means for adjusting said amplitude control means includes means for varying the gains of said variable gain elements relative to one another responsive to said pan parameter and means for adjusting the gains of all of said variable gain elements in unison responsive to said overall amplitude parameter.

19. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 12 including a plurality of voice units each including generation and processing means and interpolation means as aforesaid, said parameter storage means including command parameter storage means for storing a plurality of sets of plots of said control parameters, each such set including a strongest-actuation plot and a weakest-actuation plot of each said control parameter, each said set being associated with simulation of a different sound, each said generation and processing means of each said voice unit being operative to provide a waveform-representing signal associated with any of said different sounds, said actuation means including command means for selecting one of said voice units and one of said different sounds, instructing the generation and processing means of the selected voice unit to generate the waveform-representing signal associated with the selected sound, routing the set of plots of said control parameters associated with the selected sound to the interpolation means of the selected voice unit and providing an actuation strength value associated with the selected sound to the interpolation means of the selected voice unit.

20. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 19 wherein said generation means of each said voice unit includes means for accepting a series of digital amplitude values and generating an analog signal therefrom, the synthesizer further comprising common waveform data storage means for storing a plurality of series of digital amplitude values associated with said different sounds, said command means including means for routing a series of digital amplitude values associated with the selected sound to the selected one of said voice units.

21. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 20 wherein said common parameter storage means includes means for storing each said set of plots as a plurality of series of digital values, said interpolation means including means for accepting the plural series of digital values representing a set of plots and providing a series of values of each said control parameter responsive thereto.

22. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 21 wherein each said voice unit includes a multifunction microprocessor, and waveform digital-to-analog conversion means, said multifunction microprocessor being operative to accept said digital amplitude values from said common waveform data storage means are provide these values to said waveform digital-to-analog conversion means at a preselected sample rate, said multifunction microprocessor also being operative to accept said series of values defining the selected set of plots from said common parameter storage means, and derive therefrom a plurality of further series of values defining said interpolated plots.

23. A synthesizer comprising:

(a) reproduction means for accepting input signals calling for sounds simulating sounds emitted by a plurality of different musical instruments and emiting output signals representing sounds responsive to said input signals, said reproduction means being capable of emitting at most a predetermined maximum number of output signals simultaneously;

(b) priority means for calculating and attributing a value to a score for each output signal depending upon a plurality of factors for each said output signal including the identity of the instrument simulated determining whether input signals will require said reproduction means to emit more than said predetermined maximum number of output signals simultaneously and, if so, causing said reproduction means to emit one or more output signals having the lowest valued scores so that the number of output signals remaining is no greater than said predetermined maximum number.

24. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 23 wherein said priority means includes means for determining, with respect to each output signal in plurality of output signals to be emitted simultaneously, the number of other output signals in said plurality simulating the same instrument, assigning a value depending upon said number and considering said value depending upon said number as one of said factors in computation of the score for such output signal.

25. A synthesizer as claimed in 23 further comprising automatic echo means for automatically providing echo signals responsive to some or all of said input signals, said reproduction means being operative to produce output signals responsive to said echo signals as well as said input signals, said priority means including means for determining whether each output signal is to be emitted in response to an input signal or in response to an echo signal and assigning an echo factor value dependent upon such determination and considering said echo factor value in computation of said scores.

26. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 23 wherein said priority means includes means for maintaining a running score for each output signal assigning an initial value to the running score for each said output signal depending upon the identity of the instrument simulated, means for ordering all of the output signals to be emitted simultaneously simulating the same instrument according to an initial amplitude value for each such output signal, means for assigning a score decrement to each said output signal depending upon its rank in such order, and means for decrementing the running score for each output signal by its score decrement when a new input signal is received.

27. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 26 further comprising automatic echo means for automatically providing echo signals each specifying a particular instrument to be simulated responsive to some or all of said input signals, said reproduction means being operative to produce output signals responsive to said echo signals as well as said input signals, said priority means including means for assigning a lower initial value for said running score to an output signal produced responsive to one of said echo signals then to an output signal simulating the same instrument produced responsive to one of said input signals.

28. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 27 further comprising tie breaker means for determining, as between two or more output signals having equal running scores constituting the lowest running score of all output signals, which, of such output signals is responsive to the oldest input signal and causing said reproduction means to emit such output signal.

29. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 23 wherein said reproduction means includes a plurality of individual voice units, each said voice unit including means for emitting one and only one output signal at any time, whereby said predetermined maximum number of output signals is equal to the number of said voice units.

30. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 29 wherein said priority means includes means, operative on receipt of a new input signal for determining whether or not one of said voice units is unoccupied, and, if so, assigning the unoccupied voice unit to produce an output signal responsive to said new input signal without regard to said scores.

31. An synthesizer as claimed in claim 30 wherein said means for determining whether or not one of said voice units is unoccupied includes means for determining whether the last output signal emitted by each said voice unit has decayed to less than a predetermined threshold and considering said voice unit as unoccupied if the last emitted output signal has so decayed.

32. A synthesizer comprising:

(a) a plurality of voice units, each having means for generating a voice signal simulating any of several instruments;

(b) a plurality of output units;

(c) switchable connector means for selectively interconnecting said output units and said voice units; and

(d) command means for allocating said voice units to instruments, actuating each said voice unit to generate a voice signal simulating the instrument allocated thereto and altering said allocating from time to time while controlling said switchable connector means to route said voice signals simulating particular instruments to particular ones of said output units according to a predetermined pattern of correlation between instruments and output units.

whereby each said voice unit will produce voice signals simulating different instruments from time to time but voice signals simulating a particular instrument will be routed to a particular one or to particular ones of said output units according to said pattern of correlation.

33. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 32 wherein said switchable connector means includes an output bus having a plurality of output bus channels, means for connecting each said voice unit to predetermined ones of said output bus channels and selectively operable output unit switching means for connecting each said output unit to one or more of said bus channels responsive to commands from said command means.

34. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 33 wherein said selectively operable output unit switching means includes means for connecting each said output unit to a plurality of said output bus channels simultaneously and wherein each said output unit includes means for mixing signals received from plural output bus channels to provide a composite output signal.

35. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 34 wherein said output unit switching means includes controllable means for varying the relative proportions of signals taken from different ones of said output bus channels in the composite output signal of each output unit.

36. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 35 wherein said command means include mean for controlling said controllable means for selecting the proportion of signals from said plural output bus channels so as to change such proportions concomitantly with changes in the allocation of said voice units to different instruments.

37. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 35 further comprising infeed means for accepting signals from external sources and applying said signals from said external sources to predetermined ones of said output bus channels, and wherein said command means includes means for actuating said output unit switching means to connect one or more of said output units to one or more of said predetermined ones of said bus channels, whereby each so connected output unit will provide a composite output signal including signals representative of said signals from said external source.

38. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 37 wherein said infeed means includes a plurality of ports and means for delivering external signals applied it each port to one or more pre-selected ones of said bus channels.

39. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 38 wherein said output bus includes voice unit channels and excess channels, said means for connecting said voice units to said bus including means for connecting said voice units only to said voice unit channels, whereby no voice units are connected to said excess channels, and wherein said infeed means includes means for conducting signals applied to said ports only to said excess channels.

40. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 34 wherein said means for connecting said voice units to said output bus channels includes means for connecting each said voice unit to only one of said output bus channels.

41. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 34 further comprising common memory means for storing information defining signals to be generated for notes sounded by each instrument to be simulated, each of said voice units including means for taking information from said common memory means and generating the voice signal of that voice output unit depending upon said information.

42. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 41 wherein said common memory means includes digital waveform memory means for storing waveforms corresponding to the waveforms of instruments to be simulated as separate series of digital values synthesizer further comprising a digital data bus, said means in each said voice unit for taking information from said common memory including means for accessing said digital waveform memory via said digital data bus.

43. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 42 wherein said digital data bus includes a plurality of digital/voice unit connectors at least equal in number to the number of said voice units, said output bus includes a plurality of voice/output connectors at least equal in number to the number of said voice units, and wherein each of said voice units is releasably connected to the digital data bus and to the output bus via said digital/voice unit connectors and said voice/output connectors, respectively.

44. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 43 wherein the number of said digital/voice unit connectors and the number of said voice unit/output connectors are each greater than the number of said voice units, whereby additional voice units may be installed by releasably connecting the same to said digital bus and said output bus via unused ones of said connectors.

45. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 43 wherein said output bus includes a plurality of output bus/output unit connectors at least equal in number to the number of said output units, each said output unit being releasably connected to said output bus via one of said output bus/output unit connectors.

46. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 42 wherein each said voice unit includes digital processing means for drawing digital amplitude values from said common memory via said digital data bus and providing said values in series, digital to analog conversion means for converting said series of digital amplitude values to an analog signal and analog processing means for adjusting said analog signal and providing said adjusted analog signal as the voice signal, said digital processing means and analog processing means being releasably connected to one another, said digital processing means being connected to said digital data bus, said analog signal processing means being connected to said output bus.

47. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 32 wherein said means for generating a voice signal in each of said voice units includes means for generating the voice signal in the form of an analog audio frequency signal.

48. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 47 wherein each of said output units includes means for amplifying voice signals directed thereto.

49. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 47 wherein said means for generating a voice signal in each of said output units includes means for generating an audio frequency waveform signal and means for processing said waveform signal, and wherein at least one of said voice units incorporates external signal input means for accepting an external audio frequency analog signal and means for passing the external signal through the signal-processing means of the voice unit so that the processed external signal is supplied by the voice unit instead of the normal voice signal.

50. A synthesizer as claimed in claim 32 wherein said command means includes means for accepting control inputs representing notes played on various instruments to be simulated and allocating a voice unit to a particular instrument upon receipt of each control input calling for a note to be sounded simulating that particular instrument.

51. A synthesizer as claimed i