A signal processing system, machine and method of use to dynamically change the parameters of an audio-visual signal processing circuit without making physical contact.

A method and a device provides a user with the ability to freely improvise or play around with a selection of different chords and be provided with visual guidance assisting the improvisation of melody, while also providing accompaniment consistent with the selection of chords. Sound files consistent with a user selection of a chord and/or a dynamic level are selected from an audio library and played, while the user is given visual cues on a user interface keyboard assisting the user to select notes that are consistent with the chord selected for the accompaniment.

A digital-to-analog converter performs a computation process to start the computation based upon the second clock signal with respect to the digital data of music sound if the computation is not under execution when the control signal is outputted by the signal output process, a control process to inhibit the computation based upon the second clock signal from being started with respect to the digital data of music sound until the computation is not under execution when the computation is under execution, and an output process to convert a computation result of the computation process into an analog signal and output the analog signal.

A digital-to-analog converter performs a computation process to start the computation based upon the second clock signal with respect to the digital data of music sound if the computation is not under execution when the control signal is outputted by the signal output process, a control process to inhibit the computation based upon the second clock signal from being started with respect to the digital data of music sound until the computation is not under execution when the computation is under execution, and an output process to convert a computation result of the computation process into an analog signal and output the analog signal.

A signal generator for a musical instrument includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) comprising a control voltage input and a VCO output. The control voltage input controls a frequency of the VCO output. A controller is configured to control the voltage-controlled oscillator by inputting a sequence of analog control voltages from a plurality of preloaded control voltage inputs.

An electronic percussion instrument comprising a pair of drum assemblies of each of different tone. Each drum assembly is mounted on a housing and comprises a drum head having a sensor responsive to touch and/or pressure and an analog-to-digital converter to generate an electronic signal indicative of said touch and/or pressure. The electronic signal is transmitted to a processing unit which analyzes it and generates an output signal. The output signal is transmitted to a sound card which reproduces a sound representative of a drumbeat based on the output signal.

Described are apparatus for generating and/or processing audio signals. One apparatus includes: a first stage for obtaining an audio signal; a second stage for modifying the audio signal based on one or more control signals for shaping sound represented by the audio signal; a third stage for generating spatial metadata related to the modified audio signal, based at least in part on the one or more control signals; and an output stage for outputting the modified audio signal together with the generated spatial metadata. Also described are corresponding methods, as well as corresponding programs and computer-readable storage media.

In one embodiment, an electronic musical instrument (EMI) (or electronic multi-instrument) is described that separates pitch choice from percussive sound control (articulation). A pitch sensor interface (by which notes are selected) may comprise a software-programmed touchscreen interface (that can be modeled on existing musical instruments or entirely new) configured to allow pitch choice, while sound control may be made on a separate articulation control sensor (by which notes are triggered and modified), such as an illustrative double-sided touch pad, that senses one or more of a velocity, pressure, movement, and location of a user's contact. The design facilitates a portable, ergonomic, and intuitive way to express music via standard digital protocols (e.g., MIDI) through a physical interface that encourages fluid, non-static, personally distinguishable musical expression. Notably, the instrument may illustratively be a controller that requires a compatible synthesizer sound source (e.g., on-board or separate).

A sound generating analog synthesizer that is comprised of potentiometers, a switch or switches and a set of patch jacks has a control system that can be operated in three modes, a manual mode, an automatic mode, and a guided mode; wherein manual mode allows potentiometer and switch positions as well as patch cable connections to be set by hand; wherein automatic mode, automatically sets patch connections as on or off, as well as set potentiometer positions and switch states with electromechanical or electrical devices; and wherein the guided mode provides at least one visual information on how to change the potentiometer positions, switch states and patch jack connections such that a previously obtained sound can be reproduced.

A method and a device provides a user with the ability to freely improvise or play around with a selection of different chords and be provided with visual guidance assisting the improvisation of melody, while also providing accompaniment consistent with the selection of chords. Sound files consistent with a user selection of a chord and/or a dynamic level are selected from an audio library and played, while the user is given visual cues on a user interface keyboard assisting the user to select notes that are consistent with the chord selected for the accompaniment.