A system for creating music using visual input. The system detects events and metrics (e.g., objects, gestures, etc.) in user input (e.g., video, audio, music data, touch, motion, etc.) and generates music and visual effects that are synchronized with the detected events and correspond to the detected metrics. To generate the music, the system selects parts from a library of stored music data and assigns each part to the detected events and metrics (e.g., using heuristics to match musical attributes to visual attributes in the user input). To generate the visual effects, the system applies rules (e.g., that map musical attributes to visual attributes) to translate the generated music data to visual effects. Because the visual effects are generated using music data that is generated using the detected events/metrics, both the generated music and the visual effects are synchronized with—and correspond to—the user input.

A musical device between one or more Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) controllers and one or more musical instruments comprises a housing and a plurality of potentiometers on a surface of the housing. A method of mapping music messages using a musical device is provided. The method includes defining a preset value corresponding to a frequency to be received within a MIDI message. Once a MIDI message having the frequency is received by the device, the device uses the data of the MIDI message and the preset value to create a new output MIDI message. The new output message is then transmitted to a sound module for producing a sound that differs from the sound that would have been produced from the MIDI message, had it been received.

Disclosed are a spiral curve type music sheet in which different notes are displayed at different positions on a spiral curve based on the pitches of notes, and an apparatus and method for providing a spiral curve type music sheet. The apparatus for providing a spiral curve type music sheet may include a memory configured to store a spiral curve type music sheet in which different notes are displayed at different positions on a spiral curve based on the pitch of the note and note data, and a processor configured to determine the note symbol position related to the note data on the spiral curve in the spiral curve type music sheet based on the frequency of the note data.

A microtonal musical instrument interface device between one or more Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) controllers and one or more musical instruments comprises a housing and a plurality of potentiometers on a surface of the housing. The potentiometers comprise twelve tuning potentiometers constructed and arranged to correspond to notes of a musical scale, each tuning knob for tuning one of the notes; an offset potentiometer for globally tuning all of the notes by a same amount; and a range potentiometer for setting a maximum tuning range of the tuning potentiometers. A microprocessor in the housing modifies a MIDI data stream received from the one or more MIDI controllers for output to the one or more musical instruments according to a position of the potentiometers.

At least one electronic signal is converted into at least one electromagnetic field, where the electronic signal may be created or modulated by environmental, interactive, and programmed inputs. The at least one electromagnetic field vibrates a ferromagnetic element creating an acoustic sound and optionally a transducer converts the vibration into an electronic signal for processing.

The pedal steel guitar has a plurality of strings strung across the body, with at least one multi-element transducer positioned proximate the strings. At least one foot pedal or knee lever, carried by the body and being physically disengaged from the plurality of strings, is coupled to at least one sensor that produces an electronic sensor signal when the pedal or lever is moved. A digital signal processor receives the electronic transducer signal and the electronic sensor signal and operates on the electronic transducer signal in the digital domain. The processor uses the electronic sensor signal to manipulate at least one tonal property of the electronic sensor signal. The digital signal processor produces an audio output. The digital signal processor is programmed to change the manner in which the digital signal processor manipulates the at least one tonal property based on programming information received through a programming input.

The pedal steel guitar has a plurality of strings strung across the body, with at least one multi-element transducer positioned proximate the strings. At least one foot pedal or knee lever, carried by the body and being physically disengaged from the plurality of strings, is coupled to at least one sensor that produces an electronic sensor signal when the pedal or lever is moved. A digital signal processor receives the electronic transducer signal and the electronic sensor signal and operates on the electronic transducer signal in the digital domain. The processor uses the electronic sensor signal to manipulate at least one tonal property of the electronic sensor signal. The digital signal processor produces an audio output. The digital signal processor is programmed to change the manner in which the digital signal processor manipulates the at least one tonal property based on programming information received through a programming input.

Disclosed are a spiral curve type music sheet in which different notes are displayed at different positions on a spiral curve based on the pitches of notes, and an apparatus and method for providing a spiral curve type music sheet. The apparatus for providing a spiral curve type music sheet may include a memory configured to store a spiral curve type music sheet in which different notes are displayed at different positions on a spiral curve based on the pitch of the note and note data, and a processor configured to determine the note symbol position related to the note data on the spiral curve in the spiral curve type music sheet based on the frequency of the note data.