| CLAIMS What us claimed is: 1. An apparatus comprising: a plurality of pickup units, each pickup unit capable of picking up a tone or representation thereof of a single sound source; and an interface for delivering at least a signal corresponding to each tone picked up by each of the pickup units; such that the single source of each tone can be identified from the at least a signal. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the single source is one of: a string of a musical instrument, an indicator respective of a unique key of a musical instrument. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the musical instrument is one of a: guitar, piano, harp, mandolin, violin, viola, cello, contra-bass, saxophone, trumpet, flute. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least a signal comprises packets of data. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises one of: wired, wireless. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a sound analysis unit connected to the interface for analyzing the at least a signal. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: a processing unit connected to the sound analysis unit; and a memory connected to the processing unit and having stored therein at least a parameter; such that the processing unit can process the analyzed signal received from the sound analysis unit based on at least the parameter stored in the memory. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: a display connected to the processing unit. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least a parameter is a note to which the processed signal is to be checked against. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pickup unit is one of: magnetic pickup unit, optical pickup unit. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the magnetic pickup unit comprises a coil wound around a magnetic core, the magnetic pickup unit placed in proximity of the sound source. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the magnetic pickup unit comprises a coil that is inserted around the sound source. 13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the optical pickup unit comprises an array of image sensors that are capable of identifying at least one of: a motion, a vibration, a vibration frequency. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of pickup units are placed to pickup sounds from a single source. 15. A method comprising: placing a plurality of pickup units (PUs) such that each sound source of a musical instrument has a uniquely associated PU; connecting each of the plurality PUs to a sound analysis unit (SAU) via an interface; identifying each tone; associating each identified tone with a single sound source that produced the tone; analyzing the tone respective of at least a parameter; and displaying a feedback on a display responsive of the tone and the at least a parameter. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: generating a score respective of a stream of identified notes. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the single source is one of: a string of a musical instrument, an indicator respective of a unique key of a musical instrument. 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the musical instrument is one of a: guitar, piano, harp, mandolin, violin, viola, cello, contra-bass, trumpet, flute. 9. The method of claim 15, wherein the interface provides the tone in the form of packets of data. 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the interface comprises one of: wired, wireless. 21. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least a parameter is a note to which the processed signal is to be checked against. 22. The method of claim 15, wherein the pickup unit is one of: magnetic pickup unit, optical pickup unit. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the magnetic pickup unit comprises a coil wound around a magnetic core, the magnetic pickup unit placed in proximity of the sound source. 24. The method of claim 22, wherein the magnetic pickup unit comprises a coil that is inserted around the sound source. 25. The method of claim 22, wherein the optical pickup unit comprises an array of image sensors that are capable of identifying at least one of: a motion, a vibration, a vibration frequency. 26. The method of claim 15, wherein at least two of the plurality of pickup units are placed to pickup sounds from a single sound source. |
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[001] This patent application claims the benefit of US provisional patent
application No. 61/367,967 filed on July 27, 2010, the content of which are incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[002] The invention is directed to a system for uniquely identifying a source of a musical tone and further providing feedback thereof respective of
predetermined parameters.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[003] Detecting and amplifying sounds produced by a variety of musical instruments has been carried out in the industry for many decades. The detection may be done by acoustic devices such as microphones, by magnetic sensors, and others. In a more general term they are referred to as pickups, that are designed to pickup, or otherwise detect, the generated sound and are able to convert the sound into an electrical signal that is then transferred for use by an electronic device of sorts. This is particularly true with a popular device such as the guitar that has many implementations of pickup devices that are place above or below the strings for the purpose of picking up the sound produced by the strings.
[004] However, the prior art lacks significantly in the ability to provide accurate and real-time feedback with respect to the actions of the person playing the guitar, or for that matter other kinds of musical instruments, and in particular, they lack the ability to uniquely identify the source of an error. Such an error may be an inaccurate position of a finger on a string, or even the production of the correct tone from the wrong string. The reason for this inability, as demonstrated by the prior art, is the inability to distinguish one source of sound over another once the sound has been produced.
[005] There is therefore a need in the art to overcome the deficiencies of the prior-art and provide a system and methods thereof that are capable of properly tracking the produced sound of a musical instrument.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[006] The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[007] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a multi-source pickup system in accordance with the principles of the invention.
[008] Figure 2 is a magnetic pickup unit used with respect to a string musical instrument in accordance with the principles of the invention.
[009] Figure 3 is an optical pickup unit used with respect to a string musical instrument in accordance with the principles of the invention.
[0010] Figure 4 is a pickup unit through which a string of the musical instrument is pulled through.
[0011] Figure 5 is a flowchart depicting the process of detecting tone by using unique pickups per sound source and performing signal processing according to the principles of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] It is important to note that the embodiments disclosed by the invention are only examples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily limit any of the various claimed inventions.
Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others. In general, unless otherwise indicated, singular elements may be in plural and vice versa with no loss of generality. In the drawings, like numerals refer to like parts through several views.
[0013] The multi-source pickup system has a pickup for each source of tone of a musical instrument. The source may have a single tone or, like in the case with the likes of string musical instruments such as a guitar, a plurality of tones that are generated by a single source. The ability to uniquely detect the source of the tone, as well as information such as pitch and volume, allows the processing of the information and providing of feedback such as, but is not limited to, the accuracy of the frequency of the note produced by the source, use of sources that are not part of the music itself, or even producing the same tone from the wrong source, which can easily happen when a specific tone can be provided from more than one source. The system may be further used to generate a score of music played in real-time.
[0014] Reference is made to Fig. 1 where an exemplary and non-limiting block diagram 100 of a multi-source pickup system in accordance with the principles of the invention is depicted. A pickup arrangement 110 is comprised of a plurality of pickup units PUi through PU n . Unlike any of the prior art solution according to the principles of the invention a pickup is dedicated to each sound source. For example, a guitar that has six strings will have, according to the invention, a dedicated pickup unit for each string. Prior art solutions combine pickups using a single coil or a number of coils that is less than the number of strings and therefore it is not possible to identify specifically the source of the received tone. In some cases the same tone may be provided from different guitar strings and are therefore undistinguishable using the prior art solutions. Therefore, as noted above, each sound source, in the case of the guitar, each string, has its own pickup unit PL),. Hence, unlike the prior art solution, the signal picked up by any of the plurality of pickup units is used independent of the signals captured from other sound sources. A pickup unit, as further discussed below may be a magnetic pickup, an optical pickup, an acoustic pickup, and other types of pickup device suitable for the task.
[0015] In one embodiment of the invention the signals provided from pickup arrangement 110 are provided independent of each other to a mixer unit 120. In another embodiment the signals are provided directly to the sound analysis unit (SAU) 130, discussed in more detail herein below. The mixer 120 may be used when it is advantageous to provide the signals from the musical instrument to other units of the system level solution and reduce the number of electrical connections between such units. For example, mixer 120 may take the plurality of signals and mix them into a single channel interface that may be digital or analog in nature. In a digital environment interfaces such as the universal synchronous bus (USB), FireWire®, and other like interface, whether wired or wireless. In one embodiment such digital interface involves the transfer of the signals into packets of data that are then transmitted over the interface to the SAU 130. In analog mixing a variety of techniques known in the art may be used. Regardless of technique used any such mixing requires the ability to be able to reconstruct the original signal and associate it with the sound source from which that signal was received. Hence, in a digital mode not only the frequency of the sound needs to be passed to SAU 130 but also an identifier respective of the sound source, i.e., for a guitar, the specific string that produced the sound, for example, by identifying the specific PU, that is the source of the sound. In one embodiment of the invention SAU 130 is a readily available sound card used, for example, in a personal computer (PC). [0016] According to the invention a processing unit 140 is connected to the SAU 130. While the SAU 130 is responsible for sound processing, for example by using the likes of a digital signal processor (DSP), the processing unit 140 controls the operation of the system 100 based on instructions, typically stored in tangible form in memory 150 that is also connected to the processing unit 140. Memory 150 may further contain one or more parameters that affect the operation of the system 100. For example, but not by way of limitation, the parameters may include the frequencies of each note and the allowed deviations therefrom. This allows the comparing of the signal received from the SAU 130 to the note parameters and determining if the note is played
appropriately. Furthermore, it may enable the display on the display 160, connected to the processing unit 140, instructions to the user of the musical device how to produce the correct tone. For example, in the case of a guitar, it may be determined specifically that a certain note has been produced by a certain sound source, i.e., a particular string of the guitar, however, upon detection that the note was not as desired, it is possible to display to the user, in real-time, the position of a finger on the string versus the position where it should be to provide the desired tone. In another case, the parameters may include a score of notes of a particular piece that allow comparison of the actual playing by a user of the musical instrument versus the score for the particular piece. As noted above, it is possible in certain cases to produce the same tone from different strings and using the disclosed invention, using the wrong string to produce the same tone will be detected and the user may be notified of such error. In yet another case, the comparison between the played notes and the score may reveal a missing note or a note that is not part of the score.
Immediate feedback may be provided to the musician playing the musical instrument specifically identifying the sound source for such and the corrective action, for example by display of instructions in either text of graphical modes.
[0017] Reference is now made to Fig. 2 that depicts an exemplary and non- limiting diagram 200 of a magnetic pickup unit (PU) used with respect to a string musical instrument and in accordance with the principles of the invention. The PU comprises a magnetic core 230 and a coil 220, the coil 220 having a plurality of windings around the coil. The motion of the metal string 210 with respect of the PU causes changes in the magnetic field and therefore the induced current in the coil 220. According to the invention each sound source, in this case a string of a musical instrument, has its own PU, distinctly differentiating the PUs from prior art implementations. In one embodiment of the invention the coil is not wound around a magnetic core. In one embodiment of the invention the PUs are placed in a line, perpendicular to the strings, one near the other. In another embodiment PUs are placed in at least two lines, perpendicular to the strings, such that two adjacent PUs are placed diagonally from each other to maximize the distance between two adjacent PUs and thereby reducing any possible interference.
[0018] Reference is now made to Fig. 3 that depicts another exemplary and non- limiting diagram 300 of an optical PU 320 used with respect to a string musical instrument in accordance with the principles of the invention. In this case the optical PU 320 comprises an array of sensing pixels that capture the motion of the string 310 with respect of the pixels. Using a high speed capture of the string motion enables the PU 320 to provide information of the fact that the string is vibrating and more over also the frequency of vibration. In an embodiment of PU 320 a light source may be added to enable precise pickup, including but not limited to LASER sources. Yet another embodiment is shown in Fig. 4 that depicts an exemplary and non-limiting diagram 400 of a PU 420 through which a string 410 of the musical instrument is pulled through. In one embodiment PU 420 comprises a coil that has a plurality of windings where the vibration of the string 410 in the cavity of PU 420 (also can be seen in the side view at the right of Fig. 4) causes changes in the magnetic field and therefore a change in the electrical current flowing through the coil of PU 420. It should be further noted that different PU may be used depending on various
considerations. For example, in a classical guitar three of the strings are made of plastic and hence a magnetic PU will not be operative while an optical PU may be the solution of choice. It should hence be understood that the PUs in a PU arrangement 110 may comprise of PUs of different types to ensure the suitability to pick up the tone uniquely for each sound source. 019] It should be noted that the exemplary PUs shown with respect of Figs. 2-4 are provided merely as exemplary PUs and other PUs maybe equally usable with respect of the disclosed invention. However, it is required that each PU is associated with a single source of sound. While the description hereinabove was with respect to a string musical instrument, other instruments may further benefit from the principles of the invention, by adapting the PUs to such an instrument's specific requirements. For example, but not by way of limitation, consider a saxophone. The saxophone is hollow and has several holes along the tube that vary in size and that are covered by keys that are also known as pad cups. By controlling the keys different by the fingers of the player of the saxophone different tones while blowing through the tube, provides the sound of different tones. By attaching appropriate PUs (not shown) to the keys of the saxophone it is possible to precisely identify the tones that are to be emitted from the tube of the saxophone and provide the feedback discussed
hereinabove in more detail. It should be therefore understood that the principles of the invention disclosed herein apply to at least a plurality of musical instruments, provided that each sound source has its unique PU. Of course other pipe instruments having detectable keys, such as a trumpet or a flute, would also be able to use the principles of the invention. In the most general case, as long as an appropriate PU is used to detect the specific source of a tone the principles of the inventions will apply. It should be understood though that the reference to a source of sound may be a direct reference such as in the case of a guitar where the PU picks up the sound directly, or an indirect reference, where the knowledge of which key was used to produce the sound provides information of what sound was produced. In one implementation of the later solution an actual sound sensor is further used to determine the actual sound that was produced so as to determine other parameters that may need to be extracted therefrom. 020] Reference is now made to Fig. 5 where an exemplary and non-limiting flowchart 500 depicts the process of detecting tone by using unique pickups per sound source and performing signal processing according to the principles of the invention. In S510 a plurality of PUs are placed, one per sound source. Hence, if the instrument is a guitar, then six different PUs are placed such that the signal from each PL) is distinct for each string of the guitar. As noted above, unlike prior art solutions such an arrangement, shown as pickup arrangement 110 in Fig. 1 , allows to uniquely identify the source of a sound to the string that has generated it. In S520 each of the PUs is connected to a SAU, for example, SAU 130, using an appropriate interface. This was discussed hereinabove and is therefore not repeated again here. In S530 the tone is identified and associated uniquely with a sound source. In S540 an analysis takes place by, for example, processing unit 140, and as further explained hereinabove, to evaluate, preferably in real-time, the identified tone versus one or more parameters. Again, as this was discussed hereinabove in greater detail, such is not repeated here. In S550 a display displays a feedback resulting from the analysis of S540 that is responsive of the tone and the at least a parameter. In one embodiment of the invention the display is of the tones actually played on the musical instrument. In yet another embodiment the score is displayed versus the actual for the music played and differences are pointed out, preferably in real-time, to the player of the musical instrument equipped with the system 100. In a further embodiment the display is of the music actually played and further enables the printout of the score that was played, or saving in memory, for later use. In S560 it is checked whether there are additional tones and if so execution continues with S530; otherwise, execution completes. It should be further appreciated that the SAU 130 in combination with the processing unit 140 may further performed signal processing on each signal received to remove noises and/or interferences in order to achieve reliable detection results.
[0021] In one embodiment of the invention special effects including, but not limited to, pinch harmonics are also detected by the system described herein. The technique involves the use of the thumb over the string of, typically, an electric guitar, to momentarily dampen or getting rid of typical harmonics, leaving only some of the sound waves to be heard. The system, detecting the sound can specifically conclude that such a pinch harmonics event has occurred, at which frequency and string and ensure that this is recognized by the system as described with respect of other elements hereinabove.
[0022] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the system is capable to correctly determine the tones and strings used to create the sounds and generate a score there too. The score can be used to capture music in realtime and provide a score using the common notation of notes and other signs used in scores. For example, by determining certain volumes as normal, others as piano, pianissimo, forte and fortissimo, it is possible to include this data as part of the score in real time. This may also be done in relative terms of the music played. In yet another embodiment of the invention a plurality of independent PUs are placed in different locations of the same source. For example, in the case of a guitar, PUs may be located in multiple positions along a single string to enable the collection of signals from each location. This becomes handy when the PU at a certain location cannot sense a signal from the source due to any kind of intentional or unintentional blockage. Such recordings may be used not only for score generation but also to allow a music teacher or a student of music to compare a performance to a standard that may be recorded by the teacher, or for that matter by a best-in-class performer.
[0023] In a further embodiment of the invention a natural harmonic cancelling takes place. For example, in the case of a guitar when the low E string is played a harmonic of this E, that is equivalent to the high E string of the guitar. This will cause the vibrating of the high E and detected by the system.
However, the high E string may have never been played at all. Accordingly the detection of the occurrence of such a harmonic event takes place and filtered out. The system may further need to filter out mutual inductance that may occur between adjacent coils of different strings. This will avoid false detection of a string vibration due to the effects of mutual inductance rather than actually playing of the string.
[0024] In yet another embodiment of the invention additional inputs provided from an instrument are also integrated into the collection of data respective of a performance on the instrument. As an example, but not by way of limitation, an electrical guitar may have additional inputs beyond the sound, picked up as described hereinabove. Such inputs that affect the sound are the tremolo arm and various volume and tone control knobs. When a user makes use of such an input the use is also transferred for detection and thereafter may be used to provide in the score of the music generated in accordance of the principles of the invention.
[0025] A variety of musical instruments may benefit from the principles of the inventions disclosed herein. In the exemplary and non-limiting category of string instruments, the likes of guitar, piano, harp, mandolin, violin, viola, cello, and a contra-bass, are included. String instruments may be plucked, bowed, struck or caused to play sound in any other way without departing from the spirit of the invention. Moreover, other instruments such as saxophone, trumpet, flute and the like, also benefit from the principles of the invention as adapted to suit the specific needs of the instrument in question. Hence the examples discussed herein above should not be viewed as limiting upon the invention.
[0026] The principles of the invention are implemented as hardware, firmware, software or any combination thereof. Moreover, the software is preferably implemented as an application program tangibly embodied on a program storage unit or computer readable medium. The application program may be uploaded to, and executed by, a machine comprising any suitable architecture. Preferably, the machine is implemented on a computer platform having hardware such as one or more central processing units ("CPUs"), a memory, and input/output interfaces. The computer platform may also include an operating system and microinstruction code. The various processes and functions described herein may be either part of the microinstruction code or part of the application program, or any combination thereof, which may be executed by a CPU, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown. In addition, various other peripheral units may be connected to the computer platform such as an additional data storage unit and a printing unit.
[0027] All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.
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