Sound method for synchronization of one or more musicians and one or more vocal or spoken voices for creating a live performance and electronic system therefor

Abstract

The method uses an automatic system of electrical / electronic equipment to synchronize voices, instruments, videos, and light effects. It consists of four phases that significantly reduce the need for sound, video, and lighting technicians, allowing venue owners, presenters, and performers to independently manage events and shows. Through a system of references, artists can customize the sound by amplifying or excluding instruments of interest, adding prerecorded sound effects, and connecting live instruments. Additionally, a pitch recognition system supports the lead voice, optimizing it for perfection. The method is also ideal for amateur singers, allowing them to perform with a live band and improve their performance with images and choreographic effects, further enhancing the overall show experience.

Description

SOUND METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZATION OF ONE OR MORE MUSICIANS AND ONE OR MORE VOCAL OR SPOKEN VOICES FOR CREATING A LIVE PERFORMANCE AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEM THEREFORA) FIELD OF TECHNIQUELive performances are the beating heart of music because it is during a live performance that the musician or singer establish a deep connection with the audience.Live music is considered to be the one in which the artists are at the center of the performance, which takes place with instruments played by them and without using - or with merely marginal use - pre-recorded bases. The definition of live was born on radio in the 1930s to distinguish pre-recorded content from real-time and broadcast content. It is in the music that the idea of liveness becomes synonymous with authenticity, genuine performance and without filters. A concert is an event produced in series, technologically mediated by amplification and audio software, spectacularly spectacular by megascherms and stage effects: But the performer must appear as true, the concert must be perceived as a unique event. But it happens that the music part of the concerts is not always live: Pre-recorded musical bases are used, reproduced in playback and mimed on stage by the performer. For a few years, however, live formats for platforms have been popular modes of promoting music, with a function similar to that of video clips: They seem even more authentic, without the annoying playback. Like recorded music, live performance has also become a "Digital Music Commodity", a "particular combination of data and sounds that exists as a separate entity, for sale or accessible on the network". The platformization of musical performance on social networks taught us "the need for liveness at the time of social distancing", assuming for the future blended forms of live entertainment. The real challenge will be the creation and diffusion of new digital models that integrate with the performances in presence and that have a value capable of compensating at least in part the filter of the platform: Details not visible, forms of interaction different and in real time.B). - STATE OF THE PRE-EXISTING TECHNIQUEbefore moving on to the technical aspect, it is good to mention the organizational aspect of an event such as that which by the method is to be simplified. The organization of a concert can become a complicated matter and in these cases the management of the men who have available and of the operations to be carried out must be entrusted to several subjects among which there is also the stage manager that is fundamental in the organization of big events. This figure is called an internship manager and is fundamental in the organization of big events. His task is to direct the operations on the stage having present the progress of the works and the sequence of the operations to be carried out; he is the reference person for all. Of course, not all concerts are large enough to require an internship manager, but it is essential that there are situations without the help of sound technicians. Not only that, in a live situation there must always be two mixers present: The room mixer, as can be imagined, serves to realize the mix that will feed the main diffusion system (plus any delay systems); the stage mixer is used to provide the musicians on stage with personalized listening to the sounds they produce. Each musician on stage has one or two dedicated monitors. These monitors (also called lights) serve as a reference to each musician to listen to himself and others. Imagine, for example, the drummer who is behind the singer and who, moreover, is already submerged by the sounds that he produces. In order to allow the drummer to listen to the other musicians, including the singer, a monitor (for the drummer also two, called drumfill) is arranged, which is fed by a signal generated through the stage mixer. On the stage mixer, where all the signals from the stage arrive at the input, it is possible to create a series of different mixes, typically one for each musician. This depends on the fact that each musician has different listening needs, for example a drummer needs to hear above all the bass sound rather than the voice of the singer or the lead guitar. Therefore the concert mixers have the characteristic of being able to create a high number of separate mixes destined to the various monitors present on the stage. In restricted live situations (very restricted) it is possible to use a single mixer that performs the functions of stage mixer and room mixer at the same time. The signals of the stage, through the splitter, are also forwarded to the room mixer. It will be on the latter that the sound engineer who is in front of the stage - that is, the hall speaker - will have to perform the mix that will feed the system (in English, the speaker system dedicated to the diffusion of sound in the room is called P.A. - Public Address - and for the sake of simplicity, this name will be adopted hereinafter). So it can be seen how the mix that arrives at the room's system and the mixes present on the stage are completely independant. Let's now look in more detail at the chain of connections to the stage mixer and the one to the room mixer and the equipment involved.1) Chain of the stage mixer;2) Chain of the room mixer;3) Live mixer;4) Sound reinforcement: Delay towers5) set up of the equipment; 6) soundcheck; 7) concert.C) PURPOSE OF THE INVENTIONmethod suitable to realize musical performances of the highest quality without the help of technical personnel and that allows the musicians and the singers to manage in autonomy the musical bases and the same instruments playing "live".The method, by means of an integrated electronic system, is able to manage all the electronic elements and the connections necessary for the performance of an optimal performance by the artists.The method allows live musicians to adjust the volume of signals and instruments to their liking, even excluding certain instruments or amplifying others, to improve their performance, without affecting the final effect of the sounds and the performance perceived by the public, so as to realize an effective musical performance.The method allows musicians to perform "live" in a harmonized way even from different places and distant from each other as if the artists were all present at the live performance.The method has the purpose of reproducing video, images and / or texts in synchrony with the sound performance and of managing the musical, musical and / or theatrical performances in total autonomy by the artists without the aid of the sound technicians through a series of phases which envisage:providing a system which is implemented by connecting the device to a device which remotely, using the help of musicians and / or the organizer, carrying out the insertion of the bases in a suitable database stored in an upgradeable and expandable RAM memory in which tracks of 120 seconds duration are contained and which also displays the specific application concerning the event;to realize the setting of the musical instruments necessary for the performance that are connected with the box thanks to incoming connections that allow the musical instruments, video screens, light effects and loudspeaker boxes communicate with each other with the possibility of storing the volumes of the instruments which can in any case undergo modifications and adjustments personalized in real time during the performance;realize possible functionalities that can be managed independantly and in different aspects by the musicians, singers and voices that will perform.The method in particular, as far as the functional aspect is concerned, allows the musicians various possibilities of managing the track to be performed with regard to the metronome click of the beginning of the performance and to the reference system, with the possibility of adding and / or excluding sounds, voices etc., and the harmonization of the different musical instruments and the control of videos and texts in synchronism with the performance itself.The method also allows the realization of performances of the highest quality even between subjects who have never performed their performance together, and between subjects that are not in the same place, nibbing the performance of an artist with "live" musical accompaniment by the musicians with the use of video / projections, images etc.The method also allows a single user, both these organizer of an event or owner of the place where the event takes place, to manage in full autonomy the live or live performances of the artists.The method allows the user, where he is in the presence of a base recorded with four instruments such as drums, guitar, piano and bass, to exclude from the references the drummer and the guitarist he has in his presence, and therefore to use exclusively the references of the bass and piano. The possibility of this selection does not affect the audience's listening in the room, which will listen to an optimized and complete track of all live music elements synchronously with each other both in presence and remotely.The method therefore allows:.- to control also the video of the performance allowing, while the performance is taking place, the projection of texts and / or images in synchrony with the current performance;.- to allow to solve the economic problem of the co-program of the concerts, reducing significantly the costs and the management thereof. The sound and video technicians are replaced by the mechanized system of the method, which automatically performs the synchronization of the video signals with the sound performance formed by live elements which merge with the recorded base. realizing the final effect perceived by the public to attend a real concert, obtaining a sound of a high quality level;to allow musicians not only to perform in accompaniment to the singers, but to support any performance and / or theatrical and acting representation with the realization of a performance from sounds, light images and voices at the same time;to achieve an optimal performance by achieving the purpose of producing a performance, concert, performance of the highest quality without the need for proof between artists performing at a distance.Also the main voice of the singer, actor or narrator has the possibility to find benefit in the use of the method, since the automatism allows to adopt the tone (peatch) of the sound emitted by modulating and adjusting it during the execution of the track, improving until it improves the voice of the artist so that the final listening is free from every imperfection.D) DESCRIPTION OF THE METHODthe method consists of 4 phases that allow the management of any musical and theatrical performances in total autonomy by the artists and without the help of sound technicians. The steps are 1) system setup; 2) transmission of the input to the system; 3) output of the signals - various and possible references that can be activated by the musicians and by the voices; 4) output of the 2 signals that are transmitted: A) video to which the system is connected; b) reprocessed system sounds.The first step relates to the provision of the system which is implemented on the one hand by connecting the device to a device which, remotely, by exploiting the assistance of musicians and / or organizer, it carries out the insertion of the bases in the appropriate database stored in RAM memory which can be updated and expandable and in which tracks of 120 seconds duration are contained and which also displays the specific application concerning the event. The bases can also be downloaded remotely, "cloud" virtual environment, but the system will still have within its base an indefinite number of immediately available upgradeable and expandable files lasting one hundred and twenty seconds.The second step relates to the so-called input. Before the beginning of the show that can take place in which it is desired place where it is possible to house the integrated electronic system the musicians will perform tests to connect all the instruments and to store volumes of the same that will be able to undergo modifications and adjustments personalized in real time during the performance.If the performance is a live concert, the musicians will start the show. in the case in which the performance consists of a canora or theater and / or amateur competition, the software provided by the electronic system allows to generate a QR code which can be made available to third parties . venturers and / or beginners who address the device by opening the web page that contains the database stored in an upgradeable and expandable RAM memory in which tracks of 120 seconds are contained, displaying the specific application that concerns the event. Within the electronic system it is possible to choose one or more tracks in the ladder and to assign each one the user name through the recording of its own data. This step is stored in the device control panel which generates a list of the reasons that will be played.

[0019] The third phase relates to the so-called output and the possible functionalities that can be managed independantly by the musicians, singers and voices that will perform.

[0020] The method allows the musician various possibilities of managing the song to be performed with regard in particular to the click, the reference system, the harmonization of the different musical instruments and the control of the videos and texts in synchrony with the performance itself.The method has the purpose of allowing performances of very high sound quality even between subjects who have never performed their performance together, as well as between subjects who are not in the same place. In one of its embodiments, the method allows the performance of an artist with live musical accompaniment by musicians with the use of video and luminous projections in automatic synchrony with the performance, allowing the management of musical performances, canors, theater performing from multimedia stations even remote.The method also allows a single user, both the organizer of the event or the owner of the place where the event takes place, etc., to manage the live and live performances of the artists in full autonomy. The method as stated above uses the electronic system which implements it, allows to acquire the data coming from a normal device, and sends three different pulses, the first one being able to control the video system, the second to transmit the bases and references to the musicians who will perform live both in physical presence in the place of the event, and remotely from different places, and the third transmitting the metronome click to the musicians.The metronome click - that is, the necessary signal of beginning of the performance and which also has the function of scanning the times of the different show canors, musical or theater - is transmitted automatically to the ear of the musician who is located in the place of the event or at a distance, allowing the latter to synchronize with all the other artists performing in the chosen track so as to achieve a synchronized and optimal performance. The method allows the musician to receive the reference in addition to the click. By reference is meant the sound base which mainly serves the keyboardist but in any case usable for each instrument and which completes all the instruments of which the track is composed, also of pre-recorded sound effects. The musician, at the moment he receives the reference of all the instruments of the piece being executed, has the possibility to select the amplitude of the volumes of each reference as well as to exclude the reference he himself performs by replacing the recording with the performance with his instrument, as well as other musicians who play live, both in the presence and remotely. To better clarify the above, in an optimal embodiment where there is the presence of a base registered with 4 instruments: drums, piano and bass guitar, the user of the method can exclude from the references the drummer and the guitarist he has in presence using only the references of the bass and piano.The possibility of this selection does not preclude the audience from listening to an optimized and complete track of all its musical elements, together with one or more live instruments in synchrony with each other both in presence and remotely.The fourth step relates to the further signals which are managed by the system to aid musical performance and to the potentialities referring to the method.In this phase:.- the signal is managed to the video monitor of "plug" alternating with textsong by switchando from video mixer (folder files in hd laptop);the sound is re-processed and then through an electronic implementation system, allowed the musician and / or the artist to optimize and make his performance at its best.The method through the electronic system that implements it also controls the video allowing while the exhibition is taking place to insert or remove the so-called cap so as to allow the projection of texts and / or images in synchrony with the current exhibition. By video stopper is meant a sequence of pre-recorded images and / or texts which flow an automatic with consecutive and repetitive cycles.The method object of patent application allows to solve the economic problem of the so-called concert PROGRAM, reducing significantly its costs and management: the technicians of the sound and of the video are in fact replaced by the mechanized system of the method that automatically performs the synchronization of the video signals with the sound performance formed by live elements that merge with the recorded base. realizing the final effect perceived by the public to attend a real concert that offers a sound of a very high quality level. The method allows not only musicians to perform in accompaniment to the singers but can support any performance and / or theatrical representation, acting and any situation that foresees a performance composed simultaneously of sounds, images, lights and voices. The method allows an optimal performance to be adjusted, achieving the purpose of producing a performance / concert / performance of the highest quality without the need for evidence between artists performing at a distance. Also the main voice, singer, actor, narrator, has the possibility to find benefit in the use of the method since the automatism allows to adapt the tone (peatch) of the sound emitted by modulating and correcting it during the execution of the track, improving until to improve the voice of the artist, so that the final listening is free from every imperfection.E) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTIONthe method operates by means of an integrated electronic system, otherwise also called box, capable of managing all the electronic elements and connections.The box is presented as a housing, which can be defined as a crankcase, which contains the components and is controlled by two boards: A motherboard and a RAM memory card which encloses a database of upgradeable and expandable bases.For the remote performances of the artists, the method uses a box for each station from which the exhibition is performed, and the connection takes place by providing the "host" artist with a similar electronic system.On the one hand, the system is implemented by connecting the device to a device which, by remote means of the musicians and / or the organizer, carries out the insertion of the bases in the appropriate database stored in upgradeable and expandable RAM memory and in which tracks lasting 120 seconds are contained. on the other hand, it displays the specific application that relates to the event. The bases can also be downloaded remotely, a virtual cloud environment, but the box will still have the basis of an indefinite number of files that can be updated and immediately expandable, lasting one hundred and twenty seconds.The following components are housed in the box:1. On / off switch for switching the unit on / off;2. Power cable connector. Turns the unit on and off;3. Video output cable connector with HDMI standard which allows an external display to be connected;4. Standard input connector for Ethernet that allows connection to the fixed network;5. USB Type "C" connector for connection to external equipment or firmware upgrade.The following components are housed in the front:1.- two 6.35 mm XLR format / JACK out PUT connectors which allow to reproduce the sound of the base emitted by the unit when the performance does not include a live band. In this case the metronome click signal will not be reproduced.2.- four 6.35 mm XLR / JACK outputs for direct connection to the channels of an external mixer that allow the sound of the individual instruments to be reproduced separately by directing them to separate channels of the mixer.The right side of the box houses the following components:1.- a mini WiFi antenna connector that allows the signal to be sent to the silent disc headphones.2.- a mini 2.4 - 5 - 5.8 GHz 3dBi MIMO rp - sma WiFi antenna connector for Pad signal that allows you to connect to a computer or smartphone and control the unit via external wireless devices.Inside the box are positioned the outputs that allow to reproduce the sound of the individual instruments separately directing them to the different channels of the mixer.The latter have a 6.35 mm XLR / jack type socket. There are also two L / R outputs which have two 6.35 mm XLR format / jack output connectors which allow to reproduce the sound of the base emitted by the unit when the performance does not include a live band. In this case the metronome click signal will not be reproduced.The system provides the setting of the musical instruments necessary for the performance that are connected to the box thanks to the components housed therein, i.e. all the incoming connections that will allow the musical instruments, video screens, lighting effects and loudspeaker boxes to communicate with each other.Inside the electronic system there is a RAM memory in which it is possible to choose one or more tracks in the ladder and to assign each one the user name by recording its own data.This step is stored in the control panel which generates a list of the patterns that will be played.Specifically:.- through the connection to the audio mixer present in the box the in-ear monitors, the musicians will receive the click of beginning of the performance;by means of the audio mixer present in the box, the musicians can also manage the reference base to be modular at their will in the sense of excluding some or all of the instruments;by means of the audio mixer present in the box, the musicians are able to correct the emission of the voice and its tone;through the audio mixer present in the box, the band sound will be transmitted to the mixing, as well as the other signals from radio microphones to the possible speaker, to the singers and audio signals at the system.the system manages the signal to the video monitor of "plug" alternating with text song by switching from video mixer (file folder in hd laptop); the system re-processes and corrects the sound, therefore by means of an electronic implementation system it allows the musician and / or the artist to optimize and make his performance at its best.The electronic system also controls the video allowing, while the exhibition is taking place, to insert or remove the so-called "cap" so as to allow the projection of texts and / or images in synchrony with the current exhibition. "Cap" video means a sequence of pre-recorded images and / or texts that run automatically with consecutive and repetitive cycles.F) DESCRIPTION OF THEdrawing the description of the drawings entails particular attention to the components suitable for the realization of the method described above.Table 1 shows the electronic system which allows the 4 phases that make up the method to be carried out.In particular, the component present in the housing for containing the components is illustrated and is composed of a card and a further ram memory card which contains a database of upgradeable and expandable bases.Having a square shape, like a parallelepiped, it has the housing of the "on-off" key that allows to turn on and off the unit, position 1, table 1.There is a power cable connection that allows the unit to be turned on and off, position 2 table 1.On the side we find a standard HDMI connection suitable for the connection of the video output to connect one or more external displays, position 3, table 1. There Is a standard input connector for the Ethernet network that allows the connection to the fixed network, position 4 table 1.Finally, we find a USB type C socket for cooperating with the system to external devices and for updating firmware, position 5 table 1.A mini 2.4-5-5.8 30 GHz B 3 dBi band RP - SMA wi-Fi antenna connector is located on the side of the housing to send the signal to the headphones. Position 6 tab. 1. On the same short side of the housing is located the mini 2.5 - 5 - 5.8 - GHz 3 dBi band RP - SMA mini wi-fi antenna connector for the Pad, computer or smartphone signal. Allows the unit to be controlled by external wireless devices.On the front side of the housing are placed two 6.35 mm XLR format output connectors which allow to reproduce the sound of the base emitted by the unit when a live band is not provided: in this case, the metronome click signal will not be reproduced when the performance does not include a live band.In the table a position 10, again on the front side of the casing, are provided 5 housings for 5 outputs of the XLR Jack type, for connection to the channels of an external mixer. The sequence of the outputs is as follows:.- Metronome click out;.- Battery out; .- Low out; .- Guitar out; .- other out.These instruments allow to reproduce the sound of the individual instruments separately by directing them to the separate channels of the mixer.The box is activated by the user as follows:.- a pulse is transmitted by device to the box relating to the selection of the track;.- the presenter has evidence of the choice and announces the track;.- the director operator starts the video file: laptop files folder in had from both laptop and hdmi to video mixer and LR to audio mixer;through the audio mixer, the operator sends the musicians' in-car monitors the click of the beginning of the performance and the reference base so as to allow the musicians to adjust the reference to their liking, to exclude instruments to amplify sounds and so on;by means of the audio mixer, the operator sends signals from instruments to mixers for mixing band sound, as well as other signals from radio microphones to the speaker and to the singers and audio signals to the system; through the audio mixer the control operator manages the signal to the video monitor of "plug" alternating to text song by switching from video mixer (file folder in hd laptop).Table two shows the four steps of the method as described below:Table 2 shows the position 1 represents the phase 1, i.e. the implementation of the bases by the musicians and / or organizer plus connection of the instruments.In table 2, position 2 represents phase 2, i.e.: The framing of QRcode by the user who enters the application, selects the tracks, assigns the user name and displays the texts of the various pieces being executed.In table 2, position 3 represents phase 3, i.e.: Sending of the radio signals from the instruments toward the mixer connected to the box for mixing the sound of the band, and sending the signal from radio microphone of the main voice toward the mixer.The position 3 on the table 2 represents the phase 3 or the sending of the signals to the speakers present in the public room.In table 2, position 4 represents phase 4, i.e.: The reproduction of the texts on the screens and the real-time mixing of the input and output signals.F) INDUSTRIAL USEthe method and the system that compose it in its application is inserted in all situations and events in which a live or live artistic performance is provided, supported by musical instruments. This method makes it possible to make any event, even amateur, a performance of excellent quality for the listeners.It also allows professional artists to participate as guests perfomer to the event, even remotely in direct, reducing travel costs and the like, all without sacrificing quality and guaranteeing their participation.For example, the multitude of shows that take place in cruise ships; in this situation the Naval Company can boast the participation in the presence of a famous musician on all ships, who can connect remotely, thus guaranteeing his live performance remotely together with the orchestra on the ship, and also on other ships in different places.

Claims

-The 'Sound Method' is characterised by what comprises the following 4 phases:1) system set-up; 2) transmission of input to the system; 3) output of signals; 4) output of the 2 signals that are transmitted: a) screen to which the system is connected, b) reprocessed sounds of the system.-The 'Sound Method', as per claim no.1, comprising the first step concerning preparation of the system, is based on the following steps:.- preparation of the show / performance by introducing the 120-second-long backing tracks into the appropriate database within an upgradable and expandable RAM memory;. - automated setting up of the musical instruments required for the performance, i.e. setting up of all connections.-The 'Sound Method', as per claim no.1, is characterised by what comprises the following steps in its second phase:- creation of the playlist through the QR code that, once scanned by the user, directs the device to open the web page that leads to the database of pre-loaded tracks to be selected and the start of the show with a simple signal to send and display the tracks in sequence after the selection and setting of the musical instruments necessary for the performance and input and output connections.-The 'Sound Method', as per claim 1, is characterised in its second phase by what comprises the following steps:.-display of tracks in sequence after selection;.- management of video file execution: file folder in hd laptop from both laptop and hdmi to video mixer and LR to audio mixer;.- managing of the audio mixer connection to the musicians' click and reference base monitors so that the musicians can perform the tracks and adjust the reference to their liking to optimise the performance;.-management of the audio mixer connection of signals from instruments to the mixer for band sound mixing as well as other signals from radio microphones to the presenter and singers and audio signals to the system.-The 'Sound Method', as per claim no.1, comprising the fourth step concerning set-up of the system and using the following steps:.- managing of the audio mixer connection of the signal to the video monitor of so-called ‘cap',alternating with song text switching from video mixer (file folder in hd laptop).- management of interaction with other multimedia signals as a support and further optimisation with automatic sound and voice correction without the need for technical staff.-The System implementing the claimed method is characterised by the following components:.- a power cable connector;.- a hardware module combined with software that integrates the system with a wireless transmission, physical audio inputs and outputs, and software mixer control;.- a system to send signals from radio microphones to presenters and singers;.- a power cable connector;.- a USB 'C' connector to connect to external devices or to update firmware;.- a screen output cable connector with HDMI standard to connect an external screen;.- a system for the remote control of signals;.- a system that allows signals to be sent to mixers for band sound;.- a system that allows clicks and reference bases to be sent to the musicians' in-ear monitors.-The System, as per claim no.6, is characterised by a hardware module coupled with software that integrates the system with a wireless transmission, physical audio inputs and outputs, and control from a software mixer; which contains two boards: a motherboard and a RAM memory board that holds an upgradable and expandable database of bases.-The System, as per claim no.6, is characterised by a system for the remote control of signals which also comprises a standard Ethernet input connector for connection to the fixed network and which contains the housing for two types of antenna. The first consists of a mini 2.4 WI-FI antenna connector - 5- 5.8 GHz bi-band 3db mime RP - SMA to send the signal to the silent disc headphones. The second antenna connector for the PAD signal consists of a WI-FI mini 2.4 antenna connector - 5- 5.8 GHz bi- band silent disco, pad, computer, or mobile phone allows the unit to be controlled by external wireless devices.-The system, as per claim no.6, features a system that allows signals to be sent to mixers for band sound mixing, which also consists of two 6.35 mm XLR / JACK format OUT PUT connectors to reproduce the base sound emitted by the unit when the performance does not include a live band, in which case the metronome click signal will not be reproduced, as well as to reproduce the sound of individual instruments separately, and four 6.35 mm XLR / JACK outputs for direct connection to the channels of an external mixer.-The System, as per claim no.6, is characterised by a system that allows the in-ear monitors of the musicians' clicks and reference bases to be sent to the mini Wi-Fi antenna connector to send the signal to silent disc headphones and two 6.35 mm XLR – JACK format LR OUT PUT connectors to reduce the base sound emitted by the unit when the performancedoes not include a live band.

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