Accompaniment Sound Generation with Dynamic Part Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic musical instruments with automatic accompaniment functions generate monotonous accompaniment sounds due to their reliance on repetitive prestored pattern data, lacking variations that could enhance player enjoyment.

Innovation Solution

An accompaniment sound generating device that specifies multiple musical performance parts for real-time accompaniment sound generation, aligning the timing with the input musical performance sound, and includes modes like accent and unison to dynamically adjust accompaniment sounds based on player input, using a CPU-driven program to output varied accompaniment sounds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If automatic accompaniment function generates accompaniment sound repeatedly based on prestored accompaniment pattern data, then the accompaniment function can be implemented, but the accompaniment sound becomes monotonous

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevariation in accompaniment soundVSAvoidcomplexity of accompaniment generation system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The accompaniment sound generation is divided into multiple independent musical performance parts (e.g., bass, rhythm, lead). Each part can be specified independently by the specifier component, allowing selective generation of accompaniment sounds for different instrumental sections. This segmentation enables variation by choosing different combinations of parts while maintaining system manageability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts which musical performance parts generate accompaniment sounds based on real-time player input. The specifier component analyzes the input musical performance sound and dynamically determines the composition of accompaniment parts, transforming the static repeated playback into a dynamic, adaptive system that responds to player actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If accompaniment sound is generated for multiple musical performance parts, then the accompaniment sound becomes more varied, but the processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of musical performance partsVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The accompaniment generation is segmented into distinct musical performance parts that can be independently controlled. The specifier component processes input sounds and determines which segmented parts should generate accompaniment, breaking down the complex task into manageable independent decisions for each part.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically analyzes the input musical performance sound and self-determines which musical performance parts should have accompaniment generated. The specifier component performs automatic analysis and selection without requiring manual configuration, allowing the system to handle multiple parts complexity autonomously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If real-time accompaniment sound generation is implemented, then the accompaniment aligns with player input, but the computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment with player inputVSAvoidcomputational power

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential features from the input musical performance sound that are necessary for determining accompaniment part selection. The specifier component extracts relevant characteristics (such as melody, harmony, rhythm elements) rather than processing the entire audio signal in full detail, reducing computational requirements while maintaining alignment with player input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs partial processing by focusing computational resources only on the musical performance parts that require accompaniment generation. Rather than processing all possible parts equally, the specifier component identifies and processes only the necessary subsets of parts based on the input sound characteristics, reducing overall computational load.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11955104B2Accompaniment sound generating device, electronic musical instrument, accompaniment sound generating method and non-transitory computer readable medium storing accompaniment sound generating program

Publication Date: 2024.04.09 YAMAHA CORP

AI summary

An accompaniment sound generating device includes a specifier, an accompaniment sound generator, and an accompaniment sound outputter. The specifier specifies a plurality of musical performance parts for which accompaniment sounds are generated based on an input musical performance sound. The accompaniment sound generator generates the accompaniment sounds that belong to the plurality of specified musical performance parts for each musical performance sound. The accompaniment sound outputter outputs the accompaniment sounds generated for the plurality of musical performance parts with timing for generating the accompaniment sounds aligned with timing for generating musical performance sounds.