Audio Sample Expansion via Rhythmic and Harmonic Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Music software programs offer extensive control over music composition, requiring specialized knowledge, leading to frustrating user experiences for users without musical expertise.

Innovation Solution

An audio combining system that automatically identifies and adds audio samples with high compatibility ratings to a target set based on rhythmic and harmonic compatibility, ensuring coherent sound through a recommendation module and audio combining module.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If music software programs provide extensive control over music composition, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoiduser operation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically analyzes audio samples and determines their compatibility with the target set without requiring user intervention. The computer calculates rhythmic and harmonic compatibility ratings autonomously, selecting and adding compatible samples to expand the target set, thereby eliminating the need for users to manually evaluate and match musical parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual musical analysis and selection processes with automated computer-based algorithms. Instead of requiring users to manually assess rhythmic and harmonic compatibility, the system uses computational methods to automatically evaluate and select compatible audio samples, substituting mechanical user actions with automated digital processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If the system automatically expands audio sample sets, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic sample selectionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the complex task of audio sample compatibility assessment into distinct analytical components: rhythmic compatibility analysis and harmonic compatibility analysis. Each aspect is evaluated separately using dedicated algorithms, allowing the complex overall task to be managed through modular, independent processing stages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transforms the complex qualitative assessment of musical compatibility into quantitative parameter evaluations. By calculating specific rhythmic compatibility ratings and harmonic compatibility ratings based on measurable audio parameters, the system converts subjective musical judgment into objective computational comparisons.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3047479B1Automatically expanding sets of audio samples
Publication Date: 2017.08.16 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3047479B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3047479B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3047479B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A target set of one or more audio samples is automatically expanded to include one or more additional audio samples or sets of audio samples. Multiple different audio samples or sets of samples that have a high compatibility rating with the target set are identified. The high compatibility rating is based on rhythmic compatibility with the target set, harmonic compatibility with the target set, and/or compatibility with various other characteristics or parameters of the target set. One or more of the audio samples or sets of audio samples having a high compatibility rating with the target set are automatically added to the target set. Thus, the user is able to have a set of audio samples automatically added to a particular target set of audio samples, resulting in an expanded set of audio samples that sound coherent (e.g., rhythmically and harmonically compatible).