Automatic Composition Apparatus Melody Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing music composition technologies lack the ability to guarantee an optimal melody in terms of chords and scales, with existing methods either generating natural but suboptimal melodies or being difficult for users to control.

Innovation Solution

An automatic composition apparatus that performs pitch shift, matching-level calculation, and melody generation processes, using note connection rules to ensure optimal melody creation based on input phrases and designated chord progressions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If melody is generated using existing automatic composition technologies, then a melody can be produced automatically, but the generated melody may not be optimal with respect to chords and scales

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemelody optimalityVSAvoidautomatic composition capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system calculates a matching level between the generated melody and the designated chord progression, using this feedback to evaluate and optimize the melody. The matching level computation provides quantitative feedback on how well the melody aligns with the chords and scales, enabling iterative improvement of melody quality while maintaining automatic composition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts melody generation by performing pitch shifting on individual note data items and evaluating multiple possibilities. The note pitch shift process dynamically modifies melody parameters to achieve better alignment with the designated chord progression, transforming a static generation process into a dynamic optimization process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If random parameter generation is used for melody creation, then automation is achieved, but user control and optimality are difficult to ensure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser controlVSAvoidmelody generation quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes parameters systematically by performing pitch shifting on note data items and calculating matching levels based on these parameter modifications. This allows controlled exploration of parameter space rather than random generation, enabling both automation and user control while maintaining high melody quality through methodical parameter adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces random mechanical generation with a systematic evaluation mechanism. Instead of relying on random parameter generation, the system uses matching level calculation to systematically evaluate and select optimal melody parameters, substituting randomness with a controlled computational process that provides both automation and quality assurance.

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

3Manufacturing precision

If pitch shift is performed on individual note data items, then melody alignment with chords improves, but calculation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemelody-chord alignment precisionVSAvoidmatching-level calculation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the melody evaluation process by calculating matching levels for individual note data items separately. Instead of evaluating the entire melody at once, the system divides the complexity into manageable segments by processing each note's pitch shifting and matching level calculation independently, then combining results to achieve precise overall alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality optimization by performing pitch shifting on individual note data items rather than uniformly adjusting the entire melody. Each note can be independently optimized for its local context within the chord progression, allowing precise local adjustments that collectively achieve high overall alignment without requiring complex global transformations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3023977B1Automatic composition apparatus and automatic composition method
Publication Date: 2019.05.01 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD
  • EP3023977B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3023977B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3023977B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An automatic composition apparatus includes a processing unit. The processing unit performs a note pitch shift process, a matching-level calculating process and a melody generating process. The note pitch shift process performs pitch shift on pitches of individual note data items included in an input phrase. The matching-level calculating process calculates a matching level between a phrase including note data items subjected to the pitch shift and a designated chord progression data item, with reference to a plurality of note connection rules each of which defines a connection relation of consecutive note types, if the pitch shift is performed. The melody generating process generates a melody based on the phrase which includes the note data items subjected to the pitch shift and which is selected based on the calculated matching level.