Hierarchical Matrix Interface for Drum Sequencer Touch Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drum machines and sequencers face challenges in presenting and manipulating complex percussion sequences on small touch screens, making it difficult to view and modify large amounts of information effectively.
Innovation Solution
A user interface system utilizing a matrix of squares to display song and percussion sequences, allowing users to switch between song, pattern, and part views, with intuitive gestures for editing and playback, including volume control and tempo adjustment, enabling efficient manipulation of rhythms and sounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a timeline view is used to display sequence information, then users can indicate points on the timeline for note placement, but it becomes difficult to present large amounts of information coherently on small touch screens
Solution Approach 1:
The interface is divided into multiple hierarchical levels: song level (showing multiple sections), pattern level (showing rhythm patterns), and part level (showing individual sounds). Each level displays a manageable portion of the total sequence information, allowing users to navigate between levels to access different amounts of detail without overwhelming the small touch screen display.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the display, organizing sequence information across multiple levels (song→pattern→part). This allows the system to present large amounts of information by distributing it across hierarchical layers rather than attempting to display everything at a single level, making the information manageable on small screens.
2Ease of operation
If real-time pad input is used for playing beats, then users can strike pads like real drums for intuitive input, but it limits the ability to view and modify complex sequences with multiple sounds and long patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The interface dynamically switches between different operational modes: real-time performance mode (pad input) and sequencing mode (timeline editing). Users can toggle between these modes to access either intuitive real-time input or comprehensive sequence viewing and editing capabilities, allowing the system to adapt to different user needs without sacrificing either function.
3Measurement precision
If the display shows detailed part-level information, then users can see specific sound and rhythm details, but it becomes difficult to view the overall song structure with multiple sections
Solution Approach 1:
The display is segmented into hierarchical levels where the song level shows overall structure with multiple sections, pattern level shows rhythm patterns, and part level shows individual sound details. Users can navigate between these segmented views to access either detailed sound information or overall song structure as needed, with each level presenting an appropriate amount of detail for its scope.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface implements a nested view structure where part-level details are nested within pattern-level containers, which are in turn nested within song-level structures. This allows users to drill down from the overall song view to detailed sound information and back again, maintaining context at each level while accessing detailed information when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for displaying, playing and modifying song and percussion sequences. Users can easily view and modify such sequences using a User Interface (UI), including while the sequences are playing. A user may quickly “zoom in” on specific sounds and rhythms, and modify the sound and/or rhythm while it plays. Users can also “zoom out” to view and manipulate a song at a pattern level, or at a song level with multiple sections of different sounds and rhythms.