Real-Time Music Accompaniment Synchronization via Dynamic Time-Map
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to achieve seamless real-time musical synchrony between a human musician and pre-recorded accompaniments due to tempo discontinuities and the lack of integration of high-level musical knowledge, leading to unpredictable feedback and persistent lags.
Innovation Solution
A method that analyzes the input acoustic signal to detect musical events, determines tempo, and uses a synchronization function F to adapt the output signal, ensuring convergence to the musician's tempo by compensating lag differences, incorporating high-level musical knowledge through a dynamic Time-Map that maps physical time to musical time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If piece-wise linear prediction of music position is used for synchronization, then computation is simplified, but tempo discontinuities occur leading to wrong feedback to the musician
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static piece-wise linear prediction to a dynamic synchronization approach that continuously adapts to tempo changes. The system uses a differential equation-based model that can respond to real-time tempo variations, ensuring smooth transitions and continuous feedback without the discontinuities of fixed linear prediction methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of synchronization from discrete piece-wise linear segments to continuous differential equations. This parameter change allows the system to model tempo variations more accurately, transforming the synchronization process from a static mapping to a dynamic continuous adjustment that maintains tempo continuity while remaining computationally manageable.
2Stability of the object's composition
If constant window spanning musical duration is used to force accompaniment to compensate deviations, then continuous curves are produced, but initial lag persists and tempo discontinuities remain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using the measured lag at time t to dynamically adjust the synchronization prediction for time t+w. The system continuously monitors the actual lag and incorporates this information back into the prediction model, creating a closed-loop system that actively compensates for initial lags rather than relying on fixed constant windows that cannot adapt to changing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by using the current lag measurement to predict and compensate for future lag conditions. By measuring the lag at time t and using this information to adjust the prediction for time t+w, the system proactively compensates for potential synchronization issues before they manifest as persistent lags, rather than reacting after the fact.
3Measurement precision
If tight synchronization is used to ensure key positions are tightly synchronized, then high-level musical knowledge is incorporated, but discontinuities are introduced in the resulting Time-Map
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mathematical representation from discrete tight synchronization points to continuous differential equations. This parameter change allows the system to maintain high-level musical knowledge for precise synchronization while ensuring continuity in the Time-Map through the smooth, continuous nature of differential equation-based predictions, eliminating the discontinuities inherent in point-based tight synchronization approaches.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for synchronizing a pre-recorded music accompaniment to a music playing of a user. The music playing is captured by at least one microphone, which delivers an input acoustic signal feeding a processing unit, which includes a memory for storing data of the music accompaniment and provides an output acoustic signal based on the music accompaniment data to feed at least a loudspeaker playing the music accompaniment. The processing unit analyses the input acoustic signal to detect musical events and music tempo, compares the detected musical events to the music accompaniment data to determine at least a lag between the timings of the detected musical events and the musical events of the music accompaniment, and adapts a timing of the output acoustic signal based on the lag and a synchronization function calculated from a temporal variable, the user's music tempo, and the duration of compensation of the lag.