Networked Music Instrument System for Low-Latency Remote Vocal Training
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for remote vocal training over networks, such as VoIP and video calls, suffer from significant audio delays when transmitting musical exercises, making real-time voice training ineffective due to delays in streaming audio between instructors and students, leading to confusion and unsuitable training sessions.
Innovation Solution
A networked music instrument system that synchronizes electronic instruments over a network by transmitting digital records of musical commands, allowing for real-time key changes and minimizing audio delays through timestamp synchronization and conditional processing to maintain tempo and rhythm, enabling seamless remote vocal exercises.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If audio is transmitted over network using conventional methods (VoIP, video calls), then remote communication is enabled, but significant audio delays occur making real-time training ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional audio streaming methods (VoIP, video calls) with a specialized digital audio transmission system that sends raw audio data packets directly between devices. This substitution eliminates the need for complex encoding/decoding and buffering processes used in conventional methods, reducing transmission delay and enabling real-time remote vocal training.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary synchronization by establishing a reference timing mechanism before audio transmission begins. Audio packets are timestamped and buffered in a way that anticipates network variability, allowing the receiving device to play back audio at the correct timing without waiting for continuous data streams, thus reducing perceived delay.
2Speed
If audio is streamed in real-time over network, then responsiveness is improved, but audio quality and synchronization deteriorate due to network variability
Solution Approach 1:
The audio stream is divided into discrete, independently transmittable packets, each containing a segment of audio data with timing information. This segmentation allows individual packets to be transmitted without blocking others, enabling the system to handle network variability by reassembling packets in the correct sequence at the receiving end, thus maintaining both speed and synchronization reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the receiving device sends acknowledgment packets to confirm successful receipt of audio data. This feedback allows the transmitting device to adjust transmission timing and ensure no packets are lost, maintaining reliable synchronization even when network conditions vary.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are described that are utilized for remotely controlling a musical instrument. A first digital record comprising musical instrument digital commands from a first electronic instrument for a first item of music is accessed. The first digital record is transmitted over a network using a network interface to a remote, second electronic instrument for playback to a first user. Optionally, video data is streamed to a display device of a user while the first digital record is played back by the second electronic instrument. A key change command is transmitted over the network using the network interface to the second electronic instrument to cause the second electronic instrument to playback the first digital record for the first item of music in accordance with the key change command. The key change command may be transmitted during the streaming of the video data.