Pitch Shift Device Bending Detection Interpolation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pitch shift devices produce unnatural pitch changes when finger bending is performed on electronic string musical instruments, as they rely on pre-defined pitch shift tables that fail to smoothly adjust pitch shifts during bending.

Innovation Solution

A pitch shift device equipped with a bending detection system and interpolation control, which detects bending and adjusts pitch shifts accordingly, using a pitch shift information storage device to read and interpolate pitch changes, thereby preventing unnatural sound changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a pre-defined pitch shift table is used to shift pitch by a predetermined amount, then the pitch shift device can output pitch-shifted sound efficiently, but unnatural pitch changes occur when finger bending is performed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepitch shift processing efficiencyVSAvoidnaturalness of pitch-shifted sound during bending

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a static pitch shift table to a dynamic pitch shift system that adapts in real-time based on detected bending amount. The pitch shift amount is no longer fixed but varies dynamically according to the detected bending, allowing the system to maintain natural sound during bending operations while preserving the efficiency of automated pitch shift processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the pitch shift parameter from a fixed predetermined value to a variable that depends on the detected bending amount. By making the pitch shift amount a variable parameter that adjusts according to real-time bending detection, the system resolves the contradiction between efficient predetermined processing and natural sound production during bending.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the pitch shift amount is changed according to key information and scale, then musically natural harmony sounds can be added, but unnatural pitch changes occur at pitch boundaries when using pre-defined tables

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemusical harmony adaptationVSAvoidpitch change smoothness at boundaries

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces feedback by continuously detecting the actual pitch of the input sound and using this information to adjust the pitch shift amount in real-time. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain smooth pitch transitions at boundaries by continuously adapting to the actual pitch rather than relying on pre-defined table lookups that cause abrupt changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static pitch shift tables to dynamic pitch shift adjustment based on real-time pitch detection. This dynamic approach allows smooth transitions at pitch boundaries by continuously adapting the pitch shift amount to the actual input pitch, eliminating the abrupt changes inherent in pre-defined tables.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If a pitch shift amount table specifies fixed pitch shift amounts for each pitch, then pitch shifting can be performed systematically, but the pitch-shifted sound becomes unnatural during bending operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystematic pitch shift implementationVSAvoidnaturalness of pitch-shifted sound

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical lookup system (pitch shift amount table) with a sensor-based detection system. Instead of relying on pre-defined table values, the system uses bending detection to dynamically determine the pitch shift amount, substituting the static mechanical approach with a dynamic sensing approach that maintains natural sound during bending.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the input sound itself as the reference for determining pitch shift amount, rather than relying on external pre-defined tables. By detecting the pitch of the input sound and using it to determine the appropriate pitch shift amount, the system makes the pitch shift process self-adaptive and maintains naturalness without requiring external lookup tables.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS8686274B2Pitch shift device and process

Publication Date: 2014.04.01 ROLAND CORP

AI summary

A pitch shift device provides pitch-shifted sounds based on performance sounds generated by an electronic string musical instrument. The pitch shift device has a device that detects vibrato. When vibrato is detected, an interpolation device of a pitch shift control device performs a control of interpolating for a pitch shift change in the musical sound signal accompanying a change in pitch shift information stored in a pitch information storage device and read out by a pitch shift readout device from a group of pitch shift information. Therefore, unnatural pitch changes in pitch-shifted sound can be suppressed.