Electronic Musical Instrument Tone Release Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic musical instruments struggle to faithfully imitate the tone color and performance characteristics of natural instruments, particularly in arpeggio performances, due to unnatural sound overlap and the need for high-level performance techniques to manage the HOLD pedal effectively.
Innovation Solution
An electronic musical instrument system that determines pitch differences between held and newly generated notes, selectively releasing held notes based on predetermined criteria to maintain the character of the imitated instrument, thereby controlling the number of simultaneously generated tones and simulating the structural characteristics of string instruments like the acoustic guitar.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the HOLD pedal is used to hold tones for imitating arpeggio performance, then the tone continuity is improved, but the device complexity and performance technique requirement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically manages tone holding and release based on pitch difference detection, eliminating the need for manual pedal operation. The electronic musical instrument itself performs the complex timing and release management that would otherwise require skilled performer intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical pedal operation is replaced with an automatic electronic control system that detects pitch differences and manages tone release timing programmatically, converting manual mechanical control into automated electronic decision-making.
2Duration of action of moving object
If too many sounds are held simultaneously, then the tone continuity is improved, but the identity of the imitated instrument is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the parameter of tone release timing based on pitch difference detection. When pitch difference exceeds the threshold, tones are released at appropriate intervals to maintain instrument identity; when within threshold, tones are held longer to maintain continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tone release behavior is made dynamic rather than static. The system continuously monitors pitch differences and adjusts tone release timing in real-time, transitioning between holding tones longer and releasing them earlier based on the detected pitch relationships.
3Reliability
If the performer needs to switch HOLD pedal on and off at appropriate timings, then the instrument identity is maintained, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the complex timing and release management automatically without requiring skilled performer intervention. The electronic musical instrument itself performs the complex timing and release management that would otherwise require skilled performer intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pitch difference detection as feedback to automatically adjust tone release timing. By continuously monitoring the pitch relationship between held tones and new inputs, the system self-regulates to maintain instrument identity without external control.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an electronic musical instrument, computer storage device, and method generating tones for held notes. Indication is made of held notes having pitches as held in response to receiving note-on information for the held notes from an input device of an electronic musical instrument while receiving hold information from a hold device of the electronic musical instrument. Note-on information is received for a received note having a pitch while generating the pitches for the held notes. Selection is made of one of the held notes to release according to a first selection criteria in response to determining that the pitch difference of the received note and at least one of the held notes does not exceed the predetermined number of tones or selection is made according to a second selection criteria if the pitch difference exceeds the predetermined number of tones.