GB2174234A

GB2174234A - Portable musical phrase generator

Info

Publication number: GB2174234A
Application number: GB08501595A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Jannaway; Barry Woodland; Alan Right
Original assignee: MICROTECH ELECTRONICS Ltd
Current assignee: MICROTECH ELECTRONICS Ltd
Priority date: 1985-03-26
Filing date: 1985-03-26
Publication date: 1986-10-29
Also published as: GB8501595D0

Abstract

A portable musical phrase generator comprises a first set 1 of keys or panels marked with note durations, a second set 2 of keys or panels marked with rest durations, a third set 3 of keys or panels marked with note pitches, and a fourth set 4 of keys or panels marked with sharp signs, flat signs, natural signs and other modifying information. Within the generator is provided a memory store M within which different signals corresponding to the keys or panels may be stored and circuitry G capable of combining successively entered and stored duration signals with successively entered and stored pitch signals to give a sequence of notes of duration and pitch corresponding to the combined signals in a sequence corresponding to their position in the sequence of all duration signals whether of notes or of rests. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Portable musical phrase generator This invention relates to a handheld portable device for storing and playing a musical phrase, as a teaching or self-teaching aid for persons who cannot read music.

Certain models of pocket calculator generate an audible tone, different for each touch location when operated. (By "touch location" we mean either a mechanically depressible key or a signalproviding touch panel). Some of these models, as a trivial amusement allow a few notes, typically about ten, to be stored and replaced. There is, however, no relation to an actual selected pitch and no variable duration of such notes; they are a mere "jingle".

We have now discovered that a handheld portable device can be provided with selectable duration keys, for notes or rests, and selectable pitch keys and can be capable of uniting note durations only with pitches, in pairs, to give a sequence of notes accurately corresponding to a given musical phrase.

In one aspect therefore the invention consists in a portable musical phrase generator, comprising: (a) a plurality of touch locations including (i) a first subset, each location of which is marked with a different conventional symbol for note duration, (ii) a second subset each location of which is marked with a different conventional symbol for rest duration, (iii) a third subset each location of which is marked with a different musical staff position for note pitch, (iv) a fourth subset comprising at least one location marked with a conventional "sharp" sign, one marked with a conventional "flat" sign and one marked with a conventional "natural" sign, (b) memory capable of storing different signals corresponding one to each touch location, (c) circuitry capable of combining successively entered and stored note duration signals with successively entered and stored note pitch signals, and (d) a musical tone generator capable of generating notes of duration and pitch corresponding to the combined signals, in a sequence corresponding to their position in the sequence of all duration signals.

By use of this device specified notes of specified duration, separated where necessary by rests of specified duration, can be stored and replayed in the desired sequence whenever required. For teaching purposes, especially for choirs or choir parts, such equipment is valuable as permitting repetition of a phrase (typically up to 50 notes) for training and demonstration.

Also, as described in more detail below, someone incapable of reading music can still enter the durations and pitches of a written passage of melody, for subsequent and repeated replay.

Moreover, the device is an aid to composers of music especially non-readers of conventional notation.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing which is a general representation of the operating panel of a typical portable phrase generator.

In the device shown, a box the size of a large handheld calculator has a number of touch panels on its face.

Group 1 of the panels are each marked with a different note notation e.g. crochet, quaver, semiquaver. to the number required. Triplet lengths can be included.

Group 2 are each marked with the corresponding "rest" durations notations, to the number corresponding to that of Group 1.

Group 3 are each marked with the same 5-line stave and leger lines, somewhere on which is located a note position different for each panel. It will be found convenient to name each note on the case below the touch panel.

Group 4 comprises panels giving "modifying instructions; it will include a "flat", "sharp" and "natural" instruction, and will usually include "cancel entry", "faster", "slower", "program, "play"" and "on-off" panels. It may include a "dot" panel, to modify a duration by an extra half, or even a "double dot" panel if required. Treble, tenor or bass clef panels can also be provided if deemed necessary.

When the device is switched off, the chip, in "standby" mode still retains in its memory any pitch and duration signals left from the last period of use. Thus, when the device is switched on, and "play" is pressed, these can be sequentially played back. To remove this information, press "cancel entry" then "program".

The notional non-reader of music then enters the visible signs of printed music sequentially.

(a) First the key signature (if any) is entered by pressing the "flat" or "sharp" panel a requisite number of time.

This has the effect of moving the starting point of a looped series of twelve relative pitch intervals either five units to the left or seven to the right, whereby the new sequence of twelve corresponds in its intervals to those of the desired key, and will persist throughout the recorded musical phrase. The basic sequence is

1 O 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 C D E F G A B .

The key of F (one flat) moves 5 units left, to give

101011010110 C D E F G A Bb The key of G (one sharp) moves 7 units right, to give

1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 C D E F G A Al B 1 B and so on.

(b) Then each note and rest length is entered by pressing the keys corresponding to the sequence of durations on the piece of music. A confirming 1 KH, "blip" may be given for each "duration" entered If the available memory capacity is being approached, a different signal e.g. 3KH, can be given when a duration key is pressed, terminating in, say, a three-blip code on the last available entry.

(c) Finally, the note pitch panels are identified and pressed sequentially, including any "accidentals" visible on the copy. (If desired, stages (b) and (c) can be interspersed one-and-one, or in groups). The "pitch" panels preferably give a brief "pitch" signal as a confirmation, when pressed. Accidentals only govern the next note, not the key signature.

All the various signals are stored in memory M, any one of numerous electronic methods being usable.

(d) the "Run Program" panel is pressed. Signals of pitch and duration corresponding to 1 and 3 combined, spaced by the rest durations are selected and generate the desired sequence of musical notes at G.

Certain of the more advanced features of music notation e.g. odd rhythms or double accidentals cannot be entered on the device as shown, whose memory is also limited to a 50-duration sequence. It is quite possible to incorporate and program one or more chips to accommodate these and other features, but we have found that music containing such features is in any case usually only approached by more skilled musicians not needing this device.

Claims

1. A portable musical phrase generator, comprising: (a) a plurality of touch locations including (i) a first subset, each location of which is marked with a different conventional symbol for note duration, (ii) a second subset each location of which is marked with a different conventional symbol for rest duration, (iii) a third subset each location of which is marked with a different musical staff position for note pitch, (iv) a fourth subset comprising at least one location marked with a conventional "sharp" sign, one marked with a conventional "flat" sign and one marked with a conventional "natural" sign, (b) memory capable of storing different signals corresponding one to each touch location, (c) circuitry capable of combining successively entered and stored note duration signals with successively entered and stored note pitch signals, and (d) a musical tone generator capable of generating notes of duration and pitch corresponding to the combined signals, in a sequence corresponding to their position in the sequence of all duration signals.

2. A portable musical phrase generator as claimed in Claim 1 in which the locations of the fourth subset include at least one of the following instructions: "cancel entry", "faster", "slower", "program", "play" and "on-off".

3. A portable musical phrase generator as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which each duration location generates a confirmatory sound signal at the time of use.

4. A portable musical phrase generator as claimed in any one preceding Claim in which signals are given by the duration locations at or towards the end of the available memory.

5. A portable musical phrase generator as claimed in Claim 1 and substantially as herein particularly described.