Automated musical accompaniment with multiple input sensors

Apparatus for automating accompaniment to a vocalist's performance, comprising:

• first input means responsive to the pitch of the vocalist to produce a first input signal;
• second input means responsive to some other parameter of the vocalist's performance to produce a second input signal;
• storage means for storing information about a score;
• first and second tracking means responsive to said first and second input signals, respectively, and to said storage means for producing first and second position signals indicative of a score position when a match is found between said first and second input signals, respectively, and said information about said score;
• first voter means, responsive to each of said position signals, for weighting each of each said position signals according to the frequency with which it changes and the proximity of its score position to the score position represented by the other position signal, said voter means for calculating a final ensemble score position signal in response to the weighted position signals;
• and
• scheduler means, responsive to said final ensemble score position signal, for outputting an accompaniment corresponding to said final ensemble score position signal.

A method for automating accompaniment to an ensemble performance, comprising the steps of:

• producing a plurality of input signals each containing information related to the ensemble's performance;
• storing information about a score;
• comparing said input signals to said stored information about the score;
• producing a position signal indicative of a score position when a predetermined relationship exists between said input signal and said information about said score;
• weighting each of each said position signals according to the frequency with which it changes and the proximity of its score position to each of the other score positions represented by each of the other position signals;
• calculating a final ensemble score position signal in response to the weighted position signals;
• and
• outputting an accompaniment according to a set of rules in response to said final ensemble score position signal.