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US 6,063,994 AGranted
Simulated string instrument using a keyboard
AssigneeCreative Technology Ltd
InventorsYong Fatt Kew, Kok Leong Chia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An economical simulated string instrument system that facilitates a performance both visually and aurally similar to a real string instrument performance. One particular embodiment is a simulated guitar implemented on a personal computer where standard personal computer keyboard keys are mapped to guitar controls so that the performer can hold and manipulate the keyboard in much the same way as a real guitar. This embodiment, however, provides flexibility and ease of play not offered by the real instrument.
Claims26
A computer-implemented method for simulating a string instrument comprising the steps of:
- receiving from a personal computer keyboard a signal indicating depression of a particular key;
- controlling musical output responsive to said key depression signal in accordance with a position of said particular key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said string instrument.
A computer-implemented method for simulating a guitar comprising the steps of:
- receiving from a personal computer keyboard a signal indicating depression of a particular key;
- and
- controlling musical output responsive to said key depression signal in accordance with a position of said particular key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said guitar;
- wherein said particular key is one of a plurality of function keys and said controlling step comprises selecting a chord for said musical output responsive to which one of said plurality of function keys was depressed.
1 more element
A computer-implemented method for simulating a guitar comprising the steps of:
- receiving from a personal computer keyboard a signal indicating depression of a particular key;
- and
- controlling musical output responsive to said key depression signal in accordance with a position of said particular key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said guitar;
- wherein said particular key is in a numerical keypad portion of said personal computer keyboard and said controlling step comprises:
- simulating a sound of a guitar string being plucked responsive to which key on said numerical keypad was depressed.
2 more elements
A computer program product for simulating operation of a string instrument, said product comprising:
- code that controls an electronic device to receive from a personal computer keyboard a signal indicating depression of a particular key;
- code that controls musical output responsive to said key depression signal in accordance with a position of said particular key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said string instrument;
- and
- a computer-readable storage medium for storing the codes.
1 more element
A computer program product for simulating operation of a guitar, said product comprising:
- code that directs a personal computer to receive from a keyboard a signal indicating depression of a particular key;
- code that controls musical output responsive to said key depression signal in accordance with a position of said particular key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said guitar;
- and
- a computer-readable storage medium for storing the codes;
- wherein said particular key is one of a plurality of function keys and said controlling code comprises code that selects a chord for said musical output responsive to which one of said plurality of function keys was depressed.
2 more elements
A computer program product for simulating operation of a guitar, said product comprising:
- code that directs a personal computer to receive from a keyboard a signal indicating depression of a particular key;
- code that controls musical output responsive to said key depression signal in accordance with a position of said particular key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said guitar, wherein said particular key is in a numerical keypad portion of said personal computer keyboard, and wherein said controlling code comprises code that simulates a sound of a guitar string being plucked responsive to which key on said numerical keypad was depressed;
- and
- a computer-readable storage medium for storing the codes.
1 more element
A simulated string instrument system comprising:
- a processor;
- a personal computer keyboard;
- a speaker;
- a memory system storing sound data to be audiblized by said speaker and instructions to be executed by said processor, said instructions including:
- instructions that control musical output through said speaker responsive to a position of a particular depressed key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said string instrument.
2 more elements
A simulated guitar system comprising:
- a processor;
- a personal computer keyboard;
- a speaker;
- a memory system storing sound data to be audiblized by said speaker and instructions to be executed by said processor, said instructions including:
- instructions that control musical output through said speaker responsive to a position of a particular depressed key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said guitar;
- wherein depression of a function key simulates selection of a guitar chord.
3 more elements
A simulated string instrument system comprising:
- a processor;
- a keyboard;
- a speaker;
- a memory system storing sound data to be audiblized by said speaker and instructions to be executed by said processor, said instructions including:
- instructions that control musical output through said speaker responsive to a position of a particular depressed key on said keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said string instrument,
- wherein depression of a numeric key of said keyboard simulates plucking of a guitar string.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.