Method for converting a music signal into a note-based description and for referencing a music signal in a data bank

Method for referencing a music signal in a database comprising a note-based description of a plurality of database music signals, comprising the following steps:

• transferring the music signal into the note-based description, the step of transferring comprising the following steps:
• generating a frequency-time representation of the music signal, the frequency-time representation comprising coordinate tuples, one coordinate tuple including a frequency value and a time value, the time value indicating a time of occurrence of the assigned frequency value in the music signal;
• calculating a fit function as a function of time, a course of the fit function being being determined by the coordinate tuples of the frequency-time representation;
• determining at least two adjacent extreme values of the fit function;
• time-segmenting the frequency-time representation on the basis of the determined extreme values, a segment being limited by two adjacent extreme values of the fit function, the time length of the segment indicating a time length of a note assigned to this segment;
• and
• determining a pitch of the note for the segment using coordinate tuples in the segment;
• comparing the note-based description of the music signal with the note-based description of the plurality of database music signals in the database;
• making a statement with respect to the music signal on the basis of the step of comparing.

Apparatus for transferring a music signal into a note-based description, comprising:

• a generator for generating a frequency-time representation of the music signal, the frequency-time representation comprising coordinate tuples, a coordinate tuple including a frequency value and a time value, wherein the time value indicates a time of occurrence of the assigned frequency value in the music signal;
• a calculator for calculating a fit function as a function of time, a course of the fit function being determined by the coordinate tuples of the frequency-time representation;
• a processor for determining at least two adjacent extreme values of the fit function;
• a time segmentor for time-segmenting the frequency-time representation on the basis of the determined extreme values, one segment being limited by two adjacent extreme values of the fit function, the time length of the segment indicating a time length of a note assigned to this segment;
• and another processor for determining a pitch of the note for the segment using coordinate tuples in the segment.

Apparatus for referencing a music signal in a database, comprising a note-based description of a plurality of database music signals, comprising:

• means for transferring the music signal into a note-based description, the means for transferring being operative for:
• generating a frequency-time representation of the music signal, the frequency-time representation comprising coordinate tuples, one coordinate tuple including a frequency value and a time value, the time value indicating a time of occurrence of the assigned frequency value in the music signal;
• calculating a fit function as a function of time, a course of the fit function being determined by the coordinate tuples of the frequency-time representation;
• determining at least two adjacent extreme values of the fit function;
• time-segmenting the frequency-time representation on the basis of the determined extreme values, a segment being limited by two adjacent extreme values of the fit function, the time length of the segment indicating a time length of a note assigned to this segment;
• and
• determining a pitch of the note for the segment using coordinate tuples in the segment;
• means for comparing the note-based description of the music signal with the note-based description of the plurality of database music signals in the data bank;
• and
• means for making a statement with respect to the music signal on the basis of the step of comparing.