DE10348503A1 - Human machine interface e.g. for intuitive control of electronic music, has hand course direction control with electric check signals converted into real time and angular movement is orthogonal or axially to thrust course movement - Google Patents

Abstract

The interface has a hand course direction control with electric check signals converted into real time. The angular movement is orthogonal or axially to thrust the course movement. The movements can be controlled by finger movements. An independent claim is included for a method of several movements including axial thrust, controllable by a hand course direction.

Description

State of technology

The in modern music synthesizers, sound cards or software synthesizers used algorithms are constantly evolving and refined. This includes also the provision of more and more sound-influencing parameters, the sound to be produced as it is varied by the musician during the Play can modify.

The Nowadays, the user usually has to control these parameters via standard input devices, such as e.g. Keyboards with keyboard and some controls that affect the sound accomplish. These regulators include e.g. Input wheels (pitch and modulation wheel, e.g. Master keyboards), knobs (e.g. Doepfer lathe [http://www.doepfer.de]), joysticks (e.g., Korg Wavestation [http://www.korg.com]), touch pads (such as Roland V-Synth [http://www.roland.com]) and sliders (e.g., Deopfer Rulebook [Http://www.doepfer.de]).

Further input devices for controlling electronic musical instruments are e.g. under (http://www.stoffelshome.de/alt_controller/alt_midi_controller.html] summarized. These include besides the above mentioned ones as well still non-contact input devices as well as input devices, the different guitars were modeled.

to direct replica of the control of certain classical musical instruments Further electronic input devices were developed. These include electronic drum pads (e.g., Roland V-Drums [http://www.roland.com]), Wind instruments (e.g., Yamaha WX-7, WX-11 to reproduce a clarinet [http://www.yamaha.com]), as well as a violin imitation [http://www.charlesnichols.com/].

Not to be confused with the input devices described above, the produce no sound, but only control data for an external sound source offer are the electronic instruments that are a real vibration modify by downstream processing. Prominent examples thereof are e.g. the Silent Strings and Silent Brass by Yamaha.

These invention presented here is to be classified in the first group, because no own sound is processed, but control data for external sound generator to be provided.

Problems of the current state of the art

The hitherto used man-machine interfaces have the disadvantage that at conventional used controllers only two to three parameters independently can be controlled simultaneously with one hand. Furthermore are the rules contained therein so small that an expressive style of play of the electronic instrument not in the same way as in classical acoustic musical instruments is possible. The input devices that emulating certain classical instruments are based on these instrument families limited and can not intuitively multiple instrument families or parameters other, e.g. also control virtual, synthesis algorithms.

Solution and further embodiment of the invention

The key element This invention is the long stroke axial push / pull movement. Holds a hand the end of the for This rule provided mechanics and can thus deflection (Position), speed and acceleration etc. vary intuitively. Due to the long control path, this can be caused by gross motoric (arm movement), as well as fine motor (wrist movement) very sensitive and be expressively controlled. The above parameters (position, Speed, acceleration) can all be done simultaneously be further processed, but are not independent of each other and can by Differentiation or integration are converted into each other.

By the same hand can other controls are controlled. Thus, the push / pull axle can be extended by one Bracket be rotated in three angular directions. These twists include two angular directions orthogonal to the axial direction and one Angular direction in the axial direction. Here are the orthogonal directions of rotation in turn, to control both large and fine motor, the axial direction only fine motor by wrist movements. In addition to The four independent control movements already described can be further Regulator can be used, which controls by the individual fingers become. Here are, for example, pressure sensors, sliders with short control path, modulation wheels or combinations of the previously mentioned.

The individual movements are converted into electrical signals by the various sensors. These electrical signals are post-processed and converted into digital control signals. The digital control signals can, for example, be transmitted to conventional tone generators via the MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) protocol and assigned to the tone generation algorithms in these individual parameters. The signal path is in 1 shown. The data of the input device ( 1 ) by sensors in electrical signals ( 2 ) transformed. These signals ( 2 ) are digitized ( 3 ) to software or hardware sound generators ( 4 ) to control.

When Provide sound generation algorithms under Software Control the methods of physical modeling, as these many independent, but use intuitively controllable parameters. of course is the applicability of the presented input device also not limited to musical applications. It can be any kind of software / hardware intuitively and in real time with it.

reached Advantages over the state of the art

at usual Devices for the control of electronic musical instruments has always been important to a compact design or realistic Replica of movements placed by classical musical instruments. The disadvantage is on the one hand in the short rules, which do not allow a nuanced game. On the other hand, the number of parameters to be operated at the same time is limited to two to three. In the simulation of movements of certain classical Instruments is the intuitive control of other instrument families severely restricted.

there offers the human-machine interface presented here a Progress, by using long rules to intuitive and nuanced playability be used without affecting a particular instrument or only one instrument family must be specified. The remains Interface with a simultaneous control of up to eight independent Parameters (push / pull direction, two orthogonal and one axial Direction of rotation and four controlled by the fingers on the handle Sensors) with only one hand playable, leaving the second hand free remains conventional input devices (e.g., keyboard) for to use further parameter modifications.

prototype

A prototype has already been created by the man-machine interface described, but this is merely an example configuration. He is in 2 and 3 shown. He processed in addition to the push / pull direction two orthogonal directions of rotation and three pressure sensors.

The man-machine interface is on the handle ( 5 ) held with one hand. The push / pull movement is via one on the handle ( 5 ), via a linear ball bearing ( 6 ) guided tube ( 7 ) transfer. The pipe ( 7 ) is at both ends with a spring ( 8th ) and a stop damping ( 9 ) to avoid discontinuous sensor signals. Furthermore, at the ends of the tube ( 7 ) Ball-bearing ( 10 ), on which springs ( 11 ) a string ( 12 ) is tense. The string ( 12 ) is due to movement of the tube ( 7 ) on a wheel ( 13 ) wound up and unwound. This rotational movement is via an axis ( 14 ) to a pulse generator ( 30 ), which converts the push / pull movements into electrical signals.

The linear ball bearing ( 6 ) is over a vertical axis ( 18 ) with a potentiometer ( 19 ) is connected to the horizontal rotational movement of the rod ( 7 ) to decrease.

The frame ( 20 ) of the vertical axis ( 18 ) is over a horizontal axis ( 21 ) with a potentiometer ( 22 ), which indicates the vertical direction of rotation of the rod ( 7 ) is converted into electrical signals. The potentiometer ( 22 ) is on the outer frame ( 29 ) attached. The control path length of the horizontal and vertical directions of rotation of the rod ( 7 ) can by adjustment ( 23 . 24 ) to be changed. For better control of the angular deflection, springs ( 25 . 26 ) used. To guarantee continuous sensor signals, there are bump stops ( 27 . 28 ).

On the handle ( 5 ) are three pressure sensors ( 15 ), the electrical signals via a connecting cable ( 16 ) from the handle to the processing electronics ( 17 ) conduct.

The pulse generator ( 30 ), the pressure sensors ( 15 ) and the potentiometers ( 19 . 22 ) generated in an electronics, the foot ( 31 ) of the external frame ( 29 ) is converted into digital MIDI data. With this data, the appropriate software is controlled.

For future versions can also be used the FireWire interface, which is now also established as a standard interface for musical instruments and a much more accurate sampling guaranteed.

example applications

• 1. Die Spielweise einer Geige kann nachgeahmt werden, wobei die Schub-/Zug-Bewegung das Streichen des Bogens auf der Saite simuliert. Die horizontale Drehbewegung stellt die Bogenposition auf der Saite ein, die vertikale Drehbewegung wählt die momentan gespielte Saite aus. Ein Drucksensor im Griff regelt den Druck, den der Bogen auf die Saite ausübt. Ein weiterer Drucksensor kann einer Tonhöhenmodulation oder einem Pizzikato-Effekt zugeordnet werden. Die Tonhöhe wird dabei über ein konventionelles Keyboard mit der anderen Hand festgelegt.
• 2. Die Spielweise eines gezupften Kontrabasses kann nachgeahmt werden, wobei die Schub-/Zug-Bewegung die Länge der Saite und damit die Tonhöhe bestimmt. Mit der horizontalen Drehbewegung kann die Zupfposition auf der Saite bestimmt werden und mit der vertikalen Drehbewegung die Auswahl der gezupften Saite. Mit einem Drucksensor kann der Zupfvorgang ausgeführt werden, wobei die Stärke des Druckes die Auslenkung der Saite bestimmt. Ein weiterer Drucksensor kann die Dämpfung der Saite kontrollieren. Die zweite Hand bleibt frei.
• 3. Die Spielweise einer Posaune kann nachgeahmt werden, wobei die Schub-/Zug-Bewegung die Position der Posaunen-Röhren simuliert. Die orthogonalen Winkelrichtungen können die aktuelle Abstrahlrichtung des Schallstücks definieren, um die Richtcharakteristik des Instrumentes in die Simulation mit einzubeziehen. Die Drucksensoren können weiteren Klangveränderungs-Parametern zugeordnet werden.

The sensors ( 15 . 19 . 22 . 30 ) can be freely assigned to the parameters of the sound synthesis algorithm to be controlled. For this purpose, three example configurations are described.

• 1. The playing style of a violin can be imitated, with the push / pull movement simulating the bowing of the bow on the string. The horizontal rotation adjusts the arc position on the string, the vertical rotation selects the currently playing string. A pressure sensor in the handle regulates the pressure that the bow exerts on the string. Another pressure Sensor can be assigned to a pitch modulation or a pizzicato effect. The pitch is determined by a conventional keyboard with the other hand.
• 2. The playing style of a plucked double bass can be imitated, with the push / pull movement determines the length of the string and thus the pitch. With the horizontal rotary movement, the plucking position on the string can be determined and with the vertical rotary movement the selection of the plucked string. With a pressure sensor, the plucking operation can be performed, wherein the strength of the pressure determines the deflection of the string. Another pressure sensor can control the damping of the string. The second hand remains free.
• 3. The playing style of a trombone can be imitated, with the push / pull movement simulating the position of the trumpet tubes. The orthogonal angular directions can define the current emission direction of the bell to include the directional characteristic of the instrument in the simulation. The pressure sensors can be assigned to other sound modification parameters.

Claims (6)

Man-machine interface, characterized in that it a. Push / pull movements with long control paths and b. further movements controlled by one hand c. converted into electrical control signals in real time and d. It is not restricted to classical motion sequences of an application area (eg the simulation of a real musical instrument family). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the further movements according to claim 1b a. angular movements orthogonal to the push / pull movement, b. Angular movements axially to the push / pull movement as well c. Be finger movements on a handpiece can. Apparatus according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that a. the control ranges of the angular directions according to claims 2a and 2b changed can be b. the finger movements of claim 2c by an exchangeable handpiece with different sensors for movement decrease and / or different positioning of the Sensors can be removed variably, Device according to claim 1, characterized in that that a. the electrical control signals into digital control data, preferably in standardized format. Device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that that a. with the digital control signals the parameters of digital algorithms are controlled, especially for control of electronic musical instruments. Method, characterized in that several of one hand controllable movements involving one axial push / pull direction with long control path in electrical control signals for the intuitive real-time control of digital algorithms, preferably the digital sound synthesis, be converted without going up classic movements limited to one field of application to be.