IP Library Granted Patent US 7,176,374
Granted Patent B2
US 7,176,374 · App. 11/274,784 · Granted Feb 13, 2007

Music synthesizer and a method of generating a synthesizer output with a constant beat

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,176,374
App. No.
11/274,784
Granted
Feb 13, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

Prior art synthesizers often select a small interval d to detune. For example, if the nominal oscillator frequency was 1000 Hz, then applying a detune parameter of 10 cent would result in a detuned oscillator frequency of 1006 Hz. However, at the next octave, the nominal frequency would be 2000 Hz with the detuned oscillator frequency of 2012 Hz. Accordingly, a detuned oscillator has a frequency deviation which is proportional to its nominal frequency. Hence, when mixing detuned oscillators, the resulting signal has a beat frequency which varies with the pitch and doubles with each octave. An aim of the present invention is to provide a music synthesizer whereby sounds are generated with a constant optimum beat across a large range of tones. The present invention relates to a music synthesizer comprising a first and second oscillator and a signal generator which applies a constant beat parameter to a pitch signal to derive the input for said second oscillator, thereby enabling a synthesizer output to be generated at a substantially constant beat.

Claims (8)

1. A method comprising:

generating a constant beat parameter;

adding the constant beat parameter to a pitch signal to derive an input for a first oscillator; and

combining an output of the first oscillator and an output of a second oscillator to generate a music synthesizer output with a substantially constant beat.

2. A method as in claim 1 , further comprising:

deriving an input for the first oscillator from a linear pitch control signal.

3. A method as in claim 2 , further comprising:

combining a detune parameter with the linear pitch control signal.

Assignments (1)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 1, 2007
From: APPLE COMPUTER, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 019943/0163 →