WO2006106207A1

WO2006106207A1 - Interactive desk for musical instrument

Info

Publication number: WO2006106207A1
Application number: PCT/FR2006/000666
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cyrille David
Original assignee: Mathis, Yves, Henri, Michel, Louis
Priority date: 2005-04-05
Filing date: 2006-03-28
Publication date: 2006-10-12
Also published as: FR2884029A1; FR2884029B1; EP1872359A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a music desk (L1, L2 or L3) consisting of a housing (32) independent of the instrument (C, B1, P) and containing at least one video screen (2), on wide-field Webcam (3) and means (4) for controlling and adjusting sounds and electronic components of an electronic platform. Said platform is arranged, entirely or partly, in the housing (32) and/or in the instrument, to provide a connection between sound sensors (20,22, 72, 73) arranged proximate the sound emitting sources, and means to be connected to Internet. The independent housing (32) is provided with fixing means for being positioned relative to the instrument so that the capturing field of the Webcam (3) captures at least the head of the musician and so that the musician can read the screen (2) while performing. A WiFi connector integrated to the housing (32) and co-operating with a terminal (38), connectable to a high-rate modem to a specific server, enable a multisite and multicast orchestra to be constituted.

Description

Interactive lectern equipment for musical instrument

The invention relates to interactive lectern equipment for musical instruments with electronic components facilitating rehearsals, individually or in groups, and group play. There are many musical instruments whose sounds are processed by electronic, analog or digital means. The first includes one or more means sensing the sounds near their emission area, amplification means and an output module for a headphone or an external sound system. The digital means comprise, after the sound pickup means, analog / digital converters, of the MID I or other type, digital signal coding means, signal processing means with reference to a sampling of recorded sounds, and digital processing unit processing the signals before distributing them to means, inside or outside of sound reproduction.

In currently known instruments, the digital processing is provided by computer equipment which, separate from the instrument, adds its size to that of this instrument. This is particularly troublesome for travel because, on the one hand, the same person can not wear everything at one time and, secondly, the volume required for transport does not always make it possible to use public transport. As a result, musicians of cumbersome instruments, such as cello and contrabass, have great difficulty in participating in group rehearsals, and either limit the number of repetitions or leave their instrument on the rehearsal space in a group. not working the score at their home.

To this disadvantage is added the limitation of the mobility of the musician on stage due to the presence of at least one and in general of several electrical cables between the power supply source, the instrument, the processing unit and the means of sound. Finally, and this is a significant disadvantage for the quality of an orchestration, although each instrument has the means to grant it and adjust its sound power, the group game is often distorted by the difficulty that each musician encounters to receive a noticeable return of the games of the other instruments. Indeed, with bad feedback sounds, the musician can not adjust his game to that of its partners and the acoustic quality of the music played is felt.

The object of the present invention is to provide interactive instrument lectern equipment which overcomes these disadvantages. For this purpose, lectern equipment is constituted by a separate instrument housing, removable and connectable, containing at least one video screen, a wide-field webcam and means for controlling and adjusting the sound images and electronic components an electronic platform, said platform a) being arranged, in whole or in part, in the housing and / or in the instrument, to ensure the connection between sound sensors, arranged near the sources of emission of sounds, and means for connection to the Internet, and b) comprising preamplifier, analog / digital converter, digital coding means, signal processing means with reference to a sampling of stored sounds, management microprocessor, with its ROM and RAM memories, command and control card, sound card, video card, connectors, power supply and electrical circuits connectable, said independent housing being provided with fixing means relative to the instrument positioning it so that the field of capture of the Webcam takes at least the head of the musician and that the musician can read the screen while he plays.

Thus, all the components and electronic means are distributed in the lectern, or in the lectern and the instrument which form a monolithic assembly, increasing the overall size of the instrument and does not add constraints for its transport. The instrument thus benefits from the latest technical progress improving its acoustics and its mobility, without any impact on its forms and its structure, which can remain traditional or take a new aspect. The combination screen-Webcam-connection on the network allows the musician:

- during a solitary training, to visualize on his screen how the representation of his game is in relation to limits or in relation to the representation of a memorized model score, and - during the group rehearsal or during the game of a group of musicians divided into different sites, at least to visualize the partner musicians playing, and in addition, to receive and adjust the sound of each, to adapt his game and contribute to a better harmony.

In one embodiment of the invention, the Internet connection means comprise a connector W1-Fl exchanging with an access terminal W1-Fl. This arrangement, combined with a battery power, gives total mobility to the musician who can move freely on stage or in a theater without affecting the quality of sound restored. Advantageously, the terminal is protected by an activation key and performs the functions of a router and an audio-video sequencer.

In one application, the terminal is equipped with as many "audio" outputs as musicians will repeat in the same room and a "video" output. Thus each of the musicians gathered in the same room sends the audio signals of his instrument to all the other musicians and receives all the signals coming from the other musicians, signals that he can choose and adjust in power to improve his listening and modify accordingly his Game.

In another application and to form a multisite orchestra whose musicians and listeners are geographically spaced, each terminal is equipped with several outputs for communicating with a server and it is the server that performs the functions of routing, editing, sound and signal management inbound and outbound, including multicast on the Internet. With this arrangement, it is possible to form an orchestra with musicians living in different countries, playing at the same time, benefiting from the self-control provided by the equipment according to the invention, while allowing a public distributed throughout the world. to connect to a live viewing and listening site, possibly after having paid an access fee.

Other features and advantages will emerge from the description which follows with reference to the appended schematic drawing showing several embodiments of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view schematically an orchestra made with the instruments according to the invention;

Figure 2 and 3 are side views, respectively in elevation and in longitudinal section, of a double bass equipped with an integrated lectern;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the bass of Figures 2 and 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of one embodiment of the lectern for double bass; Figure 6 is a diagram of an example of distribution of the functional means of the electronic components between the various parts of the bass of Figure 2 to 5;

Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the multisite function of the equipment;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an independent lectern.

FIG. 1 represents an orchestra that can be constituted with instruments comprising the lectern equipment according to the invention. It shows that the lectern, referenced L1, L2 and L3 can be in various forms and for example, be integrated in the instrument, as shown in L1 for the C bass, or be independent is juxtaposed to the instrument, as shown in L2 and L3 for, respectively, the electric piano P and the battery B. In any case and whatever the electronic components it contains, the lectern comprises at least one video screen 2, a webcam 3 and means 4 control and adjustment of sounds, images and other electronic components. In addition, each lectern is associated with means positioning it relative to the musician so, on the one hand, that the field of capture of the Webcam takes at least the head of the musician, and, secondly, that this musician can read the video screen 2 and access the adjusting means 4 while playing the instrument.

An embodiment of a lectern integrated with an instrument L1 will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 6 and in the case of its application to a bass. In known manner, this double bass comprises a box 10 extended upwards by a handle 11 and downwards by a support rod 12 or equivalent. The ropes 13 go from an upper peg 14 equipped with tensioning means 15 (FIG. 3) to a lower tail 16 passing over a play key 17 and an easel 18. The components of the instrument can be made of wood, or partly composite materials, especially since, in the digital version, the sound of the instrument no longer depends on its forms, compositions and structure. Like all the instruments benefiting from an electronic treatment, it also comprises, as shown in FIG. 3, several sound sensors and, for example magnetic sensors 20, arranged at the lower end of the play key under the strings and without contact. with them, or electrostatic sensors 22 arranged for example in the bridge 18 under each rope and without contact with her. FIG. 6 shows that each series of sensors 20 and 22 is associated with a preamplifier, 23, 24, which is connected to an output module 25, with plug for a headset 26 and analog audio jack 27. These analog processing means are powered by a low voltage electrical circuit 52 (Figureδ) and include adjustment means 28 for the bass, mid and treble, which are arranged on the body and for example on his shoulder, as shown in Figure 4.

In this embodiment, all the analog means are arranged in the instrument with an electronic platform 30 carrying part of the digital means. The other part of these digital means is disposed in the housing 32 of the lectern L1 of the instrument.

As shown schematically in Figure 6, the digital components include:

one or more sensors 33, arranged for example in the feet of the bridge 18,

an analog / digital converter 34, of type M. I. D. I or equivalent,

means 35 for digital coding of the signals,

means 36 for processing the signals by reference to stored samples, for example on a DVD disposed in a reader 37, these processing means comprising a microprocessor, also ensuring the management of the platform and the instrument, a ROM memory 38 and a RAM 39, and sound cards 40 and video 41,

an output module 42, connected to disconnectable output plugs 43 to 45, respectively, audio, M. I. D. I and to the lectern L1, and

means 46 for connection to the Internet network, comprising a modem 47 connected on the one hand to a connection socket 48 with the switched telephone network and, on the other hand, to a Wi-Fi connector 49 which can exchange with a terminal wireless access to an Ethernet-type local area network. This platform may also include low-voltage power supply means and for example a plug 50 connectable to the electrical network by a removable cord, not shown, and supplying a circuit 51 by a step-down transformer 53 and a battery 54.

FIG. 3 shows that the components of the digital platform 30 described above are disposed in a cavity 55 of the box 10 of the instrument, and are protected by a wall 56, normally called a table, but only fulfilling a role cover in this construction ,. For to access the components this table is mounted floating and has only one firm and rigid support on a core 57 disposed under the bridge 18. The periphery of the table rests on the edge of the cavity 55 with the interposition of a layer 58 of viscoelastic material forming a damper. Its fixing is ensured by the single plating component resulting from the tension of the ropes 13.

FIG. 6 also shows that the part of the digital means arranged in the lectern L1 comprises the video screen 2, the webcam 3 and various control and adjustment means that can be, according to the versions, sliders 60 (FIG. rotary knobs 61 (FIGS. 5 and 8), a touch screen 62 (FIG. 5), or a keyboard 63 (FIG. 6). Of course, the housing of the lectern also comprises the various means of connection, control and control of the screen and the webcam, and means 64 with plug 65 for connection with the electronic platform 30 of the instrument (FIG. . For applications in which each musician can be the director of each of the instruments of a group of musicians, each lectern includes the input and output tracks in relation to the number of musicians and the means of adjustment allowing him to intervene on each instrument. FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the lectern in which it constitutes not only a means of information for the musician, but also a means of positioning the latter with respect to his instrument. For this purpose, the housing 32 has a transverse dimension T which, when it is fixed on the instrument and supported by its other edge against the musician, puts the musician in an ideal position relative to the instrument. To this end, the edge 32a of the housing is concave to match the shape of the trunk of the musician and is furnished with a comfort padding.

The means fixing the lectern L1 on the instrument by organizing the capture of the head of the musician by the Webcam 3 while allowing the reading of the screen 2 by this musician, is provided by means that are adjustable, depending on the size of the musician and are detachable or retractable to reduce the clutter of the instrument for storage or transport. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, these fastening and connecting means are constituted by a lever 70, of adjustable length, provided at each of its two ends with a ball joint 71. Each of them cooperates with a spherical nut carried by the body 10 and the housing 32. With this the housing can, as shown in Figure 2, be stored against the instrument or, as shown in Figure 3, be arranged substantially horizontally to facilitate the shooting by the Webcam and reading the screen.

Of course, the shape of the lectern and the contents of its equipment vary depending on the instrument with which it is associated. Thus, as is apparent from the figurel:

- For a piano or an electronic organ P having internal electronic means delivering digitized signals, the lectern L2 may further comprise means described above means for controlling a microphone 72, for a singer;

while for a battery B having no room for housing electronic means, the lectern L3 comprises all the components of the electronic platform 30, in addition to the means described above. The sensors 20, 22 and 33 are replaced by microphones 73 connected to sockets 72 and 73 made on this lectern, as shown in FIG. 8.

The lectern L3 of Figure 8 in the form of a laptop and comprises a base 74 containing the electronic platform, the control means 60, 61, the adjustment means 28, the control means with visual indicators 75, 76, and the connection means 72, 73 to the sensors or microphones. The base is secured to a cover 77, articulated with respect to it to be erected, as shown, or folded against this base. The cover carries the reading screen 2 and the webcam 3. Figure 1 shows that when the lectern L2 or L3 is placed on an instrument, it is positioned vertically so that, with the cover 77 raised, the Webcam is substantially in position. face of the musician. A finishing adjustment is made by rotating the spherical body of the Webcam in its housing cover.

The musician equipped with a double bass whose lectern conforms to that described in FIGS. 5 and 6 may, when training at home, connect the instrument by removable conductors to the power supply network and the high-level telephone network. debit. When on stage or desires total mobility, it can release the instrument from any wired link and power it by the single battery 54 and connect to the Internet through the Wi-Fi connector 49. When a solitary rehearsal the musician can improve his playing by examining, on the video screen 2 of his lectern L1, the difference in a curve representing his game and a curve corresponding to a model partition, stored or taken from a server.

In a rehearsal or a group game, the connection between the musicians can be provided by wired means, but preferably it is provided by a wireless-Wi-Fi link. According to this connection and as shown by the arrows 81 to the 1, each Wi-Fi connector 49 transmits towards a terminal 80 which is connected to the high-speed network. This terminal 80 is equipped with a video output and as many audio outputs as there are musicians in the same room. Thus, the examination of the screen 2 by a musician allows him to view the movements of all or part of his partners, by choosing them with the control means 4, while listening at the same time their feedback sounds. He can thus adapt his rhythm and his game to that of his partners to provide all the precision and the nuances of an interpretation in the respect of the score. In this application of the indoor game, shown in Figure 1, the terminal 80 is protected by an activation key and performs the functions of router and audio-video sequencer.

Thanks to this and as shown by the arrows 82, the terminal transmits back to the lecterns L2 to L3, but also to the sound installation 83 of the room.

FIG. 7 shows by the transmission arrows 84 that the same musician M1 can, with the same instrument as before but connected to the Internet network, train or play with other musicians M2 to M6 installed at different points of play. a city, a country or the world. In this case, each terminal associated with a musician is protected by an activation key and is equipped with several outputs allowing it to communicate with a server 85. The latter provides the functions of routing, editing, sound and management of incoming and outgoing signals, as shown by the arrows 86. It also manages the multicast signals 87 to listeners and spectators A, distributed throughout the world and connected to the server by a coded link, paid or not.

It appears that the lectern equipment according to the invention not only improves the mobility of the instrument, the quality of its acoustics and the quality of the game of the musician, alone and in groups, but also facilitates the rehearsals and opens new perspectives through multi-site gaming and simultaneous and live multi-streaming.

Claims

1. Equipment for interactive lectern for musical instrument characterized in that it consists of a housing (32) independent of the instrument (B ₁ C and P) and containing at least one video screen (2), a webcam ( 3) with wide field and means (4) for controlling and adjusting the sounds, images and electronic components of an electronic platform (30), said platform (30) i) being arranged, in whole or in part, in the housing (32) and / or in the instrument (C), to provide the connection between sound sensors (20, 22, 33) disposed near the sound sources, and means (47). 49), and ii) comprising a preamplifier (23,24), an analog-to-digital converter (34), a digital coding means (35), a signal processing means (36) with reference to a sampling ( 37) of stored sounds, management microprocessor (36), with its memories (38 and 39), command and control card, sound card, video card, connectors, power supply source (50 to 53) and disconnectable electrical circuits, said independent housing (32) being provided with means (70, 71) for fixing the instrument positioning it so that the field of capture of the Webcam (3) take at least the head of the musician and that the musician can read the screen (2) while playing.

2. lectern equipment according to claim 1 characterized in that the means for connecting to the Internet comprise a modem (47) connectable to the switched telephone network.

3 lectern equipment according to claim 1 characterized in that the supply means ^of a electronic platform (30) comprises a rechargeable battery (54) energizable by a removable cord

4. Lectern equipment according to claim 1 characterized in that the means for connecting to the Internet comprise a Wl-Fl connector (49) exchanging with an access terminal Wl-Fl (80) equipped with a high-speed modem.

5. Lectern equipment according to claim 4 characterized in that the terminal (80) is protected by an activation key and performs the functions of a router, and audio-video sequencer.

6. lectern equipment according to claim 4 characterized in that the terminal (80) is equipped with as many outputs "audio" as musicians will repeat in the same room and output "video".

7. lectern equipment according to claim 4 characterized in that, to constitute an orchestra whose musicians (M1 to M6) and the viewers and listeners (S1 to S6) are spaced geographically, each terminal (80) is equipped with several outputs for communicating with a server (85) and it is the server (85) which performs the functions of routing, editing, sound and signal management (84, 86) incoming and outgoing, including those (87) multicast on the Internet.

8. lectern equipment according to claim 1 characterized in that, when it is integrated with a string bass, the digital computing platform (30) is arranged with the electric battery (49) and the analog card (23 to 25), in a cavity (55) of the box (10) and is protected by a removable table (56) which is mounted floating with a single firm support on a web (57) disposed under the bridge (18), and supports with dampers viscoelastic (58) distributed on the edge of said cavity (55).

9. Lectern equipment according to claim 8 characterized in that the back of the box (10) has, at its upper part, means (71) ensuring the hinged attachment of the housing (32) of the lectern (L1). in a substantially horizontal position, in which the lectern (L1) forms the positioning wedge of the instrument by pressing against the chest of the musician.

10. lectern equipment according to claim 9 characterized in that the fixing means comprise a lever (70), each of the two ends is connected by a ball joint (71), respectively, the housing (32) and the body (10) of the instrument.