Audio signal processing system for live music performance

Abstract

A method and system for generating and/or performing music in real time can include receiving one or more audio signals, receiving one or more virtual instrument trigger signals, and selecting one or more plug-ins and/or one or more virtual instruments. A processing scheme may be selected from a set of operations. The received audio signals and instrument trigger signals are processed in real time as a function of the selected plug-ins, virtual instruments and processing scheme, and outputted in real time as music signals.

1 . A signal processing system for generating and/or manipulating sound in real time, including:
 an audio input for receiving an audio signal;   an audio output for outputting sound signals;   a memory for storing a plurality of digital files;   a graphical user interface enabling a user to select at least one digital file from the memory and to select a processing scheme;   a digital processor coupled to the audio input, trigger input, memory, audio output, and user interface, the digital processor programmed with an algorithm enabling the digital processor in real time, based on the selected processing scheme, to:
 manipulate the audio signal using the at least one digital file to produce a manipulated audio signal; 
 combine the audio signal with the manipulated audio signal, to produce a combined signal; and 
 output a music signal to the audio output, the music signal including the audio signal, the manipulated audio signal, or the combined signal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The signal processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the algorithm further enables the digital processor to manipulate the combined signal to produce a manipulated combined signal, and wherein the music signal includes the manipulated combined signal. 
     
     
         3 . The signal processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of digital files includes a plurality of sound effects plug-ins. 
     
     
         4 . The signal processing system of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of sound effects plug-ins includes plug-ins for manipulating instrument sounds and plug-ins for manipulating vocal sounds. 
     
     
         5 . The signal processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of digital files includes a plurality of virtual instrument libraries. 
     
     
         6 . The signal processing system of  claim 5  wherein the virtual instrument libraries include virtual instruments and virtual vocals. 
     
     
         7 . The signal processing system of  claim 1  wherein the graphical user interface enables the user to select a performance arrangement. 
     
     
         8 . The signal processing system of  claim 1 , further including a host coupled between the memory and the digital processor. 
     
     
         9 . The signal processing system of  claim 8 , wherein the host is a proprietary host. 
     
     
         10 . The signal processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of digital files includes a proprietary sound effects plug-in or a virtual instrument file. 
     
     
         11 . The signal processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the device includes a trigger input for receiving a trigger signal, and wherein the algorithm includes generating a virtual instrument sound signal using the trigger signal and the at least one digital file. 
     
     
         12 . A method for generating music in real time, including:
 receiving one or more audio signals;   receiving one or more virtual instrument trigger signals;   selecting one or more plug-ins and/or one or more virtual instruments;   creating a processing scheme that includes operations selected from the group of operations consisting of:
 (1) manipulating the received audio signals as a function of the selected sound effects plug-ins to produce manipulated audio signals; 
 (2) generating virtual instrument sound signals as a function of the received trigger signals and the selected virtual instruments; 
 (3) manipulating the virtual instrument sound signals as a function of the selected sound effect plug-ins to produce manipulated virtual instrument signals; 
 (4) combining the received audio signals, the manipulated audio signals, the virtual instrument sound signals, and the manipulated virtual instrument signals to produce combined signals; 
 (5) manipulating the combined signals to produce manipulated combined signals; and 
 (6) repeating operations (4) and (5) with the combined signals or with the manipulated combined signals to produce iteratively processed signals; 
   processing the received audio signals and instrument trigger signals in real time as a function of the selected plug-ins, virtual instruments and processing scheme, to produce music signals; and   outputting in real time the music signals.   
     
     
         13 . A signal processing device for generating and/or manipulating sound in real time, including:
 an audio input for receiving an audio signal;   an audio output for outputting sound signals;   a memory for storing a plurality of digital files;   a graphical user interface enabling a user to select at least one digital file from the memory and to select a processing scheme;   a digital processor coupled to the audio input, memory, audio output, and user interface, the digital processor programmed with an algorithm enabling the digital processor in real time, based on the selected processing scheme, to:
 manipulate the audio signal using the at least one digital file to produce a manipulated audio signal; 
 combine the audio signal with the manipulated audio signal, to produce a combined signal; and 
 output a music signal to the audio output, the music signal including the audio signal, the manipulated audio signal, or the combined signal. 
   
     
     
         14 . The signal processing device of  claim 13 , wherein the algorithm further enables the digital processor to manipulate the combined signal to produce a manipulated combined signal, and wherein the music signal includes the manipulated combined signal. 
     
     
         15 . The signal processing device of  claim 13 , wherein the device includes a trigger input for receiving a trigger signal, and wherein the algorithm includes generating a virtual instrument sound signal using the trigger signal and the at least one digital file. 
     
     
         16 . The signal processing device of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one digital file includes a plurality of sound effects plug-ins. 
     
     
         17 . The signal processing device of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of sound effects plug-ins includes plug-ins for manipulating instrument sounds and plug-ins for manipulating vocal sounds. 
     
     
         18 . The signal processing device of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one digital file includes a plurality of virtual instrument libraries. 
     
     
         19 . The signal processing device of  claim 18 , wherein the virtual instrument libraries include virtual instruments and virtual vocals. 
     
     
         20 . The signal processing device of  claim 13 , wherein the graphical user interface enables the user to select a performance arrangement.