Back to Results

Patent Title: System and methods for analyzing and critiquing a vocal performance

Assignee: IBM
Patent Number: US6182044
Issue Date: 01-30-2001
Application Number:
File Date:09-01-1998

Abstract: System and methods for analyzing a vocal performance by automatically critiquing pitch, rhythm and pronunciation or diction of a singer in accordance with pre-programmed criteria. In one aspect, a method for analyzing a vocal performance comprises the steps of capturing the acoustic utterances of a user's vocal performance (singing a song); extracting pitch information from each frame of the acoustic utterances; extracting phonetic information from each frame of the acoustic utterances; combining the extracted pitch information and phonetic information of corresponding frames to generate an encoded representation of the current vocal performance; comparing the encoded representation of the current vocal performance with an encoded reference vocal performance (or the same user or a different person) having pitch and phonetic information associated therewith to determine if a variation between either pitch information, the phonetic information, or both, of the encoded current vocal performance and of the encoded reference vocal performance is within a predetermined, user-specified tolerance; and critiquing the user's current vocal performance if the variation is determined to exceed the predetermined tolerance.

Notes:

Link to USPTO

IBM Pledge dated 1/11/2005