US 12,136,406 B2
Automated creation of virtual ensembles
Bryan B. Edwards, La Jolla, CA (US); Brian S. Kim, Carlsbad, CA (US); and Phillip D. Sylvester, West Bloomfield, MI (US)
Assigned to Virtual Music Ensemble Technologies, LLC, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed by Virtual Music Ensemble Technologies, LLC, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed on Jul. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/388,821.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/059,612, filed on Jul. 31, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0036868 A1, Feb. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. G10H 1/36 (2006.01); G10H 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC G10H 1/365 (2013.01) [G10H 1/0083 (2013.01); G10H 2240/201 (2013.01); G10H 2240/281 (2013.01); G10H 2250/051 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for creating a virtual ensemble file, comprising:
receiving, at a central assembler node, a plurality of recorded performance files from a plurality of recording nodes, the plurality of recorded performance files collectively corresponding to a performance piece performed by a plurality of performers, wherein each recording node of the plurality of recording nodes are configured to:
(a) receive, from the central assembler node, one or more performance parameters that include at least one of a time signature of the performance piece, a tempo of the performance piece, or a total length of the performance piece,
(b) configure a metronome based on the one or more performance parameters, and
(c) at least after configuring the metronome based on the one or more performance parameters at (b), record audio data and visual data for a recorded performance file of the plurality of recorded performance files concurrently with playing, via the metronome, a nodal metronome signal that is audible to a performer of the plurality of performers,
wherein the plurality of recorded performance files collectively has each have a standardized or standardizable performance length with respect to one another, and wherein at least two recording nodes of the plurality of recording nodes are configured to perform operation (c) at different times from each other; and
generating, at the central assembler node, the virtual ensemble file as a digital output file, wherein the virtual ensemble file includes (i) mixed audio data that includes the audio data for each of the plurality of recorded performance files, and (ii) mixed video data that includes, tiled over an array of video tiles, the video data for each the plurality of recorded performance files.