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Brand new music recognition technology! (video)News: Check out this cool video!From Larry Brandt Hey guys! I was recently invited to play in a video for a music software startup company, and I wanted to share it with you all. It is very cool new technology which can accurately follow a musician while he/she is playing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx92wF7fAac I am the violinist, of course...
From Larry Brandt
Posted on July 26, 2009 at 10:48 PM I'm surprised that they're no comments yet! I think this is really cool new technology which could have a lot of applications for us as musicians in the future. Does anybody here think like me that technology such as this could become common place in the practise rooms and concert halls of the future? Technology has advanced so much in all other fields (think of ebooks etc) yet we're still playing from paper sheet music as it was 300 years ago! I'd like this just so that my teacher doesn't bug me all the time to bind my loose pages together!! My music folder this year is quite organized (although nothing is bound, it's in plastic sleeves) but it's getting really bulky... From Smiley Hsu
Posted on July 26, 2009 at 11:41 PM The technology is quite impressive, but I am trying to think of a practical application. Perhaps for teaching masterclasses? It would be neat to have all your music stored electronically (like the eBooks), but I believe that technology already exists and is quite expensive. My company specializes in Point of Sale software for restaurants, and for years we have been trying to promote our patented and very innovative handheld solution for waiters to take your order right at the table. The advantages are numerous compared to the competition, which is a simple pencil and pad. But, when you consider simplicity, cost, and sheer ease of use, a pencil and pad are tough to beat. My point being that people are creatures of habit. Unless you have something that is a whole lot better than what people are used to, it is tough to make people change.
From Pauline Lerner
Posted on July 27, 2009 at 01:03 AM I love it! Technology in the service of art. Years ago, I heard Jean Pierre Rampal give a masterclass with old fashioned technology. There was an overhead projector which showed the score he was playing. A human musician followed the score with a pointer while he played and changed pages at the appropriate times. It made the experience of following the masterclass so much better. What can be done with current technology is very impressive and full of possibilities. BTW, I thought the violinist was great. From Larry Brandt
Posted on July 27, 2009 at 10:55 AM Smiley, that's very true. Did the idea go anywhere? Were there prototypes etc? I actually have thought of something probably very similar to digitize the waitering process. Probably the same idea, and it really would make things a bit quicker and more organized in busy restaurants. Pauline, where was this masterclass held? Do you know who organized it? Glad you liked my playing! From Smiley Hsu
Posted on July 27, 2009 at 05:02 PM Hi Larry, It has not taken off like we hoped. There are many, many compelling reasons for waiters to use our innovative handheld technology, but in the end there are issues with set up, training, battery life, reliability, cost, and just plain aversion to change. Like I said, its pretty hard to beat a pencil and pad. In the same vein, it will be tough to beat a simple (and cheap) music stand with printed music.
From bill platt
Posted on July 27, 2009 at 08:23 PM 1. Some waitress' and waiters doon't even need paper and pencil! They remember it all! 2. Electronic records have a habit of "escaping" and some restuaranteurs are cash-only... 3. Electronics feel like "McDonalds" which goes against the ethos of being waited on. 4. This has nothing to do with violins except that Joshua Bell should be on Oprah.
From Bart Meijer
Posted on July 27, 2009 at 08:54 PM This reminds me of the computer Ray Chen used to show the music of V... If this software is totally reliable, and can handle repeats, it would allow Ray Chen to dispense with his page-turning pedal. From Larry Brandt
Posted on July 28, 2009 at 12:33 AM Bart you are correct, with this software no foot pedals are necessary. The software handles repeats with no problem and is very reliable (I've played extensively with the software and it handles a lot of "abuse"!) Unfortunately, at the moment the software is not being produced for the general public (us violinists etc) as the company developing it (Tonara) is still looking for somebody to develop it or fund the development. The video shows the prototype and not a finished product. From what I understand, investors are also demanding proof that there is a serious demand for a product like this in the music market today. If anybody here could help in that regard (or with anything else) you can email the company directly at info@tonara-systems.com or reply here and I'll gladly pass it on to the company. From Roland Garrison
Posted on July 28, 2009 at 02:33 AM Think of a catalog of music; this would be the best way to search. I assume they have some tonal reference for the index. Can it recognize patterns in different keys, but the same pattern? It could then also be used to transcribe for different instruments, or be an authoring tool for composers (play a bit on the piano, and end up with the score for the orchestra). From Christopher Burndrett
Posted on July 28, 2009 at 02:31 PM A couple months ago, a waiter swiped my credit card and printed my receipt from a handheld wireless device of some kind. I thought it was pretty cool. No matter how normal it is, I always have some trepidation about someone walking out of sight with my credit card. When I was in college I worked at a seafood restaurant where a waitress was arrested and taken away in cuffs because she was copying credit card numbers. The amount of money she had stolen was enough to to earn her a felony. From Smiley Hsu
Posted on July 28, 2009 at 07:10 PM Christopher, That is one of many reasons that hand held technology is compelling for the restaurant industry. Credit card fraud is a huge issue in restaurants because when you hand your credit card to the server, you lose sight of it. Waiters can easily skim the data from the magnetic strip and use it to make fake credit cards.
From Larry Brandt
Posted on July 28, 2009 at 10:56 PM Well, the wireless credit card swiper has its problems too. Sure, your card doesn't go out of sight, but your information does, travelling through the air for anybody who wishes to pick up! I'm sure it's encrypted and all, but I'm also sure there's ways around that. So I'm not sure whether that would really make me feel much better. What has been annoying me lately is a large number of credit card machines that print out your entire card number and expiry date etc etc on the receipt for them to keep! So I always scratch out the number properly with a pen. From Smiley Hsu
Posted on July 29, 2009 at 02:32 AM Hi Larry, My apologies for diverting this thread completely off topic. But since you mention it, I agree it is very annoying when the "merchant copy" contains the full card # with expiration. Believe it or not, that is perfectly legal. What they cannot do is print the full card # or the expiration date on the "customer copy." Regarding your concerns about hand helds, and transmitting your card information over the air waves, while any encryption scheme can be cracked, I think the odds of a compromise are highly unlikely if the wireless technology is implemented properly. So given a choice between a hacker sniffing my credit card out of the air waves, or the waiter (or waitress) skimming it in the next room, I would much rather take my chances with the hacker.
From Qi Yuan Teo
Posted on November 4, 2009 at 04:45 AM Hi Larry, This is Qi Yuan from Singapore. I am a student doing business and am working on a project regarding the autoflipping function of the music recognition technology. I looked at the video a few days ago but unfortunately it was removed, the video is essential for the project I am working on, with the presentation due on friday. Is there anyway i could get the video? Please do reply me at teoqiyuan@hotmail.com. Thank you in advance! Qi Yuan From R Mickey
Posted on November 10, 2009 at 11:08 AM http://tonara-systems.com/ From Charles Cook
Posted on November 10, 2009 at 04:57 PM If they can get this to isolate notes, so that the notes you are playing and are about to play are only visible notes, then this would be great for dyslexia students.Also a screen color selection would be nice. From Ray Randall
Posted on November 10, 2009 at 07:52 PM Why spend millions developing programs like that? I recognized it as music right off the bat. |
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