A
MIDI-compatible gesture synthesizer is provided for use with a conventional music synthesizer to create musically realistic<DEL-S DATE="20020416" ID="DEL-S-00001" / >ally<DEL-E ID="DEL-S-00001" / > sounding gestures. The gesture synthesizer is responsive to one or more user controllable input signals, and includes several
transfer function models that may be user-selected. One
transfer function models properties of muscles using Hill's force-
velocity equation to describe the non-
linearity of
muscle activation. A second
transfer function models the cyclic oscillation produced by opposing effects of two force sources representing the cyclic oppositional action of
muscle systems. A third transfer function emulates the response of muscles to internal electrical impulses. A fourth transfer function provides a model representing and altering virtual trajectory of gestures. A fifth transfer function models visco-elastic properties of
muscle response to simulated loads. The gesture synthesizer outputs <DEL-S DATE="20020416" ID="DEL-S-00002" / >
MIDI-compatible<DEL-E ID="DEL-S-00002" / > continuous
pitch data, tone volume and tone
timbre information. The continuous
pitch data is combined with discrete
pitch data provided by the discrete pitch generator within the conventional synthesizer, and the combined
signal is input to a tone generator, along with the tone volume and tone
timbre information. The tone generator outputs tones that are user-controllable in real time during performance of a musical gesture.