Interactive Music System INGENIA

The Interactive Music System INGENIA is a special musical instrument for people with disabilities or health impairments. They can play freely with it and produce music at a high level. Of course, healthy people can also use it and will love it in the same way. There are several modes to choose from, songs that are part of the system to play, memory, concentration and reaction skills to train.
Musical talent or age do not matter. The INGENIA interactive music system serves to motivate the user with music and sound - the user plays, is physically active and in this way also trains motor skills.

The standard version of the Interactive Music System INGENIA has 15 invisible infrared rays (wavelength 940 nm) that are completely harmless to health, which corresponds to 15 tones or sounds. The tones and sounds are produced due to the interruption of these rays, therefore playing is also possible for people with motor disabilities.

The software of the Interactive Music System offers other modes in addition to free playing. For example, by marking the notes, it can gradually lead the player to play the melody of a selected song. The melody is automatically enriched with accompaniment.
In the "Memory Game" mode, the player's task is to repeat a tone sequence. The level of difficulty can be set.
In "Catch me!" mode, the system allows to practise and measure concentration and reaction skills.
In each mode, the evaluation of the correctness of the playing can be done verbally as well as through sounds.

The Interactive Music System INGENIA includes high-quality sounds, speech commands and non-musical sounds. It contains two sound modules - a sampler that can play virtually any sound, and a special synthesiser Addisyn, that simulates opera or choral singing, for example. INGENIA also meets the demands of professional musicians. It also allows to control the professional lighting equipment in the rhythm of the songs.

The Interactive Music System is expandable. It is possible to add additional sounds, speech commands and songs, and to customise the keyboard to meet specific needs if required. It is possible to pair the system with other musical instruments - either software musical instruments or electronic musical instruments through a standard MIDI connection. But it is also possible to play without a computer.

Wood is the preferred material for the production of the Interactive Music System INGENIA. In this way, the technically complex system is hidden in natural material. Visually and haptically, the user thus comes into contact with pleasant, familiar and traditional material. Moreover, each product is the product of precise handwork.

The complete music system - from its design to its final realisation - is the result of own development and production by my company "Ing. Radovan Konečný - radkon". I have wide experience in the development of electronics, sound engineering and sound software. Outside of my profession, I am also dedicated to creating music and making musical instruments and sounds.

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Playing on the ARCUS special keyboard

Playing on the ARCUS special keyboard

Control module for model INGENIA

Control module for model INGENIA

Control module for model INGENIA PRO

Control module for model INGENIA PRO

Continue to the specification

The set includes:

• Special keyboard INGENIA or INGENIA PRO,
• Control module for INGENIA or INGENIA PRO,
• Software for the Interactive Music System,
• Several basic sounds are included,
• 2 remote controls (only for the INGENIA model),
• Connection cables,
• Power supply unit,
• Online manual, installation DVD and software installation guide.

The difference between INGENIA and INGENIA PRO:

The INGENIA model

The INGENIA system is intended for use where no extensions to the system with additional special keyboards and electronic musical instruments are planned. The system is controlled exclusively via the computer, although some functions can also be controlled via remote controls.

It is suitable, for example, for special schools where the purchased set is used and the system does not need to be expanded.

• Light signalling of the "strings" is colourful (512 colours).
• Includes 433 MHz hand-held transmitter remote control.
• The control module contains neither a display nor buttons.
• It does not allow another electronic musical instrument to be connected directly via MIDI, so a computer is required to play.
• The sensor sensitivity is set digitally for each "string" separately.

The INGENIA PRO model

The INGENIA PRO system is intended for use where the system can be expanded with additional special keyboards, or with electronic musical instruments that are to be connected to the system via a professional MIDI interface. The system is controlled either via the control module or via the computer.

It is suitable, for example, for a special music room that is or will be equipped with other electronic musical instruments and should also play without a computer.

• The control module contains a display and keys and thus enables keyboard parameters to be displayed and changed.
• It allows direct connection of an electronic musical instrument via MIDI and can also be played without a computer.
• Light signalling of the "strings" is monochromatic (8 light levels).
• Does not include remote control.
• The sensor sensitivity is set digitally for all "strings" together.

Specification of the individual parts:

• Special keyboard INGENIA or INGENIA PRO
  

  The "strings" are parallel invisible (infrared) light rays. Tone of the "string" sounds when the beam is interrupted by a hand, foot or other object. Each "string" is assigned a tone or sound. It is played without contact, so that the "strings" are indestructible.

  The INGENIA has marked "strings" and this marking cannot be wiped away over time. The entire special keyboard can easily be placed on a table, for example (it has non-slip pads). If required, it can be firmly attached to a table or wall, for example.

  The special INGENIA keyboard also includes light signalling of the "strings" by means of LEDs at both ends of each "string". Each LED can light up in several intensity levels (INGENIA PRO model) or in different colours (INGENIA model). These LEDs can indicate:

  • whether the "string" is currently being "pressed",
  • the meaning of the "strings" (dominant notes and subdominant notes of the scale are marked) - in order to easily find a way when playing freely,
  • light commands from the computer software, e.g. instructing the player to play the selected song (lighting up the note to be played).

  The used infrared rays are safe and harmless for the following reasons:

  • it is non-ionising electromagnetic (light) radiation with a wavelength of 940 nm - so it has no ionising effect on living tissue or other substances,
  • it is operated at such low power that the beams have practically no thermal effect,
  • the invisible light does not irritate the light-sensitive cells of the eye, thus does not cause any visual sensations and therefore does not affect epileptics (advantage over the visible laser).

  A direct and long look into the used infrared beam is also safe.

  Type:	INGENIA IHB15 or INGENIA PRO IHB15
  "Strings":	15 invisible IR light beams, it is played by interrupting these beams
  "string" spacing:	66 mm
  The entire range of "strings" (from the first to the last):	924 mm
  The length of the "strings":	300 mm
  Total dimensions:	1020 mm x 400 mm x 58 mm
  Light signalling:	RGB LED - 512 colours (the INGENIA model) or blue LED - 8 light levels (the INGENIA PRO model) at both ends of the "strings"
  Setting of the sensor sensitivity:	digital for each "string" separately (the INGENIA model) or digital for all "strings" together (the INGENIA PRO model)
  Touch response:	no
  Possibility of mirrored "strings":	yes
  Power supply:	from the control module (5V)
  Power consumption:	0,9 W
  Mechanical design:	Beech wood (natural colour), metal

• Control module for the INGENIA model
  

  The control module is connected to the computer via USB and behaves like a MIDI musical instrument from the computer's point of view (a high-quality Roland USB MIDI interface is used).

  The control module also has a connection for a sustain pedal.

  Type:	XHarp Interface
  Connection to the computer:	via USB (support for Windows, Mac, iPad), a high-quality Roland USB MIDI interface is used
  MIDI outputs:	none
  MIDI output channel:	none
  Connection for sustain pedal:	yes, 6.3mm mono jack plug, adjustable contact polarity
  Galvanic isolation:	USB - yes
  Remote control:	yes, for 433 MHz handheld transmitters. Removable antenna
  Playable without PC:	no
  Power supply:	5V power supply unit
  Power consumption:	0,46 W

• Control module for the INGENIA PRO model
  

  On the control module, it is possible to select the desired scale (7-tone diatonic, 12-tone chromatic, 5-tone pentatonic, user-defined), tone base of the scale, tone and octave shift (transposition), LED light mode, sensor sensitivity, MIDI channel and various other settings. All settings can also be changed via MIDI (USB).

  The control module is connected to the computer via USB and behaves like a MIDI musical instrument from the computer's point of view (a high-quality Roland USB MIDI interface is used).

  The control module also has a MIDI output and a connection for a sustain pedal.

  On the control module there are also the keys F1-F4, with which the basic functions of the software (start/stop of playing, song selection, difficulty selection, etc.) can be controlled.

  Type:	IMSBus-Interface panel / IMSBus-Interface panel 2, with buttons and backlit display
  Connection to the computer:	via USB (support for Windows, Mac, iPad), a high-quality Roland USB MIDI interface is used
  MIDI outputs:	USB, MIDI OUT/Thru (DIN5 connector)
  MIDI output channel:	configurable (1-16)
  Connection for sustain pedal:	yes, 6.3mm mono jack plug, adjustable contact polarity
  Galvanic isolation:	MIDI - yes, USB - yes
  Remote control:	none
  Playable without PC:	yes, built-in scale (diatonic, chromatic, pentatonic, user-defined), any transposition
  Power supply:	5V power supply unit
  Power consumption:	1,25 W

• Software for the Interactive Music System
  
  • Control of the entire system, various play modes with speech evaluation, built-in sampler sound module, built-in Addisyn sound module, built-in speech module, configuration of the special keyboards.
  • 4 modes of play 4 modes of play:
    1. Free playing - the player plays freely on the chosen scale. The light signalling indicates either the meaning of the tones or the tones that are played.
       It is possible to select the desired scale (7-tone diatonic, 12-tone chromatic, 5-tone pentatonic, user-defined), tone base of the scale, tone and octave shift (transposition) and LED light mode.
    2. Play song - the software guides the player step by step to play the selected song. Playing is possible with drum accompaniment (if the song has one), with accompaniment without drums or without accompaniment. The price includes many well-known songs including accompaniment, more songs can be added. More complex songs can be purchased.
       Demonstration of the chosen song - both in sound and in video.
       The software can continuously inform about wrongly played tones, e.g. by a speech command "Error". After finishing the song, it can verbally evaluate the correctness of the play. The statistics of the notes played correctly and incorrectly and the percentage of correctness are also displayed.
       Various settings are available that can adapt the play to the needs and abilities of the player.
    3. Memory game - the software displays and plays a sequence of sounds. The player's task is to repeat this sequence correctly. If the player repeats it correctly, the sequence is prolonged by another tone. The level of difficulty can be selected from several presets ("very easy" to "very difficult") or can be set yourself.
       This game not only promotes musical hearing and motor skills, but also memory and concentration.
       The order is random and always different. So it is not a well-known melody.
       Various settings are available that can adapt the game to the player's needs and abilities.
    4. The game "Catch me" - allows you to practise and measure your reaction time. A random tone is marked at a random time and the player's task is to play this tone as quickly as possible. In doing so, the software measures and evaluates the average reaction time - that is, the time from when the sound is marked until it is played by the player.
       This game not only promotes musical hearing and motor skills, but also concentration.
       Various settings are available that can adapt the game to the player's needs and abilities.
  • Built-in software musical instrument of the sampler type
    
    • allows practically all sounds to be played - even non-musical ones,
    • high-quality sounds,
    • ASIO driver support (low audio delay),
    • polyphony up to 64 voices,
    • 5 Timbre (can play five different sounds simultaneously) - selectable melody sound, chord accompaniment, bass accompaniment, rhythm accompaniment, speech commands,
    • 3-band digital equaliser,
    • effect module (chorus, SuperChorus, echo, limiter),
    • rich real-time sound processing possibilities (envelopes, filters, vibrato, ...),
    • also takes over the function of the speech module.
  • Built-in software musical instrument Addisyn
    
    • special monophonic synthesizer based on additive synthesis,
    • is used to play the melody,
    • high-quality sound produced by mathematically modelling the sound in real time using complex formulas and calculations,
    • imperfections of real musical instruments and voices are also intentionally simulated to make the sound more natural,
    • the mathematical models are the result of our own many years of research and development,
    • various sounds available, including opera and choral singing simulations,
    • ASIO driver support (low audio delay),
    • polyphony 1 voice,
    • 3-band digital equaliser,
    • effect module (chorus, SuperChorus, echo, limiter),
  • Built-in high-precision metronome - the tempo of the metronome is automatically set according to the selected song.
  • Integrated speech module - these are recorded speech commands from real people, whereby each speech command is recorded several times with different intonation and the speech module modifies these.
    Language variants: German (female voice), Slovak (male voice).
    If required, any other voice commands can be delivered, also in another language.
  • Selection of special keyboard - supports all manufactured special keyboards (INGENIA, INGENIA PRO, ARCUS, Laser-INGENIA, MIDI Buttons).
  • Selecting the sound module - built-in sampler/Addisyn, electronic musical instrument connected via MIDI or USB. In this way, the system can be extended to other electronic musical instruments and their sounds can be used.
  • Selecting the speech module - speech commands via the built-in sampler or via a separate software speech module (if the sound module is not the built-in sampler).
  • Typing error filter - suppresses undesired short sound release.
  • Possibility to record the whole playing into MID format (not sound, but command recording). The recording can be further edited with other software, by changing sounds, correcting mistakes, etc. It can also be added to the song list.
  • Support for multiple independent users of the software - it is possible to create users and each of them will have their own settings for the entire software.
  • Configuring the special keyboard (e.g. defining the colours of the light signalling, tone and octave shift, custom scale, etc.).
  • Multiple language versions of the software - German, English, Slovak, other languages if necessary.
  • Software updates - when the author of the system creates a new version of the software, it is possible to update the software to this new version.
  • Song and sound updates - when the author of the system creates new versions of the data, the software updates them automatically or with the user's agreement.
• 2 handheld transmitters (only for model INGENIA)
• Several basic sounds included

  grand piano (the sound of a real acoustic instrument),

  electric piano "Rhodes" (the sound of a real instrument),

  soprano recorder (the sound of a real acoustic instrument),

  pan flute,

  accordion (sound of a real acoustic instrument),

  kantele (sound of a real acoustic instrument),

  3 variations of glockenspiels,

  2 variations of the electric (Hammond) organ,

  strings,

  oboe / bassoon,

  bass guitar,

  drum kit,

  several high-quality synthetic sounds.

  Note: Several high-quality sounds are the result of my own research and development in the field of mathematical modelling of the sound of musical instruments.

  Additional sounds can also be purchased.

• Connecting cables

  Connection cable between the special keyboard and the control module,

  USB cable,

  Extension cable to the power supply unit.

• Power supply unit
• Manual, installation DVD and software installation guide

The music system requires a moderately powerful computer (ideally with Windows operating system) and speakers or headphones. To take full advantage of the high sound quality of this system, we recommend using high quality playback equipment - amplifiers and speakers or high quality headphones. The acoustics of the room should not be neglected either.

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Connection possibilities:

Continue to the additions

Additional Sounds

Continue to other options

Options for the system setup

Note: When the word "any" is quoted, the image is for illustrative purposes only.

Special keyboard	Logic	Sound module
INGENIA "IHB15" control module INGENIA "IHB20D" ARCUS Laser-INGENIA laser harp large special keyboard with light signalling control module MIDI buttons any buttons with or without light signalling	Software of the Interactive Music System	built-in software sound module any suitable speakers any software sound module any hardware sound module any suitable synthesizer, "keyboard", etc.

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