Real-time, loose-harmonic matching fundamental frequency estimation for musical signals

An algorithm capable of reliably estimating the fundamental frequency of sound signals is described. Pitch estimation is carried out by means of a new loose harmonic matching algorithm which searches the spectrum of a sound for evenly-spaced peak patterns. This unaided algorithm is by itself capable of correctly estimating the fundamental frequency of practically any musical sound. There is also a post-processor-based on fuzzy neural networks-which attempts to map the fundamental frequency (a physical property of the waveform) into pitch (a perceptual variable). The information is transformed into musical data and sent via standard MIDI (musical instruments digital interface) to any other MIDI-controlled device. It has been implemented in real time on a single AT&T´s DSP16C processor with practically no additional hardware