Abstract: A generally rectangular shaped universal pickup cradle (50, 154 or 156 ) for an electric musical stringed instrument (20 or 150) allows a plurality of different pickups (50, 154, 156) to be interchangeably inserted into the stringed musical instrument. In addition, there are one or more receptacle cavities (36, 38, 40, 152) in the stringed musical instrument (20, 150) so that any of the universal pickup cradles (50, 154, 156) may be placed within any of the receptacle cavities. The universal pickup cradles (50, 154, 156), in combination with a separate electronics module (177, 200), provide a flexible and upgradeable system for an electric stringed instrument.

Abstract: A digital sampling instrument for multi-channel interpolatative playback of digital audio data stored in a waveform memory provides improved interpolation of musical sounds by use of a cache memory. The present invention includes a plurality of interpolator circuits utilizing a single waveform memory where each of the interpolator circuits produces a unique bus request signal which is responsive to a unique bus acknowledge signal to determine which of the interpolator circuits has control of the waveform memory at any given waveform memory cycle.

Abstract: A digital audio signal processor for adding harmonic content to an input audio signal through a non-linear transfer function with discontinuities. The discontinuities are generated by bit shifting each input value by an amount dependent on the sign and magnitude of the input value. The amount by which the input value is shifted is roughly inversely related to the magnitude of the logarithm of the input value. The transfer function is fractal and so provides increased harmonic content for all signal amplitudes.

Abstract: Dynamic correction of a musical instrument input data stream providing a transposed musical context in conjunction with local scale and harmony corrections. Local corrections are applied with respect to a reference sequence and the time delay of local corrections may be varied by the user.

Abstract: A digital sampling instrument for multi-channel interpolatative playback of digital audio data stored in a waveform memory provides improved interpolation of musical sounds by use of a cache memory. The present invention includes a plurality of interpolator circuits utilizing a single waveform memory where each of the interpolator circuits produces a unique bus request signal which is responsive to a unique bus acknowledge signal to determine which of the interpolator circuits has control of the waveform memory at any given waveform memory cycle.

Abstract: A digital sampling instrument is disclosed. The instrument provides the capability of accessing and outputting stored digital data within a single clock cycle. The instrument also provides improved volume scaling for sound generation and further eliminates redundant loading of a particular sound into a sound memory.

Abstract: Data compression apparatus and corresponding method used for decaying musical instrument sounds in a digital sampling instrument. The data compression technique according to the present invention provides for data compression of decaying musical instrument sounds that is designed to be stored in a small space, provide for adequate musical reproduction of the sound, and be reproduced using current data sample playback technology.

Abstract: An electronic music system which imitates acoustic instruments addresses the problem wherein the audio spectrum of a a recorded note is entirely shifted in pitch by transposition. The consequence of this is that unnatural formant shifts occur, resulting in the phenomenon known in the industry as "munchkinization." The present invention eliminates munchkinization, thus allowing a substantially wider transposition range for a single recording. Also, the present invention allows even shorter recordings to be used for still further memory improvements. An analysis stage separates and stores the formant and excitation components of sounds from an instrument. On playback, either the formant component or the excitation component may be manipulated.

Abstract: An improved dynamic digital IIR (Infinite Impulse Response) audio filter and method provides a remedy for the major problems in state of the art digital IIR filtering and dynamic digital filtering for audio. In particular, the required multiplier coefficient size is reduced, such that 16 bit coefficients are adequate for good frequency resolution. In addition, the data size of the multiplier is also reduced, to be similar to the input and output data resolution without inferior noise performance. Furthermore, the structure is easily modified to allow the fixing of the DC (Direct Current) gain of the IIR filter to unity regardless of coefficient choice, eliminating any problems with filter dynamic range at low frequency passbands. Additionally, a dynamic filter structure allows logarithmic filter sweeps and compresses the coefficients further down to as few as 8 bits with adequate resolution for audio throughout the band.

Abstract: A digital sampling instrument is disclosed. The instrument provides the capability of accessing and outputting stored digital data within a single clock cycle. The instrument also provides improved volume scaling for sound generation and further eliminates redundant loading of a particular sound into a sound memory.

Abstract: A digital sampling instrument for multi-channel interpolative playback of digital audio data stored in a waveform memory provides improved interpolation of musical sounds by using seven or eight surrounding points. The present invention may be efficiently implemented in a single VLSI circuit of low cost. The present invention allows a high channel count, providing many musical notes which can be played simultaneously, allowing them to be conveniently enveloped and mixed for performance in mono or stereo. The present invention allows timbral changes to the notes being played providing a musician with musical responsiveness. Also, the present invention accesses a waveform memory in an enhanced manner to allow improved performance parity between computational units and memory. Also, the present invention includes techniques which dramatically reduce the amount of memory required to store the musical waveforms while still maintaining adequate bandwidth and fidelity in the output.

Abstract: An output stage for a multitimbral electronic musical instrument providing automatic detection of the use of submix outputs is provided. The present invention allows the use of effects processors on selected timbres without the need for user intervention when the effects are connected or removed. The present invention also allows for use of such processors without an external mixboard.

Abstract: The enclosure is intended, among other uses, for a rack-mounted electronic musical instrument characterized in that screws are not required to secure the assembled parts of the enclosure. Top and bottom molded plastic halves (preferably identical) have integral flexible hooks and also projections. The halves have inward turned edges which fit together and mate at the horizontal mid-plane of the enclosure. A generally U-shaped thin, narrow sheet metal core engages the back and both sides of both halves inside the edges of the halves and is formed with holes into which the distal ends of the hooks snap and thus lock the halves and core together. A plastic front panel also has horizontal flexible hooks which snap into holes in the core to close off the front of the enclosure. Outward extending ears on the core may be used to attach the enclosure to a rack.

Abstract: A digital sampling instrument is disclosed. The instrument provides the capability of accessing and outputting stored digital data within a single clock cycle. The instrument also provides improved volume scaling for sound generation and further eliminates redundant loading of a particular sound into a sound memory.

Abstract: A touch sensitive electronic musical or sound generating instrument is disclosed. The invention utilizes digital techniques to sense how hard any one of a plurality of push buttons on a keyboard is depressed or actuated. The instrument generates a desired or particular sound (such as a musical note) at a desired parameter such as volume, corresponding to how hard a specific button was depressed.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument is disclosed. The instrument includes an improved control means for addressing a read only memory (ROM) which stores digital data representing one or more musical sounds. The instrument thereby provides multiple realistic sounds by virtue of the improved control means.