Abstract: A multicolor function indicator light system is provided for an audio amplifier or similar electronic equipment. A sensor circuit monitors operation of the equipment. An indicator light device has a plurality of different color outputs. A control logic circuit receives input signals from the sensor and controls the indicator light device so that different sensed modes of operation of the electronic equipment are indicated by different color outputs of the indicator light device.

Abstract: A housing for an electronic apparatus capable of being mounted in a rack by a rack ear is presented, the housing including an upper housing portion having a top and left and right sides, wherein each of the sides of the upper housing portion has an upper groove portion defined therein, the upper groove portion formed by a indentation formed in each of the sides; a lower housing portion having a bottom and left and right sides, wherein each of the sides of the lower housing portion has a lower groove portion defined therein, the lower groove portion formed by a indentation formed in each of the sides, wherein the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion cooperate to form the housing, and further wherein, when the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion are combined to form the housing, the upper groove portion and the lower groove portion combine to form a track groove shaped to receive a rack mounting ear are formed on the left and right sides of the housing.

Abstract: A housing for a loudspeaker is presented, and which includes a plurality of corner units, each of the corner units having a first end and a second end and also has a first inner spline extending therefrom and a second inner spline extending therefrom; and a first outer spline extending therefrom and running generally parallel to the first inner spline and a second outer spline extending therefrom and running generally parallel to the second inner spline, wherein the first inner spline and the first outer spline cooperate to form a first slot sized to receive a top panel or a bottom panel and the second inner spline and the second outer spline cooperate to form a second slot sized to receive a side panel.

Abstract: A portable device is used for recording, editing, and replaying musical sounds generated by a musical instrument external to the device. The musical sounds are converted from analog to digital format, compressed for minimum storage usage, and stored in a digital storage medium. The stored signals are filed according to an indexing scheme that allows selection and retrieval of selected portions of the musical sounds. The selected portions are retrieved from storage, decompressed, converted back to analog signals, and output to a sound generating device. The operation of the device is controlled by application software and operating system software.

Abstract: A digital guitar processing circuit includes a guitar converter circuit and a guitar formatting circuit. The guitar converter circuit receives one or more analog string signals representative of the string vibrations of a guitar and generates one or more digital string signals based upon the analog string signals. The guitar formatting circuit formats the digital string signals to be compatible with a digital communication protocol, and outputs the formatted digital string signals.

Abstract: A heat dissipation system for an audio amplifier is presented, including a housing having a plurality of apertures therein; at least one completely enclosed air tunnels, each air tunnel extending between one of the apertures in the housing and another of the apertures in the housing, each air tunnel at least partially defined by a pair of opposed heat sinks mounted within the housing.

Abstract: A guitar pickup mounting system is provided for mounting a pickup on a base plate adjacent a bridge which rides on first and second posts extending from the guitar body. Thus a height of the bridge relative to the pickup remains constant regardless of the height of the bridge above the guitar body.

Abstract: A hydrophobic polymer is adhesively coated on the surfaces of the wound string within its interstitial voids, while the exterior surfaces remain uncoated. The polymer is applied by soaking the string in a liquid polymeric solution to flow the solution into the interstitial voids. The string is removed from the bath and the residual solution is removed from the exterior surface of the string using a resilient scraper. The string is hung to dry for 8 hours in a clean room environment at ambient temperatures and, more preferably, maintained at a temperature of between 20° C. and 25° C. Alternatively, the string is treated by a combination of heat and drying.

Abstract: A guitar is constructed to have a hollow body and to have a top member that has a pickup mounting portion integrally formed therein. A slot is cut into the pickup support area, and a pickup is received in the slot. Guitar strings are mounted on the guitar and stretched across the pickup which functions as a bridge to define the lower endpoint of the free length of the guitar strings.

Abstract: A cabinet for display of a stringed musical instrument, wherein the stringed musical instrument is oriented horizontally and is held in place within the cabinet by the supports which engage the strap buttons of the instrument. The device is optionally attachable to a wall. In one embodiment, the supports are angled brackets with notches for receiving the strap buttons. A protective material is applied on each support and the interior surface of the cabinet to avoid abrasion of the instrument surface. The orientation of the angled brackets is such that the visible profile of the brackets is very small when an instrument is displayed in the cabinet.

Abstract: A digital media communications and control system includes a plurality of audio devices each of which includes a device interface module for communication of digital media data and control data from at least one of the devices to at least one other of the devices. A universal data link is operatively connected to each of the device interface modules. The device interface modules and universal data links are operative in combination to connect the devices together in the system and provide full duplex communication of the digital media data and control data between the devices.

Abstract: A multiple power factor audio amplifier with a power draw up to a maximum amplifier power draw flowing through at least two power flow circuits with at least one circuit including a power factor corrector electrically connected between the amplifier and input terminals. One embodiment including a power factor corrector sized to provide a first output less than the maximum amplifier power draw of the amplifier and a high output power factor bypass adapted to provide a second output to supplement the first output when the amplifier power draw exceeds the first output. Also described are methods for controlling the amplifier demand power factor including adjusting the draw of a first portion of the direct current power at a first level to improve the power factor of an input demand at the rectifier to provide a first part of the demanded amplifier power; and transferring a second portion of the direct current power without power factor correction to provide a second part of the demanded amplifier power.

Abstract: An audio power amplifier including a rail voltage detection circuit connected to a feedback generator and a rail voltage, the detection circuit is adapted to detect an overvoltage or undervoltage condition and control the feedback signal to a regulated switching power supply to adjust the rail voltage. Additional protection is provided through thermal stress detection and output fault detection to control the feedback signal and protect the audio power amplifier.