Abstract: A transducer for a musical instrument through which vibrations can be fed back to the instrument so that notes played on the instrument can be sustained. The transducer comprises a bracket for mounting the transducer to the instrument. First and second opposited permanent magnetic poles project away from the bracket. A first surface of a sheet of non-magnetic, non-electromagnetic resilient material is attached to the projecting first and second magnetic poles. An electromagnetic core has a spine and first and second legs originating at, and extending away from, the spine and terminating at first and second end faces, respectively. The first and second end faces are attached to a surface of the sheet opposite the surface of the sheet to which the permanent magnetic poles are attached, with the first face adjacent the first permanent magnetic pole and the second face adjacent the second permanent magnetic pole. A conductor is wound on the core.

Abstract: A novel capacitive pressure-sensitive sensing technique and apparatus wherein an elastomeric conductive electrode carrying a two-dimensional array of projections is pressure-deformed against a fixed coextensive cooperative electrode to generate signals, such as tones and sounds in the application to musical instruments, or visual representations, corresponding to the dynamic pressures applied over the two-dimensional surface. A novel drum-like and other musical instruments embodying such novel capacitive sensing techniques and the like are described.

Abstract: A pitch synchronizing signal snychronized with the pitch of a digital tone signal to be filtered is generated by a pitch synchronizing signal generation circuit. A digital filter circuit which receives the digital tone signal and imparts it with a desired tone color by subjecting it to a proper filter operation executes this filter operation with a sampling period synchronized with the pitch synchronizing signal. A moving formant thereby is realized which is suitable for control of a tone. A pitch synchronization output circuit for sampling and outputting the output of the digital filter circuit in accordance with the pitch synchronizing signal may be provided and this will prevent occurrence of a sampling noise. A switching circuit is provided for enabling switching order of the digital filter circuit between an even number and an odd number. By this switching of order, a desired filter characteristic can be realized with high fidelity.

Abstract: A musical keyboard having keys which carry metal spoilers that alter the resonance characteristics of tank circuits associated with the keys as the keys move toward and away from the inductance coils of the tank circuits. The tank circuits are connected sequentially to a frequency sensing circuit which develops indications of key positions by sensing the resonance frequency of each tank circuit.

Abstract: A plurality of waveshapes of different characteristics are stored in a waveshape memory among which a waveshape to be read out is selected in accordance with a selected tone color or elapse of time and data of the selected waveshape is read out. At least one waveshape among the waveshapes stored in the waveshape memory is coded in a coding form different from one used for the other waveshapes. For matching characteristics of each individual waveshape, waveshapes are coded according to respectively suitable coding forms such, for example, that one waveshape is coded according to the pulse code modulation system, another waveshape according to the differential pulse code modulation system and still another waveshape according to the delta modulation system. The waveshape data read out from the waveshape memory is converted in its code to a predetermined common coding form (e.g. PCM).

Abstract: A transducer for a stringed musical instrument incorporating an electrically conductive base plate along with a piezoelectric crystal secured to the base plate by a conductive adhesive. On the other side of the crystal from the base plate is disposed a spring for biasing the piezoelectric crystal against the bridge at a bridge or bridge/body opening. Electrical leads are employed for coupling signals from the piezoelectric crystal.

Abstract: A plurality of drum pads are each provided with a respective piezoelectric pick-up. The output of each piezoelectric pick-up is fed to a corresponding envelope-extracting circuit. The envelope signal extracted by the envelope-extracting circuit is converted by an A/D converter into a digital signal which is fed to a CPU. The CPU feeds a tone designation signal to a tone generator unit according to parameter data from a parameter data setter and the digital signals noted above, thereby causing generation of a corresponding drum sound.

Abstract: A musical tone generating apparatus for an electronic musical instrument utilizing a data compression system is disclosed. This musical tone generating apparatus is basically constructed by a memory storing difference data and a data reproduction circuit. The difference data is in advance obtained by converting a musical tone signal to be reproduced to digital sample data, effecting a linear prediction operation on the digital sample data to produce prediction data and calculating the difference between the digital sample data and the prediction data. The stored difference data are sequentially read from the memory. In the data reproduction circuit, the musical tone signal is reproduced by effecting a reverse operation of the linear prediction operation on the read difference data.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a control unit which is freely moveable in space is equipped with three sensors to measure motion (e.g. velocity, acceleration, or the time derivative of acceleration) along three substantially orthogonal axes. The sensors may be meter movements configured to output motion signals indicative of their movement in free space, which signals are amplified, digitized, processed by a microprocessor to detect relative minima and maxima. Processed motion signals are converted to standard MIDI control signals for controlling an electronic musical instrument.

Abstract: A transducer for a stringed musical instrument incorporating an electrically conductive ground plane, along with a plurality of piezoelectric transducers and a conductive strip. The ground plane, piezoelectric transducers and conductive strip are secured in an elongated unitary structure with the ground plane and conductive strip disposed on opposite sides of the transducers. A conductive shield is disposed about the unitary structure and electrical leads connect to the ground plane and conductive strip, respectively.

Abstract: A portable modular music recording device which simply and unobtrusively attaches to a keyboard instrument for purposes of recording live musical performances; and an efficient music microcomputing system in which the captured musical data is digitized and further analyzed to determine note and note expression information when a key has been played. In the modular keyboard device, key and key expression data is captured by means of photosensitive couplers mounted in the keyboard device, and the information is transmitted to the processing unit. Microcomputer instructions refine the data to a format suitable for serial transmission via a computer-compatible link for ultimate scoring and recording.

Abstract: A keyboard circuit for an electronic musical instrument which, with the depression of a key, couples an AC signal to an allocated multiplexer input. The output of the multiplexer is connected via a rectifier and a sample-and-hold circuit to a depression recognizing circuit. The coupling is preferably inductive.

Abstract: A magnetic pick-up is positioned below the strings of a stringed musical instrument having four strings. The pick-up comprises a long and narrow pick-up coil comprising wraps of insulated wire about a magnetic core. A pole piece is physically and magnetically connected to one end of the magnetic core. The pole piece includes a wide first portion which presents pole regions laterally inwardly adjacent the two outside strings of the instrument. It includes a narrower second portion which projects upwardly from the first portion and presents pole regions laterally inwardly adjacent the two inside strings. The coil and the pole piece produce a magnetic field which is elongated laterally of the instrument, generally parallel to the direction of greatest string displacement when the strings are stroked, finger or pick. The strings are located in the magnetic field.

Abstract: For use in or with an electronic musical instrument, an automatic rhythm performing apparatus is so constructed as to provide selectively automatic performance of various kinds of rhythms using tones of a plurality of rhythm section instruments. Each rhythm is constructed with a plurality of instruments, which are divided into several families. Plural rhythm patterns are provided for each of the rhythm instrument tones which constitute one kind of rhythm. Any one of the rhythm patterns is selected for each instrument, and such selection is available individually family by family of the instruments. Thus a variety of automatic rhythm performance can be realized with small scale pattern memories and simple selecting operations.

Abstract: In apparatus for detecting string stop position for string instruments, there is provided fret detecting means comprising coils which generate an induced voltage by means of an electric current flowing through each of the frets, whereby the string stop position may be detected on the basis of the induced voltage generated by the coil which corresponds to the fret contacting the string when the string is stopped.

Abstract: A plurality of pad operating means for manual operation are provided on a keyboard panel of an electronic keyboard musical instrument. When an operator operates the pad operating means using the keyboard during melody play, an operation signal is supplied to a CPU, and a rhythm sound corresponding to the operated pad is generated under control of the CPU.

Abstract: A tone generation control unit has four waveform read/write channels for selectively reading or writing data in a waveform memory. A plurality of waveform signals stored in the waveform memory are converted into analog signals to be subjected to timbre and tone volume control through voltage-controlled filters and voltage-controlled amplifiers before being fed to a mixing adder. An output signal of the mixing adder is converted into a digital signal which is stored in the waveform memory again through processing of the tone generation control unit.

Abstract: An electric string instrument, e.g. an electric guitar, has one or more resistive elements associated with each fret whereby sideways deflection of a string while in contact with a fret creates a change in the effective resistive value of that fret. This may be used to provide "blending" of a note. Each such fret has one conductor, thus enabling a 144 wire harness in the neck of a guitar to be reduced to 24 conductive paths, which may be provided on a printed circuit board. Preferably both the strings and the frets are electrically scanned. The instrument may be employed as a MIDI guitar controller or an audio guitar or simultaneously as a combination of both. A guitarist can use a normal playing style, without special adaptation, to obtain a full range of expression, including pick velocity.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprises devices for inputting rhythm and melody play patterns. The rhythm and melody play patterns are stored in a pattern memory such that the rhythm and melody play patterns are in a timed relation to each other. The rhythm and melody play patterns are simultaneously read out from said pattern memory so that rhythm tones and melody tones are sounded according to the rhythm and melody play patterns.

Abstract: A frequency number corresponding to the frequency of a tone intended to be sounded is accumulated in an accumulator at every calculation timing of a constant interval to produce values progressing at a rate corresponding to the tone frequency. At this rate, waveform amplitude value samples are sequentially produced one after another in a tone producing section using the output of the accumulator as phase angle data. A reset circuit is provided in connection with the accumulator and this circuit functions to compulsorily reset the progressing values in the accumulator to its initial value in response to a carry out signal generated at the calculation timing when the phase angle data has reached its predetermined modulo value. Thus the period of progress of the phase angle data is harmonized with the calculation timing, i.e., the sampling timing.