Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having an autoplay function comprises a memory device where musical data is stored, a musical tone signal generating circuit for generating musical tone signals in response to musical data read out from the memory device, and a controller for reading out musical data from the memory device and feeding the readout data to the musical tone signal generating means in a timed relation to the progress of music. To repeat the autoplay of a musical piece, the controller is arranged to read out musical data from the start address in synchronism with the tempo of a musical piece or at the timing of the first beat in a bar after the readout of the last musical tone data.

Abstract: When key-off information is given after the start of an operation of generating a predetermined tone according to key-on information, a predetermined period of time is counted from the instant the key-off information is provided and, after the lapse of the predetermined period of time, a process of stopping the tone is executed, whereby a minimum necessary interval of a tone can, according to a key signal, be ensured.

Abstract: A keyboard operated electronic musical instrument is disclosed which has a number of tone generators that are assigned to actuated keyswitches. Musical tones are produced by computing a master data set which defines the data points corresponding to a period of a musical waveshape. The master data set points are read out sequentially and repetitively from a memory and converted into an audible musical tone. Circuitry is provided whereby the master data set is computed from a time sequence of harmonic coefficients which is modulated to produce a musical tone having a time variant spectra.

Abstract: Every time a new chord signal is supplied to a chord memory circuit, a previous chord signal is supplied to a chord comparison and calculation circuit together with the new chord signal to obtain a chord change signal representing a degree of change between the two sequentially designated chords. The chord change signal is stored in chord change memory circuits. Chord name signals and chord change signals are compared with chord change pattern signals outputted from a change pattern memory to cause a coincidence signal to hold a latch. A rhythm pattern selection signal thus is supplied from the latch to a rhythm pattern memory circuit.

Abstract: A supporting device for stringed musical instruments, for example, guitars, banjos, mandolins and the like, is disclosed. The supporting device is constructed and arranged for supporting the musical instrument on the player to permit total freedom of the player's hands to play the instrument in a completely new way, thus allowing the player to create new techniques and sounds previously unknown to any player. The device, when in its operational position, has a plate which rests upon the player's leg leaving both hands free to explore the musical instrument as never before. Because the musical instrument is arranged perpendicular to the player's body, the player has maximum visibility of the instrument's entire playing surface.

Abstract: A digital pitch bend signal is supplied from an A/D converter to a first coefficient multiplier for every predetermined sampling period. An output of the first coefficient multiplier is added with an output of a second coefficient multiplier at an adder an output of which is delivered, as a digital pitch bend signal in the present cycle, from a buffer for the tone generation. The output of the adder is also fed back to an input of the second coefficient multiplier. Thus, from the buffer, a converted pitch bend signal having a value corrected during the respective sampling periods is produced.

Abstract: The touch dynamics of the operation of keys of an electronic musical instrument are determined through the use of pressure sensitive transducers associated with the keys, the transducers each including a magnetic field responsive semiconductor device and providing signals which are analyzed to determine their variation in magnitude as a function of time. Additionally, after a pre-selected time period, if a key remains operated and the pressure exerted thereon is varied, the output voltage of the key associated transducer will be further analyzed to determine if the player is calling for the reproduction of a secondary effect.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the monitoring of the manipulation of the keys of an instrument comprises monitoring apparatus which takes the form of a pressure sensing device, associated with each key, that can be fabricated in a configuration compatible with the instrument. According to one embodiment, the pressure sensing devices can be arranged so that the monitoring apparatus can be positioned on a balance rail of a piano keyboard. In this embodiment, the monitoring configuration can be fabricated and conveniently retrofitted to a standard keyboard. The pressure sensing device comprises a resistive element, a conducting element, and a force transducer ink layer separating the resistive and conducting elements. The resistance of the resistive element is monitored and when pressure is applied to the pressure sensing device, a change in resistance can be measured. Because the resistance is a function of pressure, the amount of pressure used to activate the key can be determined.

Abstract: In a musical instrument in which a plurality of data words corresponding to the amplitudes of a corresponding number of evenly spaced points defining a cycle of an audible musical waveform are transformed at an average rate corresponding to the fundamental frequency of the tone being generated, a computation means is provided to produce musical tones having an ensemble effect. The computation means comprises a multiplicity of interpolation calculations whereby a sequence of interpolated waveshape points are obtained from two different waveshapes whose data points are addressed from waveshape memories at different memory advance rates.

Abstract: In a musical tone signal generating apparatus of a harmonic combination system, the coefficient values of a continuous harmonic to be formed are discretely sampled. Among the sampled values, the values between each two adjacent sampling points (i.e., each two adjacent frames) which vary are selected, and only difference coefficient data therebetween are stored in a memory. When the harmonic coefficient data is to be formed, the difference coefficient data is used for the coefficient varying values between each two adjacent sampling points, and a new coefficient value is calculated. However, as for the nonvarying values between each two adjacent sampling points, no calculation is performed and an already calculated coefficient value is used, thereby updating harmonic coefficients as a function of time, and hence generating a musical tone signal whose tone color is changed as a function of time.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument is provided with a temporal variation circuit of SCF parameters for temporally varying the filter characteristic of a switched capacitor filter circuit, a control circuit for digitally controlling the temporal variation circuit and a touch response circuit for detecting, by scanning, touch response data in performance, whereby temporal variations of a musical waveform signal are digitally controlled.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument which has a keyboard and creates a musical tone by striking keys of the keyboard, is provided with an operation control circuit and an adder both for effecting keyboard switch chattering prevent operation processing and touch response select operation processing, a timing control circuit for controlling the switching between the chattering preventing operation and the touch response detecting operation and the scanning of the keyboard switches to detect their status, a musical tone generator for performing a musical tone generating operation asynchronously with the keyboard switch scanning operation, the keyboard switch chattering preventing operation and the touch response detecting operation, and a transfer circuit for transferring touch response information to the musical tone generator.

Abstract: The generating function cos[Z(t).multidot.sin(.omega.'t)] of Bessel functions is utilized as a modulating function for a fundamental function sin(.omega.t) in synthesis of a musical tone including many harmonic (over tone) components, wherein Z(t) is used as a modulating index. The modulating frequency .omega.' in sin(.omega.'t) of the modulating function cos[Z(t).multidot.sin(.omega.'t)] is selected relative to the fundamental frequency so that w'=n.omega. wherein n is a half integer or an irrational number.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument capable of producing, by frequency modulation, a musical tone containing harmonic components of integer and non-integer orders at complicated ratios which change with time. In frequency modulation, amplitudes of carrier and side frequencies are preceded by a positive or negative sign depending upon a value of modulation index. By suitably setting the value of modulation index, phase inversion occurs in the side frequencies so that cancellation or augmentation of amplitude will occur between side frequencies of the same frequency. By utilizing this phenomenon and also the fact that the harmonic spectrum can be varied by varying the carrier and the modulating waves, the electronic musical instrument according to the invention produces a musical tone containing extremely complex harmonic components.

Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument which generates a musical waveform by calculating the waveform amplitude value at each sample point through Fourier synthesis, note-range variations of the musical waveform and its timbre variations in accordance with a touch response are controlled with respect to readout addresses for reading out a set of harmonic coefficient data for the Fourier synthesis from a memory having stored therein a plurality of sets of such harmonic coefficient data, thereby changing the component ratio of a harmonic coefficient which will ultimately be used as a Fourier coefficient.

Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument which generates a musical waveform by calculating the waveform amplitude value at each sample point through Fourier synthesis, temporal variations of the musical waveform and its timbre variations in accordance with a touch response are controlled with respect to readout addresses for reading out a set of harmonic coefficient data for the Fourier synthesis from a memory having stored therein a plurality of sets of such harmonic coefficient data, thereby changing the component ratio of a harmonic coefficient which will ultimately be used as a Fourier coefficient.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprising detection means to detect time positions of an initial part and a terminal part of a voice, extraction means to extract pitch data of the voice, a plurality of processing means to subject the pitch data to different processing operations, means to successively select the processed pitch data of the plurality of processing means in correspondence with the respective detected time positions, and musical sound production means to produce a musical sound on the basis of the processed pitch data delivered from the selection means.

Abstract: A musical instrument sound quality enhancement device comprised of a circular shaped planer sound hole cover adapted by opposingly positioned underside sets of spaced angularly outward and downward projecting pliable affixment fingers to thereby enable insertably installed occlusive attachment of the cover within the circular shaped sound hole opening of a guitar, banjo, ukulele, dulcimer or any similar such stringed instrument the use of which eliminates feedback interference otherwise common to an amplifier equipped instrument of the type described, or with a ported variably occlusive sound hole cover version thereof not only accomplish amplifier feedback interference elimination when employed in a port fully closed configuration but when employed in a port variably set occlusive sound hole cover partially open configuration alternately effect instrumental tonal variations.

Abstract: A tone generation circuit can generate digital tone signals in a plurality of channels on a time shared basis and these digital tone signals are supplied to a digital-to-analog converter provided commonly for the respective channels. The digital-to-analog converter converts the digital tone signals of the respective channels into analog signals individually for each of the channels in the time division multiplexed state. Analog memory circuits are provided for the respective channels for demultiplexing and individually holding the time division multiplexed analog tone signals supplied from the digital-to-analog converter. The analog tone signals held in the respective analog memory circuits are individually read out in synchronism with pitches of notes assigned to the respective channels. An analog adder is provided, when required, for summing up the read out analog tone signals of the respective channels.

Abstract: Tone signals from plural keyboard systems are supplied to an effect imparting circuit via a distribution circuit. The effect imparting circuit comprises plural effect imparting channels and the device can impart a tone effect independently to a tone signal provided to each of the effect imparting channels. The distribution circuit distributes tone signals from the respective keyboard systems to any one or more of the effect imparting channels. An effect selection device is provided for selecting tone effects for the respective keyboard systems and an effect assignment device is also provided for assigning the effects selected in the respective keyboard systems to any of the effect imparting channels according to the selection by this effect selection device. The distribution circuit delivers the respective tone signals to the proper effect imparting channels respectively as controlled by the effect selection and the effect assignment.