Abstract: A silent violin converts vibrations of strings to an electric signal, and the electric signal is supplied to two delay circuits and, thereafter, two multipliers so as to produce a left sound signal and a right sound signal different in delay time and magnitude; when a headphone produces stereophonic sounds from the left/right sound signals, the player feels the source of stereophonic sounds to be at a certain point on the silent violin same as an acoustic violin.

Abstract: A musical device controller and system that includes an electric guitar having strings and a pick-up that produces an electrical music signal from vibrations of the strings, a musical effect generator that receives the electrical music signal from the guitar and alters the musical signal to produce a musical effect, a guitar pick for striking the strings to cause the vibrations, and a force sensing device mounted on the guitar pick. The force sensing device has a pair of electrical leads connected to the musical effect generator, and a pressure sensitive material that is formed of a semiconductor material having microprotrusions or a pressure sensitive ink. The electrical leads are in contact with the pressure sensitive material such that electrical resistance between the pair of leads incrementally and repeatably decreases as a force applied to the force sensing device incrementally increases.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to obtain musical tones being equivalent to those of an acoustic guitar with a hollow body with only an electric guitar with a solid body. For the sake of attaining this object, the effecting system according to the present invention is composed of an absolute value detecting means for detecting absolute values of musical tone signals in response to oscillations of the strings, a delay time setting means for setting a delay time based on the absolute values detected by the above described absolute value detecting means, and a delay means for delaying the above described musical tone signals by the delay time which was set by the above described delay time setting means.

Abstract: In a power amplifier, a control device employing a dual ganged potentiometer is connected in the feedback circuits of successive amplifier stages to increase the gain of the front end stage while simultaneously reducing the gain in a subsequent stage when the control is turned down. A distortion circuit, such as a tube compression circuit, is coupled between the stages. When the control is turned down, the compression circuit is activated at a lower level that effectively reduces the output power of the second stage. Presence and resonance controls may be provided to tailor high and low frequency damping factor of the second stage and function until the compression circuitry is activated. A ripple reduction filter is provided in a filtered supply for the drivers in the second or power amplifier stage.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprises a plurality of keys being displaceable relative to a support member therefor in response to depression thereof. A CPU detects velocity of depression of each of the keys from displacement of the each key caused by depression thereof, and also detects a pressure force or an impact force with which the each key urgingly contacts a stationary member at or near termination of depression of the each key. The CPU is responsive to the detected velocity of depression and pressure force or impact force, for determining initial touch information for a musical tone to be generated or at least one musical tone parameter, and for controlling the musical tone to be generated, based on the determined initial touch information.

Abstract: A sound effects control system for musical instruments comprises a tactile controller and a control box. The controller generates, by means of manual or other bodily manipulation, a control signal which is communicated to the control box. The control box receives an output signal from the musical instrument and modifies it in accordance with the control signal received from the controller. The modified output signal is then communicated to a traditional amplifier which produces variations in the sound effects of the musical instrument, such as volume, tremolo, reverberation, etc. The tactile controller comprises a fluid-filled lumen which, in combination with the compressible material of the controller, is collapsible in response to manual manipulation in order to generate a static pressure control signal for varying the sound effects of the musical instrument. A wide variety of controller shapes, sizes, configurations, and locations on the musical instrument are available.

Abstract: A control system for a musical instrument, e.g., an electric guitar, which is programmable so that a tremolo characteristic can be applied to the audio signal produced by the musical instrument. The tremolo characteristic can be comprised of a combination of three preset amplitude components and three preset frequency components. The control system can also be used to dynamically vary the volume characteristic of the audio signal produced by the musical instrument. Specifically, the control system includes a tactile member which produces a signal proportionate to the pressure exerted on the tactile member by the musician. This signal can be used to increase the volume characteristic of the musical instrument while the musician is playing the musical instrument.

Abstract: A control system for a musical instrument, e.g., an electric guitar, which is programmable so that a tremolo characteristic can be applied to the audio signal produced by the musical instrument. The tremolo characteristic can be comprised of a combination of three preset amplitude components and three preset frequency components. The control system can also be used to dynamically vary the volume characteristic of the audio signal produced by the musical instrument. Specifically, the control system includes a tactile member which produces a signal proportionate to the pressure exerted on the tactile member by the musician. This signal can be used to increase the volume characteristic of the musical instrument while the musician is playing the musical instrument.

Abstract: A power module transmits power to and simultaneously receives a signal from a remote signal processing device, such as an effects pedal, which in turn transmits power to and simultaneously receives a signal from a musical instrument, such as a guitar. The signal that is transmitted from the musical instrument is received at the effects pedal or remote signal processing device and is subsequently transmitted from the device to the power module. The signal is received at the power module and is transmitted from the power module to an amplifier or other signal processing device.

Abstract: Converting method comprising a detecting step for detecting a movement of an action of a piano, calculating step for calculating playing data depending on the movement of the action, correcting step for correcting at least string-striking intensity data in the automatic playing data based on the compared result playing data, recording step for recording the corrected data as the automatic playing data. Furthermore, converting device comprises detecting member for detecting a position of a hammer, calculating member for calculating playing data depending on a position of a hammer, correcting member for correcting the playing data, recording member for recording the corrected data, and driving member for driving a key. The method and device compensates the errors of playing data resulted by a difference of a piano's type or by changing shape of parts in an action, because data is corrected by ratios of lengths of the parts of the piano.

Abstract: A musical tone control apparatus controls a musical tone corresponding to a movement itself of an object and the like which is detected by a detector Such detector detects also a moving speed, a moving force, a moving angle or an intensity of given impulse of the object. In the case where the detector is mounted in the vicinity of a player's joint, the detector detects a revolving or bending angle of the player's joint. Hence, the musical tone can be controlled based on such angle of the player's joint. Thus, through this musical tone control apparatus, the player can generate a musical tone having, for example, a desirable tone pitch, a desirable volume and a desirable tone color based on the movement of the object or the player's joint.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an electronic musical instrument or other electronic apparatuses comprises a main body constituting an operation gripping section, a rotary member held in the main body to freely roll on an X-Y plane, a moving amount detector for detecting moving amounts of the rotary member in X- and Y-directions upon rolling of the rotary member, and a pressure detector for detecting a pressure effected on the main body. The control apparatus inputs control signals to a control object on the basis of detection values of the moving amount detector and pressure detector. An electronic musical instrument has the control apparatus as a performance operation member for controlling electronic tone generation parameters in correspondence with a performance function, and a sound source for generating an electronic tone on the basis of inputs from a keyboard and the performance operation member.

Abstract: The electronic musical instrument, which is suitable for generating sustaining tone of a rubbed string instrument, has a manipulator for achieving performance manipulation in a linear manipulation region or in a plane manipulation region to simulate the motion of a bow of the rubbed string instrument, and a processing circuit for applying smoothing treatment to signals given by the manipulator. The musical tone generated by the electronic musical instrument can be prevented from being contaminated with discordant sound caused by noise produced in performance manipulation.

Abstract: A controller for a musical effects unit enables control of an effects unit through the use of two touch buttons mounted on a guitar, or other instrument. The two touch switches form an input to a microprocessor utilizing control software to interpret the sequential contacting of the buttons. The software converts the sequential manipulation of the buttons into a selection criteria which is then transmitted to the effects unit to effect the selection of a pre-programmed or pre-selected effect. The timing of the sequencing of the two touch, or momentary switches may be adjusted in the software to suit the needs of the individual preforming artist.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard instrument having a performance pad, a detector, a memory, and a sound system. The detector detects a key touch of a key depressed to assign a percussion tone to the pad. The memory stores the key touch detected by the detector with the percussion tone of the depressed key. The sound system produces the stored percussion tone in accordance with the key touch stored in the memory.

Abstract: A key touch state detection device for an automatic performance piano includes at least one sensor for detecting whether or not a position of the hammer striking a string in an interlocked motion with movement of a key coincides with a predetermined hammer stop position and also whether or not a position of the hammer coincides with a predetermined position or positions in the vicinity of the string. The device includes also a circuit responsive to the detection output of the sensor for determining, when the hammer is recognized to be in a return process, a timing at which result of detection of the hammer stop position has changed as a timing of release of key. Depression and release of the key and the string striking speed of the hammer (key-touch strength) are detected by the hammer position sensor with resulting simplification in the structure of the device and improved accuracy in the detection of a key-touch state.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes a tone generator, a manipulator for defining a manipulation region and for performing manipulation within the manipulation region. The manipulator has a first detector which detects serial position data on the basis of positions of performance manipulation within the manipulation region, and a second detector which generates changing-degree data of a locus which is constituted by the serial position data. The tone generator generates musical tone with effect in accordance with the changing-degree data to thereby impart various effect such as vibrato with ease.

Abstract: A pickup apparatus for use in an electronic stringed instrument. This apparatus has a differential amplifier which eliminates noise included in a pickup signal output from an electromagnetic pickup and outputs the resultant pickup signal. This pickup signal is added with a predetermined effect by an effect adding section. The tone parameter of the effect-added pickup signal is changed by an external manipulation.

Abstract: A motion orchestration system is provided to enable an artist or orchestrator to produce music or other sounds and to extemporaneously vary the sounds being produced without detracting from the visual effect intended by the artist or orchestrator. The system may include motion detecting sensors capable of generating three-space coordinates of various segments of the body of the orchestrator. Electrical signals generated by the motion detecting sensors may generate MIDI compounds which can be converted into appropriate music or sounds. Signals from traditional microphone equipment may also be employed. The system further includes hand switching devices responsive to various hand and/or finger movements to electronically control the orchestration of the electronic output signals generated by the motion or speech of the orchestrator or by external sources.

Abstract: Muting of an electric guitar is accomplished by sensing depression of a string by the player during playing, and deactivating an electrical muting circuit in response to said depression. To sense string depression, each electrically-conductive string is supplied with a voltage with respect to the metal frets of the guitar, so that upon depression of any string a current flows through that string to a corresponding transistor which turns off the normal muting of that string; upon release of the string, the current stops and the muting resumes. The muting is preferably accomplished for each string by a corresponding respective FET, normally turned on to short-circuit to ground the audio signal from that string. Resistance-capacitance circuits are provided to control how fast the muting is turned on and off.

Abstract: An electronic wind instrument has a blowing feeling adder. The adder comprises an air chamber having an entrance and an exit, an entrance pipe for introducing breath the entrance pipe being coupled to the entrance of the air chamber, an exit pipe for discharging the breath the exit pipe being connected to the exit of the air chamber, and a valve interposed between entrance and exit portions of the air chamber and having elasticity. The valve is deformed according to a breath pressure at the entrance portion to change an opening area of the entrance. Whereby the electronic wind instrument can simulate blowing feeling of a natural wind instrument.

Abstract: A distortion synthesizer, having a first distortion circuit, a tone control circuit for altering the tonality of the first distorted signal and a second distortion circuit for introducing harmonics into said tone controlled signal. At least one of the distortion circuits introduces harmonics without clipping. The second distortion circuit also for clips the resultant signal as a function of said resultant signal. The first distortion circuit limits and introduces even harmonics, preferrably predominantly second harmonics. The second distortion circuit introduces odd harmonics, preferrably by predominantly third harmonics, prior to clipping, and also compress the signal. The distortion circuits include a variable gain stage which increases with increased input using a plurality of switches which progressively add parallel resistors to progressively increase output current. A circuit simulating transformer saturation is also provided in the second distortion circuit.

Abstract: An electronic stringed instrument employs a plurality of sensors or monitors for instrument performance. Preferred sensors or monitors include a detector for detecting that a string of the instrument is vibrated, an apparatus for evaluating a string-vibration strength or a string touch, an apparatus for discriminating a fret operation position on a fingerboard or a fundamental frequency of a vibration of the vibrated string, a tremolo arm sensor, and a string-bending sensor. These performance input parameters are assigned to various control functions for musical tones generated by a sound source and/or various control functions for effects added to these musical tones by an effector. The function assignment is preferably programmable. In an operation, a music control apparatus controls the sound source and/or effector in response to a performance monitor so that musical tones for the strings can be distinguished from each other or effects for the musical tones can be distinguished from each other.

Abstract: A removably mountable multiple effects device for an electronic signal processor for an electric guitar having an output socket is disclosed which includes a selection panel for accessing and selecting multiple effects from the signal processor contained therein, a jack for plugging into the output socket of the guitar, a power source for supplying power to the signal processor and an output signal device for communicating the signals. The selection panel may be a keyboard which is mounted on the guitar face having easy accessibility to the fingers of the guitar player. The keyboard provides the guitar player with access to any multiple effect accessible by the signal processor, such as tremelo, echoing, and many others, on the face of the guitar rather than having an access to such multiple effects in a remote location.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having a function of selecting a musical tone parameter just before, or after during a musical performance is provided. The instrument has a first manually operable element such as a tremolo arm deflectably mounted on the main body of the instrument and positioned adjacent to stretched strings, and a second manually operable element (e.g., push button) attached to the first operational element. In one embodiment, the first element serves as a controller for varying a first musical parameter (e.g., pitch modulation) while the second element functions as another controller for varying a second, different musical parameter (e.g., tone color). In another embodiment, the second element serves as a variable function assignor for the first element. Depending on the function assigning of the first element, the second element provides a variable parameter controller (e.g., tremolo, vibrato).

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes a musical tone generation instructor for detecting a breath operation state at a mouthpiece portion arranged on an instrument main body and instructing generation of a musical tone, a lip detection part for detecting a biting strength at said mouthpiece portion, a control information output part for outputting a plurality of parameter control information for variably controlling contents of at least one parameter of a musical tone to be generated so as to be varied in accordance with the biting strength detected by the lip detection part on the basis of instruction by the musical tone generation instructing part, a designation part for designating an arbitrary one of the plurality of parameter control information to be output from the control information output part, and a control part for, when the biting strength at the mouthpiece portion is detected by the lip detection part under a condition that the one parameter control information is designated by the designati

Abstract: A vibrator for vibrating an electronic musical instrument in accordance to the generated tone being produced. In this manner, a player of the electrical musical instrument will have the sensation of playing a conventional musical instrument due to the feedback of vibrational energy into the input device of the electronic musical instrument.

Abstract: A tone visualizing apparatus for visualizing an inputted audio signal to thereby display an image corresponding to this audio signal includes at least a detector, image display (such as a CRT display unit) and display controller. The detector detects characteristics of the audio signal such as envelope, chord, spectrum signal components, number of zero-cross points and energy of the audio signal. The image display displays an image based on given image information which can be generated from a video tape recorder (VTR), a video disk unit or an image memory constituted by a semiconductor memory. The display controller controls the image display so that a display parameter of the image will be controlled based on the detected characteristics of the audio signal. For example, the display parameter can be set as size, brightness or colors of the image. Thus, the image is controlled so that the impression of the image will be matched with that of the audio tone.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument according to the present invention is applicable to musical instruments such as electronic wind instruments, electronic rubbed string instruments and electronic stringed instruments. Parameters of a musical tone to be generated are individually and independently altered and controlled in accordance with control data corresponding to a variation tendency of performance-input data which is detected by a performance input detection section and alters with time. And in accordance with a variation tendency per a predetermined period of time of breath operation intensity and/or lip operation intensity, parameters of the musical tone having a designated pitch are individually and independently altered and controlled.

Abstract: The present electronic musical instrument can apply to various electronic musical instruments, such as an electronic wind instrument, electronic keyboard instrument and electronic string instrument. Pitch alteration width data with a predetermined pitch difference with respect to a tone being presently generated is stored in advance in a memory section, and by alternately performing the following two operations thereby to ensure a trill performance with a pitch having an arbitrary pitch alteration width by a simple pitch alteration operation. (1) A predetermined musical tone is generated at the presently-designated pitch by the pitch designation operation executed with respect to a pitch designating section. (2) A predetermined musical tone is generated at a pitch higher or lower than the presently-designated pitch, in accordance with the pitch alteration width data, by the pitch alteration designating operation executed with respect to a pitch alteration designating section.