Reverberation Patents (Class 84/DIG26)
  • Patent number: 6166315
    Abstract: In accordance with a kind of effect, an effect adding section (38) adds an original microphone signal with an effect signal and outputs the added signal, or outputs an effect signal in place of the original microphone signal. A mixing section (42) mixes the effect signal and the original microphone signal at a variable mixing ratio. The mixed signal is supplied to an echo signal generating circuit (20) to generate an echo signal. An output signal of the effect adding section (38) and the echo signal output from an echo adding section (40) are mixed by a mixing circuit (18). In the case in which both an effect and an echo are added such that the microphone signal and the effect signal are added and then output, the mixing section (42) reduces the mixing ratio of the effect signal, whereby the effect is prevented from being excessively increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Mikio Kitano
  • Patent number: 6157724
    Abstract: A music apparatus is constructed for introducing a music sound into an acoustic space, and is equipped with an acoustic feedback system for introducing a reflection sound into the acoustic space. In the music apparatus, an input device sequentially provides performance information. A sound source generates a music signal representative of the music sound in response to the performance information provided from the input device. A plurality of channels of the acoustic feedback system are provided in the music apparatus, and are spatially separate from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Fukushi Kawakami
  • Patent number: 6085309
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus executes a plurality of microprograms stored in a microprogram memory device in a time-sharing manner, so as to perform arithmetic operations on a digital signal entered by a signal input device. A delay memory device that delays the digital signal. The delay memory device has a plurality of delay areas that are independently provided for the respective microprograms, such that each of the microprograms that is being executed uses a corresponding one of the plurality of delay areas so as to delay the digital signal, and a common area that can be accessed by all of the microprograms. As a result, data such as tables for use in common by the plurality of microprograms can be stored, and the stored data can be easily used by each microprogram, without making the system complicated or increasing the cost of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Okamura
  • Patent number: 5999630
    Abstract: On the basis of localization control data, a sound image localization controlling circuit reproduces input audio signals via a plurality of speakers after having applied predetermined delay-involving signal processing to the audio signals, to thereby perform sound image localization processing to localize sound images of direct sounds in a desired range including an area outside a space surrounded by the speakers. The audio signals are also supplied to a sound field controlling circuit after having been delayed by a predetermined time. The sound field controlling circuit performs operations to convolute the audio signals with reflected sound parameters so as to generate reflected sounds. The output signals of the sound image localization controlling circuit and sound field controlling circuit are fed to adders each adding together the signals of same channel. The resultant added signals are then sent to the speakers in a listening room for audible reproduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Iwamatsu
  • Patent number: 5977474
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit for providing a combined clean and dirty output signal from an electric guitar. The circuit comprises a panning pedal that has two potentiometers attached thereto so that movement of the panning pedal results in two continuously varying ranges of resistances being produced by the potentiometers. The output signal of the guitar is provided to the panning pedal and the resistance values of the potentiometers determine the proportion of the guitar output signal that is to be provided to a clean pre-amp stage and the proportion that is to be provided to a dirty pre-amp stage. The clean pre-amp stage amplifies the output signal substantially without distortion and the dirty pre-amp stage amplifies the signal so as to produce a saturated output signal. The output of the clean pre-amp stage and the dirty pre-amp stage are then combined to produce a single output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: Timothy O'Brien
  • Patent number: 5939656
    Abstract: A music sound correcting apparatus for correcting a music sound signal entered thereinto to selectively supply the corrected music sound signal to a speaker and a headphone, is provided with a jack into which a plug of the headphone is inserted, and a detector for detecting whether or not this plug of the headphone is inserted into the jack. When the detector detects that the plug is not inserted into the jack, a frequency of the entered music sound signal is changed so as to be properly reproduced by the speaker. On the other hand, when the detector detects that this plug is inserted into the jack, the entered music sound signal is corrected so as to be properly reproduced by the headphone in such a manner that a sound image produced based upon the entered music sound signal is localized to a predetermined position. As a result, preferable music sound can be reproduced even when the speaker is used and the headphone is employed irrespective of a small amount of hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Masayuki Suda
  • Patent number: 5902950
    Abstract: In a karaoke vocal adaptor 100, voice signals to which a harmony effect is imparted by the harmony effect imparting circuit, and voice signals to which the harmony effect is not imparted are output from wet voice output terminals 121 and 122, and dry voice output terminals 111 and 112, respectively. In a karaoke amplifier 200, an echo is imparted only to voice signals input through dry voice input terminals 221 and 222, by an echo imparting unit 233, the voice signals are then mixed with voice signals input through wet voice input terminals 241 and 242, and musical signals input through music input terminals 251 and 252, and the mixed signals are output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kato, Takahiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5880390
    Abstract: In a reverberation effect imparting apparatus, sampled data of an input signal is written into a RAM 23 and the data is read out after an elapse of a predetermined time period, thereby imparting a reverberation effect. A storage area of the RAM 23 is divided into an area 1 for storing waveform data and an area 2 for imparting a reverberation effect. During evaluation, the waveform data is sequentially read out from the area 1 by using an absolute address, and sampled data of the waveform data is written into and read out from the area 2 by using a relative address, thereby imparting a reverberation effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 5864080
    Abstract: An audio signal processing system including an input circuit for inputting musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) commands in real time over a plurality of channels, a computer including a central processing unit (CPU) supplied with the MIDI commands for simultaneously synthesizing one or more voices for each of the channels in response to the MIDI commands, each of the voices being generated by one or more of a plurality of predefined audio synthesis algorithms executed in software, a random access memory (RAM) for storing digital voice data representative of each of the voices generated by the CPU, an output circuit for audibly reproducing the voices from the digital voice data stored in the RAM, and wherein the CPU, in generating the voices selects the one or more audio synthesis algorithms based on one or more of the following criteria: the external processing demands placed upon the CPU by other operations being performed by the personal computer, a best match, according to predetermined criteria, b
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: InVision Interactive, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven S. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 5804751
    Abstract: In order to change an electronic sound between a piano sound generated without manipulation of a damper pedal and a piano sound generated under manipulation of the damper pedal, an electronic keyboard musical instrument assigns two tone generating channels to a depressed key for generating a fundamental tone signal representative of the piano sound generated by striking the set of strings and a resonating tone signal representative of a resonating sound generated through the resonance, and the resonating sound signal is mixed with the fundamental tone signal under manipulation of a pedal corresponding to the damper pedal, thereby making the electronic sound close to the piano sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Koseki, Rei Furukawa, Yoshihiro Shiiya
  • Patent number: 5773743
    Abstract: An effect control method, an effect control device with the following configuration is provided on a karaoke system, which is one of audio regenerator or synthesizer systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sachio Ogawa, Atsushi Kitahara, Shigenori Yokoe
  • Patent number: 5753845
    Abstract: In a karaoke apparatus, a pickup device picks up a live singing voice of a music piece to convert the same into a vocal signal. A music source device provides a music signal representative of a karaoke accompaniment of the music piece to accompany the live singing voice, and also provides effect control information which is predetermined in matching with a mood and a tempo of the music piece and which is effective to create and control a vocal effect. A vocal effecter device processes the vocal signal according to the provided effect control information to apply the vocal effect to the live singing voice and to control the applied vocal effect. A mixer device mixes the provided music signal and the processed vocal signal with each other to concurrently reproduce the karaoke accompaniment and the live singing voice which is modified by the applied vocal effect so as to enrich karaoke performance of the music piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Nagata, Satoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5739452
    Abstract: A karaoke apparatus is provided with a pickup device that collects a singing voice sound to convert the same into a corresponding vocal signal. Further, a music generator device generates a music signal representative of a karaoke accompaniment sound which is selected to accompany the singing voice sound. A harmony generator device generates a harmony signal representative of a harmony chorus sound which is made consonant with the singing voice sound. A first processor device processes the vocal signal to impart an effect to the collected singing voice sound. A second processor device processes the harmony signal separately from the vocal signal to impart another effect to the harmony chorus sound independently from the singing voice sound. A sound device amplifies the processed vocal signal, the processed harmony signal and the generated music signal so as to sound the singing voice sound, the harmony chorus sound and the karaoke accompaniment sound concurrently with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Nagata
  • Patent number: 5732142
    Abstract: A sound reproduction control apparatus processes an audio signal in reproduction of a musical sound to control a tone of the musical sound while imparting an effect to the musical sound. A preceding tone controller has a variable frequency response for amplifying the audio signal by the variable frequency response so as to variably control the tone of the musical sound. A signal processor is connected to the preceding tone controller for processing the audio signal to impart a desired effect to the musical sound. A succeeding tone controller is connected to the processor means and has an adjustable frequency response adjusted separately from the variable frequency response of the preceding tone controller for amplifying the audio signal by the adjusted frequency response so as to adjustively control the tone of the musical sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Nagata, Satoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5652798
    Abstract: This reverberant characteristic signal generation apparatus comprises a measuring room where a speaker and one channel of microphone is provided to supply one channel of a pulse train indicative of the reverberant characteristic of the room, a direction data generation portion for generating direction data indicative of an imaginary incoming direction of a indirectly transmitted impulse sound, an operation portion for operating the time differences due to the inclination of the incoming direction of the indirectly transmitted impulse sound to an imaginary dummy head, having right and left ears having a distance therebetween, at the position of the microphone, and an output portion for outputting an amplitude of each pulse and the delay time of the indirectly transmitted impulse sound to the microphone and the time differences to provide the reverberant characteristic signal which may be recorded by a recorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichiro Mizushima
  • Patent number: 5648629
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having a pitch designating unit capable of designating pitches of a plurality of tone signals to be generated, a plurality of tone signal generating channels for selectively generating and outputting a plurality of tone signals having a different pitch designated by the pitch designating unit, a mixing unit for mixing tone signals generated by the plurality of tone signal generating units, a plurality of resonance signal generating units each having a different resonance frequency characteristic, for receiving a mixed tone signal from the mixing unit and generating and outputting a plurality of different resonance signals, and an input level controller provided on the input side of the plurality of resonance signal generating units, for controlling a level of the mixed tone signal from the mixing unit for each resonance signal generating unit, in accordance with a pitch of each of a plurality of tone signals to be generated, and supplying the level controlled mixed tone signal
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Kozuki
  • Patent number: 5636283
    Abstract: A system for mixing five channel sound which surrounds an audio plane. The position of a sound source is displayed on a VDU (16) relative to the position of a notional listener (31). The sound source is moved within the audio plane by operation of a stylus (23) upon a touch tablet (24). Thus, an operator is only required to specify positions of a sound source over time, whereafter a processing unit (17) calculates actual gain values for the five channels at sample rate. Gain values are calculated for the sound track for each of the loudspeaker channels and for each of these specified points. Gain values are then produced at sample rate by interpolating calculated gain values for each channel at sample rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Solid State Logic Limited
    Inventors: Philip N. C. Hill, Matthew J. Willis
  • Patent number: 5621801
    Abstract: A reverberation effect imparting system includes plural comb filters, each of which has a signal delay line and a feedback loop for filtering a delayed output signal from the delay line and feeding the filtered signal back to the input side with a variable loop gain. The device further includes a junction section which receives the respective output signals from the delay lines of the plural comb filters. The junction section controls the received signals with respective variable scattering coefficients and sums up the thus-controlled signals, so as to introduce the summed signal into the feedback loop of each of the comb filters. In this manner, reverberation control according to the waveguide theory is performed by the junction section, while the conventional-type reverberation control is performed by the comb filters. Thus, reverberation can be controlled through a combination of the two controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Kunimoto, Masahiro Kakishita, Chifumi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 5604810
    Abstract: A plurality of reverberation signal generating circuits are provided for generating a plurality of reverberation signals from input audio signals of two channels. Each of the reverberation signals has a predetermined function of correlation. A pair of filters are provided for controlling the function of correlation of the reverberation signal and for applying controlled reverberation signals to reverberation speakers, thereby providing a sound field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventor: Hirofumi Yanagawa
  • Patent number: 5596159
    Abstract: An audio signal processing system including an input circuit for inputting musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) commands in real time over a plurality of channels, a computer including a central processing unit (CPU) supplied with the MIDI commands for simultaneously synthesizing one or more voices for each of the channels in response to the MIDI commands, each of the voices being generated by one or more of a plurality of predefined audio synthesis algorithms executed in software, a random access memory (RAM) for storing digital voice data representative of each of the voices generated by the CPU, an output circuit for audibly reproducing the voices from the digital voice data stored in the RAM, and wherein the CPU, in generating the voices selects the one or more audio synthesis algorithms based on one or more of the following criteria: the external processing demands placed upon the CPU by other operations being performed by the personal computer, a best match, according to predetermined criteria, b
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Invision Interactive, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven S. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 5552560
    Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument produces electronic sounds in synchronism with fingering on a keyboard, and a player can select an reverberation emvironment and a depth of reverberation through predetermined keys of the keyboard before the performance, thereby making an arrangement on a switch board simpler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Ura
  • Patent number: 5498835
    Abstract: A designating mechanism generates filtering designation data, which designate the contents of filtering, reverberating designation data, which designate the contents of reverberation, and characteristics data, which express the combined contents of filtering and reverberation. A parameters generating mechanism generates filtering parameters expressing filtering characteristics, and generates reverberating parameters expressing reverberation characteristics. A readout device reads out a first operating algorithm, which designates filtering designation data, and a second operating algorithm, which designates reverberating designation data, from a memory mechanism wherein a plurality of operating algorithms are stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuji Ichiki
  • Patent number: 5455380
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument changes sound effects, such as resonance and reverberation, during a performance. The instrument has a tone-ON channel counter, for counting keys that are simultaneously depressed; an output channel determination unit, for determining an output channel in consonance with a count value held by the tone-ON channel counter; and an output channel selector, for designating the output channel, so as to provide a desired sound effect through the selected output channel.In a modification, the instrument has a parameter value determination unit, for determining a parameter value in consonance with a count value counted by the tone-ON channel counter; a resonant tone production unit, for adding a desired sound effect; and a controller, for employing the parameter value to control the resonant tone production unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Eiji Matsuda, Gen Izumisawa
  • Patent number: 5451712
    Abstract: A positional effect sound generation apparatus for an electronic musical instrument includes a function selector for selecting a function according to a user's selection, a note sensing circuit for sensing a note corresponding to a key on a keyboard pushed by a performer, a storage unit for storing a plurality of control signals, a CPU for selecting ones of the control signals in the storage unit corresponding to the selected function and the sensed note, a ROM for storing a plurality of sound data, a sound generator for selecting a desired one of the sound data in the ROM in response to the control signal from the CPU and generating a sound signal according to the selected sound data, a sound processing circuit for processing the sound signal from the sound generator and generating an analog echo effect sound signal, a mixer for mixing the processed sound signal with the analog echo effect sound signal, a display controller for controlling a display unit in response to the control signal from the CPU to disp
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Goldstar Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung W. Lee
  • Patent number: 5444784
    Abstract: A sound echo machine as an acoustic signal processing unit of the present invention comprising an adder to which an input signal is fed, and a delay circuit for delaying the signal fed from the adder for a certain time to repeatedly feed back to the adder to generate an echo sound further comprises an input signal level detector for detecting the level of the input signal and sending it to a frequency oscillator to vary the oscillating frequency in accordance with the thus detected signal level for feeding it later to the delay circuit so as to modulate the time to be delayed at a predetermined cycle, whereby it can create an acoustic field in which a listener can feel as if various level of reflected sounds are coming towards him from various directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventor: Soichi Toyama
  • Patent number: 5422430
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument capable of providing an optimum sound field localization, such as key scale panning, suitable for a tone color selected from a plurality of tone colors by a player. A panning data for dividing a tone signal into right and left tone signals is generated in accordance a selected tone color and tone pitch of a tone signal to be generated. The panning is executed by using the panning data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahiko Ikeya, Tokuji Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 5403969
    Abstract: In a tone signal synthesizer for synthesizing a tone signal by supplying a driving signal, into a closed loop circuit including a delay circuit and a filter, a filter coefficient which controls the characteristic of the filter is changed while a musical tone is generated. For example, a set of filter coefficients are provided at the time of key-on and are switched to another set of filter coefficients when a predetermined time is passed after the time of key-on. The set of filter coefficients are switched to a further set of filter coefficients at the time of key-off and then are switched to a still further set of filter coefficients when a predetermined time is passed after the time of key-off. It is possible to generate a musical tone which changes more complexly on the basis of the change of the filter characteristic, with the passage of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Muto
  • Patent number: 5338892
    Abstract: An electronic musical tone generating apparatus includes a tone pitch designating unit for generating pitch signal representing tone pitch, a tone generation instruction unit for generating start signal instructing tone generation, a musical tone signal generating unit for generating a pair of musical tone signals representing a pair of direct sounds and a plurality of musical tone signals each representing a reflect sound in accordance with the start signal, wherein there can be difference of tone volume between respective musical tone signals of the pair of musical tone signals, and differences of tone volume and tone generation timing between respective musical tone signals of the plurality of musical tone signals, a controlling unit for controlling the difference of tone volume and the difference of tone generation timing in accordance with the pitch signal of the tone pitch designating unit, and a converting unit for converting the musical tone signals to musical sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Sekine, Junichi Fujimori
  • Patent number: 5317104
    Abstract: An electronic sound processor creates reverberation effects using a simulated impulse function. The simulated impulse response is generated by combining frequency bands of white noise. The power of each band decays exponentially in time. The time constants are generated from the characteristics of a real or imaginary listening space. A reverberated sound signal is generated from an original sound signal by convolution of the original signal and the simulated impulse response. The method can adapted to generated stereophonic signals and to generate a forward and inverse reverb effect using only one set of multiplications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: E-muSystems, Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Frost
  • Patent number: 5308918
    Abstract: The present invention provides a signal delay circuit for substantially steplessly changing a delay interval. The signal delay circuit is composed essentially of a delay controller, a first delay circuit, and a second delay circuit. The delay controller generates and outputs control data consisting of a real number bearing control information for controlling the delay interval, the real number consists of an integral portion and a fractional portion. The first delay circuit receives an incidental signal, delays the incidental signal for creating a first intermediate signal, and outputs the first intermediate signal, the first intermediate signal being delayed with respect to the incidental signal by an interval which is a product of a predetermined cardinal interval and the integral portion of the real number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Yamauchi, Toshifumi Kunimoto, Chifumi Takeuchi, Iwao Higashi
  • Patent number: 5290969
    Abstract: A musical tone synthesizing apparatus generates musical tones by simulating the tone generation construction of a plucked-stringed instrument or percussion type stringed instrument. The apparatus has a plurality of closed loop circuits which simulate each tone generating element of the instrument, an excitation circuit which creates an excitation signal corresponding to the excitation given to the plurality of tone generating elements in response to the operation of a tone generating operator or the operational information of the tone generating operator, and a memory which stores a non-linear relation between the tone generating elements and the tone generating operator such as a hammer. The excitation signal is supplied to each of the closed loop circuits and circulates around each closed loop circuit and is delayed by means of a delay circuit having delay interval, and is fed back into the excitation circuit as the state of the tone generating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Kaoru Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5286913
    Abstract: A musical tone waveform signal forming apparatus having a modulation function comprises a delay loop system including a delay circuit and a filter, a excitation signal input section, a control member and a filter characteristic control circuit. The excitation signal input to the delay loop system circulate therein, so that a musical tone signal is formed. The control member instructs modulation of a musical tone signal. The filter characteristic control circuit changes with time the characteristics of the filter in accordance with an output from the control member. So that pitch modulation accompanied with tone color modulation is effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Iwao Higashi
  • Patent number: 5272274
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument is provided with a touch data generating device and a reverberation unit which generates a reverberation signal. The reverberation unit generates the signal correspond to the musical tone signal based on the touch data. The reverberation unit has a reverberation parameter forming device for forming a reverberation parameter which controls the reverberation signal based on the touch data. The parameter includes a delay period for a delay element and/or a coefficient for a multiplier. The musical instrument is allowed to add a mixing device to it, for mixing the musical tone signal and the reverberation signal. The musical instrument is also allowed to have a channel detecting device for detecting the number of instructed channels in place of the touch data generating device, thereby the reverberation signal being controlled by the number of the instructed channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Hidemichi Kimura
  • Patent number: 5256830
    Abstract: A musical tone synthesizing apparatus is designed to simulate the acoustic sounds of non-electronic musical instruments. In the non-electronic musical instrument providing the resonator such as the piano and guitar, the produced acoustic sound contains three kinds of sounds, i.e., a direct sound, a resonant sound and a transient sound. Herein, the direct sound is produced directly by playing the instrument, the resonant sound is produced from the resonator based on the direct sound and the transient sound is produced when the impulse to be occurred by playing the instrument propagates through the resonator. Thus, signals simulating these sounds respectively are mixed together so as to produce the synthesized musical tone signal, which well-simulates the acoustic sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Chifumi Takeuchi, Toshifumi Kunimoto
  • Patent number: 5252776
    Abstract: A musical tone generating apparatus comprises an excitation signal generator, a signal processing device and loop gain controller. The signal processing device is electrically connected in a closed feedback loop with the excitation signal generator, via a delay unit. The loop gain controller controls gain of said closed feedback loop according to a lapse of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Mutoh
  • Patent number: 5248844
    Abstract: A musical tone synthesizing apparatus which synthesizes a musical tone signal in response to the wind instrument, brass instrument and the like provides an excitation circuit and a resonance circuit. The excitation circuit simulates the operations of the reed, mouth-piece and the like, while the resonance circuit which operates as the bi-directional transmission path simulates the resonance tube. The excitation signal generated from the excitation circuit is transmitted through the resonance circuit consisting of delay circuits and junction circuits. Thereafter, the transmitted signal is reflected by the terminal portion, and the reflected signal is transmitted through the resonance circuit and then fed back to the excitation circuit. Thus, the excitation signal is circulated in the loop consisting of the excitation circuit and resonance circuit. Based on the signal picked up from this loop, it is possible to obtain the synthesized musical tone signal which simulates the wind instrument tone and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Toshifumi Kunimoto
  • Patent number: 5245127
    Abstract: The present invention provides a signal delay circuit for substantially steplessly changing a delay interval. The signal delay circuit is composed essentially of a delay controller, a first delay circuit, and a second delay circuit. The delay controller generates and outputs control data consisting of a real number bearing control information for controlling the delay interval, the real number consists of an integral portion and a fractional portion. The first delay circuit receives an incidental signal, delays the incidental signal for creating a first intermediate signal, and outputs the first intermediate signal, the first intermediate signal being delayed with respect to the incidental signal by an interval which is a product of a predetermined cardinal interval and the integral portion of the real number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Yamauchi, Toshifumi Kunimoto, Chifumi Takeuchi, Iwao Higashi
  • Patent number: 5241604
    Abstract: In a sound effect apparatus which processes audio signals, a volume controller controls the volume of sound and a preset volume is detected by a detector. A plurality of delay lines delay audio signals by different delay times. A plurality of level converters generate reverberation sounds by decreasing the level of the delayed audio signals. Generated reverberation sounds and the input audio signal are added. The values of the level to which signals are lowered in the level converters are changed equally in response to the detected volume. When the detected volume is smaller than a specified volume, the values of the level to which signals are lowered are equally decreased. When the detected volume is larger than a specified volume, the values of the level to which signals are lowered are equally increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yutaka Noguchi
  • Patent number: 5223657
    Abstract: A musical tone generating device is capable of simulating various special playing techniques for a stringed instrument in which the harmonic spectrums of produced sound is enhanced, or otherwise altered. The device includes a delay circuit wherein an input signal thereto is delayed and output; a closed loop circuit comprising multiple feedback pathways to which the output of the delay circuit is supplied and processed therein, after which the processed signal is returned toward the delay circuit as an input signal; an excitation device in response to a predetermined control signal, generating an excitation signal and supplying it to the closed loop circuit, such that the excitation signal corresponds to an excitation vibration in the stringed instrument being simulated; and a control device wherein the predetermined control signal is generated and whereby the delay interval of the delay circuit and the processing carried out in the multiple feedback pathways are controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Chifumi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 5221804
    Abstract: A tone generation device for an electronic musical instrument capable of producing multiple tone source effects such as a stereophonic effect and a reverberation effect includes a plurality of tone forming circuits, a control parameter generation circuit for generating control parameter for controlling outputs of the tone forming circuits, a plurality of tone synthesizing circuits for synthesizing outputs of some of the tone forming circuits and outputs of others of the tone forming circuits together in accordance with the control parameters supplied from thge control parameter generation circuit, and sound systems provided in correspondence to the respective tone synthesizing circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Takeo Shibukawa
  • Patent number: 5189242
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Usa
  • Patent number: 5187314
    Abstract: A musical tone synthesizing apparatus generates musical tones by simulating the tone generation construction of a plucked-stringed instrument or string-striking type stringed instrument. The apparatus has a closed-loop circuit which simulate a tone generating element of the instrument, an excitation circuit which creates an excitation signal corresponding to the excitation given to the tone generating element in response to the time function. The time function is set in response to operational information of the tone generating operator. The excitation signal is supplied to the closed-loop circuit and circulates around closed-loop circuit and is delayed by a delay circuit having delay interval, and is fed back into the excitation circuit as the state of the tone generating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Kunimoto, Kaoru Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5187313
    Abstract: A musical tone synthesizing apparatus simulating a wind instrument includes an excitation circuit simulating a reed operation of a mouth piece portion, a resonance circuit simulating a resonance tube and a musical tone control circuit. The excitation circuit produces an excitation signal based on an input signal and a reflected wave signal transmitted from the resonance circuit. The excitation signal is input to the resonance circuit. The resonance circuit includes a bi-directional transmission circuit and a junction unit which is inserted into the bi-directional transmission circuit. The junction unit caries out a scattering operation corresponding to a scattering operation of compression wave of air which is occurred in the vicinity of the tone hole of the resonance tube. The excitation signal propagates through the bi-directional transmission circuit in a forward direction as a progressive wave signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 5180877
    Abstract: A musical tone synthesizing apparatus synthesizes musical tones by simulating the tone generation construction of a plucked-string or struck-string instrument. The apparatus has a loop circuit which simulates a vibrating element of the instrument, an excitation circuit creates an excitation signal corresponding to the excitation given to the vibrating element in response to the operation of operators such as a pick or a hammer or the state of the generation body and a memory which stores a non-linear relation between the operator and the vibration element. The excitation signal circulates around the loop circuit and is delayed by means of a delay circuit with a previously determined delay interval, and is fed back into the excitation circuit as the state of the vibrating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Toshifumi Kunimoto
  • Patent number: 5166464
    Abstract: Either the frequency of phase of an original musical sound signal is modulated, the musical sound signal is weighted, a reverberation effect is added thereto and the thus modified signal is added with the original musical sound signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Goro Sakata, Akio Iba
  • Patent number: 5159140
    Abstract: An acoustic control apparatus which can be applied to an electronic musical instrument controls the acoustics of a musical tone to be generated in response to variation of an image. In order to detect the variation of an image, the acoustic control apparatus extracts a predetermined image element from image information to be given thereto. This image element can be identified as movement of image, color of an image or an outline of image. The color of image can be detected by detecting hue and/or number of colors in the image. In addition, in response to periodicity in variation of this image element, a performance tempo of musical tone can be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Mamoru Kimpara, Takeshi Adachi
  • Patent number: 5157214
    Abstract: A musical sound synthesizing apparatus which simulates a sound generating mechanism of a string instrument by using an electronic circuit comprises a driver for applying data, an adder, a delay unit for storing data temporarily, a low pass filter for processing data, and a word length designating unit for designating a word length (address width) of the delay unit. The adder, delay unit and low pass filter form a loop-shaped circuit, with their corresponding input ends and output ends connected with each other. The word length designating unit corrects a word length of the delay unit in accordance with a phase delay of the low pass filter or in accordance with the number of stages of the pipeline structure of the loop. In the case where a musical sound of the type generated by touching or hitting strings is synthesized, the driver reads at least two series of data stored beforehand and applies the read data to one of the inputs to the adder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakanishi, Daisuke Mori, Mizuho Seki, Katsuyoshi Fujii, Masahiko Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 5153362
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having a pan control function includes a pan device for deciding a synthesizing rate of the plural wave form elements in each of the musical tone output terminals independently. Static pan control fixes an image position of a musical tone, and dynamic pan control changes the image position with lapse of time. The dynamic pan control also includes EG pan control which changes the image position on a pre-stored orbit and bias pan control which changes the image position based on specified data during playing. In addition to an operator, such as a jog dial and a modulation wheel, key touch data or key number data can be used for the bias pan control. This musical instrument can synthesize a musical tone signal by combining the pan control functions to each wave form element, thereby forming very widened musical tones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Toda, Fumihiko Ojima
  • Patent number: 5144096
    Abstract: A nonlinear function generation apparatus and a musical tone synthesis apparatus are disclosed.The nonlinear function generation apparatus comprises hysteresis and nonhysteresis function generators for generating hysteresis and nonhysteresis functions using an input signal as a variable respectively, and a multiplier for synthesizing the functions outputted from the generators.The musical tone synthesis apparatus comprises a closed loop including delay circuits, and the nonlinear function generation apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Toshifumi Kunimoto
  • Patent number: 5113743
    Abstract: The musical tone synthesizing apparatus simulating the wind instrument synthesizes a musical tone signal to thereby generate a musical tone corresponding to the wind instrument tone. Herein, the musical tone synthesizing apparatus contains one or more stages each including a bi-directional transmission circuit and a junction. In each stage, the progressive wave signal is delayed by the predetermined delay time and transmitted to the junction. The junction multiplies the signal by first coefficient, whereby the result of multiplication is transmitted to the next stage. The junction also multiplies the progressive wave signal by second coefficient, whereby the result of multiplication is fed back to the prior stage. The first and second coefficients are changed over according to an operation of a tone hole to be provided in the wind instrument. Thus, the musical tone of the wind instrument can be simulated with simple circuit or software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Iwao Higashi