Abstract: Disclosed is an interface device to couple a musical instrument to a computing device to allow a user to play a musical instrument in conjunction with a multimedia presentation. The interface device comprises a processor, a D/A converter, and a digital audio interface. The computing device creates a processed digital audio signal of the musical instrument based upon an original digitized audio signal of the musical instrument from the interface device. The D/A converter then converts a mixed digital signal of both the processed digital audio signal of the musical instrument and a digital audio file received from the computing device into a mixed analog audio signal. The processor controls the digital audio interface such that the mixed digital signal is transmitted through the D/A converter, and ultimately through an analog sound device, to the user.

Abstract: Multiple channels simultaneously provide multiple, modified digital audio signals, respectively, based on the same digital audio input signal. Each channel has a respective nonlinear effects section to apply a nonlinear transfer function, such as one that emulates a vacuum tube guitar amplifier, based on the input signal. In addition, a respective audio effects section is provided in each channel to apply an audio effect, such as a linear audio effect, based on the input signal. This audio effect is set in each channel by a controller. In another embodiment, multi-tracker (e.g., double tracker) functionality is provided by the multiple channels wherein at least one of the delay effect, pitch shift, and gain change in a channel is automatically changed as a function of the input signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stringed instrument with embedded digital signal processing (DSP) modeling capabilities. The stringed instrument has a body and a plurality of strings and each of the plurality of strings is respectively coupled to a pickup of a polyphonic pickup. The polyphonic pickup is used to detect a vibration signal for each string. An A/D converter converts the detected vibration signal of a string into a digital string vibration signal. Further, a digital signal processor is located within the body of the stringed instrument to process the digital string vibration signal. Particularly, the digital signal processor is used to process the digital string vibration signal such that the corresponding string tone of one of a plurality of selectable stringed instruments may be emulated. The emulated digital tone signal is then converted to analog form to create an emulated analog tone signal for output to an amplification device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computing device to allow for the selection and display of a multimedia presentation of an audio file to a user. An interface device couples the musical instrument to the computing device by performing A/D conversion of the musical instrument's analog audio signal to create a digitized audio signal. The computing device includes a communication device and a processor. The communication device transmits a user's request for the selection of a musical piece to a server. In turn, the communication device receives a session file associated with the musical piece from the server. The processor processes the session file such that the computing device presents a multimedia presentation of the audio file to the user. Moreover, the processor processes the digitized audio signal of the musical instrument so that the user can play the musical instrument in conjunction with the multimedia presentation of the audio file.