Abstract: An apparatus is to assist an unskilled player in playing a musical instrument by detecting the quantity of the player's manipulation against the instrument, modifying the detected manipulation quantity with reference to a recommended manipulation to a degree according to a given assistance coefficient, and actuating the instrument with the modified manipulation quantity. For a brass instrument, the apparatus comprises an embouchure sensor and a breath pressure sensor to detect the embouchure and the breath pressure of the player as he/she plays the brass instrument. The detected embouchure and breath pressure are then modified with reference to a recommended embouchure and breath pressure weighted by a given assistance coefficient. The apparatus actuates the brass instrument based on the modified embouchure and breath pressure.

Abstract: While a player is fingering a music tune on a piano, an electronic assistant system monitors the keys to see whether or not the player starts to produce tones through a particular playing technique such as repetition; when the electronic assistant system finds particular key movements unique to the particular playing technique in an early stage, the electronic assistant system decides that the player intends to produce the tone through the particular playing technique, and forces the key to travel on a reference key trajectory in the later stage, whereby the player learns the particular playing technique.

Abstract: Embodiments of a music training and entertainment system are described that allows a user to input a selection of source music in a native format, and isolates a desired vocal or instrument component within the source music. The user selects the component of the source music against which he or she will be compared. The system suppresses the non-selected components of the source content to isolate the user-selected component. The system receives user input corresponding to the isolated component, such as a vocal track, and matches the receiver's performance to the original performance. The system then provides meaningful and entertaining feedback to allow the user to practice and improve his or her performance. In a multi-user configuration a number of users, such as a band or ensemble can provide a performance, or individual users can compete against each other to see who can obtain the highest score.

Abstract: Various earbud embodiments comprise a sleeve portion, a base portion, a bell portion, and reinforcement members. The sleeve portion defines a central void extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the earbud. The base portion encircles the sleeve portion. The bell portion connects the sleeve portion to the base portion. The bell portion defines at least one aperture, and includes at least one web portion connected to the base portion at a connection point. At least one reinforcement member at each connection point extends from the base portion to the web portion to strengthen the structure at the connection point.

Abstract: In a synthesizer 10, when a function of a tone generation module 312 provided by an external tone generation server 310 is usable, a tone generator control module 102 assigns a necessary number of sound generation channels among sound generation channels of an internal tone generation unit 17 and sound generation channels of the external tone generation module 312, for sound generation corresponding to MIDI data. When assigning the sound generation channel of the tone generation module 312, the tone generator control module 102 transmits, to the tone generation server 310, the MIDI data with identification information of the assigned sound generation channel, thereby causing the sound generation channel indicated by the identification information in the tone generation module 312 to generate waveform data according to the transmitted MIDI data.

Abstract: A battery compartment door for an electronic device, said door being operable between open and closed conditions of use with respect to the device, including a cradle shaped to at least partially receive a terminal of a battery, wherein the cradle is adapted to electrically couple the terminal to an electric circuit of the device when the door is arranged in the closed condition of use.

Abstract: Hearing apparatus and especially hearing devices are to be designed to be smaller. To this end there is provision for the shell or otoplastic to be worn in the auditory canal or for the housing of the hearing apparatus to be made of battery layers, so that the shell or otoplastic or the housing of the hearing apparatus itself represents the battery. Alternatively the hearing device battery can also be relocated from a conventional hearing device into a normal otoplastic, with this also reducing the volume of the hearing device. The reduction in volume allows the acceptance of wearing the hearing device to be greatly increased, and a variant of the hearing apparatus can be more easily implemented as a cymba device.

Abstract: A receiver tube for a hearing instrument may be securely affixed to the instruments receiver with a retaining clamp. Such an arrangement facilitates assembly and repair, and provides a positive means for the securing the receiver tube.

Abstract: An ear hook is to be able to be tightly attached to a hearing device housing in a simple fashion. To this end, provision is made for it to be possible to clip the ear hook onto the hearing device housing. One of the two parts; hearing device housing and ear hook has a sound outlet tube, which can be inserted into a corresponding opening in the other part. The two parts are detachably fastened to one another in an axial direction in respect of the sound outlet tube by means of a magnetic connection. The magnetic connection ensures that the two components are fitted tightly onto one another, though it enables said two components to rotate in respect of each other.

Abstract: The influence of interference from power supply lines in hearing devices is to be reduced. Thus a hearing device with an antenna for receiving and/or sending inductive signals, a signal processing device, to which the antenna is connected, a power supply unit for supplying power to the signal processing device and an electrical conductor for electrical connection of the power supply unit to the signal processing device is provided. The electrical conductor is L-shaped or U-shaped and closely follows the contours of the power supply unit. In addition the electrical conductor forms a part of an essentially round or rectangular ring, the axis of which has a main directional component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the antenna. A magnetic field created by the conductor is thus perpendicular to the antenna, so that its magnetic interference influence is reduced.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method and system for electronic sensing of string instrument input. The method includes receiving a first signal from a peak detection circuit. The peak detection circuit is operable to sense string activation. A second signal is received from one or more capacitive sensors. The second signal may include finger placement information. The method further includes processing the first and the second signals to generate an audio signal and outputting the audio signal.

Abstract: Upon receiving a digital audio signal recorded in a .wav file, a beat extraction processing unit 12 extracts coarse beat position information from this digital audio signal and outputs the result as metadata recorded in an .mty file. In addition, a beat alignment processing unit 13 aligns beat information of the metadata recorded in the .mty file and outputs the result as metadata recorded in a .may file. Beats of a rhythm of music are extracted highly accurately while reproducing a music signal of a musical tune.

Abstract: A sensed signal corresponding to a note played on a musical instrument is electronically sustained by electronically combining the sensed signal with a synthesized signal whenever a sustain control switch is activated. The set of characteristics of the synthesized signal are, initially, substantially the same as the set of characteristics of the sensed signal, but may be varied over time.

Abstract: A first control may be for setting a tempo upon which a performance position, which may be set with a second control, may be based. Circuitry may be selectively passing inputted musical tone signal. A processor may be configured for processing data for controlling an output signal of the circuitry based on the performance position.

Abstract: An automatic guitar tuning case is a tuning system to automatically, synchronously, accurately and rapidly turn an acoustic guitar or electrical guitar with no requirement of modifying the guitar. It has six optical transducers to respectively detect and convert the vibration of associated six guitar strings to electric signals. A microcontroller unit compares the frequencies of these input signals to selected tones, and then controls six electric tuning wrenches for tuning the six guitar strings. The automatic tuning guitar system also consists of a control panel for a user to preset and select tuning pattern, operate and monitor the system. It only needs to take a few seconds to tune a guitar by this tuning device.

Abstract: A musical instrument comprises a keyboard assembly including juxtaposed keys and juxtaposed swing weight mechanisms, each of the keys correspondingly linked with each of the swing weight mechanisms. The keyboard assembly is supported on a key bed having an aperture which is elongate in the direction of the key juxtaposition. Actuating members are provided corresponding to the respective swing weight mechanisms each of which in turn actuates each corresponding key. The actuating members are disposed in a lower yoke having a channel member and flanges integrally manufactured by bending a metal plate. The flanges are fastened to the key bed across and over the aperture so that the actuating members penetrate the aperture toward the swing weight mechanism. The height of the channel member determines a relative position between the actuating members and the swing weight mechanism.

Abstract: Plural key switches are arranged in two dimensions along X- and Y-coordinate axes, and an X-coordinate position of each of the key switches is associated with tone generation timing while a Y-coordinate position of each of the key switches is associated with a tone pitch. Storage section stores a music piece data set that includes tone generating data having data of tone pitches and tone generation timing associated with the key switches. In a repeat-section setting mode, a repeat-section setting section causes the plural key switches to function as setting operators and sets a repeat section of the music piece data set on the basis of the X-coordinate position of any operated one of the key switches. In reproduction of the stored music piece data set, a reproduction section repetitively reproduces the tone generating data of the music piece data set which are included in the set repeat section.

Abstract: A simulated musical instrument may be used to alter the audio of a video game, the video aspects of video game, or both. Use of a controller simulating a musical instrument allows a rhythm-action game can be enjoyed in a manner closer to a realistic state of playing an instrument.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pickup for a musical instrument, has two coils (2, 3) with pole pieces (4-8, 9-13) in their core regions and a connection that connects the two coils together, out of phase, in series or in parallel, so that they cancel each others extraneous noise and hum. To accomplish a noise-free pickup with the clarity and dynamics of a single coil pickup, and a uniform output level throughout its longitudinal axis, the coils are partly overlapping each other, the pole pieces in the core region of the first coil are partly overlapping with the pole pieces in the core region of the second coil, and the coils (2, 3) with the pole pieces (6-8, 1-13) induce the same voltage in the overlapping area (14) as the voltage induced by the coils and the pole pieces in their core regions outside the overlapping area (14).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to audio mixing and editing devices and methods. A system is provided that permits mixing of and editing of multiple input audio tracks through the use of visual representation of audio signals. By viewing the visual representations of the audio inputs, a user is able to achieve a desired mix of signals with more accuracy and efficiency when compared with mixing based on hearing alone.