Abstract: An envelope generator for use in an electronic musical instrument comprises a musical tone data processing unit to evaluate a rate of change in a current value of musical tone envelope data with respect to a target value based on a parameter, a changing rate control unit for decrementing a change in the current value such that the current value becomes closer to the target value, a detection unit to detect whether or not the rate of change becomes equal to 0, and a processing control unit control for stopping the evaluation the current value in response to a result of the detection.

Abstract: A system is provided for tracking the three-dimensional position of an object within a three-dimensional region by triangulation techniques to generate signals corresponding to such three-dimensional positions. The signals may be used to drive a music synthesizer. Triangulation may be by the use of at least three spaced apart ultrasound emitters cooperating with ultrasound receivers located on a body moving in the three-dimensional region. The position of each ultrasound receiver is calculable by triangulation from data from ultrasound pulses received by the receiver from the emitters. A sound map may be made of the region so that similar signals may drive the synthesizer differently for different sub-regions.

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 keyboard musical instrument has a division point setting switch for setting division point on a keyboard. In the case that the division point setting switch is actuated when all keys are in an off-state or not operated, a division point is set in a predetermined key position. In the case that the division point setting switch is actuated when at least one key is in an on-state or operated, the division point is set in the position of the key which is being operated, thereby setting the division point in the key positions arbitrarily, instead of predetermined key positions.

Abstract: A digital height encoder on a turret stockpicker is used to determine platform height. A pair of fixed reference switches are provided, one to reset a digital height memory to a predetermined height value each time the switch transitions either on or off, the other at a predetermined height near the staging point of telescoping masts for initial calibration of the encoder and for verification of proper operation during normal operations. If the height measurement indicated by the encoder upon the transition of the second or verificaiton switch is not within predetermined limits, an error signal is generated and recalibration will be required. Motion of the platform is also required if the control handle is in the upward direction and the platform has not reached its predetermined upper limits.

Abstract: A method of adapting a keyboard musical instrument to produce sound in response to the activation of keys included in a typewriter keyboard is disclosed. A standard typewriter keyboard is coupled to a conventional electronic sound generation platform in lieu of or in addition to a standard piano keyboard. Musical chords are assigned to keys typically operated by a user's left hand. Forty-eight chords are producible by multiplexing each of 24 keys located on the left side of the keyboard to produce one of two possible chords. The selection of the one of two possible chords is performed in response to manipulation of the left shift key. Melody notes are assigned to keys typically operated by a user's right hand. Thirty-one melody notes are assigned to 26 keys located on the right side of the typewriter keyboard. Thus, five of the 26 keys are multiplexed to produce one of two possible melody notes, selectable through operation of the right shift key.

Abstract: A single-chip microcomputer is comprised of an analog to digital converter, a first external terminal which receives an analog signal which is to be converted by the analog to digital converter, and a second external terminal for receiving a signal indicating an operating condition of the analog to digital converter.

Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument with an ANY KEY mode which regards keys as a single one-key, an ON event in a non-operation state is valid, and a one-key play operation is advanced by one tone.

Abstract: A musical instrument having at least six strings tuned and fingered like an electric guitar, and having a symmetrically arched fingerboard (12 or 13), nut (31) and bridge (15 or 16) configuration to allow each string to be played individually with a violin bow. In addition, a transducer (26 or 29) is mounted at the bridge to pick up the bowed sound and the arched double coil pick-up (14) is mounted underneath the strings to pick up the plucked sound of the string. An adjustable support mechanism (20) allows the instrument to be held so that the bow passes over the shoulder or clavicle. The bridge position relative to the player's body allows a scale length equal to that of the guitar to be practical. The fact that this instrument is played with a bow allows the fingerboard to be extended to 40 frets or the equivalent.

Abstract: In a MIDI signal processor, note on messages and note off messages are extracted from an input MIDI signal. A device detects that a first extracted note on message of a channel number and a note number is followed by a second extracted note on message of the same channel number and same note number without being followed by an extracted note off message of the same channel number and the same note number. The first note on message is outputted but output of the second note on message is inhibited when the detecting device detects that the first note on message is followed by the second note on message without being followed by the note off message.

Abstract: A portable and mobile electronic percussion music system includes a plurality of electronic percussion trigger pads, a processing and control panel, a separable and adjustable supporting frame for supporting the trigger pads and/or the processing and control panel and a separable and adjustable player carrier harness for carrying the supporting frame. The music system further includes a portable and mobile cymbal assembly. The present music system can bring about more comprehensive and enjoyable percussion music and visual effects in a moving performance and is convenient for travel and transportation.

Abstract: A circuit with hysteresis for converting an analog signal into a logic signal. In response to the state of the feedback signal from a microcomputer, a signal proportional to the analog signal is either intensified for providing a lower threshold value or diminished for providing an upper threshold value. By recognizing the intensified and diminished signals with respect to a predetermined value, the analog signal is converted to a two-state signal.

Abstract: An electronic instrument and method includes manual control switches for producing and controlling creative variations on pre-recorded song selections that remain synchronized and melodiously oriented to the selected song substantially independent of the timing of manual operation of control switches. Several instruments of similar design can be connected together to facilitate `playing in a band` of such instruments which synchronize on the song selected via one instrument and which respond to individual solos or riffs `played` on one instrument with corresponding, timed solo or riff capabilities on other instruments.

Abstract: Disclosed is a musical tone signal generating apparatus for an electronic musical instrument. When waveforms are switched to change a tone color in correspondence with a change in pitch, waveforms are switched not simultaneously with a change in pitch but when waveform data corresponding to a loop end address is read out, and a peak value of the waveform falls within a predetermined range or a zero-crossing point is detected, thereby smoothly switching waveforms. The pitch is also changed at the above-mentioned timing to prevent generation of an unnecessary tone color upon switching. Furthermore, waveforms are switched by cross-fade control to more smoothly switch output waveforms.

Abstract: An automatic key-depression indication apparatus has an examination device which examines whether at least one of the musical note information corresponds to the key-depression information output from the key-depression control device, or not. When the decision is affirmative, it decides that at least one of the keys is correctly depressed which corresponds to a plurality of musical notes, the number of which is less than total number of the musical notes. A key-depression indication is then advanced, thereby enabling practice of a performance.

Abstract: In a MIDI Signal processor, MIDI data is reproduced from a recording medium. The reproduced MIDI data is outputted. An interruption of the reproducing of the MIDI data is detected. A MIDI status byte is detected after the interruption ends. The outputting of the reproduced MIDI data is suspended when the interruption is detected. The suspending is continued until the MIDI status byte is detected.

Abstract: A data companding method instantaneously compands the 14-bit digital audio signals to be outputted from a satellite broadcast receiver and so on is realized with the given conversion rule, which has a superior companding characteristics across the whole input range of the 14-bit data with SN being not deteriorated as compared with the 14-10 near-instantaneous companding law at the satellite broadcast transmission. A data compressor and a data expander in accordance with the present invention are realized by the construction of the combination of the coefficient table, a data shifter composed of a pluarlity of 4 to 1 data selectors, and an adder.

Abstract: A circuit for converting a phase signal to an amplitude signal comprises a signal separating circuit which receives a phase signal and provides in accordance therewith a phase conversion signal and a sign signal, and a conversion unit including a conversion table in which a predetermined signal wave in a reference phase angle range is stored. A phase angle of a phase signal is converted into a converted phase angle, when the phase angle is outside a reference phase angle range. An amplitude signal is obtained by reading an amplitude based on the phase angle or the phase converted angle from the conversion unit.

Abstract: A guitar pickup module for insertion in an electric guitar having a well for accommodating a pickup. The module includes a base plate which is mounted in the well and which includes a plurality of electrical contacts for attachment to the plurality of output wires of the guitar. The pickup includes a plurality of electrical contacts which are placed in electrical communication with the base plate contacts upon insertion of the pickup in the well on the base plate.

Abstract: A two-level multiplexed encoder/decoder based on a novel technique of code table compression is disclosed. By means of comparing various code conversion tables such as well-known tables for use in NRZ-MRM, NRZ-RLL conversion schemes, separate code word condition sets are obtained. In accordance with the code word condition sets thus obtained, a two-level multiplexed encode and decode logic can be easily constructed. The code word condition sets representing the compressed code relations are sensed in the first level and are used further to set up the operation of a connected network of a multiplexed logic circuit in the second level. The AM generation/check and precompensation circuit necessary for the encoder and decoder are incorporated as an integral part. This method is applicable when more than two code tables are needed to be integrated in a single encoder/decoder.