Abstract: A morphing method and an apparatus for creating musical accompaniments from a combination of musical data selected from stored patterns or tables belonging to accompaniments of different musical styles. Musical data relating to a pattern of a first style and musical data relating to a second style, as well as the desired combination of morphing degree are selected from a plurality of stored data patterns. The musical morphing of the new arrangement is created by conjointly reading in real time one or more data tracks of two or more selected patterns, relating to different families of musical instruments, and combining the read tracks in a new virtual pattern that can be stored and/or played in a musically significant manner, by making the musical measures and the temporal lengths of the tracks of the new pattern, conform with the musical measures and temporal lengths of the tracks relating to one of the patterns selected or creating the new musical arrangement.

Abstract: A music apparatus is communicable with a supervisory computer through a network for remotely training a user in matching with a skill level. In the music apparatus, an instrument is manually operable by the user for generating a performance. A monitor displays a lesson score in matching with the skill level so that the user is prompted to render the displayed lesson score by operating the instrument for generating a sample performance. A processor compares event data representative of the sample performance with note data representative of the lesson score to locally execute a quantitative evaluation of the sample performance. A transmitter transmits the event data representative of the sample performance to the supervisory computer through the network so that the supervisory computer can work to remotely provide a qualitative evaluation of the sample performance according to the event data to thereby arrange instruction data.

Abstract: In a memory, there are prestored melody information of a given music piece and other information representative of a plurality of accompaniment patterns suitable for the music piece. For every predetermined performance section (composed of, for example, two measures) of the music piece, a particular accompaniment pattern is randomly selected from among the prestored accompaniment patterns suitable for the music piece. Accompaniment performance information for the music piece is provided by combining the accompaniment patterns randomly selected for the individual performance sections.

Abstract: A method for generating a compressed or expanded waveform from original waveform data is disclosed. A plurality of frequency band-divided waveform data is generated from the original waveform data. Phase and amplitude data having periodically changing amplitudes are extracted for each of the plurality of frequency band-divided waveform data. The periodically changing phase data is converted to periodically changing frequency data, and a temporal change rate of the periodically changing amplitude and frequency data is adjusted for each of the plurality of frequency band-divided waveform data. The temporally adjusted amplitude and frequency data for the plurality of frequency band-divided waveform data is then combined to generate the compressed or expanded waveform.

Abstract: An arrangement for enabling facile and efficient operation of at least one bass drum mallet, in combination with at least one bass drum, such that the bass drum with its associated mallet can be placed in any desired location, within and beyond, a limited Critical Performance Area which is encountered with conventional drumming equipment, and such that the mallet is operable by means of at least one foot pedal, placed close to, or remote from, the location of the mallet/bass drum assembly. The arrangement offers considerable flexibility in the location of bass drums and other drum/musical instruments, and equipment, and can be operated by means of wire, wireless, or direct mechanical, communication between the foot pedal and the bass drum mallet.

Abstract: An electronic tone generation system comprises a plurality of portable handheld wireless transmitters, with each transmitter representing at least one music note and being operative to transmit a signal indicative of that at least one note. A receiver receives the signals from the transmitters, and control logic connected to the receiver is operative to determine the at least one note corresponding to a received signal and to determine at least one tone assigned to that at least one note. A tone generator produces tones in accordance with the determinations of the control logic.

Abstract: An electric guitar which is equipped with a piezo pickup wherein the lengths of the strings are not changed by the rotation of the main saddle body in connection with fine tuning and during tremolo performance. The electric guitar has a piezo pickup and has a main saddle body that is held so as to be rotatably adjustable in a back and forth direction about an axle. The main saddle body is held pivotally by a saddle holding member on a base plate on the guitar body. The base plate is installed so as to freely swing with respect to the surface of the guitar body to provide a tremolo effect. The top surface of the piezo pickup constantly contacts the string that is held by the main saddle body, at least during fine tuning, by rotatable adjustment of the main saddle body and in the possible swinging range of the base plate during a tremolo performance, thereby avoiding an out of tune situation during the tremolo performance.

Abstract: A method for editing a program and an apparatus for editing a program applicable to a program editing work required in a TV broadcasting or a radio broadcasting utilizes evaluation data which corresponds to a piece of music and is converted to numerical values and stored as music concept data. When the same piece of music is selected, the evaluation data is used and then the music concept data is revised. A difference data between the music concept data and the input evaluation data is stored as a sensitivity data of each of the directors in charge of the programs. Program data including pieces of music to be used in that program and their sequence is edited while storing the sensitivity data. Since the music concept data is revised every time the same piece of music is selected, the more the number of times of selection of music, the more average value of music concept data.

Abstract: An improved stringed instrument soundboard system. The system includes a soundboard frame having a peripheral rim member, which extends from first and second ends of the soundboard frame. The peripheral rim member defines a peripheral shape of the soundboard frame. The soundboard system also includes an acoustic grill, which is made up of at least one grill sections, and which corresponds substantially to the shape of the soundboard frame. Each grill section has a peripheral rim, which is attached to the peripheral rim member of the soundboard frame.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument has play modes and a help function in which a help picture is displayed in accordance with each of the play modes. When the help function is started by operating a help switch in the instrument being operating in a normal play mode, a picture for selecting one of the play modes is displayed on a display. When the help function is started in a play mode but the normal play mode, a help picture corresponding to the play mode is displayed at once. A sequence of operations for obtaining a help picture can be stored in a storing medium.

Abstract: A method to enable one to search for a song title when only its melody is known. An interface is used which allows the user to enter the melody in an easy to understand manner. A remote music database with melody information is searched for the melody entered by the user. using, for example, a peak or differential matching algorithm. Upon receiving a search request, a database server, i.e., a remote computer, which can be accessed by the user via a client PC, sends a web page, for example, in HTML or Java containing the search results to the client PC. The client PC receives and displays the search results on the monitor and exchanges data with the server. Sound may also be played through the sound card to connected speakers.

Abstract: In a tone color map generating section, a tone color parameter and the effective time for making the tone color map effective are extracted from an SMF stored in a MIDI file database, and the tone color parameter is stored in a tone color map database. When a demand processing section receives a playback start position for starting the playback of the SMF, a read processing section reads the tone color parameter stored in the tone color map database in accordance with the playback start position, and generates time information indicating time to set the tone color parameter in a MIDI device. A sending circuit sends the tone color parameter together with the corresponding time information, and then sends a MIDI signal from the playback start position thereafter, stored in the MIDI file database.

Abstract: An electrical connector for interconnecting circuit boards comprises a first electrical connector (12) and a second electrical connector (14), the first electrical connector including a first dielectric housing (16) in which an array of electrical blade contacts (34) is mounted, the second electrical connector including a second dielectric housing (42) in which an array of electrical receptacle contacts (58) is mounted, each of the receptacle contacts having hook-shaped fork members (60, 62) extending outwardly from a base member (64) and hook sections (60b, 62b) bent away from each other defining a lead-in for a blade contact section (36) of a blade contact (34) to be electrically connected therewith.

Abstract: An improved, universal, multi-position, tuning mechanism and bridge for stringed musical instruments, designed to provide quick, easy adjustment of the tension of the each string of musical instruments between one of two predetermined tension levels, as well as precise adjustment mechanisms for the traditional tension settings of each string, with all components being safely housed in an easily accessible main body. The present invention includes a support plate mounted to the front surface of the body of a musical instrument. A main body and roller-type bridge are mounted to the top of the support plate. Inside the main body, a plurality of levers, spring loaded plungers and tension adjustment screws are individually adjustable to vary the tension in each string. A multi-tuning lever arm adjusts the tension of the each string between one of two predetermined tension levels. A lever arm adjustment means allows quick and precise adjustment of the tension in each of these two pre-determined settings.

Abstract: A simplified modular microelectronic connector having an internal component cavity and integral crimped leads, and a method of manufacturing same. One or more electrical components are located within the cavity, with their conductors being routed to the crimp leads integral to the connector body. The conductor terminations are completed via crimping or other bonding techniques. The crimped leads are deformed into the desired position to minimize connector size, and the component is sealed within the cavity using an epoxy or other electrically non-conductive material. The connector body may be further mounted to a multi-connector carrier assembly, which utilizes one or more pins to secure the individual connectors to the carrier so that they may be arranged in both vertically-stacked and horizontal (“side-by-side”) configurations, and each connector may be removed separately and replaced in the event of component failure.

Abstract: A music apparatus is constructed for selecting style data of a music piece by designating a style name of the music piece among a plurality of music pieces, which are sorted by genres. In the music apparatus, a style selection table is provided for recording selection codes assigned to the style names of the music pieces in a sorted manner by genres, such that different selection numbers may be assigned to the same style name when the music piece labeled thereby is sorted into more than one genre. A conversion table is provided for recording a correspondence between each selection code and each style name. A data memory is provided for storing each style data of each music piece in correspondence to the style name of each music piece. A monitor presents the selection codes together with the style names according to the style selection table in the sorted manner by the genres. A control is operated to designate a selection code from a desired genre presented on the monitor.

Abstract: A control program tangibly stored on a digital storage medium for use with a music system is configured to cause a digital processor to carry out the following functions. It causes the processor to (1) support a plurality of user selectable display formats each of which presents a different representation of the stored musical score when the stored musical score is being played, each of the plurality of display formats indicating to the user when actuation signals signals should be generated to cause an audio component to produce corresponding sounds of the stored musical score; (2) respond to a selection signal from the user identifying a selected one of the plurality of user-selectable display formats; and (3) display the stored musical score using the selected display format.

Abstract: The apparatus stores a data base including a plurality of sets of composition parameter data for a plurality of numbers of measures, each set of composition parameter data defining characteristics of a music piece to be composed, the characteristics including music structures, and at least one set of composition parameter data being provided for each number of measures among the plurality of numbers of measures. The user inputs composition conditions such as a length of time, a tempo and a meter for a music piece to be composed. The apparatus calculates the number of measures of the music piece based on the inputted time length, tempo and meter. A plurality of candidate data sets of composition parameters are searched for in the data base and displayed for the user's selection. The user selects a desired one, and the apparatus generates a melody satisfying the inputted composition conditions.

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.

Abstract: The voice processor includes a microphone for a device for inputting a voice signal, a device for inputting chord information from an electronic musical instrument or the like, a converter for converting the pitch of the voice signal into a specified pitch according to the chord information, a mixer for mixing the input voice signal and a pitch-converted voice signal, and a loudspeaker for outputting the mixed signal. The pitch of the input voice signal is converted into such one as will be consonant with the chord information or as will coincide therewith and thereafter the pitch converted signal will be output along with the input voice signal.