Abstract: A package socket system includes a positioning frame positioned on a circuit board. The positioning frame has an interior space defined between four side walls for receiving and accommodating a BGA socket that retains an array of contacts therein. The contacts have a lower ball end in contact engagement with and supported on conductive pads of the circuit board. A BGA package having an array of solder balls is received in the positioning frame and supported on the socket with the solder balls received in flared upper ends of the contacts of the socket. A heat sink has a flat base supported on the positioning frame and secured to the substrate to establish a firm contact engagement with the package thereby securely maintaining the package and the socket in position on the substrate. The positioning frame has a chamfered section and the socket and the package each have a corresponding chamfered corner for positioning purposes.

Abstract: An automatic performance apparatus that is responsive to a manual player of an input implement for producing either an arpeggio performance or a pattern performance in a modified form. Specifically, the present invention includes: a sequencer block that is responsive to manual play for generating a sequence of original note data representing either the arpeggio performance or the pattern performance; an input block to set control parameters; a play effector block to process the original note data according to the control parameters; a transposer block that shifts the altered note data by a predetermined interval to thereby generate shifted note data; a note effector block that generates additional note data in superposed relation to the shifted note data; a tone generator block that is receptive of the shifted note data and the additional note data for generating corresponding musical tones to thereby provide the modified form of either of the arpeggio performance and the pattern performance.

Abstract: An automated stringed musical instrument including a device for plucking the strings of the instrument, a device for fretting the strings, and a tension-maintaining linkage for maintaining the tension in the strings, such that the instrument can be remotely operated for extended periods of time without the need for operator control or re-tuning the strings.

Abstract: A music apparatus capable of adding various effects to musical sounds comprises: a processor; a waveform generator; and a program memory storing instructions for causing the processor to execute a musical sound generating process according to first performance information, the musical sound generating process comprising the steps of: (a) receiving the first performance information; (b) creating second performance information according to said received first performance information or third performance information formed by processing said created second performance information; (c) selectively repeating said creating step (b); (d) selectively designating said repeatedly creating step (c) to create fourth performance information different from the previously created performance information; and (e) generating musical sound according to the second, third or fourth performance information.

Abstract: A linearly-positional, multi-configurational stringed musical instrument pickup as shown provides a mechanism by which one or more single-string musical instrument pickups,also known as signal sensors, each with its own output, may be repositioned to any desired point beneath the length of the string of a musical instrument between the bridge and the fingerboard (or neck), if present. The single-string pickups or signal sensors being wired in series with one another in any desired combination or left to be amplified as individual, independent signals. The signal sensors themselves are completely removable from the device to allow sensors of other types to be interchanged.

Abstract: An arrangement method is designed for arranging a target segment of music performance data by means of a template corresponding to an item of music notation to be applied to the target segment. The method is carried out by the steps of displaying music performance data on a monitor for designation of a target segment contained in the displayed music performance data and for selection of a specific item of the music notation to be applied to the target segment among various items of the music notation, retrieving a template corresponding to the specific item of the music notation among a group of various templates provisionally prepared in correspondence to the various items of the music notation, customizing the retrieved template to a pitch and a length of the target segment, and rewriting the target segment of the music performance data based on the customized template to thereby arrange the target segment according to the specific item of the music notation.

Abstract: The present invention is a drumming apparatus or percussion instrument used for drumming comprising a drum and drum sticks. The drum comprises a plastic bucket shaped shell covered with a soft felt material and each drum stick comprises a cylindrically shaped elongated member covered with a soft felt material. The combination of the drum and drum sticks provide a unique tone or sound which is suitable for home, school and other environments where certain drumming noises could be bothersome. Multiple sizes of the drum can be combined to produce many unique sounds and pitches. Further the drum can be fastened together in several configurations, with or without a stand to form a drumming apparatus or a drum set. The preferred method of attaching multiple drums is by use of a fastening system such as, for example, Velcro.TM.. Also, the drum apparatus, which is lightweight and portable, can be easily stacked and stored because of the bucket like shape of the drums.

Abstract: A reed enhancing device is provided which is adapted for use with a musical instrument including a hollow mouthpiece, a reed, and a ligature removably secured about the mouthpiece and the reed. The device includes a piece of material adapted for being positioned between the ligature and the reed.

Abstract: The voltage at a node between a pair of series-connected windings of a synchronous or stepping motor is monitored during operation so as to detect transition voltage regions, the durations of which are indicative of the torque load on the motor and which are used as the basis for controlling the driving current amplitude so as to achieve enhanced efficiency of energy utilization. An optimum value for the duration of the transition voltage region will usually be established as a target, and adjustments will be so made as to conform subsequently detected node voltage values to those of the target.

Abstract: On an initial screen, a conversion ratio indicated by a style conversion ratio data is displayed in a display area 32. Various kinds of styles are displayed in display areas 33 to 38. In this case, a style which is currently selected is "Samba" which blinks, and the conversion ratio is 50%. When a style number corresponding to samba is "2," a style change is conducted for the original performance data based on a style conversion data corresponding to the style number 2. At this time, the conversion ratio of 50% is referred, and changes of a sound-producing timing, a tone color, an additional instrument, and the like are conducted. An image displayed on a monitor is changed based on an image conversion data.

Abstract: Musical tones are produced according to song data basically by three steps. The first step converts the song data sequentially into control parameters. The control parameters are written into a parameter memory. Then, the second step generates waveform data by using the control parameters written in the parameter memory. The generated waveform data are written into a waveform memory, while the used control parameters are erased from the parameter memory to provide a vacant area. Lastly, the third step reads the waveform data sequentially from the waveform memory to produce the musical tones. Characterizingly, the second step of generating waveform data is executed dependently on progression of the third step of reading the waveform data. Further, the first step of converting the song data is executed independently from progression of the second step of generating waveform data as long as the parameter memory has the vacant area sufficient to store the control parameters converted from the song data.

Abstract: A method is designed for displaying a visual image of a music system that is constructed to play at least one performance part with a particular timbre and that is applied with an acoustic effect, an accompaniment style and the like.

Abstract: A digital sampling instrument for multi-channel interpolatative playback of digital audio data stored in a waveform memory provides improved interpolation of musical sounds by use of a cache memory.

Abstract: During a succession of working cycles, a sound synthesizer system for obtaining at an output a series of electrical samples produces first level samples from zero level samples which can come from diverse sources. The samples are produced allowing for parameters such as the frequency, amplitude, phase or a filter coefficient. All of the data used in establishing samples is processed in cells materialized by locations of a plurality of memories. The content of the cells can evolve from one working cycle to the other and data calculation means are used on a timesharing basis for all the cells. The first level samples can be selectively combined to form second level samples before they are transferred to an output.

Abstract: A microphone signal is branched into a microphone sound effect generation signal path and a direct sound signal path via a microphone volume controller. The microphone signal branched to the microphone sound effect generation signal path is level-adjusted by a microphone sound effect volume controller, and then supplied to a microphone sound effect generating circuit, so that a microphone sound effect signal is generated. The microphone sound effect signal and a music signal supplied from a music signal input terminal are additively combined together by combining circuits and are output from a music signal output terminal. The microphone sound branched to the direct sound signal path is output from a microphone signal output terminal, independently of the microphone sound effect signal, improving the separation between the microphone sound signal and a microphone sound effect signal.

Abstract: A universal adapter including two electrically conductive pins which are electrically connected with an output socket of an adapter body, in which the pins are releasably engageable with an oblong ring for insertion into holes of a wall socket in order to establish electrical contact with the wall socket, in which the pins are movable relative to the ring when the pins are engaged with the ring in order to vary the distance and/or orientation between the pins.

Abstract: A data base includes a plurality of music data set specifying a plurality of sample musical pieces. Each sample musical piece is expressed and specified by either or both of melody characteristics or a melody itself with respect to the respective phrases on a phrase-by-phrase basis in a musical piece. The user inputs a melody fragment or melody characteristics for a particular phrase of a musical piece to be composed. The apparatus selects from the data base a musical piece including a phrase whose melody itself or melody characteristics is equal or similar to the melody fragment or melody characteristics as inputted by the user, and generates a melody fragment for the designated phrase to be included in a composed musical piece by utilizing the inputted melody fragment as it is or by generating a melody fragment based the melody or melody characteristics of the same phrase in the selected musical piece in the data base.

Abstract: A magnetically driven wind chime apparatus includes a first outdoor pendulum assembly mounted on the outside of a window or other barrier and a second indoor pendulum assembly mounted on the inside of the window or other barrier. The outdoor pendulum assembly includes a first support body, a first pendulum rod having one end pivotally connected to the first support body, and a first magnetic pendulum mounted to a second end of the first pendulum rod. The indoor pendulum assembly includes a second support body, a second pendulum rod having one end pivotally connected to the second support body, and a second magnetic pendulum mounted to a second end of the second pendulum rod. A sail is mounted on the first pendulum rod. A wind chime assembly is connected to the second pendulum rod.

Abstract: A bridge mechanism for an acoustic guitar for fine adjustment of the height and length of the strings. The bridge mechanism is installed on a thin installation plate that is wider laterally than the width occupied by the array of guitar strings. The installation plate is installed directly on the surface of the soundboard. The installation plate has a plurality of string stopper holes and has a concave region on its top surface. A base plate has a plurality of screw holders and is fixed in the concave region. The base plate is arranged in such a way as to correspond to the guitar strings, but does not overlap with the guitar strings. Bridge members are arranged individually and independently for each guitar string. Each has a string holder and each is freely movable back and forth via a string length adjusting screw. The bridge members are also freely movable up and down through a string height adjusting screw. A respective fixing pin fixes each guitar string in a string stopper hole.

Abstract: A method for detecting the pitch of a musical signal comprising the steps of receiving the musical signal, identifying an active portion of the musical signal, identifying a periodic portion of the active portion of the musical signal, and determining a fundamental frequency of the periodic portion of the musical signal.