Abstract: An acoustic guitar is provided that includes a neck and a body. The acoustic guitar also includes a user interface module including an audio effect module configured to implement one or more audio effects, and one or more effect controllers, with each effect controller being configured to set a level of a corresponding audio effect implemented by the audio effect module. The user interface module further includes at least one input blend controller and a voice controller configured to allow a user to select a patch from a plurality of available patches, with each patch of the plurality of available patches comprising a configuration of one or more audio effects set at various levels to arrive at a desired effect template.

Abstract: An acoustic guitar is provided that includes a neck and a body. The acoustic guitar also includes a user interface module including an audio effect module configured to implement one or more audio effects, and one or more effect controllers, with each effect controller being configured to set a level of a corresponding audio effect implemented by the audio effect module. The user interface module further includes at least one input blend controller and a voice controller configured to allow a user to select a patch from a plurality of available patches, with each patch of the plurality of available patches comprising a configuration of one or more audio effects set at various levels to arrive at a desired effect template.

Abstract: An acoustic guitar is provided that includes a neck and a body. The acoustic guitar also includes a user interface module including an audio effect module configured to implement one or more audio effects, and one or more effect controllers, with each effect controller being configured to set a level of a corresponding audio effect implemented by the audio effect module. The user interface module further includes at least one input blend controller and a voice controller configured to allow a user to select a patch from a plurality of available patches, with each patch of the plurality of available patches comprising a configuration of one or more audio effects set at various levels to arrive at a desired effect template.

Abstract: An acoustic guitar is provided that includes a neck and a body. The acoustic guitar also includes a user interface module including an audio effect module configured to implement one or more audio effects, and one or more effect controllers, with each effect controller being configured to set a level of a corresponding audio effect implemented by the audio effect module. The user interface module further includes at least one input blend controller and a voice controller configured to allow a user to select a patch from a plurality of available patches, with each patch of the plurality of available patches comprising a configuration of one or more audio effects set at various levels to arrive at a desired effect template.

Abstract: A method of adjusting the presentation of music is provided. In the method, a sequence of musical notes is presented by a first music presenting device. A critical beat indicator defining a time within the sequence of musical notes for a critical beat point is received. An isolation indicator defining a period for note isolation for the sequence of musical notes is received. A velocity coefficient is calculated by a processor for each note of the sequence of musical notes. The velocity coefficient is calculated as a function of the defined time and the defined period for note isolation. The sequence of musical notes is presented by a second music presenting device using the calculated velocity coefficient.

Abstract: A method of adjusting the presentation of music is provided. In the method, a sequence of musical notes is presented by a first music presenting device. A critical beat indicator defining a time within the sequence of musical notes for a critical beat point is received. An isolation indicator defining a period for note isolation for the sequence of musical notes is received. A velocity coefficient is calculated by a processor for each note of the sequence of musical notes. The velocity coefficient is calculated as a function of the defined time and the defined period for note isolation. The sequence of musical notes is presented by a second music presenting device using the calculated velocity coefficient.

Abstract: A remote control unit includes a remote control computer system including an input/output device, a remote control communication system, a remote control speaker system and a remote control memory. The unit also includes remote control software for controlling various interactions between the remote control unit and a combination recorder and player system associated with the remote control unit.

Abstract: Systems for distributing music to a plurality of customers via the Internet provide each customer with a uniquely identified proprietary device for receiving, playing and recording music. A music server computer system is provided for distributing the music to the proprietary devices over the Internet. The system provides for tracking usage of the music on the proprietary devices and reporting the usage data over the Internet to the music server compute system. The system provides for the secure distribution of digital music content over the Internet to consumers in a manner that allows efficient and economical usage of the content by consumers, while providing adequate usage reporting to copyright owners and providing adequate copy protection to prohibit unauthorized usage.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a secure communication system, the system including a plurality of devices capable of sending and receiving files. A unique identifier, which may include the MAC address of the sending device, is embedded in each file. A unique file identification is embedded in each file. Purchasers or other rights owners of files are registered in a database via a registration server to establish proof of ownership of rights in the file.

Abstract: A digital guitar system and method includes a digital guitar and a digital guitar interface device, and a method of converting a conventional guitar into a digital guitar. The guitar is adapted to generate analog audio signals, convert those signals into digital signals, format the digital signals according to a digital communication protocol, and to output the formatted signals. The guitar may include a novel multi-signal guitar pickup that generates some of the analog audio signals. The guitar is further adapted to receive digital signals, convert those signals into analog signals, and output the analog signals. The interface device is adapted to receive digital signals, convert those signals into analog signals, and output the analog signals.

Abstract: A reluctance pickup for a guitar including a pair of magnetic pole pieces disposed within wire coils. The coils are oppositely wound and wired in series. Each pole piece has an elongated magnetic pole end extending above its respective coil. The pole pieces are disposed so as to form a pickup face having two approximately parallel elongated pole ends. The elongated pole ends have opposite magnetic polarities and create a magnetic field therebetween. The pickup is mounted beneath a magnetically permeable string such that a projection of the string intersects the pole ends at a selected orientation angle between approximately 28 degrees and approximately 58 degrees, preferably, 43 degrees, so as to optimize selected performance parameters of the pickup, including: channel-to-channel separation, frequency response, and dynamic response.

Abstract: Systems for distributing music to a plurality of customers via the Internet provide each customer with a uniquely identified proprietary device for receiving, playing and recording music. A music server computer system is provided for distributing the music to the proprietary devices over the Internet. The system provides for tracking usage of the music on the proprietary devices and reporting the usage data over the Internet to the music server compute system. The system provides for the secure distribution of digital music content over the Internet to consumers in a manner that allows efficient and economical usage of the content by consumers, while providing adequate usage reporting to copyright owners and providing adequate copy protection to prohibit unauthorized usage.

Abstract: A user interface for a combination recorder and player system includes user interface software that is designed to generate and display a series of screens that allow a user to copy, burn, play, listen to, manage, and download music, and a touch sensitive display for displaying the screens generated by the user interface software. The touch sensitive display is also designed to receive commands input by a user and the user interface software is designed to process those commands and cause the combination recorder and player unit to copy, burn, play, manage, and download music.

Abstract: A digital communications and control system for consumer electronic devices used in the home includes a plurality of devices each of which includes a device interface module for communication of digital data and control data from at least one of the devices to at least one other of the devices. The home includes a plurality of network interfaces to which the consumer electronic devices are connected. A universal data link is operatively connected to each of the device interface modules. The device interface modules and universal data links are operative in combination to connect the devices together in the system and provide full duplex communication of the media data and control data between the devices.