Abstract: An adjustable pedal includes a mounting bracket and guide housing having a gear sector formed therein. The gear sector pivots about a fixed pivot during adjustment, and the mounting bracket upper arm includes an arcuate slot having a radius of curvature centered at the fixed pivot. A swing plate is slidingly supported within the arcuate slot in the mounting bracket upper arm at a second non-fixed pivot point located radially inboard from the first pivot point. The swing plate includes a gear sector that cooperates with the guide housing gear sector. A pedal arm with pedal pad is attached to the swing plate. An adjustment mechanism adjusts the pedal pad position. The guide housing gear sector pivots about the fixed pivot, engaging the swing plate gear sector and varying the position of the non-fixed pivot within the slot in the mounting bracket arm, constraining travel of the pedal pad.

Abstract: A vehicle accelerator pedal actuator may include a pressurized fluid source, a mounting mechanism configured to fix the accelerator pedal actuator relative to a vehicle accelerator pedal, and an actuating mechanism in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid source and configured to displace the vehicle accelerator pedal. The vehicle accelerator pedal actuator may further include a valve member selectively controlling fluid communication between the pressurized fluid source and the actuating mechanism.

Abstract: A control element is provided having programmable haptics, in particular a programmable central catch, for a motor vehicle, having a control knob which can be accommodated such that it can rotate, the control knob being connected in a force-fitting or interlocking manner to a toothed ring or having an integral design, and it being possible for the toothed ring (to be rotated by means of the control knob, and at least one latching element which can move towards the toothed ring and/or away from the toothed ring by means of an electromagnet.

Abstract: An adjustable pedal assembly including: a lever arm; a mounting bracket located on a first end of the lever arm; an adjustable mounting bracket located on a second end of the lever arm; and an adjustable pedal removably affixed to the adjustable mounting bracket, wherein the adjustable mounting bracket is capable of adjusting a location of the adjustable pedal towards and away from the lever arm, and wherein the adjustable pedal is capable of rotating about the adjustable mounting bracket.

Abstract: A shift member for gear shifting in a gear box is provided. The shift member is cylindrical and it includes an arrangement for activating different gears at different angular positions of the shift member and an actuation part for effecting pivoting of the shift member when actuated. The shift member actuation part includes an actuation structure with angularly spaced depressed portions and projecting portions. A gear shifting arrangement is also provided and includes the shift member and an actuation system including at least one actuation member for selective engagement with the actuation structure at different positions in the circumferential direction of the shift member for a stepwise rotation of the shift member.

Abstract: A bicycle toe positioning device comprises a treadle having a main body which is formed with an axial hole, an axial rod and a bearing set. The treadle is further formed with a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion. A tightening unit has a first positioning end and a second positioning end. In assembly, the first clamping portion is buckled to a rib and a pair of wings of the first positioning end. The second clamping portion is secured to the second positioning end so that the treadle is secured to the toe positioning unit. The first clamping portion has a buckling block which is fixed to the treadle by using an pivotal rod. A spring is retained in the first clamping portion and an adjust unit serves to adjust the tightness of the buckling block.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the engagement reliability of a clipless pedal system is disclosed. Briefly, a magnetic material is positioned near the critical engagement point on the pedal. A ferrous material is added to the front edge of the cleat, such that this edge of the cleat is attracted toward the magnetic material, thereby simplifying the engagement process. In certain embodiments, the magnetic material is placed on a biasing element, such that it has an operative and stowed position. In other embodiments, the magnetic material is fixed in location.

Abstract: A foldable pedal includes an inner pedal body, an outer pedal body provided with a receiving chamber and a receiving channel, a biasing mechanism including a resting bar and a compression spring, and a stop member movably mounted in the receiving channel and provided with a through hole that is movable to align with the receiving chamber to allow passage of the resting bar. Thus, the outer pedal body is locked on the inner pedal body by an interlocking action of the resting bar and the stop member, so that the compression spring biased between the outer pedal body and the resting bar needs not to have a higher strength, and a user only needs to apply a little force to compress the compression spring so as to fold the foldable pedal easily and conveniently.

Abstract: A crankshaft having a crankpin, a crank journal, and a crank arm for linking the crankpin and the crank journal, includes a pin fillet portion located between the crankpin and the crank arm, and a journal fillet portion located between the crank journal and the crank arm. At least one of the crankpin and the crank journal has a diameter of no less than about 20 mm and no more than about 40 mm. At least one of the pin fillet portion and the journal fillet portion contains a quench-hardened layer having a thickness of no less than about 1 mm and no more than about 2 mm in the vicinity of a surface thereof. The crankpin and the crank journal substantially do not contain any quench-hardened layer having a thickness exceeding about 2 mm in the vicinity of a surface thereof.

Abstract: A differential gear unit divides an input driving force into first and second outputs, and permits a difference between the first and second outputs. The differential gear unit includes a differential case serving as a casing that defines an internal space and an opening communicated with the internal space and that is rotatable in a given direction and an opposite direction. The differential case includes a flange portion as an input portion to which the driving force is input. The differential case is configured such that the fatigue life of the differential case when the driving force is repeatedly input in the flange portion in the direction R1 is longer than the fatigue life of the differential case when the driving force is repeatedly input in the flange portion in the opposite direction; R1 is the rotational direction in which the vehicle runs forward.

Abstract: A starter that includes a motor portion that includes a motor shaft; a deceleration mechanism portion that is integrated with the motor portion, the deceleration mechanism portion includes a planetary gear that revolves around the motor shaft; and an output shaft that rotates integrally with a revolution of the planetary gear, wherein a bracket of the deceleration mechanism portion, in which a ring-shaped gear is formed at an inner circumferential surface so as to mesh with the planetary gear, is integrated with a casing of the motor portion by an intermediate bracket.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-purity tantalum flake powder, produced by a hydride-dehydride process including: (a) cold working tantalum metal into a thin sheet; (b) hydriding the thin sheet, forming a brittle tantalum body, e.g., a foil or ribbon with an aspect ratio of greater than 5 to 1; (c) adjusting the tantalum body to a desired particle size; and (d) removing hydrogen from the tantalum body by vacuum sintering, forming a tantalum flake powder. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, tantalum flake is produced by sizing ultra-thin tantalum foil via the hydride-dehydride process. Tantalum is an extremely malleable metal and can be cold worked into extremely thin sheets less than 1 micron thick. Once hydrided, this foil is brittle, and can be easily sized by suitable milling processes. The hydrogen is removed by vacuum sintering, resulting in an extremely thin Ta metal flake.

Abstract: A direct reduction process for a solid metalliferous material having a particle size distribution that at least in part contains micron sized particles includes supplying the metalliferous material, a solid carbonaceous material, an oxygen-containing gas, and a fluidizing gas into a fluidized bed in a vessel and maintaining the fluidized bed in the vessel, at least partially reducing metalliferous material in the vessel, and discharging a product stream that comprises the partially reduced metalliferous material from the vessel. The process includes (a) establishing and maintaining a carbon-rich zone within the fluidized bed; (b) passing metalliferous material, including metallized material (which term includes partially metallized material), through the carbon-rich zone; and (c) injecting the oxygen-containing gas into the carbon-rich zone and oxidizing metallized material, solid carbonaceous material and other oxidizable solids and gases and causing controlled agglomeration of particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying sulphuric acids, in particular metal-containing sulphuric acids, characterized in that monodisperse ion exchangers having chelating functional groups are used.

Abstract: A saw chain sharpening assembly including a support member, a grinding head, a clamping device and a cooling system whereby the saw chain sharpening assembly is adapted to provide a means for efficiently sharpening small and/or large chains.

Abstract: The invention relates to wire-stripping pliers with an automatic adaptation to various wire gauges and insulation thicknesses that has two pairs of pivotable jaws of which the jaws of the first, outer pair are configured as gripper jaws and are pivotable by means of a first jaw arm and a jaw part about a common point, and the jaws of the other, inner pair are configured as cutting jaws with blades that cut into the insulation, and with a pull rod attached to the cutter jaws and longitudinally moveable within the jaw body providing the stripping motion that is coupled with a second plier arm. At least one sliding wedge is mounted in a recess shaped to match the sliding wedge within the first plier arm or in the jaw part, whereby a first sliding wedge facing the cutting jaws is flat and a second sliding wedge resting in the recess is so shaped that the separation between both sliding wedges at a central area of the sliding wedge diminishes toward at least one of the two sliding wedge ends.

Abstract: A hand held, one touch jar opener can be placed on a jar and activated with a momentary touch of a button. An epicyclic gear train is set to sequentially provide a grip on a jar, and on a lid, followed by development of torque needed to move the lid in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the jar. The principles embodied in the opener shown can be realized in an opener which can be manually powered, or preferably motorised and possibly highly automated. A differential geartrain provides reduction of speed and increase in torque and then provides two balanced and opposing forces through the epicyclic gear assembly having sun and planet gears. This configuration enables a wide variety of screw-on lids and jars to be automatically closed to match the correct diameters, apply a gripping force and then apply torque in an opposing direction.

Abstract: An driver extension wrench having a pair of elongate housing members with openings at opposing ends of the housing members, with a plurality of interior posts at a predetermine spacing. The openings have sockets with exterior gear teeth. Gears are mounted on each of the posts and cooperate with each other and the sockets so that rotational force applied to the first opening is transmitted through the gears to the second opening to be applied to a fastener.

Abstract: A dual-pawl ratchet wrench mechanism is disclosed having a stop mechanism for limiting over-travel of a reversing lever for selecting drive directions. The stop mechanism is formed on a disc is selectively engageable with first and second pawls to move the pawls into and out of engagement with a ratchet gear to determine a torque drive direction, the ratchet gear capable of providing torque to a working piece in the selected drive direction. The design simplifies manufacturing. Additionally, the reversing lever is assembled with the mechanism in a manner to improve sealing.

Abstract: A stepless rotatable driving wrench having a unidirectional clutch acting on a driving element, wherein the driving element is preferably a square drive. The driving element is shiftable between two operable positions to project selectively from either side of the wrench so that driving in two opposed directions is enabled despite the unidirectional nature of the clutch. In each of the two operable positions, the driver operably projects from one side of the wrench while remaining entirely flush with the other side of the wrench. Ball detents releasably hold the driver in the selected operable position. Loss of the driver from either side of the wrench is prevented by an internal pin engaging a slot formed in the driver.

Abstract: A dual-pawl ratchet wrench mechanism is disclosed having a stop mechanism for limiting over-travel of a reversing lever for selecting drive directions. In one form, the wrench mechanism includes a ball and spring assembly that cooperate with recesses to define proper positions for the reversing lever, and one or more ramps are provided between the recesses to promote tactile feel and to promote the reversing lever being rotated to a proper position. In some forms, the stop mechanism is formed on a stationary portion, such as a spacer or the wrench body, and a portion of the reversing lever. The design simplifies manufacturing, such as by simplifying assembly and minimizing the need for securements. Additionally, the reversing lever is assembled with the mechanism in a manner to improve sealing.

Abstract: A buoyant hand tool comprises a rod body having a driving portion and an insertion portion; a handle; the insertion portion of the rod body being inserted into the handle and being completely sealed; the handle having a chamber which is filled with air or is vacuumed; the chamber being completely sealed and being waterproof, and thus the buoyant hand tool is buoyant in water. A connection of the rod body and the handle has a protrusion seat which encloses the insertion portion. The driving portion has a cruciform head or a straight head, or the driving portion has a socked at a head thereof, or a ratchet at a head thereof, or a ring head or an opened head.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optimized hard coating and a workpiece, especially a cutting tool coated with a hard coating to increase tooling performance with difficult to machine materials such as high speed steels, titanium alloys, nickel alloys, austenitic steels and especially hard materials like hardened tool steel having a hardness of higher 50, preferably of higher 55 HRC. This is achieved by a workpiece coated with a wear resistant multilayered comprising at least a first supporting layer and a second nanocrystalline layer, whereas the first layer comprises a coating material of the following composition (TiaAl1-a)N1-x-yCxOy with 0.4<a<0.6, and 0?x and y<0.3, or (AlbCr1-b)N1-x-yCxOy with 0.5<b<0.7, and 0?x and y<0.3. The second layer comprises a coating material of the following composition (Al1-c-d-eCrcSidMe)N1-x-yCxOy whereas M stands for at least one element of the transition metals of group 4, 5, 6 of the periodic system except Chromium and 0.2<c?0.35, 0<d?0.

Abstract: A limiting device to prevent unwanted removal of paper from a paper or ticket printing and dispensing apparatus for paper roll printers, including paper cutter actuating means, positioned between a ticket dispensing exit and a cutting device to cut paper onto which printing has taken place and for controlling feeding of the paper and for controlling operation of the printer; activation of the cutting device is responsive to either an incompletely printed ticket or an action externally of said apparatus or to completion of any printing onto the ticket; a movable member or curved door is provided to more from a deactivation position to an activation position to control the operation of the paper cutter and the curved door is responsive to completion of a ticket printing operation or an occlusion at the dispensing exit or to a pre-set printing operation.

Abstract: Tools with a thermo-mechanically modified working region and methods of forming such tools. The tool includes a working region containing steel altered by a thermo-mechanical process to contain modified carbide and/or alloy bands. In use, a surface of the working region contacts a workpiece when the tool is used to perform a metal-forming operation.

Abstract: A band saw quickly changing device for a band saw machine is pivotally connected to a turning wheel of the machine body, including a sliding base, two limiting bases, a spring, a support plate, a micro-adjusting rod, a quickly adjusting device and a bottom base. The quickly adjusting device is composed of a shifting block, an eccentric block and a handling rod. The eccentric block has an eccentric shaft hole for pivotally connected on the shifting block, and the handling rod has a pivotal member formed in its upper end to fit in the eccentric shaft hole and fixed therein with a bolt. When the handling rod is swung backward, the sliding base is moved down to let the upper turning wheel move down, loosening the band saw extending around the two turning wheels of the machine.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument, such as a guitar, having a body with a neck secured to the body and over which are laterally stretched substantially parallel strings, which strings are stretched over a bridge mounted on the body upper face between a tuning key disposed on a head at a distal end of the neck and initial points of termination on the body upper face with the bridge disposed on the upper face intermediate the keys and the initial points of termination. The complete termination arrangement for the strings is comprised of channels in the body for each of the strings which extend from the initial points of termination to final points of terminal securement on the body displaced laterally from the initial points of termination with the strings stretched over a dense non-displaceable surface. Accordingly, the strings are thereby further lengthened beyond the bridge in order to subject the strings to greater tension for a specified musical pitch to provide increased resonance and performance.

Abstract: Electric guitar with a neck and a body which has a first side wall, facing the guitar player, and a second side wall, facing away from the guitar player, said side walls delimiting a front and a back of the body at the edges, wherein the second side wall has an associated arcuate bow extending along it at least in sections which can have its distance from the second side wall adjusted and whose arc shape can be rotated into a concave and a convex position relative to the side wall.

Abstract: A joint between a neck and a body of a stringed musical instrument is described, wherein a neck receiving cavity in the body has a sloped major bearing surface. The sloped major bearing surface urges the neck laterally into a side surface of the neck receiving cavity as a connector pulls the neck into the neck receiving cavity. By urging the neck into a side surface of the neck receiving cavity, a second bearing surface is made in a different plane than the major bearing surface, which makes a more rigid joint between the body and the neck of the musical instrument.

Abstract: A novel pivoting anchor assembly for a tremolo mechanism includes a pivot support structure, a pivot and an anchor structure for receiving and holding an end of a tensioned string. In a preferred embodiment, the pivoting anchor assembly includes a rate screw mounted on a pivoting tuning arm, the rate screw receiving: an anchor block including a string end anchor; a jaw opening; and a knife edge extending into the jaw opening. An upper portion of the rate screw includes a circumferential knife edge seat and extends through the jaw opening such that the knife edge is received within the knife edge seat, so as to form a knife edge pivot. The knife edge pivot allows the anchor block with the string end anchor to pivot both axially and radially relative to the rate screw in response to changes in the magnitude and direction of the tension force exerted long the tensioned string.

Abstract: A tremolo mechanism having a novel roller is mounted beneath a tensioned string of a stringed musical instrument such as a guitar. The tensioned string exerts a static force on the roller and further exerts a vibratory force on the roller during oscillatory movement of such string. The roller rotates around a roller axis disposed with relation to the tensioned string such that the component of the static force directed along the roller axis is generally greater than any component of the vibratory force directed along the roller axis. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a saddle roller assembly includes a saddle block having two opposing block walls which form a roller cavity there between. The block walls each have a roller bore disposed in alignment along a roller axis. The saddle roller includes a cylindrical body attached to a roller pin. The saddle roller further includes a circumferential seat receiving a tension string.

Abstract: The tremolo mechanism includes a novel cam actuated lock having a plurality of parallel locking channels disposed on an engagement surface of a movable locking arm and further having a locking ridge disposed on an engagement surface of a locking block so as to be in aligned opposition with the locking channels. Each pairing of locking channels is separated by a chromatic spacing distance corresponding to a chromatic half step change in the pitch of the plurality of tensioned strings. The lock of the further including a cam actuated torsion bar to positioning the locking arm according to a cam follower's position on a cam profile. The torsion bar provides a flexible means of applying a motive force for moving the locking arm such that, with the locking ridge and a selected locking channel misaligned and the cam follower disposed upon the locked seat, the torsion bar elastically deforms as the locking ridge is received by a land disposed between the locking channels without damaging the lock.

Abstract: At least one embodiment of the inventive technology may be a support apparatus that includes at least two item support rails supported by support legs coupled thereto by pivot coupler apparatus that enable rotatable motion of a coupled support rail about a substantially vertical axis, where at least one of the item support rails is a non-horizontal item support rail, and where a cable passes through at least a portion of one or more of the support rails. In certain embodiments, the couplers may be height adjust couplers that enable substantially purely vertical, translatory height adjustment of coupled support rails and/or the couplers may couple item support rails to rail support legs at an angle other than ninety degrees. Items that may be supported include but are not limited to electronic percussion instruments.

Abstract: An electronic percussion instrument stand includes a center pipe structure. The center pipe structure has at least one center pipe having a longitudinal axis. A center pipe structure with at least two center pipes provides increased stability. A crescent-shaped base structure supports the center pipe structure in an upright orientation. At least one first arm supports at least one electronic percussion instrument. At least one first joint connects first arm to the center pipe structure. Each joint is adjustable in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the center pipe and in a direction around the longitudinal axis of the center pipe, for adjusting the position of the first arm. Each joint is adjustable between a position for playing electronic percussion instruments supported on the at least one arm, to a retracted position for transportation.

Abstract: A material for a key of a keyboard instrument may include, but is not limited to, a base resin; and particles of a moisture control material that performs chemical sorption of moisture. The moisture control material increase in volume with moisture-sorption. The moisture control material decrease in volume with moisture-desorption.

Abstract: In order to improve a touch of a key of a keyboard musical instrument by using a key actuating apparatus which actuates the key supported so as to be rotationally movable with regard to a frame of the keyboard musical apparatus, a key actuating apparatus (1) includes: a plunger (15) which is moved on an arc or curved line in correspondence with a rotational motion of a key (3); and a solenoid (7) including electro magnets (17 and 19) which are fixed to the frame and which are substantially in a cylindrical shape into which the plunger is inserted. The plunger (15) is formed in an arc or curved shape extended in a direction of a rotational motion of the plunger (15). A head end (15b) arranged on the plunger (15) in a lengthwise direction is made from a magnetic body.

Abstract: The present invention relates an instrument tuner possessing a fiber optic with a prewritten fiber Bragg grating. The tuner is suitable for providing more accurate instrument tuning, capable of not being subject to a tuner's subjectivity or distortions or electromagnetic interference.

Abstract: A music tuner comprising a contact sensing device, a non-contact sensing device, or a combination of both, is integrated onto the body of an electric stringed music instrument. The present invention aims to make it more convenient for the user of the electric ukulele by eliminating the need to separately account for the music tuner and by preventing the music tuner from being misplaced or lost.

Abstract: The present invention relates to musical instrument tuners, more particularly to a tuner for providing tuning information regarding a musical instrument without making physical or electrical contact with the instrument. We describe a musical instrument tuner for providing tuning information for tuning a musical instrument, said musical instrument having a vibrating element, the tuner comprising: a light source for emitting light onto the said vibrating element; a light detector for detecting reflected light; an amplifier coupled to said light detector for amplifying a signal from said light detector; and tuning indication means coupled to said amplifier for providing tuning information responsive to said amplified signal.

Abstract: An automatic player musical instrument is a combination of an acoustic piano and an electric system, which serves as an automatic playing system and an electronic proof system, and a controller of the electric system has an information processing capability; when a user instructs the electric system to check performance on the keyboard, a subroutine program for electronic proof starts to run; while the user is fingering a music tune, the controller monitors the keys with key sensors to see whether or not the user correctly plays the music tune; when the user mistakenly depresses a key instead of another key, the controller gives rise to vibrations of the mistakenly de-pressed key so as to give a notice of incorrect fingering to the user.

Abstract: A browser portion BR obtains a reproduction manner specifying file from a content distribution server 30, and delivers the same to a reproduction control portion CT. The reproduction control portion CT obtains from the content distribution server 30 a music content file designated by a reproduction content list in the reproduction manner specifying file. The reproduction control portion CT reproduces, in cooperation with a tone generating circuit 43, a music piece corresponding to the music content in a reproduction manner specified by the reproduction manner specifying file. The reproduction control portion CT displays the music content on a display device 42 in a display manner specified by a reproduction manner specifying file. When a user operates an input operation element group 41 for changing the display manner of the display device 42, the reproduction control portion CT changes the display manner of the display device 42.

Abstract: In a music information database, music information where music pieces and impression words representing impressions of the music pieces and usable as search words when any of the music pieces is to be searched for is registered for a plurality of music pieces. Information collection section collects, from among various information being provided by information source sites, information usable as music-piece-related search words. Registration section registers the words usable as music-piece-related search words, collected by the information collection section, into the database in association with particular music pieces. In this way, it is possible to construct a music information database which permits a music information search therethrough using impression words representing impressions of a music piece, at low cost without taking much time and labor.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques that make use of a waveform fetch unit that operates to retrieve waveform samples on behalf of each of a plurality of hardware processing elements that operate simultaneously to service various audio synthesis parameters generated from one or more audio files, such as musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) files. In one example, a method comprises receiving a request for a waveform sample from an audio processing element, and servicing the request by calculating a waveform sample number for the requested waveform sample based on a phase increment contained in the request and an audio synthesis parameter control word associated with the requested waveform sample, retrieving the waveform sample from a local cache using the waveform sample number, and sending the retrieved waveform sample to the requesting audio processing element.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques that make use of a summing buffer that receives waveform samples from audio processing elements, and sums and stores the waveform sums for a given frame. In one example, a method comprises summing a waveform sample received from an audio processing element to produce a waveform sum associated with a first audio frame, storing the waveform sum in a memory, wherein the memory is logically partitioned into a plurality of memory blocks, and locking memory blocks containing the waveform sum associated with the first audio frame, transferring contents of locked memory blocks to an external processor, unlocking a memory block after contents of the memory block have been transferred to the external processor, and storing a waveform sum associated with a second audio frame within the unlocked memory block concurrently with transferring contents of remaining locked memory blocks associated with the first audio frame.

Abstract: In general, the techniques of this disclosure may be used to control utilization of bandwidth allocated to an audio processing module. For example, to process various audio synthesis parameters, the audio processing module may retrieve reference waveform samples for use in generating audio information for voices within an audio frame, such as a MIDI frame. In some cases, the amount of bandwidth available for retrieving the reference waveforms from memory is limited. To manage the utilization of the allocated bandwidth a bandwidth control module estimates an amount of bandwidth required to retrieve reference waveforms for all the voices of the audio frame, and selects one or more voices to be eliminated from generated audio information when the bandwidth estimate exceeds the allocated bandwidth.

Abstract: A foot-operated programmable transport controller for use in conjunction with a sound and music-editing software application while connecting a musical instrument. The controller comprises a keyboard comprising a plurality of keys; each key for performing at least one function pertaining to the software application. The controller further comprises a user interface for creating, editing, storing, and retrieving different profiles; the profile being a complete set of all functions assigned to all the keys and their combinations. The user interface is provided through a host computer system.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for processing audio files that comply with the musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) format. In particular, this disclosure describes storage of MIDI parameters for efficient access by a processor and a hardware unit. The processor may be a digital signal processor (DSP) and the hardware unit may be specifically designed to process MIDI parameters. In one aspect, this disclosure provides an apparatus comprising a processor that converts a MIDI event into MIDI parameters, a hardware unit that uses MIDI parameters to generate audio samples, and a plurality of storage units that store MIDI parameters which are accessible by both the processor and the hardware unit.

Abstract: Techniques are described of efficiently identifying sets of audio parameters to be applied during a time frame. For example, a list of indicators may be generated. Each of the indicators in the list may indicate a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) voice present in a MIDI frame. Furthermore, in generating the list, the indicators in the list may be restricted to those indicators that indicate the most acoustically significant MIDI voices in the MIDI frame. After the list is generated, a digital waveform may be generated for each of MIDI voices indicated by an indicator in the list. A combination of the waveforms of each MIDI voice may constitute an overall waveform for the MIDI frame.

Abstract: Techniques are described of generating a digital waveform for a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) voice using a set of machine-code instructions that is specialized for the generation of digital waveforms for MIDI voices. For example, a processor may execute a software program that generates a digital waveform for a MIDI voice. The instructions of the software program may be machine code instructions from an instruction set that is specialized for the generation of digital waveforms for MIDI voices. In particular, the execution of one of the instructions may involve a selection of an operation based on a set of parameters that define a MIDI voice and the performance of the selected operation.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for processing audio files that comply with the musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) format. In particular, various tasks associated with MIDI file processing are delegated between software operating on a general purpose processor, firmware associated with a digital signal processor (DSP), and dedicated hardware that is specifically designed for MIDI file processing. Alternatively, a multi-threaded DSP may be used instead of a general purpose processor and the DSP. In one aspect, this disclosure provides a method comprising parsing MIDI files and scheduling MIDI events associated with the MIDI files using a first process, processing the MIDI events using a second process to generate MIDI synthesis parameters, and generating audio samples using a hardware unit based on the synthesis parameters.