Abstract: A carillon keyboard instrument is provided for playing bells and auxiliary bell tones, with a pedal provided for allowing the player to adjust the relative intensities of the major and minor tones of the bells. The instrument utilizes two sets of vibrator bars, a first set for generating major tones, and a second set for generating minor tones. By mixing the derived signals from corresponding major and minor vibrator bars, and adjusting the relative intensity of the minor signal strength, a new flexibility is provided to the instrument player for generating desired Flemish bell tones.

Abstract: An electronic music box circuit is provided which includes a pulse generator, a read only memory having address lines to be energized in a predetermined order by the output pulse signals from the pulse generator and memory cells arranged in accordance with a given melody, and a frequency-divider which divides the frequency of the output pulse signal from the pulse generator to produce a plurality of signals with different frequencies. In the read only memory, when one of the address lines is energized, a musical scale signal selection circuit and a signal level selection circuit are energized so that an output signal with a frequency selected from the output signals of the frequency divider is generated from the scale signal selection circuit while at the same time an output signal with a selected signal level is generated from the level selection circuit. The output signals from the scale signal and level signal selection circuits are supplied to a loudspeaker thereby to generate a predetermined sound.

Abstract: A delayed vibrato signal generating arrangement comprises an envelope signal generator having a capacitor, a switching device for discharging the capacitor at the instant of key depression, and two charging circuits providing different charging time constants for charging the capacitor to produce an envelope signal; a semiconductor unidirectional device coupled to the envelope signal generator; and a vibrato signal generator coupled to the unidirectional device. The capacitor is relatively rapidly charged to a predetermined potential level by both the two charging circuits and then gradually charged by only one of the charging circuits. The signal portion of the envelope signal substantially below the predetermined potential level is clipped off by the unidirectional device to provide a time delay for delayed vibrator. The time delay is virtually determined by the time constant for charging the capacitor to the predetermined potential level.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument capable of controlling tone pitch, tone color, volume etc. of a musical tone by a sliding operation to conduct such on effect as portamento. The instrument according to the invention can produce a control signal proportional to a sliding distance on a portamento playing actuator regardless of an initially touched position on the actuator. For producing such control signal, an output voltage from a portamento playing actuator corresponding to a finger touch position is applied to a positive input of a calculator whereas a voltage obtained by sampling and holding an output voltage corresponding to the initial touch position is applied to a negative input of the calculator. Difference between the two voltages is outputted as a control voltage from the calculator and this control voltage is utilized for controlling VCO, VCF or VCA thereby to control the tone pitch, tone color, volume etc. of a musical tone.

Abstract: DC programmable counters with DC switching provide instant retuning of an entire keyboard of a programmable electronic musical instrument to any one of a plurality of different scales.

Abstract: In this monophonic pedal or truncated decay system, depression of a new pedal key immediately truncates tone production of a previously played, decaying note. If two notes are played simultaneously, both will sound until one is released, whereupon that tone will be truncated immediately without decay.The inventive system operates with a time-shared electronic musical instrument wherein selected keys are assigned to respective time slots in a repetitive timing interval. During each such interval, a first flip-flop is set by occurrence of the first assigned pedal key. A second flip-flop cooperates with the first flip-flop, and is set during each time interval by occurrence of a second assigned pedal key. A third flip-flop is set at the end of each timing interval to copy the contents of the second flip-flop. The third flip-flop thus provides, during the subsequent timing interval, a signal indicating that two or more pedal keys are being played.

Abstract: Musical notes are produced polyphonically in a tone synthesizer or like musical instrument by computing a master data set, transferring data set to buffer memories, and repetitively converting in real time contents of memories to notes. The master data set is created repetitively and independently of tone generation by computing a generalized Fourier algorithm using stored sets of generalized Fourier coefficients. Computations limit tones to audible frequencies, occur at intervals short compared to musical tone periods, and circuitry is included to provide time-varying modulations of the synthesized tonal structure. Synchronizing signals included in the buffer memories provide smooth transition between the master system logic clock and asynchronous tone conversion clocks. A time shared digital-to-analog converter transforms the buffer memory outputs to individual tone channels and provides attack, decay, sustain, release and other amplitude modulation effects.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for generating the tones of a tonal scale includes a master oscillator and a number of sets of frequency converters. The output signals of each set of frequency converters forms each of the tones of an octave. A frequency shifter is connected between at least one selected set of frequency converters and the master oscillator in order to shift the frequency supplied to the selected set of frequency converters from the master oscillator to cause a desired shift in the frequency of each of the tones of the octave produced by the selected set of frequency converters.

Abstract: A digital type electronic musical instrument generates a tone signal consisting of a plurality of time-varying partial tone signals each by recursive calculation. A recursive calculator is of a simplified construction by arranging the amplitude term to be excluded from the recursive calculation and to be multiplied thereafter. A remarkable reduction in the memory units can be accomplished by arranging the pair of initial values for each partial tone function to be equal to each other by the introduction of a phase term into the periodic part of the partial tone function.

Abstract: A delayed vibrato signal generating arrangement in which an envelope signal which changes from a first potential level to a second potential level at the instant of key depression, and thereafter varies gradually from the second potential level to the first potential level is generated by an envelope signal generator, the peak portion of such envelope signal is clipped off by a clipper, and then a vibrato signal with a gradually increasing amplitude is generated by a vibrato signal generator driven by the output of the clipper. The vibrato signal generator is so arranged as not to operate at the clipped level of the output of the clipper, thereby giving a delay time for delayed vibrato.

Abstract: The circuits described herein are particularly applicable to organs using multiple pitch divider type note generators that are implemented in LS1 form, since one of the aims of the improvements is to reduce the pin count of the LSI chips required in these organs. One such circuit is a synchronizing system used to phase corresponding notes generated in different chips over a single multiplexed buss. Another multiplexed buss is used to identify the lowest octave in use for each note of the chromatic scale. A new touch response circuit employs a digital to analog converter to eliminate the need for capacitors used in previously described fully analog type circuits thereby eliminating many pins. This circuit furthermore enables a superior relation of key velocity to signal level to be obtained which makes practical a wider dynamic gradation of sound.

Abstract: In this electronic musical instrument, two separate tone generators of different type each produce a tone corresponding to an actuated key switch. Advantageously, one of the tone generators is of the Fourier synthesis type. In the other tone generator, a source waveshape having abundant harmonic components is processed by a tone color and volume control system which modifies the frequency spectrum and amplitude of the source waveshape in a time variant manner. The two generated tones are combined to produce the desired musical note.Actuation of each key switch produces, in an assigned time slot, frequency information corresponding to the selected note, and designating the phase angle between successive sample points to be read from a waveshape memory. In the Fourier synthesis type generator, plural waveshape memories store harmonically related sinusoids, all of which are accessed simultaneously and weighted by harmonic coefficients to produce the first tone.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument wherein, by merely depressing one key, the tone pitch corresponding to that key varies periodically with cyclic repetition at a specific rate. The pitch variation is made on the octave basis by periodically shifting digits of binary signals of plural bits which designate readout addresses of a musical tone waveform. Various patterns of the pitch variation can be obtained by suitably setting a pattern of shifting of the digits of the binary signals.

Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument, such as an electronic organ, the speech characteristics of Vox Humana and similar reed organ pipes are simulated by applying a repeating series of pulse groups separated from each other, which groups each contain a short sequence of two or more pulses, to a sharp cutoff low-pass filter for converting the series of pulse groups into a sound producing signal simulative of the sound signal produced by a Vox Humana or similar organ pipe. The repeating series of pulse groups is obtained by nonlinearly combining square wave tone signals from two or more different octaves of a conventional phase-locked tone generator. The synthesized repeating series of pulse groups, one series for each note of the instrument, are applied to a single low-pass filter, or grouped and applied to a small number of filters.

Abstract: A single amplitude curve generator is time shared amongst a plurality of musical tone generators for controlling their musical shapes. The curve generator creates a wide variety of envelope characteristics by implementing a recursive computation algorithm for selected choices of a single curve shape parameter coupled with the use of a collection of timing clocks used to vary the time intervals associated with the attack, decay, and release regions of the musical tone envelope. Provision is made for forcing the release of a tone generator when a limited number of tone generators have been completely assigned in a keyboard musical instrument and a new note key switch is actuated. Note release signals can be ignored until the amplitude curve generator has completed the attack and decay regions for a given tone generator.

Abstract: An instrument for producing musical sounds which includes a keyboard, means connected with the keyboard for producing a plurality of musical sounds and means shifting said keyboard in one or more of a plurality of linear and rotational directions to vary such parameters as pitch, loudness, and tone.

Abstract: A non-volatile programmable memory storage system for use with electronic musical instruments is provided which utilizes an erasable and reprogrammable read only memory (EPROM). The EPROM is provided with suitable erasure means, either electrical or ultraviolet light. Also provided is means for entering and retrieving data from the EPROM and means for bidirectionally transferring data between the EPROM and the electronic musical instrument.

Abstract: A pulsato generating system which is composed of a sequentially phase inverting signal generator for producing first, second and third sequentially phase inverting signals based on an input musical signal, a phase rotating signal generator for producing first and second phase rotating signals based on the first, second and third sequentially phase inverting signals and first and second speakers respectively supplied with the first and second phase rotating signals.Another pulsato generating system is disclosed which is composed of the abovesaid sequentially phase inverting signal generator and first, second and third speakers respectively supplied with the first, second and third sequentially phase inverting signals derived from the sequentially phase inverting signal generator.

Abstract: A sample hold arrangement for a key signal in an electronic musical instrument in which a keyboard circuit generates a voltage corresponding to a depressed key. The keyboard circuit is connected at its output terminal to an input terminal of a comparator. An output terminal of the comparator is connected to a memory capacitor and a buffer circuit through two gates connected in a series with one another. An output terminal of the buffer circuit is connected, in turn, to a second input terminal of the comparator, and one of the two gates is connected with its control electrode to a detection circuit. A circuit closing signal is generated by the detection circuit when the potentials of the two input terminals of the comparator become substantially equal. The other one of the two gates is connected with its control electrode to an output terminal of a keying signal generator which generates a keying signal of the keyboard circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automatic tuning of an electronic musical instrument comprising a phase comparator, a converter circuit connected to the comparator for converting an output signal of the phase comparator into a voltage of a magnitude corresponding thereto, a sample hold circuit connected in series with the converter circuit, a calculation circuit having a first input connected to the sample hold circuit and a voltage control type oscillator for generating a musical tone signal connected in series with the calculation circuit. The voltage control type oscillator is connected to an input of the phase comparator and another input of the phase comparator is connected to a circuit for producing a standard signal.

Abstract: A selection switch memory circuit having a priority encoder for providing a code for the highest priority actuated one of a plurality of momentary contact selection switches, a memory for storing the code and a decoder for providing a select signal on one of a plurality of outputs thereof to activate a circuit corresponding to the stored code. A control includes a comparator to determine if the provided code is the same as the stored code. In one embodiment, if the provided and stored codes are the same, the memory is cleared of the stored code, and the circuit corresponding thereto is deactivated. In another embodiment, the decoder is disabled to terminate activation of the previously selected circuit if the provided and stored codes are the same. In both embodiments, if the provided and stored codes are different, the provided code is entered into the memory in lieu of the stored code. Response of the control to switch actuation is delayed to avoid deleterious effects of switch contact bounce.

Abstract: A method and circuitry for frequency generation, especially for electronic organs, in which a digital signal is developed by the actuation of an element such as a key of an organ keyboard. The digital signal is converted to a respective voltage signal and the voltage signal is employed to control a voltage controlled oscillator which supplies a signal corresponding in frequency to the actuation of the aforesaid element. An organ provided with a system for frequency generation according to the present invention can be operated monophonically or polyphonically and is capable of producing desirable effects, including celeste and portamento effects.

Abstract: A tone generator for an electronic musical instrument. In the tone generator, a coincidence output is produced when contents of a counter which successively counts a clock pulse have amounted to a value representing a tone of a depressed key. The counter is reset by a reset pulse with delay of a predetermined clock time from the time when the coincidence output is produced.An example is disclosed in which an output of a desired period is statically produced by generating the reset pulse with delay of selected number of clock pulses with respect to the coincidence output. Also disclosed is another example in which desired signals among a plurality of delayed signals produced with delay of one or more clock pulses with respect to the coincidence output are dynamically selected for resetting the counter in response to an output of another counter which cyclically performs counting.

Abstract: An organ is described in which a small number of note generators, each comprising a binary divider, a group of keyers, and an envelope generator, serves an entire keyboard. Each note generator is selectively operable by multiplexed signals from a keyboard to produce either of two adjacent notes in any octave interval. Six of these note generators are provided for each manual of a spinet size organ. A seventh note generator, which is selectively operable to produce any of the notes available from the other six, is provided together with selection circuitry which causes the seventh note generator to augment any one of the other six which is called upon to produce two adjacent, or two octavely related, notes simultaneously. The pitch of all notes is determined by a set of top octave dividers which drive the binary dividers individual to each note generator.

Abstract: In a musical polyphonic tone synthesizer, musical waveshapes are produced by voltage controlled oscillators. The analog frequency control voltages are created by converting stored digital numbers to analog voltages. The selection of these digital numbers and their assignment to a plurality of voltage controlled oscillators is controlled by detecting switches actuated on a keyboard. Provision is made for operating the oscillators over the full frequency range of an electronic musical instrument's keyboard. Automatic tuning means is incorporated to adjust the conversion reference voltage for each oscillator to keep the musical instrument in tune by locking the set of voltage controlled oscillators to a stable reference oscillator. Tuning the reference oscillator thereby tunes the set of voltage controlled oscillators while retaining equal tempered musical frequencies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating tone signals for a musical instrument, especially an electronic organ, in which a stable high frequency source which is equal in frequency to that of a reference pitch multiplied by a large whole number is divided down by a number differing a predetermined amount from the large whole number, and the thus divided down frequency is supplied to a phase lock loop which, in turn, supplies a synthesizer which will develop a range of pitches over a musical scale. By further dividing down the synthesized pitches, octavely related pitches can be obtained for the supply of pitches in conformity with the number of playing keys in the instrument and the number of ranks of pitches desired. The thus generated pitches differ slightly from the reference pitches by being either somewhat sharp or somewhat flat and when combined with the reference pitches produce desired effects.

Abstract: A control circuit for controlling an automatic rhythm generating circuit of an automatic rhythm performance apparatus comprises a memory for controlling the rhythm start or stop operation of the automatic rhythm generating circuit by an output state, a rhythm performance control signal supply circuit including a plurality of rhythm performance control switches, and a logic circuit having inputs coupled to the outputs of the rhythm performance control signal supply circuit and to the outputs of the memory and having outputs coupled to the inputs of the memory. The state of signals at the outputs of the rhythm performance control signal supply circuit is variable by the operation of the control switches. The logic circuit causes the memory to be set from one output state to another state in response to a variation in the state of signals at the outputs of the rhythm performance control signal supply circuit.

Abstract: A tone source apparatus for an electronic musical instrument is characterized in that at least one cycle of a musical-tone waveform, which it is desired be produced, is depicted as a sequence of section lines and a series of pulses having regular intervals is varied, by a pulse-density varying circuit, in pulse density in accordance with the degrees of inclination of the respective section lines. The resultant series of pulses having varied pulse density is formed, by a waveform forming circuit, into the desired musical tone waveform. The pulse-density varying circuit comprises a first counter to which is applied as an input, the aforementioned series of pulses having regular intervals. A second counter is connected, in series or in parallel, to the first counter and a decoder is connected to an output terminal of the second counter. A memory circuit is connected to the output terminals of the decoder.

Abstract: An electronic organ includes logic and a memory for detecting and storing a root note signal identifying a chord which has been either automatically or manually generated. Priority logic, coupled with the memory, passes the lowest root note signal to a tone selection matrix which passes a plurality of tone signals representing the note intervals forming the selected chord. A sequential gating circuit receives all of the tone signals and is responsive to an arpeggio circuit, a strum circuit, or a rhythm unit to gate selected tone signals, one at a time, to the voicing circuitry. When one or more of the tone signals are octavely displaced within the selected chord, disinverting gates are enabled to unfold the chord and cause the tone signals to occur in order of ascending frequency.

Abstract: A transposing electronic instrument wherein the clock frequency applied to control a top octave frequency generator is derived by comparing any single output of the generator with the response of a frequency reference circuit to that output, deriving a dc voltage representative of the difference in frequency of the input and output of the reference circuit and controlling the clock frequency from the dc voltage, thereby transposing all the outputs of the top octave frequency generator.

Abstract: An electronic organ in which all the tones of the musical gamut are obtained by operations on the output of a single tone signal source, utilizing digital techniques to divide the frequency of the tone signal by appropriate integers.

Abstract: A tone generator system for an electronic organ which is capable of being fabricated into an LSI structure and receives a saw-tooth wave or staircase wave as an input thereto comprises a frequency divider for the saw-tooth wave or staircase wave including a ladder resistor network and a complementary MOS FET devices, an analog switch having a wide dynamic range and a high linearity in input-output transfer characteristic constructed by MOS FET devices to serve as an indirect keying means, a sustain means including a novel structure of a variable impedance element which is constructed to control a channel current in a MOS FET device by varying the potential distribution in the source region, and an impedance coverter constructed by complementary MOS FET devices and free from a D.C. level shift. With the above arrangement a tone generator system of high quality for an electronic organ is provided.

Abstract: A system for transmitting and receiving audio information includes an audio response unit for reading out pre-recorded digital audio information and editing the digital audio information in digital signal form. A transmitter is provided for transmitting the edited digital audio information, and a converter is provided at the receiving side for converting the transmitted digital audio information into an analog audio signal. One feature of the invention is that the announcer audio information in digital form may be mixed with the pre-recorded audio information in digital signal form.

Abstract: A pitch changing apparatus shifts the absolute pitch of musical output from an electronic organ. The apparatus combines two or more transposing switches in a cascade arrangement. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises four binary transposing switches in cascade relationship, with frequency divider circuits interposed between successive transposing switches. The preferred embodiment selects one out of twelve absolute pitches for the musical output in steps of one semitone. Other embodiments select absolute pitch in steps of two or three semitones. The other embodiments use arrays of electronic switching elements included in integrated circuit packages.

Abstract: The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is directed to an electronic musical instrument of the keyboard type wherein the audio frequency signal information is derived from a multi-frequency generator formed by an electronic oscillator and a plurality of divider circuits, and wherein programmable divider circuits are associated with the various keys of the keyboard to generate associated tone signal information. The programmable divider circuits are formed on a large scale integrated circuit chip and enable alteration of the numerical divisor so that different tone signals can be obtained from the same electronic circuitry thereby enabling the same type of LSI chip to be used for many different circuit configurations. The LSI chip also provides a scanning circuit that scans an X-Y matrix switching arrangement to determine which one of a plurality of key switches is closed.

Abstract: An electronic music synthesizer is disclosed in which the sound producing chain includes a voltage-controlled oscillator, band-pass filter, low-pass filter, and amplifier in which selected control currents are supplied to low impedance points within the synthesizer circuit from a resistor matrix. The synthesizer produces sounds approximating different acoustic musical instruments or having different tonal qualities by the application of a predetermined voltage to one of fifteen input columns of the resistor matrix with selected other columns being grounded. The currents provided by the resistor matrix in combination with other externally generated currents control the center frequency and bandwidth of the band-pass filter, the cutoff frequency of the low-pass filter, the gain of the voltage-controlled amplifier, the time constants of transient contour currents used to control the filters and amplifier, and the waveform produced by the voltage-controlled oscillator.

Abstract: Electronic tone transposition apparatus in an organ allows the front digitals of the keyboard to play different musical scales and to play the diatonic scale in different keys. The apparatus physically actuates a key signature of written music by interchanging the electrical coupling to a front digital with the coupling to its adjacent back digital. The number of such interchanges is equal to the number of flats or sharps in the key signature. The organ can be electronically switched so that the front digitals of the keyboard play different musical scales with different numbers of tones per octave span.

Abstract: Generators of anharmonic binary sequences having predetermined harmonics equal to zero. Orders and modes of anharmonicity are defined. Generators are disclosed, permitting to generate sequences anharmonic at successive determined orders according to previously selected modes.

Abstract: An electric organ utilizes digital encoding and time division multiplexing to transfer both function selection and note selection information from manually operable switches to respective memories, and to simultaneously produce tone signals corresponding to stored note selection information. A single encoding circuit encodes in binary form the function and note selection information during successive scanning periods established by a single multiplexing circuit. A plurality of stored note codes are transferred on a time division multiplexing basis to a note selector which selectively produces all of the selected tone signals, on one output in multiplexed form. The tone signals are demultiplexed to generate a corresponding plurality of tone signal outputs. An octave selection circuit which is responsive to a part of each note code selectively reduces the frequency of the demultiplexed tone signals.

Abstract: An electronic circuit connected to and operated by the bass buttons of an accordion to simulate a string bass instrument. The circuit can be disposed in the accordion or remote from the accordion. Each button has a switch associated therewith which couples to means for generating a fixed frequency signal indicative of the actuated button. Signals over a two octave range may be generated and logic circuitry is provided to effectively expand the single octave of available buttons to greater than the single octave such as by a half octave expansion. Output circuitry shapes the output audio signals to allow more or less of the harmonics to pass. A special bass pluck circuit is also provided.

Abstract: A shoe provided with a plurality of keys on the underside thereof which when depressed will produce various musical tones by means of an electronic circuit provided inside the shoe.

Abstract: For producing musical sounds of a pure scale, an electric instrument comprises a clock generator for producing clock pulses of a period equal to a rational multiple of a predetermined period that gives, when multiplied by integers, tones within an octave of the scale. A binary counter counts input pulses derived from the clock pulses. Keys or a memory produces binary signals corresponding to the integers in accordance with a melody. When counts in the counter reach the value of the integers, wired logic circuits clear the counter. The periods at which the counter is cleared produce the melody. In order to correct pitches of several tones, the clock pulses are controlled on deriving the input pulses therefrom either by algebraic addition of pulses or variable division of the clock pulses into groups. With this control, the instrument can produce tones of a chromatic scale within five additional tones within an octave are of a tempered scale.

Abstract: A keyboard assignment system for a polyphonic electronic musical instrument employs a small number (typically ten or twelve) of output channels each capable of storing a note identification code used to control generation of a corresponding tone. Output channels are assigned and/or released during an assignment cycle initiated when any keyboard key is depressed or released. During the assignment cycle a keyboard switch matrix and an encoding matrix cooperate to provide sequentially on a data buss note identification codes corresponding to depressed keys. The data buss is connected to all output channels. An identity signal is produced by each output channel which is storing a note identification code corresponding to any which appears on the data buss during the assignment cycle. Assignment logic, responsive to these identity signals, assigns an output channel to each newly depressed key on a priority basis, and releases each output channel which had been assigned to a key which is now released.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument called a music synthesizer has channels equal in number to a maximum number of tones to be reproduced simultaneously and can produce a plurality of musical tones simultaneously. Note voltages are sampled by actuating corresponding key gate circuits and the sampled note voltages are allotted to corresponding channels in time-shared sequence. Musical tones are reproduced from the note voltages allotted to the respective channels. A key gate control signal for actuating the key gate circuit is obtained by detecting ON-OFF states of keys and generating a key code corresponding to a key which is ON, storing this key code in a key code memory having channels of the maximum number of tones to be reproduced simultaneously under certain conditions and decoding the key code produced from the key code memory. The musical instrument comprise means for producing the key gate control signal at a slower rate than the rate of scanning the keys.

Abstract: An organ is described in which a small number of note generators, each comprising a binary divider, a group of keyers, and an envelope generator, serves an entire keyboard. Each note generator is selectively operable by multiplexed signals from a keyboard to produce either of two adjacent notes in any octave interval. Six of these note generators are provided for each manual of a spinet size organ. A seventh note generator, which is selectively operable to produce any of the notes available from the other six, is provided together with selection circuitry which causes the seventh note generator to augment any one of the other six which is called upon to produce two adjacent, or two octavely related, notes simultaneously. The pitch of all notes is determined by a set of top octave dividers which drive the binary dividers individual to each note generator.

Abstract: An electronic music system includes a voltage controlled tone generator, or synthesizer, and an input device, in the form of a guitar or other fretted stringed instrument and associated electronic circuitry, for sequentially providing voltage signals, selected from a set of discretely different voltage levels each analogously related to a musical tone, for driving the tone generator. Each string-fret pair of the stringed instrument is assigned a given musical tone, preferably in accordance with normal tuning of the instrument, and means are provided for producing a corresponding voltage when a string-fret pair is closed by pressing the string against the fret. When two or more string-fret pairs are simultaneously closed, the output voltage corresponding to the highest frequency musical tone associated with the closed string-fret pairs is produced.

Abstract: A musical instrument having a general body outline similar to that of a saxaphone. A front key panel having a plurality of keys mounted thereon is located for easy fingering access to the keys which are in the same general location as the fingering keys on a saxaphone. A rear control panel is provided for mounting instrument voice characteristic and special effects controls. A mouthpiece is provided for engagement by a player's mouth and a pressure transducer is carried in the mouthpiece for communication with the player's breath pressure and for producing a pressure signal corresponding thereto. The pressure signal is connected to a pressure attack circuit for producing a pressure attack signal. Finger pressure applied to predetermined combinations of keys provides predetermined combinations of key pulses for connection to a key decoder. The key decoder produces a binary output corresponding to the predetermined combinations of key pulses which ranges from zero to 1111.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a waveshape generator capable of producing a desired waveshape by previously storing basic amplitudes obtained by sampling one period of the waveshape at a coarse interval and calculating amplitudes with a fine interval between the basic amplitudes. While basic amplitudes A and B are sequentially produced at a coarse interval in response to an integer portion of the input data, a function X (c) is produced in response to a fraction portion of the input data. Waveshape amplitudes are interpolated between the basic amplitudes by carrying out calculation of A + (B - A) .times. X(c) in response to these values A, B and X(c). A special form of function X(c) is also used for applying interpolation by a partial waveshape of a trigonometric function wave. An example of a musical tone waveshape generator is also described in which different waveshapes are produced depending upon different tone ranges by moving the position of a radix point for each of the different tone ranges.

Abstract: Touch responsive control of note amplitude and harmonic content is achieved by providing each key with a touch responsive transducer. A set of attack/decay scale factors are accessed sequentially from a memory and used to establish the amplitude envelope of the generated note. The accessed scale factors are modified by the transducer output to effectuate touch responsive amplitude control. In a preferred embodiment, scale factors stored in consecutive memory locations define a piano-like attack/decay envelope. The transducer output sets the initial memory access location, so that the harder the key is struck, the greater the initial amplitude of the generated note.Other embodiments include touch responsive control of the constituent Fourier components of the generated tone; and utilization of multiplexing for time shared connection of plural analog touch responsive transducers to a single analog to digital converter.

Abstract: Modulation systems for electrical signals representing music in which synchronous vibrato and tremolo modulations are applied to a flute signal in one channel, the vibrator being produced by a bucket brigade modulator and the tremolo by a balanced modulator in cascade with the bucket brigade modulator, and in which in a second channel tones other than flute tones, and pedal tones, are separately treated to have independent vibratos, and in which balanced modulators for modifying the amplitude of the tone signals are concurrently controlled by a common expression voltage. In one modification flute signals are vibrato modulated in opposed phases, and passed via diverse filters to a common tremolo modulator. Provision is made for combining the inputs of the channels, the outputs of which are electroacoustically transduced by separated loudspeakers. Provision is made for slowly varying the frequency of a sub-sonic modulating oscillator, which is either turned off, or operates at about 1 or about 6 Hz.