Abstract: A multiplicity of pressure-sensitive switching devices are mounted beneath a surface and a selected number are connected by circuit means through a programmer to at least one signal generating apparatus. When a pressure-sensitive switching device is closed, the signal generating apparatus is activated and a particular signal is produced. As a series of pressure-sensitive switching devices are closed as an individual moves across the surface, the signals produced will be coordinated with that movement.The programmer permits any pressure-sensitive switching device to be placed in circuit to generate any identified signal so that each pressure-sensitive switching device can be made to activate a particular signal. The programmer permits the signal generated when a particular pressure-sensitive switching device is closed to be changed.

Abstract: An automatic performance system in an electronic musical instrument comprises circuits for forming digital performance information signals by converting the displacement of movable members operated according to the contents of a performance into digital signals, and circuits for forming musical tone information signals corresponding to the contents of the performance from harmonic rich tone signals by controlling predetermined signal paths with electronic switches operated in response to the performance information signals, the digital performance information signals being detected and stored, and read out into the electronic switches at proper time instants, whereby all of the performance information signals are automatically reproduced as musical tone information signals with fidelity.

Abstract: An electronic organ includes digital circuitry for automatically enabling in a sequential manner a plurality of gates to pass tone signals to a corresponding plurality of keyers. The sequential enabling is separately controllable by an arpeggio circuit, a glissando circuit, and a strum circuit. The digital circuitry includes an octave counter and a tone counter both of which are stepped by a quadrature clock to sequentially enable the gates. The quadrature clock can be stopped to cause a count to be held under control of multivibrators which adjustably control the tone interval and the repeat interval. The repeat multivibrator can be automatically synchronized under control of a key down detector or a rhythm generator.

Abstract: A keyboard electronic musical instrument includes a plurality of playing keys, each of which are capable of coupling a set of chord tone signals to an output utilization circuit. These chord tone signals comprise the root and fifth parts and also the major third and minor third parts of a chord. Each of the playing keys are capable of operation to two different depressed positions, one of which causes the major third chord component to be supplied along with the root and fifth parts to the utilization device. The other depressed position of the key causes the minor third chord component to be supplied along with the root and fifth parts to the utilization device. Provision also is made for permitting only the root note tone signal to be passed to the output circuit to permit normal playing of the keyboard.

Abstract: An Electronic Tuning Device for tuning musical instruments employes a single radio frequency oscillator. Frequency dividers are used to divide the frequency of the radio frequency oscillator (clock) by various divisors so as to produce a series of notes that approximate a desired musical scale. A note selector selects a particular note for use as a reference frequency against which a musical instrument to be tuned can be compared. The note selector also controls means for shifting the frequency of the master oscillator slightly so as to place the frequency of the selected note exactly at its proper position in the desired musical scale. A vernier control is provided by means of which the master oscillator can be altered so as to cause all of the notes to be sharped and flated up to about a half semitone.

Abstract: An electronic organ, and a method of operation in which the keyboard is scanned and a series of signals is established in conformity with the pattern of keys that are depressed. The signal pattern is stored in a plurality of shifted positions and the composite pattern is then employed for actuating keyers to key signal tones of respective pitch. In this manner, a plurality of organ footages can be obtained in a simple and effective manner.

Abstract: An absolute pitch selector apparatus provides a set of audio-frequency tone signals for a musical instrument. These are selected from a larger number of tone generator circuits by means of a rotary pitch selector switch. Stationary input and output contacts of the switch are printed on the same side of a stationary circuit board. The output contacts are shaped like the arcs of circles that are coaxial with the single circle of input contacts. A rotor carries a first set of spring contacts bearing on the stationary input contacts, a second set of spring contacts bearing on the stationary output contacts, and bridging conductors.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a keyboard circuit for generating pitch determining voltage signals whose voltage values exponentially vary with respect to notes. Key switches are connected between a DC voltage source and a voltage dividing resistance network, thus making it possible to use key switches having a simpler contact construction. Nevertheless, the keyboard circuit of the invention can act as a lower or higher tone preference circuit.

Abstract: The musical instrument has a keyboard which may be arranged to have either seven or five lower digitals per octave span. The musical tones are electrically keyed by means of digital switches. A scale selector switch changes the connections between the digital switches and the tone generator circuits so that either the seven tone diatonic scale or a pentatonic scale is played on consecutive lower digitals of the keyboard.The top parts of the upper digitals are easily removable and interchangeable. Most of the upper digitals are black. When the keyboard is arranged for playing in a pentatonic scale, the E.music-sharp. upper digital in each octave is white, serving as a landmark for the player. When the keyboard is arranged for playing in the diatonic scale, the inactive E.music-sharp. and B.music-sharp. digitals are white.

Abstract: An electric organ tone generating system in which each organ tone is generated by an individual independent oscillator with built-in computer means for individually tuning each individual oscillator in turn from a fixed crystal controlled reference oscillator. All the individual oscillators are of identical construction except for the tuning components of the oscillator.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument incorporates apparatus for producing, on either a triggered or a repetitive basis, a wave form which is employed to produce a variety of musical sounds upon being connected to a loudspeaker. The generator is provided with means for independently modifying the wave shape and frequency of a repetitive signal, each without changing the other.

Abstract: An electronic organ includes digital circuitry for automatically enabling in a sequential manner a plurality of gates to pass tone control signals to keyers which generate corresponding tone output signals. The digital circuitry includes a tone counter which sequentially enables a plurality of tone gates, and an octave counter which sequentially enables output gates having inputs from the tone gates. A clock generates clock pulses which are rapidly counted by the note counter to sequentially scan the note gates. When a tone control signal is passed, the output of a note detector causes a divider to be inserted between the clock and the note counter to maintain enabling of the note counter.

Abstract: A chord button assembly for use in electronical organs is formed as a unitary assembly. A plastic hinge strip extending the length of the chord selector button area is provided and a plurality of keys or arms extend from the strip and have selector buttons formed at or near terminating ends of the arms in a staggered pattern to extend through openings formed in the chord selector plate. The arms are provided with return spring and electrical contact element receiving recesses which are strategically located to allow selection of multiple chord operation by actuation of a single chord button.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument including two or more keyboards individually capable of selecting, simultaneously, any twelve out of at least 1,024 discrete pitches per octave to produce scales of twenty-four or more notes per octave using conventional keyboards. It can also produce two or more completely independent tones with a specific pitch or phase difference between them for research in music theory, music history, ethnomusicology, acoustics, and monaural and binaural beats.

Abstract: An electronic organ comprises memory means for memorizing in an analog manner the synthesizing ratio of repetitively occuring waves such as square waves for synthesizing qualities of sound in response to the signals from means for selecting qualities of sound (to be referred to as tablets hereinafter); a mixing circuit for adding the synthesizing ratio for each repetitively occuring wave when the means for selecting qualities of sound are selected; frequency dividers for dividing the oscillation frequencies of top octave generators, an indirect keying circuit for interrupting the current corresponding to the ratio of repetitively occuring waves in response to the repetitively occuring signal waveforms from the frequency dividers and intermittingly interrupting said current in response to on-off signals from a keyboard; a synthesizing circuit for combining the outputs from the indirect keying circuit into a group for each octave; a variable filter for changing the frequency characteristics electronically in re

Abstract: Generator for producing the tones of a musical scale in electronic musical instruments, one master oscillator driving a chain of frequency dividers in a manner such that at the output of each divider a tone is produced which is lower by a semi-tone than the tone at the input of the divider, the final divider of the chain being connected to the input of the first divider via a frequency multiplier which multiplies by a factor of 2, while the master oscillator can be connected to any one of the dividers, in which case the connection of this divider to the preceding one is broken in order to permit transposition without the use of additional dividers.

Abstract: The system of this invention is for use with an electronic musical instrument having a keyboard, and generally includes keyboard circuitry, audio waveform generators, envelope generators, static and dynamic filter circuitry and power amplifier and speaker apparatus. In accordance with one feature of this invention, the system comprises means for establishing different digital voice codes which are coupled to read only memories associated with the audio waveform generators, envelope generators and main voice circuitry. This voice code provides a limited number of program conditions to control such variables as audio waveform pulse widths, envelope attack, decay, sustain or release intervals, and instrument resonator control. Another feature of the present invention is concerned with the keyboard circuitry which operates from a digital key and octave code. Each code is sequentially interrrogated to determine if the corresponding key has been played.