Abstract: An electronic accordion without bellows and without reeds. Control panels and surfaces are provided to maximize convenience to the performer.It is a stationary instrument which can be detached from its sectional tubular supporting platform for portability.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument is of a type in which tones are produced by a limited number of tone production channels which are efficiently used for a large number of tones utilizing channel assignment technology. A plurality of tones to constitute a chord are normally produced simultaneously by using plural channels, but when a duet mode is selected to automatically add a duet note to a melody note, the chord constituent tones are produced in succession as a broken chord utilizing only a single channel, thus leaving another channel available for production of the duet note. This eliminates the need to provide an additional tone production channel for the duet note.

Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument of waveshape memory type, a waveshape memory stores waveshape data which covers from start to end of a musical tone and which varies litle by little in shape, amplitude and/or cyclic period as the waveshape extends to the succeeding cycles. A start address from which the waveshape memory begins to be read is controlled by expression control such as a key touch response structure or expression pedal, so that the tone color, level and/or pitch of a produced tone is varied according to the expression control.

Abstract: This electronic musical instrument comprises digital tone generation circuits having a plurality of tone generation channels each being capable of selecting a tone color independently from other channels. In each of the tone generation circuits, digital tone signals having the selected tone colors are produced in response to operation of a key or a switch. A specific number of analog channels are provided for processing analog tone signals channel by channel and a channel divider is also provided for distributing the digital tone signals generated by the digital tone generation circuits to these analog channels in specific combinations according to the selected tone colors. This channel divider further mixes the distributed digital tone signals together for each of the analog channels for time-division-multiplexing the mixed digital tone signals for each of the analog channels. The multiplexed digital tone signals are converted to analog signals by means of a single digital-to-analog converter.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprising a code generator responsive to the operation of each of the keys for generating a first code indicating a tone pitch and a second code indicating an octave associated with the operated key. A first variable frequency divider is presettable to a first count value as a function of the first code for counting master clock pulses supplied from an oscillator and generating a first divider output when the first count value is reached. A second variable frequency divider is presettable to a second count value as a function of the second code for counting the first divider output and generating a plurality of pulse trains having octave frequency relationship. A digital-to-analog converting means is provided for converting the pulse trains into an analog signal.

Abstract: A multiple wave generator for an electronic musical instrument which has a wave data memory storing plural data samples of a wave shape, a wave address register storing wave address data partially designating sampled data in the wave data memory, a difference address register storing difference address data which specifies incremental address amount, a wave address calculator adding the wave address data to the difference address data and writing into the wave address register, the summed address data being separated into wave memory address data and partial address data, and a wave calculator. The wave memory address data, which are part of the wave address data, are applied to the wave data memory for reading out one data sample, and the one data sample and the partial address data are applied to the wave calculator for calculating interpolated wave sample data corresponding to the wave memory address and the partial address.

Abstract: A wave reading apparatus includes a wave generator for generating a plurality of wave signals, a read-out frequency generator for generating a plurality of read-out frequencies, a controller for controlling calculation, writing and reading of wave samples, a writing device, a plurality of buffer memories and a plurality of read-out devices. The controller informs requests of wave samples calculation to the wave generator in accordance with the read-out frequencies. The calculated wave samples are written through the writing device to the buffer memories and read out by the read-out device in accordance with the read-out frequencies, at least one of which is different in frequency from the remainder.

Abstract: A novel music instrument is disclosed, comprising (i) a wind music instrument of the type wherein the emitted acoustic tone is dependent upon the placement of means such as valves or a slide which determine column length and the wind pressure exerted by the musician, (ii) a music synthesizer, and (iii) an interface apparatus. The interface apparatus includes sensing means for sensing the position of the instrument valves or slides and generating a sensing signal, transducer means for sensing characteristics of the note emitted by the wind instrument and generating a transducer signal, and a controller adapted to the type of wind instrument for generating a synthesizer control signal in response to the sensing signal and the transducer signal. By playing the instrument in a normal manner, the musician is able to also control the synthesizer to generate notes related to the notes emitted by the wind instrument.

Abstract: A voice synthesizer is disclosed for simulating a voice singing the lyrics of a song. The synthesizer comprises a phoneme speech synthesizer in which the phonemes are sounded at a pitch controlled by the keys or notes played on a musical keyboard. The tempo of the sung lyrics is controlled by the tempo at which the keys of the keyboard are played.

Abstract: An interactive music composition and performance system is a real-time composing and sound-producing system which employs a synthesizer, a programmable computer, and at least one performance device and which functions automatically to generate controls which determine the course of the musical composition it plays as well as the nature of the sound it produces. The system is interactive in that a user can direct aspects of the system's production of music, as he or she hears it being produced, by use of a performance device. If the user does not provide an input, the system proceeds automatically to compose music and produce sound.

Abstract: A keyboard operated musical instrument is disclosed in which a musical tone having an extended range of harmonics is produced by combining two waveshapes. The first waveshape has a spectrum containing only the odd-numbered harmonics and the second waveshape spectrum has all the harmonics and is phase locked to the first waveshape. The second waveshape has a fundamental frequency which is twice the fundamental frequency of the first waveshape.

Abstract: The present invention is a circuit for controlling the sampling of plurality of channels in an electronic organ having multiplexed keying. The channels having information signals at a particular time period is sensed and used to address a memory. The memory has stored a plurality of sequences of digital signals for controlling the multiplexing and demultiplexing operations of the organ. Only those channels containing information signals are sampled which accordingly increases the sampling rate which increases the frequency of the harmonic component of the square wave signals that can be passed by the system and the distortion caused by aliasing of harmonics is diminished.

Abstract: A tone generator as disclosed that produces a specified waveform by reading out values contained in one of a number of arrays stored in an EPROM. Variations of the desired waveform are stored in a number of these arrays. A microprocessor is used to select among the various arrays stored in the EPROM to compensate for distortion in subsequent processing of the waveform, as a function of amplitude and frequency. The rate at which the values are read from the selected array determines the frequency of the tone produced. Also disclosed are various means for processing the waveform suitable for use in audiometric testing.

Abstract: In a waveshape memory, a first waveshape of plural periods including an attack portion and a second waveshape of plural periods are stored. A tone waveshape signal is produced by reading out the first waveshape once and thereafter reading out the second waveshape repeatedly. The first waveshape is a first section including an attack portion cut off from a desired original tone waveshape. The second waveshape is principally composed of a second specified section succeeding the first specified section cut off from the original tone waveshape. A terminal portion in the second specified section is weighted with decay characteristics and is added with a corresponding terminal portion of the first specified section which has been weighted with attack characteristics, thereby effecting smooth connection between the respective waveshapes.

Abstract: When a mode changeover switch is shifted to musical instrument mode position and a key scale assigning key is operated, symbol ".music-sharp." or "b" is displayed on a display means according to the selected key scale. Numeral keys and a decimal point key are then operated to play a wide variety of musical tones on the selected key scale.

Abstract: An N-Key Rollover Type Keyboard sequentially scans the keys so as to transmit information correctly as to each key which is depressed without transmitting a garbled code which could result from simultaneous depression of two keys without the sequential scanning. The coded information from the keyboard is applied to a differential amplifier along with the noise signal from the keyboard so that only the coded signal is amplified, thus reducing the noise level quite markedly. The coded signal is fed to a shift register which is cycled once for each scanning of the keyboard so that a current scan can be compared with a past scan in a comparator or an AND gate with the result that there will be an output only for the first scan that detects a depressed key, i.e., the depression of the key will not cause continued signal transmission, but will cause such transmission once only. A strobe is generated only on the first scan.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument employs a novel technique to produce a musical sound. A major part of a musical sound producing section of the electronic musical instrument is constructed by digital circuitry which is well adapted for an LSI fabrication. The electronic musical instrument comprises a volume control means to digitally perform a volume control to increase or decrease a performance volume, a period counting means to count one cycle of a musical sound wave by a plurality of counting steps in order to form a musical sound wave under digital control, a period control means to control the period counting means in accordance with the scale represented by depressed performance key, and a means to instruct the rise and the fall of a musical sound wave by a value which is an integral multiple of a control value of the volume control means, for each block including a predetermined number of counting steps.

Abstract: In a keyboard instrument having white and black keys, the necessity for a player to depress black (sharp or flat) keys is eliminated by circuitry which memorizes which tones are to be automatically sharped or flatted when a corresponding white key is depressed.

Abstract: A keyboard operated electronic musical instrument is disclosed which has a number of tone generators which are assigned to actuated keyswitches. Musical tones having an anharmonic overtones structure are produced by generating a number of component waveshapes each having a different fundamental frequency. These component waveshapes are summed to produce a single tone. Each component waveshape has a spectral content of a preselected subset of non-zero harmonic coefficients. The various components have mutually exclusive selection for the non-zero harmonic coefficients.

Abstract: A function selector has an indicating unit which contains several identical groups of switches. All of the switches are connected with a control input of a microcomputer via a common control conductor. Each group of switches is connected to a different data input of the microcomputer by means of an identification conductor common to all switches of the group. An indicating shift register is associated with every group of switches and each switch of a group, as well as its corresponding light source, are connected to a different stage of the respective indicating shift register. An activating shift register is connected in parallel with each indicating shift register. The stages of the activating shift registers are connected with respective function generating elements. The microcomputer has a series of data outputs each of which is connected both with an indicating shift register and the corresponding activating shift register.

Abstract: A musical scoring system for scoring music arranged in measures. The system preferably includes a keyboard unit having a plurality of keys, a clock generator, a counter for counting clock signals generated by the clock generator and a summing circuit for maintaining a running sum of a series of quantized note, rest length values during each measure of the music to be scored. When keys are operated at the keyboard unit, a subtracting and converting means subtracts the value then stored in the register from the value stored in the counter and quantizes the result to produce a new quantized note/rest length value. This new quantized note/rest length value is thereafter summed by the summing means to the value stored in the register. Preferably, at the beginning of each measure of the music to be stored, the contents of the counter and the register are cleared and the summing means, and subtracting and converting means are provided by a central processing unit.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes a keyboard having keys, an optical disc memory which is low-speed in access and very large in capacity, a semiconductor memory which is high-speed in access and very small in capacity, and readout circuit. The semiconductor memory stores an initial portion corresponding to a short period from the start of a tone waveshape. The optical disc memory stores a remaining portion succeeding the initial portion in the tone waveshape. The readout circuit starts to read out the initial portion and the remaining portion at the same time in response to a key depression. The short period is in advance determined so as to be equal to or longer than an access time required to read out the first data of the remaining portion. Therefore, the initial portion is firstly read out and thereafter the remaining portion is read out, so that the low-speed accessibility of the optical disc memory is compensated with the high-speed accessibility of the semiconductor memory.

Abstract: Disclosed is a frequency-selectable signal generator in which a numeric datum is parallel-transferred to a full adder circuit repeatedly under the control of clock pulse signals, thereby outputting an overflow signal, which is a precise division of accumulation of repeatedly inputting numbers. The frequency of the overflow signal varies with the number represented by the numeric datum. The output signal has a regular pulse-to-pulse interval, and therefore it can be used in producing a musical note.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument is disclosed. The instrument includes an improved control means for addressing a read only memory (ROM) which stores digital data representing one or more musical sounds. The instrument thereby provides multiple realistic sounds by virtue of the improved control means.

Abstract: A tone pattern identifying system collates coincidence between tone data of an inputted tone array and tone data of a given reference theme tone array by recognizing such coincidence at corresponding locations between these two tone arrays for each shifting of their relative positions, and outputs at least a most closely resembling tone array as a result of the collation. This system may include means for evaluating the result of collation and means for displaying the result of the evaluation.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for esthetic programmatic coordination of musical and spoken sounds in response to the movement and presence of one or more persons on a stairway or in a pedestrian walkway.

Abstract: In an LSI chip including a control section and a tone generating section, a plurality of tones are simultaneously produced in a time division basis processing for a plurality of channels. The control section is coupled to a keyboard and a performance memory via bus lines, and the control section controls the tone generating section such that a tone having specified tone color and pitch is selectively provided for a particular channel.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument in which a pair of frequency numbers consisting of a note frequency number corresponding to the pitch of each note and an auxiliary frequency number slightly different from the note frequency number are provided for each note. Only when it is detected that keys of the same note are simultaneously depressed on at least two keyboards, musical waveform signals of slightly different pitches are produced. When keys of different notes are depressed on the individual keyboards, musical sounds of standard pitches can be produced, and only when keys of the same note are concurrently depressed on the individual keyboards, the slightly different frequency numbers are selected, by which variations in the volume of the composite musical sound can be made unnoticeable.

Abstract: A just intonation electronic keyboard instrument comprises a plurality of tonality selection switches for selecting each key from among twenty-four just intonation keys, a control circuit for determining one or a plurality of just intonation keys according to the manipulation of said switches, a variable frequency oscillator having its output oscillation frequency varied in accordance with the selected key, and a frequency dividing circuit having frequency dividers which are varied of their frequency dividing ratios according to the selected key. The number of tonality selection switches is less than twenty-four. The control circuit discriminates the selection to a major scale or a minor scale, and discriminates one or a plurality of keys from each of twelve keys from C through B, and determines one or a plurality of selected just intonation keys, according to the manipulation of said intonation selection switches.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument in which a plurality of musical waveforms are obtained by a time-sharing style of multi-channels according to key data input from a keyboard. A wave-shape memory memorizes a plurality of wave-shape data representative of basic one cycle waveforms of different musical wave shapes. A musical instrument selecting circuit designates the a kind of wave-shape for each of the channels which is to be read out from the wave-shape memory, and a sound effect selecting circuit designates the kind of effect of each of the channels. A pitch forming circuit generates pitch data for reading of the wave-shape memory in each of the channels according to the key data and output data from the sound effect selecting circuit.

Abstract: A keyboard operated electronic musical instrument is disclosed in which an independent monophonic tone synthesizer is operated from the same keyboard that controls the generation of tone from a polyphonic tone generation system. The highest frequency note is assigned to the monophonic tone synthesizer and all other actuated keyboard switches are assigned to the polyphonic tone generation system. The detection of the highest note is initiated each time that a keyswitch changes from an unactuated to an actuated state. An alternative arrangement is to assign the lowest frequency note to the monophonic tone synthesizer.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument is provided in which frequency signals are developed by voltage controlled oscillators which are controlled from an analog demultiplexer connected to a scanner of a keyboard and control circuit and in which envelope signals are developed by an envelope synthesizer in synchronized relation to the frequency signals, such frequency and envelope signals being applied to a waveform synthesizer circuit to develop output signals for production of tones. The keyboard and control circuit includes available oscillator and keyboard memories operable from a memory interchange circuit and further includes circuitry for accommodating overload, re-key and an optional portamento operation which is polyphonic in that the frequencies of a plurality of tones can be simultaneously and continuously changed. The circuitry also provides an infinite duration release capability.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having key input means selectively actuable to cause the production of sounds corresponding to respective notes of the musical scale, comprises a memory circuit for storing the respective notes, and a clear circuit actuated to partially amend at least one of the notes from the contents of the memory means.

Abstract: A foot-controlled musical instrument, the control portion of which includes a heel rest mounted for rotation so that, while the heel of the playing person is firmly placed on the rest, the foot may easily be turned to various angular positions within a range of about 90 degrees, to bring the anterior part of the foot into position to make contact with any desired one of several (preferably six) pedal keys which, when activated, cause production of various sounds, e.g. according to a tonal scale. The pedal keys are mounted on a spring-loaded plate which may be depressed by foot pressure, the depression thereof serving to control certain characteristics of the produced sound. The heel rest plate is also mounted for movement in one or more linear directions in addition to its rotary movement, and these linear movements control other characteristics of the produced sound.

Abstract: A keyboard operated electronic musical instrument in which a number of tone generators are assigned to actuated keyswitches in which a combination of a transient voice and a steady state tone is generated by implementing a discrete Fourier transform employing a selected sequence of harmonic coefficients. A harmonic sequence select logic in cooperation with signals from actuated tone switches provide the selected sequence of harmonic coefficients. A percussion coefficient is added to the sequence of harmonic coefficients in response to a percussion control signal. Various playing modes are disclosed. In one mode the transient voice is generated with the actuation of the first keyswitch on a selected keyboard, and other subsequent actuations are ignored. In a second mode, a transient voice is actuated if at the time of a keyswitch actuation no other transient voice is being generated.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument which produces counter melody automatically selects one from among chord constituting tones in a predetermined priority order and produces a tone of the same note as the selected tone as a counter melody tone. This electronic musical instrument further comprises a chord type detector for detecting a chord type of a performed chord besides a chord designation detector for detecting the fact that the chord has been designated, a counter melody tone determining circuit for selecting one from among the chord constituting tones and sound system for producing the counter melody tone. The predetermined priority order is determined in accordance with the detected chord type. This dependence on chord type make it possible to produce a counter melody tone which is more rich in music.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument including a compact, portable pedal board and a storage case for the pedal board and for the electronic components of the instrument is disclosed. The pedal board includes shortened foot pedals having a low profile and a very low throw for activating control switches for the electronics, whereby the pedal board can be used in conjunction with a piano or with other instruments. The low throw is obtained through the use of a guide channel mounting arrangement for the pedals and by the use of pressure sensitive switching.The storage case receives and secures the pedal board and also provides a housing for the tone generator, amplifier and other electronics controlled by the pedal board. A control panel door on the end of the storage case is adapted to receive a control panel, and is hinged to the storage case so that it may be swung fully open to expose the control panel. The case may then be positioned on its opposite end to serve as a display stand for the control unit.

Abstract: Basic frequency data is preliminarily stored in a ROM. Tuning data obtained from a tuning counter according to manual operation of a rotary switch, and basic frequency data out from the ROM are processed in a CPU to form modified frequency data, which is stored in a RAM. The modified frequency data stored in the RAM is selectively read out according to the operation of the keyboard, so that a tuned note sound is produced from a loudspeaker.

Abstract: A tone source system for a superior electronic musical instrument suitable for an LSI application in which the wave data can be provided in a time division multiplex form, or the envelope data can be provided in a time division multiplex form in a synchronous relationship with it, and the wave data to which the envelopes are attached can be provided in a time division multiplex form through multiplication of the data.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes a keyboard having a plurality of keys, each depressed key being identified by a uniquely developed multibit code. Each of a plurality of tone generators, substantially less in number than the number of keys characterizing the keyboard, is operable in response to each of the multibit codes for producing a tone signal having a frequency corresponding to the pitch of the associated depressed key. Each depressed key is assigned for playing through one of the tone generators by a control circuit, the control circuit being responsive to the condition wherein all of the tone generators have been assigned to previously played keys for assigning a newly played key for playing through the tone generator which was assigned to the oldest released one of the previously played keys.

Abstract: An improved keyboard for a musical instrument includes a plurality of keys arranged in a side-by-side order, all lying in a common plane. Different embodiments of the invention have a varying number of keys per octave, from as small as 12 keys per octave to as high as 90-120 keys per octave. In those embodiments of the invention in which the number of keys per octave results in a key whose width is too narrow to be uniquely depressed by an operator's finger, associated apparatus determines from a plurality of keys which have been depressed, a particular tone to be produced. The keyboard may be associated with apparatus to distinguish one set of keys from other sets of keys, which apparatus can include a selectively energizable light source associated with each different key or other equivalent apparatus.

Abstract: Code data representing a plurality of note frequencies are stored in a first ROM and are selectively read out according to key operation of a keyboard. With the operation of a key, predetermined control data is also obtained, and this control data is cumulatively added to or subtracted from the code data as an initial value, whereby a note frequency signal corresponding to the operated key is obtained. Portions of the waveform of the resultant note frequency signal where there is a sharp change in amplitude are interpolated with a sine wave stored in a second ROM.

Abstract: An electronic music signal generator digitally stores amplitude values representing a complex wave in a number of different memories. By reading out the stored values, under control of a clock circuit, and superimposing them in various ways various effects such as decay can be produced to achieve either single toned or multi-toned sounds closely simulating the sound impression created by mechanical musical instruments.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument equipped with multiple musical tone signal generating channels, with an automatic play system which controls the tone generation of the musical tone signal generating channels on the basis of the automatic play data recorded in a memory so as to successively and automatically generate musical tones. The instrument also has a manual play system which controls the tone generation of the musical tone signal generating channels by the keyboard and other performance controls so as to generate musical tones by control of the tone generation of the multiple musical tone signal generating channels by the joint use of the automatic play system and the manual play system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a keyer capture system for an electronic keyboard musical instrument, such as an electronic organ. The system is particularly adapted for the situation wherein a relatively low number of notes are required to be captured at one time, such as in the case of the pedals. The system is responsive to serial data for the pedals and the two keyers are captured on a priority basis with the master keyer given preference. If the note is already captured by the other keyer, then that note will not be captured by the keyer which is receiving the keydown pulse for that note, and a recirculating shift register for each keyer keeps track of which note that keyer has captured. The system is capable of being easily integrated into an electronic organ wherein the pedal data is in serial time division multiplexed format, and can be implemented as an accessory wherein it is desired to generate the pedal data from the lowest actuated key on one of the manuals.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument employs a novel technique to produce a musical sound. A major part of a musical sound producing section of the electronic musical instrument is constructed by digital circuitry which is well adapted for an LSI fabrication. The electronic musical instrument comprises a volume control means to digitally perform a volume control to increase or decrease a performance volume, a period counting means to count one cycle of a musical sound wave by a plurality of counting steps in order to form a musical sound wave under digital control, a period control means to control the period counting means in accordance with the scale represented by a depressed performance key, and a means to instruct the rise and the fall of a musical sound wave by a value which is an integral multiple of a control value of the volume control means, for each block including a predetermined number of counting steps.

Abstract: A tone generator for an electronic musical instrument is operable for producing a highly stable tone signal over an extended frequency range. The tone generator comprises a timing circuit defining first and second time intervals occurring in respective time succession after the occurrence of a transition of an input signal. A timing capacitor is charged during each second time interval and discharged during the time intervals occurring between the end and beginning of successive ones of the second time intervals. A feedback circuit is enabled during each of the first time intervals for coupling the timing capacitor for controlling the discharge rate so that a highly stable ramp output tone signal is produced.

Abstract: Key switches of a keyboard circuit are scanned by a counter which starts at a lower or upper limit value that is preset in the counter by a signal which also reverses the counting direction data from the counter, is provided to a first circuit having preset therein the number of preferential low-pitched or high-pitched tones to be produced and a second circuit having preset therein a maximal number of tones to be produced. In the case where the number of preferential low-pitched tones is preset in the first circuit, and when the number of tones based on the data from the counter reaches the preset number, the direction of counting of the counter is reversed by the signal to cause the counter count down starting with the preset upper limit value. In the case where the number of preferential high-pitched tone productions is preset in the first circuit, and when reaching the preset number, the direction of counting of the counter is inverted to cause it to count up from the preset lower limit value.

Abstract: Each one of a plurality of harmonic components is multiplied with a first amplitude coefficient to form a plurality of harmonic components corresponding to a musical tone signal having a desired waveform. Each of the harmonic components is varied with time by a first envelope waveform signal in accordance with a second amplitude coefficient corresponding to each harmonic to form a harmonic component of a spectrum varying with time in a desired manner. By using a second envelope waveform signal, amplitudes of respective harmonic components are varied in a predetermined manner and then the harmonic components are synthesized to form a musical tone.

Abstract: A channel processor capable of assigning a key code provided by a key coder and representing making (or breaking) of a key switch to one of a plurality of channels for storage therein and subsequently detecting breaking (or making) of the same key switch on the side of the channel processor. The assignment of the key code is implemented by holding the key code provided by the key coder during a predetermined period of time, detecting whether conditions for the key code assignment have been satisfied or not in a former half of the holding period and, if such conditions have been satisfied, causing the key code to be stored in an empty channel of a main memory device in a latter half of the holding period. Detection of breaking of the made key switch (or vice versa) is made by once clearing a memory storing the assigned channels by means of a start code generated by the key coder and subsequently finding that a channel among the cleared channels is not stored in the memory again, i.e.