Abstract: A foldable electronic bass drum includes a base to be placed on a floor surface with a coupling device provided at a portion of the base for coupling a foot pedal with a beater. On a portion of the base remote from the coupling device, an arm mounting a pad to be struck by the beater at one end of the arm and an arm supporting device for pivotally supporting the other end of the arm are provided. The other end of the arm is fixed to the base by a fixing device so that the beater of the foot pedal can strike the pad. A vibration of the pad is picked up by a pick up device for converting a vibration of the pad into an electrical signal. When the foldable electronic bass drum is not used, the arm is released from the fixing device so that the arm is moved forward the foot pedal and laid on the base thereby establishing conveyance.

Abstract: A system for establishing a generally elongated and preferably also generally flat pattern of response for a microphone. A microphone pickup module according to the invention has a body with an elongated, preferably also generally flat, channel extending therethrough between generally oppositely facing open ends. A miniature pressure type microphone is mounted in the body with its sound-sensitive surface in communication with the channel intermediate the ends of the channel. The system provides improved response characteristics for the harmonica, accordion and drum.

Abstract: A covering member of keyboard prepared by separately fixing the push button elements to a base plate instead of integral molding is disclosed in which the plate has openings arranged conforming to the pattern of the fixed contact points on the circuit board. Fixing is carried out by using a silicone rubber-based adhesive or a pressure-sensitive adhesive optionally with the aid of tailing of protrusions on the base plate into the cavity of the base of the push button elements. A method of using unit bodies carrying push button elements is alternatively used. A base plate having openings arranged in the pattern corresponding to the fixed contact points is also disclosed for use in fixing the push button elements.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument of the solid body or equivalent type is provided with elongated resonant beams which support the bridge for the instrument strings. The resonance of the beams is lowered by the use of concentrated mass portions in or on the beams so that the resonance of the beams will be lowered and with electrical vibration-pickup means a sound more closely resembling that of a hollow bodied instrument will be achieved. The pickups may be crystal, magneto dynamic or other suitable type which are used to produce an electrical signal representative of string induced beam vibration.

Abstract: A sound pickup assembly for an acoustic string instruments includes a pad element of foam material and shaped to be placed in an interference fit into a sound hole of the instrument. The foam pad element has therein openings for microphones and leads, with the microphones being positioned inside the foam pad element in a manner such that the sound waves inside the resonator body of the instrument may readily strike the surfaces of heads of the microphones without interference.

Abstract: An electronic drum having multiple sound sources with rapidly detachable striking elements and transducers. The drum may contain one or more striking elements each producing a separate electrical output signal. A separate piezoelectric transducer is attached to each striking element. The drum includes a base structure to which various acoustically dampening compressible elements are attached. The striking elements are removably attached to the compressible elements and are acoustically isolated from one another so that vibrations caused by hitting one striking element are not picked up by the transducers attached to the other striking elements. Transducers are attached to the striking elements by first bonding resilient elements to the striking elements and then bonding the transducers to the resilient elements. The electronic drum permits a drummer to employ conventional acoustical "sticking" techniques and may be used to simulate various other percussion type instruments.

Abstract: An electronic drum has a drum body, a drumhead, a support/tension mechanism, a closed space forming member, a vibrating plate, and a piezoelectric element. The closed space forming member forms a closed air space together with the drumhead lower surface. The vibrating plate is fitted to the closed space forming member so as to divide the closed air space into plural closed air spaces. One of the divided plural closed air spaces existing between the lower surface of the drumhead and the vibrating plate serves as a transmission space. When the drumhead is struck, the vibration of the struck drumhead is transmitted to the vibrating plate via the transmission space. By this transmission via air space, same vibration at the vibrating plate is obtained irrespective of the struck portion of the drumhead if struck by same striking force. The piezoelectric element converts a pressure produced based on a mechanical vibration of the vibrating plate to an electrical signal.

Abstract: A guitar-like electronic musical instrument for use with a synthesizer (18) has a body (20) and a neck (22). The neck carries six pitch strings (40) which the player depresses onto conductive frets to determine the selected note. The body carries six trigger strings (50) which can be plucked or strummed to initiate or trigger the desired notes. Alternatively they can be triggered by six keys (70). The trigger strings (50) and pitch strings (40) are at an angle to each other. The three lower strings and the three higher strings can be triggered together by group trigger keys (300,302) and all six strings triggered by a master trigger key (204). If either of switches (200,202) are actuated, notes will be triggered automatically as soon as the pitch string is depressed onto the fret. Touching of the string is detected by an a.c. waveform superposed on a d.c. potential. Hall effect devices are used to sense triggering by the trigger strings (50) or keys (70).

Abstract: An improved, easily-transportable, electric double bass viol having a non-resonant body and rigidly supported fingerboard for enhanced string sustain and tonal brilliance, collapsible body extensions for providing the customary physical dimension and reference points found in traditional double basses to render the instrument easily playable by bassists trained on traditional double basses, and a piezoelectric bridge pickup structure having a piezoelectric element and flexible and inflexible portions such that string motion is transmitted to the piezoelectric element while acoustic energy in the body is substantially prevented from exciting the piezoelectric element, thereby eliminating unwanted acoustic feedback, while providing a tonal characteristic similar to an acoustic double bass.

Abstract: An input device for an electronic musical instrument, has blown air apertures and suction air apertures alternately disposed on the front face of its main body. This input device also has elastic members provided within the blown air apertures and suction air apertures, in such a way as to be deformed by the force of the air caused to flow through said blown air apertures and suction air apertures. The input device also has magnets or pressure members serving as operation members, which magnets or pressure members are each displaced by an elastic member, and a plurality of musical tone input switches are driven by the displacement of the magnets or pressure members.

Abstract: A pad for an electronic drum has a vibration responsive plate that is mounted on a cushion and has on its upper surface a relatively thin buffer pad, the plate having cushioning means on its outer edge between it and peripheral supporting structure, so that the feel of the drumhead is quite natural to the player and that vibrations from the frame or supporting structure are insulated from the plate, and that the plate vibrations are not adversely affected, the plate carrying a microphone or other sound pick-up means.

Abstract: A pad for an electronic drum has a vibration responsive plate that is mounted on a cushion and has on its upper surface a relatively thin buffer pad, the plate having cushioning means on its outer edge between it and peripheral supporting structure, and a drumhead stretched directly over the buffer pad and retained by a cover member held in spaced relation from the plate, so that the feel of the pad is quite natural to the player and that vibrations from the frame or supporting structure are insulated from the plate, and that the plate vibrations are not adversely affected, the plate carrying a microphone or other sound pick-up means.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling signals produced by a transducer carried by an acoustic guitar. The control apparatus is mounted on the guitar and does not affect the structure or tonal qualities of the hollow tone-producing body of the guitar.

Abstract: An electro-acoustically amplified drum assembly consists of a hollow drum shell with a drum head closing one or both end thereof. An acoustical microphone is positioned in the drum shell spaced from and free from any connection to the drum head and has leads for connection to an external amplifier and speaker. An adjustable mount is secured on and extending through the wall of the drum shell for supporting the microphone. The adjustable mount includes a mechanism for adjusting the position of the microphone for minimizing microphone interference and optimizing proximity effect and sound quality.

Abstract: An improved bridge transducer for rigid non-acoustic body string musical instruments, enabling production of tonal character and quality associated with flexible acoustic body instruments using a novel compliant suspension supporting a string bridge, which is equally responsive to plucked or bowed strings, is interactive with the strings in a manner similar to acoustic body supported bridges, while eliminating problems of diminished string sustain, and air coupled loud speaker feedback, uneven frequency response, and is economical to manufacture. A sound pickup device is coupled to the suspended string bridge for detection and amplification of motion induced by played strings.

Abstract: A sound attachment for a reed instrument such as a harmonica. A housing is provided having an open end adapted for attachment to the instrument, covering the full width of the portion of the instrument from which sound is emitted, and a closed opposite end. Interior walls of the housing converge from the open end to an area intermediate the length of the housing, defining a sound funnel. A sound absorbing collar is mounted transversely within the housing, located between the intermediate area and the closed end of the housing, and has an electronic sound pick up element mounted therein. The pick up element is located to provide an air chamber on both sides of the collar pick up element assembly, the rear chamber being at least partially filled with sound absorbing material such that virtually total sound from the instrument is received by the pick up element with very little or no distortion, and thus may be amplified without distortion.

Abstract: A mounting ring-thumbrest is provided for an electric guitar. The article provides a mounting ring for securing a pickup to the guitar and a thumbrest. The thumbrest is located to provide the optimum position of a player's hand.A method of mounting a pickup uses only two screws to secure the mounting ring-thumbrest and pickup to the guitar and allows the space between the strings and the pickup to be adjustable.

Abstract: A keyboard for a musical instrument having a plurality of elongated keys with each key having a rearwardly extending actuating arm. The arm has an upper and a lower nonresilient switch actuator for actuating a respective first and second keyboard switch with each switch having a substrate with at least one fixed contact. A deformable membrane has coupled thereto a movable contact which is adapted for movement into and out of electrical connection with the fixed contact. The first and second switches are positioned so that the lower actuator normally maintains closed the first switch and when the key is actuated the first switch opens and the upper actuator closes the second switch. The deformable membrane is formed of Poron cellular urethane which distributes and absorbs the actuation force and springs back to its undeformed shape when not actuated.

Abstract: A sound attachment for a reed instrument such as a harmonica. A housing is provided having an open end adapted for attachment to the instrument, covering the full width of the portion of the instrument from which sound is emitted, and a closed opposite end. Interior walls of the housing converge from the open end to an area intermediate the length of the housing, defining a sound funnel. A sound absorbing collar is mounted transversely within the housing, located between the intermediate area and the closed end of the housing, and has an electronic sound pick up element mounted therein. The pick up element is located to provide an air chamber on both sides of the collar pick up element assembly which achieves a balanced condition such that when the chambers are filled with air, virtually total sound from the instrument is received by the pick up element with very little or no distortion, and thus may be amplified without distortion.

Abstract: An audio pickup for musical instruments employing a condenser-type microphone mounted on a suction cup which is pressed against the sounding board or the like of the instrument.

Abstract: A string instrument pickup system sensitive to 360.degree. of transverse string movement, which is substantially immune from microphonics, and which has a substantially equal or balanced response to all of the strings. In one form of the invention a piezoelectric transducer is compressively associated with vertical movement components of each string of the instrument, but is laterally offset from a centered position under the string for compressive association of the transducer also with the horizontal string movement components; and halves of the total piezoelectric transducer area are oppositely polarized so as to cancel out microphonics.

Abstract: An electronic percussion synthesizer is disclosed which includes a plurality of pressure transducers, each representing a different percussive musical instrument. Each transducer is responsive to an external striking force for generating analog pulses, each pulse representing one beat of the respective musical instrument. The transducers are mounted to a synthesizer housing in a manner which mechanically isolates the transducers from each other. Each transducer is supported within a pair of housing portions by a resilient coupler maintained in compression between the interior surfaces of the housing portions.

Abstract: An electric pickup device for a banjo includes a piezoelectric element located in a recess in the bottom of one foot of the bridge for the instrument, so as to be located at the interface of the bridge and the head. The pickup element can be oriented so that its axes form an angle with the plane of the head, to thereby provide improved results. The pickup enables the banjo to be played in either an acoustic or an electronic amplification mode without affecting the inherent acoustic properties of the instrument.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a simple and inexpensive, clamp-type microphone mount for base fiddles and the like. The mount includes at least a pair of members arranged to clampingly engage such portions of a musical instrument as defined opposite sides of an aperture formed through the housing of the instrument.

Abstract: To simplify playing of an electronic instrument and to avoid the otherwise clearly recognizable synthetic sound quality, the operating elements are arranged in a wind or blowing body constructed and playable similar to a mouth-harmonica. These operating elements comprise a pressure sensor responsive to the blowing and suction air current or stream of a human being and which is coupled to a mouthpiece displaceable along the wind or blowing body, and a number of position sensors which respond in accordance with the momentary position of the mouthpiece. The pressure sensor and the position sensors are coupled to an evaluation circuit which is structured such that it generates, as a function of the response of these sensors, the control voltages required for controlling the synthesizer.

Abstract: An envelope control device for the piezoelectric buzzer of the invention applies voltages changing with time to both surfaces of a sound generator for push-pull operation for generating an electric tone. The sound generator comprises an oscillating plate with a piezoelectric element attached thereto, and in response to a tone signal outputted from a tone signal generating circuit, it generates an electric tone. By the push-pull operations, an envelope is applied to the electric tone generated.

Abstract: A pickup for an electric string type instrument comprising an elongated piezo-electric member formed by mixing a high molecular material with piezo-electric ceramic powder and a vulcanizing or cross-linking agent and then vulcanizing or cross-linking the mixture. In order to complete the pickup a pair of electrodes are mounted on the elongated member and the member is then subjected to a polarization treatment. The piezo-electric member can be formed as a flat belt-shaped member with the electrodes mounted on both surfaces thereof or it can be formed as a cylinder in which one of the electrodes extends axially in the piezo-electric member and the other electrode is mounted on the outer periphery of the piezo-electric member. A plurality of the pickups can be joined in parallel relation within an elastic support and the latter can be mounted between the strings and the frame of the string instrument through the intermediary of a bridge member.

Abstract: A plurality of vibration transducers are mounted on the face of the bridge of a stringed musical instrument, particularly as disclosed herein in connection with a bass violin. The transducers are adapted for mounting without modification to the instrument, preferably with the use of a mounting clip for each transducer. The transducers are preferably of wafer size and shape and are disposed for sensing vibrations at a location on the bridge that is optimum for both the production of a high fidelity output signal and the discouragement of acoustical feedback.

Abstract: A pressure transducer device particularly useful in an electronic musical instrument includes a flexible base folded to define upper and lower flexible base portions, a donut-shaped first spacer between the upper and lower base portions and a resiliently deformable diaphragm attached about its periphery to the upper flexible base portion with a second donut-shaped spacer therebetween. A center region of the diaphragm laterally spaced from the second spacer is adhesively attached to a central region of the upper flexible base portion so that the upper flexible base portion moves inwardly and outwardly in response to the movement of the diaphragm. A pair of conductors are disposed on the folded flexible base member to face one another. A pressure responsive composition disposed over the conductors provides a contact resistance across the pair of conductors which varies inversely with the amount of pressure force exerted against the diaphragm.

Abstract: The strings of a musical instrument, e.g., a guitar, are individually supported on an instrument body by webs of a hard but elastic polymeric material which are free to vibrate in the longitudinal direction of the strings and carry respective strain gauges whose direction of maximum sensitivity includes an acute angle with that longitudinal direction and with the underlying body surface. The webs may be integral with or bonded onto a more massive bridge or bridge section and have gable-shaped tops carrying the strain gauges.

Abstract: A pair of sound shielding and pick-up devices to be placed on both sides of a musician facing his audience including plastic sheet sandwiches with sound deadening space between and transducers located at various points on the sheets which are angled concavely toward the musician.

Abstract: An acoustic pick-up for a musical instrument comprises a piezo-electric crystal mounted in a housing. Coupling means, such as a wooden post, is provided for coupling one face of the crystal to a part of the musical instrument with the housing mounted on the instrument. There is further provided means, such as a screw, for varying the pressure with which the crystal is coupled to the part of the instrument by applying an adjustable force to another face of the crystal.

Abstract: Faithful replication of a drummer's hits on an electric drum, free of cogeneration of spurious signals by acoustic coupling of the drum pick-up with extraneous energy sources such as nearby musical instruments is achieved by employing as the drum hit pick-up a variable resistance transducer comprising a foamed dielectric matrix, e.g. polymer, having electroconductive particles therein, sandwiched between conductive members one of which is contiguous with the drum head.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pickup is provided for musical instruments, particularly of the type having vibrating magnetizable strings, which pickup device includes a permanent rectangular bar magnet having a configured surface adjacent to the magnetizable strings to provide a varying magnetic field effecting respective ones of the strings in accordance with their magnetizability, and a coil surrounding the permanent magnet which may be either of a low or high impedance. Thin metal plates or shims are arranged in the pickup intermediate the configured surface of the bar magnet and the magnetizable strings. Various configurations of the magnet surface are included, each of which in combination with the metal plates achieves the natural tone of the respective strings and enhances the balance therebetween of the pickup output.

Abstract: A mouth-piece for electronic musical instruments includes at least one flexible valve flap exposed in the air passage formed therein each of which carries a pressure responsive element generative of electric signals in accordance with the extend of flexion of the valve flap when blown by the player.

Abstract: A device is described for musical instruments, and particularly stringed musical instruments such as a guitar, which can controllably and selectively sustain the musical sounds produced by the instrument. The device includes an electrical pick-up proximate to the strings of the guitar for generating electrical signals which correspond to the vibrations of the strings. The signals are amplified by the device and are converted in a loud speaker or other transducer mounted on the instrument and proximate to the strings into mechanical vibrations which sympathetically reinforce the initial vibrations and maintain the strings in a vibratory state and thereby sustain the sound.

Abstract: An electro-acoustic transducer for a musical instrument, for producing electrical signals indicative of sound produced by playing of the instrument. The transducer comprises a housing of plastic material containing a capacitor microphone arrangement which comprises a first metal foil electrode within a sheath of metal foil which defines a second electrode. A dielectric separates the two electrodes. The capacitor microphone arrangement is sandwiched between a relatively rigid wall of the housing and a relatively flexible body of plastic material within the housing. The housing is adapted to be mounted in intimate contact with a surface of the instrument which vibrates in accordance with sound produced by playing of the instrument, so that the vibrations are transmitted to the electrodes.

Abstract: A simple adjustable mount is insertable in the soundhole of a stringed musical instrument where it supports itself without damage to the instrument. The mounted pickup is adjustable on the mount for desired position.

Abstract: An electric percussion instrument having at least one drum head is provided with a mute assembly arranged near the drum head and at least one mechanical-electric convertor containing a vibration responsive pickup element is incorporated into the mute assembly. Direct collection of the drum head vibrations via the mute assembly successfully precludes undesirable mixing of external vibratory noises which are transmitted to the drum frame.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for a magnetic sensor for use with a musical instrument having magnetic vibrating elements. The magnetic sensor has two magnetic poles and comprises a flexible, electrostatically shielded coil-magnet, a cable coupled to the coil of the coil-magnet, and flexible non-conductive material encompassing the electrostatically shielded coil-magnet. The magnetic sensor may be attached to the frame of the instrument, so that one of its magnetic poles is in proximity to the vibrating elements of the instrument. Methods are also disclosed for adapting and converting an upright piano for electronic amplification by utilizing the magnetic sensor of the present invention.

Abstract: In the construction of a pickup mechanism for electric pianos, the bridge is mounted on a vibration transmitter plate of minor acoustic transmission loss and coupled to the piano plate via vibration absorbers and the pickup unit for converting acoustic vibrations into corresponding electric signals is arranged in direct contact with the transmitter plate or in contact with an intervening vibration amplifying component such as a leaf spring locally attached to the transmitter plate. Damping characteristics, especially the envelope of the tone sustain curve, is made very close to that of the natural sounds generated by non-electric pianos thanks to the damping effect and enriched sensitivity in pickup, and replacement of components out of order can be practiced very easily and simply.

Abstract: There is disclosed a trumpet incorporating rotary potentiometers which are controlled by means of circular wheels coupled to the shaft of the potentiometers. By rotating the wheel, the musician can vary the resistance of the potentiometer to thereby control the modulation and pitch characteristics of a synthesizer. The pitch of the trumpet is transduced by means of a pickup located in the mouthpiece of the instrument. The signal produced by the pickup is coupled to a pitch follower circuit whose output is coupled to the external input of a synthesizer module to hence use the actual pitch of the trumpet to vary the characteristics of the synthesizer. A transposition switch is located on the rear valve assembly and operates to control the transposition mode of the pitch follower. A glide switch is positioned beneath the transposition switch and is employed to control the portamento input of the synthesizer module.

Abstract: A system of audio pickups particularly adapted for incorporation in percussion type instruments. The system employs powered rather than the usual dynamic pickups which are mounted directly upon the body of the percussion instrument, e.g. a drum, using a plastic foam insulative mounting which absorbs the direct transmission of vibration from the instrument, as contrasted with the reception of sound waves. In the case of pickups for receiving sound from the usual high-hat cymbals and snare drums, the pickups are mounted upon a common elongated bar which positions the pickups in an area for proper sound reception.

Abstract: In a construction of a transducer or pickup unit for musical instruments having strings, a piezo-electric element is fully embedded within a synthetic resin shield block having top crest for supporting strings while projecting electrode terminals outside of the shield block for direct connection to a printed electric circuit, thereby avoiding drawbacks caused by use of electric lead wires in the conventional pickup unit and damage by atmospheric moisture. The pickup assembly has unitary means for collectively carrying the pickup units at precisely uniform intervals, thereby simplifying registration of the pickup units at correct positions relative to the strings and printed electric circuits.

Abstract: An electronic sensing device for use with resonating musical instruments is disclosed which includes a housing having control units, a bracket for holding the housing on the stringed instrument, an electronic sensor unit of the type such as a piezoelectric pickup, and a telescoping and pivoting arm joining the pickup to the housing.

Abstract: An electro-acoustically amplified drum consists of a hollow drum shell having at least one open end, a drum head spaced from the open end of said drum shell and supported thereon, and a microphone supported on and positioned within said drum shell and adapted to be connected to an external amplifier and speaker. The microphone is preferably supported in a position spaced from the wall of the drum shell to receive acoustical impulses separately from the drum head and the drum shell.The drum head may be a separate drum head supported on the drum shell in a fixed position or adjustable in relation to the spacing from the open end of the drum shell. Alternatively, the drum head may be supported on a drum shell having a plurality of apertures adjacent to the point of support, said apertures providing acoustical openings separating the drum head from the remainder of the shell which functions as a drum shell resonator.

Abstract: A touch responsive unit for a keyboard electronic musical instrument. A high frequency signal source is connected to one plate of a normally open circuited variable capacitor. The other plate of the variable capacitor being mechanically connected to a force transferring mechanism and electrically connected to a circuit means for generating a control voltage envelope. The depressive force applied to the key through the transfer mechanism causes the capacitor plates to overlap. The degree of area overlap is proportional to the depressive force and determines the capacitance value. As the plate area overlap increases, the capacitance value increases and the peak amplitude of the high frequency source passed by the capacitor increases. The control voltage envelope of the circuit means is applied to a standard keyer circuit to amplitude modulate a tone signal source corresponding to the selected key. The slope or decay rate of the control voltage envelope is regulated by the circuit means.

Abstract: A pick-up for attachment to a guitar or the like is disclosed. The pick-up comprises an elongate flexible body having a thin, lower, magnetic base which affixes to the body of the guitar with an adhesive, the base comprising a sheet magnet. The sheet magnet is cut in the form of a rectangle, and it approximately matches the profile of a second sheet magnet cut in approximately the same rectangular shape. The second magnet serves as a core for supporting a coil wrapped around it on the periphery. The magnet and the coil wrapped around it are together sandwiched between opposite layers of sheet tin foil to serve as shielding. This, in turn, is placed in a plastic body which is shrink-wrapped around the turns of the coil. The lower magnet adhesively affixed to the body transfers vibrations from the body into the coil in the form of electrical signals. In addition, strings made of magnetic material co-act with the upper magnet to additionally form electrical signals.

Abstract: An electrical string-instrument having a plurality of strings, a support member stretching the strings, electromechanical transducers respectively corresponding to the strings, a plurality of gate means for gating the outputs from the electromechanical transducers or signals based thereon, and gate signal generating means.

Abstract: A pressure transducer comprised of a piezoresistance bridge on a semiconductor chip is employed as a pressure sensor in musical instruments having an air column through which pressure variations pass in producing sounds, such as in wind instruments and drums. A noiseless voltage preamplifier couples the transducer to a power preamplifier the output of which may then be amplified in a conventional audio amplifier. In the case of a wind instrument, the transducer is mounted between the cup or reed of the mouthpiece and the first key or finger hole, or in the air column in a direction opposite the first key or finger hole in the case of a transverse flute or similar reedless woodwind instrument for direct communication with the air column of the instrument.