Abstract: Analog output signals of a key touch sensor and tonal effect setting manual operators are respectively time division multiplexed and thereafter are converted to digital signals by using an analog to digital converter on a time shared basis. The key touch sensor capable of detecting a key touch of a depressed key can also be used for obtaining an initial touch detection signal by additionally providing a device for holding a peak value of an output signal of the sensor at the beginning of depression of the key. Control factors of various tonal effects are controlled in response to these converted digital signals. Control factors of an attack pitch control effect are controlled in response to the key touch. In imparting a delay vibrato effect, the attack pitch control is automatically applied before the delay vibrato is initiated. In imparting a vibrato effect, the attack pitch control is automatically applied and the vibrato is applied thereafter if a key has been depressed in a staccato form.

Abstract: This electronic musical instrument has plural operation units respectively performing a predetermined basic waveform generation operation (e.g., frequency modulation operation) using a phase signal representing a pitch of a tone to be produced or a waveform signal generated by the operation unit. There is further provided a setting section for variably setting a combination of input and output connections between the respective operation units as freely as the performer desires. The input and output connections between the operation units are switched according to the set combination. An operation algorithm for tone synthesis is determined according to the combination of connections between the operation units set in this manner whereby a free tone synthesis as desired by the performer is realized. A display is provided for visually indicating the set combination of connections and a state of connection between the respective operation units is indicated as a graphic pattern on this display.

Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument comprising a keyboard including a plurality of keys, a tone signal generator for producing a musical tone signal corresponding to a depressed key, a key touch detector for generating a key touch signal concerning a key depression operation of the depressed key, and an operator for controlling one of musical tone components of the musical tone signal, there are provided a selector for selecting either one of two control elements comprising the operating state of the operator and the key touch state at the time of key depression for determining whether the degree of control of the musical element caused by the selected control element is to be emphasized or not, and a suppression circuit for inhibiting or suppressing the musical tone control effected by the other control element in accordance with the state of selection of the selector.

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 which employs frequency numbers and is capable of producing a natural and expressive effect such as vibrato or the like with a simple structure. The electronic musical instrument is provided with a frequency number memory for storing a frequency number corresponding to the note of each key and a frequency number for modulation prepared for each key corresponding to frequency modulated data, a frequency modulated data generating units for selectively generating glide data and vibrato data, and an key assignor for generating key depression information and keyboard information. The key depression information being used to address a high-order address of the frequency number memory and the low-order address of the frequency number memory by being addressed frequency modulated data available from the frequency modulated data generating units.

Abstract: An electronic signal X can have its envelope shaped by an electronic control signal Y. For music purposes, signal X can be an electronically generated note and control signal Y can be derived from the musician's voice. The signal shape controller exponentially modifies the control signal Y and multiplies signal X by the exponentially modified control signal Y to form an output signal having an envelope shape XY.sup.n. The exponent n has at least one value less than 1 applied to larger values of control signal Y and at least one value greater than 1 applied to lower levels of control signal Y. The controller also preferably includes an attack enhancement circuit to emphasize an attack portion of a control signal and a variable time integrator circuit that integrates the control signal over a short time interval when it is changing rapidly and over a longer time interval when it is changing slowly.

Abstract: A musical waveshape generator is disclosed in which musical tones at mutation pitches corresponding to an actuated keyswitch are generated by selected attenuation of overtones of a square wave signal. A harmonic suppression means is described which is a combination of a low pass filter, a signal subtractor, and a rectangular waveshape generator whose state changes are controlled by a signal level comparator.

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: 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: An electronic musical instrument comprises means for detecting depressed-keys on a keyboard to generate key informations corresponding to said depressed keys, and means for generating a musical tone signal which varies pitch from the pitch of a musical tone generated by a firstly-depressed key to the pitch of a musical tone generated by a secondly-depressed key, in accordance with a key information of said firstly-depressed key and a key information of said secondly-depressed key. In the instrument, means is provided for generating an amplitude coefficient which sequentialy varies from an amplitude of the musical tone generated by the firstly-depressed key to an amplitude of the musical tone generated by the secondly-depressed key whereby the amplitude of said musical tone signal is controlled according to said amplitude coefficient.

Abstract: The touch dynamics of the operation of keys of an electronic musical instrument are determined through the use of pressure sensitive transducers associated with the keys, the transducers providing signals which are analyzed to determine their variation in magnitude as a function of time. Additionally, after a preselected time period, if a key remains operated and the pressure exerted thereon is varied, the output voltage of the key associated transducer will be further analyzed to determine if the player is calling for the reproduction of a secondary effect.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for sounding music played by a performer according to a preselected style. Accompaniment notes having a harmonious tonal relationship to preselected melody and chord information are arranged into a plurality of groups. Appropriate accompaniment notes are selected from the groups in accordance with musically derived sequences and sounded for preselected periods of time so that the melody and chord chosen by the performer are sounded in accordance with a derived playing style.

Abstract: A keyboard operated electronic musical instrument is disclosed in which a first set of tone generators is assigned to actuated keyswitches on a first keyboard and a second set of tone generators is nominally assigned to actuated keyswitches on a second keyboard. Assignment logic is provided so that when all the members of the first set of tone generators have been assigned an addition keyswitch actuation causes the temporary borrowing of one of the tone generators in the second set to respond to the newly actuated keyswitch. Saturation of tone generator assignment is diminished by a glissando detect subsystem which inhibits the use of a long release envelope release phase if a glissando has been initiated.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument has internal memories for storing various panel data and a detachable present circuit having external memories of high-speed operation for storing panel data equivalent to those of the internal memories, by which panel data can be set from the outside. An advanced player can adjust and set a wide variety of tone variations through using various panel data by the external preset circuit, and a beginner who does not require such various tone variations can set panel data by the internal memories alone.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for embellishing the melody played on an electronic musical keyboard instrument. A set of musically-derived tables relates harmonious accompaniment notes to the melody in accordance with the chosen harmony and is addressed to generate a signal that represents at least one appropriate accompaniment note. The latter signal causes sounding of selected accompaniment notes to produce the desired musical harmony. A choice of voicing style and an orchestration option are additionally provided within the scope of the apparatus and method herein.

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 of the type which synthesizes a musical waveshape from a preselected set of harmonic coefficients is disclosed in which the tonal effects of a set of intramanual couplers is produced. The desired tonal effect is obtained by selecting particular subsets of the harmonic coefficients and combining the selected subsets in response to actuated tone switches.

Abstract: An "orchestra effect" is produced in an electronic musical instrument by mixing a signal at the commanded frequency with a second signal which is displaced in frequency from the commanded signal, the second signal also periodically varying in frequency. The difference in frequencies between the commanded signal and the signal which is mixed therewith is preferably less than one-half the total variation in frequency of the latter signal.

Abstract: One or a plurality of tones having a predetermined interval relation in terms of degrees with reference to tones produced by depressed keys of a keyboard are automatically selected from among diatonic scale tones of a performed tonality and the selected tones are produced as musical tones concurrently with the depressed key tones. To this end there are provided a tonality designator for producing an information representing the performed tonality, a duet note data forming circuit for forming pitch data of an ensemble note to be automatically produced necessary to realize a duet performance effect based the designated tonality and the depressed key tone, and a duet musical tone signal generator for producing a duet musical tone signal in accordance with the pitch data thus formed.

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 keyboard-operated tone-producing apparatus having, in combination, keyboard means the keys of which are mounted for downward depression to effect tone production in the apparatus and for longitudinal sliding to alter or bend the tone; electronic digital signal processor means; tone-generating means; pressure sensing means responsive to key depression to produce signals corresponding thereto for application to the signal processor means to produce corresponding digital signals applied to generate tones from the tone-generating means; means for causing the pressure sensing means to provide the same signal reference, upon key depression, irrespective of the point of pressure along the path of longitudinal sliding of the key; and means controlled in response to the last-named means and cooperative with the signal processor means as it controls the tone-generating means to produce one or all of variable range bending of the tone, center compensation for differing player techniques of key depression, and second s

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: 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: A programmable adjustable distortion amplifier circuit has a first channel having an adjustable gain and a filter for filtering high and low frequency components of signal processed by the first channel, a second channel having an adjustable gain and a filter for filtering high and low frequency components of signal processed by the second channel, a parametric equalizer providing adjustable preselectable frequency bandwidth and a vacuum tube amplifier and support circuitry permitting adjustment of distortion of signal processed by the second channel by a preselected amount. An optional phase shift circuit delays a portion of signal processed by the second channel with the delayed portion provided to the second channel downstream of the parametric equalizer but upstream of the tube. A summing device combines output signals of the first and second channels for input to an adjustable gain control for subsequent input to audio speakers.

Abstract: A timbre modulation circuit for an electronic musical instrument having an automatic rhythm accompaniment system. The timbre modulation circuit is provided in a musical scale tone signal path and includes a means for generating a control pulse series synchronized with an automatic rhythm sound generation timing and a variable timbre circuit responsive to the control pulse series whereby the timbre characteristics are caused to vary in response to the control pulse series thereby modulating the timbre of the musical scale tones.

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: An electronic musical instrument which produces a musical sound by controlling harmonics coefficient and using computing means based on the discrete Fourier transfer. For a fundamental wave, a period function indicated by predetermined period data is generated and, for a harmonic wave, a period function of a period having a predetermined relation to the period of the fundamental wave is generated. By the period function thus obtained, a modulating waveshape memory is read out to obtain modulating data, which is multiplied by a harmonic coefficient.

Abstract: A sound generating circuit for a timepiece including a sound base signal generator, a program divider, a dividing ratio selecting counter a sound interval base signal generator and a sound producer, whereby the sounding action of frequencies which repeatedly changes at the sound intervals and cycles is performed and can produce the onomatopoetic sounds of bird chirp, insect churr and the like which feels soft and soothing for the users.

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: A sound aspect generating apparatus for an electronic musical instrument is adapted to interpolate between respective parameters constituting two kinds of designated sound aspects to generate sound aspects based on the interpolated parameters. More specifically, preset switches (71 to 7n) are operated to read out the parameters of the two kinds of sound aspects stored in advance in a memory (50). By designating an arbitrary point between two kinds of sound aspects with the aid of a controller (10), the rate of change of the respective parameters between the designated sound aspects is evaluated by means of a central processing unit (40) and the parameters interpolating the portion between the designated two points are evaluated by the central processing unit based on the above mentioned rate of change. The evaluated parameters are converted into an analog signal which is applied to a music synthesizer as sound aspects, whereby a musical tone signal is produced.

Abstract: A sound effect imparting device for an electronic musical instrument is capable of imparting a plurality of desired sound effect such as vibrato and reverberation effects to a digital musical tone generated from the electronic musical instrument. The device comprises a digital arithmetic operation unit constructed with a combination of adders, multipliers, delay circuits, etc., a control unit, a parameter memory and a read-out unit.By control data and parameter data which are respectively read out from the control unit and the parameter memory by means of the read-out unit, switching of the operation mode of the digital arithmetic operation unit is controlled in a time-sharing manner, whereby a plurality of sound effects are imparted to a musical tone through digital arithmetic operations.

Abstract: Multiplexed serial data from the keyboard of a musical instrument, such as an electronic organ, is delayed in a shift register to cause generation of musical tones related to the keyswitches closed on the keyboard and combined with the non-delayed serial data for producing mutation voices or chords.

Abstract: The electronic musical instrument is provided, in addition to usual tone producing circuitries associated with playing keys, with a chord designating circuit designating, according to key depression, a plurality of notes of that constitute a chord, a change detecting circuit for detecting a change in designated chord, a note selection circuit for selecting a note from among the designated notes according to a predetermined condition related to the preceeding selected note when the chord change is detected, and a musical tone forming circuit for forming musical tones of the selected notes. Succession of the selected notes constitute a counter line melody automatically established to meet the music being played on the instrument.

Abstract: A keyboard operated electronic musical instrument is disclosed which has a number of tone generators that are assigned to actuated keyswitches. Logic is provided for generating a note range signal for each preselected group of contiguous keyswitches in which the note range signal is selected for an actuated keyswitch. Musical effects such as vibrato and tone changes are selectively actuated in response to the note range signal. A mixture tone generator is described which uses a single set of harmonic coefficients which are translated and shifted in response to the note range signal.

Abstract: A keyboard operated electronic musical instrument is disclosed which has a number of tone generators which are assigned to actuated keyswitches. The tone generation is produced by sequentially and repetitively accessing a memory containing a set of data points which define a period of a preselected musical waveshape. Apparatus is described whereby a plurality of tone generators are implemented such that each has an ensemble tone effect created by adding together a number of composite tones. Each tone generator is implemented by selecting a corresponding set of data points read out of the memory. The selection logic is controlled by select gates and a comparator which is responsive to the frequency of an associated actuated keyboard switch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inhibiting the spurious recognition of new chords in an automatic chord recognition system by permitting a new chord group or chord type to be recognized only if the performer has operated the same or a greater number of keys since the last time an attempt was made to recognize a chord or the last time a valid chord was recognized.

Abstract: An automatic performing apparatus of an electronic musical instrument arranged to produce musical tones in response to musical performance data read out of an external storage such as a musical sheet. The external storage stores the musical performance data and control data to control generation mode of musical tone signals to be produced. In the apparatus, musical performance data and control data are stored in separate memories. In order for a player to change the generation mode of musical tone signals intentionally, a plurality of panel switches are associated with a control data memory so that the control data for tone generation mode can be rewritten by operation of any one of panel switches.

Abstract: Clavier multiplexing is used in the present keyboard musical instrument to reduce the number of sound generators needed by connecting them only to those notes that are depressed. The association of a tone generator with a control unit, which provides the tone generator with frequency, force, and speed information, continues as long as possible, and even after the associated note is released and until the control unit is needed to attend another note by use of independent address and idle-busy storage registers. The note address is digitally designated and remembered, sequential start up logic is used for a control unit. In the glissando mode, the address of the note of the pair involved in the glissando that was released last must be remembered, and the voltage-controlled oscillator involved must have continuing access to this address.

Abstract: A system is provided in which oral sounds are converted to instrumental musical notes. The system includes a digital memory adapted to store notes of different instruments and of different timbre. A variable address generator connected to the memory is adapted to retrieve the notes at various addressing rates in order to change the pitch thereof. The system is adapted to generate musical instrument output sounds in response to an oral input over a whole range of notes including pitches between whole and half tone increments in an unbroken frequency spectrum of pitch.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having two keyboards is disclosed in which chords detected on the accompaniment keyboard are used to vary the selected tone color of the tones played on the solo keyboard. The solo tones are synthesized by means of a Fourier transform using a set of harmonic coefficients. Selected harmonic coefficients are scaled in magnitude in response to the chord type detected from the notes played on the accompaniment keyboard.

Abstract: An electronic bell sound generating circuit for a timepiece for generating a sound simulating a bell sound produced by a motor driven bell-striking system. The circuit includes an audio frequency signal generating circuit, an optional number of attenuation-modulation circuits, an alarm trigger circuit, an attenuation control circuit and a sound generating circuit. The audio frequency generating circuit includes a reference signal generator and a frequency dividing circuit. The attenuation-modulation circuit includes MOS transistors connected in parallel and gate circuits connected to gates of the MOS transistors. The attenuation control circuit includes shift registers comprising flip-flops connected in series. The circuit works to stepwisely increase the combined on-operation resistance of the MOS transistors to thereby decrease the value of the current of audio frequency signals to the sound generating circuit in order to obtain an attenuated sound.

Abstract: A keyboard operated electronic musical instrument is disclosed which has a number of tone generators that are assigned to actuated keyswitches. A tone generation computation means is implemented using a combination of an even symmetric function and an odd symmetric function. One of these functions is scaled in magnitude in response to a modulation control signal. The scaled and unscaled functions are combined to produce a musical waveshape which is frequency modulated by changes in the level of the modulation control signal.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument with a game function is capable of being used either to play music or to play a ball-hitting game. The electronic musical instrument comprises a keyboard having a plurality of keys for generating a first key data which is supplied to a musical tone generating circuit for producing a musical tone corresponding to the first key data, thus enabling to play music in a conventional manner. In addition, the electronic musical instrument comprises for use in a game mode a data generating circuit for generating a second key data representing a pitch of a key and varying its pitch in either one of directions to sequentially take a higher and a lower pitch respectively. The second key data is supplied to the musical tone generating circuit for producing a musical tone, thus simulating the movement of a ball. The second key data is compared with the first key data to generate a coincidence signal when both key data substantially coincide with each other.

Abstract: A keyboard operated electronic musical instrument in which a number of tone generators are assigned to actuated keyswitches in which a flute chorus of similar tones at preselected pitch footages are generated by implementing a discrete Fourier transform employing a selected sequence of harmonic coefficients. Two stored harmonic coefficients suffice to generate a tibia type flute chorus. A harmonic sequence select logic in cooperation with signals derived from actuated tone switches provide the selected sequences of harmonic coefficients.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprises a keyboard for performing a melody, a chord performing means, tonality designating means for designating a tonality of a music to be performed, melody mode judging means for judging the melody mode of the music based on an accompaniment chord, ensemble note data forming means for forming ensemble note data in accordance with the judged melody note and depressed melody keys of the keyboard; and musical tone forming means for forming musical tones corresponding to the ensemble note data and musical tones corresponding to the melody keys.

Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument, an apparatus and method are described for automatically generating arpeggios from selected chords while requiring only a minimum amount of performance sophistication and dexterity. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of voice priority switches are included, each of which corresponds to a voice-related rhythmic pattern or an arpeggio variation of tones played. The desired variation of the voice-related rhythmic pattern of tones is implemented as selected notes are played. The played notes and corresponding notes in higher octaves are stored in a random access memory and subsequently accessed by a microprocessor which searches up or down in frequency to find the available notes in the random access memory. Subsequently, the microprocessor converts chosen notes to audible tones.

Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument which is equipped with the function of producing both glide and vibrato effects, a circuit is provided so that when the glide effect starts to restore to its ordinary pitch, delayed vibrato is started, thereby eliminating an effect during the switchover from the glide effect to the vibrato effect.

Abstract: Apparatus is described to control the starting phase of a new tone for a keyboard operated electronic musical instrument having a number of tone generators. An interval detection subsystem is used to determine if a new note is separated by a given musical interval, such as an octave, from a currently generated musical tone. If the prespecified separation is detected the new tone generator is initialized so that its starting waveshape phase is equal to that of its related interval neighbor. Provision is incorporated to shift the new tone generator by a random frequency offset to phase unlock the octave intervals.

Abstract: A fiber optic musical instrument provides a design in which the musical notes and characteristic instrument sounds normally sensed by electro-mechanical devices such as magnetic pickups and acoustic transducers are generated by the modulation of light within optical fibers and are optically transmitted to amplifying devices without the need for externally mounted sensing devices.