Abstract: An adjustable control apparatus for a potentiometer is provided. The control apparatus comprises a geared sheath which is engageable with the potentiometer of an electronic apparatus. The geared sheath is provided with a response gear nonrotatably mountable thereto. The control apparatus further comprises a control platform having a drive gear rigidly connected thereto. The drive gear is engageable with the response gear of the geared sheath, such that pivoting movement of the drive gear causes a rotational movement of the geared sheath. A foot platform is adjustably but rigidly mounted to the control platform such that pivoting movement of the foot platform causes a corresponding pivoting movement of the control platform which is transmitted to the geared sheath through the drive and response gears.

Abstract: In a typical musical tone producing device of a full waveshape readout type, a full waveshape of a musical tone to be produced from the start to the end of sounding or a rise portion and a part of the waveshape following the rise portion of the musical tone is stored in a waveshape memory, and the musical tone is formed by reading out the waveshape from the waveform memory once, or reading out the rise portion once and thereafter reading out the partial waveshape repeatedly. A digital filter is introduced following the waveshape memory in this tone producing device. The filter characteristics are determined in accordance with a tone color change parameter such as the key touch or the tone pitch of the musical tone, thereby realizing a tone color change of the musical tone. Further, in order to realize timewise change of tone color of the musical tone, the circuit which has the tone color change parameter vary with time is proposed.

Abstract: In storing digital tone waveshape data in a waveshape memory, sampled tone waveshape data is stored in the memory by previously elevating the level of frequency components in a predetermined high frequency region. This predetermined high frequency region corresponds to a frequency region to which quantization noise components belong. The tone waveshape data stored in the waveshape memory in this manner has the signal level of the component of the region including the quantization noise components reinforced as compared with the original tone waveshape. The tone waveshape data read out from the waveshape memory is applied to a filter of a characteristic which restrains the level of the component in the predetermined high frequency region. The level of the quantization noise components belonging to the predetermined high frequency region contained in the tone waveshape data thereby is restrained.

Abstract: A musical keyboard having keys which carry metal spoilers that alter the resonance characteristics of tank circuits associated with the keys as the keys move toward and away from the inductance coils of the tank circuits. The tank circuits are connected sequentially to a frequency sensing circuit which develops indications of key positions by sensing the resonance frequency of each tank circuit.

Abstract: A tone control apparatus for use in an electronic musical instrument is responsive to an easily accessible switch such as a foot-lever switch to control conditions of muscial tone which include, for example, a tone pitch, a tone color, a tone volume and a tone effect. The tone control apparatus has a keyboard for designating a frequency of a musical tone to be generated and a musical tone generating circuit for generating a musical tone having a frequency designated by the keyboard. The tone control apparatus further has a memory for storing a plurality of groups of tone control data. Each time the foot-lever switch is operated by the performer, one of the tone control data group is read and supplied to the musical tone generating circuit to control the conditions of the generating musical tone. In a first mode, the plurality of tone control data groups are sequentially read in synchronization with the operations of the foot-lever switch.

Abstract: A system for the selection and recall of individual phase, pickup selection, tone, overdrive and volume control for each of a plurality of pickup coils in electric guitars. These various controls for the humbucking pickup coils in the guitar are initially set by either rotary or toggle switches to achieve a particular combination of switch settings. Additional controls then allow the musician to write the states of these various controls into digital memory contained within the guitar. Several such combinations may be memorized and then recalled at a later time by actuation of a memory address selection switch which then reads the contents of the memory for a particular combination of settings and internally causes the various controls to reset themselves to this particular combination of settings.

Abstract: A keyboard operated electronic musical instrument is disclosed which has a number of tone generators each of which is assigned to an actuated keyswitch. Musical waveshapes are generated by a computation using a set of harmonic coefficients. Apparatus is described for generating the set of harmonic coefficients in response to a preselected set of increment number values wherein this set is less in number than the number of harmonic coefficients in a set. The generation of harmonic coefficients is accomplished by computing linear slope variations of groups of coefficients.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for establishing and changing the volume level of a tone generator which may be used in connection with auditory feedback in a point of sale terminal or other business machine include a microprocessor having a timer with two settable registers which can be set to establish the duty cycle of a signal, an inverting buffer coupled to the timer output, an integrating circuit to which the signal from the buffer is applied, a transistor driver for a speaker to which the integrated signal is applied, and the speaker, the volume of the tone of which may be changed by altering the relative counts of the two timer registers.

Abstract: A real-time polyphonic pitch controller and process for controlling notes or tones emanating from signal synthesizers such as used in the performance of music. The controller comprises a body with key controllers, each of which activates a pre-programmed note; a strumming controller which automatically activates selected key controlled notes in a pre-programmed sequence and rate; and controls and displays used for programming and performance. Extending longitudinally from the body is a guitar-like neck graduated by fret markings and over which slides a hand controller incorporating finger levers. Sliding the hand controller creates portamento, vibrato or glissando effects on the notes activated by the key controllers. Also, each finger lever of the hand controller when depressed raises and/or lowers its own peculiar, pre-programmed combination of individually voiced notes by pre-programmed amounts.

Abstract: A plurality of waveshapes of different characteristics are stored in a waveshape memory among which a waveshape to be read out is selected in accordance with a selected tone color or elapse of time and data of the selected waveshape is read out. At least one waveshape among the waveshapes stored in the waveshape memory is coded in a coding form different from one used for the other waveshapes. For matching characteristics of each individual waveshape, waveshapes are coded according to respectively suitable coding forms such, for example, that one waveshape is coded according to the pulse code modulation system, another waveshape according to the differential pulse code modulation system and still another waveshape according to the delta modulation system. The waveshape data read out from the waveshape memory is converted in its code to a predetermined common coding form (e.g. PCM).

Abstract: A plurality of drum pads are each provided with a respective piezoelectric pick-up. The output of each piezoelectric pick-up is fed to a corresponding envelope-extracting circuit. The envelope signal extracted by the envelope-extracting circuit is converted by an A/D converter into a digital signal which is fed to a CPU. The CPU feeds a tone designation signal to a tone generator unit according to parameter data from a parameter data setter and the digital signals noted above, thereby causing generation of a corresponding drum sound.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes a waveshape generator which generates first and second waveshapes having a pitch corresponding to a designated note. The first waveshape represents a complete waveshape produced by a certain musical instrument under a certain extreme condition (e.g., the hardest key touch). The second waveshape represents a complete waveshape produced by the same musical instrument under another extreme condition (e.g., the softest key touch). The electronic musical instrument further includes an interpolator which interpolates the first and second waveshapes in accordance with a playing condition (e.g., the strength of key touch) and produces and interpolated new waveshape as a waveshape of a musical tone to be produced. The introduction of this interpolator enables any waveshape under an intermediate condition to produce by preparing only two waveshapes under the two extreme conditions.

Abstract: A keyboard circuit for an electronic musical instrument which, with the depression of a key, couples an AC signal to an allocated multiplexer input. The output of the multiplexer is connected via a rectifier and a sample-and-hold circuit to a depression recognizing circuit. The coupling is preferably inductive.

Abstract: A tone generation control unit has four waveform read/write channels for selectively reading or writing data in a waveform memory. A plurality of waveform signals stored in the waveform memory are converted into analog signals to be subjected to timbre and tone volume control through voltage-controlled filters and voltage-controlled amplifiers before being fed to a mixing adder. An output signal of the mixing adder is converted into a digital signal which is stored in the waveform memory again through processing of the tone generation control unit.

Abstract: In a typical musical tone producing device of a full waveshape readout type, a full waveshape of a musical tone to be produced from the start to the end of sounding or a rise portion and a part of the waveshape following the rise portion of the musical tone is stored in a waveshape memory, and the musical tone is formed by reading out the waveshape from the waveform memory once, or reading out the rise portion once and thereafter reading out the partial waveshape repeatedly. A digital filter is introduced following the waveshape memory in this tone producing device. The filter characteristics is determined in accordance with a tone color change parameter such as the key touch or the tone pitch of the musical tone, thereby realizing a tone color change of the musical tone. Further, in order to realize timewise change of tone color of the musical tone, the circuit which has the tone color change parameter vary with time is proposed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tone color control so that the tone color in an attack portion of a tone to be generated differs depending upon whether or not a slur effect is to be imparted. If, for example, the slur effect is not imparted, a tone color for an attack portion of a tone which is rich in variation is used, whereas if the slur effect is to be imparted, a stable tone color which is the same as the sustain portion of a tone is used. In another aspect of the invention, in the case of imparting the slur effect, a tone signal is distributed to two channels and envelopes of signals in the respective channels are separately and independently controlled by separate control signals. In one channel, a control signal of decay characteristics is used whereas in the other channel, a control signal of attack characteristics is used. The changing rate of the control signal of the attack characteristics is made greater than that of the control signal of the decay characteristics.

Abstract: A method of (and apparatus for) extending the useful dynamic range of an audio reproduction system. An input acoustic signal in the audible range is transduced to form an analog electric signal which is amplified along parallel paths to gain levels g.sub.1 and g.sub.2 (where g.sub.2 >g.sub.1), the amplified signals being sampled to provide two binary digital signals. The analog signal consists of a high amplitude portion and a low amplitude portion. The two binary digital signals are processed by a computer which provides a first binary output and a second binary output, the first binary output being a digital representation of the sequential samples of the audio signal taken at the respective gain setting g.sub.1 or g.sub.2. More precisely, the first binary digital output is a composite binary digital waveform consisting of a high amplitude portion at gain setting g.sub.1, a low amplitude portion at gain setting g.sub.2 and a transition or cross-fade portion therebetween.

Abstract: An automatic rhythm performing apparatus capable of producing a rhythmic tone of a plural-tone-source rhythmic musical instrument such as a snare drum comprises a plurality of signal producing devices which produce a plurality of rhythmic tone signals corresponding to the respective tone sources of the single instrument. A control device controls respective signal levels of the rhythmic tone signals and a combining device combined the rhythmic tone signals at signal levels controlled by the control device to provide a combined signal corresponding to the rhythmic tone of the instrument, thereby providing a desired volume relationship of the respective component tones constituting the whole rhythmic tone of the instrument.

Abstract: Tones of percussion instruments produce different timbres, i.e. different tone waveshapes, depending on the strength of percussion. An automatic rhythm apparatus includes a rhythm tone generating unit which stores the tone waveshape produced from a hard percussion and also that from a soft percussion performed on a same percussion instrument. A rhythm pattern is constructed by rhythmically aligned tone command signals, for various percussion instruments, designating timings and volumes of tones to be produced. At each tone production, these two kinds of waveshapes are read out by mixing them appropriately. That is, when a loud tone is to be reproduced, its waveshape is read out from the waveshape memory for loud tones, while a soft tone is read out likewise from the waveshape memory for soft tones, and a tone of an intermediate volume therebetween is reproduced by reading out the loud tone and the soft tone at a mixing ratio complying to the desired degree of volume.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument allows the performer to control tone volume of a rhythmic tone by a simple manipulation of keys of a keyboard. The electronic musical instrument comprises a rhythmic tone generator including a plurality of tone sources, to which a group of keys of the keyboard are assigned, respectively. Each of the tone sources generates a rhythmic tone when a corresponding one of the group of keys is depressed. When it is desired to give an accent to the rhythmic tone, a key adjacent the depressed tone source designating key is additionally depressed. This multiple key-depression is detected by a detection circuit. Tone volume of the rhythmic tone generated by the tone source is controlled in accordance with the detection of the multiple key-depression.

Abstract: A touch sensitive electronic musical or sound generating instrument is disclosed. The invention utilizes digital techniques to sense how hard any one of a plurality of push buttons on a keyboard is depressed or actuated. The instrument generates a desired or particular sound (such as a musical note) at a desired parameter such as volume, corresponding to how hard a specific button was depressed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing the volume level of a tone generator associated with a keyboard in which the tone generator will output a click tone when each key on the keyboard is actuated. In establishing the volume level of a click tone, the keyboard is put into a volume setting mode by the actuation of two key members of the keyboard. The subsequent actuation of each key member will produce a different volume level of the click tone. The actuating of a key member results in the storing of a count in a storage member. The storage member is then downcounted until it reaches zero. Upon reaching the count of zero, processing means generates a pulse train in which the pulse width is determined by the time it takes for the storage member to count down to zero.

Abstract: A sound generator for an electronic musical instrument produces sounds from waveform data combinations stored in a memory. Each of the waveform data combinations is a data combination obtained from a waveform of a natural sound by digital data conversion preferably including information condensation. The selection of a waveform data combination is performed by an address generator which produces an address signal for the memory from an information from a keyboard. The information includes a touch information representing key depressing speed and/or strength, or both of the touch information and a pitch information. The loudness level of a generated tone is controlled by a loudness controller in response to the touch information, or to both of the touch information and pitch information.

Abstract: A keyboard operated musical instrument is disclosed in which the musical tones are generated by reading out a sequence of data values stored in memories. A first memory stores the musical waveshape for the attack and decay phases of the musical tone. One of a plurality of memories, each storing a period of a different waveshape, are selected by means of a touch response signal generated by the manner with which a keyswitch is actuated. At the end of the decay phase the waveshape selected by the touch response signal is read out sequentially and repetitively and is substituted for the data stored in the first memory. A means is provided to minimize the transient created in the transition between data read out of the first memory and the selected second memory. Provision is also made for a touch response loudness effect.

Abstract: A percussive action silent electronic keyboard provides electrical input signals for electronic music synthesis equipment. The keyboard includes a housing, and a keyboard array of a plurality of depressable pivoted playing keys adjacently arranged as a musical keyboard. Each key communicates with a pivoted silent hammer in a cam and follower arrangement. A stop is provided for stopping the momentum of each silent hammer which is caused to move about its pivot by following a camming surface of its corresponding key resulting from depressing of the key during playing action. An electrical switch provided for each key, and the switch is responsive to the playing action of the key for generating and supplying electrical signals indicative of the action to the electronic music synthesis equipment with which said keyboard may be used to generate music.

Abstract: A sound interface circuit is implemented in large scale integrated circuitry (LSI) on a single chip to provide 3 voice electronic music synthesizer/sound effects, and is compatible with instructions from commercially available microprocessors; whereof a wide range, high-resolution control of pitch (frequency) tone color (harmonic content) and dynamics (volume) is achieved and specialized control circuitry minimizes software overhead, facilitating use in arcade/home video games and low cost musical instruments.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument of the stringed type wherein bending of a string results in a change in a parameter of the sound produced. At the bridge of the instrument, each string is connected with a leaf spring which is moved towards the nut end of the instrument when the string is bent. Each leaf spring is connected with a Hall effect device, and the spacing between it and a permanent magnet is changed when the spring moves, thus causing a variation in the output of the Hall effect device, which variation alters a parameter of the audio output produced by a tone generator means.

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; 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 striking of the key while depressed for second tone gene

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 each including a magnetic field responsive semiconductor device and providing signals which are analyzed to determine their variation in magnitude as a function of time. Additionally, after a pre-selected 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: Apparatus and method for the monitoring of the manipulation of the keys of an instrument comprises monitoring apparatus which takes the form of a pressure sensing device, associated with each key, that can be fabricated in a configuration compatible with the instrument. According to one embodiment, the pressure sensing devices can be arranged so that the monitoring apparatus can be positioned on a balance rail of a piano keyboard. In this embodiment, the monitoring configuration can be fabricated and conveniently retrofitted to a standard keyboard. The pressure sensing device comprises a resistive element, a conducting element, and a force transducer ink layer separating the resistive and conducting elements. The resistance of the resistive element is monitored and when pressure is applied to the pressure sensing device, a change in resistance can be measured. Because the resistance is a function of pressure, the amount of pressure used to activate the key can be determined.

Abstract: An electronic stringed musical instrument having an electrically insulating fingerboard is disclosed. The fingerboard is provided with a number of segmented frets attached across its upper surface at desired points along its length. Each of the frets includes a number of electrically conducting fret segments each of which are electrically insulated from one another. Any number of strings may be provided on the instrument each string is disposed adjacent to and associated with a single fret segment of each of the segmented frets. A top-octave generator and octave dividers are utilized to selectively provide a fret segment of one of the frets with an electrical signal of at least one known referencing frequency. The strings are attached to the instrument in a spaced relationship with respect to the fret segments. Displacing a string to contact one of the fret segments completes an electrical circuit having at least one frequency equal to a frequency of the signal provided to that fret segment.

Abstract: A key-touch value control device for an electronically operated musical instrument including a series of keys, wherein the state of each of the keys is detected to produce a succession of key-state signals each indicative of one of the key-on state, key-off state and key-fly state of the key. In response to each of the key-state signals, a key-touch value signal is produced which is variable with the velocity at which the key is being depressed toward the key-on state and which is representative of the volume of the sound to be produced after the key has reached the key-on state.

Abstract: A calibration system for the keyboard of an electronic musical instrument. Compression of the key causes an output signal to be generated which varies in accordance with the amount of key depression. When the key is depressed to a nominally fully depressed position, the system stores an offset value relating to the difference between the actual output signal at this point and an expected reference output signal which would occur if the keyboard were perfectly adjusted from a mechanical standpoint. The offset value is stored in the memory and added to the key output signal during the normal operate mode of the instrument so that the output signal is adjusted in accordance with the offset value stored during the calibrate mode.

Abstract: A keyboard system in a keyboard controlled musical instrument includes a pair of spaced apart electrode members and a pickup movable in the space intermediate the electrode members. Respective voltages are impressed on the electrodes to establish an electric field therebetween and the voltage impressed on the movable pickup is a function of its position relative to the two electrodes. The pickup is actuated by the playing key which contacts a resilient, yieldable stop. The force with which the playing key is depressed is measured by sensing when the key is fully depressed, initiating a count at that point and counting a predetermined period. At the end of the predetermined period the voltage on the pickup is detected which gives an indication of the amount of overtravel of the key beyond its normal depressed position. This detected voltage is used to alter the quality of the tones produced by the musical instrument.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument which is capable of attaining the tonal coloration and "feeling" of an acoustic instrument and wherein the pitch, timbre, and loudness of each sound which is produced can be controlled by the performer in real time in an accurate and repeatable manner as the instrument is being played. The instrument is comprised of a plurality of string-like members which simulate the strings of an acoustic instrument and wherein sounds of varying pitch are produced by depressing the strings against a fingerboard at different positions along their lengths. An audio oscillator means is associated with each string-like member for producing a frequency-controllable audio output signal, and means responsive to a control signal for varying the overtone content and amplitude of the audio output signal is provided. In order to generate the control signal, means accessible to the performer and capable of being moved to different control positions in an accurate and repeatable manner is utilized.

Abstract: A keyboard operated musical instrument is disclosed in which the speed of successively closing a first and second key contact on a keyboard switch is measured by means of a key detect and assignor system. A fast response time is obtained by scanning only the second set of key contacts which correspond to a previously detected closure of a first key contact. The measured closure speed can be used to control various musical effects such as the initial loudness in a touch responsive tone generation system. A method is also disclosed for measuring and utilizing the speed with which a keyswitch is released.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing signals which are pre-stored in a memory, comprises a memory pre-stored with signals made up of a level and gain change codes, a detecting circuit for detecting the gain change code from a signal read out from the memory, and a converting circuit supplied with the signal read out from the memory, for producing a reproduced signal having a waveform which is essentially the same as the original analog signal waveform. The level code is an original analog signal which is amplified, sampled, and digitally coded. The original analog signal has a level smaller than threshold values in a small level region. The gain change code has predetermined values and replaces the level code at least for a certain period from a predetermined time in the small level region.

Abstract: In a key board system for an electronic musical instrument, input signals for the instrument generated in response to key actuation have an electrical characteristic which varies as a function of the key actuation force. The foregoing results from the deflection of a mass-carrying leaf spring in response to a key stroke, the input signal being generated by a piezoelectric element mounted on the leaf spring and being deformed in response to the deflection thereof.

Abstract: Rhythm sound data which represents a rhythm sound such as a percussion sound, is synthesized with envelope data by a gate circuit which functions as a multiplier. The synthesized data is supplied to a D/A converter and converted to an analog signal. A percussion sound with a rhythm pattern corresponding to the analog signal is produced at a speaker.

Abstract: There is disclosed a key which is particularly adapted for use in a musical keyboard. The key includes a top pivotable member which acts as a key surface and which is pivoted to move with respect to a reference plane. The key contains on a bottom surface a magnetic field effecting member. Located beneath the key on the reference plane is a rigid board containing a planar coil configuration. As the hinge member is moved towards the rigid board, the member affects the magnetic field of the planar coil configuration to vary the inductance as well as the magnetic coupling in other arrangements. A plurality of such keys are employed as the keys in a musical keyboard and are associated with frequency determining circuits such as oscillators to provide output frequencies necessary for the control of music.

Abstract: Digital pan-pot data supplied from a CPU is supplied to first and second analog multiplexers, and control signals are selected among a plurality of control signals obtained by dividing an output from a reference voltage generator to have mutually complementary relationship, are supplied from the first and second analog multiplexers through low-pass filters to control signal input terminals of first and second VCAs. An output of the first VCA is supplied to a right loudspeaker as an R-channel musical signal, and an output of the second VCA is supplied to a left loudspeaker as an L-channel musical sound signal, respectively.

Abstract: A through hole is formed in the top wall of an inhalation hole which communicates with the outside by means of an elongate channel. The through hole is closed by an elastic member having a bulging portion. A projection is formed in the center of the bulging portion, and retains the extreme end of a movable contact of a contact mechanism. A fixed contact is fixed on a circuit board. When the bulging portion is depressed downward by inhalation, the movable contact is brought into touch with the fixed contact to produce an input signal.

Abstract: A keyboard system for an electronic musical instrument of the keyboard type, such as an electronic organ, synthesizer or electronic piano. The keyboard is responsive to the velocity with which the key is depressed and controls the tone generation circuitry to produce tones of higher amplitudes for higher key depression velocities. The keyboard also includes an aftertouch control whereby further depression of the key past its normal limit against a compressible medium, such as a foam rubber or felt washer, alters the quality of the tone produced. For example, the aftertouch control could be used to vary vibrato, change pitch, change decay, and the like. A pickup for each key is positioned in an electric field set up between two electrodes, and the voltage impressed on the pickup will change depending on the position of the pickup within the field as determined by the amount of depression of the key.

Abstract: An automatic rhythm performing apparatus capable of producing a rhythmic tone of a plural-tone-source rhythmic musical instrument such as a snare drum comprises a plurality of signal producing devices which produce a plurality of rhythmic tone signals corresponding to the respective tone sources of the single instrument. A control device controls respective signal levels of the rhythmic tone signals and a combining device combined the rhythmic tone signals at signal levels controlled by the control device to provide a combined signal corresponding to the rhythmic tone of the instrument, thereby providing a desired volume relationship of the respective component tones constituting the whole rhythmic tone of the instrument.

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: A control accessory is shown for use with a standard acoustical guitar which has been fitted with an electrical pickup and a female input jack. The control accessory includes a male input jack having a jack case with a male portion extending therefrom which is engageable with the female jack portion on the guitar body. An electrical cord runs from the jack for electrically connecting the guitar pickup through the male and female jack portions to a power amplifier. A sound control is located on the male input jack for controlling the flow of electricity from the guitar pickup to the power amplifier to control the sound produced by the guitar.

Abstract: A touch responsive apparatus in an electronic musical instrument for controlling a musical tone of the instrument detects an after-touch of a key touch such as the depth or force of a key depression after the key has been depressed, and generates an after-touch control signal to perform an after-touch control which varies quickly toward a predetermined target value independently of an detected after-touch to such an extent as will not generate a click, and which thereafter follows the detected after-touch.

Abstract: An automatic rhythm performing apparatus capable of simultaneously producing a plurality of rhythmic tones having the optimum volume relationship irrespective of the total volume of the rhythmic tones. A plurality of rhythmic tone signal generating devices generate a plurality of rhythmic tone signals corresponding respectively to a plurality of rhythmic musical instruments. A combining device combines the rhythmic tone signals to provide a combined output signal as an output of this apparatus, the level of which can be varied by a signal level varying device. There are provided a detecting device for detecting the level of the combined output signal and a controlling device for separately controlling respective signal levels of the rhythmic tone signals in accordance with the detected level of the combined output signal, thereby making the volume relationship of the plurality of the rhythmic tones optimum.

Abstract: More than one sub-intervals or time-windows are provided in a one-cycle period of a musical tone selected at a keyboard of an electronic musical instrument. Each time-window passes a sine wave having a frequency predetermined for the time-window. The envelope of the spectrum of a time-window is determined by the shape and the width of the time-window, and the envelope of the spectrum of a sine wave passed from the time-window will become the convolution of the spectrum of the time-window and the frequency of the sine wave. The total area of the frequency spectrum included as frequency components of a musical tone can be covered by several time-windows, each having a different length and passing a sine wave of a different frequency. An amplitude control means controls the amplitude of each sine wave independently. The controlled amplitude level determines the spectrum intensity of the frequency region influenced by the corresponding sine wave.