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: A touch sensitive system for an electronic musical instrument providing a multiple key switch contact system for effecting control over two or more tone generating systems. The first tone generating system operating rapidly in response to the actuation of the key switch to produce a desired voice. The second or subsequent tone generating systems operate sequentially in a delayed manner on the actuation of the key switch effecting a predetermined delay in the production of the desired voice. The audio output of each of the tone generating systems is summed forming a resultant waveform for audio amplification. The key switch actuation, depression and release, causes the tone generating systems to respond immediately to the depression or release of the key switch which effects a change in the envelope characteristics of the resultant waveform.

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

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic percussion-type musical instrument, such as an electronic piano, capable of producing electronically sounds simulating a piano, harpsichord or other keyboard percussion instrument. The keyboard is multiplexed to produce a serial time division multiplexed data stream having tri-level encoded signals in time slots corresponding to the keys, wherein the encoded signals indicate whether the key is undepressed, partially depressed or fully depressed. The amount of time for the key to travel in its undepressed to its fully depressed state is detected and a binary representation of the key velocity correlated to this timing is stored in a memory for readout synchronized with the scanning of the keyboard. In each time slot, a portion of the percussion envelope for the pertaining key is calculated and generated together with the discrete amplitude levels for the percussion envelope in a digital to analog conversion circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical stringed and fretted musical instrument which has at least two pick-ups and a bass boost filter means and a high boost filter means. The output of the instrument is a combination of the magnitude of the pick-ups and the magnitude of the filter means. In accordance with the invention, a single joystick control varies all of these magnitudes simultaneously so as to simultaneously vary the entire combination with a single control. In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, a second joystick control will simultaneously control volume and panning between two speakers.

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

Abstract: On a first keyboard (4) the time value of each musical note and/or the time value of each pause of the musical sequence to be reproduced is introduced. After the introduction of each note value, the respective pitch value of this note can be introduced with the aid of a second keyboard (50). The introduced sequence can include up to 8 measures and is reproduced repeatedly after actuating a start switch (11) on a visual display (13) and/or with an acoustic output (34) in a frequency which is selected with the help of a switch (20). The visual display (13) has (4) seven segments elements which show the sequence continuously, measure after measure. The acoustic output (34) can produce, at choice, white noise signals or sounds. The white noise signals have impulses which decrease exponentially from a maximum.

Abstract: An automatic rhythm performance device is constructed of a rhythm pattern memory, an instrument memory and a rhythm tone generator. The rhythm pattern memory delivers a variety of rhythm patterns corresponding to the selected rhythm. The instrument memory delivers instrument names of instruments to be performed corresponding to the selected rhythm too. The rhythm tone generator generates percussive instrument tones of the delivered instrument names at the timing designated by the corresponding rhythm patterns, respectively. In the above rhythm performance device, the selectable rhythms are grouped into some groups in advance. This grouping enables the instrument memory to be constructed of two stage memories. One stores group numbers identifying such groups, and the other stores the instrument names in every such group. The delivery of the instrument names is performed by addressing by the outputted group number to which the selected rhythm belongs.

Abstract: A tone synthesizing system which prevents the dynamic range from becoming unduly wide with an increase in the number of tone tablet switches being selected concurrently in an electronic musical instrument of the type synthesizing a musical sound through the use of a discrete Fourier transfer. In the electronic musical instrument in which, for obtaining a desired musical waveshape, amplitude values at its sample points are computed through the synthesizing system using the discrete Fourier transfer, harmonic coefficients of the tones selected or sine-wave values in accordance with the number of tone tablet switches being simultaneously selected are attenuated at a desired rate to limit a maximum level of an accumulated value of the harmonic coefficients or sine-wave values as predetermined.

Abstract: The present invention is an electronic piano that includes various "easy play" features that enable a person with little musical training to play the piano producing music similar to that of a skilled musician. The "easy play" feature automatically creates musical and rhythmic piano accompaniment patterns in response to playing either one key (One Finger Chord mode) or a chord (Funchords mode) with the left hand. The player plays the melody of the desired tune with the right hand. Instead of having to move the fingers of the left hand to play complex piano accompaniment patterns, as with a conventional piano, the player only needs to play a note or chord, and move the finger or fingers of the left hand to a different playing key or keys to change chords and patterns. In the standard piano mode, this instrument resembles an acoustic piano in function. The invention also includes a set of pushbutton switches which control the "easy play" features of the instrument.

Abstract: A digital musical tone signal is generated in a first LSI selected by a chip select signal transferred from a CPU in accordance with a control signal transferred through a control bus from the CPU. Amplitude data and envelope data are transferred from a second LSI to the first LSI through data lines. In the first LSI, the digital musical tone signal amplitude- and envelope-controlled is transferred to an A/D converter where it is converted into an analog musical tone signal.

Abstract: A hand-held electronic musical instrument and system has a plurality of resistance elements that have adjacent thereto indentations or notches, or other tactile structures for locating discrete notes. Each resistance element is connected to a circuit for translating the position of the musician's finger on the element into an electrical signal, the frequency of the signal corresponding to the position touched. Transducers convert the electrical signals into sounds, which are modified by an acoustic cavity within the instrument. At least one control panel is provided on a side of the instrument engaged by the thumb or thumbs of the musician, each control panel also being a one-dimensional touch panel with the control axis perpendicular to the long axis of the panel so that the musician's thumb can slide along the panel parallel to the long axis without changing its position in the control axis. The musician controls the volume of the sound by adjusting the position of the thumb transverse to the instrument.

Abstract: A musical instrument is disclosed in which light beams striking a detector produce various tones and the loudness of the sounds produced is dependent upon the intensity of the light beam which can be changed by interrupting the beam or reflecting the light backwards to a detector situated next to the light source. A special amplifier circuit is provided which responds to both the amount of light beam interruption as well as the rapidity of interruption. The invention can be variously embodied in woodwind, string and percussion instruments and can also be used on a stage and controlled by moving dancers or musicians.

Abstract: A key-speed-responsive volume control apparatus for a keyboard-type electronic musical instrument includes a key switch associated with a key of the instrument, wherein a movable contact of the key switch moves out of engagement with a break contact and into engagement with a make contact upon depression of the key. A capacitor is charged following the movement of the movable contact out of engagement with the break contact and before engagement with the make contact. The capacitor is made to discharge at a first prescribed rate immediately after charging until the movable contact comes into engagement with the make contact, and then at a second prescribed rate until the movable contact disengages the make contact upon release of the key.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprises a plurality of musical tone control units each having a tone waveform producing circuit, a volume envelope circuit, a filter circuit and other circuits. A given musical tone data can be preset in each musical tone control unit. Musical tone signals produced by the musical tone control units are synthesized to provide an effective musical tone.

Abstract: An electrical sound output signal from an acoustical-electrical or piezo electric transducer instrument is made available at selectively switched high and low signal levels by level control apparatus utilizing bistable switching of first and second attenuated electrical sound output signals. A flip-flop circuit toggles between first and second states in response to an input signal pulse generated by actuation of a footswitch. Oppositely-phased output signals produced by the flip-flop are applied to first and second switching FETs controlled thereby so as to be alternately conducting. The FETs are connected between respective first and second attenuators providing high and low level-controlled sound output signals and common output terminals. Accordingly, upon selective actuation of the footswitch, either high or low level controlled sound output signals can be made available at the output terminals.

Abstract: A touch responsive envelope control system is provided for use in an electronic musical instrument having a multiplexed keyboard, a plurality of assignable tone generators, each being assignable to producing a single note of one or more notes corresponding to one or more actuated keys of the keyboard and a keyer associated with each tone generating means for keying the generated tone with controlled attack time and decay rate and a controllable peak amplitude. The touch responsive system comprises a peak amplitude control system responsive to the actuation of each key for keying the associated tone with a peak amplitude corresponding to the intensity of actuation thereof. The peak amplitude control system includes an encoding circuit responsive to the actuation of each actuated key for producing an encoded intensity signal corresponding to the intensity of actuation thereof and a decoding circuit responsive to each encoded intensity signal for producing a corresponding peak amplitude control signal.

Abstract: First to third switch contact pairs are provided for each of the performance keys of an electronic keyboard musical instrument such that they are successively closed in an interlocked relation to the operation of the associated key. A first time interval from the closure of the first switch contact pair till the closure of the second switch contact pair and a second time interval from the closure of the second switch contact pair till the closure of the third switch contact pair are counted in a CPU, and their ratio is obtained therein. The tone color of the output musical signal is controlled according to the value of this ratio, and the volume of the musical signal is controlled according to the length of the second time interval.

Abstract: A tone signal having been data compressed or expanded is obtained through a circuit for taking the sum of upper three bits of envelope data, a latch for storing the output of said circuit, a circuit for setting the extent of bit shift of digital tone data according to the output of said latch, a latch group for latching the tone data having been bit shifted according to the output of the setting circuit, and an amplifier, the amplification level of which is set according to the extent of bit shift and which receives and amplifies the bit shifted tone data from a digital-to-analog converter.

Abstract: A touch responsive keyboard musical instrument is provided with an array of keyboard switches arranged in octave groups and connected in parallel octaves. A motion transducer is attached to each keyswitch so that a transducer signal is generated corresponding to the motion used to actuate the keyswitches. The keyswitches are sequentially scanned until an actuated keyswitch is detected. At this time the scanning is interrupted until the corresponding transducer signal has reached its peak value. The peak value is used to vary a tonal effect such as a frequency modulation or an ADSR envelope modulation of a tone generator assigned to the actuated keyswitch. The keyswitch scanning is resumed when the peak value of the transducer signal has been measured.

Abstract: A digital editing system includes first and second memories in which audio data and weighting factor data are respectively stored. The audio data are sequentially retrieved from the first memory and multiplied by corresponding weighting factor data retrieved from the second memory. A coincidence detector detects when predetermined storage locations of the memories are addressed. The weighting factor data has a unity or zero value during the time prior to the occurrence of an output from the detector, whereupon it changes its value as a function of time until it reaches to zero or unity and remains at the final value thereafter. The direction of variation of the weighting factor data can be appropriately selected to modify the audio data into a so-called "fade out" of "fade-in" pattern at a desired point of the audio program. A pair of such editing systems is required for editing audio programs from different sources for storing such programs in a pair of first memories.

Abstract: A plurality of sets of such characteristics as the color, volume and effect of a musical tone are preset for different musical composition fashions. Desired preset characteristics are selected independently in the melody performance portion and the accompaniment performance portion by operating a corresponding melody musical composition fashion selection switch and a corresponding accompaniment musical fashion selection switch thus establishing a musical tone having a desired musical composition fashion for each portion. According to a modified embodiment, when either one of the melody and accompaniment musical composition fashion selection switches is operated, both the musical composition fashions of the melody performance portion and the accompaniment portion are established in predetermined manner.

Abstract: A manual control lever for plucked instruments supplied with electric sound amplification has a rest plate for the player's plucking hand. This rest plate is located above the strings and held by a lever arm which has rotary bearings, allowing a motion parallel to the top and further an up-and-down motion vertical to the top of the instrument. The parallel-to-the-top-motion provides the necessary movability when plucking the different strings of the instrument. The vertical-to-the-top-motion provides a continuous control of sound elements, preferably volume and timbre, through the fact that the mechanical means drive electronic members converting the mechanical movement or pressure into a continuous variation of voltage or current. The volume is controllable in two ranges: Firstly from zero to the normal level, and secondly from normal level to a maximum peak.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument of a polyphonic type comprises, first tone generating means capable of producing, in a first musical tone property, a plurality of musical tones respectively corresponding to a plurality of depressed keys, and further comprises second tone generating means capable of producing, in a second musical tone property, a musical tone corresponding to a specific key selected from said depressed keys in accordance with a predetermined standard of selection. The first musical tone property is set to be suitable for ensemble performance, whereas the second musical tone property is set to be suitable for solo performance. Among the musical tones produced by the first tone generating means, the one corresponding to the specific key is made less prominent than the ones corresponding to the other depressed keys.

Abstract: Musical bellows instrument comprising an electro-pneumatic switching device, operated by the change in air pressure generated by the bellows movement to control a set of control gates for the registers, sets of registers or effect circuits of the musical instrument. The switching device comprises a fixed section secured to the instrument and a movable section secured to a flexible membrane sealing in an opening communicating with the interior of the bellows.

Abstract: A musical synthesizer keyboard has a plurality of keys mounted so that each key may be displaced along and return along a locus of movement and where during travel in either direction along said locus a key causes a change of state in each of two corresponding optical detectors at spaced locations along said locus. Means are provided for signalling the states of the detectors to other equipment.

Abstract: Predetermined keys in a keyboard are used as reading keys for specifying the reading of note codes memorized in a memory section under the control of a function changing switch. Sounds corresponding to the note codes memorized in the memory section are delivered from a loudspeaker with a plurality of different volume levels set in the order of arrangement of the keys set as the reading specification keys.

Abstract: Digital semiconductor circuit having a plurality of control inputs addressed via a keyboard corresponding to the number of keys on an organ keyboard, as well as having a plurality of audio signal inputs addressable by an oscillator arrangement with periodic electrical oscillations, each control input being permanently assigned to a key of the keyboard and each audio signal input of an audio frequency, and further having respective audio frequency outputs provided for driving an electroacoustical transducer, the control inputs being addressable by control signals corresponding to the logic levels, including a clock-controlled shift register operated as a parallel-to-series converter and having respective cells to which the respective control inputs are assigned, the shift register having a signal output, a switching system controllable by the signal output of the shift register and by clock pulses provided for the operation of the shift register, the switching system having the totality of the audio signal inp

Abstract: A player piano recording system has photosensor flags secured to the undersides of the piano keys, vertical movement of which is detected by horizontally adjustable photosensors to produce "key played" and key velocity signals which supplied to a microprocessor for deriving expression signals for recording on magnetic tape. The microprocessor provides output expression values and key play information. According to the invention, the expression values are a direct function of key velocity and key play information and switch selected boost (an enhanced initial frame expression for overcoming solenoid inertia) and add (for trill) values. Key play data is dependent upon key play inputs and the frame extension switch value. The unique structure of the key flag permits horizontal adjustment of the photosensors for vertical misalignments etc. of the piano keys.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the acoustic indication of the beats of a musical time in which the tempo at which the beats are reproduced is adjustable. According to the invention means are provided for varying the musical properties of the separate beats, e.g. the reproducing period, the volume and the pitch, said varying means being provided with N switch elements each having at least three switch settings, and a scanning element for the cyclic consecutive scanning of the N switch elements, wherein a tone is generated in a first channel during the scan period of each of the switch elements in the second switch setting of the switch element, while a tone is generated in a second channel in the third switch setting of the switch element and no tone is generated in the first switch setting of the switch element in either channel, both channels being common to the N switch elements.

Abstract: The output section of a musical instrument performance amplifier comprises a pair of high impedance power field effect transistors connected to an output transformer to provide a relatively low push-pull drain load that effectively presents a high impedance constant current source to a loudspeaker. The amplifier, having such high impedance constant current source output, amplifies and sustains instrument sound, provides large amounts of power to the speaker over a wide range of speaker impedances, and enables production of high power harmonics.

Abstract: In an automatic performing apparatus, an amount of change in a motion of a moving element provided in a baton is detected, and the detected change amount is converted into an electrical signal. A tempo clock signal generator provided in the apparatus is driven by the electrical signal to produce a tempo clock signal for reading out musical data preset in a memory. A volume level of a musical tone is set by a control section on the basis of the data of a peak level of the change amount in the motion of the baton. The tone data stored in the memory is read out on the basis of the tempo clock and is automatically sounded as a musical sound, at the set volume level.

Abstract: An improved system for increasing the loudness of any single note selected by playing more than a single key. A command circuit responsive to manual control, including stop tabs, enables a tone signal to be produced in response to the playing of one key or in response to the simultaneous playing of a plurality of keys on a keyboard. Means are provided for changing the relative amplitude of a tone signal produced in response to the simultaneous playing of a plurality of keys with respect to the amplitude of a tone signal produced in response to the playing of a single key.

Abstract: A tone generation system is intended for use with an electronic musical instrument of the type wherein an audible tone is generated electronically in response to actuation of the instrument by a player. The invention generates digital signals capable of defining either the waveshape or the envelope or characteristic of a tone for each tone initiated by such player actuation the latter envelope being varied in accordance with the intensity of the player actuation initiating that tone. In the latter case, digital electronic circuits are utilized for developing a digital scaling signal S corresponding to the intensity of actuation of the instrument by the player, and a digital envelope signal which represents slopes and Y intercepts of portions of a composite waveform, viewed in an orthogonal coordinate system. These digital circuits arithmetically manipulate these scaling signals and envelope signals to give a composite output signal defining the envelope.This application is a continuation of application Ser.

Abstract: A keyboard operated electronic musical instrument having a number of keyboards in which the loudness balance of the accompaniment keyboards are adaptively maintained at a preselected loudness ratio with respect to the solo keyboard. The loudness balance is automatically maintained as the tone switches are altered and as the number of actuated notes varies on the keyboards. The balance ratio is accomplished by adaptively scaling the harmonic coefficients used in a discrete Fourier transform to generate the tones for the accompaniment keyboards.

Abstract: An improved envelope generator circuit for an electronic organ provides a musically correct attack rate, i.e., the volume of a musical note is increased by an equal number of decibels for equal increments of time. The envelope generating circuit comprises a constant current source for charging a capacitor to generate a linearly increasing voltage signal upon the initial activation of any one or more keys of an electronic organ keyboard. A regulator circuit comprising an operational amplifier and a matched pair of transistors with one transistor connected into the feedback path for the operational amplifier generates an anti-logarithmic control signal in response to the linearly increasing voltage signal. The antilogarithmic control signal is used to control the amplification of a controlled amplifier to which music signals from the organ are passed.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a music synthesizer which responds to a music note played by a music instrument. The synthesizer has an envelope generator which generates a control signal in relation to the input signal to control the loudness of the synthesized note. Also, the synthesizer has a pair of voltage controlled oscillators, one of which provides a signal having a frequency related to the frequency of the input note, and the other of which provides a signal having a frequency related to the frequency of the input signal offset by the ratio of the difference between a programmed note and a referenced note, such as A440. The programmed note is that note following the operation of a control switch. The synthesizer further includes a series of footpads which control various functions of the synthesizer, such as programming the programmed note, to allow the user to control the synthesized sound while playing an instrument.

Abstract: In a control waveform generator for an electronic musical instrument of the type wherein the generator generates a control waveform adapted to control at least one of a tone pitch, a tone color and a tone volume, the control waveform generator is constituted by a pulse generator for generating a pulse signal having a repetitive frequency, and a detector including a counter which starts to count the number of the pulse signals when a key is depressed. The detector generates a first detection signal during an interval between depression of the key and a time at which a counter reaches a predetermined value and then produces a second detection signal until the depressed key is released.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved modular drum generator which plays a recorded drum beat and which may be used in combination with a plurality of identical, improved modular drum generators to provide an electronic percussion section. The improved modular drum generator includes a bistable latch which has a clock input, which is electrically coupled to a computer which generates a "play" strobe pulse, a set of three data inputs, one of which is held at logic "1" and the other two of which are electrically coupled to a computer data bus which also generates volume data and pitch data, a reset input and a set of three outputs corresponding to the data inputs. The improved modular drum generator further includes a voltage controlled oscillator the input of which is electrically coupled to the pitch output of the bistable latch and the output of which is electrically coupled to the clock input of a twelve bit binary counter, which provides 2.sup.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument generates musical tone signals by digitally executing the calculations of equations representing frequency modulation. The instrument comprises a keyboard information generating circuit for generating key information concerning depressed key numbers and key touch information concerning key operation, a plurality of system parameter generating circuits for providing parameter information in response to the outputs of a tone color selecting switch section, a plurality of system musical tone signal forming sections each for producing musical tone signals through the digital calculation of the FM equation in accordance with the abovementioned informations, and a musical tone generating section for producing musical tones by combining the musical tone signals provided by the musical tone signal forming sections, the musical tone signal forming sections calculating the FM equation by using different parameters provided by the parameter generating circuits.

Abstract: In a musical instrument having one or more tone generators in which a plurality of data words corresponding to the amplitudes of a corresponding number of evenly spaced points defining the waveform of one cycle of an audio signal are transferred sequentially from a note register to a digital-to-analog converter in repetitive cycles at a rate proportional to the pitch of the tone being generated, apparatus is provided for varying the spectral content of the tones in response to a loudness control signal. Loud tones are produced with a greater number of harmonics than those for a soft tone.

Abstract: A harmony generating circuit generates high harmony signals in response to coincident lower manual accompaniment signals and upper manual melody signals. Gating circuitry responsive to coincident inputs from accompaniment chords played on the lower manual and melody notes played on the upper manual generate harmony notes on the upper manual which correspond to the accompaniment notes played on the lower manual but are above the melody notes and approximately within one octave of the melody notes.

Abstract: In a musical instrument having one or more tone generators in which a plurality of data words corresponding to the amplitudes of a corresponding number of evenly spaced points defining the waveform of one cycle of an audio signal are transferred sequentially from a note register to a digital-to-analog converter in repetitive cycles at a rate proportional to the pitch of the tone being generated, apparatus is provided for varying the spectral content of the tone in response to control signals. A loudness control signal causes loud tones to be produced with a greater number of harmonics than those for a soft tone. A formant control signal also causes the tones to have a time variant spectral quality.

Abstract: A programmable electronic musical synthesizer includes a memory controlling a plurality of parameter circuits according to a selected group of stored parameter signals for producing a desired timbre of sound. A memory override system is responsive to manual operation of each of a plurality of control knobs for overriding a corresponding stored parameter signal and coupling an externally derived input signal to the associated parameter circuit. The memory override system thereby conveniently enables one or more selected parameter circuits of the synthesizer to be manually controlled by a performer while the other parameter circuits are simultaneously controlled from memory.

Abstract: A high frequency roll-off circuit for a gain stage including an amplifier having a feedback network together with a dual potentiometer comprising two serially connected gang operated resistors connected between the amplifier feedback port and through a capacitor to the amplifier output port, one of the resistors forming a volume control and the other resistor forming a high frequency roll-off control whereby at high volume settings, high frequency roll-off is automatically provided.

Abstract: A timbre-select type electronic musical instrument in which the application of a sound effect unsuitable for the selected timbre is automatically blocked. This instrument includes means for detecting that a certain timbre is selected and means responsive to the signal from said detecting means for preventing the unsuitable effect for the timbre from being applied to a sound.

Abstract: A circuit which allows for the simultaneous control of the bias voltages applied to the screen grids and control grids of output tubes while maintaining the ratio of said voltages, thereby providing a method for selectively varying a single plate characteristic (Power Output) of a tetrode/pentode vacuum tube.In the case of musical instrument amplifiers, it is a desirable effect to drive the power amplifier (output stage) beyond the point that said power amplifier is able to reproduce its input signal accurately, hence causing output distortion. Said point is known as the "Clipping Point".A clipping point is most usually achieved at high sound pressure levels which are uncomfortable and difficult to work under. By varying said voltages in the previously stated manner, one varies the clipping point accordingly, and therefore is able to obtain output distortion at variable sound pressure levels.

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.

Abstract: A manual volume control device for an electric guitar having a pinion gear attached to the shaft of the volume control. A rack is slidably mounted relative to the surface of the guitar for meshingly engaging the pinion gear. A handle member is coupled at one end thereof to the rack with the other end of the handle member extending to the strumming area of the guitar and configured for grasping by the hand of the guitarist for linearly actuating the volume or tone control to produce a violin type tone during playing of a musical piece.

Abstract: A harmony authorization detector (HAD) synthesizer electronically generates single audible musical notes in harmony with single original aural notes of a melody as the melody is played on an instrument by a single player. Thus the HAD functions as, in effect, a second instrument electronically operational in harmony with a manually played lead instrument. The HAD synthesizer is particularly useful with guitars although not so limited. When a lead electronic guitar is used in a solo situation playing one original note at a time, the HAD synthesizer will, for each string on each position of the guitar and with the aid of a group of tone decoders, electronically detect the single fundamental note played by the guitarist and will authorize the emission of a preset, predetermined electronically generated synthesized single harmony note e.g. a third, fifth, seventh, etc. based on the fundamental of the single note played by the lead guitarist.