Abstract: This invention provides an electronic musical instrument comprising a keyboard circuit for producing a pitch determining voltage signal representing the note of an operated key, a voltage controlled oscillator for producing a tone signal having a tone pitch determined by the pitch determining voltage signal, and a voltage controlled lowpass filter for imparting a desired tone color to the tone signal. The voltage controlled lowpass filter is responsive to the pitch determining voltage signal from the keyboard circuit to control the cutoff frequency of the voltage controlled lowpass filter in such a manner that the harmonic content of a higher tone signal is decreased from that of a lower tone signal.

Abstract: The keyboard type instrument includes circuitry for controlling an envelope generator and a voltage controlled oscillator which in sequence operates a voltage controlled filter, and a voltage controlled amplifier both of which receive control signals from the envelope generator. The keys of the keyboard preferably have a common variable conductance touch sensor or transducer associated therewith which is responsive to key depression pressure in excess of a predetermined threshold pressure to control one or more audible characteristics of the played note. In one embodiment vibrato, pitchbend, brilliance and volume of the note are controllable. Associated with the keyboard is selection means including a plurality of audible characteristic selectors and variable means delimiting the range of the audible characteristics.

Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument, an expression control circuit constituted by a first variable resistor is connected in the path of the tone signal. A second variable resistor is connected in series with or in parallel to the first. A third variable resistor is connected in shunt between the output side of the expression control circuit and the ground. The second and the third variable resistors can adjust the variation range of the tone signal at the output of the first variable resistance.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprising a voltage controlled oscillator, a voltage controlled filter, a voltage controlled amplifier and envelope generators. An output envelope of the envelope generator has various parameters such as rise time and decay time or times. The envelope generator is of the voltage controlled type so that the parameters of the output envelope of the envelope generator are controllable in response to parameter controlling voltages from a parameter controlling voltage generator. In an attempt to enhance performance effects a switch circuit is provided, in accordance with the invention, to interchange between a rise time controlling voltage and a decay time controlling voltage which are both coupled from the parameter controlling voltage generator to the envelope generator.

Abstract: This invention relates to a voltage controlled type electronic musical instrument comprising a keyboard section for generating a pitch determining voltage signal and a trigger signal upon key operation, a voltage controlled tone signal generating circuit including a voltage controlled oscillator, voltage controlled filter and voltage controlled amplifier for generating a tone signal in response to the pitch determining voltage signal and control wave generating circuits responsive to the trigger signal for generating control waves coupled to the voltage controlled oscillator, voltage controlled filter and voltage controlled amplifier. The pitch determining voltage signal is coupled to the voltage controlled amplifier so as to control the gain thereof, thereby decreasing the volume of musical sounds at higher frequency from that of musical sounds at lower frequency.

Abstract: A musical instrument is disclosed which is constructed of a group of taut strings arranged to be strummed, each string being connected to operate an analog switch capable of producing a graduated signal that is directly proportional to the amplitude of vibration of its string, an extrinsic sound source in circuit with each analog switch, the sound source having a variable volume which is varied directly proportional to the strength of the signal from the analog switch, a number of switch means arranged in a keyboard, each of which may close the circuit to one or more preselected sound sources for which the switch means are closed and the strings are vibrating.

Abstract: A touch responsive sensor for an electronic keyboard musical instrument of a variable capacitor type, which comprises a pair of electrodes spaced apart from each other, and an intermediate electrode interposed between the pair of electrodes and separated from each of the pair of electrodes by a dielectric. The intermediate electrode is movable from near one of the pair of electrodes toward the other of the pair of electrodes in accordance with the movement of each playing key of the electronic musical instrument. Thus, in the course of a key depressing movement, first and second touch responsive controlling signals are derived from, respectively, between the one of the pair of electrodes and the intermediate electrode and between the other of the pair of electrodes and the intermediate electrode in accordance with the variation of capacitance produced therebetween.