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: Tone data produced by operating a keyboard is stored in a RAM to be saved into a tape recorder through an interface. Of a plurality of music numbers saved in the tape recorder a selected one is loaded into the RAM through the interface. A tone generator converts the tone data from the RAM into a tone signal which is sounded from a loudspeaker. The save and load operations are all controlled by a CPU.

Abstract: A plastic card mounting an IC memory of a credit card size called a music card stores encoded digital music information including tone, musical interval, musical length and loudness of each musical note and pause, and said music information actuates a synthesizer which generates music sound signal. The music card also stores a character code for indicating title of music on said synthesizer. As music note is encoded and stored in a digital form, a small capacity of IC memory is enough for storing a long play music.

Abstract: Apparatus for synchronizing playback rates of a plurality of music sources includes a reference generator generating a reference signal including beats, a music source producing a music signal representative of music, a discriminating circuit operative in response to the music signal for extracting beats involved in the music signal to produce a beat signal representative of the extracted beats, and control circuitry interconnected to the reference generator and music source for determining the time difference between the occurrence of beats involved in the reference signal and the occurrence of the beat signal to regulate the music source so as to make the time difference substantially constant. The music source will thereby produce the music signal with a phase difference of the beats involved in the music signal substantially constant with respect to the beats involved in the reference signal.

Abstract: An automatic performing apparatus for use in an electronic musical instrument stores chord name data and chord generation timing data to carry out an automatic chord performance. In spite of frequent variations of a chord during the progression of a music piece, repetitive storage of a same chord name data is not required so that the amount of stored data can be reduced, allowing utilization of a memory of a small capacity.

Abstract: A signal delaying device delays a digital signal corresponding to an audio signal. Input signal data is sequentially written into a memory with regularity and data at an address which was written a predetermined period of time before writing of the present data is read out thereby effecting the delay of the signal. In using, the memory is divided into a number corresponding to the number of channels of input signals, that is, the address designation and the manner of control of writing and reading of the memory is changed in accordance with the number of channels of input signals. The delay time of the signal is set by properly setting the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A musical performance or accompaniment unit which is so arranged that, with employment of a so-called sound multiplex system recording medium in which a vocal signal of a singer or the like is recorded on its first track and a musical signal of a musical instrument for accompaniment is recorded on its second track, when a user sings, with the recording medium being subjected to reproduction, singing abilities of the user such as rhythmical feelings, degrees of bass or soprano, etc. are automatically marked for display through comparison and calculation of the above reproduced vocal signal and signal of the song sung by the user.

Abstract: A tone generator as disclosed that produces a specified waveform by reading out values contained in one of a number of arrays stored in an EPROM. Variations of the desired waveform are stored in a number of these arrays. A microprocessor is used to select among the various arrays stored in the EPROM to compensate for distortion in subsequent processing of the waveform, as a function of amplitude and frequency. The rate at which the values are read from the selected array determines the frequency of the tone produced. Also disclosed are various means for processing the waveform suitable for use in audiometric testing.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having a keyboard has a sound wave-shape generating circuit comprised of a pitch ROM connected to the keyboard. A first selector is connected to the keyboard, and a second selector is connected to the pitch ROM. A drum rhythm sound pitch data generating circuit and a pitch forming circuit are each connected to the first and second selectors. A wave-shape memory and a noise rhythm sound forming circuit are each connected to the pitch forming circuit. A third selector is connected to the wave-shape memory and the noise rhythm sound forming circuit. An envelope counter is connected to the third selector and the output of the envelope counter is fed to an audio amplifier. In use, a play/rhythm switching signal is selectively applied to the first, second and third selectors so that both a drum rhythm sound and a noise rhythm sound can be generated using only the one wave-shape memory.

Abstract: A tone pattern identifying system collates coincidence between tone data of an inputted tone array and tone data of a given reference theme tone array by recognizing such coincidence at corresponding locations between these two tone arrays for each shifting of their relative positions, and outputs at least a most closely resembling tone array as a result of the collation. This system may include means for evaluating the result of collation and means for displaying the result of the evaluation.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having key input means selectively actuable to cause the production of sounds corresponding to respective notes of the musical scale, comprises a memory circuit for storing the respective notes, and a clear circuit actuated to partially amend at least one of the notes from the contents of the memory means.

Abstract: An illumination level/musical tone converter is described which is suitable for incorporation into a miniature electronic device such as an electronic wristwatch, whereby the pitch of musical notes emitted by an acoustic output device can be varied as desired by the user varying the amount of illumination reaching a light sensor, e.g. by partially shading the sensor using a finger. Melodies can be composed in this way, and means can be provided for memorizing such melodies, which can be subsequently reproduced, e.g. to provide an audible alarm indication.

Abstract: A system and method for instruction in the operation of a keyboard musical instrument, namely, an organ or piano. The system and method teaches the proper fingering for chord triads in the root, first, and second positions so as to play chord triads in the space of a single octave. The system may be operated manually by the student or, in some embodiments thereof, the system may be operated automatically by means of an external storage media device such as a video disc player.

Abstract: Predetermined performance keys in a group for a low octave section are used as read-out keys for reading out accompaniment memorized in a first memory, and the other keys in the keyboard are used as read-out keys for reading out melody memorized in a second memory. The read-out accompaniment and melody contents are reproduced with a first tone color designated by a first tone color designation switch given to the accompaniment and a second tone color designated by a second tone color designation switch given to the melody.

Abstract: A musical instrument having a housing. A well is formed in one surface of the housing and adapted to receive a card. A slide is mounted on the housing for movement across the surface of the card. The card containing printed indicia, each of which represents a note of a musical composition with the indicia arranged in a generally rectangular matrix. The indicia on the card are arranged in one direction across the matrix to indicate the sequence of notes played in a musical composition from the beginning to the end thereof. The indicia are arranged in the direction across the matrix extending at right angles to the sequence of playing to indicate changes in frequency of the notes from the lowest frequency on one side of the matrix to the highest frequency on the other side. The slide extends across the card and the well in the direction of the sequence of playing the notes of the composition.

Abstract: A keyboard operated electronic musical instrument is disclosed which has a number of tone generators that 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 by each one selecting data points read out of the memory in response to a comparison logic.

Abstract: Bar codes representing rhythm data corresponding to rhythm pattern, rhythm progression or a certain kind of rhythm are printed in relation to a musical score, and are read out by scanning with a bar code reader. The rhythm data thus read out are stored in RAMs under the control of a CPU. The rhythm data stored in the RAMs are read out by the CPU and supplied through an amplifier to a loudspeaker, for producing sounds.

Abstract: A system stores and reads out a musical tone signal.

Abstract: A waveform producing system in which a source of infrared radiation or magnetic flux in a pattern forming section applies energy to a mask constituting a pattern-forming device that passes and masks the radiation or flux for passing the radiation or flux in a pattern which represents a waveform in a coordinate system with axes of time and amplitude in a plane. This distributes the radiation or flux and amplitude in a plane, and distributes the radiation or flux spatially in a pattern corresponding to the waveform. A matrix of transducers in series within parallel rows in a conversion section receive the radiation or flux passed and converts it to electrical signals which have a sampled value of the waveform. The sampled values thus obtained are scanned subsequentially in the direction of the time axis by a sequential readout circuit and the outputs of the sampled values are arranged sequentially with time to develop the waveform.

Abstract: A musical instrument comprises an input circuit for entering pitch information and duration information of a note, a counting circuit for counting the time when the input means continues to be actuated in order to fix the duration information, a memory circuit for storing the pitch information and the duration information, and an output circuit for actuating the memory circuit so as to develop the pitch information and the length information.

Abstract: When a key among ten keys or function keys in a keyboard section is operated with a mode selection switch in a key input section set in a recording position, the note data corresponding to the operated key, flag data and tone duration data corresponding to that note data are stored as one-key play note data in a note memory. When a one-key play key is operated in a timed relation to a given rhythm after clearing an address counter in the aforementioned state, musical sound is generated according to the note data stored in the note memory, and at the same time note data is stored again together with flag data for auto play and tone duration data in the note memory.

Abstract: Bar code data are read out by a bar code reader from a medium on which predetermined tone data are printed in the form of bar codes and are successively stored in a RAM. When a mode selection switch is set to a position "NAVI", a LED provided in the vicinity of a performance key corresponding to the pitch of a tone next to be produced next, is turned on under the control of a control section. Performance of music can be obtained by successively operating performance keys indicated by associated LEDs turned on one after another.

Abstract: A synchronizing signal generator includes a tape recorder which is adapted to record click signals in response to actuations of a manual switch. Counting clock signals go on while the click recorded signals are reproduced, especially during a length of time extending from receipt of a particular one of the click signals to receipt of the next succeeding click signal. The resultant count is divided by a given numeral value and then the quotient is stored. The clock signals developing between the respective click signals are further counted during the course of reproduction of the click signals from the tape recorder and a pulse signal is delivered whenever the instantaneous count coincides with the stored quotient. Tempo clock signals are obtained through the division of the pulse signal at a selected division ratio out of a plurality of division ratios. The tempo clock signals are fed to a sequencer which in turn generates a control voltage and gate signals synchronous with the tempo clock signals.

Abstract: An automatic performing apparatus of an electronic musical instrument comprises a memory for storing musical note data representing progression of a music to be played and control data for controlling such a generation mode of music tones being generated as tone color and modulation effect. The generation mode of musical tone signals generated by a tone forming circuit in response to the musical note data read out of the memory is also automatically controlled by the control data read out of the memory.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having a reading device for reading music-playing data recorded on a part of a music sheet, comprises a musical instrument body having a first groove to support the music sheet during the play of a music and a second groove to initially receive the music sheet and to transfer the sheet into the first groove, with the first and second grooves being continuous to each other. The reading device reads the music-playing data from the sheet as the sheet is transferred through the second groove into the first groove, and supplies the data thus read to an internal memory device. Music is automatically played by successively reading out the music-playing data from the memory device.

Abstract: A series of musical tone codes for musical performances and synchro start codes are stored in a main memory. A series of musical tone codes for one-key play or an automatic play are stored in a submemory. In the course of playing music on the basis of said musical tone codes read out from the main memory, when the synchro start code is read out, an automatic play on the basis of musical tone codes stored in the submemory is performed accompanied by the musical tone codes stored in the submemory under control of a CPU, if necessary.

Abstract: An automatic musical performance device including storage circuits, read out control circuits, and conversion circuits, wherein the storage circuits store a series of musical note data. Each of the musical note data is represented by multi-bits whose number is dependent on its own use frequency which means a degree of repetitive use of the data in a music. The read out control circuits read out the musical note data from said storage circuits and supply the musical note data to the conversion circuits. Then, the conversion circuits perform the code conversion of the musical note data to other musical note data whose number of bits are independent of their own use frequency. In the automatic musical performance device, musical sounds are produced or key depressing positions are indicated in accordance with the musical note data from the conversion circuits.

Abstract: A digital synthesizer primarily intended for use in electronic musical instruments which are microprocessor controlled includes a plurality of storage devices which contain numerical data commensurate with the characteristics of an output signal to be produced. Information is read out of these storage devices under the control of command signals having a predetermined repetition frequency. The generation of the command signals is controlled in such a manner as to permit the generation of harmonically related frequencies.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for recording electric signals corresponding to piano key operation and for reproducing the piano key operation. The process includes switching a discrete frequency oscillator corresponding to each piano key, algebraically adding the outputs of each oscillator, filtering the algebraic sum of the oscillator outputs through a low pass filter, recording the filtered signal, reproducing said filtered signal through a high pass filter, detecting each frequency in the high pass filtered signal, and energizing an electromechanical device so as to actuate the piano key which had switched the discrete frequency oscillator.

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: A waveform storage and generating system is disclosed in which at least two waveforms are stored. Values of the first waveform are sequentially read out, and smoothing to eliminate step noise is performed. In order to smoothly shift to reading out the second waveform, one or more transitional waveforms are derived which represent amplitude values between the first and second waveforms. The process of reading out the first, transitional, and second waveforms to provide a smooth transition is referred to as cross-fading. Several embodiments, including a microprocessor oriented system are disclosed.

Abstract: A disc having holes in the periphery thereof is moved by successive increments so that the holes are successively brought into alignment with a photocell. The diameters of successive ones of the holes correspond to the pitch of successive tones in a musical selection. A tone generator is employed to develop a tone signal which varies in pitch in accordance with the diameter of the holes in the disc.

Abstract: A series of beat signals (e.g. sixteen) corresponding to a desired rhythm or tempo are recorded on one track of a multi-track magnetic tape, which is then cut and spliced into a loop just long enough to contain the entire series of recorded beats. During a performance the loop is used in a recorder designed to cause the recorded beat signals repeatedly to be played back by a first head at a first terminal, which can be connected through an amplifier to an ear-piece and/or lamp so that the reproduced beat signals can be heard and/or seen only by the performer. A second, combination record-playback-erase head in the recorder is mounted adjacent a second track on the tape and is connected by, for example, a foot-operated switch to a circuit which enables the second head instantaneously to be switched from a record to a playback mode, and vice versa.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing sound from data which are electrically stored in an electronic memory is disclosed. This sound reproducing apparatus includes a member for providing timing control to associated electronic circuitry. There is also a member for retrieving the individual elements of the data from the memory and electronic components for converting the retrieved elements into respective audio signals. Furthermore, there are electrical circuit elements for audibly broadcasting the respective audio signals. The duration of the broadcasting of each respective signal is controlled by a circuit which is responsive to the timing control member and the retrieved elements. The present invention may also broadcast sounds from externally input signals. This is effected through an external source element for obtaining such external input and a switch means for connecting either the stored elements retrieved from the memory or the external input from the external source to the audible broadcasting member.

Abstract: A toy including a music playing device therein capable of playing various musics by exchanging a removable rotary means. The toy comprises a toy body, an electronic musical scale generating means having a sound selecting means corresponding to the sounds composing the musical scale, a speaker, a rotary means rotatably and removably mounted in the toy body, a mechanism for turning the rotary means, and a means for operating the sound selecting means provided on the surface of the rotary means. The electronic musical scale generating means is adapted to produce electrical signals of the sounds corresponding to the sound selecting means upon operating the sound selecting means. The rotary means is disposed adjacently to the sound selecting means so that the means for operating the sound selecting means may operate the sound selecting means to play a predetermined music as the rotary is rotated.

Abstract: The invention concerns a polyphonic musical synthesizer using digital techniques. The generation of successive wave form patterns makes use of phase data for addressing a wave form memory, and of amplitude and harmonic or octave row data contained in a set of memory blocks. Control of the synthesizer is effected by externally addressing the memory set in order to write the aforementioned data in it.The development of synthesis operations within the synthesizer is conditioned by a sequential chain of reading of the different memory blocks in terms of signals from a plurality of generators.

Abstract: An optical tone generator comprises sensing means responsive to light of different respective colors for selectively producing respective output signals corresponding to such respective colors, and a tone generator responsive to the sensing means for emitting a tone corresponding to the signal produced by the sensing means. In a preferred embodiment, fiber optic light conduits are disposed within an elongated baton for manual translation along a line of discretely changing colored strips to produce tones corresponding to the various colors. This device is particularly advantageous for teaching musical composition because it permits a child to vary pitch, duration and tempo by readily perceived variations in color, length and speed, respectively.

Abstract: A musical keyboard instrument is disclosed for recording and storing a musical performance and then automatically playing back the performance. As is conventional, a keyboard having a plurality of keys is provided, along with musical tone generators that are associated with the keys. In accordance with the disclosed invention, means are provided for sensing, at a sensing time, those of the keys which are activated. A sequence of frames are generated, each frame including digital information representative of the keys that are activated at a given sensing time. The duration of each frame is a function of the relative locations of the keys activated at a given sensing time, and is therefore a duration which can vary from frame to frame. Each sensing time is determined by the previously completed frame, i.e., when a frame is complete, the statuses of the keys are again sensed so that the next frame can be generated. The sequences of frames are stored on magnetic tape.

Abstract: This invention relates to electric or electronic musical instruments for the production of audible musical composition ranging from quite simple to very complex arrangements. More particularly this invention is a device for the creation and editing of a musical work produced by the composer or arranger and which enables the immediate rehearsal of the fully or partially completed musical arrangement.The device is designed to be connected to an electronic musical instrument which replays the recorded composition. Such an instrument, for example, can be an electronic organ and/or an electronic musical synthesizer which accordingly either incorporates or is connected to the device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for memorizing and playing back an accompaniment passage in an electronic organ wherein the keyboard is multiplexed to develop a serial input data stream having keydown signals in the time slots corresponding to the depressed keys, selectively writing into a programmable random access memory data corresponding to the absolute address of the first occurring keydown signal in the pulse train and then writing into the memory data corresponding to the intervals, expressed in terms of time slots in the multiplexed data stream, between a number of the first occurring keydown signals, beginning with the first occurring signal. The data is read out of the memory and converted to a serial time division multiplexed data stream by means of comparators which produce a pulse each time there is a compare condition between the output of the memory and the count produced by the master counter/subcounter.

Abstract: A programmer for a music synthesizer including a keyboard and M independent voice modules (channels) and wherein the characteristics of each module are dependent upon K independent parameters, each parameter defined by an analog voltage level. The programmer is capable of storing N distinct programs, each program including information defining K parameters for each of M modules. The programmer is comprised of a common set of K potentiometers which are coupled through an analog to digital (A/D) converter means. The output of the A/D converter means is applied selectively either to a digital memory for storage at a location defined by operator controlled switches or through a digital to analog (D/A) converter means to the voice modules. Alternatively, information applied to the D/A converter means for application to the voice modules can be derived from the digital memory.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument, in the nature of an organ, employs a plurality of endless magnetic tape cartridges, each continuously playing an endless magnetic tape stored therein, each endless tape having recorded thereon a continuous tone, and a keyboard arranged such that depression of a key causes the output of a selected tape cartridge to be played through a speaker system continuously for as long as the key is depressed.

Abstract: A multichannel recording medium storer which samples the time course of notes produced by an instrument and an address for each of these samples. An interchangeable keyboard transmits a signal or signals to an electronic computer as to which note or notes are to be reproduced. The electric computer reads the note or notes to be reproduced from the recording medium and from the sample produces a faithful reproduction of the sustained note or notes. The result is available for recording on one channel of the recording medium or for reproduction on a speaker. The instrument is useful for the preparation of musical compositions and for educational purposes and demonstrations.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for recording digital signals subsequent re-creation of a musical performance from the keyboard of an electronic player piano, wherein the notes are given a stretched effect before recording so as to eliminate the sharpness and mechanical sounding of such music during the re-creation of the performance.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for encoding of expression while recording from the keyboard of an electronic player piano wherein the intensity of the music being recorded is reflected in variations in the power of the acoustic waveform produced thereby. There is a delay between the time the key is struck and the time that the note is sounded or heard by the listener. The apparatus measures the changes in power by performing a digital integration of a waveform. The key note or key switch actuations are multiplexed and a serial bit stream of data and stored in a shift register and then combined with the expression data bits to form the data stream which is encoded in a bi-phase encoder to be recorded on tape.

Abstract: A bell instrument for providing a true sound of cast bells, comprising a plurality of bell record modules, each such module being programmable by both automatic means and manual means and having a continuous tape, or other types of magnetic material (floppy disc or drum), encoding of bell music and control means for operating same, the control means for each tape comprising means for playing a predetermined programmed portion of such music and returning the tape to a start position. In a preferred embodiment, a tape module is employed having a multi-track continuous tape, each track having a respective predetermined portion thereof containing encoded signals representing bell music and a respective other portion thereof containing no encoded music, with accompanying means for selecting and playing the music from any one of said tracks and controlling the tape transport from sensed control information or the lack thereof on a given predetermined one of said tracks.

Abstract: There is disclosed a circuit for controlling the expression of an electronically controlled keyboard instrument and is an improvement on the circuit disclosed in application Ser. No. 680,996. The circuit works on the principle that by switching a solenoid on and off at a rapid rate and then varying the time on versus the time off, the energy supplied to the solenoid varies and therefore the striking force of the piano is changed. In accordance with the present invention, precise control over the width of the pulses is achieved by first setting a set voltage level and then adding thereto increments of set voltage according to a binary weighting. These voltages are then added and compared with a triangular voltage in a comparator. Both the up ramp portion and the down ramp portion of the triangular waveform are utilized and compared against the sum voltages. The pulse width of the comparator output is thus a function of the intersection of the ramp voltage, both up and down ramps, with the sum voltage.

Abstract: There is disclosed an expression system for playback of a magnetic tape record rendition of a musical presentation. The detected intensity level for the bass and treble halves of the keyboard are assigned different data bit positions in the frames of recorded data bits of a time division multiplexed record system. The binary bits are weighted and used to modulate the width of pulses supplied to selected solenoids which actuate the striker-hammer members of the instrument so that the average drive energy applied to the solenoid is proportional to the desired intensity thereby more faithfully reproducing the manual action of the original performer.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for demultiplexing and storing time division multiplexed frames of musical data encoded ina bi-phase mark/space code. Data in sequential groups of data bit cells is stored in a shift register while a counter counts the data bit cells. A plurality of latch circuits, each capable of storing one said group of data, are sequentially enabled to receive and store the data, in the groups, respectively. After all of the data bit cells in a given time frame are stored, they are simultaneously gated to transistor driver circuits for operating solenoids which, in turn, re-create the music.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a digital touch responsive tempo generating device for use in an electronic musical instrument, preferably an electronic organ. The instrument player selects a desired tempo to control a standard rhythm unit or other circuit either before or during playing by repetitively actuating a touch plate at a rate corresponding to the desired tempo. A digital value related to the time interval between predetermined repetitive touches by the instrument player is stored in a digital circuit having a memory under control of a clock circuit. A tempo generator circuit coupled to the digital circuit produces tempo output pulses spaced apart as a function of the time interval between the repetitive touches.