Abstract: A double keyboard piano system is provided. The double keyboard piano system may include a first automatic player piano, a second automatic player piano, and a double keyboard console including a first keyboard and a second keyboard mounted above the first keyboard. The first automatic player piano is in communication with the double keyboard console to receive a first signal including first information describing a first key for the first automatic player piano to automatically play based on a first key of the first keyboard being played, and the second automatic player piano is in communication with the double keyboard console to receive a second signal including second information describing a second key for the second automatic player piano to automatically play based on a second key of the second keyboard being played.

Abstract: A saxophone is equipped with a supporting system, and the supporting system assists a player in performance on the saxophone; the supporting system includes pressure sensors respectively adhered to the keys of the saxophone, torque motors provided in association with the keys for exerting assisting force on the keys and a controller for adjusting a driving signal to a certain amount corresponding to the pressure; since a conversion table is stored in the controller, the controller looks up the amount of driving current to be adjusted in the conversion table, and supplies the driving signal to the torque motor, whereby the keys are depressed by the total of finger force and assisting force.

Abstract: Fuel battery generates electric power using a predetermined fuel, and activation and deactivation of the electric power generation can be controlled in accordance with whether or not the fuel should be supplied to the fuel battery. The electric power is supplied to individual circuits/devices of a tone generation section, so that a tone is generated by any of the circuits/devices operating in response to operation of a performance operator unit. The circuits/devices are allowed to electrically operate for a long time with the electric power supplied by the fuel battery. In this way, an electronic musical instrument using the fuel battery can operate for a long time as compared to the conventional electronic musical instruments using a dry battery or storage battery (secondary battery).

Abstract: An automatic accompanist produces tones for an accompaniment in synchronism with tones of melody produced through fingering of a human player; cue note data codes, which express tones produced in the melody, and cue time data codes, which express a lapse of time between the cue notes, are stored in a cue time track separately from an automatic accompanying track where key event data codes for the accompaniment and duration data codes each expressing a lapse of time between the key event codes; while the human player is fingering the melody, the automatic accompanist monitors the keys specified as the cue notes; if the human player does not depress the keys, the automatic accompanist stops the measurement of the lapse of time expressed by the duration data codes so as to make the accompaniment delayed.

Abstract: An automatic player piano is equipped with a key actuating device for moving keys without fingering, and the key actuating device has a retainer embedded in the key bed for adapting plungers of solenoid-operated key actuators to the keys, respectively, wherein the retainer is formed with guide grooves defined between wall portions for permitting sliding portions of the yokes incorporated in the solenoid-operated key actuators therealong, and a worker simply presses the yoke against the wall portions by means of bolts so as to locate the plungers immediately under the associated keys.

Abstract: An automatic player piano is equipped with a key actuating device for moving keys without fingering, and the key actuating device has a retainer embedded in the key bed for adapting plungers of solenoid-operated key actuators to the keys, respectively, wherein the retainer is formed with guide grooves defined between wall portions for permitting sliding portions of the yokes incorporated in the solenoid-operated key actuators therealong, and a worker simply presses the yoke against the wall portions by means of bolts so as to locate the plungers immediately under the associated keys.

Abstract: The invention was developed in order to play an electronic piano in the same manner as when playing an acoustic piano without feeling any sense of incompatibility. At S100, the key velocity (key stroke strength) is detected by key sensors 33 and 35. At S110, the detected key stroke strength is converted referring to the conversion table stored in ROM 43 and showing a touch curve. At S120, based on said converted key stroke strength data, an electronic sound source 9 and an amplifier 11 are controlled to generate sounds from speakers. The converted key stroke strength represents the sound volume. Since the conversion table of the present embodiment is set so that when the electronic piano is played with the same touch as in playing the acoustic piano, the same sound volume as the acoustic piano can be obtained. Therefore, the player do not feel any sense of incompatibility.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument is fabricated on the basis of an acoustic piano, and a hammer stopper and solenoid-operated actuators are provided for hammer assemblies and black and white keys; and a controller instructs the solenoid-operated actuators to move the black and white key at different velocities depending upon the position of the hammer stopper, and causes the acoustic piano to give little offense to the ear at a blocking position of the hammer stopper.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument has an upright piano, an automatic playing system for exerting forces on the keys of the upright piano instead of a player on the basis of music data codes and an electronic sound generating system for generating electronic sounds from the music data codes, and a player can perform an ensemble through a fingering on the keyboard of the upright piano together with the electronic sound generating system.

Abstract: An acoustic upright piano, an electronic sound system and a hammer stopper form in combination a keyboard musical instrument for generating acoustic sounds in an acoustic sound mode and electronic sounds in an electronic sound mode, and the hammer stopper has a rotatable shaft extending in a lower space under damper blocks of damper assemblies, cushion members projecting into an upper space over the damper blocks and connecting brackets provided between the rotatable shaft and the cushion members, thereby perfectly interrupting hammer motions before an impact on strings in the electronic sound mode.

Abstract: A hammer sensor of a keyboard musical instrument monitors a hammer action from a home position to a rebounding point on a stopper or strings, and a controller determines a hammer velocity and a time at an intermediate point on a trajectory of the hammer in a recording mode; the controller delays the time so as to determine a key-on timing, and an electronic system reproduce the acoustic or electronic sound at the key-on timing in a playback mode so as to reproduce the acoustic or electronic sound at the same timing as the original sound.

Abstract: A keyboard instrument selectively enters into an acoustic sound mode for performing a music with acoustic piano sounds and an electronic sound mode for performing a music with synthetic sounds, and a rotary stopper is provided between hammer shanks and strings for interrupting a rotation of the hammer toward the strings in the electronic sound mode; wherein a cushion is provided on the rotary stopper for damping an impact of a damper leaving from the strings in both acoustic and electronic sound modes so that a player can perform a music without a noise.

Abstract: A keyboard instrument selectively enters into an acoustic sound mode for producing piano tones and into an electronic sound mode for producing synthetic tones, and comprises an acoustic piano, an electronic sound generating system and a mode controlling system, wherein the mode controlling system has a stopper slidable along strings of the acoustic piano so that the strings are struck by or blocked from hammers of the acoustic depending upon the position of the stopper.

Abstract: An acoustic piano is equipped with an electronic sound generating system, and a key bed structure is angularly movable between an acoustic sound mode and an electronic sound mode for changing gaps between hammer heads and sets of strings, thereby allowing a player to perform a music with acoustic sounds or synthesized sounds.

Abstract: In the present invention, performance sample passages are used as source material to drive the transducers of a controlled musical instrument, such as the strings of a violin. The performance sample passage method permits the faithful recreation of a musical performance without the limiting effects of speakers. Alternatively, analog/digital synthesizers, tape or other recording media, monophonic/polyphonic pitch recognition/MIDI conversion methods or any electrical signals are used as sources to drive the transducers of a controlled instrument. The invention uses magnets with steel pole pieces positioned on either side of a transducer, such as a metallic string or rod of a controlled instrument. Said metallic string or rod can be either double or single anchored, or utilize any combination of anchoring means. Insulation between the pole pieces and magnets is utilized to isolate the coils from the magnets and pole pieces. String dampers are used to recreate a violin bow's damping and string focusing effects.

Abstract: Method for storage, transcription, manipulation and reproduction of music on system-controlled musical instruments which faithfully reproduces the characteristics of acoustic musical instruments. The system comprises a music source, a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and a CPU-controlled plurality of instrument transducers in the form of any number of acoustic or acoustic hybrid instruments. In one embodiment, performance information is sent from a music source MIDI controller to the CPU, edited in the CPU, converted into an electrical signal, and sent to instrument transducers via transducer drivers. In another embodiment, individual performances stored in a digital or sound tape medium are reproduced at will through the instrument transducers, or converted into MIDI data by pitch/frequency detection/analyzation device for storage/editing/performance in the CPU.

Abstract: A musical candle includes a longitudinal thermistor strip emedded in a candle juxtapositional and proximate to a wick which thermistor can sensitively actuated when burning or extinguishing the candle for starting or stopping sounding of a musical device mounted in a casing for holding the candle on the casing.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument includes: a keyboard; an acoustic musical tone production mechanism for generating an acoustic musical tone; a tone generator for generating an electronic musical tone; a solenoid driver for inhibiting generation of the acoustic musical tone from the acoustic musical tone production mechanism; and an operation panel for designating a musical tone to be inhibited. When a player designates a musical tone to be inhibited via the operation panel in advance and then depresses a key on the keyboard, the generation of the acoustic musical tone is inhibited by means of the solenoid driver.