Abstract: A key for a musical instrument is provided for effectively giving a touch load to the key, while employing an alternative material having a specific gravity equal to or larger than a predetermined value, instead of lead, as a material for the weight, simplifying works involved in fixing the weight in a key body, and reducing the frequency of troubles such as cracking of the key body, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost. The key comprises a swingable key body formed with an embedding hole which extends through a front plate in the vertical direction to reach the key body, and a weight made of an alternative material other than lead. The weight has a smooth portion and a knurled portion on the outer peripheral surface thereof. The weight is press-fitted into the embedding hole from the smooth portion and thereby fixed in the key body.

Abstract: An action mechanism is provided in which the longitudinal direction of a keyboard body having a keyboard portion at its one end, a middle part or the other end thereof is swingably held and, at the same time, a base of a hammer body is pivotally attached to the opposite side or the same direction side of the keyboard portion across the holding point of the keyboard body. A beak-like projecting piece is protrudingly provided in a base end of the hammer body, and at the same time, an engaging stepped portion is formed in an escapement member that is always biased toward the beak-like projecting piece of the hamner body. The pivotally attached portion of the hammer body pivots in accordance with a movement of the keyboard body by a key striking operation of the keyboard portion. At the same time, the beak-like projecting piece of the hammer body and the engaging stepped portion of the escapement member engage with each other so that the hammer body performs a pivotal operation.

Abstract: A key for a musical instrument is provided for facilitating the attachment of a weight, and adjustments of a touch load, while using an alternative material for substitution for lead as a material for the weight. The key comprises a swingable key body formed with embedding holes, and weights each made of a material other than lead and having a threaded outer peripheral surface. The weight is screwed into the embedding hole for removable fit into the key body to give a load to the key body. A plurality of types of weights different in load from one another are provided for selecting one having an appropriate load therefrom to adjust the touch load.

Abstract: A key is provided for permitting simple attachment of a weight and easy adjustment of a touch load, while using an alternative material for substitution for lead as a material for the weight, to thereby reduce the manufacturing cost. A swingable key body is formed with an embedding hole. The weight is made of a composite material produced by blending a plurality of kinds of materials except for lead in a predetermined blending proportion to have a predetermined specific gravity, and is removably attached to the embedding hole of the key body.

Abstract: A key support member of a keyboard assembly pivotally supports a plurality of keys each including a body, a hinge portion, and a rear end portion. A movably-mounting device is used to mount the keys onto the key support member via the rear end portion of the each of the keys in a manner such that the keys can be moved by moving the rear end portion of the each of the keys. When the keys have been mounted on the key support member, the movably-mounting device engages the keys with the key support member in a manner such that the keys are movable relative to the key support member.

Abstract: A key is provided for permitting simple attachment of a weight and easy adjustment of a touch load, while using an alternative material for substitution for lead as a material for the weight, to thereby reduce the manufacturing cost. A swingable key body is formed with an embedding hole. The weight is made of a composite material produced by blending a plurality of kinds of materials except for lead in a predetermined blending proportion to have a predetermined specific gravity, and is removably attached to the embedding hole of the key body.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument is a combination of an acoustic upright piano without strings and an electronic tone generating system, and a hammer receiver is beaten with hammers respectively linked with key action mechanisms, wherein the each of the hammers has a hammer shank fixed to a butt of the key action mechanism and a weight member attached to the hammer shank, and the weight member has a center of gravity in the vicinity of the center of gravity in a hammer head of a regular hammer usually incorporated in the standard upright piano so that the key touch is identical with or similar to that of the piano key touch.

Abstract: A keyboard assembly for a keyboard instrument such as an electronic piano is constructed using a key, a first moving member, a second moving member and a key-depression switch. Herein, the key is supported by a keyboard frame to have a capability of rotating up and down about a rotation center. The first moving member is arranged beneath the key and is subjected to rotary motion about a first rotation center. The second moving member incorporating a deadweight has a larger weight and a longer moving distance as compared with the key and first moving member respectively. At the key depression, mode a back portion of the first moving member rotates upwardly so that the second moving member normally located at a rest position is subjected to rotary motion about a second rotation center. Thus, the second moving member rotates backwardly, and, it is stopped at a contact position defined by a back portion of the keyboard frame.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments include a jack holder 48 that is free to swing in accordance with the depression operation of a key 10, a first elastic member 52 that impels the jack holder 48 and applies the first counter force to the key 10 against the key depression action, the jack 42 that, together with being established so that it is not possible for it to swing with respect to the jack holder 48 during the depression operation of the key 10, is also established so that it is free to swing with respect to the jack holder 48 during the releasing operation of the key 10 and the second elastic member 56 that impels the jack 42 and applies the second counter force, which is smaller than the first counter force, to the key 10 against the key releasing action.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument has an instrument housing and a keyboard chassis integrally formed as a single piece. The keyboard musical instrument has at least one key movably supported on the keyboard chassis, a lower limit stopper for limiting the lowest descending position of the at least one key, a key switch including a movable contact and a fixed contact provided between the at least one key and the keyboard chassis, and an upper limit stopper disposed between the at least one key and the keyboard chassis for limiting an upper-most ascending position of the at least one key. The upper limit stopper is provided on a member that is independent of the keyboard chassis.

Abstract: In a reduced-size keyboard in a keyboard instrument, at least one apex of an angle in at least one key or bracing member is disposed at a different longitudinal position than any other apex in any key or bracing member.

Abstract: A system for balancing upright piano key mechanisms consists in weighting the key (1) in its front portion (at 11), opposite to the portion (5) where the key downweight is usually placed, and consequently in weighting (at 15), by means of a weight simulating the weight of the hammer, also the portion where the hammer (7) rests, the hammer in turn resting, through the wippen (9), on the rear portion of the key, so as to create a balance between the front portion and the rear portion of the key itself.

Abstract: The keyboard apparatus is constituted by a series of units in which key stems are connected to a key support section through a connection section. The width of the connection section is wider than a width of the back-end of the key stem attached to the connection section, and the units are stacked vertically so that the connection sections partially over lap. White keys are arranged in a plurality of upper key units and lower key units, having key stems, connection sections and support sections, which are transversely linked to one another. In a keyboard in which the lower key units are stacked in such a way that the key support section of the lower key units are underneath the key support sections of the upper key units, the back-ends of the key stems are joined to the transverse midpoints of connection sections. The keys are arranged so that the lateral surfaces of the key stems in adjacent upper key units are disposed substantially in one common plane.

Abstract: A musical keyboard instrument (EM1) keyboard which has a plurality of keys, a common pivot point for said keys and a spring biases each key to a uniform position, each key having an associated weight member and a common fulcrum point for each associated weight member, and each key having a dependent weight actuator member engaging its associated weight member, respectively, such that when a key is depressed by a musician the "feel" to the musician is that of a given type of keyboard instrument. A device for disabling the effect of at least some of said associated weight members changes the "feel" to the musician of the keyboard. The device for disabling includes a bar member pivotally mounted to the instrument frame and beneath the associated weight members and a device for rotating the bar member in a direction to rotate the associated weight members about the common fulcrum point and disengage the weight actuator members from engagement with the associated weight member.

Abstract: A keyboard assembly includes a plurality of white keys and black keys juxtaposed to each other and each having a body disposed to be depressed, and a connecting portion, and a key support that supports the body. The connecting portion connects the body to the key support in a fashion permitting the body to swing in directions of key depression and release while limiting lateral motions of the body. The body of each of the white keys has an extension formed integrally therewith and laterally extending therefrom at a location under the body of a corresponding one of the black keys in such a manner that the extension overlaps with the bottom surface of the body of the corresponding one of the black keys.

Abstract: A keyboard apparatus with at least one key having a rotation fulcrum and an exterior front end face on the opposite side of the rotation fulcrum in a performer side. The exterior front end face of the at least one key defines a front lower section. An extended section is provided at the front lower section of the at least one key that extends from the exterior front end face of the at least one key toward the performer side, and a mass member is attached to the extended section. The mass member therefore extends forwardly from the external front end face of the at least one key toward the performer side.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide relatively inexpensive methods and apparatus for modifying existing pianos to provide interchangeable keyboards of different sizes without sacrificing or impairing the quality of the original piano. The keys of a standard piano are removed and the pins in the front rail of the key frame are replaced with pins which are more closely positioned. The original keys are then replaced with new keys of narrower dimensions which are more closely positioned in the area of the front rail.

Abstract: An keyboard assembly for an electronic musical instrument is mainly constructed by a key frame, a key, a key switch and an assembly guide member. A fixing portion of the key is supported by the key frame such that a front portion of the key can be freely rotated up and down. An actuator is attached to and projected downward from a lower side of the key. The key switch (or a key-depression sensor) has an elastic projecting portion at its upper end. This key switch is provided on the key frame and is driven by the actuator, which depresses down the elastic projecting portion of the key switch when the key is depressed down. The assembly guide member guides the key when the key is moved in an assembling direction (i.e., a longitudinal direction of the key) in order to carry out an assembling operation to assemble the key and the key frame together.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard musical instrument includes a plurality of keys turnable between a rest position and an end position, an electronic sound generating system responsive to the motion of the key so as to generate an electronic sound and a key touch generator for offering resistance against the motion of the key, and the key touch generator has a magnetic plate attached to a side surface of each key, a stationary electromagnetic actuator generating electromagnetic force so as to attract the magnetic plate thereto and a controller responsive to a key position signal representative of a current key position so as to change the magnitude of a driving signal supplied to the electromagnetic actuator, thereby varying the resistance like the key of an acoustic piano.

Abstract: There is disclosed a key support device for a keyboard musical instrument including a plurality of keys and a keyboard chassis. The key support device has a support member for rotatably supporting a rear part of each of the plurality of keys on the keyboard chassis. The keys each have a supporting shaft-receiving recess having an arcuately-walled portion defined by an inner peripheral surface which is arcuate and partially open in cross-section. The support member comprises a supporting shaft part having an arcuate portion which has the same radius of curvature as the arcuately-walled portion of the supporting shaft-receiving recess and a central angle of less than 180 degrees, and a support part extending from the supporting shaft part. By this arrangement, the keys are each supported by the support member in a state of the arcuately-walled portion of the supporting shaft-receiving recess and the arcuate portion of the supporting shaft part being in contact with each other.

Abstract: An keyboard assembly for an electronic musical instrument is mainly constructed by a key frame, a key, a key switch and an assembly guide member. A fixing portion of the key is supported by the key frame such that a front portion of the key can be freely rotated up and down. An actuator is attached to and projected downward from a lower side of the key. The key switch (or a key-depression sensor) has an elastic projecting portion at its upper end. This key switch is provided on the key frame and is driven by the actuator, which depresses down the elastic projecting portion of the key switch when the key is depressed down. The assembly guide member guides the key when the key is moved in an assembling direction (i.e., a longitudinal direction of the key) in order to carry out an assembling operation to assemble the key and the key frame together.

Abstract: A mounting construction of an elongated leaf spring deformed in an S-letter configuration and engaged at opposite ends thereof with a pair of spaced support members in a compressed condition to effect outward biasing forces acting of the support members, wherein three nodes are formed at the opposite ends and an intermediate position of the leaf spring in a longitudinal direction to form a pair of antinodes between the opposite ends and intermediate position of the leaf spring.

Abstract: A keyboard assembly for an electronic musical instrument comprises at least a plurality of keys, a key support member and a plurality of key-return springs. The key support member rotatably supports the keys; and the key-return spring is provided between the key and key support member so as to press up the key to a normal position. Mechanical parameters which affect a key scaling to key-touch responses of the keys are sizes, shapes and locations of parts of the keyboard assembly, which are set by analyzing motions of an action mechanism of an acoustic piano. For example, weight of the key is adjusted using a deadweight member so as to provide a specific key-touch response for the key. An amount of elastic resilience, made by the key-return spring, is adjusted by changing at least one location, at which one end of the key-return spring is terminated, so as to provide a specific key-touch response for the key.

Abstract: A keyboard apparatus for an acoustic piano having strings includes keys, a key bed supporting the keys such that they are turnable thereon, an action mechanism arranged at a rear end portion of each of the keys which operates in a manner interlocked with key depression to strike the associated string to generate a musical tone, and a key sensor switch mounted on the key bed for generating key depression information of the keys. The key sensor switch is formed by a rubber switch, and removably mounted on the key bed. Alternatively, the key sensor switch is movably mounted on the key bed such that the key sensor switch can be moved between a detecting position in which the key sensor switch can be depressed by any key depressed, and a non-detecting position in which the key sensor switch cannot be depressed by any key depressed.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard key apparatus includes a longitudinally extending key pivotally mounted on a supporting base and a simulated hammer assembly including a simulated hammer mounted on a hammer shank that is independently pivotally mounted with respect to the key on the base. A jack means is mounted on the key for striking and pivoting the hammer assembly when the key is struck and a preferably flexible bridle for controlling the hammer assembly connects the hammer assembly to the key. A spring is connected between a back end of the key and the base for quickly returning the key to its at rest position. The bridle may be a flexible strap. The simulated hammer may be a metallic cylinder disposed about a first distal end of the hammer shank. A butt is attached to a second distal end of the shank and the butt has a butt end that is bifurcated to form two hinge lugs that are hinged to a single hinge lug of a lug mount fixedly connected to the base.

Abstract: An improved key for keyboard musical instruments, being particularly suited for reduced width keys, provides for greater structural stiffness and torsional rigidity to improve the feel and response of the key. The key comprises a playing end member mounted on top of one end of a bracing member and a key shank mounted on top of the second end of the bracing member, with the free end of the key shank able to engage a capstan mechanism.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurately sensing key motion in a keyboard operated musical instrument, in which optical emitters and sensors are positioned above the hammer catchers. The optical emitters and sensors are arranged on a plurality of individually addressable sensor boards, and the sensor boards are divided into a plurality of individually addressable sensor banks. Each sensor board is independently and sequentially activated by a controller according to a specified timing sequence. As the controller activates a sensor board in one bank, allowing the board to warm up, another sensor board in the second bank, which has previously been activated and warmed up, is read and analyzed by the controller. Activation and reading of sensor boards alternates between sensor banks as the sensor boards are sequenced through.

Abstract: A keyboard apparatus has a relatively simple structure to guide a mass member without using a spring to provide high quality performance with stable operation. The rotational moment force of the mass member acts in a uniform direction against a rotation support section that supports the mass member upon depression and release of an associated key so that the generation of mechanical noise and the development of clattering movement at the rotating support section are substantially prevented. The keyboard apparatus has a key that is movably supported on a support member, and a mass member rotatably supported by a rotation center section of the support section and driven by the key. The keyboard apparatus further includes a guide member that slidably guides the mass member and positions the mass member with respect to the key arrangement direction and at a specified location removed from the rotating center section of the mass member.

Abstract: An improved method for the inertial balancing of a plurality of key assemblies having keysticks within a musical instrument keyboard wherein an individual front weight is predetermined for each stick, the method consisting of calibrating each of the keysticks to an identical selected front weight prior to installing the key leads to a preset pattern which result in the final individual front weight for each key assembly.

Abstract: A keyboard apparatus has a first frame (support member), and a keyboard including a plurality of white keys and black keys, each of the keys having a fulcrum and movably about the fulcrum with respect to the support member. Each of the black keys has an extension section connected to one end of each of the black keys. The extension section extends under operation sections of two adjacent white keys toward the free ends of the white keys. A white key driving section is provided adjacent to a free end portion of each of the white keys. A black key driving section is provided adjacent to a free end portion of each of the extension sections. The white key driving sections and the black key driving sections are located at substantially the same distance from their respective fulcrums, and drive movable sections such as mass body assemblies (action members) or key switches that are operated in association with the corresponding white keys and the black keys.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard key apparatus to simulate the feel of escapement includes a longitudinally extending key preferably pivotally mounted on a supporting base, a spring apparatus flexibly disposed between the base and the key for resisting depression of the key with a variable resistive force, a latching apparatus to latch the spring apparatus in connection to the base, and an unlatching apparatus to unlatch the spring apparatus from connection to the base with a predetermined amount of resistive force. The latching apparatus may be a magnetic apparatus disposed between the base and the spring apparatus having one of a magnetic element and a magnetically attracted element fixedly connected to the base and the other fixedly connected to the key.

Abstract: Improvements to keyboards for electronic pianos and the like, wherein a support, preferably made of sheet metal, with a U-shaped section and a flat section and provided with a number of hammers equal to the number of keys, which hammers are made integral with the support by means of specific pivoting elements. These hammers are preferably made of metal and suitably shaped and balanced for actuation by the keys. An elastic escapement member is carried by the portion of the hammer making contact with the key typically by coated with a rubber element provided little step which, when the key is depressed and the thrust element inside the key comes into contact with the step, produces a slight release, similar to the feeling of escapement one perceives when playing a conventional piano.

Abstract: A piano includes a balance rail defining a balance surface, and a piano key assembly including an elongated body defining a playing surface. The piano key assembly is supported by the balance surface for pivoting movement in response to application of playing pressure applied to the playing surface. The balance surface is disposed in a first plane and the playing surface is disposed in a second plane vertically spaced from the first plane. A leveling arm has a first end attached to the elongated body and a cantilevered, second, free end, and defines a leveling surface in opposition to the balance surface. A leveling adjustment element includes a segment extending between the elongated body and the free end of the leveling arm. The segment has a length adjustable for changing the vertical distance between the first plane of the balance surface and the second plane of the playing surface.

Abstract: A key sensor incorporated in a keyboard musical instrument has a shutter plate attached to a turnable key and photo-interrupters stationary with respect to a key bed, and the shutter plate has an outer bottom edge and an inner bottom edge oblique with respect to a virtual plane where optical paths of the photo-interrupters are extending so that the shutter plate intermittently crosses the optical paths.

Abstract: A mechanism for rotatably supporting a rotary member of a keyboard of an electronic piano or the like is made up of a bearing member and a holding member. The bearing member has a bearing portion which is made up of two plates. Each of the plates has a semicircular recessed portion which dents downwards and a groove on one side of the recessed portion. On the other side of the recessed portion, there is formed a mounting portion to hold the bearing member in position. The holding member is made by a plate. One end of the holding member is inserted into the grooves and the other end thereof is fixed to a keyboard chassis.

Abstract: In the balancing of piano key mechanisms according to the invention, counterweights are placed in each piano key to balance said key mechanism in order to create a smooth linear progression of key front weights along a keyboard, thereby providing a keyboard with a more uniform "feel" to the piano keys when played by a pianist.

Abstract: A keyboard apparatus is constructed on a frame having a plurality of support members. A plurality of keys are movably supported by the corresponding support members such that each key can be operated by a finger action to undergo a primary stroke movement. A plurality of mass members are disposed in the frame. Each mass member is linked to a corresponding key for undergoing a secondary stroke movement in response to the primary stroke movement of the corresponding key so as to impart a dynamic reaction to the finger action. A stopper member is disposed in the frame not only for directly fixing a limit of the secondary stroke movement of each mass member, but also for indirectly fixing a limit of the primary stroke movement of the corresponding key. Further, a plurality of guiding members are arranged in the frame remotely from the support members and correspondingly to the respective keys.

Abstract: A keyboard device for an electronic musical instrument comprises a keyboard chassis, keys rotatively arranged on the keyboard chassis, and a key switch arranged beneath each of the keys for detecting a key status of each key. Each key has a switch-depressing projection arranged just above the key switch, and a hammer-depressing projection for depressing a hammer when the hammer is provided, with the switch-depressing projection and the hammer-depressing projection being formed adjacent to each other in one piece.

Abstract: A key for keyboard instruments includes a molded key body and a perspiration-absorbing sheet. The molded key body is pivotally secured to a supporting member of the instrument and formed of a synthetic resin. The perspiration-absorbing sheet is provided over the surface of the key body so that the perspiration-absorbing sheet serves as a top, playing surface of the key.

Abstract: The invention applies to keyboards--for example, musical or typewriter keyboards. Various key top shapes are disclosed which may be identified by touch. These shapes include longitudinal ridges, slots, and rows of ridges, slots, knobs, craters and texturing. Various angled key tops are disclosed also. The preferred embodiment applies to a musical keyboard similar to the Janko design.

Abstract: An acoustic piano, an electronic sound producing system and a controlling system form a keyboard instrument for selectively producing acoustic sounds and electronically synthesized sounds, and the controlling system has a catcher stopper for restricting rotations of catchers before hammer heads strike sets of strings in the electronic sound producing mode, thereby giving the unique piano key-touch to a player without mixing noise with the synthesized sounds.

Abstract: A keyboard apparatus for an electronic musical instrument has a metallic keyboard chassis and a balance rail provided on the keyboard chassis. A plurality of pins are provided on the balance rail. The pins and the balance +*rail constitute fulcrums for swingably supporting white keys and black keys. The fulcrums for the black keys are disposed on the same line with, or in front of, the fulcrums for the white keys. Hammers are provided in a rear of the keys so as to be swingable by swinging of each of the respective keys. The hammers are disposed on the same axis of rotation, and a position for the black keys to operate to swing the respective hammers is located in front of a position for the white keys to operate to swing the respective hammers such that an angle of rotation of the respective hammers becomes substantially equal to each other. A stopper member for restricting the swinging movement of the keys or the hammers are provided in a rear upper portion of the keys.

Abstract: Novel shapes and interrelationships of interreactive domains for wholetone musical selection devices such as keyboards or other user interface medium are described. Chromatic glissandos are allowed on these devices. Operator choice for ascending or descending one finger slurs using any one of the twelve per octave fingerkeys as slur instigator or slur receptor is optimized. Novel one digit multiple pitch slurs numbering three or four pitches are acheived.

Abstract: A hammer stopper is moved into and outof an orbit of an extension of a hammer shank depending upon an operation mode, and the extension rebounds on the hammer stopper in an electronic sound producing mode between an escape of a jack from a butt and a strike of a hammer head at a set of strings so that a player performs a music through synthesized sounds without sacrifice of the piano key-touch.

Abstract: A black key making of a resin composition comprising a cellulose derivative resin, silicon oxide and at least 0.3 part by weight of a carbon black based on 100 parts by weight of the cellulose derivative, the carbon black having a pH of 6 and below and a BET specific surface area of 260 m.sup.2 /g and above, a keyboard comprising white keys and above-described black keys and a musical instrument having the above-described keyboard are disclosed. The black key is excellent in productivity and processability and is hygroscopic and excellent in the touch to fingers during playing. The black key is preferably made by injection molding.

Abstract: Disclosed is a keyboard device of an electronic keyboard instrument generating a sound upon actuation of a switch disposed on a main plate by a pushing operation of a keyboard; the device includes a touch element varying in position according to the operation of the keyboard and a guide element for guiding the touch element, so that pushing force of the keyboard may be regulated. Therefore, this device enables a player to feel the same sense of touch as that in a common piano by eliminating a sense of friction which may be exerted upon his finger when pushing down the keyboard.

Abstract: A keyboard in which a stopper portion of an upper limit stopper of a black key detours an upper limit stopper of an adjoining white key so as to lie away from the black key side by side with a stopper portion of the upper limit stopper of the white key.

Abstract: An improved percussive action electronic keyboard for play as a musical instrument of the type having pivoted playing keys having camming surfaces distal from finger contact surfaces thereof, pivoted hammers having cam follower surfaces for following the playing key camming surfaces, hammer stop for stopping the swing of the hammer in response to depression of its associated key, includes an electronic sensor for generating an electrical signal for each key which is related in amplitude to the pressure with which the key is depressed during play of the keyboard, and a scanning keyboard state monitor connected to said sensor including a keyboard scanner for scanning each of the keys of the keyboard to determine if a key event has occurred, an amplitude comparator for determining when a key depression causes a said key depression signal amplitude to pass predetermined minimum and maximum amplitude threshold values, a scan counter for counting the number of scans occurring between the scans when the key depressi

Abstract: A keyboard apparatus of an electronic musical instrument includes keys, mass members, and springs. Each key can pivot about a first pivot fulcrum. Each mass member can pivot about a second pivot fulcrum. Each spring supplies a biasing force to at least the corresponding mass member so that the mass member returns to an initial state. In this apparatus, each key has a point of application for pivoting the corresponding mass member in the same direction as a pivoting direction of each key when each key is depressed.

Abstract: A keyboard system for an electronic musical instrument of the keyboard type, such as a synthesizer, electronic piano, organ or controller keyboard. The keyboard includes an electromechanical key actuation and sensing element that in combination with electronic processing allows the performer to adjust both tactile and tone control parameters associated with keyboard touch response. The tactile response can be tuned over a broad range and is capable of simulating a light organ touch, heavier "piano key feel" or stiff percussive action. Since any of these features can be selected and adjusted while the performer is playing the keyboard, the keyboard system also has a desirable "real time" capability that does not interfere with musical performance.