Abstract: A digital sight-singing piano is disclosed with a fixed-solfège keyboard, continuous keys and adjustable tones by kneading piano keys, wherein the key can be varied continuously and the frequency of a piano key can be slightly adjusted by kneading the piano key during playing. The keyboard of the digital sight-singing piano has fixed solfège, wherein no matter what key is used for playing, the piano keys in a solfège key set always have the same correspondence to the solfège syllables of the numbered musical notation in one octave. A color graphic vector numbered musical notation is also disclosed, wherein extended solfège is used to describe pitch, different colors are used to indicate the positions of the piano keys to press, notation frames with fixed width are used to represent the beat unit, and font (i.e., bold or not) of musical notes are used to show the strength of pressing piano keys. The color graphic vector numbered musical notation is suitable for computer-aided notation.

Abstract: An electronic music instrument comprises an input device having a plurality of input elements configured for generating at least one digital signal corresponding to a particular note when activated, the input device configured to be organized in sounding input elements and non-sounding control input elements and configured for transposing a range of input elements to an intended range of notes; and a software module, wherein the software module is configured for receiving a transposition state of then input device and for remapping the control input elements according to the transposition state.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting standard musical notes to natural musical notes based upon Rod formats. A signal of standard musical notes is input and the frequency of each note in the signal is analyzed. A Rod format natural harmonic resonance is selected and the frequency of each note in the signal is converted to a natural frequency corresponding to the selected Rod format natural harmonic resonance. A signal consisting of the converted notes is output. An apparatus capable of performing the inventive process on a signal of standard musical notes includes a signal input port and a signal output port, means for converting the frequency of standard musical notes to a corresponding natural frequency corresponding to a Rod format, means for selecting a Rod format natural harmonic resonance, and a frequency analyzer.

Abstract: A process for converting standard musical notes to Ra format musical notes comprising inputting a signal of standard musical notes, analyzing the frequency of each note in the signal, selecting a Ra format natural harmonic resonance, converting the frequency of each note in the signal to a Ra format frequency corresponding to the selected Ra format natural harmonic resonance, and outputting signal consisting of the converted notes. An apparatus including a processor capable of performing the inventive process on a signal of standard musical notes. The apparatus (12) includes a signal input port (14) and a signal output port, means for converting the frequency of standard musical notes to a corresponding frequency of Ra musical notes, means for selecting a Ra format natural harmonic resonance, and a frequency analyzer (26).

Abstract: An initial note series is collected from a real-time source of musical input material such as a keyboard or a sequencer playing back musical data, or extracted from musical data stored in memory. The initial note series may be altered to create variations of the initial note series using various mathematical operations. The resulting altered note series, or other data stored in memory is read out according to one or more patterns. The patterns may have steps containing pools of independently selectable items from which random selections are made. A pseudo-random number generator is employed to perform the random selections during processing, where the random sequences thereby generated have the ability to be repeated at specific musical intervals. The resulting musical effect may additionally incorporate a repeated effect, or a repeated effect can be independently performed from input notes in the musical input material.

Abstract: The present invention enables non-musicians to effectively compose music using a computer, and provides them with the means to manipulate musical content in an intuitive fashion without the need for formal musical training. The invention combines a representation of musical knowledge with a representation of musical data in such a way that permits transposition of the data to be constrained to conform to a set of harmonic rules. The user can select pitches to be moved higher or lower, and a system insures that it sounds good (where good is defined to mean "satisfies the conditions of the harmonic rule base").

Abstract: Disclosed is a tone generating apparatus which is provided with a timbre select switch to specify a timbre and a scan circuit for generating key codes corresponding to keys. Pitch control values corresponding to the timbres and key codes are stored in the form of a pitch control table in a ROM. When a predetermined key is depressed, a pitch control value specified by the key code associated with that key and the timbre selected by the timbre select switch is read out from the pitch control table in the ROM, and a tone frequency is determined by the pitch control value and key code. Tone generation is controlled based on the tone frequency.A pitch control value read out from the pitch control table in the ROM is given a predetermined offset to produce a musical tone having vibrato.Further, a pitch control value read out from the pitch control table in the ROM is multiplied by a value specified by an operation panel to alter the degree of adding the pitch.

Abstract: A tone pitch changing device comprising an operation content memory for storing the contents of an operation required for generating a sound having a pitch which belongs to one of a group of pitches, a frequency interval between each pair of adjacent pitches of each group being different among the groups of pitches, a group selecting unit for selecting and indicating one of the groups of pitches, an operation content reading unit for reading the contents of an operation, required for generating a sound having a pitch of the group selected and indicated by the group selecting unit, from the operation content storing unit, an operating unit for performing an operation in accordance with the contents of the operation read from the operation content reading unit, an operation result memory for storing the result of the operation performed by the operating unit, a pitch indicating unit for indicating a pitch of the group, and an operation result reading unit for reading the result of the operation performed with r

Abstract: There is provided an electronic musical instrument for transposing the key comprising a key transpose switching means, a key board having multiple keys each assigned with an identification number, a microcomputer for processing the state signals of the switching means and the depressed key signals of the key board to produce key transpose data, a sound generator for producing the key-transposed sound according to the key transpose data produced from the microcomputer, a D/A converter for converting the key-transposed sound into an analog signal, an amplifier for amplifying the analog signal of the D/A converter, and a low pass filter for filtering the amplified sound to deliver it to a speaker.

Abstract: When an operation to give a transposition instruction is performed during generation of musical tone, the transposition is not performed for the musical tone being generated but the transposition is performed for only the specific musical tone to which the musical tone generating instruction is given newly.

Abstract: A synthetic recording device in an automatic performance piano includes a key range setting circuit for setting a range of keys in which record performance information is to be generated, a transposition circuit for transposing, when playback performance information read from a memory corresponds to a key within this key range, the playback performance information by a predetermined amount of transposition, a piano performance unit for performing playback in response to the transposed playback performance information, a selection circuit for selecting key operation information corresponding to a key in the key range set by the key range setting circuit and outputting the selected information as record performance information, a delay circuit for delaying the playback performance information by a predetermined period of time, and a synthetic recording circuit for synthesizing the delayed playback performance information and the record performance information and providing the synthesized information to be stor

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument with a transpositional function includes a keyboard, a mode selection switch, a microcomputer, a musical tone signal generator and a sound system. The keyboard has a plurality of keys respectively representing different notes in a musical scale. The mode selection switch selects one of a transposition mode and a play mode. The microcomputer includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM to detect first and second depressed keys when the transposition mode is selected by the mode selection switch. The microcomputer generates transposition data having a value corresponding to an interval between the notes represented by the first and second keys. The microcomputer generates a note signal representing a note higher or lower by the interval represented by the transposition data than a note of a given depressed key when the play mode is selected by the mode selection switch.

Abstract: A method of and a device for transforming the musical notes of a piece of music into different notes to obtain a new piece of music. The notes constituting the original piece of music are stored in an original music memory. These notes are then transformed into other notes in accordance with predetermined rules stored in a transforming means and the transformed notes are thereafter stored in a transformed music memory.

Abstract: A digital semiconductor circuit for an electronic organ has a plurality of control inputs addressed via a keyboard and corresponding in number to the number of keys of the organ keyboard, and a plurality of audiofrequency signal inputs addressed with periodic electrical oscillations by an oscillator system. Each control input is associated with a respective key of the keyboard and each audiofrequency signal input is permanently assigned with a respective tone frequency of the highest octave of the organ. The control signals serve to address the control inputs by the keys of the keyboard corresponding to logical levels "1" and "0." The circuit further includes a number t of divider stages in a frequency divider at least equal to a number q of the octaves in the organ keyboard. A number u of a plurality of AND gates in a given group of AND gates is greater than the number q of the octaves in the organ keyboard.

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: An electronic organ has a digital control circuit with a sampling circuit (3) which generates key identification signals (B) in the form of pulse series wherein the pulses denote the actuated keys (2) of the keyboard (1). Such pulses cause a tone selector or evaluating circuit (12) to transmit tone signals to a voicer circuit (15). A shift register (16, 116 or 216) is provided to delay the key identification signals so that the tone signals which the voicer circuit receives do not correspond to those normally expected on actuation of certain keys. The non-delayed key signal can be superimposed upon the delayed signal or signals (V1, V2) in a suitable summing circuit (17) to thus achieve transpositions, interval couplings and other tonal effects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for use in musical instruments. In particular, the invention is useful for identifying a chord played on a keyboard of a musical instrument, such as the accompaniment manual of an electronic organ, and for identifying the root and the type of chord being played. Pursuant to the invention, a microprocessor used in conjunction with the instrument selectively causes the associated circuitry of the pedal and/or accompaniment keyboard of the musical instrument to play automatically in an appropriate octave either the identified root or a sequence of notes which is compatible with the identified root and chord. A pedal override feature is also provided which overrides the chord identification invention when the musician plays one or more pedal notes.

Abstract: A tone generator system for electronic musical instruments includes a voltage-regulated, high-frequency oscillator. The output of the oscillator is connected with the inputs of first and second 12-tone divider circuits having outputs for transmission of full octaves of tone signals. The connection between the output of the oscillator and the input of one of the divider circuits contains circuitry which intercepts each n.sup.th signal of the series of signals transmitted by the oscillator so that the one divider circuit is out of tune with the other divider circuit. The number n can be varied by a battery of switches and can be as low as 2 or higher than 128. An auxiliary signal dividing circuit can be connected between the output of the oscillator and the input of the other divider circuit.

Abstract: An electronic organ, piano or accordion has a transposing apparatus wherein a voltage-regulated high-frequency oscillator transmits high frequency signals to the input of a 12-tone divider circuit whose outputs transmit tone frequency signals to the tone generator of the musical instrument. The oscillator receives regulating signals from a switching unit, such as a multiplexer or a battery of integrated circuits, and the intensity of such signals is a function of addressing signals which are transmitted to the switching unit by an addressing unit having a keyboard with keys which are actuatable by the player to initiate the generation of different addressing signals as a result of closing of electric switches which are associated with the keys. The distribution of keys in the keyboard is the same as the distribution of playing keys in the keyboard of a piano, organ or a like musical instrument.

Abstract: An electronic organ, particularly of the institutional type employing classical voicing, having Swell and Great manuals as well as a full pedalboard wherein the manuals and pedalboard are multiplexed simultaneously to produce a plurality of synchronized serial data streams. Intermanual coupling is accomplished by connecting the data stream from one manual to the footage generation circuit of another manual, and footages are generated for each manual by utilizing tapped shift registers introducing controlled amounts of delay of the keyboard data before demultiplexing thereof. There is a bank of multiplexers for each voice, such as flutes, principals, complex and percussion, which receive the serial data streams from one or more of the footage generators. The demultiplexer-keyers are supplied with tones and function to demultiplex the serial data streams and provide tones selected in accordance with the keydown pulses in the serial data streams to the voicing circuitry.

Abstract: An octave conversion system of the fundamental frequency of an audible tone signal produced by electrically picking up mechanical vibration of a musical instrument in which the audible tone signal and an audible modulation signal having a frequency in a preselected relation to the fundamental frequency of the tone signal are applied to a multiplier which is preferably constituted by a voltage-controlled amplifier. When the modulation signal has a frequency half that of the tone signal, the tone signal is one-octave down-converted, while, when the modulation frequency is equal to the tone signal frequency the tone signal is one-octave up-converted. With this frequency conversion system the fundamental wave component of the octave-converted tone signal has the same envelope as that of the original tone signal. This frequency conversion system is advantageous in attaining small size versions of electric musical instruments and extension of inherent compasses of electric musical instruments.

Abstract: There is disclosed a trumpet incorporating rotary potentiometers which are controlled by means of circular wheels coupled to the shaft of the potentiometers. By rotating the wheel, the musician can vary the resistance of the potentiometer to thereby control the modulation and pitch characteristics of a synthesizer. The pitch of the trumpet is transduced by means of a pickup located in the mouthpiece of the instrument. The signal produced by the pickup is coupled to a pitch follower circuit whose output is coupled to the external input of a synthesizer module to hence use the actual pitch of the trumpet to vary the characteristics of the synthesizer. A transposition switch is located on the rear valve assembly and operates to control the transposition mode of the pitch follower. A glide switch is positioned beneath the transposition switch and is employed to control the portamento input of the synthesizer module.

Abstract: Adjacent primary digitals of a musical keyboard are actuated in the same fingering sequence for all key signatures. Each primary digital forms part of a three section group having two secondary digitals for producing the sharps and flats. Through a separate selector keyboard, the tones produced by selected digitals are shifted by a half-tone in accordance with a logic applied program to transpose operation of the keyboard to the selected key signature.

Abstract: A control system for an electronic music synthesizer includes a circuit responsive to the keying of a musical instrument for producing a binary coded signal. This signal is converted to an analog signal, for application to a music synthesizer. The analog voltage may be modified, for transposition or for portamento effects. The coding circuit may produce trigger and gate voltages for the synthesizer, whereby blowing of the musical instrument, if a wind instrument is employed, is not necessary. Alternatively, the trigger and gate pulses for the synthesizer may be developed from the output of the transducer coupled to the instrument.

Abstract: A transposing and intramanual coupling control circuit for an electronic keyboard instrument in which the status of the keys are scanned in groups by a group counter, each group corresponding to the twelve notes of an octave. The keys in each group provide status signals on a corresponding number of time-shared output lines as each group is scanned. If any key in a particular group has changed status, the scanning of the groups is interrupted and the individual keys in the particular group are scanned by a note counter to determine which keys have changed status. If a key has been depressed, the note number and octave number in the respective counters are stored in an assignment memory for assignment to a tone generator. Transposition is provided by shifting the phasing between the key scanning by the note counter relative to the output lines by a predetermined set amount at the start of each group scanning step.

Abstract: An electronic digital display device for identifying musical notes comprising a series of manually operable on-off key selector switches, a series of manually operable on-off note selector switches, note indicator means visually associated with the note and key selector switches and an appropriate circuit network. One key selector switch is associated with each desired key and each of the selector switches is exclusively and not simultaneously operable in the "on" position. One note selector switch is associated with each desired note and each of the note selector switches is simultaneously operable with one or more of the other selector switches when in the "on" position. The circuit network has a first portion comprising a plurality of circuit branches, one branch associated with each key selector switch. Each of the circuit branches extends to each of the note selector switches and is exclusively actuated by its associated key selector switch.

Abstract: A transposing electronic instrument wherein the clock frequency applied to control a top octave frequency generator is derived by comparing any single output of the generator with the response of a frequency reference circuit to that output, deriving a dc voltage representative of the difference in frequency of the input and output of the reference circuit and controlling the clock frequency from the dc voltage, thereby transposing all the outputs of the top octave frequency generator.

Abstract: A pitch changing apparatus shifts the absolute pitch of musical output from an electronic organ. The apparatus combines two or more transposing switches in a cascade arrangement. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises four binary transposing switches in cascade relationship, with frequency divider circuits interposed between successive transposing switches. The preferred embodiment selects one out of twelve absolute pitches for the musical output in steps of one semitone. Other embodiments select absolute pitch in steps of two or three semitones. The other embodiments use arrays of electronic switching elements included in integrated circuit packages.

Abstract: Electronic tone transposition apparatus in an organ allows the front digitals of the keyboard to play different musical scales and to play the diatonic scale in different keys. The apparatus physically actuates a key signature of written music by interchanging the electrical coupling to a front digital with the coupling to its adjacent back digital. The number of such interchanges is equal to the number of flats or sharps in the key signature. The organ can be electronically switched so that the front digitals of the keyboard play different musical scales with different numbers of tones per octave span.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument capable of transposition has a high frequency oscillator provided on its output side with an octave frequency divider comprising twelve counter circuits to generate twelve tone signals based on a twelve tone tempered scale. These tone signals are respectively frequency-divided by respective pluralities of counter circuits to obtain a plurality of octave tone signals. An oscillator for transposition comprising a plurality of counter circuits is provided and the output terminals of these counter circuits are selectively connected to an input terminal of the octave frequency divider such that the oscillation frequency generated from the high frequency oscillator is added to the oscillation frequency generated from the transposition oscillation to produce an input frequency for the octave frequency divider. A frequency divider is provided at the output of the oscillator.

Abstract: An absolute pitch selector apparatus provides a set of audio-frequency tone signals for a musical instrument. These are selected from a larger number of tone generator circuits by means of a rotary pitch selector switch. Stationary input and output contacts of the switch are printed on the same side of a stationary circuit board. The output contacts are shaped like the arcs of circles that are coaxial with the single circle of input contacts. A rotor carries a first set of spring contacts bearing on the stationary input contacts, a second set of spring contacts bearing on the stationary output contacts, and bridging conductors.

Abstract: Generator for producing the tones of a musical scale in electronic musical instruments, one master oscillator driving a chain of frequency dividers in a manner such that at the output of each divider a tone is produced which is lower by a semi-tone than the tone at the input of the divider, the final divider of the chain being connected to the input of the first divider via a frequency multiplier which multiplies by a factor of 2, while the master oscillator can be connected to any one of the dividers, in which case the connection of this divider to the preceding one is broken in order to permit transposition without the use of additional dividers.