Abstract: Methods and systems for performing modified reverb techniques for audio signals are described. The method may involve receiving an audio signal, a modal reverb effect to be applied to the audio signal, and an indication of a plurality of frequencies. Modes of vibration of a space simulated by the reverb effect may be separated into a set of frequencies included in the input, and a set frequencies not included in the input. The modal reverb effect may be modified by separately adjusting the separate sets of modes of vibration. The modified effect may then be applied to the audio signal.

Abstract: An electronic measuring device captures a plurality of audio samples, wherein each audio sample corresponds to a different string of a musical instrument. The device further identifies a plurality of frequency components of each of the plurality of audio samples, calculates an optimal tuning curve based on the plurality of frequency components of each of the plurality of audio samples, and determines a deviation of the plurality of frequency components of each of the plurality of audio samples from the optimal tuning curve.

Abstract: A method for generating voice identifications for MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) note signals. The method provides voice identification for every note in MIDI signals, which makes music learning intuitive and easier. The method can be used with any MIDI instruments as a separate unit, or a part of such instruments. Solfege is used as voice identification system since it is widely used in music education. However, any such system can be used or newly devised by preparing a different set of patches.

Abstract: A piano action flange with an open-slotted rail attachment feature that is a slot-shaped void completely through the piano action flange, running in the longitudinal direction of the piano action flange, with width slightly larger than the outer diameter of the thread end the flange screw but smaller that the head diameter of the flange screw, where the slot-shaped void is open on one end, breaking through the end of said piano action flange, to leave the slot-shaped void open and accessible from the end of the piano action flange.

Abstract: Templates are used in methods of improving the perceived intonation of musical notes by modifying each note to provide certain frequencies between adjacent pairs of notes. The template modifications provide, in a sequence of twelve notes per octave, or extended octave, that each note is separated from an adjacent note according to one of frequency ratios of 25/24 (h), 16/15 (m) and 27/25 (s). The templates can be used with keyboards and virtual keyboards and applied to recorded music, musical input signals, or data, as required.

Abstract: A new musical keyboard and musical scale is provided by subdividing each octave into a larger number of parts, or notes. In one case, each octave contains sixteen notes, rather than the conventional twelve. In another case, each octave contains twenty notes. The new musical system enables new musical sounds and special effects to be created.

Abstract: This application relates to various stepped pitch instruments crafted to a novel musical tuning system for the generated frequencies. As such, the tone selection devices are arranged to a distinct set of interval specifications when compared to the tone selection devices for a prior art instrument crafted to sound the common frequencies of 12 tone equal temperament. To generate the bicameral tones, the preferred tuning system utilizes two different series of Pythagorean perfect fifths separated by a known reference interval. Relative to 12 tone, the instant tuning system is primarily concerned both with improving the sour major and minor thirds and perfecting the slightly flat fifths. Substantially fewer tones per octave are used than the number required by standard just intonation. Various modifications to existing prior art instruments are described, as well as a novel enharmonic multitone keyboard.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic musical instrument comprised of operators organized in repeating patterns of seven. The operators are electronically interpreted to correspond only to the valid notes of a selected scale. The repeating patterns of seven notes directly corresponds to the vast majority of mucis theory and thus constitutes an enormous simplification in the art of learning, performing and composing music. The present invention enables users of the electronic musical instrument to master chord and note progressions in any scale and mode by learning only a single set of note patterns, in contrast to the myriad scales, chord and note patterns which must be learned on traditional keyboard and pedal devices.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument preferably contains a microprocessor-based MIDI controller which receives signals from a standard IBM-compatible computer keyboard as input and processes the signals to reproduce music. A simple but powerful calculation, wherein keypresses indicate diatonic interval changes in pitch value rather than absolute pitch values, converts the signals generated by the sequence of keystrokes into musical tones on an external synthesizer via the MIDI protocol. Relative key signature changes and changes of the base scale (including non-Western scales) are accomplished with the touch of a button or foot pedal. Tone rows can be created and played back, and harmonic configurations ("chords") selected while playing. The keys on the keyboard are initially assigned functions for optimal ergonomic efficiency, but provision is made for the user to custom-design his or her own keyboard layout and scale configurations.

Abstract: A musical instrument produces nineteen tones in each octave, and the nineteen tones have respective fundamental frequencies regulated to a geometrical series of .sup.19 .sqroot.2 so as to be highly harmonized without difficult in performance.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes manual input devices such as keys, a memory device or devices such as CDs which contain a prerecorded musical signal, prerecorded translation tables, and a prerecorded series of translation table switching signals synchronized to events in the musical signal such as chord changes and scale changes, a translator responsive to the manual input devices, translation tables and translation table switching signals for generating control signals, and an electronic signal generator responsive to the control signals for generating audio signals determined by the control signals.

Abstract: A keyboard instrument for the natural tone system with at least one keyboard whose keys are assigned to the overtones in a predetermined sequence. According to the invention, the keyboard is optimally adapted to the conditions of the natural tone system by the fact that 16 keys are provided per octave which are arranged and constructed in such a way that the natural tones can be played in sequence on three playing levels. One peculiarity of the invention consists of the boxed arrangement of the keys on the three playing levels, whereby only the "harmonic keys" are arranged on the frontal playing level, the "melodic keys" and the tapered "harmonic keys" are arranged on the central playing level, and that the tapered section of the "melodic keys," a further tapered section of the "harmonic keys" and the "chromatic keys" are arranged on the rear playing level. The adjacent key sections on each playing level are equally wide.

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: An electronic musical instrument for reproducing chords or pure tones in a fixed interval scale, called Modified Eastern Music Tru-Scale Octave Transformation by the inventors, without overtone collision. The instrument includes a memory for storing and reproducing the 24 octave frequency interval system. The inventive instrument reproduces single or multiple notes with an interval system which eliminates dissonance, and allows complete modulation in all key signatures and pure tone relationships without altering the keyboard. The invention also contemplates the use of the Modified Eastern Music Tru-Scale frequencies with all MIDI interface compatible instruments or devices, in conjunction with a suitable frequency generator, or through internal or external memory sources. The invention also can be applied to a fretted stringed musical instrument which provides a novel fretboard for generating overtone collision-free tones with complete modulation of the Modified Eastern Music Tru-Scale Octave Transformation.

Abstract: Musical equipment enables the row of front digitals of a musical keyboard to sound either the diatonic scale or a six-tone musical scale. Thus music written by different methods of notation can be played on the keyboard by a musician trained in either one of the methods. Musical notation based on a six-tone musical scale can depict intimately the consonant sounds of music, and it can have a system of key signatures that is much easier to learn and to use than the traditional system of key signatures. When a keyboard digital is played, a digital identifying number for that keyboard digital is transmitted in binary code for a separate sound generator. Translating apparatus intercepts this transmission and transforms the digital numbers into associated pitch numbers in such a way that the front digitals of the keyboard can play either the diatonic scale or a six-tone scale, and can play either scale in any musical key with its key signature automatically actuated.

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: A microtonal key module includes a central key and a number of surrounding keys clustered about the central key. The central key and the surrounding keys establish among each other a progression of successive microtonal increments. A plurality of such microtonal key modules are arranged to form a microtonal keyboard system.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument with plural pitch data generating functions includes a keyboard, a plurality of tone generating units, a pitch designating unit, a plural pitch data generating unit, and a musical tone generating unit. The keyboard has a plurality of keys. The tone generating units generate at least two tone signals in response to operation of a key among the plural keys. The pitch designating unit designates a pitch of a musical tone to be produced. The plural pitch data generating unit generates at least two pitch data based on the pitch and in accordance with different scale characteristics. The musical tone generating unit generates at least two musical tone signals based on at least two pitch data respectively, so that at least two musical tone signals have the different scale characteristics.

Abstract: A multi-decked keyboard for musical instruments has three decks arranged for ease of playing with each hand. The primary deck is substantially a normal piano-like keyboard; the second deck is also substantially a normal piano-like keyboard except that the keys are shortened; and the third deck consists only of shortened white keys. The shortened keys permits a normal hand to reach from the primary to the third decks simultaneously. A specially designed key support system maintains a compact keyboard.

Abstract: An electrically-keyed musical instrument has a double-row keyboard in which back digitals alternate with front digitals throughout the keyboard. The keyboard is provided with two sets of landmarks to assist playing from either the traditional notation or a six-tone notation. The musical instrument has an electronic key signature actuator apparatus which may be set to physically actuate any key signature of music written in the traditional notation, so that the diatonic tones in the selected key can be played entirely on the front digitals of the keyboard. The other five tones of the chromatic scale must be played on back digitals of the keyboard. The electronic apparatus also allows the front digitals to play the whole-tone scale or a hexachord scale, and to play the hexachord scale in any selected one of twelve different hexachord keys. A person trained on the instrument in a six-tone notation can, by throwing a switch, easily play music written in the traditional notation.

Abstract: A keyboard for a musical instrument includes at least one series of keys wherein seven keys in the series and five keys correspond to the typical piano or synthesizer white and black keys, respectively. Twelve narrow keys at a third level raised from the level of the black keys, each coupled to switches for producing a respective pitch and wherein the narrow keys are arranged with respect to the white and black keys such that a narrow key comprises every other key.

Abstract: A just intonation electronic keyboard instrument comprises a plurality of tonality selection switches for selecting each key from among twenty-four just intonation keys, a control circuit for determining one or a plurality of just intonation keys according to the manipulation of said switches, a variable frequency oscillator having its output oscillation frequency varied in accordance with the selected key, and a frequency dividing circuit having frequency dividers which are varied of their frequency dividing ratios according to the selected key. The number of tonality selection switches is less than twenty-four. The control circuit discriminates the selection to a major scale or a minor scale, and discriminates one or a plurality of keys from each of twelve keys from C through B, and determines one or a plurality of selected just intonation keys, according to the manipulation of said intonation selection switches.

Abstract: An improved keyboard for a musical instrument includes a plurality of keys arranged in a side-by-side order, all lying in a common plane. Different embodiments of the invention have a varying number of keys per octave, from as small as 12 keys per octave to as high as 90-120 keys per octave. In those embodiments of the invention in which the number of keys per octave results in a key whose width is too narrow to be uniquely depressed by an operator's finger, associated apparatus determines from a plurality of keys which have been depressed, a particular tone to be produced. The keyboard may be associated with apparatus to distinguish one set of keys from other sets of keys, which apparatus can include a selectively energizable light source associated with each different key or other equivalent apparatus.

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: Geometrically, my keyboard is characterized by a two-dimensional pattern of at least six horizontal and at least six vertical rows of keys. The center-to-center spacing between adjacent keys, both horizontally and vertically, is no greater than about one inch. Musically, the tones represented by the keys are arranged from left to right in ascending half-steps or in evenly spaced microtones and are stacked vertically in ascending perfect fourths. In preferred form, my keyboard comprises sixteen horizontal rows of keys and sixteen vertical rows of keys and possesses a tonal range that is slightly greater than the tonal range of a conventional piano.

Abstract: The organ is designed to play six-tone musical scales, which lead naturally to a simple and easily learned system of hexatonic notation. A scale selector apparatus can be set to make different hexatonic scales playable on the front digitals of the keyboard. For most advantageous use of the instrument, music should be written in or translated into hexatonic notation. The instrument can also be used to play conventionally written music, by using the scale selector apparatus to translate into the conventional diatonic scale.A hexatonic scale selector switch operates on the top octave of tones; lower tones are derived from the top octave by means of chains of frequency dividers. The association of tones with digitals will be correct in lower octaves of the keyboard, provided that all the musical scales have the same number of tones per octave. For translation to the diatonic scale, it is necessary to use a second scale selector switch operating on the outputs from the chains of frequency dividers.

Abstract: The organ plays either a hexatonic scale or the diatonic scale on its front digitals. The organ has a tone transposition apparatus comprising a scale selector apparatus, a key selector apparatus and an absolute pitch changer switch. The key selector apparatus includes a hexachord key selector switch in cascade with a diatonic key selector switch. Each key selector switch is formed by two linear arrays of movable contacts sliding along two linear arrays of stationary contacts. Either of these key selector switches can be set to physically activate key signatures of written music. The key selector apparatus operates on the top octave of tones; lower tones are derived from the top octave by frequency division.

Abstract: The instrument is designed to play a six tone scale on its lower digitals, which leads naturally to a simple and easily learned system of music notation. In the preferred embodiment, the six tone scale consists of the first six tones of the conventional diatonic scale, which is called the hexachord scale. For most advantageous use of the instrument, music should be written in or translated into the hexachord notation, but the improved instrument can also be used to play conventionally written music. The hardware to make this possible includes a scale selector switch to translate from a hexachord scale into the conventional diatonic scale. An absolute pitch selector switch is provided, to allow the player to control absolute pitch of the musical output independently of the written music.

Abstract: The musical instrument has a keyboard which may be arranged to have either seven or five lower digitals per octave span. The musical tones are electrically keyed by means of digital switches. A scale selector switch changes the connections between the digital switches and the tone generator circuits so that either the seven tone diatonic scale or a pentatonic scale is played on consecutive lower digitals of the keyboard.The top parts of the upper digitals are easily removable and interchangeable. Most of the upper digitals are black. When the keyboard is arranged for playing in a pentatonic scale, the E.music-sharp. upper digital in each octave is white, serving as a landmark for the player. When the keyboard is arranged for playing in the diatonic scale, the inactive E.music-sharp. and B.music-sharp. digitals are white.