Abstract: A sound enhancing apparatus for use with a string instrument has separate tone pick-ups for picking up the tones of individual strings and circuits for, determining the fundamental tones of these tones, multiplying the frequencies of these fundamental tones by small integers and/or dividing them by small integers and consequently producing harmonic overtones and/or undertones. The thus produced harmonic undertones and/or overtones are selected and amplified according to fixed and/or adjustable criteria and finally admixed with the original sound. The electronic apparatus for performing the process can operate in analog or digital manner.

Abstract: A breath detection signal from a breath sensor section is converted to a digital breath detection signal, and when the value of the detection signal exceeds a preset value, a tone is generated. After the tone generation, a tone parameter of the tone being generated is controlled according to the value of said digital breath detection signal. When a predetermined period of time is elapsed from an instant when the digital breath detection signal exceeds a preset signal, initial breath data is generated in correspondence to the breath detection signal or preset value at that instant. The tone parameter of the tone at the time of the tone generation is controlled according to initial breath data. After the generation of the tone, the tone parameter of the tone being sounded is controlled according to after-breath data corresponding to the breath detection signal.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to offer an electronic musical instrument which can synthesize the sound of brass instruments with fidelity and furthermore in real time. In order to achieve the above purpose, the musical sound synthesis algorithm is to utilize the tonguing information as well as the embouchure information in addition to the sound generation information, the frequency information, and the sound volume information, which have been used as the playing informations in conventional electronic musical instruments. Furthermore, by tabulating the functional relations between the above-mentioned playing informations and corresponding output waveforms, and storing them in memories, necessary waveforms for sounding the musical instrument can be obtained by only referring to those tables, thereby the speed-up, that is, the realization by hardware, can be realized and thus the sound of brass instruments can be synthesized with fidelity and in real time.

Abstract: The distortion pedal for electric guitar and other electronic musical instruments employs vacuum tube circuitry operated by low voltage "battery eliminator" DC power supply. A pull-up resistor biasing circuit on the vacuum tube grid improves input and output impedance and circuit headroom while providing good control over the harmonic content and sustain.

Abstract: A pitch is extracted from an input waveform signal, and a musical tone having a corresponding tone pitch is generated. In this case, a signal intensity at the leading edge of the input waveform signal is detected to determine a tone volume of the musical tone. A change degree of the signal intensity at the leading edge of the input waveform signal is detected to determine a timbre of the musical tone. As a result, the tone volume and the timbre of the output musical tone can be independently controlled in accordance with a music performance manner, and an improvement of a performance effect is expected.

Abstract: A portable musical instrument and associated therewith a radio frequency transmitter for broadcasting to a remote receiver and audio amplifier the sounds generated by the instrument. The user-operated controls vary the sound level sent by the transmitter, vary the mixing of sound levels from pickup groups such as neck and bridge groups of an electrical guitar, and provide control signals for controlling a sound processing unit such as a reverberator associated with the audio power amplifier system. The immediate status of the gain and fader settings is relayed as an ultrasonic modulation on the portable transmitter to actuate unique display conditions in a delay element actuated from the fixed receiver to provide to the user an indication of the status of his settings. Low battery conditions in the transmitter battery unit cause unique signal conditions to be sent to the receiver, resulting in a readily visible warning display configuration. The currently selected mode, e.g.

Abstract: An input waveform signal representing, for example, a string oscillation is input to a pitch extraction circuit. The pitch extraction circuit extracts a pitch frequency from the input waveform signal, and this pitch frequency is input to a RAM connected to a CPU. On the other hand, LFO data from an LFO is input to a RAM. The CPU detects the amount of variation of the pitch frequency based on the pitch frequency and coverts the amount of variation of the pitch frequency in accordance with a predetermined conversion function. Thereafter the converted value is added to the LFO data to form musical sound control data for imparting a tremolo effect or a vibrato effect. The musical sound production circuit thereby imparts the above effect to the musical sound to be produced.

Abstract: An electronic drum has two or more batons, each baton having a transmitter which transmits a distinct radio frequency signal at a position in space. The electronic drum determines the current X, Y, and Z coordinates of each baton transmitter. To determine the position of each baton transmitter, the drum includes a tablet which has a flat support member at a predefined position, with at least two pairs of electrodes coupled to the flat support member. A first pair of the electrodes is shaped so that the amount of capacitive coupling between each baton transmitter and one of the first pair of electrodes corresponds to the position of the baton transmitter with respect to the X axis. A second pair of electrodes is shaped so that the amount of capacitive coupling between each baton transmitter and one of the second pair of electrodes corresponds to the position of the baton transmitter with respect to the Y axis.

Abstract: A foot-operated controller is disclosed herein having a housing enclosing an elongated resistive element carried on the underside of a top panel midway between its opposite sides. The top panel is provided with a slot slidably accommodating an electrical contact in slidable engagement with the resistive element. A foot-engaging treadle is disposed on the top panel from which the electrical contact downwardly depends so as to travel therewith as the treadle moves. The treadle is provided wheeled support riding in a grooved track carried on a bottom panel of the housing. Stops are provided on the opposite ends of the grooves to limit linear movement of the treadle and electrical leads and plugs are included.

Abstract: A breath detection signal from a breath sensor section is converted to a digital breath detection signal, and when the value of the detection signal exceeds a preset value, a tone is generated. After the tone generation, a tone parameter of the tone being generated is controlled according to the value of said digital breath detection signal. When a predetermined period of time is elapsed from an instant when the digital breath detection signal exceeds a preset signal, initial breath data is generated in correspondence to the breath detection signal or preset value at that instant. The tone parameter of the tone at the time of the tone generation is controlled according to initial breath data. After the generation of the tone, the tone parameter of the tone being sounded is controlled according to after-breath data corresponding to the breath detection signal.

Abstract: The tone signal from a transducer monitoring the music vibrations of a bowed musical instrument contains an objectionable friction noise component which is removed by passing the tone signal through a high-pass filter having a variable cutoff frequency which is controlled by a pitch detector monitoring the fundamental frequency of a played note in the tone signal. The cutoff frequency of the filter is kept slightly below the fundamental frequency of the played note to avoid altering the tone color of the tone signal. When no fundamental frequency is detected by the pitch detector, the cutoff frequency of the filter remains at a pre-determined minimum which may be adjustable by the musician for best effect when strings are both bowed and plucked. The filtered tone signal may be applied to the pitch detector in order to increase the accuracy of the pitch detection process and thus increase the accuracy of the noise reducing characteristics of the system.