Abstract: An actuator is used for a piano includes a bridge and strings. The actuator includes: a vibrating body; and an attachment portion configured to attach the vibrating body to the piano, the attachment portion being configured to be sandwiched between the bridge and at least one string, among the strings of the piano.

Abstract: A pressing surface of a hammer and a to-be-pressed surface of a key switch have relatively-concaved shapes in a longitudinal direction of the hammer. When a switch body is pressed by the hammer, an inclination caused by an overall curvature of the switch body that results from the fact that the switch body is pressed by the hammer from an oblique direction is canceled by an inclination of the switch body caused by partial compression and deformation that results from the relatively-concaved shapes, so that movable contacts in the switch body frontally face stationary contacts and come into contact with the stationary contacts, respectively.

Abstract: A device and method for an amplitude modulated optical pickup for a stringed instrument are disclosed. A first optical source comprising a first output signal comprising a first carrier frequency is provided and a first photodetector is in optical communication with the first optical source. A vibrating element such as a string on a musical instrument is disposed in an optical path between the first optical source and the first photodetector whereby a vibration of the element varies and modulates an amplitude of the first output signal received by the photodetector that is proportional to an element vibration amplitude and is at the same frequency as the element vibration frequency. An amplitude modulated (AM) photodetector signal output is generated from the first photodetector. The resultant signal is then demodulated with appropriate circuitry to produce a substantially noise free electronic signal representative of the element vibration frequency.

Abstract: A keyboard instrument including a hammer unit which includes a plurality of hammer members each of which has an effort point provided on one end side, a load point provided on an other end side, and a fulcrum provided between the effort point and the load point, and a hammer holder which rotatably holds the plurality of hammer members, and a keyboard chassis which includes a restriction member for restricting rotations of the plurality of hammer members performed in response to key depression operations within a restriction range and in which the hammer unit is mounted, in which the hammer holder has a plurality of contact points on the effort point side which comes in contact with portions of the plurality of hammer members on the effort point side when the hammer unit is in a vertically inverted state.

Abstract: A hammer unit of an electronic keyboard instrument to enhance working efficiency for assembling hammer members is provided. The hammer unit comprises a plurality of hammer members which apply loads to a plurality of keys, and a holding member which holds the plurality of hammer members. The holding member is configured to have one of a first holding state in which the plurality of hammer members are temporally locked at a first position and a second holding state in which the plurality of hammer members are released from the temporally locking at the first position.

Abstract: A to-be-depressed member includes an elastic dome. A sectional shape of the dome orthogonal to an axis line (X2) of the dome is line-symmetric about a symmetry axis (Ax). The dome has a three-dimensional shape that is symmetric with respect to a virtual plane (Sx) containing the symmetry axis and the axis line. During a swinging movement responsive to a depressing operation, an opposed surface of an opposed member relatively approaches and contacts a distal end of the dome to deform the dome so as to generate a reactive force. As for an angle defined between the axis line of the dome and a normal line (X1) of the opposed surface, the angle (?0) in an initial state falls in a range from a first angle variation amount from the initial state to a first-contact state to a second angle variation amount from the initial state to a depression-completed state.

Abstract: A device case includes speaker boxes that are formed inside spaces created by placing upper cases that have a larger external shape than a lower case on upper of that lower case, as well as box connectors that are arranged fitting into the speaker boxes in the upper cases so as to contact the ends of peripheral portions of the lower case and fix together the lower case and the upper cases. This makes it possible for the box connectors to seal the spaces between the peripheral portions of the lower case and the peripheral portions of the upper cases. This, in turn, makes it possible to reliably and satisfactorily seal the speaker boxes in an airtight manner even when the external shapes of the lower case and the upper cases that are stacked together are different.

Abstract: A keyboard instrument including a musical instrument case, a speaker which emits sounds in response to instructions from a keyboard section, and a keyboard lid which is switchable between a first arrangement state where the keyboard lid covers at least a portion of the keyboard section and a second arrangement state where the keyboard lid is opened to expose at least a portion of the keyboard section and housed in the musical instrument case, in which the keyboard lid in the second arrangement state is arranged such that a first acoustic space for leading the sounds emitted from the speaker to outside of the musical instrument case is formed between the keyboard lid and a portion of the musical instrument case.

Abstract: A device that can be temporarily attached to a musical instrument and easily detached without permanent modification to the instrument. The device is comprised of a set of controls attached to circuitry that is used to send digital data to a computer or other hardware to be used for music synthesis, manipulation, or production.

Abstract: An input system includes a communication device and a first input device. The communication device includes a communication chip and a communication port. The first input device includes a signal port connectable with the communication port and a device connecting port connectable with a second input device. In an input method, the communication device transmits a first pairing signal to the first input device so as to acquire a first identification code and a connection information of the first input device, and then the communication device transmits a first inquiring signal containing the first identification code to the first input device so as to acquire a first input signal from the first input device. If a second pairing signal and a second inquiring signal are transmitted to the second input device, the communication device acquires a second input signal from the second input device.

Abstract: A musical instrument includes: an operation section which is configured to accept a playing operation; a generation section which is configured to generate performance information representative of the accepted playing operation; a detection section which is configured to detect a portable terminal; and a control section which is configured to start, when the portable terminal is detected, processing of recording at least one of the performance information generated by the generation section and a video obtained by shooting a scene where the playing operation is performed, into at least one of the musical instrument and the portable terminal.

Abstract: A system is used to reproduce the sound of a stringed instrument and provided with hammers to strike the strings. The system has a speed detector coupled with each hammer to detect the percussion velocity on the string, a plurality of note modules receiving in input a signal representative of the hammer velocity and generating a force signal (Ftot) representative of the global partial components of the string vibration, and a soundboard-instrument body module receiving in input said signal of the global partial components (Ftot) from each note module and generating two electrical signals (left, right) adapted to drive two electroacoustic transducers for sound emission.

Abstract: Reaction force generation members 21w, 21b are made of elastic body to be shaped like domes, respectively, so that the reaction force generation members 21w, 21b can be elastically deformed by depression exerted in directions of axis lines Yw, Yb, respectively, to increase their respective reaction forces from the beginning with the increasing amount of elastic deformation to buckle after respective peaks of the reaction forces to reduce the respective reaction forces. By varying the directions of the axis lines Yw, Yb of the reaction force generation members between a white key 11w and a black key 11b, the respective directions in which the reaction force generation members 21w, 21b are depressed at the peaks of the reaction forces are made close to the directions of the axis lines Yw, Yb of the reaction force generation members 21w, 21b, respectively.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument, including: a key; a board; a first member formed of a material different from a material of the board; a first acoustic transducer configured to vibrate the board in accordance with a drive signal supplied thereto; and a second acoustic transducer configured to vibrate the first member in accordance with a drive signal supplied thereto.

Abstract: When a key depression speed and a key release speed of a key is to be detected based on a value of a counter (44) which accumulates a value every time the key passes through key switches (SW1, SW2), a number of digits of data indicating the key depression speed, a unit of the data being a bit and a number of digits of data indicating the key release speed, a unit of the data being a bit, are made the same.

Abstract: In a touch detection apparatus 50, the controller 51 predicts damper-on arrival time as time of arrival of generation of a damper-on event based on a period of time counted by a first counter 54 from when a second contact point 160b is turned off until when a first contact point 160a is turned off. The second counter 55 counts time to be compared to the damper-on arrival time. The comparator circuit 58 compares the time counted by the second counter 55 and the damper-on arrival time. If the time counted by the second counter 55 and the damper-on arrival time agree with each other, the comparator circuit 58 transmits a key release agreement signal triggering generation of a damper-on event to the controller 51. If the key release agreement signal is transmitted from the comparator circuit 58, the controller 51 executes control to generate a damper-on event.

Abstract: According to embodiments herein, a circular, semi-circular, or generally rounded piano keyboard is shown and described. In particular, in an illustrative embodiment, the piano keyboard is a fully to nearly-fully circular stage piano keyboard that surrounds a keyboardist, allowing for up to 360 degrees of key-play. Other, e.g., wearable, embodiments of the circular piano keyboard are also described, such as a curved keytar or a curvaceous “keydress.

Abstract: Reaction force generation members 21w, 21b are made of elastic body to be shaped like domes, respectively, so that the reaction force generation members 21w, 21b can be elastically deformed by depression exerted in directions of axis lines Yw, Yb, respectively, to increase their respective reaction forces from the beginning with the increasing amount of elastic deformation to buckle after respective peaks of the reaction forces to reduce the respective reaction forces. By varying the directions of the axis lines Yw, Yb of the reaction force generation members between a white key 11w and a black key 11b, the respective directions in which the reaction force generation members 21w, 21b are depressed at the peaks of the reaction forces are made close to the directions of the axis lines Yw, Yb of the reaction force generation members 21w, 21b, respectively.

Abstract: A keyboard apparatus has a plurality of white keys and black keys each of which pivot. The keyboard apparatus also has a plurality of reaction force generation members 21w and 21b provided for the white keys and the black keys, respectively. The reaction force generation members 21w and 21b have dome portions 21w1 and 21b1, respectively, which are thin and shaped like a dome so as to be elastically deformed by depression, and base portions 21w3 and 21b3, respectively, which are thick and are formed integrally with the dome portions 21w1 and 21b1 to support the dome portions 21w1 and 21b1, the base portions 21w3 and 21b3 jutting outward from respective lower end surfaces of the dome portions 21w1 and 21b1. The vertical position of the lower end of the dome portion 21w1 is displaced from the vertical position of the lower end of the dome portion 21b1.

Abstract: Disclosed is a musical instrument with networking capability and application-driven features for expanding mobility and sharing of creations made using the instrument. In one embodiment, a musical instrument with networking capability, can include: a musical keyboard having a plurality of first keys and a plurality of second keys in a pattern that is repeatable at an octave, where the first keys are shorter and raised relative to the second keys; a touchscreen attached to the musical keyboard, where the touchscreen is movable between a flattened position and a collapsed position that is over the musical keyboard; a device connection interface configured to support a plurality of external connections; and a controller coupled to the musical keyboard, the touchscreen, and the device connection interface.

Abstract: In response to an operation of a key, a drive signal indicating a sound waveform corresponding to the key is supplied to an excitation unit provided on a soundboard. The soundboard is vibrated in response to a mechanical vibration generated by the excitation unit and generates an actively-vibrated-soundboard sound as well as an acoustic effect generated by propagation of the vibration of the soundboard to a string. The excitation unit has a voice coil excited by the drive signal. The length of the voice coil is equal to or smaller than a sum of a magnetic path width (mw) of a magnetic path space and a double of a maximum deflection amount (sw) of the vibration member connected to the soundboard. In this way, an effective drive force for exciting the soundboard can be obtained and an enhanced responsiveness in a high frequency band can be obtained.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a programmable pedalboard for a musical instrument is provided. The pedalboard includes a docking station for receiving a removable portable computer that provides a plurality of instrument effects. The docking station is configured to receive an audio signal from a musical instrument and to modify the audio signal from the musical instrument based on at least one instrument effect from the plurality of instrument effects.

Abstract: A split keyboard with an optional middle section of keys for controlling regular PC input to a host, to play music, and to input and play music with a multiple octave keyboard that when the middle section of keys are removed can be portable to travel. And when working on just the split keyboard inputting data to a host the operator arms are not abducted due to the perpendicular advantage or slide apart keyboard where an operators arms are perpendicular to the keyboard keys.

Abstract: A musical instrument comprising buttons for playing notes is disclosed, wherein the buttons are arranged in an isomorphic layout consisting of rows and columns, characterized by means for choosing between a diatonic and a chromatic layout of the buttons and by means for choosing between different keys and scales. The buttons can be velocity and/or pressure sensitive, they can be backlit in different colors and they can have a dynamic note information thereon. When the layout is diatonic, the scales are arranged horizontally in rows, the rows being vertically spaced in relative fourths: when the layout is chromatic, the buttons corresponding to the scale notes of the selected key are lit in way different from the other keys.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument, including: a key; a board; a first member formed of a material different from a material of the board; a first acoustic transducer configured to vibrate the board in accordance with a drive signal supplied thereto; and a second acoustic transducer configured to vibrate the first member in accordance with a drive signal supplied thereto.

Abstract: In the present invention, a click sound corresponding to key depression speed is generated, and the production timings of fundamental and harmonic components respectively corresponding to each footage are changed to vary from one another in accordance with a wait time, whereby the fundamental and the harmonic components to be synthesized by additive synthesis are changed to differ from one another. Next, a click sound corresponding to key release speed is generated, and the stop timings of the fundamental and harmonic components are changed to vary from one another in accordance with a wait time, whereby the fundamental and the harmonic components to be muted are changed to differ from one another. Accordingly, by the click sound being mixed with the drawbar sound having these slight tone changes, a unique drawbar sound such as that generated by the sound producing mechanism of an actual drawbar organ is generated.

Abstract: A key switch for an electronic piano, which makes it possible to increase an allowable range for shift of a movable contact without increasing the size of the key switch of the three-contact type. The key switch includes a substrate having first to third stationary contacts arranged thereon side by side in the lengthwise direction of a pivotal member as one of a key and a hammer. Each stationary contact has a common contact and a non-common contact. The common contact has an extended portion extending between two non-common contacts. The key switch has first to third movable contacts arranged side by side on an elastic switch body, for being sequentially brought into contact with the common contacts and non-common contacts of the stationary contacts as the switch body is pressed by the pivotal member, to thereby output signals indicative of key depression information.

Abstract: A musical tone control system for an electronic keyboard instrument, which is capable of calculating a key depression velocity of a key with high accuracy without being adversely affected by a large rotational resistance of the key during a let-off, and stopping sounding of a musical tone in appropriate timing. The system detects first key depression information on a key at a first position corresponding to a key depression depth obtained before start of a let-off, second key depression information on the key at a second position which corresponds to a larger key depression depth than the first position does, and third key depression information, obtained after termination of the let-off, on the key at a third position which corresponds to a larger key depression depth than the second position does. The tone volume of a musical tone is set based on a key depression velocity of the key.

Abstract: A keyboard device for an electronic keyboard instrument, which enables facilitation of work for mounting and dismounting a key switch and install hammers and the key switch with high accuracy, and provision of a touch feeling similar to one provided by an acoustic grand piano while keeping the device compact in depth. The device comprises swingable keys, a hammer support formed by a synthetic resin molded article, hammers pivotally supported by the hammer support, and a key switch including switch bodies provided in association with the hammers and a switch board. The hammer support has a switch mounting part formed with an opening vertically extending therethrough. The key switch is removably mounted to the switch mounting part, with the switch bodies facing the hammers from above via the opening and the switch board placed on the upper surface of the switch mounting part.

Abstract: A split keyboard with an optional middle section of keys for controlling regular PC input to a host, two play music, and to input and play music with a multiple octave keyboard that when the middle section of keys are removed can be portable to travel. And when working on just the split keyboard inputting data to a host the operator arms are not abducted do to the perpendicular advantage or slide apart keyboard where an operators arms are perpendicular to the keyboard keys.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard instrument with a hammer action, in which a circuit board for generating electronic musical tones can be disposed at a location for easy maintenance and for effective space utilization. Front and rear bars are bridged between side plates of an instrument main body so as to extend parallel to each other in the left-right direction and reinforce the instrument main body. A hammer action mechanism having hammers for respective keys is disposed rearward of a key-depression part of a keyboard and upward of a rear end portion of the keyboard, and a board tray is bridged between the front and rear bars. The board tray and the circuit board are located upward of the hammer action mechanism.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard musical instrument, including: a keyboard; a musical-sound signal generating circuit; at least one speaker for emitting sound in accordance with a generated signal; a speaker accommodating body accommodating the speaker in its inner space; and at least one resonator disposed in the accommodating body, wherein the accommodating body includes a sound emission path by which the sound emitted by the speaker is introduced to an exterior of the accommodating body via the inner space for sound propagation to the exterior, a control point of the resonator is located at a position corresponding to an antinode of a sound pressure in a natural vibration mode at a specific frequency generated in the inner space by driving of the speaker, and the resonator resonates at the specific frequency for adjusting the sound pressure, whereby the sound is emitted from the sound emission path to the exterior.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument has a front side, back side, right side, and left side with respect to a perspective of a performer of the musical instrument, and comprises: a planar surface having a first speaker positioned on the front side and the left side, a second speaker positioned on the front side and the right side, and a third speaker positioned on the back side; a first localized sound processing section receives left and right channel signals of tone signals assigned as first localized sounds and produces sound signals to the first speaker, the second speaker and the third speaker to form a first sound image; and a second localized sound processing section receives left and right channel signals of tone signals assigned as second localized sounds and produces sound signals to the first speaker, the second speaker and the third speaker to form a second sound image.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard instrument is provided and methods of playing and assembling the same. The instrument comprises a controller for enabling activation of electronic signals having audible, visible, amplifiable, recordable and/or like characteristics, and a power source for operating the controller. A first keyboard is provided having a first selected length and being oriented in a first direction such that (i) audible notes of music from at least one internal sound module and/or at least one external sound module, (ii) recordable data to be enhanced or modified by an external sequencer or program controlled apparatus, (iii) photoelectric signals, and (iv) processes or mechanisms, triggered or controlled by external signals or data, for controlling machines, video playback or lighting, and/or the like may be generated and/or activated using a first hand of one or more users.

Abstract: A pedal device of an electronic keyboard musical instrument comprises a pedal lever swingable according to a depressing manipulation and a reaction force exerting unit for exerting on the pedal lever a reaction force of an amount which depends on an amount of the swing of the pedal lever. The reaction force exerting unit comprises, as an integral unit, a first movable member to be displaced via a thrust rod transferring the swing of the pedal lever, a first urging member which urges the first movable member in a direction to exert the reaction force on the pedal lever, a second movable member to be displaced by the first movable member after the swing of the pedal lever exceeds a predetermined amount, and a second urging member which urges the second movable member in the direction to exert the reaction force on the pedal lever. The first movable member, the second movable member, the first urging member and the second urging member are arranged coaxially around a common axis.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard musical instrument which is placed on a supporting surface when it is used, includes an instrument main unit which includes a keyboard having a plurality of keys and which generates electrical signals in response to depressions of the keys, a speaker which has a front side and a rear side and which produces sounds corresponding to the electrical signals from the instrument main unit, and an instrument main unit supporting member which is placed on the supporting surface. The instrument main unit supporting member includes an outer surface facing an external space, an internal space surrounded by the outer surface and housing the instrument main unit at a position apart upward from the supporting surface, and an opening formed in the outer surface and communicating the internal space with the external space. The speaker is attached to the outer surface with the front side facing the opening.

Abstract: The invention provides an electronic musical device for performing music and/or managing music interpretation through modification of rhythm, tone and timbre, in real time and by setting music attributes using MIDI data. The electronic device has an input interface unit for enabling a user to input music data. The input module comprises an ergonometric console with an assortment of press buttons, each of which is assigned at least one musical function. A musical function is triggered by pressing a button, which performs a tonal sequence in the form of melodies and/or arpeggios. The electronic music device provides allows a user to interact with the music data, by entering music input and/or settings data through a touch screen, control the output of a music data stream, use existing music scale, generate new scales or derive scale from the existing scales, and store and retrieve the data as needed.

Abstract: A device for accurately detecting key operation speed with a simple configuration in which a plurality of alternating signals, which have mutually differing phases, is supplied to transmission electrodes. From this, capacitance between reception electrodes and the transmission electrodes is changed by a key pressing operation, and the phases of the alternating signals induced in the reception electrodes are compared and discriminated.

Abstract: A multi-key electronic music instrument includes a main body and a circuit board having an integrated circuit (IC). The main body includes operational keys distributed in at least two rows and functional keys. The IC saves at least seven electronic sounds corresponding to music notes of Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La and Si in the diatonic scale, functional programs and electronic games. Each of the operational keys corresponds to at least one music note. When one of the operational keys is pressed down, the IC generates a sound corresponding to the music note. When the functional key is pressed, the IC executes the corresponding function in the functional programs, such as raising or lowering a tone of the music note. When the electronic games are played, the operational keys and the function keys are used as controlling keys to play games.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard musical instrument, including: an instrument main body; a keyboard portion including a plurality of keys as performance operating elements; a musical-sound-signal generating portion configured to generate a musical sound signal by a key operation of the keyboard portion; and at least one planar speaker configured to output a sound in accordance with the musical sound signal generated by the musical-sound-signal generating portion, wherein the planar speaker is formed by superposing a plurality of flexible layers that at least include a vibrating layer and electrode layers which sandwich the vibrating layer from opposite sides of the vibrating layer and wherein the planar speaker is disposed at an inside of a casing that constitutes the instrument main body or disposed at a portion of a surface of the casing.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard instrument that emits sounds in both upward and downward directions from speakers solely for upward sound emission and from speakers solely for downward sound emission to realize acoustics similar to that of acoustic piano, and constitutes rear parts of resonance chambers in a speaker box by a common partition plate to prevent the speaker box from becoming complicated in construction. Woofers directed downward are disposed at a lower part of the speaker box, and squawker directed upward are disposed at an upper part of the speaker box. The internal space of the speaker box is partitioned by one horizontal partition plate into an upper space where resonance chambers for the squawkers are defined by vertical partition plates and a lower space where resonance chambers for the woofers are defined by vertical partition plates. Rear parts of the resonance chambers are constituted by the horizontal partition plate.

Abstract: Electronic piano includes speakers arranged on its front side region and another speaker provided at a back position of the piano. Waveform memory provided in a tone generator section has prestored therein sets of four-channel waveform data, each of the sets corresponding to a tone. The four-channel waveform data are data recorded from a natural musical instrument via four microphones installed at sampling positions corresponding to the above-mentioned speakers. The microphones are installed with the on-microphone setting in which the microphones are positioned close to sounding members of the natural musical instrument. In response to depression of a key, any one of the sets of four-channel waveform data, corresponding to a tone pitch designated by the key depression, is read out from the waveform memory, so that the four-channel waveform data are supplied in parallel to the individual speakers.

Abstract: A musical instrument comprises a keyboard assembly including juxtaposed keys and juxtaposed swing weight mechanisms, each of the keys correspondingly linked with each of the swing weight mechanisms. The keyboard assembly is supported on a key bed having an aperture which is elongate in the direction of the key juxtaposition. Actuating members are provided corresponding to the respective swing weight mechanisms each of which in turn actuates each corresponding key. The actuating members are disposed in a lower yoke having a channel member and flanges integrally manufactured by bending a metal plate. The flanges are fastened to the key bed across and over the aperture so that the actuating members penetrate the aperture toward the swing weight mechanism. The height of the channel member determines a relative position between the actuating members and the swing weight mechanism.

Abstract: A keyboard includes a cover, a base facing and contacting the cover, at least one key, and a micro-electro-mechanical sensor (MEMS) module. The base and the cover define a space for receiving the MEMS module. The at least one key is movably formed on the cover. The MEMS module is sandwiched between the base and the cover and includes a bag, a connecting tube, and a sensor. The bag is resisted with the at least one key. The connecting tube is connected to the bag at one end and communicates with the bag. The sensor is connected to the other end of the connecting tube and communicated with the bag via the connecting tube to generate pressure signals according to a pressure from the key to the bag.

Abstract: A media application for providing outputs (e.g., audio outputs) in response to inputs received from an input device is provided. The media application may connect input mechanisms of an input device with parameters of channel strips (e.g., which may define output sounds) using an intermediate screen object. The media application may first assign an input mechanism to a screen object, and separately map a screen object to a channel strip parameter. The media application may map a screen object to several channel strips simultaneously such that, based on the value of the screen object, the volume of each of the several channel strips changes. The media application may provide a graphical representation of available channel strips using layers. As the media application accesses a channel strip, the appearance of the portion of the layer associated with the channel strip may change.

Abstract: A device for accurately detecting key operation speed with a simple configuration in which a plurality of alternating signals, which have mutually differing phases, is supplied to transmission electrodes. From this, capacitance between reception electrodes and the transmission electrodes is changed by a key pressing operation, and the phases of the alternating signals induced in the reception electrodes are compared and discriminated.

Abstract: In order to detect a state of a key 30, a differential acceleration sensor 38 is provided in addition to a common position sensor 35 and a velocity sensor 36. A reaction force applied by a solenoid unit 20 is determined on the basis of a function which monotonously increases with respect to a differential acceleration signal j in an initial period which is an early stage of depression of a key. After a lapse of the initial period, the reaction force is determined in accordance with velocity, acceleration and the like, referring to a table. As a result, the reaction force rises up rapidly when a key is depressed strongly.

Abstract: A keyboard apparatus includes a key supported for pivoting movement about a pivot point, a mass member for imparting a reaction force to performance operation of the key in interlocked relation to the key, a transmission member provided in abutment with both of the key and mass member to transmit a load from one of the key and mass member to the other, and an electromagnetic actuator for driving, via a fixed coil, the transmission member toward at least one of the key or mass member. Good key touch feeling can be achieved not only by a load applied from the mass member to the key but also through load control by the actuator. Thus, it is possible to faithfully reproduce a key touch feeling approximate to that in a natural keyboard instrument, such as an acoustic piano, with a simple construction and facilitated control.

Abstract: Pressure-controlled transitions are provided for single-note lines in electronic musical instruments. By addressing the relative pressure for two or more pressure points on a playing surface, the method and system provides the performer with the ability to control transitions, such as retrigger, legato, and portamento, with greater precision and flexibility. In particular, the performer's fingers (or another source of pressure) are able to control the manner in which a note transitions from one pitch to another.

Abstract: There is provided a touch detecting device of a keyboard instrument, which makes it possible not only to enhance the mounting density of a plurality of optical sensors, but also to detect touch information of a key with high accuracy without being affected by light from the other optical sensors.