Abstract: A chorus apparatus is constructed for creating a chorus sound to accompany a vocal sound which is sung by a singer. In the chorus apparatus, a providing device provides music information including reference pitch information which indicates a regular variation of an actual pitch of the vocal sound and harmony pitch information which determines a harmony pitch of the chorus sound. A detecting device detects the actual pitch of the vocal sound containing the regular variation and an irregular fluctuation which overlaps the regular variation. A controlling device extracts the irregular fluctuation of the actual pitch from the vocal sound according to the reference pitch information, and modifies the harmony pitch information to impart thereto a desired fluctuation corresponding to the irregular fluctuation extracted from the vocal sound. A generating device operates according to the modified harmony pitch information for generating the chorus sound containing the desired fluctuation over the harmony pitch.

Abstract: In a karaoke vocal adaptor 100, voice signals to which a harmony effect is imparted by the harmony effect imparting circuit, and voice signals to which the harmony effect is not imparted are output from wet voice output terminals 121 and 122, and dry voice output terminals 111 and 112, respectively. In a karaoke amplifier 200, an echo is imparted only to voice signals input through dry voice input terminals 221 and 222, by an echo imparting unit 233, the voice signals are then mixed with voice signals input through wet voice input terminals 241 and 242, and musical signals input through music input terminals 251 and 252, and the mixed signals are output.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument has a means used by a player to set a key name to which transposition is to be made and a part number to designate a transposition excluding part. Tone data in parts other than the transposition excluding part are exclusively subjected to transposition processing, and transposed tones are produced. For example, play data of a keyboard are set as a transposition excluding part, and their tones are produced in C major key as the key played. On the other hand, the keys of accompanying tones such as chord tones, rhythm tones, and the like programmed in keys other than C major key in a storage medium are transposed to C major key to produce transposed tones, allowing an ensemble play in common key.

Abstract: A karaoke apparatus is constructed for playing a karaoke song according to song data jointly with a first vocal part and a second vocal part. In the karaoke apparatus, a generator device processes the song data to produce an orchestral accompaniment sound during the course of play of the karaoke song. A first input device collects a first singing voice which is physically sung along the orchestral accompaniment sound to fit with the first vocal part. A second input device collects a second singing voice which is physically sung along the orchestral accompaniment sound to support the first singing voice. An adjuster device adjusts at least a pitch of the second singing voice collected by the second input device according to reference data contained in the song data so as to fit the second singing voice with the second vocal part.

Abstract: A karaoke apparatus mixes a live singing sound with a harmony chorus sound and an orchestral accompaniment sound. A first input terminal is connectable to a microphone to receive therefrom a first vocal signal representative of a first live singing sound. A second input terminal is connectable to another microphone to receive therefrom a second vocal signal representative of a second live singing sound which is different than the first live singing sound. A chorus generator is provided for processing the first vocal signal to generate a harmony signal representative of the harmony chorus sound which originates from the first live singing sound. A mixer is provided for mixing the generated harmony signal with the second vocal signal, which is not processed by the chorus generator, to provide a mix signal.

Abstract: A chorus apparatus creates an artificial chorus sound in parallel to a live vocal sound. A pickup collects a live vocal sound and converts the collected live vocal sound into a corresponding vocal sound signal. A generator device generates a chorus sound signal representative of an artificial chorus sound in synchronization with the vocal sound signal. A plurality of output devices are installed separately from each other to define different sound sources. One of the output devices receives the vocal sound signal and acoustically reproduces therefrom the live vocal sound. Another of the output devices receives the chorus sound signal and acoustically reproduces therefrom the artificial chorus sound so that the live vocal sound and the artificial chorus sound can be mixed as if sounded from different sound sources.

Abstract: A karaoke apparatus is provided with a pickup device that collects a singing voice sound to convert the same into a corresponding vocal signal. Further, a music generator device generates a music signal representative of a karaoke accompaniment sound which is selected to accompany the singing voice sound. A harmony generator device generates a harmony signal representative of a harmony chorus sound which is made consonant with the singing voice sound. A first processor device processes the vocal signal to impart an effect to the collected singing voice sound. A second processor device processes the harmony signal separately from the vocal signal to impart another effect to the harmony chorus sound independently from the singing voice sound. A sound device amplifies the processed vocal signal, the processed harmony signal and the generated music signal so as to sound the singing voice sound, the harmony chorus sound and the karaoke accompaniment sound concurrently with each other.

Abstract: A harmony adaptor is optionally usable as an attachment to a karaoke apparatus which has a pickup device for collecting a live singing sound and converting the same into a vocal signal, and a mixing device for mixing the vocal signal with a music signal representative of a karaoke music sound and for acoustically reproducing the live singing sound accompanied by the karaoke music sound according to the mixed ones of the vocal signal and the music signal. The harmony adaptor is detachably connectable to the pick-up device for receiving therefrom the vocal signal. The harmony adaptor generates a harmony signal which originates and separates from the received vocal signal and which represents a harmony chorus sound made consonant with the live singing sound.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument has an upright piano, an automatic playing system for exerting forces on the keys of the upright piano instead of a player on the basis of music data codes and an electronic sound generating system for generating electronic sounds from the music data codes, and a player can perform an ensemble through a fingering on the keyboard of the upright piano together with the electronic sound generating system.

Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument, a complete range of a keyboard can be split into at least two registers, so that a different kind of tone color can be assigned to each of two registers. The electronic musical instrument provides at least four tone-color designating switches, one edit switch and two kinds of indicators. Each of the four tone-color designating switches is capable of independently designating a certain tone color. Herein, two tone-color designating switches are provided to designate two tone colors respectively for use in one register, while other two tone-color designating switches are provided to designate two tone colors respectively for use in another register. The edit switch designates each of parameters which are used to define a property of the tone color. The first indicator indicates the tone color currently designated, while the second indicator indicates the parameter currently edited.

Abstract: A karaoke apparatus operates according to a song data for presenting a karaoke performance composed of an instrumental accompaniment and a back chorus under a designated condition determined in terms of either of a tempo and a pitch. In the karaoke apparatus, a data source provides a song data which contains a musical tone data, a synthetic voice data and a real voice data. An input panel is operated for designating either of a regular condition and an irregular condition. A tone generator processes the musical tone data to generate an instrumental accompaniment, and concurrently processes the synthetic voice data to generate a false back chorus. A voice decoder decodes the real voice data to reproduce a natural back chorus.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for automating accompaniment to an ensemble's performance. The apparatus is comprised of a plurality of input devices with each input device producing an input signal containing information related to an ensemble's performance. A plurality of tracking devices is provided, with each tracking device being responsive to one of the input signals. Each tracking device produces a position signal indicative of a score position when a match is found between the input signal and the score and a tempo estimate. A first voting device is responsive to each of the position signals for weighting each of the position signals. The weighting may be based on the frequency with which it changes and the proximity of its score position to each of the other score positions represented by each of the other position signals. The same weighting factors are then applied to the tempo estimate associated with that position signal.

Abstract: In a Karaoke apparatus, a sound synthesizer reproduces an instrumental accompaniment of a song requested by a singer during the course of a vocal performance of the song by the singer. A whole of the instrumental accompaniment is provisionally divided into a plurality of blocks each having a start address and an end address. A detector successively detects start and end addresses of each block with progression of the reproduction of the instrumental accompaniment. A skip command is inputted by a skip switch when a certain block is being reproduced. A controller responds to the detector and the skip switch, and operates when an end address of said certain block is detected for controlling the sound synthesizer to skip an immediately succeeding block to thereby continue to a start address of a further succeeding block during the course of the reproduction of the instrumental accompaniment. Further, a repeat command may be inputted by a repeat switch so as to effect repeat reproduction of a certain block.

Abstract: An automatic accompaniment apparatus is provided with a pattern memory for storing a plurality of accompaniment patterns and a reference memory for storing a plurality of references corresponding to respective accompaniment patterns, each reference being representative of a characteristic feature of each corresponding accompaniment pattern. A panel board is provided for inputting a search condition representative of a desired characteristic feature. A CPU operates for searching the references of the reference memory according to the inputted search condition so as to select from the pattern memory a particular accompaniment pattern having the desired characteristic feature specified by the search condition. A tone generator is operated for automatically performing an accompaniment according to the selected accompaniment pattern.

Abstract: A melody supplement control apparatus is disclosed wherein supplementary tones for melody tones are produced according to predetermined rules, and the degree of the addition of the aforesaid supplementary tones to the aforesaid melody tones is determined based on the pitch of the said supplementary tones.

Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument for automatically a adding duet note, an apparatus, which can reduce the capacity of a memory for storing data used as a basis for selecting a duet note to be added, is disclosed. A chord depressed at a keyboard is specified by a chord specifying means, and a depressed melody note (highest note) is detected by a note detection device. According to these notes, duet note data, which can be added, is read out from a chord-notes weighting information storage area on the basis of chord constituting notes, and another duet note data, which can be added, is read out from a note weighting information storage area according to a relative note data of the highest note relative to the root note of the chord. These readout duet note data are subjected to a calculation, thus selecting a duet note. Therefore, duet note data corresponding in numbers to chords and relative notes need only be stored in the memory, thus reducing the capacity of the duet note data memory.

Abstract: A performance apparatus for producing a mixed musical tone signal having a comparator and a modulator. The comparator detects key data corresponding to musical tones having the same pitch and the same or similar tone colors from key data of musical tones to be mixed. The modulator changes at least a tone element of the mixed musical tone signal on the basis of the key data detected by the comparator to produce tones having multiple-tone like tone colors. The modulator comprises a detuner for detuning pitches of some musical tones of a plurality of musical tones formed based on the key data detected by the comparator, or comprises a modulator for modulating an amplitude or a frequency of the musical tone signal formed and mixed bases on the key data detected by the comparator.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having a key-depression-detecting circuit for detecting a depressed key on a keyboard and for generating tone-pitch data corresponding to the depressed key, a tone-color-designating circuit for sequentially designating a desired tone color among a plurality of tone colors, a tone-color-data-storing circuit for storing tone-color data associated with the tone colors sequentially designated by the tone-color-designating circuit, an ensemble-tone-designating circuit for designating a predetermined number of tone colors among the most recently designated tone-color data stored in the tone-color-data-storing circuit; and a musical-tone-signal-generating circuit for generating a plurality of musical-tone signals in a parallel fashion, each of the musical-tone signals having a tone color corresponding to one of the tone colors designated by the ensemble-tone-designating circuit, and having a tone-pitch corresponding to the tone-pitch data generated by the key-depression-detecting cir

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: An electronic musical instrument includes first and second control switches for initiating chorus and verse break patterns in an automatic accompaniment arrangement. A chorus accompaniment pattern is automatically generated following the chorus break pattern and a verse accompaniment pattern is automatically generated following the verse break pattern, regardless of the pattern types generated prior to the breaks. The generation of breaks are inhibited during the last 1/4 interval of a bar and during the generation of the introduction and ending portions of the accompaniment arrangement.

Abstract: An electrical device for voice modifier having an analog to digital converter for encoding an input signal into a digital signal, a memory unit for the storage of the encoded digital signal, a digital to analog converter for decoding the digital signal into an analog signal, and a clock generator for generate two different clock, namely, the encoding clock and decoding clock. The decoding clock is higher (or lower) than the encoding clock so that the output signal is different from the input signal. The voice modifier can transpose or distort one voice into another voice; e.g., the produced voice signal is understable, but not identifiable.

Abstract: A keyboard operated electronic musical instrument has a number of tone generators each of which creates a plurality of musical tones each having its own independent frequency offset so that a multi-rank ensemble effect is produced. The tones are produced by computing, in real time, sequences of data points using stored sets of harmonic coefficients. Provision is incorporated for producing a musical celeste effect.

Abstract: An automatic music player system having an ensemble playback mode of operation using a memory disk having recorded thereon a piece of music composed of at least two combined parts to be reproduced separately of each other, the parts being recorded in the form of at least two data subblocks, comprising a first sound generator to mechanically generate sounds when mechanically or electrically actuated, at least one second sound generator to electronically generate sounds when electronically actuated and a control unit connected to the first and second sound generators, wherein (1) one of the two or more data subblocks of the data read from the disk is discriminated from another, whereupon the discriminated one of the data subblocks is transmitted to the first sound generator and another data subblock transmitted to the second sound generator, and wherein (2) the transmission of data to the second sound generator is continuously delayed by a predetermined period of time from the transmission of data to first soun

Abstract: A keyboard operated electronic musical instrument is disclosed in which musical tones are created by reading out preselected data values stored in a waveshape memory. A transformed sequence of these data points is generated such that a variable delay exists between the transformed sequence of data points read out of the memory. The selectively delayed sequences of points is combined with the original points to generate musical tones having an ensemble-like musical effect. Provision is made for varying the delay in a periodic cyclic fashion using a period the same as that for the stored data in the waveshape memory.

Abstract: An electronic audio signal processor circuit particularly suited for electrical instruments as an electric bass guitar for providng controlled distortion and tone alteration. The circuitry includes a compressor circuit at the input operated in conjunction with a detector which in accordance with the invention is an RMS detector. Also, at the input circuitry is a distortion switch which controls the type of distortion that is generated. This distortion switch is used in conjunction with a distortion amplifier, the output of which couples to a resistive sensing network. The network feeds the audio signals to a low EQ circuit, a mid EQ circuit and a high EQ circuit. Associated with the high EQ circuit is a clipper switch and at the output of the EQ circuitry is an EQ switch for providing a preferred predetermined frequency response wave forms. A high frequency compressor and associated switch is also associated with the EQ switch.

Abstract: Generating clock signals of slightly different frequencies without the signals locking up in synchrony, by providing a voltage-to-frequency converter driven by the output of an integrator, which is supplied with a signal representative of the sum of a frequency-difference command and the difference in frequency between the two clocks.

Abstract: In a musical instrument in which a plurality of data words corresponding to the amplitudes of a corresponding number of evenly spaced points defining a cycle of an audible musical waveform are transformed at an average rate corresponding to the fundamental frequency of the tone being generated, a computation means is provided to produce musical tones having an ensemble effect. The computation means comprises a multiplicity of interpolation calculations whereby a sequence of interpolated waveshape points are obtained from two different waveshapes whose data points are addressed from waveshape memories at different memory advance rates.

Abstract: Tone signals from plural keyboard systems are supplied to an effect imparting circuit via a distribution circuit. The effect imparting circuit comprises plural effect imparting channels and the device can impart a tone effect independently to a tone signal provided to each of the effect imparting channels. The distribution circuit distributes tone signals from the respective keyboard systems to any one or more of the effect imparting channels. An effect selection device is provided for selecting tone effects for the respective keyboard systems and an effect assignment device is also provided for assigning the effects selected in the respective keyboard systems to any of the effect imparting channels according to the selection by this effect selection device. The distribution circuit delivers the respective tone signals to the proper effect imparting channels respectively as controlled by the effect selection and the effect assignment.

Abstract: Two electronic musical instruments are supported in combination on a stand. The electronic musical instruments have respective switch sections each for setting a plurality of different timbres which are different from those which can be set by the other. When transfer mode switches of both the instruments are "on", timbre data set in one electronic musical instrument is transferred to the other electronic musical instrument through a cable, so that tones with the same timbre are sounded from loudspeakers connected to the respective instruments.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument employs a novel technique to produce a musical sound. A major part of a musical sound producing section of the electronic musical instrument is constructed by digital circuitry which is well adapted for an LSI fabrication. The electronic musical instrument comprises a volume control means to digitally perform a volume control to increase or decrease a performance volume, a period counting means to count one cycle of a musical sound wave by a plurality of counting steps in order to form a musical sound wave under digital control, a period control means to control the period counting means in accordance with the scale represented by a depressed performance key, and a means to instruct the rise and the fall of a musical sound wave by a value which is an integral multiple of a control value of the volume control means, for each block including a predetermined number of counting steps.

Abstract: A reverberator comprises a tapped delay line (2, 3, 4, 5, 10) connected to an analog audio signal source (1) for deriving therefrom at least one pair of output signals which are respectively delayed by first and second different values with respect to the source signal, the ratio of the first to second values being an irrational number. A recirculating delay line (6, 7, 11, 12) is connected to the output of the tapped delay line having a delay element (63, 73, 113, 123) for introducing an additional delay to the output signals of the tapped delay line and a resistive recirculating path (65, 75, 115, 125) for recirculating the additionally delayed signals through the delay element. The output of the recirculating delay line is combined with the source signal to derive a reverberating audio signal.

Abstract: A signal delaying device delays a digital signal corresponding to an audio signal. Input signal data is sequentially written into a memory with regularity and data at an address which was written a predetermined period of time before writing of the present data is read out thereby effecting the delay of the signal. In using, the memory is divided into a number corresponding to the number of channels of input signals, that is, the address designation and the manner of control of writing and reading of the memory is changed in accordance with the number of channels of input signals. The delay time of the signal is set by properly setting the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A modulation effect device for use in an electronic musical instrument which utilizes, as a digital modulation circuit, a digital memory device for storing digitized musical tone signals. The digital memory device is accessed by modulation coefficient generating means which supplies a modulated address information to the digital memory device to read out from the memory device a musical tone signal modulated in accordance with the modulated address.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument of the type which synthesizes a musical waveshape from a preselected set of harmonic coefficients is disclosed in which the tonal effects of a set of intramanual couplers is produced. The desired tonal effect is obtained by selecting particular subsets of the harmonic coefficients and combining the selected subsets in response to actuated tone switches.

Abstract: An "orchestra effect" is produced in an electronic musical instrument by mixing a signal at the commanded frequency with a second signal which is displaced in frequency from the commanded signal, the second signal also periodically varying in frequency. The difference in frequencies between the commanded signal and the signal which is mixed therewith is preferably less than one-half the total variation in frequency of the latter signal.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument in which a pair of frequency numbers consisting of a note frequency number corresponding to the pitch of each note and an auxiliary frequency number slightly different from the note frequency number are provided for each note. Only when it is detected that keys of the same note are simultaneously depressed on at least two keyboards, musical waveform signals of slightly different pitches are produced. When keys of different notes are depressed on the individual keyboards, musical sounds of standard pitches can be produced, and only when keys of the same note are concurrently depressed on the individual keyboards, the slightly different frequency numbers are selected, by which variations in the volume of the composite musical sound can be made unnoticeable.

Abstract: An electronic music signal generator digitally stores amplitude values representing a complex wave in a number of different memories. By reading out the stored values, under control of a clock circuit, and superimposing them in various ways various effects such as decay can be produced to achieve either single toned or multi-toned sounds closely simulating the sound impression created by mechanical musical instruments.

Abstract: A sound effect imparting device for an electronic musical instrument is capable of imparting a plurality of desired sound effect such as vibrato and reverberation effects to a digital musical tone generated from the electronic musical instrument. The device comprises a digital arithmetic operation unit constructed with a combination of adders, multipliers, delay circuits, etc., a control unit, a parameter memory and a read-out unit.By control data and parameter data which are respectively read out from the control unit and the parameter memory by means of the read-out unit, switching of the operation mode of the digital arithmetic operation unit is controlled in a time-sharing manner, whereby a plurality of sound effects are imparted to a musical tone through digital arithmetic operations.

Abstract: A keyboard operated electronic musical instrument is disclosed which has a number of tone generators which are assigned to actuated keyswitches. The tone generation is produced by sequentially and repetitively accessing a memory containing a set of data points which define a period of a preselected musical waveshape. Apparatus is described whereby a plurality of tone generators are implemented such that each has an ensemble tone effect created by adding together a number of composite tones. Each tone generator is implemented by selecting a corresponding set of data points read out of the memory. The selection logic is controlled by select gates and a comparator which is responsive to the frequency of an associated actuated keyboard switch.

Abstract: A keyboard operated electronic musical instrument in which a number of tone generators are assigned to actuated keyswitches in which a flute chorus of similar tones at preselected pitch footages are generated by implementing a discrete Fourier transform employing a selected sequence of harmonic coefficients. Two stored harmonic coefficients suffice to generate a tibia type flute chorus. A harmonic sequence select logic in cooperation with signals derived from actuated tone switches provide the selected sequences of harmonic coefficients.

Abstract: A duet interval data memory includes tables each of which corresponds to a particular chord type and prestores a plurality of duet interval data. One of the tables is selected in accordance with the type of a chord being played in a lower keyboard. A note interval between a root note of this chord and a melody note being played in an upper keyboard constitutes a relative note. The duet interval data is read from the selected table in response to this relative note. A calculator alters the melody note by a note interval corresponding to the read out duet interval data thereby producing data representative of a duet note. The tone of this duet note is sounded with the tone of the melody note whereby an automatic ensemble performance is realized.

Abstract: Electronic circuits are provided for producing an electronic timbre modulation for effecting celeste or vibrato similar in sonic results to the well-known Leslie rotating speaker system. Electronic signals corresponding to audio tones are generated and are modified by appropriate filters. Three controlling oscillators are locked in exactly 120.degree. phase relation to one another and act through three voltage controlled oscillators respectively to modulate three bucket brigade circuits through which said modified electronic signals are passed substantially in parallel. A roving band pass filter further modulates those of said electronic signals corresponding to flute tones to simulate other aspects of a Leslie speaker system.

Abstract: The present invention is a single channel string ensemble sound system for an electronic organ having a keyboard formed by a plurality of keys and a signal generating means responsive to the depression of the keys. The sound system comprises an electronic mixer, an amplifier, a first transducer and a second transducer, wherein the first transducer is driven by the output of the amplifier while the second transducer is driven approximately 180.degree. out of phase electronically by the same output, and wherein the second transducer is physically oriented in a plane approximately 90.degree. from the plane of the first transducer or speaker.

Abstract: Tone amplitudes of signals which are generated in an electronic organ are converted into digital values and such values are cyclically memorized by a RAM storage at locations which are selected in accordance with a first function. The locations in the storage are then scanned in accordance with one or more second functions which differ from the first function in dependency on time, the thus ascertained or read-out digital values are thereupon converted into analog values, and the analog values are consolidated into processed tone signals. The second functions are or can be derived from the first function.

Abstract: An electronic reverberation system for use in an electronic musical instrument comprises a random access memory wherein two or more time delay channels are defined by address allocation in a controller circuit. An input analog signal is converted to digital signals by an analog-to-digital converter and the digital signals are processed by the controller into the time delay channels. The channels defined in the random access memory are of differing lengths which can be changed by switch settings. The controller sequentially retrieves stored digital data words from the random access memory channels in seriatum and couples each data word to a digital-to-analog converter. The analog output signal from the digital-to-analog converter is delayed in time by varying amounts due to the length of the channels in the random access memory. A portion of the delayed analog output signal contained in each channel is mixed with the input analog signal to produce a combined signal.

Abstract: A multiple octave generator system for providing tones in an electronic organ permits the production of both ensemble and celeste effects by providing the appropriate amounts of detuning among cascaded ranks of divide-by-two locked octave type tone generators. The generator system programs from the ranks adjacent octaves of generator into groups having slightly overall stretched tuning which, when combined with an unstretched rank, closely resemble pipe organ celeste tuning. This permits the celeste beat rate of the lower octaves to be increased to a more desirable rate without causing the beat rate of the upper octaves to become too fast.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard musical instrument comprising a multiplexed keyboard and a programmable microcomputer interfaced between the keyboard and a system of capture tone generators, and including means for causing phase locking between the tone generators. The loading circuitry for the microcomputer monitors the serial data stream and transmits only key change information to the microcomputer. The microcomputer controls the assignment and the assignment of tone generators for the accompaniment, solo and pedal manuals based on the key change information transmitted to it. In order to avoid cancellation between tones which are in octave or multiples thereof apart, the tone generators for each manual are phase locked with the other tone generators for that manual. Not only are the top octave synthesizers for each tone generator phase locked, but the divider strings are uniformly loaded so that they operate in identical states.

Abstract: A string chorus generator in an electronic musical instrument that accepts a single audio input signal, applies it to three separate delay lines, and provides delay modulated outputs to be used in producing an ensemble musical effect resembling a group of strings in a string orchestra. Each of the three delay line channels is identical and comprises an analog shift register driven by a high frequency voltage-controlled oscillator along with appropriate filters and buffers. The frequency of the voltage-controlled oscillator of each channel is controlled by the filtered output of a microprocessor, thereby providing precise control over the modulation of each voltage-controlled oscillator. The modulating waveshape is generated by using a lookup table within a microprocessor and comprises a sine wave of 6.25 Hz superimposed on another, larger amplitude, sine wave of 0.78 Hz.

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 musical instrument comprises a sound generator connected to a loudspeaker by way of several parallel channels including respective delay lines constituted by charge-transfer devices of the bucket-brigade type stepped by different high-frequency pulse generators. Each pulse generator comprises a voltage-controlled oscillator whose output frequency is varied by a composite periodic signal obtained from a respective stage of a chain of operational amplifiers each provided, except possibly for the first stage, with an RC network acting as a frequency-dependent phase shifter for a nonsinusoidal modulating signal consisting of at least two sub-audio-frequency components. The modulating signal may be synthesized from a plurality of stepped waveforms generated by the concurrent readout, at different sampling rates, of a set of amplitude values stored in a read-only memory.