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Scaling of each harmonic coefficient for electronic musical instrument
2010-03-11
AbstractA method of scaling a harmonic coefficient is employed, and envelope smaller in number than the number of harmonic orders are produced. One of the envelope is selected for each harmonic order and output as a scaling value. This enables the production of a musical tone imitative of a desired one, decreases the number of envelope generators needed, and permits simplification of the entire system configuration and signal processing.ClaimsWhat is claimed is:

1. An electronic musical instrument which synthesizes a musical wave form by harmonics through use of W harmonic coefficients, wherein means for controlling each of said W harmonic coefficients comprises:

harmonic coefficient storage means for storing said W harmonic coefficients which constitute the basis for the production of said musical wave form;

harmonic order generating means for generating a harmonic order signal, said harmonic order signal for specifying each of said W harmonic coefficients;

grouping code storage means for dividing a number of said W harmonic coefficients into P groups (where P is smaller than W) of a number smaller than the number of harmonic coefficients, in accordance with timbre information, and for storing a grouping code for each harmonic order;

harmonic envelope generating means for generating P harmonic envelopes;

harmonic coefficient read out means responsive to said harmonic order signal for reading out the corresponding one of said harmonic coefficients from said harmonic coefficient storage means;

grouping code read out means responsive to said harmonic order signal for reading out said grouping code stored in said grouping code storage means for each harmonic order; and

selecting means responsive to said grouping code, for selecting from said harmonic envelope generating means one of said P harmonic envelopes which corresponds to said each harmonic order;

wherein each harmonic coefficient corresponding to each harmonic order signal, read out of said harmonic coefficient storage means, is controlled by said selected harmonic envelope corresponding to said each harmonic order signal.

2. The electronic musical instrument of claim 1 wherein said harmonic envelope generating means comprises: storage means for storing amplitude values of said harmonic envelopes; means for reading out said amplitude values of said harmonic envelopes from said storage means and calculating new amplitude values of said harmonic envelopes; means for storing said new amplitude values of said harmonic envelopes into said storage means; and means for supplying said grouping code as an address for accessing said storage means to select said harmonic envelope corresponding to said each harmonic order.

3. An electronic musical instrument which synthesizes a musical wave form by harmonics through use of W harmonic coefficients, wherein means for controlling each of said W harmonic coefficients comprises:

harmonic coefficient storage means for storing said W harmonic coefficients which constitute the basis for the production of said musical wave form;

harmonic order generating means for generating a harmonic order signal, said harmonic order signal for specifying each of said W harmonic coefficients;

grouping code storage means for dividing said W harmonic coefficients into P groups (where P is smaller than W) of a number smaller than the number of harmonic coefficients themselves, in accordance with timbre information, and which stores a grouping code for each harmonic order;

harmonic envelope generating means for generating P harmonic envelopes;

scaling value generation means for generating a scaling value for scaling said harmonic envelopes;

scaling ON/OFF information storage means for storing, for each harmonic order, harmonic envelope scaling ON/OFF information which controls and specifies, in accordance with said timbre information, whether or not said harmonic envelopes are scaled by said scaling value;

harmonic coefficient read out means responsive to said harmonic order for reading out the corresponding one of said harmonic coefficients from said harmonic coefficient storage means;

grouping code read out means responsive to said harmonic order signal for reading out said grouping code stored in grouping code storage means for each harmonic order;

selecting means responsive to said grouping code for selecting from said harmonic envelope generating means one of said P harmonic envelopes which corresponds to said each harmonic order;

scaling read out means responsive to said harmonic order signal for reading out said envelope scaling ON/OFF information corresponding to said harmonic order; and

multiplying means responsive to said envelope scaling ON/OFF information for multiplying said scaling value and said harmonic envelope selected; wherein said harmonic coefficient corresponding to said harmonic order, is controlled by said harmonic envelope corresponding to said harmonic order, output from said multiplying means.

4. The electronic musical instrument of claim 3 further comprising a keyboard having a plurality of keys; assign means including a touch response information generator which scans said plurality of keys of said keyboard, assigns a depressed key, detects the speed of depression of said assigned key, and generates touch response information corresponding to said detected speed, and an after touch response information generator which detects the pressure of depression of said depressed key and generates after touch information corresponding to said detected pressure; and means for varying said scaling value in accordance with said touch response information and said after touch response information; wherein only a harmonic coefficient specified by said scaling ON/OFF information is varied by said varied scaling value in accordance with said touch response information and said after touch response information.DescriptionBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument which ...

Music delivery, control and integration
2010-03-08
AbstractThis invention provides a system capable of delivering recorded music pieces to users and empowering the users with control features allowing for customization of the music. Recorded music pieces may be stored and recalled when selected by a user. Each musical piece may include one or more music modules corresponding to one or more musical instruments of The piece. Through a selection menu, the user may select one or more of the modules for inclusion in a customized version of The selected recorded music piece. The user may further adjust the pitch and/or tempo of the musical piece. Once customized by the user, the recorded musical piece may be integrated with sounds created by the user performing a selected musical instrument or instruments. The user may also select predefined special effect setup information module(s) that may be loaded into the signal processor capable of emulating the sonic characteristics of the recording of the recorded music piece. This integrated sound may thus mimic the original recorded music piece.Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for modifying recorded music comprising the steps of:

selecting a recorded music piece comprising at least one individually recorded music track played by a musical instrument;

selecting from a musical instrument selection menu at least one of the individually recorded music tracks to omit from the recorded music piece thereby specifying a customized version of the recorded music piece; and

delivering the customized version of the recorded music piece to a user.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of selecting a pitch adjustment for the customized version of the recorded music piece.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting a tempo adjustment for the customized version of the recorded music piece.

4. The method of claim 1 where the step of selecting an individually recorded music track comprises the step of omitting a selected track and a selected musical instrument playing the selected track in the recorded music piece.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of selecting special effect setup information modules comprising setup information for programming a signal processor to simulate a sonic characteristic of the selected musical instrument playing on the selected track.

6. A method for modifying recorded music comprising the steps of:

providing a recorded music repository comprising a plurality of recorded music pieces each comprising at least one individually recorded music tracks played by a musical instrument;

obtaining a piece selection specifying a selected recorded music piece chosen from the plurality of recorded music pieces;

obtaining an instrument selection specifying a selected musical instrument to omit from the selected recorded music piece;

providing a customized version of the selected recorded music piece that omits the selected musical instrument by omitting an individually recorded music track played by the selected music instrument.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of obtaining a pitch selection and responsively adjusting the pitch of the customized version of the selected recorded music piece.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of obtaining an effect selection specifying a special effect setup information modules comprising setup information for a programming a signal processor to simulate a sonic characteristic of the selected musical instrument.

9. A method for modifying recorded music comprising the steps of:

storing separate recorded music tracks Played by individual instruments, the separate recorded music tracks comprising a musical piece;

obtaining track selection input that identifies each separate recorded music track as one of an included recorded music track and an omitted recorded music track;

preparing a customized musical piece that includes each of the included recorded music tracks and that excludes each of the omitted recorded music tracks;

obtaining a control input that identifies a special effect to apply to the customized musical piece;

applying the special effect to the customized musical piece to obtain a modified customized musical piece; and

delivering the modified customized musical piece.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of displaying a musical score for at least one of the omitted recorded music tracks.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

displaying a signal processing device library comprising a plurality of musical instrument signal processor indicia;

obtaining a setup information module selection specifying a signal processor represented by at least one of the signal processor indicia; and

delivering setup information for setting up the signal processor to simulate a sonic characteristic of at least one of the individual instruments that played at least one of the omitted recorded music tracks.

12. A music modification system, comprising:

a memory storing a recorded music piece comprising individually recorded, music tracks played by individual musical instruments;

a user interface supported by the music modification system, the user interface including:

a track selection section for selecting at least one of the individually recorded music tracks to omit from the recorded music piece to specify a customized version of the recorded music piece; and

a delivery selection input for initiating delivery of the customized version of the recorded music piece.

13. The system of claim 12 where the user interface further comprises a Ditch selection input for specifying a Ditch modification applied to the customized version of the recorded music piece.

14. The system of claim 12 where the user interface further comprises a tempo selection input for specifying a temp modification applied to the customized version of the recorded music piece.

15. The system of claim 12 where the user interface further comprises a special effect selection section comprising a plurality of musical instrument signal processor indicia for obtaining input selecting a signal processor and associated setup information for setting up the signal processor to simulate a sonic characteristic of at least one of the musical instruments that Played at least one of the omitted recorded musical tracks.

16. A music modification system, comprising:

a repository comprising a plurality of recorded music pieces, each comprising a plurality of individually recorded music tracks played by individual musical instruments;

a user access device for providing access to the repository, selecting a recorded music piece, and selecting at least one of the musical instruments to omit from a customized copy of the selected recorded music piece; and

a transport interface for delivering the customized copy of the selected recorded music piece to a user.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a pitch adjustment device.

18. The system of claim 16 further comprising a tempo adjustment device.

19. The system of claim 16 further comprising an instrument selection input.

20. The system of claim 16 further comprising a database comprising a plurality of special effect setup information modules, each comprising setup information for setting up a pre-determined signal processor to simulate a sonic characteristic of at least one of the musical instruments that played at least one of the omitted recorded musical tracks.

21. A method for learning to play a musical instrument, the method comprising the steps of:

accessing a recorded music repository storing a recorded music piece as a plurality of separately recorded tracks, the tracks individually played by pre-determined musical instruments;

choosing from the pre-determined musical instruments a selected musical instrument to omit from the music piece;

receiving a customized music piece from the repository, the customized music piece including each separately recorded track except that played by the selected musical instrument; and

playing the musical instrument in accompaniment with the customized music piece.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of receiving a musical score for the selected instrument for the music piece.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

selecting from the repository a special effect setup information module for a signal processor connected to the musical instrument being played;

receiving the special effect setup information module from the repository; and

setting up the signal processor in accordance with the special effect setup information so that he signal processor simulates a sonic characteristic of the selected musical instrument omitted from the customized music piece.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of:

selecting a pitch adjustment for the customized music piece, and where the step of receiving additionally comprises receiving the customized music piece adjusted by the pitch adjustment.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of:

selecting a tempo adjustment for the customized music piece, and where the step of receiving additionally comprises receiving the customized music piece adjusted by the tempo adjustment.Description

BACKGROUND OF THE APPLICATION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to systems for controlling the delivery of recorded music where the music may be customized and individual instruments may be isolated or selected by the user.

2. Related Art

A common methodology of learning to play a particular musical instrument or to emulate its performance in a recorded piece of music is to play along with the recorded piece of music a...

Signal generator for electronic musical instrument, employing variable rate integrator
2010-03-05
AbstractAn electronic musical instrument incorporates apparatus for producing, on either a triggered or a repetitive basis, a wave form which is employed to produce a variety of musical sounds upon being connected to a loudspeaker. The generator is provided with means for independently modifying the wave shape and frequency of a repetitive signal, each without changing the other.ClaimsWhat is claimed is:

1. A signal generator comprising integrator means, comparator means connected to said integrator means and responsive thereto for producing two discrete output voltage levelson a single output line in response to a comparison of the output of said integrator means with a certain value, and connecting means connecting said line to said integrator for controlling the sign of the rate of change of the output of said integrator.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, including control means for causing said integrator means to integrate at two different rates, in response to which of said two output voltage levels is being produced by said integrator at any given time.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means controls the sign of integration of said integrator means oppositely for said two output voltage levels, said sign being always such as to cause the output of said integrator meansto tend to approach the output voltage level of said comparator means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, including means for causing said integrator means and said comparator means to operate continuously, whereby a triangular waveform is produced at the output of said integrator means, each cycle of said waveformhaving two different slopes under the control of said control means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, including means for selectively disabling said integrator means.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said integrator means comprises an operational transconductance amplifier.

7. For use in an electronic musical instrument, a signal generator for generating a single cycle of a triangular waveform, comprising integrator means, comparator means connected to said integrator means and responsive thereto for producing twodiscrete output voltage levels in response to a comparison of the output of said integrator means with a certain value, means connected to said integrator means and operative to control the sign of integration of said integrator means, said sign ofintegration being opposite for two successive integration periods, and means for discontinuing operation of said integrator means after a single cycle of operation including two successive integration periods.

8. For use in an electronic musical instrument, a signal generator comprising variable rate integrator means, means connected with said integrator for controlling the sign of integration of said integrator, said sign of integration beingopposite for successive integration periods, a potentiometer, first connecting means for connecting a first end of said potentiometer to a source of reference potential, second connecting means for connecting a second end of said potentiometer to saidreference potential, means for connecting the tap of said potentiometer to said integrator for supplying a signal to said integrator means for controlling the rate of integration thereof, and means for operating said first and second connecting means oneat a time during successive periods of operation of said integrator.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said last named means comprises a bi-stable device connected with said comparator means and operative to energize said first and second means selectively in response to the output voltage of saidcomparator.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8, including manually adjustable means for controlling the scale of the time rate of change of the output of said integrator means, whereby the period of the waveform produced at the output of said integrator maybe controlled without affecting the wave shape of said waveform.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said last named means comprises a pair of inverters connected in series with the output of said comparator, means connecting the output of one inverter to energize said first circuit means, and meansconnecting the output of the other inverter to energize said second circuit means.DescriptionBACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to electronic musical instruments, and more particularly to electronic synthesizers, in which a signal of desired amplitude and wave shape is produced under the control of a variety of manual controls. Such a signalmust be produced either repetitively or when triggered by a control signal.

2. The Prior Art

In known designs for synthesizer instruments, the wave shape produced by the sound source is typically either a sine wave or a square wave. Both of these wave shapes are relatively easy to generate, and they may be transformed from one to theother without difficulty. Other wave shapes may be derived from them, with the result that a variety of wave shapes may be obtained simply by manipulation of sign and square waves.

Although such fundamental wave shapes can be used with great success, it is desirable to provide apparatus for making a greater variety of wave shapes available, with the use of a limited number of controls which may be adjusted by the operatoror player of the instrument. In particular, it is desirable to have one control for varying the wave shape of a signal produced by the apparatus, without any effect on the frequency of the signal, and another control for varying the frequency of thesignal without having any effect on its wave shape.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a signal generator for producing a signal which may be controlled both in frequency and wave shape, independently, with only two controls, each of such controls controllingonly one of the parameters without affecting the other.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a signal generator which produces a triangular wave form in which the output level increases linearly from a first level to a second level, and then declines linearly from the second levelto the first level, with the slopes of both linear portions being adjustable.

A further object of the present invent...

Adjustable holding device for a musical instrument stand
2010-03-04
Abstract text
A holding device for a musical instrument stand has a lower retainer, a turning retainer, an upper retainer, a pivotal pin, a first screw member and a second screw member, and provide a capability of adjustable in length and at angle and retractable to the musical instrument stand.Claims
1. A holding device for a musical instrument stand comprising a lower retainer, a turning retainer pivotally mounted on the lower retainer, and an upper retainer pivotally mounted with the turning retainer.

2. The holding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower retainer has a connection hole defined through the lower retainer, a pivotal member is extended from one side of the lower retainer and has a half width of the lower retainer has a first pivotal hole defined laterally through the pivotal member; the turning retainer has a half width of the upper retainer and a second pivotal hole defined laterally through the turning retainer, a first connection member is extended from one side of the turning retainer toward the pivotal member and has a first aperture defined through the first connection member, a bottom hole is defined in a bottom of the turning retainer, a first through hole is defined in a face of the turning retainer and communicates with the bottom hole, and a first channel is formed in turning retainer at the face in which the first through hole is defined; the upper retainer has a second connection member extended from one side of the upper retainer toward the turning retainer and a second aperture defined through the upper retainer and aligning with the first aperture in the turning retainer, a second channel is formed in the upper retainer and aligns with the first channel, and a second though hole is defined laterally through the upper retainer and aligns with the first though hole; a pivotal pin is mounted though the first aperture and a second aperture to pivotally connect the upper retainer to the turning retainer; a first screw member is comprised of a first screw and a first nut, and the first screw is mounted though the first pivotal hole and the second pivotal hole and is engaged with the first nut; and a second screw member is comprised of a second screw and a second nut, and the second screw member is mounted though the second though hole and the first though hole and is engaged with the second nut.Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a holding device, and particularly relates to an adjustable holding device for a musical instrument stand device and that can provide a retractable and adjustable in length and at angle capability to the stand.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] A conventional musical instrument stand substantially comprises an extension shaft and a main shaft, and the extension shaft is retractably inserted into the main shaft. The extension shaft can be pulled out from the main shaft to adjust the length of the stand and is held in place with a bolt to fit different needs of users.

[0005] Some musical instruments, such as cymbals need a stand with an inclined bar for holding the musical instruments to allow a user to conveniently strike the musical instruments. A conventional sta...

Wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument
2010-02-25
AbstractA wire clamping ligature for use with single reed musical instruments such as clarinets and saxophones which includes two retaining wires extending circumferentially around the mouthpiece and reed of the instrument to affix the reed to the mouthpiece and yet allow normal musical vibration thereof wherein the retaining wires are approximately thirty thousandths of an inch (0.030 inches) and including two drawbars each attached to the opposite ends of the two retaining wires with an adjustable clamp secured therebetween. The adjustable clamp can comprise one or two threaded screws rotatably mounted in one drawbar and threadedly engaged with respect to the other drawbar to urge the drawbars together for tightening of the two retaining wires about the reed and mouthpiece for detachably affixing them together.Claims

I claim:

1. A wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument comprising:

A. a first reed retaining wire means extending once around a mouthpiece and an adjacently positioned reed for retaining thereof together while allowing musical vibrational movement of the reed, said first reed retaining wire means being of a metallic material, said first reed retaining wire means having a diameter of less than 0.100 inches, said first reed retaining wire means including a first reed first end and a first reed second end;

B. a second reed retaining wire means extending once around the mouthpiece and the adjacently positioned reed at a position spatially disposed longitudinally along the reed from said first reed retaining wire means for retaining of the reed in adjacent abutment to the mouthpiece while allowing musical vibrational movement of the reed, said second reed retaining wire means being of a metallic material, said second reed retaining wire means having a diameter of less than 0.100 inches, said second reed retaining wire means including a second reed first end and a second reed second end;

C. a first drawbar attached to said first reed first end of said first reed retaining wire means and attached to said second reed first end of said second reed retaining wire means to facilitate retaining of the reed in abutment with the mouthpiece while allowing musical vibrational movement thereof;

D. a second drawbar attached to said first reed second end of said first reed retaining wire means and attached to said second reed second end of said second reed retaining wire means to facilitate retaining of the reed in abutment with the mouthpiece while allowing musical vibrational movement thereof; and

E. an adjustable clamping means operatively secured to said first drawbar and said second drawbar, said adjustable clamping means adapted to urge said first drawbar and said second drawbar together for tightening of said first reed retaining wire means and said second reed retaining means around the reed into abutment with the mouthpiece while allowing for musical vibrational movement thereof.

2. A wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said first reed retaining wire means is of stainless steel wire material.

3. A wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said second reed retaining wire means is of a stainless steel wire material.

4. A wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said first reed retaining wire means is made of steel wire of approximately 0.030 inches in diameter.

5. A wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said second reed retaining wire means is made of steel wire of approximately 0.030 inches in diameter.

6. A wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjustable clamping means includes:

A. a threaded bore defined within said second drawbar;

B. a clearance bore defined within said first drawbar; and

C. a threaded clamping screw means adapted to extend through said clearance bore to be freely rotatable therein and to, further extend into engagement with said threaded bore to facilitate adjustable clamping between said first drawbar and said second drawbar to facilitate attachment of the reed in abutment with the mouthpiece while allowing for musical vibrational movement thereof.

7. A wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument as defined in claim 6 wherein said threaded clamping screw means includes a cap thereof to facilitate abutting engagement with respect to said first drawbar adjacent said clearance bore thereof.

8. A wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument as defined in claim 6 wherein said threaded bore is defined in said second drawbar at a position intermediate between said first reed retaining wire means and said second reed retaining wire means attached with respect thereto.

9. A wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument as defined in claim 6 wherein said clearance bore is defined in said first drawbar at a position intermediate between said first reed retaining wire means and said second reed retaining wire means attached with respect thereto.

10. A wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument as defined in claim 6 wherein said threaded clamping screw means includes a thumbscrew tab to facilitate adjustable rotation of said threaded clamping screw means with respect to said first drawbar and said second drawbar.

11. A wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjustable clamping means includes:

A. a first clearance boss member affixed to said first drawbar adjacent said first reed retaining wire means and defining a first clearance bore extending therethrough;

B. a second clearance boss member affixed to said first drawbar adjacent said second reed retaining wire means and defining a second clearance bore extending therethrough;

C. a first engagement boss member affixed to said second drawbar adjacent said first reed retaining wire means and defining a first threaded bore extending therethrough, said first threaded bore being axially in registration with said first clearance bore;

D. a second engagement boss member affixed to said second drawbar adjacent said second reed retaining wire means and defining a second threaded bore extending therethrough, said second threaded bore being axially in registration with said second clearance bore;

E. a first threaded clamping screw means adapted to extend through said first clearance bore to be freely rotatable therein and to,further extend into engagement with respect to said first threaded bore to facilitate adjustable clamping between said first drawbar and said second drawbar to facilitate attachment of a reed in abutment with a mouthpiece while allowing for musical vibrational movement of the reed; and

F. a second threaded clamping screw means adapted to extend through said second clearance bore to be freely rotatable therein,and to further extend into engagement with respect to said second threaded bore to facilitate adjustable clamping between said first drawbar and said second drawbar to facilitate attachment of a reed in abutment with a mouthpiece while allowing for musical vibrational movement of the reed.

12. A wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument as defined in claim 11 wherein said first threaded clamping screw means includes a first cap thereon to be in abutting engagement with respect to said first drawbar adjacent said first clearance bore defined therein to facilitate urging of said first drawbar and said second drawbar together.

13. A wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument as defined in claim 11 wherein said second threaded clamping screw means includes a second cap thereon to be in abutting engagement with respect to said first drawbar adjacent said second clearance bore defined there to facilitate urging of said first drawbar and said second drawbar together.

14. A wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument as defined in claim 11 wherein said first threaded clamping screw means includes a first thumbscrew tab to facilitate adjustable rotation of said first threaded clamping screw means with respect to said first drawbar and said second drawbar.

15. A wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument as defined in claim 11 wherein said second threaded clamping screw means includes a second thumbscrew tab to facilitate adjustable rotation of said second threaded clamping screw means with respect to said first drawbar and said second drawbar.

16. A wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument as defined in claim 11 wherein said first clearance boss member and said second clearance boss member are integrally formed with respect to said first drawbar.

17. A wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument as defined in claim 11 wherein said first engagement boss member and said second engagement boss member are integrally formed with respect to said second drawbar.

18. A wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said first drawbar and said second drawbar are made of molded plastic.

19. A wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said first drawbar and said second drawbar are made of die cast metal.

20. A wire clamping ligature for use with a single reed mouthpiece for a musical instrument comprising:

A. a first reed retaining wire means of stainless steel wire having a diameter of less than 0.100 inches extending once around a mouthpiece and an adjacently positioned reed for retaining thereof together while allowing musical vibrational movement of the reed, said first reed retaining wire means including a first reed first end and a first reed second end;

B. a second reed retaining wire means of stainless steel wire having a diameter of less than 0.100 inches extending once around the mouthpiece and the adjacently positioned reed at a position spatially disposed longitudinally along the reed from said first reed retaining wire means for retaining of the reed in adjacent abutment to the mouthpiece while allowing musical vibrational movement of the reed, said second reed retaining wire means including a second reed first end and a second reed second end;

C. a first drawbar attached to said first reed first end of said first reed retaining wire means and attached to said second reed first end of said second reed retaining wire means to facilitate retaining of the reed in abutment with the mouthpiece while allowing musical vibrational movement thereof, said first drawbar defining a clearance bore therein at a position intermediate between said first reed retaining wire means and said second reed retaining wire means attached with respect thereto;

D. a second drawbar attached to said first reed second end of said first reed retaining wire means and attached to said second reed second end of said second reed retaining wire means to facilitate retaining of the reed in abutment with the mouthpiece while allowing musical vibrational movement thereof, said second drawbar defining a threaded bore therein in axial alignment with respect to said clearance bore in said first drawbar, said threaded bore being defined in said second drawbar at a position intermediate between said first reed retaining wire means and said second reed retaining wire means attached with respect thereto;

E. an adjustable clamping means operatively secured to said first drawbar and said second drawbar, said adjustable clamping means adapted to urge said first...

Electronic musical instrument with automatic and semi-automatic playing apparatus
2010-02-05
AbstractWhen the action of key depression is paused in a semi-automatic play mode, the semi-automatic playing is switched to automatic playing. When the key depression is made in the automatic playing, the playing is shifted back to the semi-automatic playing. An electronic musical instrument includes a semi-automatic play timing controlling means responsive to a key-depression by a player for controlling the first timing for tone generation, and an automatic play timing controlling means responsive to a timing information contained in a musical playing data for controlling the second timing for tone generation. The automatic playing is enabled when the key depression is not detected within a predetermined duration of time in the semi-automatic playing with the first timing controlled by the semi-automatic play timing controlling means. In the semi-automatic playing, the key depression timing may be displayed at the second timing controlled by the automatic play timing controlling means for ease of the key depression by the player.Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic musical instrument for being selectively switched between automatic playing, for carrying out musical tone generation according to timing information and tone information contained in a playing data, and semi-automatic playing for carrying out musical tone generation according to the tone information, in response to key depression of a player, comprising:

key means for entering timing commands for tone generation;

key-depression detecting means for detecting the operation of the key means to produce a key-depression signal;

semi-automatic play timing controlling means responsive to the key-depression signal for controlling a first timing for tone generation in the semi-automatic playing;

automatic play timing controlling means responsive to the timing information for controlling a second timing for tone generation in the automatic playing;

pause detecting means for monitoring the key-depression signal in the semi-automatic playing, and when the key-depression signal is not issued for a first predetermined period of time, producing a semi-automatic playing pause signal;

play mode switching means responsive to the semi-automatic playing pause signal produced in the semi-automatic playing for switching from the semi-automatic playing to the automatic playing; and

a tone generating means responsive to a selected one of the semi-automatic play and the automatic playing for performing the tone generation according to a pitch information contained in the playing data at one of the first and the second tone generation timings.

2. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a key-depression timing displaying means for producing a stimulation indicative of timing for key depression at the second tone generation timing controlled by the automatic play timing controlling means in the semi-automatic playing.

3. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the stimulation is at least one of a visible display, an audible sound and a mechanical vibration.

4. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the automatic playing upon being switched from the semi-automatic playing starts from a paused part of the playing data where the semi-automatic playing was paused.

5. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the automatic playing upon being switched from the semi-automatic playing starts from a part of the playing data which is earlier than an instant when the semi-automatic playing was paused.

6. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the automatic playing upon being switched from the semi-automatic playing starts from the front of the playing data for a piece to be played.

7. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the play mode switching means is responsive to the key-depression signal which is issued in the automatic playing that has been switched from the semi-automatic playing for switching back the automatic playing to the semi-automatic playing.

8. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein further comprising:

an automatic play request counter for updating its count value at intervals of a predetermined period in the automatic playing which has been switched from the semi-automatic playing;

a read timing counter responsive to the key-depression signal in the semi-automatic playing for updating its count until it coincides with a step time contained in the succeeding tone information;

a read timing counter updating means for adding a count, which corresponds to a time elapsed after a preceding key depression and calculated on the basis of the count of the automatic play request counter, to the count of the read timing counter; and

said tone generating means producing a musical sound when the count of the read timing counter coincides with the step time.

9. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the first predetermined period of time for detecting the pause in the playing is a time elapsed after an immediately preceding generation of the key-depression signal.

10. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 9, wherein the first predetermined period of time is adjustable.

11. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 9, wherein the first predetermined period of time is a sum of a time from generation of the preceding key-depression signal to the succeeding key-depression defined by the playing data and a second predetermined time.

12. An electronic musical instrument for being selectively switched between automatic playing, for carrying out musical tone generation according to timing information and tone information contained in a playing data, and semi-automatic playing, for carrying out musical tone generation according to the tone information, in response to key depression of a player, comprising:

key means for entering timing commands for tone generation;

key-depression detecting means for detecting the operation of the key means to produce a key-depression signal;

semi-automatic play timing controlling means responsive to the key-depression signal for controlling a first timing for tone generation in the semi-automatic playing;

automatic play timing controlling means responsive to the timing information for controlling a second timing for tone generation in the automatic playing; and

key-depression timing display means for generating a stimulation indicative of the timing for key depression in the semi-automatic playing, at the second tone generation timing controlled by the automatic play timing controlling means.

13. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 12, further comprising

a tone generating means responsive to a selected one of the semi-automatic play and the automatic playing for performing the tone generation according to a pitch information contained in the playing data at one of the first and the second tone generation timings.

14. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the stimulation is at least one of a visible display, an audible sound and a mechanical vibraton.

15. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the key-depression timing displaying means includes an automatic play timing counter updated at intervals of a predetermined period corresponding to a tempo of a piece of music to be played, an initial count of said automatic play timing counter being preset at a timing information of the first tone information of the playing data for the piece of music, then being caused to be updated in response to a first key-depression signal in the semi-automatic play, whereby the stimulation is produced each time the count of the automatic play timing counter coincides with successive timing information in the playing data.

16. An electronic musical instrument for being selectively switched between automatic playing, for carrying out musical tone generation according to timing information and tone information contained in a playing data, and semi-automatic playing for carrying out musical tone generation according to the tone information, in response to key depression of a player, comprising:

at least one key for entering timing commands for tone generation;

a key-depression detector for detecting the operation of the at least one key to produce a key-depression signal;

a semi-automatic play timing controller responsive to the key-depression signal for controlling a first timing for tone generation in the semi-automatic playing;

an automatic play timing controller responsive to the timing information for controlling a second timing for tone generation in the automatic playing;

a pause detector for monitoring the key-depression signal in the semi-automatic playing, and when the key-depression signal is not issued for a first predetermined period of time, producing a semi-automatic playing pause signal;

a play mode switcher responsive to the semi-automatic playing pause signal produced in the semi-automatic playing for switching from the semi-automatic playing to the automatic playing; and

a tone generator responsive to a selected one of the semi-automatic play and the automatic playing for performing the tone generation according to a pitch information contained in the playing data at one of the first and the second tone generation timings.

17. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 16 further comprising a key-depression timing display for generating a stimulation indicative of the timing for key depression in the semi-automatic playing, at the second tone generation timing controlled by the automatic play timing controller.

18. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 16 wherein the automatic playing upon being switched from the semi-automatic playing starts from a part of the playing data which is earlier than an instant when the semi-automatic playing was paused.

19. An electronic musical instrument for being selectively switched between automatic playing, for carrying out musical tone generation according to timing information and tone information contained in a playing data, and semi-automatic playing, for carrying out musical tone generation according to the tone information, in response to key depression of a player, comprising:

at least one key for entering timing commands for tone generation;

a key-depression detector for detecting the operation of the at least one key to produce a key-depression signal;

a semi-automatic play timing controller responsive to the key-depression signal for controlling a first timing for tone generation in the semi-automatic playing;

an automatic play timing controller responsive to the timing information for controlling a second timing for tone generation in the automatic playing; and

a key-depression timing display for generating a stimulation indicative of the timing for key depression in the semi-automatic playing, at the second tone generation timing controlled by the automatic play timing controller.Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument equipped with a full-automatic and a semi-automatic playing apparatus and particularly, an electronic musical instrument equipped with an automatic/semi-automatic playing switching apparatus which selects between full-automatic play function and semi-automatic play function subjected to the timing for tone generation given manually as well as an electronic musical instrument capable of displaying the timing of key depression for the semi-automatic playing according to a full-automatic play function.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional electronic musical instrument such as an electronic piano or a synthesizer is equipped with a full-automatic playing apparatus which produces musical tone signals corresponding to the playing data saved in ROMs or entered by a player. Such an automatic playing apparatus performs in a normal mode a full-automatic play while timing the tone generation with a tempo clock generated therein and may be equipped with a semi-automatic playing function for producing, at the timing controlled by key depression, sounds with pitches determined by the playing data.

It is common for the semi-automatic playing function that semi-automatic playing can hardly be carried out when the timing of play or key depression is not known. The semi-automatic playing of a score should be commenced only after the score was previously played in automatic play mode to acknowledge its melody.

If a player has lost the timing for key depression during the playing of the score with the semi-automatic playing function, it may be recovered by switching back to the automatic play mode to replay the score for acknowledgment of its melody and then, returning to the semi-automatic playing to start again. This switching action is troublesome and will take an extra length of time for recalling even such a small part of the score.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a first object of the present invention to provide an electronic musical instrument equipped with a full-automatic/semi-automatic play switching apparatus which automatically switches to an automatic play mode when the action of key depression is paused longer than a predetermined time interval in a semi-automatic play mode and shifts back to the semi-automatic play mode when the key depression is made in the full-automatic play mode, whereby semi-automatic playing can be conducted without knowing a tune to be played.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide an electronic musical instrument for performing semi-automatic playing without knowing a tune to be played by displaying the timing for key depression in the semi-automatic play mode using the full-automatic playing function.

A first feature of the present invention is characterized by a semi-automatic play timing controlling means responsive to the key-depression by a player for controlling the timing for musical tone generation, an automatic play timing controlling means responsive to the timing information contained in a musical playing data for controlling the timing for musical tone generation, a playing pause detecting means for monitoring a key-depression signal and when the key-depression signal is not issued for a predetermined period of time, producing a semi-automatic playing pause signal, a play mode switching means responsive to the semi-automatic playing pause signal produced in the semi-automatic playing for switching from the semi-automatic playing to the automatic playing, and a tone generating means for tone generation according to the pitch information contained in the playing data at the tone generation timing. A second feature of the present invention is that the play mode switching means is responsive to the key depression in the automatic playing after being switched from the semi-automatic playing for switching from the automatic playing to the semi-automatic playing.

When the key depression is paused more than a predetermined length of time in the semi-automatic playing due to, e.g. a lapse of memory, the automatic playing starts as a sample playing from the point where the playing i...