Electrical musical instrument with ensemble and chief effects and unequal stereophonic outputs

Claim 2

An electrical musical instrument having an ensemble quality comprising: a plurality of tone frequency current sources, a first plurality of modulators having at least first and second outputs and first and second inputs, the outputs of selected ones of said tone frequency current sources being applied to said inputs, said modulators causing the level of at least one tone frequency current appearing at said outputs to vary in subsonic, different, alterations between said first and second outputs, and a stereophonic amplifier-speaker system including first and second speakers, the first output of said modulator units being applied to said first speaker and the second output being applied to said second speaker so that the levels of the two tones as reproduced by said speakers vary in different relative subsonic patterns in each of said speakers.

Claim 3

The electrical musical instrument recited in claim 1 having: at least 12 independent continuously operating tone frequency current sources, frequency-multiplying means, the outputs of said tone frequency current sources being applied to said frequency multiplying means to produce frequency currents corresponding to the tones in the chromatic scale of different octaves, and a second plurality of modulator units, each having at least two outputs and two inputs, said frequency current sources being applied to the inputs of said second plurality of modulator units, the outputs of said second plurality of modulator units being applied to the inputs of said first plurality of modulator units, said second plurality of modulator units causing the level of at least one tone frequency current appearing at the outputs thereof to vary in subsonic alterations so that the frequency currents which originate from the same tone source are distinctive one from the other in the variation of subsonic alterations.

Claim 4

The electrical musical instrument recited in claim 1 wherein each modulator unit includes: a plurality of stop switches controlling the application of tone frequency current to said outputs of said modulator units, a voltage divider network, a source of voltage being applied through said stop switch to said voltage divider network so that a subthreshold voltage appears across the output of said voltage divider network when only one of said stop switches is closed and a threshold voltage appears across said output when more than one of said stop switches are closed, and a controlled switching device responsive to said threshold voltage to actuate all of the modulator units having closed stop switches to cause the amplitudes of the tone frequency current to vary in subsonic alterations at the outputs of said modulator units.

Claim 5

An electrical musical instrument having: a plurality of tone sources, a stereophonic amplifier-speaker system including first and second speakers, a plurality of keys for selectively applying tones from said sources to said amplifier-speaker system, register coupling means for applying tones of a desired register to said amplifier-speaker so that first and second tones added by the depression of two different keys may originate from the same tone source, the improvement comprising: first and second register modulator units each having at least one output and one in put, said modulator units causing the lEvel of the tone appearing at said output to vary in subsonic alterations, the subsonic alterations of said first and second register modulator units being asynchronous, and means for applying said first and second tones to the inputs of said first and second register modulator units, respectively, so that said first and second tones are heard as an ensemble of tones with added intensity.

Claim 6

An electrical musical instrument having: a plurality of tone sources, a stereophonic amplifier-speaker system including first and second speakers, a plurality of keys for selectively applying tones from said sources to said amplifier-speaker system, register coupling means for applying tones of a desired register to said amplifier-speaker so that first and second tones added by the depression of two different keys may originate from the same tone source, the improvement comprising: first and second register modulator units each having at least one output and one in put, said modulator units causing the lEvel of the tone appearing at said output to vary in subsonic alterations, the subsonic alterations of said first and second register modulator units being asynchronous, and means for applying said first and second tones to the inputs of said first and second register modulator units, respectively, so that said first and second tones are heard as an ensemble of tones with added intensity.

Claim 7

An electrical musical instrument in which each tone has a different general location in space comprising: a plurality of wave shapers, each producing at least first and second outputs of unequal amplitude, the inequality in amplitude between said first and second outputs being different for different wave shapers, a plurality of continuously operating tone frequency current sources, each producing an output having a frequency related to a tone in the chromatic scale, the outputs of said tone frequency current sources being selectively applied to the inputs of said wave shapers, and a stereophonic amplifier-speaker system including first and second speakers, the first output of each wave shaper being applied to said first speaker and the second output of each wave shaper being applied to said second speaker, the inequality in amplitude between said first and second outputs giving each of the tones reproduced by said speakers a different general location in space.

Claim 8

An electrical musical instrument in which each tone has a different general location in space comprising: a plurality of wave shapers, each producing at least first and second outputs of unequal amplitude, the inequality in amplitude between said first and second outputs being different for different wave shapers, a plurality of continuously operating tone frequency current sources, each producing an output having a frequency related to a tone in the chromatic scale, the outputs of said tone frequency current sources being selectively applied to the inputs of said wave shapers, and a stereophonic amplifier-speaker system including first and second speakers, the first output of each wave shaper being applied to said first speaker and the second output of each wave shaper being applied to said second speaker, the inequality in amplitude between said first and second outputs giving each of the tones reproduced by said speakers a different general location in space.

Claim 9

An electrical musical instrument having an ensemble quality comprising: a plurality of tone frequency current sources, a plurality of modulator units each having at least first and second outputs, first and second inputs, and a source of mutually asynchronous subsonic frequency signals, the outputs of selected ones of said tone frequency current sources being applied to said inputs, said asynchronous subsonic frequency signals modulating the tone frequency currents to cause the level of the tone frequency currents appearing at said outputs to vary in subsonic, different, alterations between said first and second outputs, and a stereophonic amplifier-speaker system including first and second speakers, the first output of said modulator units being applied to said first speaker and the second output being applied to said second speaker so that the levels of the tones as reproduced by said speakers vary in different relative subsonic patterns in each of said speakers.

Claim 10

An electrical musical instrument having an ensemble quality comprising: a plurality of tone frequency current sources, a plurality of modulator units each having at least first and second outputs, first and second inputs, and a source of mutually asynchronous subsonic frequency signals, the outputs of selected ones of said tone frequency current sources being applied to said inputs, said asynchronous subsonic frequency signals modulating the tone frequency currents to cause the level of the tone frequency currents appearing at said outputs to vary in subsonic, different, alterations between said first and second outputs, and a stereophonic amplifier-speaker system including first and second speakers, the first output of said modulator units being applied to said first speaker and the second output being applied to said second speaker so that the levels of the tones as reproduced by said speakers vary in different relative subsonic patterns in each of said speakers.

Claim 11

The electrical musical instrument of claim 6 wherein the asynchronous subsonic frequency signals produced by said source are random.

Claim 12

The electrical musical instrument of claim 6 wherein the asynchronous subsonic frequency signals produced by said source are rhythmic.

Claim 13

The electrical musical instrument of claim 6 wherein the asynchronous subsonic frequency signals produced by at least one source are random and the asynchronous subsonic frequency signals produced by at least one other source are rhythmic.

Claim 14

The electrical musical instrument of claim 6 wherein the asynchronous subsonic frequency signals produced by said source are in the range of 6 to 16 Hertz whereby the levels of the two tones as reproduced by said speakers vary in different relative subsonic patterns in each of said speakers so as to simulate the subtle sound effects of natural air turbulence.

Claim 15

The electrical musical instrument of claim 10 wherein said source produces a variable band of asynchronous subsonic frequency signals for modulating said tone frequency current sources whereby different and variable relative subsonic patterns are reproduced in each of said speakers dependent upon the band of said asynchronous subsonic frequency signals so as to simulate wind-pressure changes of a pipe organ.

Claim 16

An electrical musical instrument simulating the subtle sound effects of natural air turbulence in organ pipes comprising: at least one tone frequency current source, at least one modulator means having an input, first and second outputs, and a source of subsonic frequency signals for modulating the tone frequencY current from said tone frequency current source, said modulator means causing the level of said tone frequency current appearing at said first and second outputs to vary in subsonic, different, alterations between said first and second outputs, and a stereophonic amplifier-speaker system including first and second speakers, the first output of said modulator means being applied to said first speaker and the second output being applied to said second speaker so that the levels of the two tones as reproduced by said speakers vary in different relative subsonic patterns in each of said speakers thereby simulating the subtle sound effects of natural air turbulence in organ pipes.

Claim 17

An electrical musical instrument simulating the subtle sound effects of natural air turbulence in organ pipes comprising: at least one tone frequency current source, at least one modulator means having an input, first and second outputs, and a source of subsonic frequency signals for modulating the tone frequencY current from said tone frequency current source, said modulator means causing the level of said tone frequency current appearing at said first and second outputs to vary in subsonic, different, alterations between said first and second outputs, and a stereophonic amplifier-speaker system including first and second speakers, the first output of said modulator means being applied to said first speaker and the second output being applied to said second speaker so that the levels of the two tones as reproduced by said speakers vary in different relative subsonic patterns in each of said speakers thereby simulating the subtle sound effects of natural air turbulence in organ pipes.

Claim 18

The electrical musical instrument of claim 12, wherein said subsonic frequency signals lie in the range of 6 to 16 hertz.

Claim 19

An electrical musical instrument simulating the wind-pressure variations of a pipe organ comprising: at least one tone frequency current source, at least one modulator means having an input, first and second outputs, and a source of variable band subsonic frequency signals for modulating the tone frequency current from said tone frequency current source, said modulator means causing the level of said tone frequency current appearing at said first and second outputs to vary in subsonic, different, alterations between said first and second outputs, and a stereophonic amplifier-speaker system including first and second speakers, the first output of said modulator means being applied to said first speaker and the second output being applied to said second speaker so that the levels of the two tones as reproduced by said speakers vary in different and variable relative subsonic frequency patterns in each of said speakers and upon the frequency of said variable band the subsonic frequency signals in each of said speakers thereby simulating the wind-pressure variations of a pipe organ.

Claim 20

An electrical musical instrument simulating the wind-pressure variations of a pipe organ comprising: at least one tone frequency current source, at least one modulator means having an input, first and second outputs, and a source of variable band subsonic frequency signals for modulating the tone frequency current from said tone frequency current source, said modulator means causing the level of said tone frequency current appearing at said first and second outputs to vary in subsonic, different, alterations between said first and second outputs, and a stereophonic amplifier-speaker system including first and second speakers, the first output of said modulator means being applied to said first speaker and the second output being applied to said second speaker so that the levels of the two tones as reproduced by said speakers vary in different and variable relative subsonic frequency patterns in each of said speakers and upon the frequency of said variable band the subsonic frequency signals in each of said speakers thereby simulating the wind-pressure variations of a pipe organ.

Claim 21

An electrical musical instrument comprising: a plurality of tone frequency current sources, a plurality of chiff frequency current sources, a plurality of modulator means, each of said modulator means coupled to one of said tone frequency current sources and one of said chiff frequency current sources, a plurality of switch means for applying said chiff frequency currents to said plurality of modulator means briefly before or during the onset or termination of the application of said tone frequency currents to said plurality of modulators so as to lend assertiveness and clearer identity to sounded tones, and an amplifier-speaker system coupled to the output of said modulators producing assertive tones having clear identities.

Claim 22

An electrical musical instrument comprising: a plurality of tone frequency current sources, a plurality of chiff frequency current sources, a plurality of modulator means, each of said modulator means coupled to one of said tone frequency current sources and one of said chiff frequency current sources, a plurality of switch means for applying said chiff frequency currents to said plurality of modulator means briefly before or during the onset or termination of the application of said tone frequency currents to said plurality of modulators so as to lend assertiveness and clearer identity to sounded tones, and an amplifier-speaker system coupled to the output of said modulators producing assertive tones having clear identities.

Claim 23

The electrical musical instrument of claim 15 wherein said plurality of switch means comprises sigmoid switches for applying the tone frequency currents and the chiff frequency currents to said modulator units in a manner eliminating transient noise by affecting gradual changes in amplitude during the beginning and ending of both attack and decay of switching currents and controlling the overall abruptness of the attack.

Claim 24

An electrical musical instrument for producing harmonic and nonharmonic tones simulating stops of a pipe organ: a plurality of keyed control means, a plurality of tone frequency current sources associated with said keyed control means, each of said tone frequency current sources associated with one of said keyed control means and generating tone frequency currents comprising a fundamental and at least one harmonic, a plurality of modulators associated with each fundamental and harmonic output of said tone frequency current sources for modulating the fundamental and harmonic tone frequency currents so as to produce a pair of tone frequency current outputs varying in subsonic, different, alterations between the outputs of each of said modulators, a stereophonic amplifier-speaker system including first and second speakers, both of said tone frequency current outPuts of each of said modulators being applied to said first and second speakers respectively, keyed switching means associated with each of said modulators for applying fundamental and harmonic tone frequency currents to said modulators in response to said keyed control means, each of said keyed control means operating a different group of keyed switching means corresponding to a stop associated with a group of modulators which are in turn associated with a group of tone frequency current sources, and a plurality of stop switching means for applying the pair of tone frequency current outputs from each of said group of modulators to said pair of speakers to produce two tones at said first and second speakers which vary in different relative subsonic patterns at each of said speakers.

Claim 25

An electrical musical instrument for producing harmonic and nonharmonic tones simulating stops of a pipe organ: a plurality of keyed control means, a plurality of tone frequency current sources associated with said keyed control means, each of said tone frequency current sources associated with one of said keyed control means and generating tone frequency currents comprising a fundamental and at least one harmonic, a plurality of modulators associated with each fundamental and harmonic output of said tone frequency current sources for modulating the fundamental and harmonic tone frequency currents so as to produce a pair of tone frequency current outputs varying in subsonic, different, alterations between the outputs of each of said modulators, a stereophonic amplifier-speaker system including first and second speakers, both of said tone frequency current outPuts of each of said modulators being applied to said first and second speakers respectively, keyed switching means associated with each of said modulators for applying fundamental and harmonic tone frequency currents to said modulators in response to said keyed control means, each of said keyed control means operating a different group of keyed switching means corresponding to a stop associated with a group of modulators which are in turn associated with a group of tone frequency current sources, and a plurality of stop switching means for applying the pair of tone frequency current outputs from each of said group of modulators to said pair of speakers to produce two tones at said first and second speakers which vary in different relative subsonic patterns at each of said speakers.

Claim 26

The electrical musical instrument of claim 17 wherein each of said plurality of said tone frequency sources comprises a single signal source and a plurality of filters for deriving signals corresponding to a fundamental tone and at least one harmonic tone.

Claim 27

The electrical musical instrument of claim 18 wherein said keyed switching means comprise sigmoid switches.

Claim 28

The electrical musical instrument of claim 19 comprising means for generating modulating signals applied to each modulator of any one group of said modulators, each of said modulating signals applied to one of said modulators in the group having a different subsonic frequency pattern from every other modulating signal applied to the other modulators in the group.

Claim 29

The electrical musical instrument of claim 20 wherein said means for generating modulating signals comprises a plurality of subsonic frequency signal sources, each of said modulating signals applied to one of said modulators in the group comprising signals combined from a different combination of said subsonic frequency sources.