Musical apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for performing a filtering and selective amplifying function on an applied waveform or signal having a particular frequency range to produce a response curve having a given frequency spectrum, comprising: means for generating a lower-range waveform having a roll-off portion that is anchored at a given anchoring frequency, and for independently and selectively amplifying said lower-range waveform while substantially maintaining said anchoring frequency; said roll-off portion having a relatively-steep configuration; means for generating an upper-range waveform having a roll-on portion that is anchored at substantially said anchoring frequency, and for indenpendently and selectively amplifying said upper-range waveform while substantially maintaining said anchoring frequency; said roll-on portion having a relatively-steep configuration; means for combining said lower-range waveform and said upperrange waveform to produce said desired response curve; said response curve having a peak-shaped notch that is substantially centered at said anchoring frequency.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1, wherein said anchoring frequency is substantially 400 Hz.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1, wherein said selective amplification includes positive and negative amplification.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 1, including means for independently distorting said response curve.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 1, including means for distorting said response curve, and means for controlling the ultimate amplitude of said response curve.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 1, wherein said means for generating said lower-range waveform comprises a fixed waveform generator.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 1, wherein said means for generating said lower-range waveform comprises a variable waveform generator.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 1, wherein said means for generating said lower-range waveform comprises a fixed waveform generator and a variable waveform generator; means for combining the outputs of said fixed and variable waveform generators for producing said response curve.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 1, wherein said means for generating said upper-range waveform comprises a fixed waveform generator.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 1, wherein said means for generating said upper-range waveform comprises a variable waveform generator.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 1, wherein said means for generating said upper-range waveform comprises a fixed waveform generator and a variable waveform generator; means for combining the outputs of said fixed waveform generator and said variable waveform generator to produce said response curve.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 1, wherein: said means for generating said lower-range waveform comprises a fixed waveform generator and a variable waveform generator; said means for generating said upper-range waveform comprises a fixed waveform generator and a variable waveform generator; means for combining the outputs from said fixed and said variable waveform generators.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 1, wherein said roll-off portion of said lower-range waveform has an original slope of about twelve decibels per octave.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 1, wherein said roll-on portion of said upper-range waveform has an original slope of about twelve decibels per octave.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 1, wherein said roll-off portion of said lower-range waveform is substantially similar to said roll-on portion of said upper-range waveform.

Claim 17

The invention of claim 1, including means for generating a peak-shaped, mid-range waveform having its peak positioned at substantially said anChoring frequency; means for independently and selectively amplifying said mid-range waveform while substantially maintaining said positioning of said mid-range waveform.

Claim 18

The invention of claim 16, wherein said peak-shaped, mid-range waveform is shaped substantially similarly to said notch of said response curve. 18. The invention of claim 17, including means for combining said mid-range waveform with said lower-range waveform and said upper-range waveform.

Claim 19

The invention of claim 18, wherein said waveform-generating means comprises electronic circuits.

Claim 20

The invention of claim 19, including a power amplifier having a dual-clipping, safety action; said dual-clipping, safety action comprising means for clipping both the positive-going and the negative-going waveforms of said power amplifier.

Claim 21

Apparatus for performing a filtering and selective amplifying function on an applied waveform or signal having a particular frequency range to produce a musical-instrument response curve having a given frequency spectrum, comprising: means, comprising a fixed waveform generator and a variable waveform generator, for generating a lower-range waveform having a roll-off portion that is anchored at a given anchoring frequency, and for independently and selectively amplifying said lower-range waveform while substantially maintaining said anchoring frequency; said roll-off portion having a relatively-steep configuration; means, comprising a fixed waveform generator and a variable waveform generator, for generating an upper-range waveform having a roll-on portion that is anchored at substantially said anchoring frequency, and for idependently and selectively amplifying said upper-range waveform while substantially maintaining said anchoring frequency; said roll-on portion having a relatively-steep configuration; said response curve having a peak-shaped notch that is substantially centered at said anchoring frequency; means for generating a peak-shaped, mid-range waveform having its peak positioned at substantially said anchoring frequency, and for independently and selectively amplifying said mid-range waveform while substantially maintaining said positioning of said mid-range waveform; said peak-shaped, mid-range waveform being shaped substantially similarly to said notch of said response curve; and means for combining the outputs from said waveform generators.

Claim 22

Apparatus for performing a filtering and selective amplifying function on an applied waveform or signal having a particular frequency range to produce a musical-instrument response curve having a given frequency spectrum, comprising: means, comprising a fixed waveform generator and a variable waveform generator, for generating a lower-range waveform having a roll-off portion that is anchored at a given anchoring frequency, and for independently and selectively amplifying said lower-range waveform while substantially maintaining said anchoring frequency; said roll-off portion having a relatively-steep configuration; means, comprising a fixed waveform generator and a variable waveform generator, for generating an upper-range waveform having a roll-on portion that is anchored at substantially said anchoring frequency, and for idependently and selectively amplifying said upper-range waveform while substantially maintaining said anchoring frequency; said roll-on portion having a relatively-steep configuration; said response curve having a peak-shaped notch that is substantially centered at said anchoring frequency; means for generating a peak-shaped, mid-range waveform having its peak positioned at substantially said anchoring frequency, and for independently and selectively amplifying said mid-range waveform while substantially maintaining said positioning of said mid-range waveform; said peak-shaped, mid-range waveform being shaped substantially similarly to said notch of said response curve; and means for combining the outputs from said waveform generators.

Claim 23

The invention of claim 21, wherein said roll-off portion of said lower-range waveform is substantially similar to said roll-on portion of said upper-range waveform.

Claim 24

The invention of claim 21, including means for independently distorting said response curve, and means for independently controlling the ultimate amplitude of said response curve.