Electronic musical instrument

Claim 2

An electronic musical instrument of a waveshape memory reading type comprising: keyboard means comprising a plurality of keys for producing key depression signals in response to an operation of each key, each said key designating a musical sound; means for sensing depression state values for each said key, said depression state values being parameters from the group consisting of key depression speed and key depression pressure; a plurality of waveshape memories of a random access addressed type, each for storing amplitude sample values for a waveshape at respective addresses of the memory, the waveshapes stored in said memories being different from one memory to others; an addresser, connected to said waveshapes memories and to said keyboard means, for addressing said waveshape memories at a speed determined in response to said key depression signals to produce a tone signal representing a designated musical sound; and means for selecting different predetermined ones of said waveshape memories based on a detected value of said depression state value, thereby producing musical sounds which vary in response to said depression state value.

Claim 3

A musical instrument as in claim 1 wherein said waveshape memories store amplitude sample values of a waveshape that include plural cycles of vibration which constitute only an attack portion of a sound exhibiting sound factors which vary with time.

Claim 4

An electronic musical instrument of a waveshape memory reading type comprising: keyboard means including a plurality of keys, each of which designates a musical sound, for producing key depression and release signals in response to an operation of each said key; a waveshape memory of a random access addressed type, for storing amplitude sample values of a waveshape at respective addresses of the memory, said waveshape memory storing a frist waveshape which includes a plurality of cycles of vibration, each cycle having its own shape independent of other cycles and which exhibits a predetermined characteristic defining a musical tone frequency when read out at a speed, said plurality of cycles being sufficient for defining an attack portion of a tone, said waveshape memory further storing a second waveshape which includes at least one cycle of vibration defining a sustain portion of a tone when read out repeatedly; an addresser connected to said waveshape memory and to said keyboard means for addressing said waveshape memory at a speed determined in response to said key depression signals, to produce an attack portion of a tone and subsequently thereto a sustain portion of said tone; and envelope imparting means connected to said waveshape memory and to said keyboard means for imparting a decay envelope to the tone produced from said waveshape memory upon receipt of said key release signal.

Claim 5

An electronic musical instrument of a waveshape memory reading type comprising: keyboard means including a plurality of keys, each of which designates a musical sound, for producing key depression and release signals in response to an operation of each said key; a waveshape memory of a random access addressed type, for storing amplitude sample values of a waveshape at respective addresses of the memory, said waveshape memory storing a frist waveshape which includes a plurality of cycles of vibration, each cycle having its own shape independent of other cycles and which exhibits a predetermined characteristic defining a musical tone frequency when read out at a speed, said plurality of cycles being sufficient for defining an attack portion of a tone, said waveshape memory further storing a second waveshape which includes at least one cycle of vibration defining a sustain portion of a tone when read out repeatedly; an addresser connected to said waveshape memory and to said keyboard means for addressing said waveshape memory at a speed determined in response to said key depression signals, to produce an attack portion of a tone and subsequently thereto a sustain portion of said tone; and envelope imparting means connected to said waveshape memory and to said keyboard means for imparting a decay envelope to the tone produced from said waveshape memory upon receipt of said key release signal.

Claim 6

An electronic musical instrument according to claim 3, further comprising a damper switch connected to said envelope imparting means for controlling said envelope imparting means, to impart a gradual decay envelope to the tone produced from said waveshape memory upon receipt of said key release signal when said damper switch is not actuated, and to impart a quick decay envelope to the tone produced from said waveshape memory upon receipt of said key release signal when said damper switch is actuated.

Claim 7

An instrument as in claim 3, wherein said predetermined characteristic is one of (a) pitch and (b) frequency.

Claim 8

An electronic musical instrument of a waveshape memory reading type comprising: keyboard means, including a plurality of keys, each of which designates a musical sound, for producing key depression and release signals in response to an operation of each said key; a waveshape memory of a random-access addressed type, for storing amplitude sample values at respective addresses of the memory, said waveshape memory storing a waveshape of a tone from its attack portion to its decay portion; an addresser connected to said waveshape memory and to said producing means for addressing the waveshape memory at a speed determined in response to the key depression signals, thereby producing a tone signal representing the designated musical sound; and envelope imparting means connected to said waveshape memory and said keyboard means for imparting a decay envelope to the tone produced from said waveshape memory upon receipt of said key release signal.

Claim 9

An electronic musical instrument of a waveshape memory reading type comprising: keyboard means, including a plurality of keys, each of which designates a musical sound, for producing key depression and release signals in response to an operation of each said key; a waveshape memory of a random-access addressed type, for storing amplitude sample values at respective addresses of the memory, said waveshape memory storing a waveshape of a tone from its attack portion to its decay portion; an addresser connected to said waveshape memory and to said producing means for addressing the waveshape memory at a speed determined in response to the key depression signals, thereby producing a tone signal representing the designated musical sound; and envelope imparting means connected to said waveshape memory and said keyboard means for imparting a decay envelope to the tone produced from said waveshape memory upon receipt of said key release signal.

Claim 10

An electronic musical instrument according to claim 6, further comprising a damper switch connected to said envelope imparting means for controlling said envelope imparting means to impart a gradual decay envelope to the tone produced from said waveshape memory upon receipt of said key release signal when said damper switch is not actuated, and to impart a quick decay envelope to the tone produced from said waveshape memory upon receipt of said key release signal when said damper switch is actuated.