Baldwin Piano & Organ Company

Carlton J Simmons, Jr

Dale M Uetrecht

Edward M Jones

In an electronic musical instrument, an apparatus and method are described for automatically generating arpeggios from selected chords while requiring only a minimum amount of performance sophistication and dexterity. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of voice priority switches are included, each of which corresponds to a voice-related rhythmic pattern or an arpeggio variation of tones played. The desired variation of the voice-related rhythmic pattern of tones is implemented as selected notes are played. The played notes and corresponding notes in higher octaves are stored in a random access memory and subsequently accessed by a microprocessor which searches up or down in frequency to find the available notes in the random access memory. Subsequently, the microprocessor converts chosen notes to audible tones. The system of the subject invention, under certain predetermined conditions, reverses the order of search whenever the highest or lowest notes are reached or exceeded, stops the search, and produces a five-note trill. Further, the system of the subject invention, under certain predetermined conditions, skips one or more active notes during a search and immediately searches for another note in the chord or changes the direction of search in the middle of the chord or sequence.

Arpeggio generating system and method

A tone generator system for an electronic organ, which incorporates N programmable generators (where N is less than 12, and typically 7) which forms a system having the ability to sound notes of N different nomenclature tones at one time. A microprocessor controls the assignment of particular notes to each of the programmable generators, in accordance with the played keys of the keyboard(s) (and the tab switches, in the event that a partial footage is selected). Each of the programmable generators is connected to a chain of dividers and gates which are also under the control of the microprocessor. The information ascertained by the microprocessor from the keyboard(s) (and the tab switches) is used to control the selection of gates which control the passage of tone signals from appropriate dividers in the chains of dividers to an audio output system. More than one note of a particular nomenclature can be simultaneouly gated from the divider chain of a particular programmable generator.

Electronic organ having an improved tone generator system

The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for use in musical instruments. In particular, the invention is useful for identifying a chord played on a keyboard of a musical instrument, such as the accompaniment manual of an electronic organ, and for identifying the root and the type of chord being played. Pursuant to the invention, a microprocessor used in conjunction with the instrument selectively causes the associated circuitry of the pedal and/or accompaniment keyboard of the musical instrument to play automatically in an appropriate octave either the identified root or a sequence of notes which is compatible with the identified root and chord. A pedal override feature is also provided which overrides the chord identification invention when the musician plays one or more pedal notes.

Chord identification system for electronic musical instruments

A harmony generator for an electronic organ, wherein the identity of played keys of the keyboard(s) is read into a storage device and then operated upon by a data processing device such as a microcomputer, so as to supplement the played note data with additional data designating 'fill-in' notes which are to be sounded in addition to those actually played. The data contained in the storage device, as supplemented, is then used to control the transmission of tone generator signals to the audio output system of the organ. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the criteria used to select fill-in notes cause notes corresponding to the nomenclatures of played notes of the accompaniment keyboard to be sounded as though played in the octave below the lowest note played on the solo keyboard. Other fill-in criteria are also contemplated. The fill-in notes are generated by combining played accompaniment data with masks. The identity of these masks is based upon the nomenclature of the lowest or highest played note of the solo keyboard. These masks can either be looked up in a table or generated by a suitable algorithm. Fill-in notes can be generated simultaneously by more than one set of criteria, and the fill-in notes so produced can be separately voiced.

Harmony generator for electronic organ

Electronic and logic circuitry for an automatic tonal bass rhythm accompaniment feature and an automatic chord feature in an electronic organ. Automatic bass rhythm accompaniment produces a pattern of notes based upon a tonic note selected by the instrumentalist such that the desired musical effect is produced when the pattern of notes is combined with the notes being played by the instrumentalist. The electronic organ has stored in a memory various rhythm patterns which can be selected by the instrumentalist by closing rhythm switches. Electronic circuitry then causes notes for the selected rhythm pattern or patterns to be played automatically in response to the actuation of a pedal switch or keyswitch. The automatic chord feature of the present invention provides selectively major triad and dominant seventh chords or minor triad and diminished seventh chords automatically in response to the selection of a root note by the instrumentalist.

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Florence, KY, United States of America

Carlton J Simmons, Jr