Baldwin Piano & Organ Company

D. H. Baldwin Company

Edward M Jones

Carlton J Simmons, Jr

William C Wayne, Jr

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

The present invention provides a system for communicating data among microprocessors which are utilized to control an electronic musical instrument. A master microprocessor transmits a synchronizing signal comprising two, spaced pulses to the other microprocessors causing the other microprocessors to interrupt their operations and become synchronized with the synchronizing signal. Thereafter, according to a prearranged sequence, one microprocessor commences transmitting data while simultaneously the other microprocessors commence inputting data.

System for communicating data among microcomputers in an electronic

The present invention provides a system in an electronic musical instrument for measuring the setting of a variable resistor for controlling tempo, displaying the tempo to which the setting corresponds, and controlling the tempo so that notes are sounded in accordance with the setting measured and displayed. The tempo control comprises a tempo potentiometer that is self-calibrating by means of a microprocessor which automatically measures the resistance of both the current setting of the tempo potentiometer and the maximum setting of the potentiometer so as to maintain the desired correspondence between the mechanical position of the tempo potentiometer and the tempo selected. A non-linear relationship is introduced between the mechanical position of the tempo potentiometer and the tempo selected in order to maintain a desirable correspondence between the mechanical position of the tempo potentiometer and the tempo selected. An alternative embodiment of the present invention provides means for calibrating two potentiometers.

Tempo measurement, display, and control system for an electronic musical

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.

Automatic control apparatus for chords and sequences

An electrical organ in which each of the keys of the organ is mechanically coupled to one single pole single throw electrical switch, and a plurality of said switches are each connected to a plurality of photoelectric tone sources through pulse shaping keying circuits, the keying circuits connected to each key switch being connected in a cascade circuit with the direct current potential source and the photocell of one of the tone sources, the other tone sources having photocells connected to the junctions of keying circuits in said cascade circuit. The tone circuits actuated by a given key of the organ may be at the same frequency or may comprise a chiff tone component or a noise-puff component, or may include a special decay circuit which activates a photocell modulated at a different pitch from the main-tone component.

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Edward M Jones