Baldwin Piano & Organ Company

D. H. Baldwin Company

Russell L Withington

Dale M Uetrecht

Walter Munch

Richard L Studer

David A Bunger

Robert B Cotton, Jr

A microprocessor-based processing system for monitoring the tempo rate and rhythm in an electronic musical instrument having an automatic rhythm accompaniment unit. In a first mode of operation, the monitor displays the tempo of the rhythm accompaniment unit in numeric characters representing the number of beats per minute. In a second mode of operation, the monitor displays a numerical 1 representing the down beat in a first display device, a numerical 2 representing the second beat in adjoining display device, and successively incremented numerical integers associated with successive beats in successive numerical display devices until all numerical integers associated with beats have been displayed, thereby producing a timing display having a motion effect for synchronizing the music being played with the rhythm accompaniment tempo.

Rythm rate and tempo monitor for electronic musical instruments having

A string chorus generator in an electronic musical instrument that accepts a single audio input signal, applies it to three separate delay lines, and provides delay modulated outputs to be used in producing an ensemble musical effect resembling a group of strings in a string orchestra. Each of the three delay line channels is identical and comprises an analog shift register driven by a high frequency voltage-controlled oscillator along with appropriate filters and buffers. The frequency of the voltage-controlled oscillator of each channel is controlled by the filtered output of a microprocessor, thereby providing precise control over the modulation of each voltage-controlled oscillator. The modulating waveshape is generated by using a lookup table within a microprocessor and comprises a sine wave of 6.25 Hz superimposed on another, larger amplitude, sine wave of 0.78 Hz. In order to provide an even chorus effect, in one embodiment period-proportional voltage controlled oscillators are used so that the high frequency modulation component of each waveshape has the same modulating effect on the audio signal at all times, regardless of the instantaneous amplitude of the low frequency modulation component. In another embodiment, the values stored in the lookup table are chosen so that distortion does not occur when frequency-proportional voltage-controlled oscillators are used.

Chorus generator system

Disclosed is a digital arpeggio system for an electronic organ that through the use of digital techniques permits arpeggios, note sequences as well as strum, multi, organ, and normal modes of operation to be played automatically. Two counters scan by counting through an 8.times.8 matrix of 64 words covering the 61 notes of an organ in rapid sequence upon the playing of one or more organ keys. Each word is fed to a corresponding one of 61 decoders, one for each note of the keyboard. If a corresponding key has been played, the decoder provides a signal to a corresponding pulser circuit which enable a corresponding keyer to transmit an audio signal from an audio oscillator corresponding to the played key to an output system and loudspeaker. The two counters are stopped by a clock control while the note is sounded and then the counters are enabled by the counter control to continue counting through the matrix until the next actuated key is located. The two counters can be controlled to count up only, or up and down so that both and up and an up-down arpeggio can be sounded. A sequence control is also provided so that the sequence of the sounding of the played notes can be varied by changing the pattern of the words supplied by the two counters so that the notes can be sounded out of their normal chromatic order. The system also permits normal mode of operation so that the notes are sounded as the keys are played, multi mode so that octavely related notes are sounded or a strum mode simulating the strum of a guitar or banjo strings. A capacitance touch switch may also be provided so that the organist can change the mode of operation rapidly during playing by maintaining physcial contact with the capacitance touch switch.

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Russell L Withington