Yamaha Corporation

Yoshitaka Noguchi

Masaaki Mizuguchi

Minoru Harada

Masaharu Ono

Syuzo Kurokawa

A musical tone signal generation apparatus accommodated for multiple users to play music in an ensemble is configured by a main unit and a prescribed number of performance operators, which are physically separated from each other. The main unit installs speakers that are arranged in connection with the performance operators respectively. At least one of the performance operators is configured as a hold operator that is configured using a pressure sensor mounted on a base member and encapsulated in a hold member which is made by elastic material (e.g., urethane foam) and is formed in a round shape suited for grip of the user. Each of other performance operators installs at least a pad, which is manually operated by each user to issue tone-generation instructions. Performance data (e.g., MIDI data) and tone color data are provided with respect to at least a single musical tune constructed by plural parts respectively corresponding to plural tone colors, which are automatically assigned to the performance operators. Herein, musical tone signals are automatically generated based on the performance data to play automatic performance, or musical tone signals are generated in response to tone-generation instructions being issued from the performance operator to play manual performance by the user. Moreover, the main unit installs a control panel having indicators and switches for prescribed functions and elements in music play such as play, stop, fast forward, reverse, tone volume, tempo and modulation, while the performance operator installs a sub panel having a limited number of switches.

Musical tone signal generation apparatus accommodated for multiple users playing music in ensemble

A table-type electronic percussion instrument is constructed by a table board, legs, pads as well as a musical tone generation circuit and a speaker system. Herein, the table board has a specific shape such as a pentagon-like shape which enables multiple persons to seat. The table board is supported by the legs and is constructed by a base material having a high rigidity and a dressing board like a plywood. The dressing board covers a surface of the base material through which holes are formed. The pads are arranged on a surface of the dressing board to match with locations of the holes. Sensors are provided inside of the holes and are attached to a backside of the dressing board. So, the sensors are arranged to detect striking force which is imparted to each of the pads by the persons. The musical tone generation circuit is provided beneath the table board to convert electric signals of the sensors to musical tone signals. The speaker system is located beneath the table board to generate musical tones (e.g., percussion sounds) based on the musical tone signals. For example, if the pads act like electronic drums and/or electronic cymbals, the speaker system generates drum sounds and/or cymbal sounds when the pads are struck by the persons. Thanks to the table-like construction, the electronic percussion instrument is shared by multiple persons to play an ensemble. Incidentally, the musical tone generation circuit contains a mixing circuit which performs mixing operations on the musical tone signals corresponding to the pads and other musical tone signals supplied thereto. So, the musical tone generation circuit outputs mixed musical tone signals, based on which the speaker system generates mixed musical tones.

Table-type electronic percussion instrument

A pad member of an electric percussion instrument is supported through a cushion member by a case member for isolating the pad member from noise produced in the case member upon strikes of the pad member, and a vibration sensor is connected with the pad member by means of a sensor board of vibration transmissive substance so as to propagate the vibrations of the pad member to the vibration sensor without any influence of the noise.

Electric percussion instrument equipped with vibration sensor supported

An electric unit is powered by an external electric power source through a flexible wire plugged into a socket of the external electric power source, and the flexible wire is wound around a retractable winder after the flexible wire is pulled out, wherein the wire-winder is retracted into a space occupied by the electric unit so that the occupied space is decreased without impairment of the external appearance.

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Hamamatsu, Japan

Yoshitaka Noguchi