KEYBOARD INSTRUMENT PLAYER SYSTEM WITH TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXING TECHNIQUES AND SYNCHRONIZED RHYTHM DEVICE

• US 3,829,597 A
• Filed: 04/26/1973
• Issued: 08/13/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard H. Peterson, Robert A. Finch
• Original Assignee: Richard H. Peterson, Robert A. Finch
• Inventors: Peterson, Richard H., Finch, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilkinson, Richard B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Witkowski, Stanley J.
• Application Number:
  US05/354,844
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 84/1.02,1.03,1.28,DIG.29,1.01,461,462,DIG.12
• US Class Current: 84/635
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/005 on magnetic tape
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/40 Rhythm
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/325 Synchronizing two or more audio tracks or files according to musical features or musical timings synchronised lyrics, e.g. for karaoke G10H2220/011
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 84/12 Side; rhythm and percussion devices

Abstract

A player type electrically operated musical instrument includes a rhythm device for producing timed repetitive rhythm patterns of unpitched or semi-pitched percussive sounds. Information as to the playing of the keys of the instrument is encoded in digital form on one track of a magnetic tape using time division multiplexing techniques. The sounds produced by the rhythm device are simultaneously recorded on a second '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'audio'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' channel on the same magnetic tape. On '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'playback'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"', the digital channel is decoded and used to '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'play'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' the same or a similar musical instrument, and the audio channel is reproduced to provide a rhythm accompaniment synchronized to the performance of the instrument. Information encoded on the digital track automatically disconnects the rhythm instrument during playback and connects the audio channel of the tape player to the reproducing system.

Claims

1. A keyboard instrument player system for recording and later recreating a musical performance, comprising:

an electrically operated musical instrument having a plurality of playing key-operated keyswitches;

an electrically operated tone generating system connected to and responsive to said keyswitches to produce pitched musical tones;

a rhythm device for producing selected rhythm sound patterns;

a tape recorder having first and second magnetic tracks, and means for operating said recorder in a record mode;

a time division multiplex encoder connected to said keyswitches to encode information as to the on or off condition of said keyswitches;

means feeding said encoded information to said tape recorder to record said information in digital form on said first magnetic track when said tape recorder is in its record mode; and

means feeding said rhythm sound patterns to said tape recorder to record said patterns on said second magnetic track when said tape recorder is in its record mode.

2. The player system of cLaim 1, further including:

means providing a playback mode for said tape recorder;

a keying decoder having a plurality of electrical switches corresponding to said keyswitches;

means connecting said keying decoder between the output of said first track of said tape recorder and said tone generating system during said playback mode, said keying decoder receiving said information in digital form and operating said electrical switches in accordance therewith, said tone generating system responding to said electrical switches to produce pitched musical tones; and

means for reproducing said rhythm sound patterns recorded on said second track of said tape recorder during said playback mode.

3. The player system of claim 2, further including an amplifier and a loudspeaker connected to the output thereof and means connecting said rhythm device to the input of said amplifier to produce sound patterns;

said means for reproducing said recorder rhythm sound patterns including means for selectively disconnecting said rhythm device from said amplifier input and connecting the output of said second track of said tape recorder to the input of said amplifier.

4. The player system of claim 3, including further means connected to said encoder to encode information as to the on or off condition of said rhythm device, said last-named encoded information being recorded in digital form on said first track.

5. The player system of claim 4, wherein said means for selectively disconnecting said rhythm device comprises switching means responsive to said keying decoder.

6. In a keyboard instrument player system for recording and later recreating a musical performance, an electrically operated musical instrument including playing key-operated keyswitches;

an electrically operated tone generating system responsive to said keyswitches to produce selected pitched musical tones;

a rhythm device for producing, independently of said tone generating system, selected rhythm patterns;

a tape recorder having a first magnetic track;

means for operating said recorder in a record or playback mode;

means for recording on said first track digital information as to the condition of said keyswitches during a musical performance while said recorder is in said record mode;

decoder means connected between said tape recorder and said tone generator, said tone generator responding to said digital information during said playback mode to recreate said musical performance, the improvement comprising;

a second magnetic track for said tape recorder;

means for recording in linear form on said second track said selected rhythm patterns, said patterns being recorded simultaneously with said digital information during said musical performance; and

means for reproducing, during said playback mode, said recorded rhythm patterns simultaneously with the recreation of said musical performance, whereby said rhythm sound patterns are synchronized with said recreated musical performance.

7. The player system of claim 6, further including output means connected to said rhythm device for producing rhythm sound patterns;

said means for reproducing said recorded rhythm patterns including switch means disconnecting said rhythm device from said output means and connecting the output of said second magnetic track to said output means, whereby said recorded rhythm patterns are reproduced as rhythm sound patterns.

8. The player system of claim 7, wherein said switch means comprises relay means operable in the playback mode of said recorder.

9. The player system of claim 7, wherein said means for recording digital information as to the condition of said keyswitches further includes means for recording digital information as to the operation or nonoperation of said rhythm device, and wherein said switch means is responsive during said playback mode to recorded digital information as to the operation of said rhythm device.

10. A keyboard instrument player system for recording and later rEcreating a musical performance comprising:

an electrically operated musical instrument including playing key-operated keyswitches;

an electrically operated tone generating system, said keyswitches being connected to said tone generating system to produce pitched musical tones;

a rhythm device for producing selected rhythm patterns of unpitched or semi-pitched musical sounds;

a tape recorder having first and second magnetic tracks;

means operating said tape recorder in either a record or a playback mode;

a time division multiplex keying encoder having its input connected to said keyswitches for encoding information as to the on or off condition of said keyswitches and having its output connected to said tape recorder when said recorder is in the record mode to record said information in digital form on said first magnetic track of said tape recorder;

means for simultaneously recording rhythm sounds from said rhythm device on said second magnetic track of said tape recorder;

a keying decoder connected during said playback mode to the output of said first magnetic track of said tape recorder;

a series of switches operated by said decoder and connected in parallel with said keyswitches to operate said tone generating system;

an amplifier and a loudspeaker connected to the output of said rhythm device; and

means for disconnecting said rhythm device from said amplifier and loudspeaker and for connecting the output of said second magnetic track to the input of said amplifier.

11. The instrument described in claim 10 wherein said means for disabling said rhythm device and for connecting the output of said second track to the input of said amplifier comprises means controlled by digital information encoded by the encoder and decoded by the decoder.