Modular music synthesizer
First Claim
1. A modular music synthesizer, comprising:
- an amplifier module providing an audio output;
a plurality of circuit modules each presenting the appearance of a specific hardware signal generation or signal modification circuit having user controls simulating the control of the respective apparent hardware circuit module, the plurality of circuit modules being connected in a physical arrangement with each other and the amplifier module; and
wherein the amplifier module includes a CPU operating on softsynth software, for emulating the operation of a synthesizer to produce audio output as a function of the physical arrangement of the modules and the status of the controls on each module.
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Abstract
A modular music synthesizer is implemented in a hybrid design incorporating both hardware implementation and software implementation. A plurality of hexagonal-shaped modules are assembled and connected by the user-artist to configure a visual presentation of synthesizer signal generation and signal processing functions. The synthesizer visually replicates hardware functionality by incorporating user controls on many of the modules that are connected to enclosed (embedded) circuit boards. These circuit boards communicate with a system CPU (computer processing unit) that operates softsynth software resident within the CPU to drive audio output. The configuration of the softsynth is determined by the physical arrangement of hardware hexagonal modules that represent the functionality of software modules. The hardware modules provide user interface elements corresponding to parameters of their softsynth counterparts.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A modular music synthesizer, comprising:
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an amplifier module providing an audio output; a plurality of circuit modules each presenting the appearance of a specific hardware signal generation or signal modification circuit having user controls simulating the control of the respective apparent hardware circuit module, the plurality of circuit modules being connected in a physical arrangement with each other and the amplifier module; and wherein the amplifier module includes a CPU operating on softsynth software, for emulating the operation of a synthesizer to produce audio output as a function of the physical arrangement of the modules and the status of the controls on each module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A modular music synthesizer, comprising:
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an amplifier module providing an audio output; a first module connected to said amplifier module, said first module being selected from a group of oscillator, filter, LFO, EG, and HFO modules; and wherein said amplifier module and said first module connection is sensed by proximity sensors on each module, said first oscillator module being powered from said amplifier module through said connection. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A modular music synthesizer, comprising:
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an assembly of interconnected modules each module representing a signal generation or signal modification function, wherein each module has a hexagonal shape, the connections between modules being at the respective corners of each module; a RFID proximity sensor at each point of each module providing a handshake signals when modules are connected, the handshake signal indicating the validity of the connection and the identification of the modules connected; wherein one of the modules is an amplifier module having a CPU providing an audio output; wherein the other modules are selected to appear as any one from the group of oscillator circuitry, HFO circuitry, LFO circuitry, filter circuitry and EG circuitry; wherein the handshake validity and identification signals are sent to the CPU. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification