A system for remotely generating sound from a musical instrument includes a linear exciter which may be configured as a brace for a sound board of the musical instrument. In one embodiment, the system includes an input configured to receive a signal representative of the sound of a first musical instrument, a linear exciter for converting the signal to mechanical vibrations, and a calibration system for altering the signal sent to the exciter.

A system for remotely generating sound from a musical instrument includes a linear exciter which may be configured as a brace for a sound board of the musical instrument. In one embodiment, the system includes an input configured to receive a signal representative of the sound of a first musical instrument, a linear exciter for converting the signal to mechanical vibrations, and a calibration system for altering the signal sent to the exciter.

The musical instrument includes: a pickup that acquires an electric sound signal corresponding to a sound performed on the musical instrument; effector circuitry that imparts an effect to the acquired electric sound signal; a vibrator that produces mechanical vibration corresponding to the effect-imparted sound signal; and a transmission device that transmits the mechanical vibration, produced by the vibrator, to the body of the musical instrument with a characteristic having a fundamental frequency region of the musical instrument suppressed. The electric sound signal corresponding to the performed sound is imparted with an effect, the vibrator is driven by the effect-imparted sound signal, and a mechanical vibration sound is generated from the body of the musical instrument. The thus-generated mechanical vibration sound is audibly generated from the body as a vibration sound additional to the performed sound, which allows a user to experience a performance feeling that has never existed before.

Embodiment apparatus and associated methods relate to adapting an actuator to adjust the tension of a musical instrument string, configuring a sensor to detect vibration propagated through the musical instrument body, configuring a noise removal filter to remove an undesired signal from vibration propagated through the musical instrument body, and automatically tuning the musical instrument based on adjusting the musical instrument string tension by the actuator while removing the undesired signal, until the fundamental frequency propagated through the instrument body by the vibration of the musical instrument string is within a predetermined tolerance of a reference frequency. In an illustrative example, the undesired signal may be actuator vibration. In some embodiments, actuator vibration spectral content may vary as a function of actuator torque, and, the noise removal filter may be adapted in real time. Various examples may advantageously provide faster and more accurate stringed musical instrument tuning.

Embodiment apparatus and associated methods relate to adapting an actuator to adjust the tension of a musical instrument string, configuring a sensor to detect vibration propagated through the musical instrument body, configuring a noise removal filter to remove an undesired signal from vibration propagated through the musical instrument body, and automatically tuning the musical instrument based on adjusting the musical instrument string tension by the actuator while removing the undesired signal, until the fundamental frequency propagated through the instrument body by the vibration of the musical instrument string is within a predetermined tolerance of a reference frequency. In an illustrative example, the undesired signal may be actuator vibration. In some embodiments, actuator vibration spectral content may vary as a function of actuator torque, and, the noise removal filter may be adapted in real time. Various examples may advantageously provide faster and more accurate stringed musical instrument tuning.

A reed (10) for a reed musical instrument has (with reference to FIG. 2) a reed body (129) having a reed tip (114) adapted for engagement by a mouth of a player and a ligature engagement section adapted for engagement by a ligature of the reed musical instrument. A cantilever arm (117) is formed integrally with or affixed to the reed body (129) and extends from the reed body (129). A reflector (20) is supported by the cantilever arm (117) spaced apart from the reed body (129). Motion of the reed tip (114) is transmitted via the cantilever arm (117) to the reflector (20). The cantilever arm (117) is shaped and configured such that the transmitted motion is amplified so that any movement of the reed tip (114) results in a greater movement of the reflector (20). The reed (10) in use is mounted on a mouthpiece (11) and has a distal end (119) which is illuminated by an LED (26), whereby the reflector (20) reflects light back to a light sensor (27), which measures the intensity of the light incident on the sensor (27).

A reed (10) for a reed musical instrument has (with reference to FIG. 2) a reed body (129) having a reed tip (114) adapted for engagement by a mouth of a player and a ligature engagement section adapted for engagement by a ligature of the reed musical instrument. A cantilever arm (117) is formed integrally with or affixed to the reed body (129) and extends from the reed body (129). A reflector (20) is supported by the cantilever arm (117) spaced apart from the reed body (129). Motion of the reed tip (114) is transmitted via the cantilever arm (117) to the reflector (20). The cantilever arm (117) is shaped and configured such that the transmitted motion is amplified so that any movement of the reed tip (114) results in a greater movement of the reflector (20). The reed (10) in use is mounted on a mouthpiece (11) and has a distal end (119) which is illuminated by an LED (26), whereby the reflector (20) reflects light back to a light sensor (27), which measures the intensity of the light incident on the sensor (27).

An acoustic piano includes strings, a plurality of keys, a plurality of mechanical control members, a foot pedal mechanism kinematically connected to the plurality of mechanical control members, the foot pedal mechanism including a foot pedal configured to be manipulated to modulate an attribute of an audible output of the acoustic piano. The acoustic piano also includes at least one electromechanical actuator configured to be driven to move at least one mechanical control member, and a controller operably connected to the at least one electromechanical actuator. The controller is configured to receive a user-generated sensor signal and, in response to the user-generated sensor signal, generate at least one electrical signal to drive the at least one electromechanical actuator and thereby move the at least one mechanical control member to modulate the attribute.

An acoustic piano includes strings, a plurality of keys, a plurality of mechanical control members, a foot pedal mechanism kinematically connected to the plurality of mechanical control members, the foot pedal mechanism including a foot pedal configured to be manipulated to modulate an attribute of an audible output of the acoustic piano. The acoustic piano also includes at least one electromechanical actuator configured to be driven to move at least one mechanical control member, and a controller operably connected to the at least one electromechanical actuator. The controller is configured to receive a user-generated sensor signal and, in response to the user-generated sensor signal, generate at least one electrical signal to drive the at least one electromechanical actuator and thereby move the at least one mechanical control member to modulate the attribute.

An electronic percussion instrument to control generated sound in accordance with operation to the striking surface includes: a first sensor configured to detect a slapping operation on the striking surface; a second sensor configured to detect a contact operation to the striking surface; and a processor configured to control sound generated in response to detection of a slapping operation by the first sensor in accordance with a place of a contact operation to the striking surface detected by the second sensor.