A switched reversing configuration control for string instruments connects to a pair of pickup sensors located on an electric string instrument for selectively electrically configuring the pickup sensors between (a) the pair of pickup sensors being coupled with like polarity in one of series or parallel with respect to a pair of output terminals, or (b) effectively coupling only one of the pair of pickup sensors to the output terminals, or (c) the pair of pickup sensors being coupled with opposing polarity in one of series or parallel with respect to the output terminals. An optional reverse polarity passive boost circuit is provided for increasing the output voltage coupled to the output terminals when the pickup sensors are coupled with opposing polarity as compared to the output voltage that would otherwise be provided absent the reverse polarity passive boost circuit.

An instrument interconnect system that interfaces an instrument, such as a guitar or a bass, to an audio-receiving device, such as an amplifier, effect box, or a mixer. The instrument interconnect system provides enhanced clarity and sonic detail. The instrument interconnect system may allow a musician to select a voltage-buffered output signal, an unbuffered output signal, or may allow a musician to mix a voltage-buffered output signal and an unbuffered output signal. The instrument interconnect system may further allow the musician to selectively activate or deactivate gain-adjustment circuits and equalization circuits.

Apparatus and methods for securing a string to an acoustic, stringed instrument are disclosed. Example apparatus include string anchors secured to a bridge of the stringed instrument. The apparatus provide components enabling selective tensioning of the string. A seat arrangement provided by string anchors receives an anchor end of string and the string passes from the seat arrangement through a base arrangement and towards a headstock of the acoustic instrument.

Apparatus and methods for securing a string to an acoustic, stringed instrument are disclosed. Example apparatus include string anchors secured to a bridge of the stringed instrument. The apparatus provide components enabling selective tensioning of the string. A seat arrangement provided by string anchors receives an anchor end of string and the string passes from the seat arrangement through a base arrangement and towards a headstock of the acoustic instrument.

A optoelectronic pickup for a musical instrument includes at least one light source which directs light to impinge a string of the musical instrument in at least one photoreceiver located to detect the reflected light, so as to generate an electrical signal that is responsive to string vibrations. A number of dissimilar filter approaches are included to control undesired effects of spurious light, the filter approaches may be structure-based, signal processing-based, and/or optics-based.

A optoelectronic pickup for a musical instrument includes at least one light source which directs light to impinge a string of the musical instrument in at least one photoreceiver located to detect the reflected light, so as to generate an electrical signal that is responsive to string vibrations. A number of dissimilar filter approaches are included to control undesired effects of spurious light, the filter approaches may be structure-based, signal processing-based, and/or optics-based.

A stringed musical instrument includes: a musical instrument body configured such that a string is attached thereto; a pickup configured to: i) detect vibration of the string and ii) output a string vibration signal according to the vibration; a detection sensor that is: i) attached to the musical instrument body and ii) configured to output a detection signal according to a force applied to the musical instrument body; and a controller that is attached to the musical instrument body, and is configured to output, based on the detection signal, a control signal configured to control an operation of an effector configured to impart an effect to the string vibration signal.

A stringed musical instrument includes: a musical instrument body configured such that a string is attached thereto; a pickup configured to: i) detect vibration of the string and ii) output a string vibration signal according to the vibration; a detection sensor that is: i) attached to the musical instrument body and ii) configured to output a detection signal according to a force applied to the musical instrument body; and a controller that is attached to the musical instrument body, and is configured to output, based on the detection signal, a control signal configured to control an operation of an effector configured to impart an effect to the string vibration signal.

Disclosed are systems and methods for processing an audio signal. In particular, there is provided a method for determining dynamic gain values to be applied on a digital input signal. The digital signal may be arranged in blocks. The dynamic gain values may be used for attenuating input signal values exceeding a clipping threshold. More particularly, the method comprising, for each signal block, passing backwards over the next signal block and the current signal block to produce a preliminary gain contour from the input signal; and passing forwards over the current signal block to produce a final gain contour for the current signal block based on the preliminary gain contour, wherein the gain contours are produced by applying an instant gain ascent and a smooth gain decay to the gain contours.

Systems and methods for a digital instrument are described, for example to simulate or be used in conjunction with a stringed instrument. A sensor system detects the deflection of one or more strings of the digital instrument, produces a measurement of the detected deflection, correlates the measurement to a musical note, and produces at least a portion of digital output based upon the musical note.