A sustaining device is described for prolonging the vibration of the strings of a stringed musical instrument, such as an electric guitar having two or three electromagnetic pickups. The pickups are all low impedance transducers that can function either as pickups or driver transducers, depending on whether they are connected to the input of the instrument pickup amplifier or to the output of the sustainer amplifier, respectively. When a transducer is being used as a sustainer driver, it cannot be simultaneously used as a pickup. Different methods of selecting transducers to function as pickups or drivers are described. The transducers, having only hundreds of wire turns instead of the usual thousands of turns for common pickups, have a flat audio frequency response that can be modified to produce a multitude of common pickup sounds by manipulating the transducer resonance frequency, bandwidth, and amplifier gain.

A pickup for stringed instruments with an interposed tone-altering signals process is described herein. In one aspect, the pickup can include a first coil wound around a first plurality of pole pieces, where a first end of the first coil is coupled directly to an amplifier output; a second coil wound around a second plurality of pole pieces; and a tone-altering signal processor coupled to an end of the second coil and the amplifier output.

A foot stomp percussion device that creates dual tones when stomped on by the musician. The foot stomp comprises a housing comprising a main portion and a bottom ledge portion that extends beyond the main portion to enhance stability. In one embodiment, the main portion of the housing comprises a smaller and shallower cavity containing a piezo transducer and a larger and deeper cavity coupled to a volume potentiometer, as well as one or more electrical outputs to connect the foot stomp to a sound amplification system. The solid back portion of the foot stomp creates a low frequency tone when stomped on, and the front portion containing the larger and deeper cavity creates a high frequency tone when stomped on.

A foot stomp percussion device that creates dual tones when stomped on by the musician. The foot stomp comprises a housing comprising a main portion and a bottom ledge portion that extends beyond the main portion to enhance stability. In one embodiment, the main portion of the housing comprises a smaller and shallower cavity containing a piezo transducer and a larger and deeper cavity coupled to a volume potentiometer, as well as one or more electrical outputs to connect the foot stomp to a sound amplification system. The solid back portion of the foot stomp creates a low frequency tone when stomped on, and the front portion containing the larger and deeper cavity creates a high frequency tone when stomped on.

Processing implemented by computer means of sound data output by at least one sensor and activation of at least one actuator of an acoustically radiating structure. The sensor senses an acoustic signal output by the vibration of the radiating structure. The radiating structure bears at least one actuator controlled by the computer means and is thus involved in the vibration of the radiating structure. In particular, the method comprises the steps of: a) measuring a transfer function of the actuator, radiating structure and sensor assembly, b) controlling activation of the actuator so as to make the radiating structure vibrate, according to a selected setpoint: taking account of the transfer function measured, and taking account of the acoustic signal sensed by the sensor in feedback mode.

Processing implemented by computer means of sound data output by at least one sensor and activation of at least one actuator of an acoustically radiating structure. The sensor senses an acoustic signal output by the vibration of the radiating structure. The radiating structure bears at least one actuator controlled by the computer means and is thus involved in the vibration of the radiating structure. In particular, the method comprises the steps of: a) measuring a transfer function of the actuator, radiating structure and sensor assembly, b) controlling activation of the actuator so as to make the radiating structure vibrate, according to a selected setpoint: taking account of the transfer function measured, and taking account of the acoustic signal sensed by the sensor in feedback mode.

With reference to FIG. 7a the present invention relates to transducer apparatus (200) for use with a reed instrument (201) having an air chamber (15) forming a resonant cavity whose resonance characteristics are controlled by opening and closing of tone holes (17A, 17B) connecting the air chamber to the exterior of the reed instrument. The transducer apparatus comprises attachment means (202) for releasably securing the transducer apparatus to a mouthpiece (201) of the reed instrument in place of a reed. A reed replacement section (203) has a housing with an abutment surface for abutting a surface part of the mouthpiece which would be abutted by a reed secured to the mouthpiece. An air passage extends through the housing of the reed replacement section (203) from an air inlet (211) through which a player of the instrument can blow to an air outlet (213) through which air blown by the player is delivered to atmosphere, without passing through the air chamber (15) within the reed instrument. A speaker (208) is supported by the housing and delivers sound to the air chamber (15). An air chamber microphone (209) is supported by the housing and receives sound in the air chamber (15). An electronic processing unit (204) has: an excitation unit (101) which produces an excitation signal for driving the speaker (208); a processor (102) for receiving a measurement signal produced by the microphone and for detecting from the measurement signal a musical note played by the instrument; a synthesizer (220) for generating an electronic signal embodying a musical note which corresponds to the detected musical note; and output means (103) for transmitting the musical note generated by the synthesizer to a receiver external of the transducer apparatus. The invention also relates to a system for representing the sounds of a reed instrument having the components of the transducer apparatus, to an electronic system for determining a musical note played by a reed instrument having the components of the transducer apparatus and to a method of practising playing of a reed instrument comprising use of the components of the transducer apparatus.

With reference to FIG. 7a the present invention relates to transducer apparatus (200) for use with a reed instrument (201) having an air chamber (15) forming a resonant cavity whose resonance characteristics are controlled by opening and closing of tone holes (17A, 17B) connecting the air chamber to the exterior of the reed instrument. The transducer apparatus comprises attachment means (202) for releasably securing the transducer apparatus to a mouthpiece (201) of the reed instrument in place of a reed. A reed replacement section (203) has a housing with an abutment surface for abutting a surface part of the mouthpiece which would be abutted by a reed secured to the mouthpiece. An air passage extends through the housing of the reed replacement section (203) from an air inlet (211) through which a player of the instrument can blow to an air outlet (213) through which air blown by the player is delivered to atmosphere, without passing through the air chamber (15) within the reed instrument. A speaker (208) is supported by the housing and delivers sound to the air chamber (15). An air chamber microphone (209) is supported by the housing and receives sound in the air chamber (15). An electronic processing unit (204) has: an excitation unit (101) which produces an excitation signal for driving the speaker (208); a processor (102) for receiving a measurement signal produced by the microphone and for detecting from the measurement signal a musical note played by the instrument; a synthesizer (220) for generating an electronic signal embodying a musical note which corresponds to the detected musical note; and output means (103) for transmitting the musical note generated by the synthesizer to a receiver external of the transducer apparatus. The invention also relates to a system for representing the sounds of a reed instrument having the components of the transducer apparatus, to an electronic system for determining a musical note played by a reed instrument having the components of the transducer apparatus and to a method of practising playing of a reed instrument comprising use of the components of the transducer apparatus.

A modulated electromagnetic musical instrument and sound reproduction system includes an acoustic carrier signal source, a modulation signal source, a linkage element, and an acoustic output. The acoustic carrier signal source is produced electromagnetically or mechanically via human instrument playing. An electromagnetic modulation source mixes with the acoustic carrier signal within a linkage element to produce a nonlinear behavior. This nonlinear behavior's coupled interaction with a physical medium or acoustic body produces sideband frequency components to form unique musical sound outputs and audio effects.

A modulated electromagnetic musical instrument and sound reproduction system includes an acoustic carrier signal source, a modulation signal source, a linkage element, and an acoustic output. The acoustic carrier signal source is produced electromagnetically or mechanically via human instrument playing. An electromagnetic modulation source mixes with the acoustic carrier signal within a linkage element to produce a nonlinear behavior. This nonlinear behavior's coupled interaction with a physical medium or acoustic body produces sideband frequency components to form unique musical sound outputs and audio effects.