A stick device that includes a base and a tip end, and a tip secured to the tip end of the stick, the stick tip including a sensor. The stick including the base thereof, and includes at least one control button, a communication element, and a processor in communication with the at least one control button, the stick tip and the communication element. The processor is configured to receive a signal from the stick tip and to generate output to the communication element. The output so generated includes a signal that specifies a sound file selected by operation of the at least one control button.

An apparatus for facilitating control of midi-sequence generation is disclosed. The apparatus may include a midi-sequence module configured to store a plurality of main midi sequences, store a plurality of fill midi sequences, and playback a plurality of main midi sequences and the plurality of fill midi sequences. The apparatus can also include a first foot-operable switch configured to operate the midi-sequence module, an instrument input, and a looping means configured to record a plurality of signals received from the instrument input, generate a plurality of recorded loops associated with the plurality of recorded signals, store the plurality of recorded loops, and playback each of the plurality of recorded loops. The apparatus can also include a second foot-operable switch configured to operate the looping means.

A beat recording pen for the recording and editing music and while serving as writing instrument. The device includes a retractable writing instrument disposed in an elongated shaft designed to house a power supply designed to provide electrical power to a transceiver that can transmit and receive digital signals to and from a connected mobile device or computer. The beat recording pen further includes an impact sensor that can detect an audio input signal of an impact event and convert the audio input signal into a digital signal. A micro-controller is disposed within the pen and can record the converted audio input signals detected by the impact sensor and interface with a software application installed on a connected mobile device or computer.

A specialized audio/instrument cable with built-in digital signal processing capabilities that adds user-defined audio effects (such as reverb, delay, chorus and/or distortion) from within the cable itself to affect the sound generated from an instrument or microphone such that the cable is the only connection needed between the instrument or microphone and an output device (such as an amplifier, PA, powered speaker, music mixer, or a recording device). The audio effects used by the cable can be changed via (i) an app from a smartphone, tablet, computer or other electronic device; (ii) a wireless controller that attaches to the instrument; (iii) a pedal, and/or (iv) any other type of wireless controller that has the ability to communicate with a smartphone/tablet/computer or other electronic device.

Systems, devices, media, and methods are presented for playing audio sounds, such as music, on a portable electronic device using a digital color image of a note matrix on a map. A computer vision engine, in an example implementation, includes a mapping module, a color detection module, and a music playback module. The camera captures a color image of the map, including a marker and a note matrix. Based on the color image, the computer vision engine detects a token color value associated with each field. Each token color value is associated with a sound sample from a specific musical instrument. A global state map is stored in memory, including the token color value and location of each field in the note matrix. The music playback module, for each column, in order, plays the notes associated with one or more the rows, using the corresponding sound sample, according to the global state map.

A system and apparatus are disclosed for coupling effect pedals used by musicians and other audio performance artists to a signal processing chain and to a power source. Power is provided to effect pedals wirelessly by inductive coupling, and effect pedals may be coupled to a signal processing chain through cables or wirelessly.

A communication device for an electronic musical instrument includes a battery; an input terminal that is connected to a MIDI output terminal of the electronic musical instrument; an output terminal that is connected to a MIDI input terminal of the electronic musical instrument; a control unit that transmits and receives various kinds of electronic information between the electronic musical instrument and the other electronic instrument via the input terminal and the output terminal; and a switching unit that switches between taking in electric power to be supplied to the control unit through a MIDI signal line from the electronic musical instrument via the input terminal and taking in the electric power from the battery in accordance with a communication state of the control unit.

Methods, Apparatus, and a System (collectively a “platform”) for facilitating, enabling, or enhancing creation, control, and playback of digital audio loops or parts are disclosed herein. The platform may include playing back midi song segments. The midi song segments may comprise a midi sequence that is looped a predetermined number of times. The platform may include transitioning to another midi song segment automatically after predetermined number of loops or transitioning in response to a command. The platform may include changing the number of loops during playback of a song segment in response to a command. The platform may relate to enabling automatic generation of song segments during a performance. The platform may include automatically selecting midi sequences to enhance playback. The platform may include other features pertaining to enhancing or enabling digital music creation or composition.

Techniques have been developed to facilitate (1) the capture and pitch correction of vocal performances on handheld or other portable computing devices and (2) the mixing of such pitch-corrected vocal performances with backing tracks for audible rendering on targets that include such portable computing devices and as well as desktops, workstations, gaming stations, even telephony targets. Implementations of the described techniques employ signal processing techniques and allocations of system functionality that are suitable given the generally limited capabilities of such handheld or portable computing devices and that facilitate efficient encoding and communication of the pitch-corrected vocal performances (or precursors or derivatives thereof) via wireless and/or wired bandwidth-limited networks for rendering on portable computing devices or other targets.

A percussion device includes a drumstick assembly. The drumstick assembly includes a drumstick having a base and a tip end, and a drumstick tip secured to the tip end of the drumstick, the drumstick tip including a sensor. The drumstick including the base thereof, and includes at least one control button, a communication element, and a processor in communication with the at least one control button, the drumstick tip and the communication element. The processor is configured to receive a signal from the drumstick tip and to generate output to the communication element. The output so generated includes a signal that specifies a sound file selected by operation of the at least one control button.