Techniques are described that relate to various aspects of converting the mechanical energy of instrument strings to digital representations for use in a variety of applications.

Techniques are described that relate to various aspects of converting the mechanical energy of instrument strings to digital representations for use in a variety of applications.

A sound detection system of a musical instrument with vibrating parts includes at least a pair of sensors and a preamplification unit for processing the signal output from the two sensors along respective channels. At least one of the pair of sensors is a piezoelectric transducer and the other one of the pair of sensors is a different-type transducer. The preamplification unit includes, for each channel, an input stage, including an amplifier circuit and an equalization circuit, and an output stage including at least a weighted adder circuit and at least two volume controls with arbitrary logarithmic response curve. At least the input stage for the channel of the piezoelectric transducer is a charge amplifier circuit and at least one of the other input stages can be configured both as a charge amplifier and as non-inverting amplifier with high input impedance. The equalization circuit includes an RC circuit.

In a first aspect hereof the present invention provides an improved piezoelectric pickup which, generally, comprises a folded planar plastic piezoelectric sandwich electrically connected to a coaxial cable which, in turn, is in electrical communication with a jack or the like for connection to a pre-amp, an amplifier or the like. In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a cell which is particularly adapted for use with an electric violin. The cell comprises a table which is disposed substantially parallel to the top of the instrument and substantially normal or perpendicular to and in contact with the bridge of the instrument. When used in conjunction with a pickup the cell facilitates simulation of the sound of an acoustic violin.

Electronic musical instruments as disclosed, include sensors to digitize and alter the sound using FSR sensors in the mouthpieces and other elements of the instrument to mimic the variations available in analog instruments.

A musical instrument includes: an acoustic portion that makes sound in response to vibration; an exciter that includes an exciter body and a vibrating portion vibrating with respect to the exciter body, and excites the acoustic portion; and a support portion that is attached to the acoustic portion and supports the exciter body such that the vibration is transmitted from the vibrating portion to the acoustic portion. The support portion supports the exciter body such that the exciter body is elastically displaced with respect to the acoustic portion. A resonance frequency of a vibration system including the exciter body and the support portion is lower than the lowest resonance frequency of the acoustic portion.

A system and a kit can be used for onboard, real-time blending for electronic pickups to produce various tonal combinations. In one example, at least one of the electronic pickups has dual coils. The dual coil pickup can be electrically connected to a switching circuit positioned on a stringed instrument. The switching circuit can be adjustable in real-time to select between at least two conditions for a signal of the dual coil pickup. In one instance, the conditions can select north coil only, series wiring of the dual coils, or south coil only. Alternatively, the conditions can select series wiring or parallel wiring of the dual coils. Each of the electronic pickups is electrically connected to a taper circuit positioned on the instrument. Each taper circuit is adjustable in real-time to vary an amplitude of the signal from the respective electronic pickup for output of the instrument.

A polyphonic pickup system for a stringed musical instrument includes one or more user-input devices collectively defining a plurality of distinct selectable configurations, enabling the user to direct audio signals corresponding to different subsets of the instrument's strings to different audio-output channels for directing audio signals originating from different individual strings of the instrument.