A distortion device includes a transconductance stage, a current amplifier stage electrically coupled to the transconductance stage, and a transformer portion electrically coupled to the current amplifier stage. The transconductance stage includes a first capacitor to provide a ground to a resistor, and voltage across the resistor develops a current through a second capacitor to the current amplifier stage. The current amplifier stage includes a positive half cycle and a negative half cycle. The positive half cycle and the negative half cycle amplify the current from the transconductance stage and supply the amplified current to a primary winding of a transformer in the transformer portion, and the output of the transformer portion includes a low-level signal.

A solid-state semiconductor guitar amplifier system/method mimicking the audio performance characteristics of conventional vacuum tube guitar amplifiers is disclosed. The disclosed system/method incorporates solid-state semiconductor circuitry implementing an input audio preamplifier (IAP) having asymmetric gain control (AGC) that feeds wave shape transformer (WST) circuitry implementing a piecewise/diode breakpoint (PDB) transform that emulates a conventional vacuum tube voltage-current transfer (VIT) characteristic. A breakpoint threshold controller (BTC) determines the offset associated with application of the PDB operation to the audio signal. Once the PDB transform has been applied to the audio signal, it is further processed by pick attack sag compressor (PAC) circuitry that applies positive sag control (PSC) and negative sag control (NSC) compression envelopes to the overall signal shape before presenting the resulting peak compressed signal through an audio volume control (AVC) and conventional solid-state semiconductor speaker power amplifier (SPA) for application to an audio speaker.

A neural network emulates a behavior of a reference audio system for at least two control settings. A process, for each control setting, receives control position data designating a select control setting of the reference audio system as conditioning for the neural network, communicates an input to the reference audio system and captures a target output, maps parameters of the neural network such that, responsive to the input, a neural output resembles the target output, scores by a loss function, a similarity of the neural network output compared to the target output of the reference audio system, and utilizes the similarity derived from the loss function to modify model parameters of the neural network. A graphical user interface enables a user to select a virtual control setting within the graphical user interface such that the neural network models the reference audio system at the corresponding control setting.

A distortion device includes a transconductance stage, a current amplifier stage electrically coupled to the transconductance stage, and a transformer portion electrically coupled to the current amplifier stage. The transconductance stage includes a first capacitor to provide a ground to a resistor, and voltage across the resistor develops a current through a second capacitor to the current amplifier stage. The current amplifier stage includes a positive half cycle and a negative half cycle. The positive half cycle and the negative half cycle amplify the current from the transconductance stage and supply the amplified current to a primary winding of a transformer in the transformer portion, and the output of the transformer portion includes a low-level signal.

A robotic system is provided, which automatically changes settings on an audio system. The audio system (e.g., an instrument amplifier, effect processor, etc.) typically includes one or more controls that impact the operation of the audio system. Correspondingly, the robotic system includes a device interface coupled to a control sequencer. The device interface adapts to one or more controls of the audio system that are to be changed. In this regard, the device interface includes one or more control couplers. Each control coupler is adapted to a corresponding control of the audio system to be changed. The control sequencer provides a control sequence to the device interface that causes the control coupler(s) to vary the settings on the audio system. In practical applications, a combination of sequence values of the control sequence can represent a sufficiently high number of samples to determine a responsive behavior of the audio system.

Disclosed is a console bed mechanism to provide access to controls on console bed transported in a transport case. The console bed mechanism may include a base plate positioned in the transport case and comprising a bearing, an upper plate secured to the console bed and connected via the bearing to the base plate, a rotation arm having a lower end mounted to the base plate and an upper end mounted to the upper plate, the rotation arm configured to rotate the console bed between: a transport position in which the console bed is at least partially in the transport case, and an operation position in which the console bed is at least partially above the transport case and is positioned to be operated, and also including an elevation arm that raises the console bed and having a lower end mounted to the transport case and an upper end secured to the base plate.

An improved effects device for use with audio sources is provided. The improved effects device includes a plasma speaker that receives an original electrical signal and emits both sound waves and a radio frequency signal derivative of the original electrical signal. The improved effects device also includes a radio receiver configured to receive the radio frequency signal and convert it into an electrical signal. The electrical signal may then be amplified and used to drive a conventional loudspeaker. Advantageously, the new electrical signal is altered from the original electrical signal. The improved effects device may also include a low gain amplifier that receives the original electrical signal from an audio source, like an electric guitar, and amplifies the original electrical signal before transmitting it to the plasma speaker.

The present invention provides a vacuum tube audio amplifier which includes an audio pre-amplifying portion and an audio output transforming portion. The audio pre-amplifying portion includes an equalizer for enhanced sound quality and amplifies an audio signal, which is subsequently transmitted to the audio output transforming portion. Furthermore, the audio output transforming portion includes an audio output transformer which includes a plurality of stacked E-shaped silicon steel sheets and a plurality of stacked I-shaped silicon steel sheets, wherein the stacked E-shaped silicon steel sheets and the stacked I-shaped silicon steel sheets have a same height which is smaller than or equal to 48 mm.

The present invention provides a vacuum tube audio amplifier which includes an audio pre-amplifying portion and an audio output transforming portion. The audio pre-amplifying portion includes an equalizer for enhanced sound quality and amplifies an audio signal, which is subsequently transmitted to the audio output transforming portion. Furthermore, the audio output transforming portion includes an audio output transformer which includes a plurality of stacked E-shaped silicon steel sheets and a plurality of stacked I-shaped silicon steel sheets, wherein the stacked E-shaped silicon steel sheets and the stacked I-shaped silicon steel sheets have a same height which is smaller than or equal to 48 mm.

A clipping circuit for an amplifier, the clipping circuit using a tunneling junction. A molecular or other tunneling electronic-based component within a hybrid analog-tunneling circuit is used to produce soft or hard clipping capability with enhanced control over the output. The circuit may be used as a distortion circuit for an electric guitar signal or other electronic signals.