A system is described for an enhanced bow piece of a stringed musical instrument. The enhancement includes a visual display element attached to the bow. The appearance of the display changes in response to bow motion, bow position, and one or more user-supplied inputs (e.g. buttons). The system can be entirely self-contained and used as a normal instrument bow, providing a light-up/responsive effect while the user plays their instrument in an otherwise normal way. There is some capability for multiple self-contained units to be locally synchronized, providing group-based visualizations. Alternatively, these devices can be monitored and controlled by an external control system.

The present invention relates to methods and systems for creating a sound effect out of a continuous movement, in particular by means of detecting a continuous movement through a force sensor in a device. A method is shown for creating a sound effect out of a continuous movement. The method comprises a step of providing a first device, where-by the device is adapted at detecting continuous movement and a no-movement state. The method further comprises the step of defining at least one first parameter of movement, in particular a first axis of movement of said continuous movement. A further step comprises the assigning at least one first midi-channel to the first axis of movement. A base-line value is defined for the no-movement state, and along that first axis of movement a range of values is relative to said base-line value is defined. This range of values is relative to said base-line value is reflective of a continuous movement along that first axis of movement. A sound effect is then output relative to the detected continuous movement. One aspect or additional embodiment of the present invention comprises the step of defining at least one first parameter of movement, whereby said first parameter of movement is an angular range in one axis X, Y, Z of an orientation in space of the first device (99.1) adapted at detecting continuous movement (A.1) and a no-movement state.

Bowing platforms are disclosed for use in playing a bowed musical instrument without reliance on strings. A bowing platform includes a support and a track that replace the strings, bridge, and tailpiece on a conventional bowed instrument, to provide an alternative vibrational bowing surface. The bowing platform can be attached to a conventional fingerboard or to the body of the instrument. In one aspect, the bowing platform is useful as a bow guide to improve bow technique by restricting the player's bow angle to be within a desirable range, while still allowing for natural arm movement. The bowing platform can be further equipped with piezoelectric sensors to sense bowing motion and to create sound electronically in response to the sensed motion. A stringless bowed instrument includes a bowing platform, bowing sensors, and pitch sensors that sense finger placement along the fingerboard.

A system is described for an enhanced bow piece of a stringed musical instrument. The enhancement includes a visual display element attached to the bow. The appearance of the display changes in response to bow motion, bow position, and one or more user-supplied inputs (e.g. buttons). The system can be entirely self-contained and used as a normal instrument bow, providing a light-up/responsive effect while the user plays their instrument in an otherwise normal way. There is some capability for multiple self-contained units to be locally synchronized, providing group-based visualizations. Alternatively, these devices can be monitored and controlled by an external control system.

An input device for operating a musical instrument having musical behavior of string instruments, which comprises a key plate unit containing a set of input keys to be pressed by a player, in order to generate a first set of electric input signals, which emulate a combination of pressed keys of a musical instrument or a combination of pressed strings; a stick unit with variable tension of displacement including a stick to be moved by the player between predetermined discrete positions, which emulate a combination of strummed strings of a musical instrument.

An input device for operating a musical instrument having musical behavior of string instruments, which comprises a key plate unit containing a set of input keys to be pressed by a player, in order to generate a first set of electric input signals, which emulate a combination of pressed keys of a musical instrument or a combination of pressed strings; a stick unit with variable tension of displacement including a stick to be moved by the player between predetermined discrete positions, which emulate a combination of strummed strings of a musical instrument.

A stringless electric bowed musical instrument is disclosed in which sensors are provided to detect finger positions and bowing motions of the player. A touch-sensitive fingerboard surface is equipped with pitch sensors that detect finger positions. Use of a fingerboard surface that includes an interactive flexible touch screen display provides a plurality of illumination patterns to be displayed on the fingerboard and permits various operational modes that are useful for both students and artists. A bowing platform in contact with either the fingerboard or the body of the instrument provides an adjustable bowing surface for including bow sensors configured to detect vibrations in response to bow motion. The bow sensors may include piezo-ceramic elements. Optical pitch sensors may sense interruption of one or more laser beams that propagate above a top surface of the fingerboard.

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes an image sensor configured to sense a motion of a bow to the string instrument, a vibration sensor configured to sense a vibration generated by the string instrument, and a control module configured to determine a fingering position of a user with respect to the string instrument using the motion of the bow and the vibration.

Systems and methods may be used to provide effects corresponding to movement of instrument objects or other objects. A method may include receiving sensor data from an object based on movement of the object, recognizing a gesture from the sensor data, and determining an effect, such as a visualization or audio effect corresponding to the gesture. The method may include causing the effect to be output in response to the determination.

Systems and methods may be used to provide effects corresponding to movement of instrument objects or other objects. A method may include receiving sensor data from an object based on movement of the object, recognizing a gesture from the sensor data, and determining an effect, such as a visualization or audio effect corresponding to the gesture. The method may include causing the effect to be output in response to the determination.