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.

The present invention comprises a device and process designed to accelerate the maturation of stringed musical instruments, composed of but not limited to a broad spectrum audio generator coupled with one or more fasteners via one or more armatures dimensioned to allow easy installation, secure attachment, and easy uninstallation from the stringed musical instrument.

A drumhead includes a membrane with ferrous responsive material printed onto a surface or otherwise incorporated into it. The ferrous responsive material is detectable by an electromagnetic sensor such that striking the membrane causes vibration that is detected by the sensor, which may initiate an acoustic sound via a sound module. The drumhead may thus be used in an electronic drumming system without requiring fixation of a foreign object to a surface of the membrane.

A drumhead includes a membrane with ferrous responsive material printed onto a surface or otherwise incorporated into it. The ferrous responsive material is detectable by an electromagnetic sensor such that striking the membrane causes vibration that is detected by the sensor, which may initiate an acoustic sound via a sound module. The drumhead may thus be used in an electronic drumming system without requiring fixation of a foreign object to a surface of the membrane.

Coils for receiving or transmitting electromagnetic signals comprising a plurality of concurrently wound and fully or partially interpenetrating windings for which the resonance frequency can be varied over a broad range. The presently described embodiments provide for electromagnetic pickups for stringed musical instruments; however, it is appreciated that other embodiments providing for a wide variety of devices comprising pickup coil sensors are apparent. It is also apparent that a wide variety of devices are possible in which coils with concurrently wound and interpenetrating windings will serve as transmitting coils.

Coils for receiving or transmitting electromagnetic signals comprising a plurality of concurrently wound and fully or partially interpenetrating windings for which the resonance frequency can be varied over a broad range. The presently described embodiments provide for electromagnetic pickups for stringed musical instruments; however, it is appreciated that other embodiments providing for a wide variety of devices comprising pickup coil sensors are apparent. It is also apparent that a wide variety of devices are possible in which coils with concurrently wound and interpenetrating windings will serve as transmitting coils.

The present invention comprises a device and process designed to accelerate the maturation of stringed musical instruments, composed of but not limited to a broad spectrum audio generator coupled with one or more fasteners via one or more armatures dimensioned to allow easy installation, secure attachment, and easy uninstallation from the stringed musical instrument.

An integrated transducer-processor unit for use with a stringed instrument having one or more strings. When the instrument is played, the unit produces electrical output signals for conversion into musical sounds. A transducer converts mechanical vibrations of each of the strings into corresponding electrical signals, and a processor processes the electrical signals to produce selected analog or digital output signals for conversion into musical sounds. The unit processor is integrated with the transducer into a pickup, for mounting on the instrument in proximity to the strings without modification of the instrument. In addition, a gesture pad-processor system provides an interface for a user to send control signals to a device to control at least one function of the device. A touch pad receives positional and pressure inputs entered by the user making a selected predefined manual gesture for conversion into a control signal by the system processor.

An integrated transducer-processor unit for use with a stringed instrument having one or more strings. When the instrument is played, the unit produces electrical output signals for conversion into musical sounds. A transducer converts mechanical vibrations of each of the strings into corresponding electrical signals, and a processor processes the electrical signals to produce selected analog or digital output signals for conversion into musical sounds. The unit processor is integrated with the transducer into a pickup, for mounting on the instrument in proximity to the strings without modification of the instrument. In addition, a gesture pad-processor system provides an interface for a user to send control signals to a device to control at least one function of the device. A touch pad receives positional and pressure inputs entered by the user making a selected predefined manual gesture for conversion into a control signal by the system processor.

This disclosure provides a transducer apparatus for an edge-blown aerophone, the edge-blown aerophone having an aerophone embouchure hole. An aerophone speaker delivers sound to a resonant chamber of the aerophone via the aerophone embouchure hole. An aerophone microphone receives, via the aerophone embouchure hole, sound in the resonant chamber. A housing provides a lip plate with a housing embouchure hole independent and separate from the aerophone embouchure hole. Breath sensors sense breath applied across the housing embouchure hole. An electronic processor, connected to the speaker, receives signals from the microphone and the breath sensors. The breath sensors provide signals indicative of breath strength. The electronic processor generates an excitation signal which is delivered as an acoustic excitation signal to the resonant chamber by the aerophone speaker. The electronic processor uses the signals it receives to determine a desired musical note which a player of the aerophone wishes to play.