Method and a system for modular circuit bending and modding of electric and electronic music instruments, audio amplifiers and sound equipment

Abstract

A method and system for shaping the tone by modular circuit bending and modding of electric and electronic music instruments, audio amplifiers and sound equipment. The design of the system consists of a modding structure of a plurality of inserts, inputs and outputs connections for compatible modules, to reconfigure the electronic circuit without the physical changing of component values and without adding or removing electronic parts of the audio equipment by soldering. A plurality of tone modules for shaping the sound by the intervention into the signal path and a plurality of modules for shaping the tone by other sound design methods that are not part of the signal path are provided. For the modular system, an external device can be used as a multiplier, which consists of a plurality of inserts, inputs and outputs connections for compatible modules also including a plurality of combined series/parallel circuits of freely selectable inputs and outputs for the direct swap of a plurality of modding modules. In addition, switching options are available to control bypass, for advanced series or parallel connections, and for AB testing capabilities. The modular modding system can be used as a standalone device or as an upgrade to existing equipment.

Claims

1. A modular system for shaping the tone by circuit bending and modding of audio and sound equipment comprising: a modding structure of a plurality of inserts, inputs and outputs connections for compatible modules, to reconfigure the electronic circuit without the physical changing of component values and without adding or removing electronic parts of the audio equipment by soldering; a plurality of tone modules for shaping the sound by the intervention into the signal path; a plurality of modules for shaping the tone by other sound design methods that are not part of the signal path.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said modular system comprising: at least one front to rear orifice in the chassis, which serves as a cable-tray to shield and enable the shortening of the patch cables, wherein the shape and size of the cross-section of the said orifice is optimized as required and metal and/or ferrite core shields are used for interference suppression.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said modding structure and said tone modules are adapted for electric music instruments.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said modding structure, said tone modules, said modules and said orifice-cable-tray are adapted for electronic music instruments.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said modding structure, said tone modules, said modules and said orifice-cable-tray are adapted for audio amplifiers.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said modding structure, said tone modules, said modules and said orifice-cable-tray are adapted for other audio and sound equipment.

7. An external apparatus to be used as a multiplier for said modular system of claim 1, comprising: a chassis that defines a modding structure of a plurality of inserts, inputs and outputs connections for compatible modules also including a plurality of combined series/parallel circuits of freely selectable inputs and outputs for the direct swap of a plurality of modding modules; at least one front to rear orifice in the chassis, which serves as a cable-tray to shield and enable the shortening of the patch cables, wherein the shape and size of the cross-section of the said orifice is optimized as required and metal and/or ferrite core shields are used for interference suppression.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said modding structure includes, DC input jacks or battery connection option for active equalizers.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said apparatus includes, AB test switches, series, parallel or combined connection of the tone modules switches, bypass functions of the modules switches.

10. A method of modular circuit bending and modding of electric and electronic music instruments, audio amplifiers and sound equipment, the method comprising: configuring a plurality of inserts, inputs and outputs connections to the signal path and to other parts of the electronic circuit; providing a plurality of tone modules for shaping the sound by the intervention into the signal path; providing a plurality of modules for shaping the tone by other sound design methods that are not part of the signal path.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: at least one front to rear orifice in the chassis of the audio amplifiers or sound equipment, to serves as a cable-tray to shield and enable the shortening of the patch cables, wherein the shape and size of the cross-section of the said orifice is optimized as required and metal and/or ferrite core shields are used for interference suppression.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0033] The figures are to be understood as illustrative and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the invention.

[0034] FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C are each a front view of a first embodiment of a modular modding system exemplified on three electric instruments, showing the plug-in possibilities of different tone control modules in accordance with the present illustrated invention.

[0035] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B is a front view of a second embodiment of a modular modding system exemplified on an audio amplifier, showing a number of plug-in possibilities of tone control modules, at different points in the signal path, in accordance with the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are each a perspective view of an embodiment of a multiplier, illustrating respectively a passive and active variant, in accordance with the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C show a schematic diagram of the first embodiment, respectively FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C.

[0038] FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of the second embodiment FIG. 2.

[0039] FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B shows a schematic diagram of the third embodiment respectively FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B.

[0040] FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B is a front view of an example embodiment of a modular modding system with bypass and AB switch respectively bypass and series/parallel switch.

[0041] FIG. 8 is a front view of an example embodiment of a modular modding system of an audio amplifier in combination with a fixed tone control.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] It is the object of the present invention to offer the user a variety of modding options to reconfigure the tone controls of an instrument, amplifier or musical device. The parts that make up the present invention are as follows:

1) a plurality of modular modding structures 1, 2, 3, 4, 40, 41, 42;
2) multiple multiplier options 5, 6;
3) and a variety of tone control modules 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17.

[0043] In the first embodiment, modular modding structures 1, 2, 3 are provided right after the pickups 18, 19, 20 of the electric instrument, which are shown in three variations FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C. For the various tone control modules 7, 8, 9, 10 matching cavities are milled on the body of the instrument. Jack plugs and sockets 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 are shown for connecting the modules to the modular modding structure, but other standard audio connectors may serve this purpose. The shape of the millings and the distance between the audio sockets 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 allow different combinations of tone control modules 7, 8, 9, 10.

[0044] According to the first embodiment, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C show examples of series and parallel connection options in various combinations. The audio signal is passed from the pickups 18, 19, 20 through the sockets 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and selector switches 25, 35 to the output socket 32, 33, 34. The jacks work as an insert with send-return function. When no tone control module 7, 8, 9, 10 is plugged in via the male stereo plug, the female audio jacks 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 have a “true bypass” function.

[0045] In the second embodiment of FIG. 2A, a modular modding structure 4 is shown with plug-in options at various points in the signal path of an audio amplifier: before the preamplifier 49, in the preamplifier block 50 and in the final stage 51. Another insert option 52 that does not connected to the signal path is marked with “other”. Jack plugs and sockets are shown for connecting tone control modules 11, 12, 13, 14 to the modular modding structure 4, but other standard audio connectors can serve this purpose too.

[0046] According to an aspect of the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the connectors have an insert send-return function. When no tone control module 11, 12, 13, 14 is plugged in via the male stereo connector, the female audio connectors 49, 50, 51, 52 have a “true bypass” function.

[0047] In the third embodiment of FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, a multiplier 5 and 6 with a variety of plug-in options is illustrated. The multiplier can be connected to the inserts 49, 50, 51, 52 of the modular modding structure 4. A passive FIG. 3A and an active FIG. 3B multiplier are shown that math the appropriate terminals of the tone control modules 15 16, 17. On the front, the multiplier can accommodate different modules 11, 12, 13, 14. The active variant is equipped with DC output sockets 57 which are not shown on the circuit diagram of FIG. 6B. On the rear, both multipliers have a 53 and 55 series of in/out socket pairs.

[0048] According to an aspect of the third embodiment as shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, the mono connection pairs 54 work as an insert send-return path in the passive multiplier. The stereo connections 56 in the active multiplier have the same send-return function. Both multipliers have mono in/out socket pairs 53, 55 provided on the rear side, whereby they can be connected to the 49, 50, 51, 52 connections of the audio amplifier FIG. 2A with Y-splitter cables as desired. When plugging in the two mono jacks of the Y-cable, the “in” jack and the “out” jack have a decoupling function from the preceding channel and the next channel. In this way, adjacent channels can be grouped and used as independent blocks. In addition, the tone control modules can be connected to the front side 54 of the multiplier with patch cables that can be plugged into one another (stack cable) in various series and/or parallel circuit combinations.

[0049] According to the third embodiment, in FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B an front to rear orifice cable tray 48 in the chassis of the multiplier is exemplified in tube form.

[0050] The present invention refers to an advantageous embodiment of sound and audio equipment that is provided with at least one front to rear orifice in the chassis that serves as a cable-tray for the patch cables. The shape and size of the cross section of the orifice-cable-tray can be optimized according to the number of patch cables. The shielding of the orifice-cable-tray can be made of metal and/or ferrite. An exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B made of metal tube 58 and ferrite core 59, respectively. As shown, the ferrite core 59 can be moved to various positions. For increased damping of the occurring electrical and/or magnetic disturbances more ferrite cores can be used.

[0051] In the fourth embodiment, tone control modules 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 are shown. Their functions and use are illustrated and can be grouped by:

1) position of audio modules in the tone chain: instrument tone controls 7, 8, 9, 10 after the instrument pickup 18, 19, 20; gain section tone controls 49 before preamp; tonestacks 50 in preamp block; power amp tone controls 51 in the power amplifier;
2) modules not connected to the signal path: other circuitry 52 for sound shaping options;
3) according to audio connector options—in the present invention 3.5 mm 21 and 6.35 mm 43, 44, 45, 47, stereo 21, 43, 45, 47 and mono 44 jack plugs are depicted, but other standard audio connectors may also be used be used;
4) passive 17 and active 16 equalizer modules with DC input jack 46 or battery connection option (not shown) for active equalizers;
5) according to number of units—“one knob” 7, 11, “two knob” 8, 12, “three knob” 9, 13 and/or multi-knob 10, 14;
6) different shapes 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.

[0052] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific preferred embodiments thereof, many variations and modifications will be readily apparent. For example, a modular modding structure could be associated with a fixed tone control of a “one knob” audio amplifier FIG. 8. In this embodiment all the same elements are shown, operating in an identical manner as described in FIG. 2A, however a fixed tone control 39 is provided. Further illustrations show example variations of the “one knob” audio amplifier with mono connection pairs 41 as insert-send-return path or stereo connections with DC output sockets 42. Another possible example is a foot-switch modular modding structure FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B. In this embodiment all the same elements are shown operating in an identical manner as described in FIG. 3, but selector switches are provided for bypass 36, series/parallel 37 and AB test 38 switches. It is therefore the intention that the appended claims be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the prior art to include all such variations and modifications.