GB2370678A

GB2370678A - Programmable electronic musical instrument

Info

Publication number: GB2370678A
Application number: GB0026086A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ivan White
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-10-24
Filing date: 2000-10-24
Publication date: 2002-07-03
Also published as: GB0026086D0

Abstract

An electronic musical instrument which has playing keys 2 to which notes, chords or songs can be preassigned, contained within a body 1. The body houses an internal computer for control. A row of twelve playing keys 2 are programmed with notes or chords using buttons 4 in conjunction with the display 3. Additional playing controls are provided by an array of six pickups 5, each pickup having a raised section (5, fig 2) on its top surface, enabling the user to strum the pickup in the manner of a guitar. A permanent magnet (10, fig 2) and wire coil transducer (12, fig 2) generate an electrical signal which is dependent on how hard the pickup 5 is struck. This signal is converted to digital information for transmission via a MIDI. Playing of the instrument is achieved by depressing an appropriate playing key 2 while tapping or strumming the pickup array 5. Each pickup 5 can play up to 2 individual notes. Effects, such as pitch bend or modulation, are provided by a series of sensor strips 7 which use capacitance, the effects being activated proportionally in response to the position of a finger along the strip 7.

Description

The Midiboard A new musical instrument that can be played in a similar manner to a keyboard, guitar, wind or percussion instrument. The instrument is very easy to play and can be used by a wide audience ranging from total novices to experienced professional musicians.

There is a need for reducing the manual dexterity required to play conventional musical instruments in order to make playing music available to a wider audience.

The instrument maintains musical expression while expanding on current playing possibilities.

This instrument does this by having a built in computer which is used to assign chords or note patterns to various buttons. Once the playing buttons have been assigned with chords or individual notes they can be played very easily using a special new pickup system. The pickup system houses an array of pickups, each pickup can play one or two different notes. The pickups can be tapped as with piano or keyboard keys or strummed as with guitar strings. The pickups can be strummed because there is a small raised section in the middle of each pickup.

The pickups respond to how hard they are struck.

The instrument has a number of effects strips which can be actuated using a finger.

Using these strips the player can bring in musical effects such as pitch bend or modulation. The effects strips can also be used to simulate breath control for making wind sounds. The effect control is proportional to the finger position along the strip.

The instrument consists of a tablet like body. An internal computer for control. A display for programming the instrument. Buttons for programming. Playing buttons numbering 12. Pickup strips numbering 6. Effects control strips numbering 7. The instrument does not make any sound of its own but it creates MIDI control information which makes MIDI compatible synthesisers or computers play the notes and effects required. MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface and this is the standard for musical instruments or computers to communicate music to each other.

Preferably the body is made out of a high quality plastic. The pickups are made from pressed stainless steel. The display can render characters of the alphabet and more. The DC power supply is separate from the instrwnent.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows a front view of the instrument.

FIGURE 2 shows a cutaway of the pickup mechanism.

FIGURE 3 shows a single pickup with hidden detail.

FIGURE 4 shows 3 views of an effects strip.

As shown in Figure 1 the instrument consists of a body 1 which has playing buttons 2 numbering 12.

The instrument is played by tapping or strumming the pickups 5 which are arranged in an array numbering 6. Each pickup can play 1 note or more if required and each pickup is isolated from vibration with an air gap.

There is a plate 6 which holds the pickups 5 in place and acts as a runoff area for the fingers when strumming.

The instrument is programmed by using the buttons 4 to interact with the display 3.

Playing buttons 2 are programmed using 3 and 4.

Effects are actuated by sliding the fingers up the effect strips 7 which number 7.

The amount of effect is proportional to how far the finger is positioned along the strip 7.

Power and MIDI information travel in and out of the instrument via connector 9.

Volume control is altered by using the buttons 8.

Figure 2 shows a cutaway section through the pickup assembly. A pickup 5 is supported at each end by a rubber fixing 11. The rubber fixing isolates each of pickups numbering 6 from vibration.

The rubber mountings 11 are held in place by pressure derived from the body 1 and the pickup plate 6. A permanent magnet 10 is held beneath the pickup 5 by pressure from the plastic strip 13.

A transducer in the form of a wire coil 12 picks up small movement in 10 when the pickup 5 is struck.

The resulting electrical output from 12 is proportional to how hard the pickup 5 has been struck. The electrical signal is then converted into MIDI information.

Figure 3 shows a view of a single pickup 5 with hidden detail revealing the shape of the supporting end tags.

Figure 4 shows 3 views of an effects strip. The effects strip works by using capacitance between two layers of PCB. The top or visible strip 7 is made from an array of metal rectangles. Each rectangle is electrically isolated.

Top etching 7 is laid on one face of 14 a printed circuit board and bottom etchings 15 and 16 are laid on the other face of a PCB 14. When a finger is slid along 7 an electrical signal is derived which is proportional to the fingers position.

This is achieved by charging the plate 15, rectangles 7 act as one side of the capacitor and metal plate 16 works as the other side of the capacitor.

Because of the shape of 16 the capacitance between 16 and 7 varies depending on which rectangle of 7 is being effectively earthed by the finger.

The proportional effect information is converted into midi information.

Claims

CLAIMS The Midiboard is a new musical instrument that can be played using a number of styles analogous to playing a piano or keyboard, a guitar or stringed instrument or a wind instrument.
2 The instrument can be played easily by beginners since much of the manual dexterity related to playing instruments is removed be pre programming chords and/or notes to be used.
3 The instrument allows for development of new playing techniques and the playing of otherwise impossible note combinations.
4 The array of pickup strips make it possible to play notes like a keyboard or like strings on a guitar.
5 The pickup array is engineered in such a way that each pickup is isolated with reference to shock and each pickup responds in accordance to how hard it has been struck.
6 The effects strips use electronic capacitance to activate an effect in proportion to a fingers position. The effect strips can be used to play the instrument in an analogous way to playing a wind instrument.