EP1433162B1 - Electromechanical percussion instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electromechanical percussion instrument with at least one striker (32), and a struck section (19) for the striker (32) to hit. The sounds are generated by the coming together of the striker (32) and the struck section (19) by using a mechanically activated oscillator and converted into electrical sound signals by means of a converter coupled to pick-ups (21) and electronically prepared and processed for reproduction as sound tones, whereby the mechanically activated oscillator is formed by the striker (32) itself. The striker (32) comprises a rigid, in any case, strongly damped and thus essentially non-vibrating or sounding fixing or support piece (33) with an oscillating body (34), which may oscillate elastically mounted on the fixing or support piece (33).

Description

The invention relates to an electromechanical percussion instrument with at least one stopper and a stopper portion to be hit by the stopper, in which the sounds generated using a mechanically excited vibrator when meeting or collision of stopper and stop section and converted by means of coupled with pickups transducer into electrical sound signals and are reproduced electronically for playback as a tone and processed further.

Such percussion instruments are known in particular as electric drum pad systems for studio and live applications and make it possible to use percussion rhythms-as realistically as possible via so-called MIDI (musical instrument digital interface = globally uniformly standardized digital interface for the coupling of electronic musical instruments ) in a sequencer record or record or to use in live situations. Major components of such conventional electronic drum systems include touch-sensitive drum pads mainly made of rubber or other elastic materials with which the vibration behavior of conventional drumheads can be mimicked as realistically as possible, as well as with the drum pads coupled pickups, microphones or the like suitable electromechanical transducer , generate the electrical sound signals and prepare for playback as sound sounds, for example via a drum trigger module and ultimately to a speaker and further processed. Recorded are such electronic drum pad systems with completely conventional. Drum sticks, drum sticks or truncheons or even clappers with or without felt or cork balls. The purpose of such prior art electronic or electromechanical drum pad systems is essentially to couple the drums with the electronic midi world of the other musical instruments, but here the conventional mechanical To imitate drums as much as possible in terms of playability. However, the products currently available on the market were unsatisfactory especially because of the playability and thus, so to speak, from the artistic side compared to classical percussion instruments, so that one can either return to the classical percussion, especially in the higher-quality studio recordings mainly in modern light music - the recording of rhythm sounds completely done with the help of computers and drum computers, which were programmed with the musical material. This ultimately led to the well-known unemployment of drummers in wide areas of the studio operation.

In fact, there is not yet a single satisfactory midi drum-pad system in the entire music instrument market that provides authentic-real-time, real-time real-time midi or live performance, and at the same time the midi programmer's - in particular Home Recording Area - possesses important and advantageous features and factors. The commercial combinations of drum pads and conventional sticks do not actually have the necessary for an artistic operation vibration characteristics. A simulation, imitation and reproduction of the typical natural suspension and vibration behavior as well as in particular rebound effects of the natural stick-fur combination in the real classical percussion instruments should certainly be reasonably indispensable for the realistic imitation of the playing techniques and the sound of acoustic drums over Midi. In addition to such fundamental disadvantages of such prior art electronic percussion instruments, which essentially in the lack of authentic-realistic real-time Einspielmöglichkeit, in the absence of the necessary vibration pattern and low sensitivity and sensitivity of the pads and associated unfavorable In addition, the modular systems corresponding in their size dimensions in about the real acoustic drums in addition require a large space requirement, despite the fact only a small number of different pads and the associated inflexibility and low variability, and a still relatively high, the environment disturbing noise level, in particular the kick pedal very loud low-frequency, rapidly spreading tread and structure-borne sound generated, and ultimately are very expensive, require a lot of time when assembling and dismantling, the transportability is only unsatisfactory , and are generally unwieldy.

In contrast, the already more compact, portable, stationary systems, the fundamental problem of a lack of authentic-realistic real-time Einspielmöglichkeit due to the lack of the necessary vibration pattern and low sensitivity / sensitivity of the pads in bad response, and continue in an unsatisfactory low number from just a few pads per device. Although the space requirements of the devices of this type is significantly lower in relation to the modular systems, the degree of integration of the pads is also unfavorable in these systems: the diameter of the pads is considerably smaller than in the case of normal acoustic drums, but in relation to the smallest the playability still meaningful feasible dimension still unnecessarily large, making the number of pads per device or space is still too low. In addition, the pad surfaces are usually set immutable on a base plate in the device, so that the stationary systems are modular expandable and formable if at all so only with considerable overhead.

In summary, all currently known drum pad systems have major drawbacks that prevent many midi programmers from buying and using any of these systems, especially in the home recording field where the Volume aspect with regard to the volume of the room to be kept, as well as the optimal use of the usually only small available space for the equipment plays a not insignificant role.

From the US 5 503 056 a percussion instrument according to the preamble of claim 1 is known, in which the stopper has a arranged in the longitudinal direction of the baton oscillating body with a coil spring.

The present invention has for its object to provide an electromechanical percussion instrument for midi recording of Schlagzugrhythmen both for studio and live applications to provide a fast and time-saving, but also inspiring, motivating and associated with a high artistic quality input of Drum rhythms allows practicing on drums to a large extent without noise pollution, but with good sound via headphones or via a hi-fi system or the like, and moreover, a trouble-free live application either in the practice room with band or at live concerts or other public Ensures events, and thus in the professional music field of composition and commitment, as well as in the amateur field with recreational or hobby musicians equally an artistically high-quality music making.

This object is achieved by an electromechanical percussion instrument according to claim 1 and a stopper for an electromechanical percussion instrument according to claim 9 and 13.

According to the invention, it is provided that the mechanically excited oscillator is formed by the stopper itself, wherein the stopper is a rigid, in any case greatly attenuated and therefore substantially non-oscillating or sounding holding and supporting part and a mounted on the holding or supporting part, having molded or arranged elastically oscillating vibrating body.

An inventive stopper for an electromechanical percussion instrument, with a rigid, in any case strongly damped and therefore substantially non-oscillating or tinting holding or supporting part is characterized in that the stopper has a mounted on the holding or supporting part, molded or arranged elastically oscillating vibrating body.

In this case, the physical vibration characteristics or vibration patterns or vibration behavior of the vibration body are similar to those of commercially available acoustic eardrums.

In a structurally simple example is the. Oscillating body formed or formed by an elastic coil spring. In this case, it may be advantageous for the one end of the elastic coil spring to be attached to the holding or supporting part of the stopper and the other end to have a striking member.

Preferably, the stopper is substantially rod-shaped in the form of a drum stick or bobbin, wherein its holding and supporting part has a handle, and whose oscillating body is struck, molded or formed on the end remote from the handle of the drum stick.

In particular, the oscillating body can be offset transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the handle.

In a further embodiment, the stopper may also be formed as a kick pedal, wherein the holding and supporting part of the stopper is coupled to the operation of a foot pedal.

The basic idea of the invention, and thus the actual inventive step, consists of the principle of operation that hitherto prevailed for all conventional percussion instruments to turn, and instead of the usual principle "fur swings" on the principle of "stick swinging" to go, and to get the idea of the "super-rebound stick", which on the principle of the stick itself mounted vibration body, for example in the form of a coil spring or another elastically oscillating body is based. While all previous suggestions for improvement always functionally concerned with the acoustic improvement of conventional drums or acoustic sound enhancements of pads or drum pads, the invention is directed in the opposite direction and is generally referred to as a drumstick and in this case as a stopper, which according to the inventive idea of US Pat actually vibrating and thus sound-producing and above all sound shaping component of the electro-mechanical percussion instrument is. After lengthy experimental tests, it has been found that with an elastic oscillating body mounted on a drumstick the drum-fur behavior of classical percussion instruments can be excellently simulated and due to favorable vibration characteristics a very realistic drum play is possible. On the other hand, the vibration characteristics of the striking surfaces are no longer decisive. In the percussion instrument according to the invention, the striking surfaces essentially serve to transmit the sounds produced by the stopper to the pickups coupled to the stop sections and to convert them into electrical sound signals by means of transducers, and finally further processing the electrical sound signals into midi-capable signals for controlling electronic sequencers and other electronic devices Sound generation or sound processing circuits. Preferably, the stopper portions or the impact plate of the percussion instrument according to the invention are made of an inelastic, low-sounding, in any case strong vibration-damping material, which in the simplest case may even be wood or a non-elastic plastic.

With the percussion instrument according to the invention, an intuitive, easy and fast insertability of virtually all percussion playing techniques, in particular whirls, press swivels, rolls in a sequencer or other electronic midi devices, which are electronically coupled to the percussion instrument, both in studio as well also in live situations in the most authentic-realistic way with equally authentic-realistic sound results. By a sufficiently high sensitivity coupled to the stopper cartridge pickup is a perfect response with the highest sensitivity of the stop section or the striking surface allows the inventive percussion instrument is sensitive enough to even with little force on the stop section and thus low noise full Midi To develop momentum. This is at the same time the desire for the lowest possible noise and noise pollution for the environment when nutz.des percussion instrument met. Since the stopper sections have no relevant vibration characteristics for the generation of the musical tones, they can be of a structurally simplest design. This results in - at the same time an extremely small footprint of the percussion instrument according to the invention, and it can be provided over the prior art devices significantly more stop sections or percussion surfaces per unit room. Associated with the extremely favorable compactness of the instrument according to the invention is also the improved transportability and mobility, whereby the use is particularly advantageous in live applications. Finally, the purchase price of the percussion instrument according to the invention is substantially lower because of the significantly more compact and simpler construction compared with the previously known instruments.

With the electromechanical percussion instrument according to the invention consisting of stop sections and stop elements with mechanically excited oscillating bodies, a practically perfect simulation and simulation of typical oscillatory devices is achieved. or Abschwing pattern of real acoustic drum systems, whereby virtually all drum playing techniques are playable. As an example of the occurrence of the typical vibrational behavior of real cases explained: If you let a conventional wood drum stick loosely in the hand to fall on real fur of an acoustic drum body, then lets the stick back up the stick or bounce back; with each new fall, the way the stick travels back to: the next time and the amount of time it takes will be shortened; This results in a typical rebound / decay and thus rhythmic sound pattern for real drums. This rebound / vibration pattern of acoustic. Drumming is now simulated simply but extremely effective by the stopper with the elastically oscillating oscillating body in connection with the inventive electromechanical percussion instrument: If you let the inventive stopper loosely in the hand holding on the designed highly sensitive stop section, the stopper springs in the prototype pattern , very similar way to standstill many times up and down, the number of return oscillations upward and the time course to standstill depends essentially on the vibration parameters of the vibrating body; With just one hand movement, namely dropping the striker, one achieves a multiple triggering in the simplest musical technique.

All playing techniques, including the difficult jazz techniques, can be played in real time via Midi without any problems. Single strokes, double strokes = flams, multiple strokes, whirls, press swirls, rolls, runs, even brush techniques, as well as the possibility of developing other new, with conventional pad systems (or classic drums) not or only partially realizable playing techniques are with the inventive percussion instrument comparatively easy; The new instrument therefore also offers a simple Extension of the previous possibilities to play drums and percussion instruments.

The stop sections should, as already mentioned, do not oscillate themselves, but only transmit the pulses emitted by the stopper to the pickups, for example pressure-sensitive or acceleration-sensitive pad converters; the oscillating pattern comes solely from the oscillating body on the stopper. The pickups coupled to the stop sections should, however, be sensitive enough to detect and transmit even the slightest impact strength. This simply opens up the increase in the sensitivity of the stop sections or the pickups to improve the response in general by a structurally simplest possible construction. In addition, an improvement in the sensitivity of the stopper portions or the pickup also to adapt to the lower force in the inventive stopper on the stopper sections, anyway required. (With the inventive stopper it would be otherwise not possible to play on commercial drum pads made of rubber, since they are too insensitive, since they are designed for greater force by real hard wooden sticks.)

Further advantages, features and expedient developments of the invention will become apparent from the other dependent claims.

Fig. 1:

in schematischer Draufsicht ein komplettes Schlagzeugset bestehend aus mehreren elektromechanischen Schlaginstrumenten nach der Erfindung;

Fig. 2:

in schematischer Schnittansicht nähere Einzelheiten des Schlaginstrumentes nach der Erfindung;

Fig. 3:

eine schematische Ansicht eines Anschlägers nach einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;

Fig. 4A, 4B:

in schematischer Seiten- und Draufsicht ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel eines Anschlägers für das elektromechanische Schlaginstrument nach der Erfindung;

Fig. 5:

eine schematische Ansicht einen Anschläger nach einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung; und

Fig. 6A, 6B:

in schematischer Ansichten weitere Ausführungsbeispiele eines Anschlägers für das elektromechanische Schlaginstrument nach der Erfindung.

Reference to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in detail. It shows:

Fig. 1:

in a schematic plan view of a complete set of drums consisting of several electromechanical percussion instruments according to the invention;

Fig. 2:

in a schematic sectional view of details of the percussion instrument according to the invention;

3:

a schematic view of a stopper according to an embodiment of the invention;

4A, 4B:

in a schematic side and top view of another embodiment of a stopper for the electromechanical percussion instrument according to the invention;

Fig. 5:

a schematic view of a stopper according to another embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 6A, 6B:

in schematic views further embodiments of a stopper for the electromechanical percussion instrument according to the invention.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1 a plurality of electromechanical percussion instruments 1 are combined to form an ensemble of a complete set of drums 2, wherein the typical single drums of a classic drums is represented by a respective electromechanical percussion instrument, so as represented by a snare (drum) 3rd Hi-Hat 4, Toms 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 with different sizing 8 ", 10", 12 ", 13", 14 ", Floor-Toms 10 (16"), 11 (18 "), Kick 12 (in this illustration only a dummy, because this is usually played with the foot, but can also be played by hand), as well as several cymbals, namely Thin Chrash 13, China Splash 14, Mini-Splash 15, Crash 16, Mini -Ride 17, Jazz Ride 18. All percussion kit 2 percussion instruments 1 differ in principle electromechanical construction not essential; It is therefore sufficient to explain the constructive components by way of example on an electromechanical percussion instrument 1 according to the invention, namely about the floor tom 11 in more detail. Figure 2 shows a schematic sectional view taken along the line II-II of Figure 1. Both the illustration of Figure 1 and in Figure 2 are highly schematic and are only intended to show the details necessary for understanding the Grundprinzipien.der invention, and are in particular not to scale. The electromechanical percussion instrument 1 comprises a stop portion 19 with a striking plate 20 made of an inelastic, low-sounding, in any case strong vibration damping material such as wood and / or a non-elastic or only slightly elastic plastic material. The impact plate 20 is associated with a pickup 21, which responds to changes of mechanical forces acting on the impact plate, in particular pressure or acceleration forces, and converts these forces into electrical sound signals, which can be electronically processed and processed for playback as sound. In the case shown, the pickup 21 is provided with a (not shown in Figure 2) electrical contacts piezoelectric disk whose geometric strength is substantially less than the strength of the impact plate 20 (the thickness of the disc 21 is exaggerated in Figure 2) , In contrast, for example, to the coat of a classical drum, the percussion plate 20 in the inventive percussion instrument practically does not vibrate or ring in the sense of a tone-based characteristic, but only the tone generated by the closer described stopper forward directly to the pickup 21, which converts the sound into an electronic signal. The impact plate 20 thus serves only as a transmission medium of a beat to the pickup 21. Therefore, the highest possible sensitivity of the pickup 21 and on the other the most intimate possible mechanical coupling of pickup 21 and beater plate 20. The latter is achieved preferably by means of threaded screws 22, 23, which serve for fixing of striking plate 20 and pickup 21 on or on a support plate 24, which may for example also consist of wood or a plastic material. Advantageously, with the help of such screws also der.Grad the connection strength of the strike plate 20 and pickup 21 simply by the force of the screws to be tightened 22 and 23 are set. The abutment portion 19 consisting of impact plate 20 and pickup 21 together with support plate 24 may, as shown in the embodiment of Figure 2, be mounted on a damping member 25 of a sound-absorbing or -schluckenden material, such as foam or attached; and is supported, moreover, on a base part 26 made preferably of wood or plastic. The base part 26 and all attached thereto parts 20, 21, 24, 25 are accommodated in a housing part 27 and slidably mounted in height, with locking screws 28, 29 for fixing the base part 26 within .Device part 27 provide. The height of all the percussion instruments 1 of the drum set 2 are in this way easily adapt to the personal needs of the player or set according to reason of convenience. For example, the inner percussion instruments 3, 4, 5, 6, etc. can be lowered in height relative to the outer percussion instruments 13, 14, 15, ... in order to allow a simpler style of playing. All percussion instruments can be fixed by means of pins 30 on a base board 31. Alternatively, the bottom of the percussion instrument may be magnetic and adhere to the base board via magnetic force.

FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 6A, 6B show preferred embodiments of strikers according to the invention for the electromechanical percussion instrument shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B show strikers according to the invention each having a single oscillating body the embodiments according to Figures 5, 6A, 6B Show striker with two oscillating bodies. Identified by the same reference numerals in all embodiments denote identical or corresponding technical features. In all embodiments, the stopper 32 has a hand to be gripped holding or support member 33 and at least one attached to the holding or support member 33, molded or arranged elastically oscillating vibrating body 34. In the embodiments of Figures 5, 6A, 6B In addition, a second oscillating body 35 is provided. In all the illustrated embodiments, the holding or support member 33 is further made of a little oscillatory material such as preferably wood or plastic, wherein the shape is chosen such that the stopper 32 can be comfortably and loosely held in the hand of the musician. In particular, in the embodiments of Figures 4A, 4B, 6A and 6B, the support member 33 is shaped in the manner of conventional drum sticks; By no means must be limited in the inventive Anschläger the shape of this, but it is also in itself unusual forms conceivable, as well as those with not necessarily round, but quadrangular cross-sectional shapes as in the embodiments of Figures 3 and 5.

In the structurally simplest embodiments according to Figures 3 and 5, the oscillating body 34 is formed or formed by an elastic coil spring, wherein the oscillating body 34 is arranged transversely offset relative to the longitudinal direction of the holding or supporting part 33. The one end 36 of the elastic coil spring 34 is in this case attached to the outer end of the holding or supporting part 33 of the stopper 32, and the other end 37 has a striking member, which in the embodiments shown in Figures 3 and 5 a to the end 37 of the coil spring soldered or welded metal blade 38 represents.

In the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 6A, 6B, the oscillating body 34 is formed by a needle stem or lancet-like shaped metal stem 39, which is mounted within a bore 40 made in the holding or supporting part 33 on one side. that a free end 41 of the metal stem protrudes from the holding or supporting part 33, wherein at the outermost end of the metal stem 39, a striking member 42 is formed or formed .. In the embodiments shown in Figures 4A, 4B and 6A, 6B, the effective free Length of the protruding part 39 of the vibrating body 34 and thus the vibration behavior of the vibrating body can be adjusted. For this purpose, a fixedly connected to the oscillating body 39, externally operable by hand actuator 43 is provided, which is provided with a corrugation 44 on the outer surface. The adjusting element 43 is mounted in a channel 45 and allows a displacement of the oscillating body 34 within the bore 40 by hand.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 6A, the vibrating body 34 is also slidably mounted within the support member 33; however, an actuator is omitted in this example.

Claims (13)

1. Electromechanical percussion instrument having at least one striking means (32) and one striking area (19) which has to be hit by said striking means, with tunes being created using a mechanically excited oscillator when said striking means (32) and said striking area (19) meet or strike together, and said tunes being converted into electrical sound signals by means of a transducer coupled with pick-ups (21) and prepared electronically and further processed for a representation as music sound, whereby the mechanically excited oscillator is formed itself by said striking means (32), and said striking means (32) comprises a rigid support means (33) and an elastic swingable swinging body (34) that is attached, formed or arranged at said support means (33),
   characterized in that said swinging body (34) extends crosswise in relation to the longitudinal direction of the support means (33).
2. Electromechanical percussion instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that said swinging body (34) is provided or formed by an elastic coil spring.
3. Electromechanical percussion instrument according to claim 2 or 1, characterized in that one of the ends (36) of the flexible coil spring (34) is attached at said support means (33) of the striking means (32) and the other end (37) comprises an impact means.
4. Electromechanical percussion instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that said instrument is formed as a multi tone music instrument.
5. Electromechanical percussion instrument according to one of claims 1 through 4, characterized in that said striking means (32) is formed essentially rod-shaped in form of a drum stick.
6. Electromechanical percussion instrument according to one of claims 1 through 5, characterized in that said striking means (32) is formed as a kick pedal, whereby the support means (33) of the striking means (32) is coupled with the manipulation of a foot pedal.
7. Electromechanical percussion instrument according to one of claims 1 through 6, characterized in that said pick-up (21) of the percussion instrument (1) is assigned to an inelastic impact plate (20).
8. Electromechanical percussion instrument according to one of claims 1 through 7, characterized in that the material of said impact plate (20) comprises wood and/or inelastic plastic.
9. Striking means for an electromechanical percussion instrument, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, having a rigid support means (33) and a flexibly swingable swinging body (34) arranged to said support means, whereby said striking means (32) is formed essentially rod-shaped in form of a drum stick, and said support means (33) comprises a handle, and said swinging body (34) is fastened, formed or coupled at the end of the drum stick in opposite to said handle, characterized in that said swinging body (34) extends crosswise in relation to the longitudinal direction of the support means (33).
10. Striking means according to claim 9, characterized in that said swinging body (34) is provided or formed by an elastic coil spring.
11. Striking means according to claim 9 or 10,
    characterized in that one of the ends (36) of the flexible coil spring (34) is attached at said support means (33) of the striking means (32) and the other end (37) comprises an impact means.
12. Striking means according to one of claims 9 through 11, characterized in that said striking means (32) is formed as a kick pedal, whereby the support means (33) of the striking means (32) is coupled with the manipulation of a foot pedal.
13. Striking means for an electromechanical percussion instrument having a rigid support means (33) and a flexibly swingable swinging body (34) arranged to said support means, whereby said striking means (32) is formed essentially rod-shaped in form of a drum stick, said support means (33) comprising a handle, and said swinging body (34) is formed by a needle-like metal stem (39), and whereby said swinging body (34) is situated in a one-sided open bore made within said support means (33) such, that a free end (41) of the metal stem protrudes said support means (33),
    characterized in that the length of the protruding part (39) of the swinging body (34) is adjustable, and an adjusting element (43) is provided which is firmly connected with the swinging body (39) and is manually operatable, said adjusting element (43) is situated in a channel (45), and enables a displacement of said swinging body (34) within said bore (40).

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