JP2013228434A - System for controlling effector by motion sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow control of the volume and tone quality of a device (hereafter called effector) changing a tone color of an electric guitar, an electric bass guitar, or the like or an amplifier (hereafter called guitar amplifier) for an electric guitar or an electric bass guitar even during performance.SOLUTION: A device is developed which controls a tone color or its variation in accordance with movement of the body of a player or a musical instrument (hereafter called guitar) held by the player.

Description

The present invention mainly relates to a device for changing the tone of an electric guitar or electric bass (hereinafter referred to as an effector), an electric guitar or an electric bass guitar amplifier (hereinafter referred to as a guitar amplifier), a player's body, or a musical instrument to be held. It relates to a device that can control the tone and its change according to the movement of the guitar (hereinafter referred to as guitar).

In order to adjust the sound quality and pitch of conventional effectors and guitar amplifiers, use switches or volume knobs between performances, or if you are playing, ask someone else or use a foot-controlled pedal. There was only method to use.

JP-A-8-314453

With conventional effectors and guitar amplifiers, the performer can adjust the volume, sound quality, and pitch by using switches and volume knobs between performances, or if others are playing, ask others The only way to do this was to use a foot-controlled pedal.

When we asked others to adjust the volume, sound quality, and pitch, the timing of the adjustment could be slightly different, and we could not guarantee reliable adjustment.

A pedal that controls the volume, sound quality, and pitch adjustment with your foot can only be operated like an accelerator pedal on a car or switch on and off, and the volume, sound quality, and pitch can be adjusted finely. It was impossible for the performer. This limits the expression of the performer.

Also, the performer could not move on the stage near the other who requested the adjustment or from the position of the effector or amp pedal. This constrained the player's movement on the stage.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems described above.

The apparatus of the present invention senses the movement of the player's body or the movement of the guitar held by the performer using a motion sensor, sends the sensed movement data to the control unit, and operates the servo motor. Or by an electronic circuit, one of an amplifier for an electric guitar, an effector volume, and an effector switch is operated synchronously to change the volume, timbre, pitch, and the like.

By using this device, it will be possible to easily adjust the volume, sound quality, and pitch of the grain that was difficult for the performer himself to perform during the performance, and to express music that has never been done before. Can do. Also, the performer can move freely from the position of the pedal or switch, and can move around freely on the stage according to the audience's reaction.

Depending on the effector to be linked, sound quality effects such as tone, pitch, echo depth, and delay time can be adjusted in addition to volume.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external view showing the main body incorporating the control unit according to the embodiment of the present invention from the diagonally right front. FIG. 3 is an external view showing the main body incorporating the control unit according to the embodiment of the present invention from the diagonally left rear. FIG. 4 is an external view showing a sensor portion according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises a motion sensor that senses the movement of the performer's body or the movement of the guitar held by the performer, and a control unit that changes the timbre in response to a signal from the sensor.

The motion sensor is attached to the guitar's spools held by the performer, or to the main body or a part of the performer's body. The mounting position is not limited to this depending on the player's preference and desire.

The motion sensor is equipped with an acceleration sensor that senses gravity, detects the player's body movement and the guitar movement held by the player, processes it with a microcomputer, and sends the data to the control unit either wired or wirelessly. Deliver.

For example, when the motion sensor is attached near the pincushion of a guitar, the volume can be increased by raising the pincushion vicinity during performance, or the volume can be reduced by lowering the pinnage. Depending on the player's preference, the same effect can be obtained by reverse movement or movement in the front-rear direction by changing the mounting position and direction of the sensor.

The motion sensor can adjust the neutral position of the acceleration sensor. Thereby, a reaction zone can be adjusted according to a player's liking.

Depending on the data received from the sensor unit, the control unit activates the servo motor that is mechanically linked to the volume and switch of the effector and amplifier via gears and levers, or electronically linked to perform the performance. The body movement of the performer, the movement of the instrument held by the performer, and the volume and switch are operated synchronously.

The main body is equipped with an effector on / off switch at the top of the aluminum die-cast box-type housing. A jack for power supply, input, output, and sensor connection is mounted on the outer periphery. Inside the housing, there is a control unit with a circuit for changing the sound quality and a servo motor that is mechanically linked to the circuit.

The sensor is equipped with an acceleration sensor that detects gravity, a microcomputer that processes the movement detected by the acceleration sensor, and a knob that adjusts the reaction zone of the acceleration sensor. Data transmission to the main body is performed by installing a wired or wireless device.

When the sensor data is delivered with a wireless device, an aluminum die-cast housing separate from the main body is prepared and the wireless receiving device is built-in. A switch that distributes the data sent from the motion sensor is mounted on the surface of the housing. Around the housing, an output jack is arranged for connection to a device equipped with an effector and a control unit.

Performers can adjust the sound quality more finely than conventional effectors and amplifiers, and can easily adjust the volume, sound quality, and pitch that were difficult for the performers themselves to perform during the performance. Become.

The performer can perform while changing the volume, sound quality, and pitch at any place on the stage without being near the effector or amplifier, and the player's body or the movement of the instrument held Because it is reflected in changes in sound quality and pitch, it can attract the attention of the audience.

Compared to pedals, switches, volume knobs, etc., the volume, sound quality, and pitch can be adjusted more directly and emotionally, creating a new musical expression.

1 Accelerometer mounted, motion sensor 2 Servo motor 3 Effector body 4 Guitar body 5 Guitar amplifier, outputs changing tone.
6 Performer 21 Effect switch 22 Power jack for effector 23 Input plug 24 Manual tone control switch
31 Motion sensor plug 32 Output plug 33 Servo motor power jack 41 Body 42 Sensor neutral position adjustment knob 43 Lead wire

Claims (1)

Using a motion sensor, the body movement of the performer or the movement of the musical instrument held by the performer is sensed, and the sensed movement data is sent to the control unit, which is used for an electric guitar by a mechanical mechanism or electronic circuit. One of the amplifier, the effector volume, and the effector switch is operated synchronously to change the volume, tone, pitch, and the like.