JPS62299995A - Portable musical instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention 3. Detailed Description of the Invention [Technical Field to Which the Invention Pertains] The present invention relates to musical instruments, and particularly to a portable electronic drum that can be held and worn by a player during a performance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Two trends in modern music concerts include the provision of electric or electronic instruments to replace traditional acoustic instruments, such as electric guitars, electronic keyboards, and electronic drums; This includes improving the mobility of musicians while playing these instruments. For example, the easily portable nature of guitars makes such exercise relatively easy for guitarists.

Traditional drums are bulky. Portable drums are used, for example, in marching bands, but the drums in marching bands are primarily used to provide rhythm and lack the range of expression desirable for stage performance. For this reason, even though the drums are one of the most well-known instruments and can be found in most modern bands, a completely mobile drum set for stage performance has never been achieved. It wasn't.

Electronic drums are known and are described, for example, in US Pat. (
i:15,071. Other currently available electronic drums include the 5IIIIIIion
Sold under various trademarks including 5DS7 by sElsCtroniCs Ltd. A full set of drums includes many different drums and percussion instruments, including snare drums, kettle drums, cymbals, and bass drums. Although many electronic drums are portable in the sense that they can be carried from one place to another, these drums also have support that prevents the player from moving around the stage during a performance. usually requires a surface.

A musical 5hoe that produces a musical sound when its lower key is pressed is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,241. This patent does not suggest the incorporation of musical shoes into percussion instruments or portable electronic drum sets.

[Means to solve the problem]

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electron:param set that overcomes the above and other shortcomings of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electronic drum set that is portable and can be carried by the performer during performance.

Yet another object of the invention is a portable electronic drum set adapted to distribute a number of percussion instrument components around the torso of the performer in order to enable its fluent and natural use. It is provided by.

Still another object of the invention is a portable electronic drum having a striking surface adapted to be distributed around the torso of the player and having at least one acoustic transducer for attachment to the player's shoes. - Provided as a set.

Still other objects of the present invention include a percussion transducer carried on the player's torso, a stationary processing electronic device, and a system for transmitting information from the player's torso to the stationary electronic processing device. To provide a drum set equipped with a transmission device. This transmission device can be a highly flexible cable, wireless or optical transmission device.

In summary, the present invention provides for mounting on different parts of the performer's torso to provide maximum mobility for stage performance.
To provide a portable electronic drum set equipped with individual drum devices.

A pulse analysis device associated with each drum device processes the output of the drum device for transmission to a synthesizer, which further processes and amplifies the resulting sound for application to a loudspeaker. Wired, wireless or optical links may be used to send signals from the performer's torso to a stationary synthesizer and loudspeaker. Percussion transducers in the player's shoes may also be used to further increase the flexibility of the system. The output of the percussion transducer in the player's shoe is combined with the output of the rest of the drum system to produce a total drum signal. Furthermore, the output of the shoe percussion transducer and drum device can also be used to i-control the operation of the projector for an individual performer.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a portable musical instrument for use by a performer, the instrument having at least first and second pulses that produce a pulse in response to a strike thereon.
a device for analyzing the pulse and generating a signal in response thereto; and mounting said at least first and second devices to at least first and second portions of the performer's torso. It consists of a licking device and.

According to a feature of the invention, there is provided a portable drum set for use by a performer, the drum set having at least a first and a second drum for producing a first signal in response to a strike thereon. a device for producing an output signal in response to the first signal; a device for attaching each of the at least first and second devices to different regions of the player's torso; and a device for producing an output signal in response to the first signal; and a device for generating an acoustic signal in response to the signal.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be seen with reference to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements. This will become clear from the description below.

〔Example〕

In FIG. 1, an electronic drum set 10 according to the present invention is shown held on the torso of a performer 12 holding two drum sticks 13. A music synthesizer 14, which receives signals from a set of electronic drums, produces a musical output signal 15 that is applied to a loudspeaker 16.

The electronic drum set 10 consists of different percussion instruments, such as a high hat 18, a floor tom 20, a snare 22, a tom-tom 24, a first bass drum 26, and a second bass drum 28. It will be apparent, however, that more or less than the number and type of instruments illustrated may be carried by the player 12 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Each percussion instrument includes a synth juicer, the output of which is produced by a synthesizer in a manner well known in the art, so as to produce a sound suitable for the percussion instrument.

Next, in FIG. 2, the high hat 18 is selected as an example of one musical instrument of the electronic drum set IO. The high hat 18 includes an electronic drum 30 with a striking surface 32 capable of producing an electrical signal upon striking. A pulse analyzer 34, which can be located on the electronic drum 30 as shown, or alternatively built into the synthesizer +4, produces an output signal 35. A transmitting device 36 transmits an output signal 35 to the music analyzer 14 (FIG. 1), for example using a conductor 38.

Electronic drum 30 includes a band 40 having a buckle 44 for wrapping around a convenient location on the torso of player 12. Other attachment means may be used, such as, for example, snap fasteners or cooperating bands of Velcro tape that stick to themselves. Alternatively or additionally, it is possible to attach the electronic drum 3G to a pocket provided for that purpose in the costume of the performer 12.

3, when one or more selected striking surfaces 32 are struck, a corresponding output signal 35 from the associated pulse analyzer 34 is sent to the music analyzer+4 by the corresponding transmitter 36. to a receiving device 46, which may be conveniently located within the computer. The receiving device 46 further sends an output signal 35 to a synthesizer 48 which produces an output signal 15 representing the sound associated with the original pulse.
is relayed to the loudspeaker 16.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a shoe 50 incorporates a pressure transducer 52, a light source 54, and a wireless transmitter 56. The pressure quadrangle transducer 52 is pressure sensitive and may be, for example, a piezoelectric transducer. A piezoelectric transducer responds to changes in pressure applied to its surface by producing a proportional voltage. The output signal 53 from the pressure transducer 52 is used to generate other drum sounds, such as the sound of a bass drum.
It can be processed similarly to the signals from the rest of set 10. Each time shoe 50 strikes a surface, pressure transducer 12 produces a drum sound according to the processing its output signal 53 receives. The signal from the pressure transducer 52 is
The contact of the shoe 50 with the surface can be amplified by conventional means, not shown, to energize the light source S4. This allows for the creation of interesting sound and light intermixing effects that can be achieved by the performer 12 with simultaneous energization of the light source 54 and the loudspeaker 16. Light source 54 may be an incandescent lamp or other type of light source, but in the preferred embodiment one or more light emitting diodes are preferred due to the low power requirements of such devices. In addition to or in place of the signal from the pressure transducer 52, the signal from the electronic drum set 10 may be used to actively control the light source 54.

shoes 5 to the remaining signal generated by the set 10 of electronic drums.
A wireless transmitter 56 may be used to transmit the output signal 53 of the pressure transducer 52 to the receiver 46 to include a music output of 0. Furthermore, conductor 3
8, all remaining outputs of the electronic drum set 1O may be communicated to the receiver 46 via the wireless transmitter 56.

When used in this manner, the wireless transmitter frees the performer 12 from constraints such as those in the conductor wire 38 and adds to the performer's mobility.

If the performer 12 also leads the orchestra group in addition to playing the electronic drum set IO, the shoes 5
By incorporating 0 into electronic drum cera:・10, performer 1
2 provides an opportunity to set the tempo for the band group by tapping the shoes 50 on the stage. This allows a relatively smooth and relatively unobtrusive way for the orchestra group to begin a piece.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described herein with reference to the drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments or that the scope or spirit of the invention is as set forth in the appended claims. It should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the above.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a performer wearing a portable electronic drum set according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and another device for use with the portable electronic drum set; Schematic diagram, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of one electronic drum in the portable electronic drum set of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the portable electronic drum set of FIG. 1 and ancillary devices. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing one further embodiment of a portable electronic drum. 10...Electronic drum set, 12...Performer, 1
3...Drum stick, 14...Music analyzer, 1.1...Output signal, iG-loudspeaker, 18...High hat, 20...Floor tom, 22...・Snare drum, 24...Tam-tom, 2G, 28. , -Base drum, 30... Electronic drum, 32... Hitting surface, 34... Pulse analyzer, 3S... Output signal, 36... Transmitting device, 3
8...Conducting wire, 40...Belt, 4.1...Buckle, 46...Receiver, -ta...Synthesizer, 3
0...Shoes, 52...Pressure transducer, 53.
...Output signal, 54...Light source, S6...3 wireless transmitters.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A portable musical instrument used by a performer, comprising: at least first and second devices that generate pulses in response to a strike; and analyze the pulses and generate a signal in response thereto. a device for attaching the at least first and second devices to at least first and second portions of the player's torso;
A portable musical instrument characterized by providing. 2. The portable musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the attachment device is a band. 3. The invention further comprises a light source and a device for energizing the light source in response to the signal.
Portable musical instruments as described in section. 4. A portable electronic drum set for use by a performer, comprising: at least first and second devices generating a first signal in response to a strike; and generating an output signal in response to the first signal; a device for generating an acoustic signal in response to the output signal; a device for attaching each of the at least first and second devices to a different region of the torso of the performer; A portable electronic drum set. 5. The portable electronic drum set according to claim 4, wherein the attachment device is a strip. 6. The portable electronic drum set according to claim 4, further comprising a device for displaying the first signal. 7. The portable electronic drum set according to claim 4, wherein the output signal has a sound similar to that of a drum. 8. In a portable musical instrument used by a performer, a shoe having a sole; a device disposed near the sole of the shoe for producing a pulse in response to a strike; A portable electronic drum player, comprising: a device responsively generating a signal; and a device attaching the shoe to the player.
set. 9. A portable musical instrument according to claim 8, further comprising a light source and a device for energizing the light source in response to the signal. 10. at least a first device for generating a first pulse in response to a strike in a portable musical instrument used by a performer;
a first device for attaching the at least first device to at least a first portion of the player's torso; a shoe having a sole; and a first device disposed near the bottom of the shoe. an apparatus for analyzing the second pulse and generating a second pulse in response to the strike;
A portable musical instrument, characterized in that it is provided with a device for generating a signal, and a second device for attaching the shoe to the player. 11. The portable musical instrument of claim 10 further comprising a light source and a device for energizing the light source in response to the second signal.