US3476866A - Low-pitched voices in electronic organs - Google Patents
Low-pitched voices in electronic organs Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3476866A US3476866A US478817A US3476866DA US3476866A US 3476866 A US3476866 A US 3476866A US 478817 A US478817 A US 478817A US 3476866D A US3476866D A US 3476866DA US 3476866 A US3476866 A US 3476866A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- tone
- gates
- decay
- signal
- low
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
- G10H1/00—Details of electrophonic musical instruments
- G10H1/02—Means for controlling the tone frequencies, e.g. attack or decay; Means for producing special musical effects, e.g. vibratos or glissandos
- G10H1/06—Circuits for establishing the harmonic content of tones, or other arrangements for changing the tone colour
- G10H1/14—Circuits for establishing the harmonic content of tones, or other arrangements for changing the tone colour during execution
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S84/00—Music
- Y10S84/23—Electronic gates for tones
Definitions
- Thunder sounds in theater pipe-organs have been simulated by using a pedal piston, which, when actuated caused a number of the lowest-pitched 'diaphone or tuba pipes of the pipe-organ to be sounded together, causing a loud rumble. This was a rather crude elfect, since the pipes stopped sounding abruptly when the piston was released.
- electronically simulated thunder has a somewhat similar steady-state effect to that produced by pipe organs in that it provides a low rumbling sound so long as the actuating switch is closed.
- a great improvement is accomplished in that, when the switch is released, the rumble continues in a slow decay down to no sound, with the higher frequency components decaying more rapidly. This produces the effect of thunder rolling off into the distant hills.
- a plurality of unharmonic, low-pitched tone signals are gated individually through a plurality of direct-current-actuable, gradualdecay, diode gates having different decay rates and being activated by a common switch from a source of direct current.
- a complex low-frequency beat pattern is obtained.
- the output of the gates is amplified and then converted to sound in conventional electroacoustic apparatus such as one or more loudspeakers.
- the input to the preamplifiers, amplifiers and speakers may be such as to. cause distortion, creating also sum and difference frequencies of the original frequencies, thus adding to the complex low-frequency beats.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple and low-cost circuit for simulating in an electronic musical instrument the sound of a bass drum.
- FIGURE 1 is a schematic diagram of an electric circuit for simulating thunder.
- FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit for simulating the sound of a bass drum.
- four tone-signal sources labeled C E G15 and B (32.7 to 61.7 c.p.s.), are preferably divider stages in a gamut of twelve conventional, cascaded flip-flops driven at their prescribed frequencies by a series of twelve, stable, master oscillators in an electronic organ.
- One side of each source is grounded to a common return path, as at 2.
- the output of each source may be connected to a pair of bacloto-back solid state diodes 4, 6, in series.
- a common collector 8 combines the gated signals for transmission to an output system comprising a low-pass filter, indicated generally at 10.
- the individual components in the filter 10 are resistors and capacitors, preferably of values as indicated in FIGURE 1. Capacitances are in microfarads and resistances are in ohms.
- the output of filter 10 is connected preferably to a preamplifier 12, a power amplifier 14 and loudspeaker(s) 16, all in series as shown.
- Each pair of diodes 4, 6 is part of a group of signal gates 18, 20, 22 and 24, comprised each of the .0022 bypass capacitor connected between a ground point 26 and the junction between the diodes 4, 6 plus other components as follows.
- a l megohm resistor also connects the diode junction point to a common bus 28 to which is connected a common actuating switch 30, in series with a direct current source 32 which is grounded at 34. In series, however, with three of the 1 megohm resistors may be an additional isolating solid state diode 36, as shown.
- On the switch side of each 1 megohm resistor is a storage or decay capacitor-values being .47, .82, 1.0 and 2.0 as shown-connected to a ground point.
- direct current from the source 32 is carried, upon closure of switch 30, via ground connections 34, 38 to the respective storage capacitors, the return to the source 32 being via isolating diodes 36 and bus 2 8.
- the purpose of the isolating diodes is to keep the longer decay capacitors, which take longer to discharge upon release of switch 30, from discharging into the smaller ones via the bus 28.
- the direct voltage is carried via the 1 megohm resistors to the diodes 4, 6 which are rendered conductive thereby to signals from the sources C E G# and B
- the gated signals are collected in bus 8 and passed through the filter 10, amplified by the preamplifier 12 and amplifier 14 for conversion to sound in the electroacoustic system 16.
- the signals preferably cause distortion in the amplifiers and speaker to develop sum and differences frequencies.
- the charges on the respective decay capacitors decay at rates determined by the time constant of each gate.
- the larger capacitors allow the lower frequency signals to decay at slower rates than the higher frequency signals. This fact results in a more authentic simulation of natural thunder.
- the signals from sources C B Git; and B are low in complexityfor example sinusoidal-the lowpass filter 10 may be of less complexity, or may be dispensed with entirely, the filter 10 having as its primary function to eliminate harmonics of the generated tones.
- the specific nomenclature signals disclosed be a limination. For instance, Cifi, F A and C could be used.
- the use of four signals is not critical. For example, if a. less complex efifect is desired, three signals could sufiice. On the other hand, a more complex result could be obtained by using more than four signals. It is essential, however, that the time constants of the higher-frequency gates be shorter than those for the lower-frequency gates, so that, the higherpitched components decay more rapidly than the lower ones.
- the gates 40, 42 and 44 are similar to gates 18 to 24 of FIG- URE 1 except for the decay capacitors, which in the former gates are .039, 0.82 and .33 microfarads, respectively.
- the gates are connected, as shown, to tone-signal sources labeled D Fit and E which correspond approximately in frequency ratios to the rates of vibration of stretched membranes given by Olson in Musical Engineering (McGraw-Hill, 1952, p. 78) as:
- the principal difference between the circiuts of FIG. 2 and FIG. 1 is that the former has a pulse forming network 46 at the direct current input to the gates 40, 42, 44.
- a +100 volts is continuously applied via terminal 48 to one side of a .47 microfarad capacitor 50, the other side of which is connected via the pulse-input bus 52 to the gates 40, 43, 44, to which also are connected, as shown, a diode 54 and a K resistor 56.
- the diodes 58, 60 and 62 are also located in the pulse inputs of the gates 40, 42, 44.
- a single-pole, single-throw switch 64 is shown connected between the capacitor 50 .and a source (not shown) of direct voltage of -l00 volts at terminal 66.
- the outputs of the gates 40, 42, 44 of FIG. 2 are carried by way of bus 68 to a low-pass filter 70, preamplifier 72, power amplifier 74 and loudspeaker(s) 76, all connected in series.
- the operation of the circuit of FIG. 2 will best be preceded by describing the condition of the pulse-forming network 46 prior to closure of switch 64.
- the capacitor 50 is charged to 100 volts by the directcurrent source connected to terminal 48.
- the capacitor 50 is reverse-charged by the direct-current source'connectedto terminal 66.
- the instantaneous current flow is through capacitor 50 in series with theparallel combination of capacitors 79,, 80, and 81, and through the common returns 78, 82, 83, 84.
- capaictors 78, 81, 82 is essentially equal-to capacitor 50, leavingan equal change in voltage oneach opens the gates 40,42, 44 by rendering their respective back-to-back diodes conductive to signals from the sources D Fit and E respectively, which, in turn, decay at different rates as determined by the respective time constants of the gates.
- the pulse-shaped envelope of the three signals is applied to thelow-pass filter viathe bus 68, and higher-frequency components are filtered out on a preferential basis as determined by the characteristics of the filter. This is believed to simulate the rapid decay of the higher modes of vibration of a drum-head, which are absorbed as drum head losses and are rejected by the cavity resonance of the drum interior.
- the diodes 58, 60, 62 prevent (1) all the decay capacitors from discharging back into the pulse-forming network 46 and (2) the larger decay capacitors from discharging into the smaller ones.
- the second harmonic of C is passed, and some of the sum frequencies, and all the difference frequencies.
- the precise design of filter 10 is a matter of aesthetic choice, within the limits above prescribed, and the added frequencies generated give rise to additional beats, and hence again render the sound ultimately heard more complex.
- FIGURES l and 2 comprise a plurality of direct-current-actuable signal gates of varying decay rates fed by unharmonic, relatively low-pitched signals, the outputs of which gates are passed through a low-pass filter for amplification and conversion to sound.
- tone-signal gates having audibly different decay rates as between one and another, the decay rates for respectively lower ones of all said frequencies being lower than the decay rates for respectively higher ones .of said frequencies and proportioned to produce a sound corresponding with the sound of bass drum and thunder.
- tone-signal gates comprise each.
- said further diodes being so poled as to prevent discharge of any one of'said decay capacitors toward a smaller capacitor.
- the combina- 5 i decay, tone-signal gates respectively coupled in series tion comprising: with said tone-signal sources,
- a source of direct voltage a source of direct voltage
- tone-signal gates in parallel, low-frequency beat pattern with a gradual decay and upon opening of said common switch, wherein said an output system coupled to said tone-signal gates, tone-signal gates comprise each:
- said tone-signal gates having different decay rates a pair of back-to-back diodes in series between one of as between one and another, wherein said tone-signal said tone-signal sources and said output system, gates comprise each: a bypass capacitor coupled between a common-return a. pair of back-to-back diodes coupled in series between path and the junction between said diodes,
- one of said tone-signal sources, and said output sysa relatively high resistance and a decay capacitor tem, and coupled between said common return path and said a relatively-high resistance and a decay capacitor coujunction between said diodes, said by-pass capacitors pled between a common return path and the juncbeing scaled so that lower frequency ones of said tion between said back-to-back diodes, said direct tone-signal gates have larger decay capacitors, and voltage being applied via said common switch across a further diode coupled between said common switch said decay capacitors, and and the junction between said relatively-high a further diode coupled between said common switch resistance and said decay capacitor in some at least and the junction between said relatively-high reof said tone-signal gates, said further diodes being sistance and said decay capacitor in at least some so poled as to prevent, discharge of any one said decay capacitors toward asmaller capacitor.
- tone-signals from said sources thereof are complex in harmonic content
- output system includes:
- amplifying means coupled to said low-pass filter
- electro'acoustic means coupled to said amplifying means.
- an output system coupled to said tone-signal gates, an equal plurality of direct-current-actuable, gradualwhereby to obtain in said output system a complex decay, tone-signal gates respectively coupled in series low-frequency beat pattern with a gradual decay with said sources, upon opening of said common switch, the decay rates a first source of direct voltage, of said gates being an inverse function of the frea single-pole, single-throw switch in series with said quencies of the tone signals passed by the gates, and wherein said tone-signal sources include frequencies in the ratio selected from the series 1.00, 2.30, 3.60, and wherein said plurality is at least three.
- a pulse-forming network coupled between said switch and said tone-signal gates in parallel, said pulse forming network being arranged to produce a pulse of a predetermined constant duration regardless of tone signals from said sources thereof are complex in duration of closure of said switch and arranged to harmonic content, and wherein said output system inprovide a pulse to all said gates which is of the cludes: ;same duration regardless of the duration of closure a low-pass filter, of said switch, amplifying means coupled to said low-pass filter, and an output system, and
- a low-pass filter coupled between said tone-signal gates and said output system.
- said pulse-forming network comprises:
- a capacitor coupled between said switch and said tonesaid diodes being poled to pass said gating wave to said gate. signal gates, 10.
- said pulse-forming network comprises:
- tone signal gates comprise each:
- filter means for attenuating at least some of the hormonic products and htesum heterodyne products.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Electrophonic Musical Instruments (AREA)
Description
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US47881765A | 1965-08-11 | 1965-08-11 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3476866A true US3476866A (en) | 1969-11-04 |
Family
ID=23901475
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US478817A Expired - Lifetime US3476866A (en) | 1965-08-11 | 1965-08-11 | Low-pitched voices in electronic organs |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3476866A (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3558796A (en) * | 1968-11-13 | 1971-01-26 | Baldwin Co D H | Touch percussion for electronic organ with back-to-back diode gates |
US3617603A (en) * | 1970-03-23 | 1971-11-02 | Baldwin Co D H | Chiff circuits for electronic organs |
US3660587A (en) * | 1970-03-23 | 1972-05-02 | Baldwin Co D H | Electronic organ keying circuits |
US3706837A (en) * | 1971-06-17 | 1972-12-19 | Wurlitzer Co | Automatic rhythmic chording unit |
US3745225A (en) * | 1972-04-27 | 1973-07-10 | G Hall | Musical instrument having automatic fill-in means |
WO1991007835A1 (en) * | 1989-11-20 | 1991-05-30 | Motorola, Inc. | Communications device with voice recognition and movable element control interface |
US10199024B1 (en) * | 2016-06-01 | 2019-02-05 | Jonathan S. Abel | Modal processor effects inspired by hammond tonewheel organs |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2486208A (en) * | 1947-08-23 | 1949-10-25 | Bell Telephone Labor Inc | Electronic musical instrument |
US3037413A (en) * | 1960-05-02 | 1962-06-05 | Markowitz Jerome | Electronic organ with transient speech effects |
US3196201A (en) * | 1961-04-26 | 1965-07-20 | Conn Ltd C G | Transistor keyer |
US3223768A (en) * | 1961-08-28 | 1965-12-14 | Baldwin Co D H | Keying systems for electric musical instruments |
US3244790A (en) * | 1962-08-02 | 1966-04-05 | Electro Music | Percussion circuit utilizing a singlepole key switch |
US3291886A (en) * | 1963-10-21 | 1966-12-13 | Rodgers Organ Company | Transient tone signal circuits |
US3333041A (en) * | 1965-07-09 | 1967-07-25 | Baldwin Co D H | Keying systems for electrical musical instruments for producing steadystate or percussive type tones either separately or concurrently |
US3391240A (en) * | 1965-07-15 | 1968-07-02 | Baldwin Co D H | Chiff system for electronic organs |
-
1965
- 1965-08-11 US US478817A patent/US3476866A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2486208A (en) * | 1947-08-23 | 1949-10-25 | Bell Telephone Labor Inc | Electronic musical instrument |
US3037413A (en) * | 1960-05-02 | 1962-06-05 | Markowitz Jerome | Electronic organ with transient speech effects |
US3196201A (en) * | 1961-04-26 | 1965-07-20 | Conn Ltd C G | Transistor keyer |
US3223768A (en) * | 1961-08-28 | 1965-12-14 | Baldwin Co D H | Keying systems for electric musical instruments |
US3244790A (en) * | 1962-08-02 | 1966-04-05 | Electro Music | Percussion circuit utilizing a singlepole key switch |
US3291886A (en) * | 1963-10-21 | 1966-12-13 | Rodgers Organ Company | Transient tone signal circuits |
US3333041A (en) * | 1965-07-09 | 1967-07-25 | Baldwin Co D H | Keying systems for electrical musical instruments for producing steadystate or percussive type tones either separately or concurrently |
US3391240A (en) * | 1965-07-15 | 1968-07-02 | Baldwin Co D H | Chiff system for electronic organs |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3558796A (en) * | 1968-11-13 | 1971-01-26 | Baldwin Co D H | Touch percussion for electronic organ with back-to-back diode gates |
US3617603A (en) * | 1970-03-23 | 1971-11-02 | Baldwin Co D H | Chiff circuits for electronic organs |
US3660587A (en) * | 1970-03-23 | 1972-05-02 | Baldwin Co D H | Electronic organ keying circuits |
US3706837A (en) * | 1971-06-17 | 1972-12-19 | Wurlitzer Co | Automatic rhythmic chording unit |
US3745225A (en) * | 1972-04-27 | 1973-07-10 | G Hall | Musical instrument having automatic fill-in means |
WO1991007835A1 (en) * | 1989-11-20 | 1991-05-30 | Motorola, Inc. | Communications device with voice recognition and movable element control interface |
US10199024B1 (en) * | 2016-06-01 | 2019-02-05 | Jonathan S. Abel | Modal processor effects inspired by hammond tonewheel organs |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US3006228A (en) | Circuit for use in musical instruments | |
US4104946A (en) | Voicing system for electronic organ | |
US3476866A (en) | Low-pitched voices in electronic organs | |
US3544697A (en) | Keying system for electrical musical instruments | |
US3535969A (en) | Musical instrument electronic tone processing system | |
US3433880A (en) | Percussion system | |
US3328506A (en) | Snare drum instrument | |
US3715445A (en) | Musical instrument having dc-keying circuit | |
US4236434A (en) | Apparatus for producing a vocal sound signal in an electronic musical instrument | |
US3971283A (en) | Electronic Zimbelstern | |
US3937115A (en) | Electronic piano circuit arrangement | |
CA1192771A (en) | Electrical simulation of percussive bell | |
US4198891A (en) | Circuit for simulating sounds of percussive instruments | |
US3358069A (en) | Rhythm device | |
US2574577A (en) | Electronic swinging bell | |
US3519720A (en) | Organ having variable timbre with transistorized player controlled dynamic filter | |
US3505462A (en) | Electrical organ | |
US2342338A (en) | Electrical musical instrument | |
US3940635A (en) | Self-damping circuit | |
US3580980A (en) | Diode keying system for electronic organ | |
US3327044A (en) | Electronic pipes | |
US3391240A (en) | Chiff system for electronic organs | |
US3329772A (en) | Binaural simulator | |
US3908502A (en) | Electronic organ with chord control | |
US3492425A (en) | Reverberation system adapted to generate vibrato,echo and other effects |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GENERAL ELECTRIC CREDIT CORPORATION, A NY CORP., C Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BPO ACQUISITION CORP., A DE CORP;REEL/FRAME:004297/0802 Effective date: 19840615 Owner name: SECURITY PACIFIC BUSINESS CREDIT INC., 10089 WILLO Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BPO ACQUISITION CORP. A CORP OF DE;REEL/FRAME:004298/0001 Effective date: 19840615 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BPO ACQUISITION CORP., 180 GILBERT AVE., CINCINNAT Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:D.H. BALDWIN COMPANY AN OH CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004385/0934 Effective date: 19840615 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BALDWIN PIANO & ORGAN COMPANY Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:BPO ACQUISTION CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004473/0501 Effective date: 19840612 |