Programmable rhythm apparatus

#The present invention is directed to a rhythm apparatus for an electronic musical instrument. In prior art systems, an instrument player could select any standard well-known rhythm pattern such as a waltz, mambo or the like and one of a plurality of unpitched musical instrument sounds to be simulated with the selected rhythm pattern. The standard rhythm patterns were predetermined and fixed in a rhythm matrix unit well-known in the prior art so that the instrument player could not alter or vary these rhythm patterns. This type of rhythm apparatus did not provide for any degree of creativity or flexibility by the instrument player to select different rhythm patterns or to alter the standard patterns. Furthermore, the fixed rhythm units required a great amount of storage for the numerous standard rhythm patterns available.

#The present invention is a programmable automatic rhythm device for an electronic musical instrument. A counter circuit provides a repetitive sequence of pulses to a plurality of parallel rhythm channels. The pulse pattern output of each rhythm channel is applied to a separate input terminal corresponding to a particular unpitched musical instrument of a standard voice generation circuit which provides an output signal to a transducer representative of the unpitched musical instrument. The pulse pattern applied to the voice generation circuit and thus the rhythm of the sound produced by the transducer is selectable by the instrument player. Each rhythm channel comprises a plurality of logic circuits to receive the pulse sequence from the counter circuit and a selection means. During the program mode of operation the instrument player actuates the selection means of a particular rhythm channel at the same instant a sequence pulse is applied from the counter circuit to thereby set that logic circuit. In the subsequent play mode, the sequence pulse from the counter circuit which corresponds to a set or programmed logic circuit will cause a pulse output to be applied to the voice generation circuit. The pattern of pulse outputs for a rhythm channel is determined by the pattern of logic circuits previously set by the instrument player. Each succeeding cycle of sequence pulses from the counter circuit will cause the same sequence of output pulses from the rhythm channels to be applied to the voice generation circuit until the rhythm channel is reset.

#A switching network can be interspersed between the pulse outputs of the individual rhythm channels and the voice generation circuit. The switching network operates to apply the pulse output pattern of a particular rhythm channel to different input terminals of the voice generation circuit to provide greater flexibility. Furthermore, the apparatus can be used with the fixed rhythm matrix of the prior art. In that case, a plurality of cancel switches are inserted in the output lines from the fixed rhythm matrix and if one of the cancel switches is opened by the instrument player, the standard fixed rhythm pattern is not supplied by the corresponding input terminal of the voice generation circuit. The instrument player can now set any desired rhythm pattern in one of the rhythm channels and apply that pulse output pattern to the input terminal of the voice generation circuit instead of the cancelled standard pulse pattern.

#Further and additional objects will appear from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of the programmable rhythm apparatus of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an individual programmable rhythm channel;

#FIG. 1 illustrates the general structure of the automatic programmable rhythm device. A variable frequency clock pulse oscillator 10 drives the sequential pulse generating circuit 11. The circuit 11 can be any form of electrical circuit means which will repetitively produce a plurality of sequential output pulses on a predetermined number of lines, in the preferred embodiment of a standard counting circuit with 32 output terminals or lines is used. It should be apparent that the number of output terminals can be varied. A switch 12 is connected to both the clock 10 and the counter circuit means 11. The switch 12 in addition to controlling the on/off condition of the clock 10 resets the counter 11 so that the pulse output sequence will always begin at the first line L1. As the first in the series of sequential pulses from the counter means 11 appears on line L1, the corresponding lamp 13 is energized. As the next succeeding pulse appears on line L2, the lamp 13 will go out and lamp 14 becomes energized. The above procedure continues for each succeeding pulse output of the circuit 11 concluding with the final pulse on line L32 energizing lamp 15. The pulse output sequence now repeats beginning at line L1. The pulse appearing on line L1 and on each succeeding line is applied to each of a plurality of programmable rhythm channels A through N. The outputs of each individual rhythm channel A through N corresponding to its individually programmed rhythm pattern are applied as control signals to the input terminals of a standard voice generation circuit means 16 which produces a corresponding signal output representative of unpitched musical instruments such as a snare drum, cymbal, or the like. The voice generation circuit means is standard and well-known in the art and further description thereof is considered unnecessary. It should be apparent that the control signal outputs of the rhythm channels could be used for other purposes such as to gate tone signals generated in response to normal playing on a keyboard of an electronic musical instrument. A transducer 17 is responsive to the output of the voice generation circuit 16 to produce an audible signal similar to the unpitched musical instruments and with a rhythm pattern corresponding to the respective programmed channels A through N. Each rhythm channel is programmable by the instrument player to pass to a corresponding terminal of the voice generation circuit 16 a selectable number of the pulses it receives on lines L1 through L32 respectively. Thereby, the instrument player can preselect by determining the number and time interval between the pulses the rhythm of the representative unpitched musical instruments that he desires to be heard by the listener.

#FIG. 2 illustrates the circuit of an individual programmable rhythm channel. Each rhythm channel A through N comprises a plurality of logic circuit means 20 which respectively correspond to the number of output lines of the counter circuit 11. The same numerals are used to refer to identical components in each logic circuit means 20. Each rhythm channel further comprises a single selection means 21. Each logic circuit 20 is responsive to the output pulses of the selection means 21.

#To program a desired rhythm output of an individual channel, the instrument player sets certain ones of the plurality of logic circuits 20 to have a signal output pulse upon receipt of a corresponding sequence pulse from the pulse sequence output of counter circuit 11 (not illustrated in FIG. 2). The instrument player programs the desired rhythm by depressing switch 12 of FIG. 1 which resets counter 11 and turns clock 10 on. The clock 10 drives the circuit 11 to produce a first pulse on line L1 energizing lamp 13. If the instrument player desires to set the first logic circuit 20 corresponding to line L1, he activates switch means 22 of the selection means 21 while lamp 13 is lit. The switch means 22 will produce a pulse output on line 23. The switch means 22 can be a simple momentary contact switch for connecting a pulse source to line 23 or any well-known circuit to produce a pulse output upon activation such as the combination of a capacitive touch plate, oscillator and rectifier disclosed in the inventor's co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 585,403 filed June 9, 1975.