US 4,741,242 A · Automatic indicating tuning system for visual tuning of timpani and other tunable instruments

Abstract

An automatically operated tuning indicating system for the preliminary tuning and for retuning during the performance of a set of timpani drums or other percussion-type instrument having a tunable resonating body cavity is provided. Automatic indication of tuning is achieved substantially in silence or at very low sound levels without requiring the production of an audible level of sound that could be readily detected by or distracting to persons in an orchestra other than the timpani player during the tuning and/or retuning. Tuning and/or retuning during a performance is under the visible control of the timpani player both as to which kettle drum of the timpani set or other musical instrument is being tuned and the extent of the tuning. The system is comprised by an automatic sound frequency signal analyzer for automatically comparing an electric input signal derived from the drum being struck to preset standards and for identifying and visually indicating on a dynamic display a particular note in the musical scale, or the closest note thereto whose frequency corresponds to the frequency of the input electric signal, and whether the note being played is sharp or flat and by how much. Respective sound signal sensors are provided for sensing the individual sound signals of each drum in the set being tuned and deriving a respective output electric signal for supply as the input signal to the automatic sound frequency signal analyzer. A wide band frequency responsive filter and amplifying circuit is connected between the outputs of all the sound signal sensors and the input to the automatic sound signal analyzer for facilitating picking up and displaying individual output signals from each drum being tuned in a simple, compact and easily manipulated tuning system that can be operated even during a performance for adjusting the pitch of any desired drum in the set without requiring the production of audible levels of sound to achieve the retuning.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A tuner for percussion instruments such as drums having a vibrating membrane element comprising the drum head including in combination an automatic sound frequency signal analyzer for receiving an electric input signal whose frequency characteristics correspond to the sound signal characteristics of a particular drum being tuned and for automatically comparing the electric input signal to preset standards for identifying and visibly indicating on a display a particular note in the musical scale or the closest note thereto whose frequency corresponds to the frequency of the input electric signal and whether the note being played is sharp or flat and by how much;

a sound signal frequency sensor for sensing vibrations of the vibrating membrane element of the drum being tuned and deriving an output electric signal for supplying as the input signal to the automatic sound frequency signal analyzer, the frequency of the electric signal corresponding to the frequency of vibration of the vibrating membrane element of the drum being tuned;
and said sound signal frequency sensor comprising a non-contacting vibration sensor mounted in closely spaced-apart confronting relation to the vibrating membrane element of the drum for deriving the output electric signal whose frequency characteristics correspond to those of the drum being tuned without changing the acoustic properties of the drum vibrating membrane element, wherein the non-contacting vibration sensor comprises an electro-optical light emitter and juxtaposed light detector pair mounted in closely spaced-apart relationship with respect to the vibrating drum head of the drum being tuned, the vibrating drum head having secured thereto a target member having a light reflecting surface positioned thereon directly opposite the light emitter/detector pair;
and means for blocking and trapping stray and ambient background light that might be transmitted through the drum head and preventing it from impinging on the light detector.

A tuning system for a multiplicity of tunable drums with each drum being operable over a specific bandwidth range of sound frequencies including in combination a single automatic sound frequency signal analyzer for receiving an electric input signal whose frequency characteristics correspond to the sound signal characteristics of a particular drum being struck and for automatically comparing the electric input signal to preset standards for identifying and visually indicating on a dynamic display a particular note in the musical scale or the closest note thereto whose frequency corresponds to the frequency of the input electric signal and whether the note being played is sharp or flat and by how much;

respective sound signal frequency sensors for sensing the frequency of the individual sound signals of each drum being tuned and deriving a respective output electric signal for supplying as an input signal to the automatic sound frequency signal analyzer, the frequency of the electric signal corresponding to the frequency of sound of the respective drum being tuned;
and wide band frequency responsive filter and amplifying circuit means responsive to the output electric signals from all of the sound signal frequency sensors for all of the drums in the group, said filter and amplifying circuit means being connected between the outputs of all of the sound signal sensors and the input to the automatic sound signal analyzer and comprising a plurality of narrow bandwidth frequency filter circuits with each narrow bandwidth frequency filter circuit being responsive to a particular narrow band of sound signal frequencies over which a respective one of the drums operates, said narrow bandwidth frequency filter circuits selectively and separately amplifying and supplying a respective input signal having a particular narrow range of sound frequency values to the input of the automatic sound signal analyzer for analysis and display while separately tuning each drum.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automatic indicating tuning system for visual tuning of timpani and other tunable instruments

Life of this patent

Automatic indicating tuning system for visual tuning of timpani and other tunable instruments

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21