Electronic cymbal system

An electronic cymbal system, comprising:

• a) a cymbal member mountable on a cymbal stand, said cymbal member having a playing feel approximating that of a conventional cymbal;
• b) a transducer affixed to a surface of said cymbal member for translating any substantial percussive impact on the cymbal member to electrical signals,
• c) means for converting said electrical signals into MIDI note on messages serving as trigger messages;
• d) a first conductive element and a second conductive element, each mounted in positions separate from each other on said cymbal member;
• and,
• e) a MIDI interface system, so arranged and constructed to cooperate with said first and second conductive elements so that when said conductive elements are electrically bridged by a third conductive element serving as a switch to close an electric circuit therebetween, changes in voltage levels are generated which are translated into digital choke/send signals, said digital choke/send signals being software recognition interpreted into MIDI choke/send messages as note off and/or "note on" data, said trigger messages and said choke/send messages being sent out via a MIDI connection to an external tone generating device.

An electronic cymbal for an electronic cymbal system of the type including means for converting electrical signals into MIDI note on messages serving as trigger messages and having a MIDI interface system, said MIDI interface system including:

• (a) means for alternating an electrical signal between two stable states in response to a user's manipulation of at least one conductive element, each stable state representing a digital signal, and (b) a software system for recognizing and interpreting said digital signal into MIDI note off and/or note on messages serving as MIDI choke/send messages, said electronic cymbal comprising:
• a) a cymbal member mountable on a cymbal stand, said cymbal member having a playing feel approximating that of a conventional cymbal;
• b) a transducer affixed to a surface of said cymbal member for translating any substantial percussive impact on the cymbal member to electrical signals;
• and
• c) at least one conductive element mounted on said cymbal member being so manipulatable by said user so as to alternate said electrical signal between two stable states.

An electronic cymbal system, comprising:

• a) a member for use as a cymbal member mountable on a cymbal stand;
• b) a transducer affixed to a surface of said cymbal member for translating any substantial percussive impact on the cymbal member to electrical signals;
• c) at least one conductive element mounted on said cymbal member;
• and
• d) a MIDI interface system, including:
• i) means for converting said electrical signals into MIDI note-on messages serving as trigger messages;
• ii) means for providing changes in voltage levels in response to a user's manipulation of said at least one conductive element;
• and,
• iii) a software system for recognizing and then interpreting said changes in voltage levels into MIDI note off and note on messages, serving as MIDI choke/send messages,
• said trigger messages and said choke/send messages being sent out via a connection to an external tone generating device.