Importance

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Abstract

An electronic tone or note generator capable of providing improved musical and tone quality and special sound effects by mixing the outputs of a plurality of note-signal-producing circuits is provided. The electronic tone or note generator of the invention is characterized by the use of a primary electronic note circuit for producing a primary note signal which is a portion of a primary melody, and a secondary electronic note circuit for producing a secondary note signal that is musically related to the primary melody. The relationship between signals can be a time lag between the outputs of the two note signal circuits or a small difference in frequency between the signal outputs of the two note circuits. Additionally, each note signal circuit can output alternate notes of a continuing melody such that a note from one circuit may persist while the next note from the second circuit is played. The note signals from the note-producing circuits are shaped and mixed or summed and then applied to an electroacoustic transducer in order to produce audible music of high sound quality. The acoustical frequency of each note and the time between initiation of successive notes are stored in memory units associated with each note-signal-producing circuit. The outputs of high-frequency signal sources are variably divided down to provide the individual note signals and control note timing.

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First Claim