GB2204727A

GB2204727A - Electronic drum set

Info

Publication number: GB2204727A
Application number: GB08809789A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Toshinori Yamashita; Yoshio Tomoe
Original assignee: Yamaha Corp
Current assignee: Yamaha Corp
Priority date: 1987-05-11
Filing date: 1988-04-26
Publication date: 1988-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 2008-04-26
Also published as: JPS63279296A; GB2204727B; GB8809789D0

Abstract

An electronic drum set includes a plurality of electronic drums 21, 23, 25, 27, 29 and a sound system 31. At least one of the drums has an electronic pad including a head, a sensor, operation members, and a sound source circuit. The sensor detects a striking force applied to the head. The operation members are installed at a peripheral portion of the head and set information concerning a factor (e.g. tone colour or pitch), to determine a drum sound to be produced. The sound source circuit forms a drum sound signal on the basis of the information set by the operation members. The sound system produces the drum sound on the basis of the drum sound signal. The installation of the operation members at the peripheral portion of the head enables the drum player to operate them easily. <IMAGE>

Description

Electronic Drum Set The present invention relates to an electronic drum set and, more particularly, to an electronic drum set including an electronic pad for electrically forming a performance tone.

An electronic drum set shown in Fig. 5 is known as a conventional electronic drum set of this type.

Therefore, an arrangement of this conventional electronic drum set will be described first. In Fig. 5, reference numerals 1 to 9 denote electronic pads (for drums) each having a piezoelectric element for detecting a striking force applied on a head of the pad. The piezoelectric elements of electronic pads 1 to 9 are connected in parallel with input terminals of a MIDI converter 11. A voltage signal supplied from each piezoelectric element is converted into a MIDI signal by the converter 11. In order to convert the voltage signal into the MIDI signal, the converter 11 supplies tone volume data, pitch data, tone color data, and the like corresponding to operation members (not shown) to each of the electronic pads 1 to 9.

Therefore, for example, when data designating performance tones of a bass drum, a snare drum, tom-toms, and a floor tom-tom are set in the electronic pads 1, 3, 5 and 7, and 9, respectively, by the operation members of the converter 11, a sound system 15 can generate performance tones of musical instruments which constitute the electronic drum set together with cymbals (not shown) by performing the electronic pads 1 to 9.

The MIDI signal output from the converter 11 is supplied to a sound source circuit 13. The sound source circuit 13 forms a musical tone 'signal corresponding to data represented by the MIDI signal and supplies it to the sound system 15. Therefore, the sound system 15 generates a performance tone corresponding to tone color data, tone volume data, and the like set by the converter 11.

However, in the above conventional electronic drum set, the electronic pads detect only striking forces applied on their heads. That is, the MIDI signals are generated and the musical tone signals are formed by the converter 13 and the sound source circuit 15 provided apart from the electronic pads. Therefore, once a performer sets tone volumes, pitches, and the like of the electronic pads by operating the operation members of the converter before performance, he or she cannot easily change the set tone color data, pitch data, and the like during performance.

Especially, when the electronic drum set is constituted by a plurality of electronic pads, a wide area around the performer is occupied by the electronic pads, and therefore the converter 11 and the like must be arranged apart from the performer by a relatively long distance, As a result, the performer cannot operate the converter 11 and the like during performance unless he or she temporarily stops performance.

Also in performance of the electronic drum set, it is required to change pitches of musical tones during performance in accordance with the types of tune. For example, pitches and the like of the two electronic pads of the tom-toms are set slightly different from each other, thereby giving variety to drum performance. However, if the converter 11 and the like are arranged apart from the performer by a relatively long distance as described above, tone colors, pitches, and the like can be changed only before the start of performance although they can be freely changed. As a result, musical expressions are limited.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an electronic drum set whose operability is improved.

In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, there is provided an electronic drum set comprising a plurality of electronic drums, and a sound system, wherein at least one of the plurality of electronic drums has an electronic pad comprising a head, a sensor for detecting a striking force applied on the head, operation members, installed at a peripheral portion of the'head, for setting sound information concerning a factor to determine a drum sound to be produced, and a sound source circuit for forming a drum sound signal on the basis of the sound information, the sound system producing the drum sound on the basis of the drum sound signal.

Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram of an arrangement of an electronic drum set according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of an electronic pad used in the first embodiment; Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram of an arrangement of the electronic drum set according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of an arrangement of the electronic drum set according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram of an electronic drum set using conventional electronic pads.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram of an arrangement of a first embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, all drums which constitute an electronic drum set are electronic pads (for electronic drums) according to the present invention.

In Fig. 1, reference numeral 21 denotes an electronic pad corresponding to a bass drum which constitutes an electronic drum set together with an electronic pad 23 corresponding to a snare drum, electronic pads 25 and 27 corresponding to tom-toms, an electronic pad 29 corresponding to a floor tom-tom, and cymbals (not shown). MIX. IN terminals of the electronic pads 21 to 29 are connected in series with output terminals of the next adjacent electronic pads 23 to 27, and the output terminal of the electronic pad 29 is connected to an input terminal of a sound system. As a result, musical tone signals generated from all the electronic pads 21 to 29 are mixed and supplied to a sound system 31.

As shown in Fig. 2 in detail, each of the electronic pads 21 to 29 has a head 33 comprising a resin film adhered on a frame. A vibration generated on the head 33 is detected and converted into a voltage signal similar to a waveform of the vibration by a piezoelectric element 35 as a sensor. The piezoelectric element 35 is connected to a sound source circuit (not shown) which forms a musical tone signal on the basis of information set by dial switches 37 to 55 as operation members.

Examples of the information set by. the switches 37 to 55 are as follows. That is, the switch 37 functions as a DECAY switch for defining a decay time of a tone; 39, a sense switch for adjusting sensitivity upon striking; 41, a bend switch for defining a reduction width of a pitch after striking; 43, a pitch switch for setting a pitch; 45, a click switch for enhancing an attack of a generated tone; 47, a subsonic switch for adjusting a tone color to change expansion of a low tone; 49, a filter modulation switch for changing a tone color between bright and dark tones; 51, a filter switch for adjusting a tone color; 53, a volume switch for adjusting a tone volume; and 55, a noise switch for generating noise-like tone such as a performance tone of a snare drum.

Therefore, when information to be included in musical tone signals to be generated by the sound source circuit is selected by the switches 37 to 55, tone colors of a bass drum, a snare drum, tom-toms, and a floor tom-tom can be generated. For example, a performance tone of the snare drum can be generated by increasing values of the switches 51 and 55 so that a large amount of noise components are included. As for a performance tone of the tom-toms, tones from high to low tom-toms can be generated by changing the switches 43 and 41.

Performance using the electronic drum set of the first embodiment will be described below. First, the switches 37 to 55 of each of the electronic pads 21 to 29 are operated so that musical tones corresponding to the bass drum, the snare drum, the tom-toms, and the floor tom-tom are formed by the electronic pads 21 to 29.

Thereafter, the electronic pads 21 to 29 and cymbals (not shown) are stricken by sticks or the like.

When the head of each of the electronic pads 21 to 29 is stricken, the corresponding piezoelectric element 35 detects this and commands the sound source circuit to form a musical tone signal. The sound source circuit forms a musical tone signal in accordance with setting of the switches 37 to 55. Musical tone signals formed by the electronic pads 21 to 29 are mixed and supplied to the sound system 31. The sound system 31 generates tones corresponding to the performance tones of the above various drums on the basis of the supplied musical tone signals.

In this case, if a performer wants to slightly reduce a pitch of the performance tone of one of the tom-toms, he or she need only operate the switch 43 of the electronic pad 25 while operating sticks. Since the switch 43 is arranged near the head 33, the performer can change the performance tone of the tom-tom without interfering with performance.

Second Embodiment Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram of an arrangement of a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the electronic pads according to the present invention are used together with conventional electronic pads. That is, in the second embodiment, each of an electronic pad 61 corresponding to a bass drum and electronic pads 63 and 65 corresponding to tom-toms is the electronic pad shown in Fig. 2, and each of a electronic pad 67 corresponding to a snare drum and an electronic pad 69 corresponding to a floor tom-tom is a conventional electronic pad. These electronic pads and cymbals (not shown) constitute an electronic drum set.

Therefore, the electronic pads 61, 63, and 65 are connected in series with each other through MIX.IN terminals and supply musical tone signals to a sound system 71. The electronic pads 67 and 69 supply voltage signals in parallel with each other to a converter 73. MIDI signals formed by the converter 73 are supplied to a sound source circuit 75, and musical tone signals formed by the sound source circuit 75 are supplied to a sound system 77.

In the second embodiment, only an electronic pad whose performance tone must be changed during performance incorporates a sound source circuit.

Third Embodiment Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the electronic pads according to the present invention are used together with conventional electronic pads and an acoustic drum, thereby constituting an electronic drum set. That is, in the third embodiment, a bass drum is an acoustic drum 81, each of electronic pads 83 and 85 corresponding tom-toms is the electronic pad shown in Fig. 2, and each of an electronic pad 87 corresponding to a snare drum and an electronic pad 89 corresponding to a floor tom-tom is the conventional electronic pad. The above drum, electronic pads, and cymbals (not shown) constitute an electronic drum set.

Therefore, the electronic pads 83 and 85 are connected in series with each other through MIX-IN terminals and supply musical tone signals to a sound system. The electronic pads 87 and 89 supply voltage signals in parallel with each other to a converter 93.

MIDI signals formed by the converter 93 are supplied to a sound source circuit 95, and musical tone signals formed by the sound source circuit 95 are supplied to a sound system 97 to generate performance tones.

In the third embodiment, since the electronic drum set includes the acoustic drum, not only the operability can be improved as in the first and second embodiments but also further varied performance tones can be generated.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic drum set comprising: a plurality of electronic drums; and a sound system, wherein at least one of said plurality of electronic drums has an electronic pad comprising a head; a sensor for detecting a striking force applied on said head; operation members, installed at a peripheral portion of said head, for setting sound information concerning a factor to determine a drum sound to be produced; and a sound source circuit for forming a drum sound signal on the basis of said sound information, said sound system producing said drum sound on the basis of said drum sound signal.

2. An electronic drum set according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is a piezoelectric element.

3. An electronic drum set according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of drums are connected in series so that all the drum sound signals of said plurality of drums may be supplied to said sound system.

4. An electronic drum set according to claim 1, wherein said factor comprises at least one of tone color, tone volume, tone pitch and tone effect.

5. An electronic drum set substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.