Sound effects control system for musical instruments2010-03-10 00:00:0030 more or less compresses the controller 22, the control signal is varied accordingly in order to produce a different sound effect. It should be noted that, depending upon the programming of the control box 26, increased manual pressure by the thumb 30 on the controller 22 can result in either increased or decreased volume or sound effect variation. Thus, the sound effects can be either directly or inversely related to the compression of the tactile controller 22.
It will also be noted from FIG. 2a that the controller 22 is slightly rounded on its upper surface 42. As explained in greater detail in connection with FIG. 3, this configuration increases the surface area contact with the thumb 30, thereby maintaining better contact and avoiding slippage. However, it should be noted that a wide variety of controller cross-sectional configurations are within the principles of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 3 there is shown a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the tactile controller 22 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the base 44 of the controller 22 has squared corners while the top surface 42 is rounded, as described above in connection with FIGS. 2 and 2a. The overall height (H) of the controller is approximately 1/4 inch, as is the width (W). The lumen 46 of the controller 22 has an inner diameter (ID) of approximately 1/8 inch. The gentle rounded upper surface 42 of the controller 22, as described above, provides good surface area contact for manual manipulation, without corners or circular surfaces which may result in slippage. Thus, a preferred radius (R) for the rounded upper surface 42 is about 0.20 to 0.25 inches. The tactile controller 22 of the present invention, in one embodiment, may take the form of a tube-like device having a concentric lumen.
The tactile controller 22 of the present invention is not limited to a fluid-filled tube, but can comprise a collapsible device which is externally mounted on the instrument and which is constructed from a material or combination of materials which results in a degree of collapsibility which is sufficient to provide enhanced tactile control. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the controller can be constructed from a wide variety of suitable materials which are relatively soft and compressible, such as neoprene. Thus, one such suitable material is a closed cell neoprene sponge which is externally coated with a urethane coating. This coating prevents the escape of air from the controller 22 in the embodiment where the control signal comprises pneumatic pressure generated by manipulation of the tactile control tube. Moreover, it is also possible to coat the interior surface of the lumen 46 of the tube with urethane in order to prevent the bleeding of air into the cells which make up the tube. In addition, the external urethane coating provides a slightly tacky surface which improves the manual grip available to the guitarist 10. It should also be noted that other cross-sectional dimensions for the controller 22 are possible. It has been found that a controller which is approximately 15% smaller in cross-sectional size
than the controller 22 shown in FIG. 3 also provides suitable tactile response.
FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention which utilizes multiple t...
