Musical instrument having programmable automatic rhythm pattern variations

摘要

An operator programmable rhythm variation system comprises a shift register for storing rhythm variation signals in a sequence specified by the operator. Variation select signals are generated by the operator of the musical instrument and provided to an input/output circuit which converts them to binary coded rhythm variation signals for storage in the shift register. The input/output circuit includes an output data latch, a visual display circuit and a gating circuit for gating the rhythm variation signals to the input of the shift register. The shift register is connected through a gate circuit such that data stored in the shift register can be rotated through the shift register for readout of stored rhythm variation sequences. A controller circuit controls the input/output circuit, the shift register and the gate circuit to store and retrieve rhythm variation signals in the shift register and includes means for setting a standard variation sequence into the shift register in response to a standard/program select signal.