Electric musical instruments: description, principle of operation

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Electromusical instruments - devices that reproduce melodies by changing the frequency, volume, length of sound waves. The signals go to the amplifier and then go to the speaker. The difference from electromechanical devices is the absence of the need for physical vibrations of strings, membranes, and other structural elements with the subsequent transformation of the melody through a pickup.

What are electric musical instruments called? What are the characteristics of such devices? What are the advantages of such devices? We will talk about this in our publication.

A trip to history

The first electric musical instrument in history is an apparatus called "Telarmonium". The device was developed by inventor Thaddeus Cahill in 1893. The device weighed an impressive 200 tons. The basis of the design was 145 electric generators that reproduced sound waves. The oscillation frequency varied from 40 to 4000 Hertz. The sound was fed to telephone transmission lines. You can hear the musicwas in the handset of the device.

Telarmonium has not found universal recognition. Shortly after the test commissioning, the device was decided to be banned, since the device created exorbitant loads on telephone lines. The speakers available at that time did not provide high-quality sound. The unit ceased to be used in 1916.

Theremin

The theremin became a kind of descendant of the telharmonium. The idea of creating the device belongs to the Russian inventor Lev Termen. The device saw the light in 1919. The action is based on a change in the parameters of the electromagnetic field during the movement of the hands between a pair of vertically located antennas. Bringing the palm to the right element of the device provides a change in pitch. Bringing your hand closer to the left antenna allows you to adjust the volume. Pretty soon, an unusual unit became famous throughout the world. Currently, the theremin is actively used by ensembles of electric musical instruments.

Vocoder

The classic version of an electric musical instrument is a device used for speech synthesis. The action of the device is due to the work of noise and tone generators, as well as formant filters, which allow you to recreate the specific features of the voice. After passing through the aggregate, robotic intonations appear in human speech. The property of the device is used by orchestras of electric musical instruments to record unusual modern compositions.

In addition to voice, the latest vocoders are capable of processing other audio signals, in particular, music played by the guitar, synthesizers, drums. By performing all sorts of experiments, users of the tool manage to create truly impressive effects.

Drum machine

The device synthesizes the sound of a drum set. To retrieve music, the user presses buttons on the device's panel, called pads. The operation of the instrument is based on the action of the built-in processor and sound card. In addition to these elements, the design of the drum machine includes the following:

• tone generators with an extensive array of drum and percussion sounds;
• sequencer for editing recorded music;
• memory blocks where patterns (rhythm patterns) are stored.

Today, drum machines are used to process musical compositions recorded live. Imitation of a percussion part is often used during performances as a substitute for drums.

Laser harp

The instrument acts as a photosensitive device. The design resembles a classical harp. However, metal strings are replaced by laser beams. During the interruption of the latter by hands, the corresponding commands are sent to the instrument's electronic components. The result is the reproduction of synthetic sounds in MIDI format. The intersection of fingers with rays makes it possible to create interestingsampled atmospheric melodies. Thanks to the unusual play of light during their performances on stage, musicians are able to surprise the most sophisticated audience.

Reactable

Reactable - futuristic musical instrument in illuminated plane format. The surface of the device is sensitive to the movement of special modules. To play sounds, the user just needs to move and deploy the manipulators in the form of small cubes, circles, triangles, stars. Several people can operate the unit at the same time. Thanks to the coordinated actions of the musicians, interesting melodies are born.

Despite its impressive feature set, original look and versatile sound, the reactable hasn't been put into mass production yet. However, the device can often be seen during performances by artists who play electronic music.