Patent ID: 7309829

Claim:
A system for creating a rich-timbre environment for a multi-channel musical instrument having a plurality of vibrating elements, said system comprising: a first group signal processor for receiving a group signal comprising a plurality of audio electrical signals generated in response to vibrations of an associated plurality of vibrating elements of said plurality of vibrating elements, wherein said first group signal processor collapses a dynamic range of said group signal to produce a first collapsed dynamic range group signal; a pitch-transposing signal processor for receiving a first individual signal comprising an audio electrical signal generated in response to vibrations of an associated vibrating element of said plurality of vibrating elements, wherein said pitch-transposing signal processor shifts the pitch of said first individual signal to produce a first pitch-transposed individual signal; an emphasis signal processor for receiving a second individual signal comprising an audio electrical signal generated in response to vibrations of an associated vibrating element of said plurality of vibrating elements, wherein said emphasis signal processor emphasizes said second individual signal to produce a first emphasized individual signal that comprises a distinct timbre relative to said first collapsed dynamic range group signal and said first pitch-transposed individual signal; and an audio mixer for mixing signals produced by said first group signal processor, said pitch-transposing signal processor, and said emphasis signal processor, and/or mixing processed versions of said first collapsed dynamic range group signal, said first pitch-transposed individual signal, and said first emphasized individual signal, to produce at least one outgoing mixed audio signal.