Design Considerations for a Simple and Versatile Electronic Musical Instrument
Benjamin Franklin Miessner · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 1934
Instrumentalities for making music depend for their appeal mainly on the range of pitch, timbre, power, and complexity they provide. Musically the most desirable single instrument is one which gives the most versatile performance, without undue complication of playing technique. A consideration ,of existing instruments leads to the conclusion that the application of modern electro-acoustic, instead of the old mechanico-acoustic operating principles, permits not only of a great extension of these musically desirable characteristics, but also a far greater flexibility in design, and a lowering of bulk, weight, and cost. The many principles available for electro-acoustic design are discussed and lead to the struck string as the best compromise as a source of vibratory energy. Methods for providing a wide range of tonal character and performance are described, and an instrument embodying these methods will be demonstrated, both for separate effects, and in a recital of musical compositions.