Abstract: The travel situation of a vehicle is detected by sensors and a sensor section 110 recognizes the moving state of the vehicle and outputs event signals. A processing section 180 has a sound emission control section that acquires a MIDI message to be used for notifying the travel situation by means of a MIDI sound source generating section. At the same time, it recognizes the priority level of the event signal to be used for notification in terms of urgency or significance and defines the parameter value of the MIDI message so as to bring the localized sound image of the sound to be emitted from a speaker located substantially at the center relative to a driver according to the priority level. Then, it has a sound emitting section 150 emit the sound.

Abstract: A sound information output apparatus includes a data reading unit, a processor, a memory, a sound generator unit, a sound output unit, and a speaker. The apparatus assigns an identification sound to each CD, and outputs the identification sound prior to the contents of the CD when the CD is played.

Abstract: A sound such that a pitch of the sound gradually rises and drops in accordance with increase and decrease in a set value with an operation by a user while, for example, an original sound and a location of the sound remain constant, is output. In this case, the user can figure out from an original sound and the location, just by listening to the sound, a value of which item is being set, and the user can also figure out from a pitch, how much value is being set. Each sound can more easily be heard by differentiating the location of the sound in a space for each set item, even when multiple sounds are output simultaneously.

Abstract: The travel situation of a vehicle is detected by sensors and a sensor section 110 recognizes the moving state of the vehicle and outputs event signals. A processing section 180 has a sound emission control section that acquires a MIDI message to be used for notifying the travel situation by means of a MIDI sound source generating section. At the same time, it recognizes the priority level of the event signal to be used for notification in terms of urgency or significance and defines the parameter value of the MIDI message so as to bring the localized sound image of the sound to be emitted from a speaker located substantially at the center relative to a driver according to the priority level. Then, it has a sound emitting section 150 emit the sound.