Abstract: A computer-based music synthesizer system includes a data storage medium for electronically storing a multiplicity of four-part hymns. The user of the system may select the hymn to be played, and may also cause the system to automatically generate an appropriate plagal cadence to establish an “amen” phrase at the end of the hymn. Each of the four parts of the hymn may be independently orchestrated by the user. Alternatively, the user may select one of a plurality of pre-stored orchestration schemes to cause each part of the hymn to have a predetermined orchestration which may be different from the orchestration of the other parts.

Abstract: An automatic music composing apparatus is provided, which is capable of generating music with a high degree of completion in synchronization with images and in a time that matches the length of images. The automatic music composing apparatus automatically creates musical compositions to be reproduced as a background for images. A number of bars of a musical composition that corresponds to a time period required by each of sections of images is calculated. Bar number-corresponding data necessary to generate the musical composition and corresponding to the calculated number of bars is acquired. The musical composition based on the acquired bar number-corresponding data is generated. The generated musical composition is outputted according to each of the sections of the images.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a way of presenting a musical composition such as an orchestral piece, a song, jingle, or other musical content (complete or excerpts) as a sort of game made up of component audio tracks. In one preferred embodiment, the individual tracks are defined by layers (also called “segments”) that represent different instruments. For example, in the case of an orchestral music, the layers may represent the sounds made by a violin, flute, trumpet, drum, piano, and so on. The separate digital recordings of each layer then are the audio tracks that become pieces of a puzzle.

Abstract: A waveform generating method is provided, which is capable of generating expressive musical tones. A plurality of partial waveforms are stored in a partial waveform memory. Property information on respective ones of the partial waveforms stored in the partial waveform memory is stored in a property information memory. The property information is retrieved according to inputted sounding control information in order to read out a partial waveform having property information corresponding to the sounding control information. The readout partial waveform is then processed according to the property information and the sounding control information to generate a waveform corresponding to the sounding control information.

Abstract: A karaoke device with built-in microphone includes a main body microphone, and converts an audio signal from the microphone into audio data by an A/D converter, and writes the audio data into a ring buffer by mixing with the data already stored in the ring buffer. If an echo mode is set, a delay time constant (CD) corresponding to the echo mode is determined, and on the basis thereof, a size of the ring buffer is set. The data is read from the ring buffer, and is inputted in a sound channel. If a voice effect mode is set, a reproduction frequency constant (CF) corresponding to the voice effect mode is determined, and based thereon, an inclement value of a read pointer of the ring buffer is determined, and then, the data is read from an address indicated by the read pointer. When the read pointer reaches the delay time constant, the relevant constant is subtracted from the read pointer value.

Abstract: A battery powered personal audio device may be carried by a user, for example in the user's palm or pocket. Touch operators may be provided with the personal audio device. The personal audio device may play back audio files such as compact disc or digital audio stream. The user may interject sounds or audio effects onto the ongoing playback of the audio by operating one or more touch operators.

Abstract: A music player/recorder includes two data sources, a controlling system and two sound source or a recording system; one of the two data sources supplies event codes representative of first tones and delta-time codes representative of time intervals between the events as defined in the MIDI standards to the controlling system, and the other data source supplies audio data codes representative of second tones and time codes representative of a lapse of time to the controlling system; the controlling system counts tempo clocks, and converts the number of tempo clocks to a reference lapse of time to see whether or not the difference between the lapse of time and the reference lapse of time is ignoreable; when the answer is given negative, the controlling system varies the time interval so that the first tone is produced synchronously with the corresponding second tone.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating, modifying, interacting with and playing music are provided, particularly systems and methods employing a top-down process, where the user is provided with a musical composition that may be modified and interacted with and played and/or stored (for later play). The system preferably is provided in a handheld form factor, and a graphical display is provided to display status information, graphical representations of musical lanes or components which preferably vary in shape as musical parameters and the like are changed for particular instruments or musical components such as a microphone input or audio samples.

Abstract: A communication system is proposed for transmitting at least one of the data, the program, and a combination of them from a host facility to a communicator such as a communication terminal device. In this communication system, the data or the program becomes unable to be used when a predetermined time has elapsed after it is transmitted from the host facility to the communicator. This communication system is provided with the function of giving a warning before the use of the transmission becomes unable and the function of resuming the use in accordance with the user's instruction even after the use becomes unable.

Abstract: A karaoke device with built-in microphone includes a main body microphone, and converts an audio signal from the microphone into audio data by an A/D converter, and writes the audio data into a ring buffer by mixing with the data already stored in the ring buffer. If an echo mode is set, a delay time constant (CD) corresponding to the echo mode is determined, and on the basis thereof, a size of the ring buffer is set. The data is read from the ring buffer, and is inputted in a sound channel. If a voice effect mode is set, a reproduction frequency constant (CF) corresponding to the voice effect mode is determined, and based thereon, an inclement value of a read pointer of the ring buffer is determined, and then, the data is read from an address indicated by the read pointer. When the read pointer reaches the delay time constant, the relevant constant is subtracted from the read pointer value.

Abstract: An interactive karaoke system includes a microphone developing an audio input from at least one karaoke performer; a camera producing a series of video frames including the at least one karaoke performer; and a karaoke processor system including a video environment and a related audio environment for the karaoke performer. The karaoke processor system is coupled to the camera to create extracted images of the at least one karaoke performer from the series of video frames and to composite the extracted images with a background derived from the video environment. The video environment is affected by at least one of a position and a movement of the at least one karaoke performer. A karaoke network includes a local area network, a local karaoke server coupled to the local area network and storing local karaoke content; and a number of karaoke systems coupled to the local area network, each of which can request karaoke content from the local karaoke server.

Abstract: There is provided a session apparatus that enables the user to freely start and enjoy a music session with another session apparatus without being restricted by a time the session should be started. A session apparatus is connected to at least one other session apparatus via a communication network in order to perform a music session with the other session apparatus. Reproduction data to be reproduced simultaneously with reproduction data received from the other session apparatuses is generated and transmitted to the other session apparatus. The reproduction data received from the other session apparatus is delayed by a period of time required for the received reproduction data to be reproduced in synchronism with the generated reproduction data, for simultaneous reproduction of the delayed reproduction data and the generated reproduction data.

Abstract: A musical instrument is configured such that a display unit is provided on a main body so as to improve its function by displaying lyrics by synthesizing words with notes played on a keyboard at the time of performance.

Abstract: A performance processing apparatus is operable by an operation device and equipped with a sound device and a display device. In the apparatus, a storing section stores song data representative of a music sound constituting a music song, and stores image data representative of an image. An acquiring section acquires detection information from the operation device, which is used by a user and which has a detector for detecting a chronological action or state of the user and outputting the detection information representative of the detected chronological action or state. A sound control section generates the music sound through the sound device according to the song data, and controls a progression degree of the generation of the music sound according to the acquired detection information. A display control section displays the image by the display device according to the image data in correspondence with the progression degree of the generating of the music sound.

Abstract: A song-matching system, which provides real-time, dynamic recognition of a song being sung and providing an audio accompaniment signal in synchronism therewith, includes a song database having a repertoire of songs, each song of the database being stored as a relative pitch template, an audio processing module operative in response to the song being sung to convert the song being sung into a digital signal, an analyzing module operative in response to the digital signal to determine a definition pattern representing a sequence of pitch intervals of the song being sung that have been captured by the audio processing module, a matching module operative to compare the definition pattern of the song being sung with the relative pitch template of each song stored in the song database to recognize one song in the song database as the song being sung, the matching module being further operative to cause the song database to download the unmatched portion of the relative pitch template of the recognized song as a dig

Abstract: Sound signal indicative of a human voice or musical tone is input, and the pitch of the input sound signal is detected. Then, a scale note pitch is determined which is nearest to the detected pitch of the input sound signal. In the meantime, a scale note pitch of an additional sound or harmony sound to be added to the input sound is specified in accordance with a harmony mode selected by a user. The scale note pitch of the additional sound to be generated is modified in accordance with a difference between the determined scale note pitch and the detected pitch of the input sound signal. Because the additional sound is generated with the modified pitch, it can appropriately follow a variation in the pitch of the input sound to be in harmony with the input sound, rather than exactly agreeing with the scale note pitch.

Abstract: Plural part playback channels each play back music performance signals of respectively assigned performance parts selectively in an enhanced mode or in an unenhanced mode. When an enhanced mode is designated for a particular channel 2 (at time A), the channel 2 plays back the music performance signals in a prominent manner and channels 1, 3-6 plays back in a suppressed manner. The tone volume of the channels 1, 3-6 in the suppressed manner is set by manipulating the contrast dial CD. Where the enhanced mode is set for plural channels 2 and 6 (between time C and time D), manipulation of an enhanced mode clear switch SC (at time D) causes cancellation of the prominent manner of playback at the channels 2 and 6 as well as the suppressed manner of playback at the channels 1, 3-5.

Abstract: A range control system includes an input section for inputting a singing voice, a fundamental frequency extracting section for extracting a fundamental frequency of the inputted voice, and a pitch control section for performing a pitch control of the inputted voice so as to match the extracted fundamental frequency with a given frequency. The system further includes a formant extracting section for extracting a formant of the inputted voice, and a formant filter section for performing a filter operation relative to the pitch-controlled voice so that the pitch-controlled voice has a characteristic of the extracted formant. The system further includes an input loudness detecting section for detecting a first loudness of the inputted voice, and a loudness control section for controlling a second loudness of the voice subjected to the filter operation to match with the first loudness.

Abstract: An ensemble controller records a performance on a MIDI musical instrument in a data field of a MIDI file synchronously with playback of a piece of music stored in a compact disc player, and the data read-out speed is stored in the control data field of the MIDI file together with an audio identification code assigned to the piece of music reproduced; when the performance is reproduced synchronously with the playback of the compact disc player, the ensemble controller adjusts a clock signal to a frequency corresponding to the data read-out speed; while the ensemble controller is making the composite apparatus reproduce the ensemble, the magnetic disc driver clocks the time intervals between the data transmission of event codes by using the clock signal of the same frequency; this results in the perfect ensemble.

Abstract: A music box includes daisy reed wheels, the reeds of which are respectively associated with player's fingers, and the player's fingers are selectively energized for plucking the reeds for generating tones; the reeds of the daisy reed wheels form reed groups respectively assigned to tones, and a controller selects reeds from the reed groups in such a manner that any one of the reeds of each group is not plucked with the player's finger, whereby the controller prevents the vibrating reeds from the plucking.

Abstract: An interactive music system (10) in accordance with various aspects of the invention lets a user control the playback of recorded music according to gestures entered via an input device (14), such as a mouse. The system includes modules which interpret input gestures made on a computer input device and adjust the playback of audio data in accordance with input gesture data. Various methods for encoding sound information in an audio data produce with meta-data indicating how it can be varied during playback are also disclosed. More specifically, a gesture input system receives user input from a device, such as a mouse, and interprets this data as one of a number of predefined gestures which are assigned an emotional or interpretive meaning according to a “character” hierarchy or library (16) of gesture descriptions. The received gesture inputs are used to alter the character of music which is being played in accordance with the meaning of the gesture.

Abstract: There are provided tone material editing apparatus and program. The tone material editing apparatus is connected to a tone material providing apparatus that provides tone material data. Video data stored in the tone material editing apparatus is reproduced. The tone material providing apparatus is instructed to stream-distribute tone material data to be reproduced in synchronism with the reproduced video data. The tone material data stream-distributed from the tone material providing apparatus is stream-reproduced in synchronism with the reproduced video data.

Abstract: The apparatus (1) comprises a guitar (3) having strings (42) operable by a user to generate electric signals, a control unit (2), storage means for a simulation backing track in any desired multi-media file format and audio/audio-visual equipment for playing a main track. The control unit (2) has software for receiving and analyzing the electrical signals from the guitar (41) and for synchronizing the backing track with the main track during playback. The software of the control unit (2) opens the backing track multi-media file and streams the file in mute mode in synchronisation with the main track. In response to the electrical signals from the guitar (41), the control unit generates an output from the multi-media file to the audio/audio-visual equipment. Alternatively, the apparatus opens and plays extracts from the multi-media file and generates an output from the multi-media files to the audio equipment (4) together with the background track.

Abstract: An ensemble system reproduces a performance on an automatic player piano expressed by a set of MIDI music data codes in ensemble with another performance recorded in a compact disc in the form of audio data codes; the ensemble system firstly determines the pitch of the fundamental tone produced through vibrations of a string, then searching the audio data codes for a corresponding tone, calculating a ratio between the pitch of the fundamental tone and the pitch of the corresponding tone, and determining a data read-out speed for the audio data codes; while the MIDI data codes are being supplied to the automatic player piano, the audio data codes are transferred to a speaker system at a speed equal to the product between the standard speed and the ratio so that the piano tones are well harmonized with the electronic tones.

Abstract: An electronic organ 1 and a personal computer 2 are connected with a MIDI cable. The personal computer 2 is connected to a server 4 via a communication network 3. The personal computer 2 downloads a controlling program from the server 4. The electronic organ 1 is set to be a listening trial mode by an operation of the personal computer 2. In the listening trial mode, an output of a data in a temporally storage area is prohibited. The server 4 provides a first encoded performance data to the personal computer 2, and the personal computer 2 decodes the received first encoded performance data. The electronic organ 1 generates a key, and the personal computer 2 secondary encodes the performance data with the key and transmits it to the electronic organ 1. The electronic organ 1 deletes the data stored in the temporally storage area after the listening trial.

Abstract: A data processing method utilized in network system includes: utilizing a first transmitter to transmit an audio signal and a selection signal to a network receiver in a server, selecting a corresponding accompaniment signal from a database according to the selection signal, mixing the audio signal and the accompaniment signal with a mixer, utilizing a second transmitter to transmit a login signal and an identification signal corresponding to a second terminal to the network receiver in the server, comparing the login signal and a predetermined account number, and utilizing a network transmitter to transmit a music signal to the second terminal according to the identification signal if the login signal is the same as the predetermined account.

Abstract: A musical sound generator combines a software processing and a hardware processing. A sub CPU210 generates musical note data based on the musical score data 340. Main CPU110 refers to a sound source file, converts musical note data and generates PCM data. A sound processor 210 converts the musical note data at a sound synthesis circuit 221 to generate PCM data. D/A converter 222 converts the PCM data into analog signals. The speaker 300 receives the signals and emits the sound.

Abstract: A music player/recorder includes two data sources, a controlling system and two sound source or a recording system; one of the two data sources supplies event codes representative of first tones and delta-time codes representative of time intervals between the events as defined in the MIDI standards to the controlling system, and the other data source supplies audio data codes representative of second tones and time codes representative of a lapse of time to the controlling system; the controlling system counts tempo clocks, and converts the number of tempo clocks to a reference lapse of time to see whether or not the difference between the lapse of time and the reference lapse of time is ignoreable; when the answer is given negative, the controlling system varies the time interval so that the first tone is produced synchronously with the corresponding second tone.

Abstract: A musical tone data communications system having a unit for generating MIDI data of a musical performance by a player, a unit for transmitting the generated MIDI data over a communications network and a unit for receiving the transmitted MIDI data and reproducing musical tones corresponding to the MIDI data in real time.

Abstract: A karaoke system which can be conveniently used by children and youths and help to enhance their creative power and thinking power. The karaoke system includes a main unit connectable to a display unit through a wire or by wireless. The main unit feeds the display unit with image data for displaying words of a music piece on the display unit and music data for playing accompaniment music of the music piece, thereby a karaoke performance being carried out according to the words displayed on the display unit and the accompaniment music outputted from the display unit. In the karaoke system thus constructed, the main unit is constructed so as to permit the display unit to display images constituting at least one story in order and so as to output words and accompaniment music of a music piece associated with the story to the display unit during the course of the story.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a way of presenting a musical composition such as an orchestral piece, a song, jingle, or other musical content (complete or excerpts) as a sort of game made up of component audio tracks. In one preferred embodiment, the individual tracks are defined by layers (also called “segments”) that represent different instruments. For example, in the case of an orchestral music, the layers may represent the sounds made by a violin, flute, trumpet, drum, piano, and so on. The separate digital recordings of each layer then are the audio tracks that become pieces of a puzzle.

Abstract: Pictures of a predetermined musical instrument, such as a drum set, and a model player are displayed, so as to visually indicate, in accordance with a progression of performance, which musical instrument should be operated or played and which of body parts, such as left and right hands and feet, should be used for playing the musical instrument. For example, different display colors may be allocated to the left and right hands so that each musical instrument to be played is displayed in such a color corresponding to the hand to be used for playing the musical instrument. A picture of a musical score may be displayed. Performance data and musical score data of a music piece and performance motion picture data may include time data that are based on their respective time scales. In reproduction, the respective time scales of the respective data are commonized to thereby permit synchronization between a reproductive music performance and visual display.

Abstract: This device (1) enables the user to personalize the call signal (ringing) which it is called on to deliver. This personalization consists of transforming a melody (FIG. 1) which the user hums into his microphone in order to transform it into a polyphonic melody (FIG. 8). Application: Ringing for mobile telephones.

Abstract: A portable karaoke microphone device and karaoke apparatus in which accompanying melody data and character data such as lyrics, etc. are written into a first memory that consists of an EEPROM such as a flash memory, etc. This first memory is detachably connected to a first memory connector of a microphone device. An acoustic signal is created by synthesizing accompanying melody data from the first memory and a voice electrical signal from a microphone element. Furthermore, a composite video signal is created using background image data from an internal second memory. The creation of acoustic and video outputs is accomplished by the acoustic signal and composite video signal using a household television set. Alternately, a carrier wave with a television broadcast channel frequency may be modulated with the acoustic signal and composite video signal, and transmitted.

Abstract: There is input type information defining a type of portable terminal as well as various music composing parameters. Automatic music composition process is carried out on the basis of the input type information and music composing parameters, so as to generate musical composition data suitable for reproduction on a portable terminal of the type indicated by the type information. Balance in predetermined musical characteristics of the generated musical composition data can also be achieved by adjusting the predetermined musical characteristics in accordance with the type of portable terminal. It is also possible to convert the generated musical composition data into a predetermined data format suiting the type of a portable terminal to be used. The generated musical composition data may be transmitted online to the portable terminal.

Abstract: An interactive karaoke system includes a microphone developing an audio input from at least one karaoke performer; a camera producing a series of video frames including the at least one performer; and a karaoke processor system including a video environment and a related audio environment for the karaoke performer. The karaoke processor system is coupled to the camera to create extracted images of the at least one karaoke performer from the series of video frames and to composite the extracted images with a background derived from the video environment. The video environment is affected by at least one of a position and a movement of the at least one karaoke performer. A karaoke network includes a local area network, a local karaoke server coupled to the local area network and storing local karaoke content; and a number of karaoke systems coupled to the local area network, each of which can request karaoke content from the local karaoke server.

Abstract: The invention concerns a music generating method which consists in: an operation defining musical moments during which at least four notes are capable of being played, for example, bars or half-bars; an operation defining two families of note pitches, for each musical moment, the second family of note pitches having at least one note pitch which does not belong to the first family; an operation forming at least a succession of notes having at least two notes, each succession of notes being called a musical phrase, succession wherein, for each moment, each note whereof the pitch belongs exclusively to the second family is exclusively surrounded with notes of the first family; and an operation producing the output of a signal representing each pitch of each succession of notes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a digital portable music player that includes a non volatile memory for storing and recording music files. Where at least one of the music files includes at least an audio portion and a data portion. The player includes both a display screen for displaying the data portion and a headphone jack for receiving headphones such that a user may hear the audio portion. The player yet further includes a microphone jack for receiving an external microphone. A microprocessor is included that has instructions for retrieving and decoding said one music file from the non volatile memory and instructions for playing the music file. Wherein the instructions for playing the music file include instructions for displaying the data portion over the display screen simultaneously with emitting the audio portion over headphones. The microprocessor has further instructions for recording a user's voice, coming through the external microphone, in real time with the playing of the music file.

Abstract: A karaoke system which can be conveniently used by children and youths and help to enhance their creative power and thinking power. The karaoke system includes a main unit connectable to a display unit through a wire or by wireless. The main unit feeds the display unit with image data for displaying words of a music piece on the display unit and music data for playing accompaniment music of the music piece, thereby a karaoke performance being carried out according to the words displayed on the display unit and the accompaniment music outputted from the display unit. In the karaoke system thus constructed, the main unit is constructed so as to permit the display unit to display images constituting at least one story in order and so as to output words and accompaniment music of a music piece associated with the story to the display unit during the course of the story.

Abstract: A communication system is proposed for transmitting at least one of the data, the program, and a combination of them from a host facility to a communicator such as a communication terminal device. In this communication system, the data or the program becomes unable to be used when a predetermined time has elapsed after it is transmitted from the host facility to the communicator. This communication system is provided with the function of giving a warning before the use of the transmission becomes unable and the function of resuming the use in accordance with the user's instruction even after the use becomes unable.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium stores a data structure that encodes an audio performance for interactive playback. The data structure includes a virtual instrument pool, which encodes an interactive part of the audio performance. Audio content of the interactive part is encoded at least in a sequence of synthesizer control data. Each datum in the synthesizer control data specifies a digital sample of the audio content to be played back. The data structure also includes a global accompaniment pool, which encodes non-interactive portions of the audio performance. The global accompaniment pool includes timing information to synchronize the playback of the audio performance.

Abstract: A method of generating musical tones and a storage medium storing a program for executing the method are provided. Musical piece data is decomposed into phrases, the musical piece data being formed of pieces of performance data arranged in the order of performance. The pieces of performance data of the musical piece data are analyzed for each of the phrases obtained by the decomposing step. Tone color control data is prepared for each of the phrases according to results of the analyzing. The pieces of performance data of the musical piece data are reproduced by sequentially reading the pieces of performance data at timing at which the pieces of performance data are to be performed to the order of performance.

Abstract: Supplied text data set is classified into any one of a plurality of categories in accordance with the substance of the supplied text data set, and a musical composition data set is selected or generated which corresponds to the category of the text data. Content information contains first position information indicative of a stored position, such as an URL, of the supplied text data set, and second position information indicative of a stored position, such as an URL, of the selected or generated musical composition data set. One set of the content may include a plurality of text data sets and a plurality of musical composition data sets, and these text data sets and musical composition data sets may be reproduced in sequence.

Abstract: A text analyzing section converts given text data into syllable data. A melody producing section receives the converted syllable data together with the text data and a standard MIDI file. The syllable data are assigned to a melody of the standard MIDI file and sent to a sequencer section. A software synthesizer converts the syllable data into vocal sounds with the interval variable in accordance the melody.

Abstract: A system and method that allows an on-line user of a wide area network to remotely author and publish instructional material for musical instruments for the purposes of dissemination to other on-line users. Authors create solo musical passages pertaining to a specific instrument, accompanying musical arrangements and textual annotations which are stored on a remote server. This information is then dynamically published visually as standard music notation or tablature, and can be heard aurally as either digital audio or by using the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) standard. The playback of musical examples in this material may be customized, allowing users to change the tempo of the music, to modify the instrument sounds used, or to play subsets of the presented musical examples. Authors can update their music at any time, and since the music is dynamically published, these changes are instantaneously reflected in its published visual and aural forms.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a device that plays sound data transmitted over a network based on a specified time. For example, the device can act as an alarm clock that plays a sound file received over the network. The disclosure also describes a server for transmitting sound data to the device. The server can communicate with the device over a public network such as the Internet or over a local network such as a home network.

Abstract: The present invention provides a background music play device equipped in a mobile station and methods for playing the background music capable of playing the background music during voice communication between two mobile stations. A background music play device for a mobile station of the present invention includes storage means for storing digital music file; music file play means for playing the digital music file stored in the storage means; output means for outputting voice of caller and music played by the music file play means; input means for inputting voice of receiver; control means which control signal transmittance and receipt, encoding signals to be transmitted and decoding signals received, and outputting the music as a background music according to user's selection.

Abstract: An electronic synchronizer sequentially reads out multi-track music data codes selectively assigned to an automatic player piano and an electronic sound generating system and already stored cue flags in arbitrary multi-track music data codes, and checks the fingering on the keyboard to see whether or not a pianist depresses the black/white key assigned the note marked with the cue flag, if the pianist depresses the black/white key within a predetermined time period, the electronic synchronizer supplies the multi-track music data codes concurrently to the automatic player piano and the electronic sound generating system for giving a guide to the pianist and the accompaniment: However, if not, the electronic synchronizer delays the data transfer so as to make the guide and the accompaniment synchronous with the fingering.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise an electronic system by which it is possible to have an accompaniment that automatically tracks the performance tempo of a performer. The system is equipped with a ROM in which a sequence of performance data that comprise a main performance composition that is to be performed by the performer is stored. The system receives input from the performer, for example, keystrokes of a keyboard, and the relative performance tempo of the performance by the performer is calculated with respect to a segment of the performance. An accompaniment is then generated by the system by comparing the detected tempo of the performance of the artist with the tempo of the reference performance that is stored in ROM. By knowing the difference in tempo between the reference piece stored in ROM and the piece as being performed by the performer, the system may then adjust the tempo of the accompaniment to match the tempo of the performance by the artist.

Abstract: In response to user's selection of a desired instrument style such as a piano style, only some of memory-stored automatic performance data sets that belong to the selected instrument style are made selectable. On the other hand, a tonal characteristic for manual performance is set to a tonal characteristic corresponding to the selected instrument switch. Thus, in executing an ensemble of manual and automatic performances, even a beginner can readily select and set a tone color and performance pattern. According to another aspect, there is provided a memory storing a plurality of automatic performance data sets and the setting parameters in corresponding relation to a plurality of performance styles. Tone setting parameters include manual performance tone setting parameters that are suited at least for the plurality of performance styles.