Abstract: The present invention relates to a performance position retrieval system that is installed in such things as electronic musical instruments. Its object is to enable rapid and more accurate searching for a position in a musical composition that the performer etc. is currently performing.

Abstract: A karaoke apparatus is provided in which a plurality of singers can sing at a time and superiority/inferiority of singing voices can be matched. One karaoke music piece is performed, and two persons sing the music piece at a time by using different microphones. Singing voice signals input through the two microphones are respectively scored, and characters displayed on a screen are caused to fight based on the score results. If the point of the singer having microphone is higher, an animation in which character attacks character is displayed. If the singing point of microphone is higher, animation in which character attacks character is displayed.

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: A drum rhythm game apparatus and a guitar rhythm game apparatus each includes a staging operating unit. Playing progression information, which includes sector numbers, is transferred between the drum rhythm game apparatus and the guitar rhythm game apparatus, thereby enabling staging operation to be implemented from each of the staging operating units while synchronizing the visual staging instructions provided to players of the game for the background music piece to be played at both the drum rhythm game apparatus and the guitar rhythm game apparatus. This allows the game to be played in a state closer to reality in which multiple players each have staging operating units as different instrument, such as with an actual band, making the game more enjoyable.

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: A first reading unit reads data stored in a second storage area of a storage medium (including reproduction management information), and stores it in another storage medium. A first reproducing unit reproduces the data read from a first storage area of a storage medium by the first reading unit. A second reading unit reads data stored by the first reading unit in another storage medium, and outputs it to a second reproducing unit. The second reproducing unit reproduces data received from the second reading unit. A controlling unit synchronizes the reproduction of the data by the first reproducing unit with the reproduction of the data by the second reproducing unit.

Abstract: A portable karaoke device comprising an MP3 decoder for downloading an accompaniment of a desired tune, and an expandable sound module for storing the accompaniment downloaded by the MP3 decoder. A video signal is received from a video unit by radio and then utilized as a background picture. A video signal mixed with a lyrics caption is transmitted by radio to the video unit so that the user can view the background picture and lyrics. In addition to a main microphone over which the user sings while listening to an accompaniment sound, there is provided an auxiliary microphone for transmitting a signal by radio. The user can select and apply a next tune using the auxiliary microphone while singing over it. Therefore, with no necessity for replacing a sound module in which lyrics and accompaniments of newest songs are previously recorded and a video unit that provides a background picture, the user can simply and efficiently use the present device.

Abstract: A microphone and receiver for automatic accompaniment in which the microphone outputs a mixed audio signal of a selected melody and a song voice signal resulting from singing a song to the accompaniment of the selected melody, and image control data corresponding to the selected melody. The microphone stores, plays and outputs the mixed audio signal and/or song voice signal and the receiver receives the mixed audio signal and/or the song voice signal outputted from the microphone, and outputs the mixed audio signal and/or song voice signal to a television receiver set, and at the same time, generates a caption image correspond to song words of the selected melody and a background image according to the received image control data, for output to the television receiver set.

Abstract: Automatic composition apparatus and method is able to automatically compose a piece of music having a melody that is favorable in a musical sense, namely, a melody that satisfies musical requirements. A storage medium stores a program executed for automatically composing a piece of music having such a melody as described above. After melody pitches are generated under moderate first melody generation conditions, the generated melody pitches are evaluated in terms of more strict second melody generation conditions. With regard to a certain pitch, therefore, it can be determined whether the pitch satisfies musical requirements in view of not only the previous pitch but also the next pitch, thus making it possible to compose a piece of music that as a whole is favorable in a musical sense.

Abstract: A karaoke apparatus is constructed for producing karaoke accompaniments of requested songs while switching picture items of different types displayed on a monitor. In the karaoke apparatus, a sound source block works in an operating period when a requested song is present for producing the karaoke accompaniment, and does not work in a non-operating period when a requested song is absent. A picture source block provides picture items of different types suitable for use in either of the operating period and the non-operating period. A picture mixing block provides a plurality of transition modes selectively adaptable when a preceding picture item is switched to a succeeding picture item along a passage of the operating period and the non-operating period.

Abstract: Image information representing a manner of playing a piece of music can be diplayed while playing the piece of music. Performance image information is created, which enables displaying an image showing a manner of playing a piece of music while playing the piece of music. A motion component database is created, which comprises a plurality of motion components each created for each musical instrument or each part and stores a trajectory of a fraction of motion of a player and a musical instrument in one of at least one performance method being typical of the each musical instrument or the each part. Motion descriptive information is created, which designates one of the motion components corresponding to performance information on the piece of music to be played and a designated one of the at least one performance method, on a time schedule determined by a predetermined musical time unit of the piece of music to be played.

Abstract: A musical sound editing apparatus is provided having a general performance mode for performing a general performance of a musical sound, and a pattern create mode for creating a pattern of accompaniment data. When the mode is changed from the general performance mode to the pattern create mode, a tone of a musical sound produced is automatically changed from a tone in the general performance mode to a tone in the specified channel. When a new tone is specified in the pattern create mode, a tone allocated to a channel for a keyboard in a musical sound generator is changed to the new specified tone, and a tone allocated to the specified current channel is also changed to the new tone.

Abstract: In a memory, there are prestored melody information of a given music piece and other information representative of a plurality of accompaniment patterns suitable for the music piece. For every predetermined performance section (composed of, for example, two measures) of the music piece, a particular accompaniment pattern is randomly selected from among the prestored accompaniment patterns suitable for the music piece. Accompaniment performance information for the music piece is provided by combining the accompaniment patterns randomly selected for the individual performance sections.

Abstract: A music apparatus is constructed for playing a music under different performance modes with processing of a voice signal according to a performance signal. In the music apparatus, an input section provides the voice signal representative of a music sound and the performance signal indicative of how to process the voice signal in synchronization to the playing of the music. An identifying section identifies a current performance mode under which the music is played. A processing section processes the voice signal in accordance with the performance signal to determine a pitch of the music sound so as to adapt the pitch to the current performance mode. In practice, the identifying section discriminates between a style performance mode which turns on an automatic accompaniment of the music and a song performance mode which turns off the automatic accompaniment.

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: In a music reproducing system, each of characters is allocated in advance a favorite rhythm component and a peculiar figure expressing ability. A sound pressure data producing section produces sound pressure data for each of a pluralty of frequency bands from musical data. A frequency band identifying section identifies the frequency band which beats a rhythm most. A rhythm estimating section derives a changing period of a sound pressure component in the sound pressure data at the identified frequency band and estimates a rhythm component based on the derived changing period. A character managing section cumulatively changes a figure expressing ability of a displayed character according to the matching degree between the estimated rhythm component and a favorite rhythm component of the displayed character. A display control section changes a display figure of the displayed character according to the figure expressing ability thereof while musical data is reproduced.

Abstract: In accordance with the musical performance by the player, a musical keyboard and an associated processor generate note command signals indicative of note pitches of the tones to be produced in response to which keys are depressed and intensity signals indicative of intensities of the tones to be produced in response to how strong the keys are depressed. A tone generator generates tone signals having pitches and intensities as determined by the note command signals and the intensity signals. A judger judges whether the intensity signals are greater than a predetermined threshold value. When the judgment is affirmative, an additive note designator generates additive note designating signals indicative of note pitches of the tones to be produced in addition to the tones produced as commanded by the depressed key, in which each additive note pitch has a harmonious relation to the corresponding key-commanded note pitch.

Abstract: An automatic performance apparatus is constituted by a memory section, a performance section, and a control section. The memory section stores music sequence data used for carrying out an automatic performance of a music piece, and condition setting data used for setting a condition of the automatic performance. The performance section reads out the condition setting data from the memory section to set the condition of the automatic performance, and reads out the music sequence data from the memory section to carry out the automatic performance under the set condition. The control section controls a first rate of reading of the condition setting data faster than a second rate of reading of the music sequence data, thereby accelerating the setting of the condition prior to the automatic performance.

Abstract: In accordance with a kind of effect, an effect adding section (38) adds an original microphone signal with an effect signal and outputs the added signal, or outputs an effect signal in place of the original microphone signal. A mixing section (42) mixes the effect signal and the original microphone signal at a variable mixing ratio. The mixed signal is supplied to an echo signal generating circuit (20) to generate an echo signal. An output signal of the effect adding section (38) and the echo signal output from an echo adding section (40) are mixed by a mixing circuit (18). In the case in which both an effect and an echo are added such that the microphone signal and the effect signal are added and then output, the mixing section (42) reduces the mixing ratio of the effect signal, whereby the effect is prevented from being excessively increased.

Abstract: There are provided an automatic composition apparatus and a method for automatically composing a piece of music, which enable a user to generate a large number of melodies having different atmospheres using a reduced number of melody generating templates, and a storage medium storing a program for executing the method. A plurality of piece-of-music-independent templates containing various information independent of pieces of music are supplied to generate melodies of the pieces of music. A plurality of piece-of-music-dependent templates containing various information dependent on the pieces of music are supplied to generate melodies of the pieces of music. A piece-of-music-independent template is selected from the supplied plurality of piece-of-music-independent templates. A piece-of-music-dependent template is selected from the supplied plurality of piece-of-music-dependent templates.

Abstract: An electronic music instrument system, comprising: an electronic music instrument, having selectable groups of reproducible sounds and individually selectable reproducible sounds; a signal generator for energizing an audio amplifier responsive to different digital audio sources, including the groups of sounds and the individual sounds a graphical user interface for displaying at least one control graphic representing controllable parameters of the audio signals generated by the generator; and, a controller responsive to operation of the control graphic for adjusting the controllable parameters of the generator and for selectively coupling different ones of the sources to the generator. The graphical user interface can comprise: a video display; and, a touch-responsive overlay. The controllable parameters can include multiple instrument sound selection and sound layer assignment, controlled responsive to operation of the at least one control graphic.

Abstract: An automatic composition apparatus is provided which enables the user to compose a piece of music while taking account of the overall structure of the melody of the piece of music as a whole. A CPU generates each of a plurality of layers of skeleton that constitutes a melody of a piece of music. The plurality of layers form a hierarchical structure formed preferably of a layer of an overall skeleton, a layer of an passage skeleton based on the overall skeleton, and a phrase skeleton based on the passage skeleton. The CPU generates each layer of skeleton except the highest layer of skeleton, based on at least one of the plurality of layers of skeleton that is higher than the each layer of skeleton.

Abstract: A karaoke system capable of performing distribution or delivery of new music without delay and providing high quality karaoke musical accompaniment and video image dedicated for each music well harmonized with the content of each music is disclosed. The karaoke system reproduces a recorded musical accompaniment of a music to sing together with a composite image of lyric words and background image.

Abstract: A World Wide Web-based melody retrieval system takes a sung melody as a query and retrieves the song's title or other information from a music database over a WWW network which comprises a method of obtaining search clues with the maximum quantity of information from pitch and span (dynamic threshold determination) and a method of effectively reducing the number of answer candidates (coarse-to-fine matching), thus increasing the matching accuracy, and it is characterized in that a user can retrieve music or media with music by singing.

Abstract: A karaoke apparatus accompanies a vocal performance with a karaoke accompaniment reproduced according to karaoke data. In the karaoke apparatus, an input device separately converts a plurality of singing voices vocalized by different singers into respective ones of initial voice signals. At least one pitch sifter is utilized to shift a pitch of the initial voice signal to create a modified voice signal representative of a harmony voice made consonant to the singing voice. A distributor operates according to control information contained in the karaoke data to selectively distribute at least one of the initial voice signals to the pitch sifter so as to create the modified voice signal corresponding to the distributed initial voice signal. An output device selectively mixes the initial voice signals and the modified voice signal to reproduce the vocal performance composed of selected ones of the singing voices and the harmony voice in synchronization with the karaoke accompaniment.

Abstract: A karaoke system acoustically outputting karaoke musical accompaniment together with a singing voice input from a microphone, and in the conjunction therewith, performing video output for image of lyric in synchronism with progress of karaoke musical accompaniment, is capable of announcing calorie consumption achieved by singing a song. The karaoke system includes sound volume integrating part for sampling singing voice input volume from the microphone at a given interval and sequentially integrating respective sampled values, converting part for converting an integrated value derived by the sound volume integrating means into a calorie consuming amount of a physical exercise by singing a song according to a predetermined algorithm, and announcing part for announcing the calorie consuming amount derived by the converting means to a user.

Abstract: As automatic performance data are sequentially supplied at a given tempo, a player sequentially depresses keyboard keys at appropriate timing. Comparison is made between timing of each manual key-on event and timing of key-on and key-off events of each automatic performance note in the performance data. If key-on timing of a given automatic performance note is within a predetermined allowable difference from given manual key-on timing, a tone based on the given automatic performance note is generated at a time corresponding to the manual key-on timing. If key-off timing of a given automatic performance note is within another predetermined allowable difference from given manual key-on timing and if a tone based on the note has not yet been generated, that tone is generated at timing corresponding to the manual key-on timing.

Abstract: The electronic apparatus comprises a processing unit for classification and storage of a plurality of musical compositions, and a control device, such as a keyboard or MIDI connection, for performing of sequences of connoting musical events, to be stored and related to each single musical composition. The same control device may then be, used for performing of one or more sequences of searching musical events, in order to automatically find and subsequently read-out an associated musical composition from a storage memory of the CPU. For this purpose, the processing unit comprises program means for comparing a searching sequence with the connoting sequence of musical events, reading-out one or more of the stored musical compositions in the event of total or partial equivalence between the compared sequences of musical events.

Abstract: In an automatic accompanying apparatus and an automatic accompanying method, the respective part structures of a plurality of basic variation patterns used as a basic accompanying pattern of rhythm are arbitrarily set by a music player. When the music player selects one basic variation pattern from a plurality of basic variation patterns to which the part structures are set in such a manner, the part structure is automatically set in such a manner that part structures of an intro-pattern, an ending pattern, and also a fill-in pattern, which are prepared for this rhythm, are made equal to the part structure of the selected basic variation pattern. The automatic accompaniment is carried out by employing the selected basic variation pattern, and the intro-pattern, ending pattern, and fill-in pattern, which own the same part structures as that of this basic variation pattern. As a result, the automatic accompaniment can be carried out while being matched with a motif of a user through the entire music.

Abstract: A karaoke system capable of performing distribution or delivery of new music without delay and providing high quality karaoke musical accompaniment and video image dedicated for each music well harmonized with the content of each music is disclosed. The karaoke system reproduces a recorded musical accompaniment of a music to sing together with a composite image of lyric words and background image.

Abstract: Apparatus for a wireless computer controlled toy system is disclosed, the apparatus including a computer system operative to transmit a first transmission via a first wireless transmitter and at least one toy including a first wireless receiver, the toy receiving the first transmission via the first wireless receiver and operative to carry out at least one action based on said first transmission. A method for controlling the toy system is also disclosed.

Abstract: An automatic music composing apparatus comprises a musical template data base storing a plurality of musical templates each including a first set of data constituting a musical melody sample defined by a pattern of musical tone pitch progression in a pattern of rhythm to be performed for a musical piece and a second set of data indicative of musical features of said musical melody sample. The melody sample is constructed and partitioned in such a hierarchical structure that a musical piece is comprised of sentences, each sentence is comprised of phrases, each phrase is comprised of measures, and each measure includes a plurality of notes having respective pitches and durations to constitute a melody segment having a rhythm pattern. The apparatus comprises an input device for inputting composition conditions to define musical features for a musical piece to be composed in terms of the number of sentences, phrases and measures, and similarity symbols of each sentence.

Abstract: A karaoke amplifier is constructed for amplifying an audio signal to sound a karaoke performance while processing the audio signal according to a value of a control parameter to acoustically control the karaoke performance. An analog operating member is manually operable to set an initial analog value of the control parameter. An analog/digital converter converts the initial analog value into a corresponding initial digital value. A receiver receives correction data from an external data source. A memory memorizes the received correction data. A calculator arithmetically treats the initial digital value according to the correction data retrieved from the memory to calculate a corrected value of the control parameter. A signal processor processes the audio signal according to the corrected value of the control parameter and amplifies the processed audio signal to sound the karaoke performance which is acoustically modified according to the corrected value of the control parameter.

Abstract: A karaoke apparatus is responsive to a request of a music piece for producing karaoke accompaniment to accompany a live singing voice of the music piece while reproducing a background video associated with the music piece. In the karaoke apparatus, a sound source device produces the karaoke accompaniment of the music piece in response to the request. A storage device stores video data representative of a piece of the background video which is associated with the music piece. The piece of the background video has a time length normally longer than a time length of the music piece. A central processing unit variably designates a read start point from which the piece of the background video should be reproduced. A drive device is responsive to the request for accessing the storage device to reproduce the background video from the read start point.

Abstract: A karaoke apparatus responds to a request for producing a karaoke music piece to accompany a live singing performance of words of the karaoke music piece by a karaoke player. In the karaoke apparatus, a storage device stores music data representing a plurality of karaoke music pieces and speech data representing speech sounds of words of the karaoke music pieces. An operation panel operates upon a request for designating a karaoke music piece to be performed. A tone generator retrieves the music data corresponding to the designated karaoke music piece from the storage device so as to generate music tones of the designated karaoke music piece to thereby accompany the live singing performance.

Abstract: A music performing apparatus comprises a manipulative music performing device which performs music according to the player's musical performance on the apparatus and an automatic accompaniment performing device which performs musical accompaniment according to automatic accompaniment signals provided in the apparatus. The properties and the manners of a musical performance and an automatic accompaniment are determined by the parameters set by the various controls such as switches and knobs in the control panel provided on the apparatus. A state of combination of such parameters is defined as a registration for a musical performance. Different registrations are stored in a data storage device representing different combinations of the parameters, and a desired one of the registrations is selectively called by the user to set the performance properties and manners.

Abstract: A portable music performance device combines an external audio input, such as a singer's voice singing the lyrics of a song into a microphone, and stored musical accompaniment data for the song, preferably data stored in a ROM package, and produces an RF signal for transmission to a receiver.

Abstract: A system, and related method, for creating music in real time includes an input device and a real-time music generator. The input device is used by a user to provide rhythm-related signals and pitch-related signals to the real-time music generator. The real time music generator receives the rhythm-related and pitch-related signals and creates or composes in real time music that includes pitches based on the pitch-related signals and rhythmic activity based on the rhythm-related signals. The input device can provide pitch related and rhythm-related signals that are representative of position, velocity, or acceleration. The real-time music generator can derive position, velocity, or acceleration from the pitch-related and rhythm-related signals and compose in real time music comprising pitches and rhythm activity based on the derived information.

Abstract: A karaoke system is provided with a reproducing section and a remote control device. The reproducing section at least reproduces an accompaniment signal. The remote control device controls the operation of the reproducing section and is provided with an input section, a storage and a sending section. A control signal for controlling the operation of the reproducing section and information showing the order of reproducing an accompaniment signal by the reproducing section are input from the input section. The storage stores reservation information showing the order of reproduction and the personal information of a user both input via the input section. The sending section sends at least one of reservation information and the personal information of a user both stored in said storage to the reproducing section.

Abstract: A musician can simulate participation in a concert by playing a musical instrument and wearing a head-mounted 3D display that includes stereo speakers. Audio and video portions of a musical concert are pre-recorded, along with a separate sound track corresponding to the musical instrument played by the musician. Playback of the instrument sound track is controlled by signals generated in the musical instrument and transmitted to a system interface box connected to the audio-video play back device, an audio mixer, and the head-mounted display. An external bypass switch allows the musician to suppress the instrument sound track so that the sounds created by actual playing of the musical instrument are heard along with the pre-recorded audio and video portions.

Abstract: A karaoke system for providing improved services with customers, utilizing inherent network resources of a large-scale communication karaoke system is disclosed.The karaoke system according to one aspect of the present invention has a host apparatus 2 and a plurality of remote terminal apparatuses 1 for playing karaoke music communicating with the host apparatus via a communication network 3. Each of the remote terminal apparatuses 1 stores karaoke data transferred from the host apparatus 2 and plays the karaoke data selected from among the stored karaoke data by a speaker 11 and a CRT display 15.The host apparatus 2 stores a plurality of records of customers of the karaoke system.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for generating musical accompaniment signals corresponding to a musical program, there is provided a recording medium which has an audio storage unit and a lyric storage unit separate from the audio storage unit. The audio storage unit and the lyric storage unit respectively have a plurality of audio music data and a plurality of lyric data corresponding to a plurality of the musical programs stored therein. The lyric data include encoded text data and timing information. In operation, the audio music data and the lyric data corresponding to a selected one of the musical programs are retrieved from the recording medium. The encoded text data and timing information retrieved from the recording medium are decoded to obtain decoded data, and bitmap data are then generated from the decoded data. The bitmap data are synchronized with the audio music data retrieved from the recording medium in accordance with the timing information.

Abstract: An automatic performance apparatus for conducting a minus-one performance so that a minus part can be automatically changed in accordance with a performance conducted by the user, the apparatus includes a tone generator which synthesizes musical tones of a plurality of parts based on performance data including performance data of the parts, a MIDI input section which externally captures MIDI data including a program change which designates a tone color related to a part, a selected part judging section which specifies the part corresponding to the MIDI data based on the program change, a mute control section which eliminates performance data of the part specified by the selected part judging section from the performance data, and a performance converting section which inserts the MIDI data into the part from which the performance data are eliminated are disposed.

Abstract: A voice converter provides for pitch and formant shifting of an input voice signal. An audio filter extracts the volume level of the input voice signal, and outputs the extracted volume level as first volume data. A second audio filter extracts the volume level of an output voice signal, and outputs the extracted volume level as second volume data. A difference judging circuit compares the first and second volume data with each other, and determines a volume gain and a distorting factor which is supplied to a distortion circuit. When the volume of the output voice after conversion is smaller than that of the input voice, the volume gain is increased.

Abstract: A karaoke apparatus is constructed to reproduce a karaoke music piece according to karaoke data composed of setup data and performance data. The karaoke apparatus utilizes a pair of sound source devices each of which is initialized according to the setup data and is then operated to reproduce the karaoke music piece according to the performance data so that the sound source devices can be alternately operated with each other to successively reproduce a plurality of karaoke music pieces. In the karaoke apparatus, a first control device operates when one of the sound source devices reproduces a preceding one of the karaoke music pieces for providing the other of the sound source devices with setup data contained in karaoke data corresponding to a succeeding one of the karaoke music pieces so as to initialize the other sound source device before the one sound source device finishes reproduction of the preceding karaoke music piece.

Abstract: A karaoke apparatus produces a karaoke accompaniment which accompanies a singing voice of a player. A memory device stores primary characteristics of a model vowel contained in a model voice. An input device collects an input singing voice of the player containing a pair of a lead consonant component and a subsequent vowel component. A separating device separates the lead consonant component and the subsequent vowel component from each other. An extracting device extracts secondary characteristics of the subsequent vowel component separated from the lead consonant component. A creating device creates a substitutive vowel component according to the primary characteristics and the secondary characteristics so that the separated subsequent vowel component is converted into the substitutive vowel component while modified by the model vowel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a computerized method for correlating a performance, in real time, to a score of music, and a machine based on that method. A score processor accepts a score which a user would like to play and converts it into a useable format. Performance input data is accepted by the input processor and the performance input data is correlated to the score on a note-by-note basis. An apparatus for performing this method includes an input processor that receives input and compares it to the expected score to determine whether an entire chord has been matched, and an output processor which receives a note match signal from the input processor and provides an output stream responsive to the match signals.

Abstract: An improved music generation system that facilitates artistic expression by non-musician and musician performers in both individual and group performance contexts. Mappings are provided between 1) gestures of a performer as indicated by manipulation of a user input device, 2) displayed motion of a graphic object, and 3) global features of a musical segment. The displayed motions and global features are selected so as to reinforce the appearance of causation between the performer's gestures and the produced musical effects and thereby assist the performer in refining his or her musical expression. The displayed motion is isomorphically coherent with the musical segment in order to achieve the appearance of causation. The global features are segment characteristics perceivable to human listeners. Control at the global feature level in combination with isomorphic visual feedback provides advantages to both non-musicians and musicians in producing artistic effect.

Abstract: A karaoke apparatus is configured so that, even when a music piece data having no harmony data is to be performed, a harmony voice signal can be generated. Notes of a length not smaller than a quarter note are extracted from a karaoke performance data and a guide melody data of a music piece data. The distributions of frequencies of occurrence of the tones (C to B) are aggregated. The distributions are compared with the major judgment scale and the minor judgment scale. Then, the data is judged to have a key in which the tonic note (scale note) exists at a place where the highest coincidence is attained. A harmony data is generated on the basis of the result of the key judgment and the guide melody data, and a harmony voice signal is produced based on the harmony data.

Abstract: A score display apparatus shows beat marks in a number corresponding to the number of beats per measure during a performance by a musical instrument karaoke apparatus. Further, the score display apparatus changes the color of each of beat marks as though the beat mark is wiped with a different color in a predetermined direction in synchronism with the tempo of a performance of the musical instrument karaoke apparatus, and changes the color of the displayed beat marks in synchronism with the timing of the beats.