Abstract: An automatic performance data editing device has a memory device, an Input device and control device. The memory device stores performance data used for carrying out. The performance data includes control data which control the automatic performance. The input device can provide a control data while carrying out the automatic performance. The control device edits the performance data stored in the memory device in such a manner that, when a control data is provided by the panel switches, a control data which has been read out from the memory device to control the automatic performance is updated by the provided control data.

Abstract: A control system for a musical instrument, e.g., an electric guitar, which is programmable so that a tremolo characteristic can be applied to the audio signal produced by the musical instrument. The tremolo characteristic can be comprised of a combination of three preset amplitude components and three preset frequency components. The control system can also be used to dynamically vary the volume characteristic of the audio signal produced by the musical instrument. Specifically, the control system includes a tactile member which produces a signal proportionate to the pressure exerted on the tactile member by the musician. This signal can be used to increase the volume characteristic of the musical instrument while the musician is playing the musical instrument.

Abstract: A sequencer for an electronic musical instrument and a method for controlling sequencing of the electronic musical instrument, wherein when a registration switch is depressed after a fast-forward or rewind switch is depressed, a controller controls a disk driver to perform a fast-forward or rewind operation to a position where the registration switch was depressed in a previous recording or playback operation, whereupon the fast-forward or rewind operation is automatically stopped. The controller then reads out stored tone control information which corresponds with the registration switch and outputs a tone in accordance with the tone control information. The sequencer and method of the present application permit the fast-forward or rewind switch to be activated and then released and does not require continual depression of these switches by an operator.

Abstract: A sound processing apparatus has a volume control circuit for controlling sound volume and a register storing plural values specifying attenuation levels. The register values are determined to linearly correspond to the rate of change of the attenuation level.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for automating accompaniment to an ensemble's performance. The apparatus is comprised of a plurality of input devices with each input device producing an input signal containing information related to an ensemble's performance. A plurality of tracking devices is provided, with each tracking device being responsive to one of the input signals. Each tracking device produces a position signal indicative of a score position when a match is found between the input signal and the score and a tempo estimate. A first voting device is responsive to each of the position signals for weighting each of the position signals. The weighting may be based on the frequency with which it changes and the proximity of its score position to each of the other score positions represented by each of the other position signals. The same weighting factors are then applied to the tempo estimate associated with that position signal.

Abstract: A music re-performance system allows a plurality of untrained instrumentalist to play pre-stored music using traditional playing techniques along with an automatic accompaniment at a tempo controlled by a selected-instrumentalist. Instrumentalist's gestures start and stop pre-stored score notes and temporal restrictions limit gestural timing errors. Expression parameters, including volume, timbre, and vibrato, are selectively updated, allowing editing of music sound files. A finger manipulation and energy driver controller model, including transducers and signal processing, accommodates wind and string instruments. Temporal masking prevents substantially concurrent finger and energy gestures, intended as simultaneous, from producing multiple false gestures.

Abstract: An automatic arrangement apparatus for automatically producing performance data indicative of a predetermined performance part of a musical tune on a basis of an arrangement condition intended to be arranged. The arrangement apparatus includes a baeklng type table memory for memorizing rhythm backing and non-rhythm backing in compliance with a predetermined combination of a performance style, loudness of musical tones and a performance feeling or mood such as melodic or rhythmic feeling. Based on the arrangement condition applied from an external equipment such as an electronic musical instrument or an external recorder by operation of an Input device, either the rhythm backing or the non-rhythm backing is selected to produce a backing part at a timing of a rhythm pattern memorized in a rhythm pattern memory or at a timing of variation of chords memorized in a chord progression memory.

Abstract: In an automatic performing system, when the track is changed to one having a different loop bar number, the bar to be reproduced next is easily determined by first dividing the number of bars accumulated from the start of accompaniment by the loop bar number stored in the sequence track. Based on the remainder resulting from the division, the number of beats is determined and the present pointer is set. In the automatic performing system, by comparing the data at the next address with the part designation data, it is determined whether the read out data belongs to the designated part or not. Therefore, the accompaniment data corresponding to the designated part data can be read out and reproduced.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument reads data of a musical tone from a waveform memory thereof according to pitch information input thereto, to form a tone signal containing a tone amplitude signal indicative of amplitude of the musical tone. The tone signal is passed into a plurality of signal paths to be formed into a plurality of analog tone signals. The plurality of signals paths each amplify the tone amplitude signal according to a note on/off velocity, and attenuate a plurality of modifications of the tone signal, depending on or not depending on the note on/off velocity and the pitch information on the musical tone, to generate a musical tone suitably reflecting the note on/off velocity and the pitch.

Abstract: An apparatus for inputting MIDI information output from a sequencer or a keyboard and performing a predetermined process on the input MIDI information in accordance with an instruction from an operation panel to alter that information to new MIDI information or to generate new MIDI information in the apparatus in accordance with an instruction from the operation panel, and for outputting the altered or generated MIDI information to a tone generator to provide tone generation or the setting of a machine.

Abstract: An automatic performance apparatus has a memory, a reading out circuit, a parameter creating circuit, and a tone generating circuit. Initially, basic performance data corresponding to the basic performance of a musical piece and musical expression data corresponding to musical expression to be imparted to the basic performance are stored in the memory according to the progress of the musical piece. Next, when the basic performance data and musical expression data are read out from the memory by the reading out circuit in due order, the parameter including musical expression is created based on the read out basic performance data and musical expression data in the parameter creating circuit. Accordingly, this parameter is supplied to the tone generating circuit and a musical tone signal to which musical expression is imparted is formed in the tone generating circuit.

Abstract: An auto-play apparatus having an auto-play data memory for storing a note data string of an auto-accompaniment pattern, and a tone generator for generating tones on the basis of the note data string read out from the auto-play data memory. The auto-play apparatus includes an intonation pattern memory for storing intonation patterns of a plurality of levels corresponding to different degrees of tone-up of a performance. The intonation value is changed upon operation of an operation unit, and a note data string is read out from the auto-play data memory on the basis of intonation pattern data corresponding to the new intonation value. The readout note data string is supplied to the tone generator. The intonation pattern data of different levels includes at least designation information for designating different read positions in the auto-play data memory, and different tone volume information, different tone color information, and different instrument information to be provided to the readout note data.

Abstract: A electronic keyboard instrument for producing an artificial sound, including a plurality of keys; waveform-forming structure for generating a signal indicative of a waveform of an artificial sound corresponding to one of the keys, when the one of the keys is depressed; at least one operating element; detecting structure for detecting whether or not the at least one operating element is being operated; and waveform-modifying structure for modifying the signal indicative of the wave form depending on results of detection by the detecting structure, the waveform-modifying structure including envelope-determining structure for determining an envelope of the wave form of the artificial sound, and envelope-modifying structure for outputting a modification value used in changing an output from the envelope-determining structure depending on results of detection by the detecting structure.

Abstract: A play data recording apparatus for a keyed musical instrument converts keying strength information, which is detected by an appropriate detector when one of keys of a keyboard apparatus is operated, into reference keying strength information based on the relationship obtained in advance between keying strength information detected when one of the keys of the keyboards is operated at an arbitrary one or ones of fractionized reference sound volumes and reference keying strength information obtained by digitizing the fractionized reference sound volumes, and then causes the reference keying strength information obtained by the conversion to be stored as one of play data into a storage device.

Abstract: Reading of a waveform memory is controlled and one of different processing is performed depending upon which of a first mode and a second mode has been designated. When the first mode has been designated, an interpolation operation is performed on the basis of plural sample value data read from the waveform memory by using a predetermined number of processing time slots and a resulting one waveform sample value data is produced. When the second mode, has been designated, a processing for producing one waveform sample value data is performed on the basis of one sample value data read from the waveform memory by using one processing time slot. By using a predetermined plural number of processing time slots, one waveform sample value data produced with a high accuracy in the first mode whereas plural waveform sample value data are produced in the second mode whereby generation of a waveform can be performed efficiently by properly utilizing the mode.

Abstract: An auto-play apparatus associated with a keyboard instrument is arranged for generating auto-accompaniment tones such as chord, bass drum lines to have a specific rhythm pattern. When a player determines tone-up of a music piece during a performance, he or she operates an intonation dial (22) arranged on an operation panel (2) or an expression pedal (23). Then, an intonation value representing a tone-up level of the music piece is generated as numerical value information. A corresponding play pattern is read out from an auto-accompaniment pattern ROM (6) according to the intonation value and a rhythm pattern selected in advance upon operation of an operation member of the operation panel (2), thus starting an auto-play operation. Auto-accompaniment pattern data corresponding to the intonation value is programmed to change the play pattern according to a tone-up state of a music piece during the performance of the music piece.

Abstract: An audio channel system provides an analog signal corresponding to a sound waveform in a computer system. The audio channel system includes a plurality of audio channels. Each audio channel contains a predetermined number of audio data samples for producing a particular sound waveform. A plurality of volume bits define a volume level of each audio data sample to be played. An audio processor processes the sound waveforms of each audio channel. The audio processor acts as a shared processing element which receives the audio data samples from each audio channel. The audio processor divides the audio data samples into a plurality of data such that the plurality of data for each audio data sample is pipelined through the audio processor in a serial manner. The plurality of data for each audio data sample for each audio channel is in various processing stages at any given time.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument according to the present invention has oscillators for generating a tone waveform; a modulator for modulating a musical tone; a modulation controller for determining a degree of modulation to be performed by the modulator; and a central control unit for controlling the oscillators, the modulator and the modulation controller. A memory stores a current control value of the modulation controller, and an input/output device reads a control value stored in the memory, by the central controller, and/or writes a control value stored in the memory into the central controller to ensure the control of the degree of modulation and the alteration of frequency bands.

Abstract: Tone waveform data is divided into plural data segments, so that frequency and magnitude of respective spectra contained therein are analyzed for each of the data segments. Analyzation parameters indicative of the frequency and magnitude of the respective spectra for each said data segment which has been obtained through the analyzation is stored into a memory. The analyzation parameter for each data segment is sequentially read out from the memory, and the tone waveform data is reanalyzed on the basis of the read-out parameter. To control the frequency of a resulting tone, a data shift circuit may be provided which serves to shift the value of the frequency data contained in the analyzation parameters.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument for realizing an easy selection of registration from a variety of registrations. First, a number from "1" to "10" is selected in an upper keyboard timbre select switch group, the numbers corresponding to various timbres, such as piano, organ, harpsichord, guitar, or the like respectively. Similarly, another number from "1" to "10" is selected in a rhythm selecting switch group, the numbers corresponding varies to rhythms, such as jazz, pops, mood music, children's songs, classical, or the like. According to this, a preferable registration group with respect to the music can be easily selected from a great number (i.e., 10.times.10=100) of registration groups.

Abstract: An electronic sound generating apparatus which generates sound or recreates music performance according to the data included in a bar code. The apparatus includes a scanner to scan a bar code. Attributes of sound or music are assigned to parameters of control data for synthesizing sound or recreating music performance. Each of the parameters is given a specific value by the data included in a bar code scanned by the scanner. The resulted sound or music performance is provided with random, accidental, and unexpected characteristics, and an operator need not perform inputting operation to vary sound or music performance.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument with an automatic performance function includes manual performance device, an automatic performance device and a control. The manual performance device, having a plurality of performance manipulators to be performed by a player, generates a manual performance musical tone having a tone color in response to the player's performing. The automatic performance device automatically generates automatic performance musical tones of a plurality of parts respectively corresponding to a plurality of tone colors. The control, in response to generation of the manual performance musical tone.

Abstract: A system for use in an electronic musical instrument, which system includes a musical sound generating unit for generating a musical sound, and a detection unit for detecting that the magnitude of the musical sound data generated by the musical sound generating unit exceeds a processing capability, on the basis that the value indicated by the most significant bit prior to data processing not equal to that after data processing. A maintaining unit is also included which forcibly maintain the level of a signal representing the musical sound data at a maximum amplitude thereof, on the basis of the result of the detection effected by detection unit.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument, which, in consonance with the state of a local control function, is designed to play music independently or in conjunction with an external device, includes a detector for detecting a depression of a predetermined operation terminal immediately after power switch-on. It further includes an initial setup device for setting the initial state of the local control function in accordance with the data acquired by the detector.

Abstract: A MIDI Controller has the capability to automatically randomize, on multiple MIDI channels, four key elements of sound, namely timbre, pitch, volume, and dynamic response, to produce new total sounds. The MIDI Controller includes a user configurable randomizer which can selectively randomize the four key sound elements through processor operators. The randomizer includes a random number generator, the output of which is selectively truncated depending upon the particular element being randomized.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatic playing of a piano has storage register for storing play information, which includes key depression force information, and that sequentially reads the play information from the storage register and that uses included key depression force to activate operation terminals. The apparatus comprises: volume designating circuitry for designating volume; a volumn control information generator for generating volume control information in agreement with a volume designated by the volume designating circuitry; a calculator for performing a specified arithmetic operation involving the key depression force information and the volume control information, which is generated by the volume control information generator, to obtain new key depression information; and a controller for driving the operation terminals based on the new key depression force information that is provided by the calculator.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument is disclosed which is capable of performing an automatic accompaniment in response to the operation of the instrument by a performer.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument incorporates at least two tone signal outputs and controls sound image localization of musical tones in accordance with localization data by changing the levels of at least first and second tone signals provided, respectively, to the tone signal outputs. The instrument includes a tone signal generator for generating a generated tone signal and an output control data production circuit receiving the localization data and providing tone signal volume data and a selection signal. A tone signal output level control receives the generated tone signal and provides the first and second tone signals to the tone signal output. The tone signal output level control has a multiplier for altering the generated tone signal responsive to said volume data to provide one of the first and second tone signals. The tone signal output level control provides a signal corresponding to the generated tone signal unaltered by any multiplication as the other of the first and second tone signals.

Abstract: The sound volume controlling apparatus comprises UP and DOWN keys (42, 43) depressed manually; a time period detecting circuit (39h, 39d) for detecting time period from when the duration of UP or DOWN key depression reaches a predetermined value (e.g. 0.5 sec) to when the continuous key depression ends; a sound volume value deciding circuit (39e, 39f, 37a) for changing the sound volume value during the time duration detected by the time period detecting circuit; and sound volume changing circuit (37b, 45) for changing the sound volume in accordance with the value decided by the sound volume value deciding circuit.Since the sound volume is changed only after the key is kept depressed for a predetermined time period (e.g. 0.5 sec), it is possible to prevent the sound volume from being changed erroneously due to a short time touch to the keys.

Abstract: This invention discloses a touch response setting apparatus with which a player can rewrite a touch response curve for converting key touch data into tone generation tone level data. The touch response curve is defined by a polygonal line having at least a low touch setting point and a high touch setting point, and is stored in a RAM which receives a key touch input as an address, and outputs tone level data. In a test mode, low-touch (piano) and high-touch (forte) key operations corresponding to the touch setting points are performed, and an average value of a plurality of key depression strengths upon these key operations is obtained. When a predetermined value is given as tone level data corresponding to a touch average value at each touch setting point, the inclination of each segment of the polygonal line is determined. Thus, points on the segments are interpolated, and generated touch response curve data is stored in the RAM.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument for generating musical tone signal including a performance data generating part or generating performance data such as key-on, key-code and key-touch. The instrument also includes a control circuit for generating musical tone control data such as envelope rate data, envelope level data and initial phase data according to the performance data. Further, the control circuit adopts the time-sharing technology for generating plural musical tone signal, so that this instrument is comparatively simple at its circuit configuration compared with the prior art.

Abstract: A microcomputer with a sound effect output function, comprising a register 24 for temporarily storing a parameter specifying a sound effect to be output, a sound effect generating block 26 for outputting a signal representing a sound effect according a parameter supplied from the register 24, an output pattern setting register 25 for temporarily storing a repetition pattern of a sound effect signal supplied by the sound effect generating block 26, and an output control block 28 for outputting the sound effect signal, supplied from the sound effect generating block 26, according to the repetition pattern supplied from the output pattern setting register 25.

Abstract: The automatic performance data programming instrument is constructed to program and record an object part of the automatic performance data by physically playing an input implement such as a keyboard. During the course of the programing operation, the automatic performance data is fed to a sound source for simultaneous tone generation. The volume information contained in the automatic performance data is selectively altered so as to intensify a tone volume of the object part relative to those of the remaining parts, in order to facilitate evaluation of the performance effect associated to the object part.

Abstract: A tone generating apparatus which comprises a wave memory in which first tone waveform data with a preselected length extracted from an attack portion of a musical tone and second tone waveform data with a preselected length following the first tone waveform data and having a value of zero are stored. A read circuit reads the first tone waveform data only once from the wave memory and subsequently reads the second tone waveform data repeatedly. A tone generator generates a musical tone based on the tone waveform data read out by the read circuit. In reading out tone waveform data from the wave memory, the first tone waveform data is read out first, followed by repetitive reading of only the second tone waveform data.Repetitive reading of the second tone waveform data produces no sound because the contents of the second tone waveform data are zero. Thus, this system performs a function equivalent to tone release effected by reading out a one-shot waveform.

Abstract: When a new tone is to be assigned to a certain channel, an amplitude level of a preceding tone signal which is being produced in this channel is detected and a damp rate is determined on the basis of the detected amplitude level. Tone volume of the preceding tone signal is rapidly attenuated in accordance with the damp rate thus determined and, thereafter, generation of a new tone signal is started. The damp rate thereby is variably controlled in accordance with the magnitude of tone volume level of the preceding tone signal during a damp control and both optimum prevention of a click noise and a very quick rapid attenuation control corresponding to the tone volume level can be realized. The invention is applicable not only to a damp control of tone volume of a tone but also to a damp control of an envelope shape signal used for other control purposes.

Abstract: Header control data for setting various characteristics of an automatic performance tone such as tone color, tone volume, tempo, effect and the like are stored in a header portion of a memory. The header control data are loaded into a buffer register, and various characteristics of an automatic performance tone to be generated are established on the basis of the header control data stored in the buffer register. In response to activation of a changing operator, the header control data in the buffer register are changed and a hence various characteristics of the automatic performance tone to be generated are changed. When the data in the buffer register is changed during an automatic performance, the header control data stored in the memory is changed in correspondence to the change.

Abstract: In an automatic performance device which automatically performs a piece of music composed of note information input externally, note information input on a real time basis is corrected on the basis of beat information of a piece of music input thereafter and the resulting note information is stored. Correction information for converting the corrected note information into the originally input uncorrected note information is also stored for each note information. When the piece of music is performed automatically, a tone is generated on the basis of the corrected note information and the correcting information, but when the piece of music is output as a score, output is made on the basis of the corrected note information. Alternatively, for note information input by a step time inputting process, information is stored on a timing at which each note input thereafter is generated.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument including a keyboard, a CPU and a sound source. The keyboard designates a pitch of a musical tone. The CPU detects common pitch data of one of predetermined series of pitch data or interval between predetermined two pitches, when a plurality of pitches are designated by the keyboard. The predetermined series of pitch data are stored in a memory in units of pitches which can be designated by the keyboard. The sound source outputs a musical tone signal having a pitch designated by the keyboard and musical tone signals having pitches indicated by the common pitch data detected by the CPU or having pitches corresponding to the interval detected by the CPU.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes a performance operator such as a bar-like member, a position detection circuit for detecting a play position on the performance operator and generating position information corresponding to the play position, a circuit for selecting a desired one of a plurality of predetermined position-tone pitch conversion characteristics or establishing a desired position-tone pitch conversion characteristic with respect to the performance operator, a conversion circuit for converting the position information from the position detection circuit to tone pitch information in accordance with the position-tone pitch conversion characteristic having been selected or established and a tone generator for generating a tone signal of a tone pitch corresponding to the tone pitch information provided by the conversion circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sensing the velocity of key motion in a keyboard operated musical instrument, in which sensors (10) have a polymer piezoelectric film (18) laminated to a mylar backing material (20) are mounted in proximity to the keys (12) of a keyboard operated musical instrument. When deflected by the keys (12), the sensors (10) produce analog circuit output voltages proportional to the velocity of key motion. The analog signals are then converted to digital signals and processed by a digital microprocessor (36) to represent the velocity factor component of musical information in Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) or other digital formats. The digital data is then presented directly to a reproducing musical instrument or recorded on an electronic storage media.

Abstract: An instrument for storing musical playing data includes tone color assignment switch for assigning each of the designated tone colors to each of the recording tracks and record control device for recording the musical playing data into the recording tracks simultaneously with the assigned tone color thereto (DUAL mode). Also the record control device can be a device for recording the musical playing data into the recording track, with the assigned tone color thereto, to which the tone range, for example the left side tone range or the right side tone range of a keyboard, including the tone pitch of the musical playing data is preliminarily assigned (SPLIT mode). As a plurality of recording tracks are used in recording with the both modes, it allows a player to edit the data easily.

Abstract: A control value output apparatus for controlling a controllable value such as a tone volume value which can be continuously changed upon operation of an operation member of an operation unit for supplying a control value, comprises an output unit for holding a control value. A data source supplies a predetermined or preset control value to the output unit. The control value held in the output unit and the control value supplied from the operation unit are compared and when a coincidence output is generated, the output unit holds the control value from the operation unit in place of the presently held control value, and the output control value follows an operation position of the operation member.

Abstract: An auto-play musical instrument, which can give a tone-up state of a music piece intended by a player at his or her intended timing is disclosed. When a rotational speed detector (60) detects that a dial (10) is rotated at a speed higher than a predetermined speed, a director (63) directs a pattern selector (65) to select a soft fill-in pattern or a loud fill-in pattern in place of increment/decrement of an intonation value by a value changer (64). An auto-play operation is made based on the selected pattern, thereby sharply changing the tone-up level of play tones.

Abstract: A tone generation system includes one or more digital waveguide networks coupled to one or more junctions, one of which receives a control signal for controlling tone generation. The control signal initiates and interacts with a wave signal propagating through the waveguide networks to form a tone signal. A non-linear junction may be employed which receives a signal from a waveguide, converts it in accordance with a non-linear function based upon the value of the control signal and provides it back to the waveguide. A tone signal whose pitch is determined by the wave transmission characteristics of the waveguide network is thereby produced.

Abstract: A music interpreter apparatus automatically interprets a notational music composition (written or printed music), which is abstract and incomplete to some extent, to provide its performance realization information which is specific and complete. The apparatus includes a score memory, an interpreter and a performance memory. The score memory stores a coded music notational symbol string representing a written music composition. The interpreter reads and interprets the coded music notational string based on an artificial intelligence simulating knowledge and experience of a human music interpreter or performer to provide a performance symbol string specifying the performance realization and containing played pitch, note-on time, duration and loudness parameters of specified values with respect to each note in the music composition. The resultant performance symbol string is stored into the performance memory.

Abstract: In a musical accompaniment playing apparatus, a reproducing unit reproduces control information from a recording medium on which control information is recorded according to a MIDI standard, a sound source unit generates musical accompaniment information by the control information, a transducer transforms a singer's voice to voice information, a control unit controls a volume level of the musical accompaniment information according to the singer's ability, mixing unit mixes the musical accompaniment information with the voice information, and an output unit outputs the mixed information as sound.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having a function of simultaneously generating musical tones of a plural tone color comprises a tone color designating device for designating a plurality of tone colors, and a balance decision device for deciding balance of tone volume between the tones of tone colors designated by the tone color designating device, according to the order specified thereby. After the tone colors are designated, when musical tone generation is specified by a keyboard or the like, the musical tones of the tone colors are generated according to the previously decided balance of tone volume.

Abstract: A sound generating device for generating a variety of sounds has a main control circuit which includes a ROM for storing melody data. A sound source is coupled to the control circuit in accordance with sound scale data stored in the ROM. The sound source has a waveform memory for storing a sound waveform in a digital form. The sound waveform memory is read at a frequency corresponding to the sound scale data. An envelope waveform memory stores an envelope waveform in a digital form. A digital to analog conversion circuit converts the digital envelope waveform in accordance with the digital sound waveform to produce an analog voltage.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument can execute a musical performance with two timbres mixed together by operating a single key, for example. Of the two timbres, a master timbre is set in normal mode and is stored in a first memory, while a slave timbre is selected in tone mix mode and is stored in a second memory. Each timbre can be altered as desired. To alter the master timbre, timbre switches are operated after the mode is temporarily changed to normal mode. To alter the slave timbre, the timbre switches are operated in tone mix mode. When the tone mix mode is set, this electronic musical instrument can permit a player to easily alter tone parameters such as the volume, pitch and attack delay time of each timbre.

Abstract: A musical tone signal generating apparatus provides at least a waveform memory which stores a plurality of fundamental waveform data based on three-dimensional coordinate address system having three coordinate axes to which respective musical tone control parameters are assigned respectively. The desirable fundamental waveform data is read out at an address corresponding to a coordinate position determined by selecting desirable musical tone control parameters. Then, an interpolation operation is carried out on the fundamental waveform data which are sequentially read out so that an interpolated musical tone waveform signal is formed. The waveform of the interpolated musical tone waveform signal is similar to and intermediate to the waveforms of the fundamental waveform data to be synthesized. Thus, the interpolated musical tone waveform signal is converted into a musical tone signal, by which corresponding musical tone is to be sounded.