Abstract: A personal computer having a MIDI interface and an electronic musical instrument having a MIDI interface are connected with each other by means of a sending and a receiving MIDI cable. The personal computer stores music performance data and provides control commands for managing the data storing operation in the electronic musical instrument in its local data protocol, and converts such data and commands both to MIDI exclusive data according to the MIDI protocol to send to the electronic musical instrument via the MIDI cable. The electronic musical instrument receives the MIDI exclusive data carrying such data and commands, and converts the received MIDI exclusive data back to the performance data and the control commands in the original local protocol such as DOS format to control the data storing operation in the electronic musical instrument accordingly. Thus, the personal computer can remotely manage the data storing operation in the electronic musical instrument.

Abstract: A musical tone synthesizing apparatus includes a tone color selecting device that classifies a plurality of tone colors set in the main body thereof into a plurality of categories, and selects a tone color based on the categories into which the tone colors have been classified. An expanded tone color supplying device supplies a plurality of expanded tone colors to the tone color selecting device. The tone color selecting device classifies the expanded tone colors supplied from the expanded tone color supplying device into a plurality of categories, in substantially same manner as used for the tone colors set in the main body, and selects an expanded tone color based on the categories into which the expanded tone colors have been classified. Further, a musical tone synthesizing method and a storage medium storing a program executable by a computer are provided to perform the same functions as the musical tone synthesizing apparatus.

Abstract: A musical tone generating apparatus is provided that generates a musical tone of a selected one of tone colors that is defined by a combination of a first kind of number and a second kind of number. An operating element used for setting a tone color and having an incrementing function and a decrementing function is operated to set at least the second kind of number by using at least one of the incrementing function and decrementing function.

Abstract: The invention relates to an exhaust gas recirculation system as may be used in an engine of an automobile or the like. A housing is provided with an exhaust gas recirculation passage, which may be opened or closed by a valve connected to a diaphragm. The valve includes a rod which is guided by a guide bushing for movement back and forth. A securing protective cover mounted on the housing and a cup-shaped movable protective cover mounted on the diaphragm prevent ingress of a foreign matter between the guide bushing and the valve. An air passage is formed in the movable protective cover. With this construction, the provision of the air passage prevents a negative pressure from prevailing in the movable protective cover, thus preventing a foreign matter such as water or dust which may be deposited on the housing or the like from being drawn into a clearance between the guide bushing and the valve.

Abstract: An automatic performance device has a phrase performance information memory storing pieces of phrase performance information having predetermined phrase lengths, which each have phrase-discriminating information imparted thereto. A performance pattern memory stores pieces of performance pattern information for determining a sequence of performance of the pieces of phrase performance information. A CPU prepares pieces of performance pattern information by storing the pieces of phrase-discriminating information into the performance pattern memory in a sequence of performance of the pieces of phrase performance information, according to operation by an operator, and imparts to the prepared pieces of performance pattern information as many pieces of pattern-discriminating information. Pieces of performance pattern information are designated by means of the pattern-discriminating information.

Abstract: An instrument for playing back musical playing data comprises an performance track and a replacement-performance track in which replacement-performance data with performance data. Usually, only the performance track is in use so that only the performance data is read and supplied to a tone generator. When playback timing touches to the timing that the replacement-performance data is recorded in the replacement-performance track, the performance data at the timing on the performance track is replaced with the replacement-performance data on the replacement-performance track, and the replaced data is supplied to the tone generator to be played back.

Abstract: An instrument for recording and playing musical playing data comprises a pattern memory, a timing designation key for designating playing back timing of the pattern data, a sequence track for recording sequence data, and a writing device for writing the pattern data into the sequence track at the playing back timing designated with the timing designation key. The pattern data is read from the pattern memory and transferred to the place, in the sequence track, corresponding to the designated timing. The transferred note data is modified with the designated chord. The instrument further comprises a backing track storing backing data, any part of which can be also transferred to the sequence track.