Abstract: A comment statement provided within a program code statement is detected, and a processing according to a special command for executing an effect if such a special command is present in the comment statement is executed. The original program code statement may be ignored. Thus, an improved apparatus and an old apparatus can be operated using the same program, and the improved apparatus can execute the special command statement.

Abstract: In a still picture reproduction system used for presentation of pictures in museums, a particular still picture can be retrieved rapidly by applying a retroactive reproduction function. When the mode is switched from a normal reproduction mode to a retroactive reproduction mode by a mouse, only the first still picture of a series of still pictures reproduced in the normal reproduction mode is reproduced and displayed on an HDTV. These first still pictures in each of a number of series are selectively and manually switched in sequence.

Abstract: The present image reproduction apparatus detects a comment statement provided to a program code statement, and executes a processing according to a special command for executing an image effect inherent in the image reproduction apparatus if such a special command is present in the comment statement, ignoring the original program code statement. Thus, an improved type image reproduction apparatus and an old type image reproduction apparatus can be operated together, and the improved apparatus can execute such a special command statement.

Abstract: In a still picture reproduction system used for presentation of pictures in museums, a particular still picture can be retrieved rapidly by applying a retroactive reproduction function. When the mode is switched from a normal reproduction mode to a retroactive reproduction mode by a mouse, only the first still picture of a series of still pictures reproduced in the normal reproduction mode is reproduced and displayed on an HDTV. These first still pictures in each of a number of series are selectively and manually switched in sequence.

Abstract: Smooth transition between concatenated sound elements is achieved by use of an address control unit which is initialized to a point in time corresponding to the maximum similarity between adjacent sound units. A sound synthesizing apparatus for achieving compiling synthesization by the use of sound elements extracted from an analog sound waveform, wherein an analog sound signal is converted into a digital signal, data in the vicinity of the trailing end portion of a preceding sound element and data in the vicinity of the leading end portion of a succeeding sound element are shifted relatively and an arithmetic operation of similarity is made by arithmetic control means, and data of the succeeding sound element is clocked out from a storage means such that the succeeding sound element is connected to the preceding sound element most smoothly.

Abstract: A circuit for demodulating either an MFM (modified frequency modulated) or an FM (frequency modulated) self-clocking-information signal is adapted to measure a time period corresponding to a signal reversion period and quantize the measured time period, whereby the quantized output determines a signal reversion period. Pulses of the number corresponding to the quantized output are generated and clock pulses for demodulating the original data are regenerated based on the above described pulses. In the case where the self-clocking-information signal is MFM, the original data is demodulated by reading the data regenerated based on the said pulses of the number corresponding to the quantized output based on the regenerated clock pulses. In the case where the self-clocking-information signal is FM, the original data is demodulated by reading the specified quantized output based on the above described regenerated clock pulses.

Abstract: An analog sound signal the time axis of which is compressed is sampled responsive to a write clock signal and the sampled output is stored in an analog shift register having a given capacity, whereupon the stored signal is read out from the analog shift register responsive to a read clock signal the frequency of which is smaller than that of the write clock signal. The above described operation is alternately repeated, whereby the output signal read out from the analog shift register is compiled for sound synthesization. The synthesizing junction of the sound signal is controlled by a microcomputer. The microcomputer is adapted to evaluate the similarity of the data concerning the waveform at the trailing end portion of a preceding sound element stored in the random-access memory and the data concerning the waveform at the leading end portion of the succeeding sound element stored in the random-access memory.

Abstract: An analog sound signal the time axis of which is compressed is sampled responsive to a write clock signal and the sampled output is stored in an analog shift register having a given capacity, whereupon the stored signal is read out from the analog shift register responsive to a read clock signal the frequency of which is smaller than that of the write clock signal. The above described operation is alternately repeated, whereby the output signal read out from the analog shift register is compiled for sound synthesization. The synthesizing junction of the sound signal is controlled by a microcomputer. The microcomputer is adapted to evaluate the similarity of the data concerning the waveform at the trailing end portion of a preceding sound element stored in the random-access memory and the data concerning the waveform at the leading end portion of the succeeding sound element stored in the random-access memory.