Abstract: In a music synthesis system, a scanning apparatus repeatedly scans a physical attribute of a vibrating object at a sequence of points of the vibrating object so as to repeatedly generate corresponding sequences of values. The music synthesis system generates an audio frequency waveform whose shape corresponds to the sequences of values. The vibrating object may be a physical object or a simulated object. The system may include a sensor for receiving user input, and means for mapping the user input into a stimulus signal that is applied to the vibrating object. In a preferred embodiment, the object vibrates and is manipulated by the user at haptic frequencies (0 to 15 hertz), while the sequences of scanned values are cyclically read at an audio frequencies so as to generate an audio frequency waveform whose timbre varies at the haptic frequencies associated with the object's vibration.

Abstract: An digital media communications and control system includes a plurality of audio devices each of which includes a device interface module for communication of digital media data and control data from at least one of the devices to at least one other of the devices. A universal data link is operatively connected to each of the device interface modules. The device interface modules and universal data links are operative in combination to connect the devices together in the system and provide full duplex communication of the digital media data and control data between the devices.

Abstract: An electronic music apparatus comprises a storage device that stores music data comprising music related data that is information for accessing to a music related product sales site on a network, a reading device that reads the music related data from the music data, an accessing device that accesses to the music related product sales site in accordance with the read music related data, and a transmitter that transmits a request for purchasing a music related product to the music related product sales site. The music related product can be easily purchased.

Abstract: A music generation system includes a segment manager and a plurality of segment objects. Each segment object has one or more track objects. Each track object containing a time sequence of musical performance data. Some of the track objects are dependent track objects and some of the track objects are controlling track objects. The dependent track objects contain dependent musical performance data that is interpreted based on controlling musical performance data contained in one or more of the controlling track objects. Each of the controlling track objects contains a predefined type of controlling musical performance data, wherein a plurality of different control type identifiers correspond respectively to different predefined types of controlling musical performance data. When a dependent track object needs controlling musical performance data, the track object calls the segment manager with an argument comprising a control type identifier.

Abstract: A musical tone information transmitting apparatus that can efficiently transmit musical tone information comprises: a device for inputting musical tone information; a plurality of processing units which jointly process the musical tone information from said input means in distributed processing; a packet generator for measuring an amount of said musical tone information distributedly processed by the plurality of processing units at a predetermined cycle, for extracting and packetizing a predetermined amount of the musical tone information into a first packet when the amount of the musical tone information is greater than the predetermined amount and for further packetizing next musical tone information after said predetermined cycle is lapsed from the time corresponding to the last musical tone information of said first packet; and a device for transmitting said packets generated by said packet generator.

Abstract: A sound system and method for modeling a sound field generated by a sound source and creating a sound event based on the modeled sound field is disclosed. The system and method captures a sound field over an enclosing surface, models the sound field and enables reproduction of the modeled sound field. Explosion type acoustical radiation may be used. Further, the reproduced sound field may be modeled and compared to the original sound field model.

Abstract: A computer system has a memory area, a processor, and at least one music-related file. The computer system is powered on long enough to load music-playing software into memory. Then, all devices not needed to play the music-related file are either shut off, or powered down to a lower power-consumption level. A CPU throttle may also be employed to further reduce power consumption. The computer system then processes and plays the music-related files.

Abstract: A digital music server, a music digitizing station, and at least one listening stations connected in a network. Each listening station includes an earphone, keyboard, display, and bar code reader. The bar code on a compact disk (CD) is scanned using the bar code reader at a listening station, and stored containing tracks from the selected CD are quickly accessed. By using the display and keyboard, the desired track is selected, and the sound volume is controlled. As the selected song file is downloaded from the server to the listening station. The listening station plays the selected track by means of an audio adapter through the earphone of said listening station.

Abstract: To musical composition information such as a standard MIDI file, there are added accessory data, such as message or text data, and setting information for the accessory information which are both unrelated to the musical composition information. These accessory data and setting information are inserted, as meta events, in the standard MIDI file. In this way, a musical composition information file can be created which is an integral combination of the musical composition information and the accessory data containing the setting information. The musical composition information file with the accessory data can be transmitted or received via a communication network, or stored in a recording medium for portability. The musical composition information file can be reproduced to permit simultaneous execution of performance reproduction processing and image reproduction processing such as for display of a message.

Abstract: The website hosted by the server is a collection of separately recorded musical tracks with the music containing a minimum of at least one musical instrument or vocal. Users may record additional tracks of music to add to a primary track. There is one primary track and up to six accompaniment or comptracks. The server allows the client to add one or more tracks to any other tracks for a given song title within the database. Separate tracks then selected by the client and mixed in the mixer into a single sound recording which is then communicated over the server across the internet to the client so the client may hear the finished or composite mixed musical work. If the mixed or composite composition is not to the liking of the user, then different tracks may be selected or rerecorded mixed in sample again.

Abstract: A system for playing a selected one of multiple audio tracks recorded in synchronized fashion with a motion picture on an optical disk. The optical disk has encoded on it a mixing master music and effects (“M&E”) track, or a switching master M&E track. Individual audio tracks are provided for language-specific versions of the same motion picture, but these tracks have data recorded in them only where there is dialog. In this way, for many a motion picture, all tracks but masters will have data recorded for well less than half of the running time of the motion picture. When a mixing master is used, it is mixed with a language-specific track when the latter has dialog; the mixing master contains no dialog. If a switching master is used, it may contain dialog recorded with the M&E; when a language-specific track has dialog recorded in it, it also contains M&E and the track is played to the exclusion of the switching master.

Abstract: A music reproducing apparatus is provided by which audio data or the like can be downloaded into an internal memory with ease. A connector portion that can be connected to a predetermined card slot of a data processing apparatus, an audio data memory, an audio reproducing circuit and an audio data outputting section are integrally incorporated within a card-type housing of a music reproducing apparatus and hence the music reproducing apparatus can be easily connected to a data processing apparatus such as a personal computer apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention describes a device and methods for synthesizing a musical audio signal. The invention includes a device for storing a collection of sound segments taken from idiomatic musical performances. Some of these sound segments include transitions between musical notes such as the slur from the end of one note to the beginning of the next. Much of the complexity and expressivity in musical phrasing is associated with the complex behavior of these transition segments. The invention further includes a device for generating a sequence of sound segments in response to an input control sequence—e.g. a MIDI sequence. The sound segments are associated with musical gesture types. The gesture types include attack, release, transition, and sustain. The sound segments are further associated with musical gesture subtypes. Large upward slur, small upward slur, large downward slur, and small downward slur are examples of subtypes of the transition gesture type.

Abstract: The invention includes a music file that includes a search index and a formatted music data block. The formatted music data block includes a complete formatted musical piece. The information in the search index includes a header data block, one or more melody data blocks, a lyrics data block and an auxiliary data block. The header data block, lyrics data block, and auxiliary data block are plain text data. The melody data block includes a melody that is included in the formatted music data block. The melody included in the formatted music data block may be a part of a melody included in the formatted music data block. The melody data blocks may be integer data, ASCII data or MIDI data. Each data block in the search index may include an identifier and a block size. In an alternative embodiment, the block size information may be included in the header data block. The search index data blocks may include pointers to the musical piece.

Abstract: When audio data are to be stored into a large-capacity memory such as a hard disk device, a shared storage section is set in the memory so as to be used both for storing audio data of one or more songs and for storing song management data for each of the songs that are necessary for reproduction of the audio data. The song management data include data indicative of a stored position, in the shared storage section, of the corresponding audio data. The audio data are sequentially stored into the shared storage section in a predetermined single direction, e.g. from one end toward another of the shared storage section. The song management data are sequentially stored into the shared storage section in an opposite direction to the predetermined single direction, e.g. from the other end toward the one end of the shared storage section.

Abstract: An acoustic signal producing apparatus wherein various musical effects are applied to a musical tone signal and an acoustic signal respectively produced at an internal tone generator and supplied from an external device such as a microphone, an electronic musical instrument or the like in such a manner that an applying state of the musical effects can be changed in accordance with various effect control parameters applied thereto.

Abstract: There is provided a music reproducing apparatus by which audio data or the like can be downloaded into an internal memory means with ease. A connector portion that can be connected to a predetermined card slot of a data processing apparatus, an audio data memory means, an audio reproducing circuit and an audio data outputting section are integrally incorporated within a card-type housing of a music reproducing apparatus and hence the music reproducing apparatus can be easily connected to a data processing apparatus such as a personal computer apparatus.

Abstract: A system implementable using a programmable processor includes a plurality of pre-stored commands for building an inventory of audio, musical, works or audio/visual works, such as music videos. A plurality of works can be collected together in a list for purposes of establishing a play or a presentation sequence. The list can be visually displayed and edited. A plurality of lists can be stored for subsequent retrieval. A selected list can be retrieved and executed. Upon execution, the works of the list are presented sequentially either audibly or visually. The works can be read locally from a source, such as a CD, or can be obtained, via wireless transmission, from a remote inventory. If desired, establishment of a predetermined credit can be a pre-condition to being able to add items to the list for presentation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the instant invention include a plurality of first operators which, together with the assignment of each of the musical tones being possible, designate the start of reproduction of the musical tones that have been assigned in accordance with their operation and a first control means with which any of the first operators are selected from among the plurality of the first operators and together with the cancellation of the assignment to the first operators that have been selected of the musical tones that had previously been assigned to the selected first operators, the musical tones themselves that had previously been assigned to the selected first operators or the pointers that indicate the musical tones that had previously been assigned to the selected first operators are stored and a second control means in which the musical tones themselves or the pointers that indicate the musical tones which have been stored in the first control means and any of the first operators from among the plurality

Abstract: A method is disclosed which edits a tonal-characteristic defining parameter by use of at least two computers, such as client and server computers, interconnected via a communication network. The client computer itself need not be equipped with an editor, i.e., an editing program, and it can utilize a desired editor or editing program on an on-line basis via the communication network. That is, desired editing data is input to the client computer, so that the editor or editing program of the server machine is run on-line in response to the editing data input and a result of editing by the editing program is sent back to the client computer via the communication network.

Abstract: To eliminate the delay time from when a request is made for playing a prescribed tone until it is actually played. Tone data in which the beginning part of the data that generates one effect sound is uncompressed data and the remaining part is compressed data, is stored in a compressed data unit. An arithmetic processing unit reads the data stored in the compressed data unit and decides whether this data is compressed data. If the data is uncompressed data, the data is transferred via multiplexer 9 to speaker 50 and is played. While the uncompressed data is being played, the remaining data is transferred to an expansion unit, where expansion processing is performed on it. If the expansion-processed data requires later-stage processing, it is stored in a post-expansion data unit, and if no such processing is required, it is transferred via a multiplexer to a speaker and is played.

Abstract: Tone generator device, which is applied to a computer, has no waveform memory of its own and is connected via an extended bus to the computer having a main memory where waveform sample data are prestored. When a tone of predetermined pitch is to be reproduced, the tone generator device designates a block of a specific quantity of the waveform sample data in accordance with the pitch to be reproduced and requests that the block be read out from the main memory and burst-transmitted via the extended bus. The burst-transmitted waveform sample data are temporarily stored in an input buffer and then read out from the buffer in accordance with pitch information to generate tone waveform data of the desired pitch. The burst transmission of the data block and subsequent tone waveform data generation are carried out at high speed asynchronously with a predetermined reproduction sampling cycle. The generated tone waveform data are output via an output data in the predetermined reproduction sampling cycle.

Abstract: A music navigator provides a visual image indication or presentation of fingering motion of a hand in playing notes. In an embodiment, the music navigator employs a fingered music storage and a hand image device. When music is played on a keyboard instrument, the music navigator reads fingered music data and selects appropriate hand image data indicative of fingering motion (e.g., turning over or under of a finger) in playing a current note for visual display. In another embodiment, the music navigator provides a sequence of hand images representative of fingering motion in playing notes in a motion picture manner.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a predetermined sequence of data files on a data bus is described. The data files are stored on a plurality of memory drives. Each of a first type of data file is stored on only one of the memory drives. Each of a second type of data file is stored on at least two of the memory drives. Upon encountering a first data file of the first type in the predetermined sequence, it is determined whether the corresponding memory drive is available. Where the corresponding memory drive is available, the first data file is transmitted on the data bus. Where the corresponding memory drive is not available, first data corresponding to the first data file is written to a temporary data file. The first data file is then transmitted on the data bus after the corresponding memory drive becomes available. Upon encountering a second data file of the second type in the predetermined sequence, the second data file is transmitted on the data bus.

Abstract: A multi tone generator having a module for instructing a start of generating a musical tone signal, a module for designating a tone generator type for generating the musical tone signal, from a plurality of tone generator types; a module for performing a common process shared by the plurality of tone generator types, when the start of generating the musical tone signal is instructed; and a module for performing a process specific to the designated tone generator type, by using results of the common process.

Abstract: A parameter setting apparatus is provided in an electronic music instrument for editing a configure of parameters in accordance with a manipulation amount to set a tone generator which creates a desired timbre of musical tones upon setting. In the apparatus, a first memory device stores a first subset of parameters containing a Boolean parameter having a first Boolean value and a numerical parameter having a first numerical value. A second memory device stores a second subset of parameters containing the Boolean parameter having a second Boolean value and the numerical parameter having a second numerical value. An operating device provides a manipulation amount for editing parameters. An interpolating device interpolates the first numerical value and the second numerical value in accordance with the manipulation amount to determine an edited numerical value of the numerical parameter.

Abstract: There are provided a tone source for generating tone signals in plural channels independently and effect impartment sections, provided in corresponding relations to the channels, for imparting individual effects to the tone signals of the channels generated by the tone source. Each of the effect impartment sections, in accordance with tone control information unique to the tone signal of the corresponding channel, controls a parameter of the effect to be imparted. In a case where any of the effect impartment sections uses a signal delaying memory to impart an effect, when a damping (or truncating process) is performed in any of the channels, the storage area to be used for the channel is switched to another unused storage area so as to prevent any preceding tone's delayed signal from being undesirably mixed into the signal of a new tone.

Abstract: An information recording medium and an information reproducing apparatus for use therewith for putting information into a system easily and quickly. The information recording medium records, in units of blocks, reproduction data such as voice data, image data and text data as well as reproduction data management information including address information and continuous reproduction information. The address information is built in a layered structure to designate addresses at which the reproduction data are stored. The continuous reproduction information specifies any one of two ways, i.e., continuously or selectively, in which to reproduce the reproduction data. The information reproducing apparatus comprises discriminating means for discriminating the continuous reproduction information in each block, and reproducing means for reproducing the reproduction data in units of blocks continuously or selectively depending on the result of the discrimination by the discriminating means.

Abstract: Musical tones are produced according to song data basically by three steps. The first step converts the song data sequentially into control parameters. The control parameters are written into a parameter memory. Then, the second step generates waveform data by using the control parameters written in the parameter memory. The generated waveform data are written into a waveform memory, while the used control parameters are erased from the parameter memory to provide a vacant area. Lastly, the third step reads the waveform data sequentially from the waveform memory to produce the musical tones. Characterizingly, the second step of generating waveform data is executed dependently on progression of the third step of reading the waveform data. Further, the first step of converting the song data is executed independently from progression of the second step of generating waveform data as long as the parameter memory has the vacant area sufficient to store the control parameters converted from the song data.

Abstract: A method for automatically adjusting the parameters of a synthesizer includes generating a first synthesized signal based on an initial set of synthesizer parameters, comparing the first synthesized signal to an input sound signal, and generating a control signal for adjusting a subset of parameters of the synthesizer to minimize the differences between the first synthesized signal and the input sound signal. These steps may be iteratively performed for a predetermined number of additional subsets of synthesizer parameters, until a final output of the synthesizer is obtained which represents an optimization of the synthesis of the input sound signal.

Abstract: A terminal apparatus is connectable to a host station and is responsive to a command to execute an application program to treat music data. In the terminal apparatus, a local storage locally stores an old version of software containing music data and various application programs which are selectively executed to treat the music data. An interface is optionally activated prior to execution of an application program for communication with the host station having a remote storage which remotely stores a new version of software including music data and various application programs which are made available latest by the host station. A controller operates when the interface establishes the communication with the host station for downloading the new version from the remote storage of the host station and for transferring the downloaded new version to the local storage so as to renew the old version stocked in the local storage by the new version.

Abstract: A computerized music apparatus utilizes resources including software modules to generate desired musical sound. In the apparatus, a primary storage is loadable with a set of software modules which are selected to perform tasks needed in generation of the desired musical sound. A central processing unit accesses the primary storage to execute the software modules stored therein to generate the musical sound. A secondary storage provisionally stores a plurality of software modules which are designed to perform a variety of tasks. A loader operates when the generation of the musical sound is initiated for selecting an effective and optimum set of software modules by searching the secondary storage according to prescribed criterion, and loads the selected software modules into the primary storage to thereby ensure effective and optimum use of the resources. Further, the computerized music apparatus is readily modified to emulate a tone generating system of a model electronic musical instrument.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having a waveform memory of a relatively small capacity for storing waveform information similar to conventional waveform information, the waveform memory being compatible with any data reading scheme. The waveform information is stored in the form of a plurality of frames. Each frame includes a plurality of pieces of sampled waveform data compressed by ADPCM or the like and decode information for extending the sampled waveform data to be read next to the current frame. Storing the decode information in a frame for extending the sampled waveform data stored in frames before and after that frame makes it possible to extract the necessary decode information from the frame read immediately before regardless of whether the frames are read forward or backward.

Abstract: A composition and playback system includes a sound bank containing at least one instrument sound, an input device for receiving music control signals, a sequencer coupled to the input device for storing the music control signals, and a work manager coupled to the sound bank and to the sequencer for generating a musical work file containing the music control signals and at least a portion of the sound bank. The system further includes a synthesizer engine coupled to the input device for processing the music control signals based on the instrument sounds contained in the sound bank, a mixer coupled to the synthesizer engine for mixing effects with the processed music control signals, and a speaker system coupled to the mixer for converting the mixed music control signals to sound.

Abstract: In each of terminal devices, there is stored user profile information on the corresponding device. The user profile information includes data identifying the user, type and name of the device, information regarding a CPU, memory and operating system (OS) provided in the device, and information regarding various data and program stored in the device. When desired musical information data is to be downloaded from a host computer, a request for downloading optimum data is sent to the host computer. This permits efficient loading of data most suitable for system conditions. When data or program is to be loaded from a recording medium, such as a CD-ROM, rather than a communication network, efficient loading is permitted in a similar manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for establishing a structured timbre base with a sound wave table and, more particularly, to a method for establishing a structured timbre data file provided for data of sound waves of every kind of instrument stored in a musical synthesizer with a sound wave table to achieve an effect of reducing memory allocation and simplifying hardware complexity, having the steps of: determining a fixed total length; specifying a keynote and obtaining a plurality of sound waves according to the characteristics of different instruments to proceed recording; setting a fixed loop length; searching for a complete sampling loop wave; deleting the end portion of every timbre data file; repeating the complete sampling loop wave several times and adding to the above deleted end portion; adding a mute signal in front of every timbre data file.

Abstract: In a sound source apparatus, a central processing unit is integrated in a semiconductor chip and operates in response to a primary operating clock signal for creating a control message. A tone generating unit is integrated in the same semiconductor chip and operates in response to a secondary operating clock signal for generating a musical tone according to the control message. A master clock generator generates a master clock signal having a desired frequency selected from a plurality of frequencies. A mode changer designates one of a first mode and a second mode corresponding to different operating speeds. A clock generator is provided for variably frequency-dividing the master clock signal to generate the primary operating clock signal and the secondary operating clock signal. The clock generator is responsive to the mode changer for changing a frequency ratio of the primary operating clock signal to the secondary operating clock signal between the first mode and the second mode.

Abstract: A method of generating a tone waveform using a CPU is provided which prevents or minimizes operational delays of other software processing that is executed concurrently with tone waveform generating processing on a multitask basis. The CPU collectively calculates 128 (one block of) tone waveform sample values each corresponding to a sampling clock pulse, and transmits the calculated tone waveform sample values to a reproduction section in response to a predetermined calculation triggering clock pulse generated every 128 samples. When sufficient processing capability of the CPU performing the multitask is available for the waveform sample calculation, tone waveform sample values for one or more following blocks are also calculated and stored in a sample buffer in advance. When the CPU is too busy with the other software processing to execute the waveform sample calculation, it is just sufficient that the previously stored tone waveform sample values be read out to be transmitted to the reproduction section.

Abstract: A karaoke reproducing apparatus is equipped a measure for easily checking whether a music piece selected by the user has correctly been accepted or not. The apparatus has a memory in which music title name information of each of the music pieces recorded on a recording medium has previously been stored. When one of the plurality of music pieces is selected by an operation, the music title name information of the selected music piece is soon displayed by characters. The apparatus also has memory means in which music piece classification information of each of the music pieces recorded on the recording medium has previously been stored. An item content selection command to designate the contents of at least one of a plurality of different items included in the music piece classification information is generated in accordance with an operation.

Abstract: A musical sound system is operated according to a selected set of a system program and a control program, which are separate from each other and which are related consistently to each other. The system is comprised of a sound unit and a control unit. The sound unit is operable based on a selected system program for producing a musical sound. The sound unit has a floppy disk driver for loading into the sound unit the selected system program and for concurrently loading a control program corresponding to the selected system program, and has a communication interface for transmitting the loaded control program. The control unit receives the transmitted control program for controlling the sound unit according to the control program to thereby hold consistency between operations of the sound unit and the control unit.

Abstract: A karaoke system sounds a karaoke song designated according to a request command. The system includes a record unit defining a closed data source for readably recording a karaoke song, and a playback unit for reading the record unit to reproduce an audio signal representative of the karaoke song such that the record unit and the playback unit compose a playback karaoke equipment. The system further includes a supply unit defining an open data source for accessibly supplying a song data prescriptive of a karaoke song, and a synthetic unit for processing the supplied song data to synthetic size an audio signal representative of the karaoke song such that the supply unit and the synthetic unit compose a synthetic karaoke equipment. A total control unit is provided for selectively activating either of the playback and synthetic karaoke equipments according to a request command to achieve efficient use of the closed and open data sources.

Abstract: An automatic player piano controls keys to be rotated by solenoid-operated actuator units in such a manner as to pass a reference point on a trajectory of the key at a reference velocity in a playback mode, and a hammer driven by the depressed key strikes strings at the same intensity as that in a recording mode, because the intensity is variable with the reference velocity at the reference point.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprises a panel memory for storing panel setting data for controlling the present operation of the electronic musical instrument, panel switches for changing the values of the data stored in the panel memory, and registration memories for storing the data changed by the panel switches. A YES switch of the panel switches is provided to designate part of the panel setting data, and registration memory-designating switches to instruct to load the data stored in the registration memories into the panel memory. A CPU selectively reads out data other than the part of data designated by the YES switch, from among the panel setting data stored in a selected one of the second memory, based on the command issued by the registration memory-designating switches, and rewrites corresponding data stored in the panel memory by the data read out. A cursor switch is operated to change the range of the part of data designated by the YES switch.

Abstract: Plural electronic musical instruments are connected to a bidirectional communication network, and a controller is provided for each of the musical instruments for performing control such that tone control information possessed by the musical instruments can be shared between the musical instruments. A data base may further be connected to the communication network so that tone control information possessed by the data base can also be utilized in each of the musical instruments. If any of the musical instruments does not possess certain tone control information, the musical instrument is allowed to utilize the tone control information by receiving the information from another electronic musical instrument, via the communication network, which possesses the information.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic appliance, for example such as an electronic musical instrument, having a secondary storage device for storing data to be recorded which can be easily divided into divisional elements under a plurality of predetermined items. With respect to information to be stored in the secondary storage device, a portion the same as the already stored information is not newly stored to thereby effectively use the storage capacity of the secondary storage device. In the electronic appliance, specifically, data to be stored as one file in the secondary storage device is divided into a plurality of constituent portions under predetermined items, file names are affixed respectively to files, and entry names are affixed respectively to the itemized constituent portions.

Abstract: Apparatus for adjusting the tuning of a musical instrument to cause the instrument to sound in just intonation while the instrument is being played comprises a data base in memory for storing an array of just intonation tone identifiers. The tone identifiers in the array are arranged by key, chordal root and tone according to just intonation relationships defined by the ratios of a scale selected by the musician. A selector unit is provided for enabling a musician to select a key and/or a chordal root, as a result of which a CPU retrieves from the array a set of tone identifiers in just intonation corresponding to the selected key or chordal root and transmits them to the sounding means of the instrument.

Abstract: A system for automatically generating musical compositions on demand one after another without duplication. The system can produce such compositions upon demand in a variety of genres and forms so that concerts based on generated compositions will have a varied mix of pieces incorporated therein. The system incorporates a "weighted exhaustive search" process that is used to analyze the various aspects in developing the composition, from small-scale, note-to-note melodic construction to large-scale harmonic motions. The process maintains a balance between melodic, harmonic and contrapuntal elements in developing the composition. In general, the "weighted exhaustive search" process involves generating a plurality of solutions for producing each element of the composition. Each one of the plurality of solutions is analyzed with a series of "questions". Each solution is then scored based upon how each question is "answered" or how much that particular solution fits the parameters of the question.

Abstract: An automatic performance apparatus comprises a performance data storage track for storing sequential performance data for controlling musical tones to be sequentially generated according to progress of a music piece, a plurality of element data storage tracks for storing sequential data consisting of at least one type of element data such as pitch data, timing data, and the like, constituting performance data, panel switches for designating the element data storage tracks or a type of data to be written in and/or read out from the element data storage tracks, and a CPU for sequentially reading out and synthesizing the element data from the element data storage tracks, and writing the synthesized data in the performance data storage track as new performance data.

Abstract: Electronic musical instrument comprises a musical tone synthesis device, a memory and pitch control device. The musical tone synthesis device processes input signals based on at least one parameter, and synthesizes and outputs musical tones with pitches in accordance with the values of the parameters. The memory stores initial values of the parameters which generate a musical tone having a target pitch. The pitch control device detects a difference between the target pitch of the musical tone and a pitch of the musical tone outputted form the musical tone synthesis device. And, the pitch control device outputs a value of the parameter which will eliminate the difference to the musical tone synthesis device.

Abstract: A karaoke apparatus for medley playback includes: playback unit for receiving playback information including MIDI sound source control information and producing acoustic sound of karaoke song on the basis of the playback information; information storage unit for storing playback information and identification information of a plurality of karaoke songs, the identification information specifying playback information of a highlight portion of each of the plurality of karaoke songs; selection instructing unit for instructing a selection of karaoke songs to be played; and playback control unit for reading out playback information of the highlight portions of the songs selected by the selection instructing unit from the information storage unit on the basis of the identification information of the each of the selected karaoke songs, and controlling the playback unit to successively play the selected karaoke songs on the basis of the playback information of the selected karaoke songs to produce a medley of the sele