Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating musical tones are provided. Musical tones are generated based on musical tone waveform samples generated through a plurality of channels, and performance information is input. Control information is input depending on an amount of operation of an operating element operated by a user. Musical tone waveform samples are generated for each of the channels corresponding to the performance information input within a predetermined time period, in a number corresponding to the input control information, whenever the predetermined time period elapses. Musical tones are generated based on the generated musical tone waveform samples.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sound source device, and more particularly, it aims at providing a sound source device, in which a sufficient sound emitting quantity can be attained, capable of obtaining a reproduced sound of musically rich expression. And, in order to attain the aforementioned object, it is possible to solve such a problem that energy density is low and sound emitting efficiency is inferior by employing a pseudo-rectangular wave increasing spectral density as waveform data input in a waveform table (TB). For this, it is rendered a spectrum including spectral lines X1, X2, X3 and X4 in a range matching with a frequency domain (HR) having high sound emitting efficiency and including even harmonics.

Abstract: There is provided a portable mixing recorder which enables a user to readily produce music using overdubbing and/or other recording techniques while suppressing degradation of sound quality to the minimum without excessive concern for space restriction. An input analog audio signal is converted to a digital audio signal by an A/D converter section. A decoder reads out a compressed audio signal from an original source file stored in a memory card, and then extends the compressed audio signal to a digital audio signal. A mixing section mixes the digital audio signal obtained by the A/D conversion by the A/D converter section and the digital audio signal obtained by the extension by the decoder. An encoder compresses the digital audio signal obtained by the mixing by the mixing section to a compressed audio signal (mixed file). The mixed file obtained by the compression by the encoder is stored as a new source file in the memory card.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing data representing a time history of a sonic waveform. A portion of the data is processed to determine a beat frequency by performing a transformation from the time domain to the frequency domain and, based on the energy of the frequencies of the sonic waveform, produce an energy vector for each frequency band. The data is also processed to detect and order transients found in the sonic waveform and use these transients to establish the tempo of the sonic waveform.

Abstract: Sample data stored in a storage device, such as a hard disk, are sequentially read out and transferred to a buffer memory, and the sample data are read out from the buffer memory, one sample per sampling period. Sample data at addresses of the buffer memory, where sample data read out has been completed, are sequentially updated with sample data newly read out from the storage device. Jump-from address and jump-to address are set while the sample data are being read out, sample by sample, from the buffer memory. When the read address of the buffer memory reaches the set jump-from address, the read address of the buffer memory is caused to jump to the jump-to address to carry on reading out the sample data from the jump-to address onward. Such readout control for the address jump is used for reproduction of silent data and repetitive sound.

Abstract: A waveform generating method is provided, which is capable of generating expressive musical tones. A plurality of partial waveforms are stored in a partial waveform memory. Property information on respective ones of the partial waveforms stored in the partial waveform memory is stored in a property information memory. The property information memory is retrived according to inputted sounding control information to read out a partial waveform having property information corresponding to the sounding control information. The readout partial waveform is processed according to the property information and the sounding control information, to generate a waveform corresponding to the sounding control information.

Abstract: Arithmetic processor executes waveform generation software on the basis of a received tone generation instruction, to thereby generate tone waveform data in a plurality of channels. The tone waveform data generated in the plurality of channels are added together so to be output as tone waveform data for a track. At the same time, waveform data are previously generated for a plurality of channels so as to be output at a time later than the current time point, and the waveform data thus previously generated in the plurality of channels are added together so that they are stored in a buffer storage section as previously-generated tone waveform data for a track. When there has occurred a situation that prevents waveform generation, the previously-generated waveform data currently stored in the buffer storage section are output.

Abstract: Upon receipt of a music signal from a music-signal input section, a sound-source separating section in a preprocessing section separates the music signal into a plurality of signals in units of the type of audio source. A physical-property converting section changes a physical property of each of the signals on the basis of control information received from a control-information input section. A signal-synthesizing section synthesizes a plurality of output signals outputted from the physical-property converting section, and supplies the resultant signal to a data-compressing section. For example, in compressed data, a high data rate is allocated to a vocal, whereas low data rates are allocated to other parts. As a result, quality improvement can be implemented in auditory perceptibility of a musically important part.

Abstract: A remix apparatus and method and slice apparatus and method is provided, which are capable of generating new musical tone pattern data from previously generated musical tone pattern data in real time, and storage media storing programs for implementing these methods. Musical tone pattern data of a predetermined length stored in a flash memory or a RAM is divided into a plurality of musical tone piece data of a length smaller than the predetermined length, and location information indicative of locations in the flash memory where the musical tone piece data obtained by the division are stored is stored in the flash memory.

Abstract: Arrangements to virtualize an ancillary sound arrangement, e.g., a legacy speaker tone arrangement.

Abstract: A waveform reproduction apparatus providing an intuitive way to operate controllers corresponding to musical time quantities such as beats and bars.

Abstract: A digital sampling instrument for multi-channel interpolatative playback of digital audio data stored in a waveform memory provides improved interpolation of musical sounds by use of a cache memory.

Abstract: Waveform corresponding to a tone performed with desired styles of rendition is produced from vector data generated on the basis of received style-of-rendition stream data. The style-of-rendition stream data describes a series of performance tones by a combination of characteristics of a plurality of styles of rendition. The vector data can be generated for each of the styles of rendition, and waveforms corresponding to any desired styles of rendition can be produced in a simplified manner with facility on the basis of the individual vector data.

Abstract: Tone generating processing is executed on an operating system having no full multitask function. The tone generating processing is activated a plurality of times, i.e., at a plurality of activating times, within each predetermined time period. Thus, even when the tone generating processing fails to be activated at some of the activating times, a predetermined number of samples of tone data can be belatedly formed within the predetermined time period, by tone data forming operations being effected only at the other activating times when the tone generating processing is actually activated.

Abstract: A tone generation device includes a computation unit which consists of multiple computation devices, a sheet music data analysis unit which reads data from a sheet music data holding unit and a waveform data holding unit and computes the sum total of the amount of processing based on this data. The tone generation device further includes a computation processing allocation instruction unit, a computation unit processing procedure holding unit and a processing routine holding unit. Based on the computed sum total of the amount of processing, the computation unit processing allocation instruction unit determines the amount of processing for each computation device so that it is an amount of processing that matches the capacity of each computation device, and sets a processing procedure in accordance with the determined amounts of processing. The set processing procedure is held in the computation unit processing procedure holding unit.

Abstract: Arithmetic processor executes waveform generation software on the basis of a received tone generation instruction, to thereby generate tone waveform data in a plurality of channels. The tone waveform data generated in the plurality of channels are added together so to be output as tone waveform data for a track. At the same time, waveform data are previously generated for a plurality of channels so as to be output at a time later than the current time point, and the waveform data thus previously generated in the plurality of channels are added together so that they are stored in a buffer storage section as previously-generated tone waveform data for a track. When there has occurred a situation that prevents waveform generation, the previously-generated waveform data currently stored in the buffer storage section are output.

Abstract: A method generates waveform signals from a plurality of channels to sound a music tone through an electro-acoustic converter in response to sounding instruction information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating musical tones are provided. Musical tones are generated based on musical tone waveform samples generated through a plurality of channels, and performance information is input. Control information is input depending on an amount of operation of an operating element operated by a user. Musical tone waveform samples are generated for each of the channels corresponding to the performance information input within a predetermined time period, in a number corresponding to the input control information, whenever the predetermined time period elapses. Musical tones are generated based on the generated musical tone waveform samples.

Abstract: To make possible the smooth compression and expansion of an audio signal without directly culling out or repeating a prescribed segment of the audio signal, in other words, the waveform, by the use of a phase vocoder format and, together with this, making it possible to compress and expand an audio signal that has an abundance of changes. The system includes a storage device in which the data regarding the changes in the amplitude and the frequency of the waveform that accompany the passage of time are stored. The system also includes a time position data generator in which the time position data that indicate the time positions that change such that the time positions of the waveform retrace the passage of time are generated in order.

Abstract: A remix apparatus and method and slice apparatus and method is provided, which are capable of generating new musical tone pattern data from previously generated musical tone pattern data in real time, and storage media storing programs for implementing these methods. Musical tone pattern data of a predetermined length stored in a flash memory or a RAM is divided into a plurality of musical tone piece data of a length smaller than the predetermined length, and location information indicative of locations in the flash memory where the musical tone piece data obtained by the division are stored is stored in the flash memory.

Abstract: There is provided a waveform data time expanding and compressing device, which includes a waveform memory for storing data of a PCM waveform; a block address memory for storing addresses of respective blocks, the respective blocks having a length equal to a wavelength of a pitch as a trend of the PCM waveform or an integral multiple thereof; a parameter determining unit for determining an expansion and compression parameter; and a waveform reproducer for carrying out waveform reproduction by determining a reading number for waveform data in a certain block in response to the expansion and compression parameter, sequentially reading out the block addresses according to the determined reading number, and reading out the PCM waveform data based on the block

Abstract: A pitch shifter capable of shifting an acoustic signal in pitch to an arbitrary level with a high degree of accuracy without any change in reproduction time, and also sufficiently reducing high-frequency distortion without being increased in size or speeded-up is provided. Stored in a filter coefficient string storage 6, four filter coefficient strings corresponding to four sub-filters produced through polyphase decomposition of a low-pass filter for 4-fold oversampling. Filter coefficient string selectors 5a and 5b select, based on the first and second bits of the decimal part of each of read addresses generated by the read address generators 4a and 4b, respectively, any one of the four filter coefficient strings stored in the filter coefficient string storage 6. Filter operation units 2a and 2b receive paired sound data strings, and carry out a filter operation by using the filter coefficient strings selected by the filter coefficient string selector 5a and 5b, respectively.

Abstract: There is provided a waveform data time expanding and compressing device, which includes a waveform memory for storing data of a PCM waveform; a block address memory for storing addresses of respective blocks, the respective blocks having a length equal to a wavelength of a pitch as a trend of the PCM waveform or an integral multiple thereof; a parameter determining unit for determining an expansion and compression parameter; and a waveform reproducer for carrying out waveform reproduction by determining a reading number for waveform data in a certain block in response to the expansion and compression parameter, sequentially reading out the block addresses according to the determined reading number, and reading out the PCM waveform data based on the block addresses thus read out.

Abstract: Tone generating processing is executed on an operating system having no full multitask function. The tone generating processing is activated a plurality of times, i.e., at a plurality of activating times, within each predetermined time period. Thus, even when the tone generating processing fails to be activated at some of the activating times, a predetermined number of samples of tone data can be belatedly formed within the predetermined time period, by tone data forming operations being effected only at the other activating times when the tone generating processing is actually activated.

Abstract: Sample data stored in a storage device, such as a hard disk, are sequentially read out and transferred to a buffer memory, and the sample data are read out from the buffer memory, one sample per sampling period. Sample data at addresses of the buffer memory, where sample data read out has been completed, are sequentially updated with sample data newly read out from the storage device. Jump-from address and jump-to address are set while the sample data are being read out, sample by sample, from the buffer memory. When the read address of the buffer memory reaches the set jump-from address, the read address of the buffer memory is caused to jump to the jump-to address to carry on reading out the sample data from the jump-to address onward. Such readout control for the address jump is used for reproduction of silent data and repetitive sound.

Abstract: A pitch shifter capable of shifting an acoustic signal in pitch to an arbitrary level with a high degree of accuracy without any change in reproduction time, and also sufficiently reducing high-frequency distortion without being increased in size or speeded-up is provided. Stored in a filter coefficient string storage 6, four filter coefficient strings corresponding to four sub-filters produced through polyphase decomposition of a low-pass filter for 4-fold oversampling. Filter coefficient string selectors 5a and 5b select, based on the first and second bits of the decimal part of each of read addresses generated by the read address generators 4a and 4b, respectively, any one of the four filter coefficient strings stored in the filter coefficient string storage 6. Filter operation units 2a and 2b receive paired sound data strings, and carry out a filter operation by using the filter coefficient strings selected by the filter coefficient string selector 5a and 5b, respectively.

Abstract: A circuit for implementing digital delay lines that includes a main memory, a cache memory, and a processor. The main memory implements at least one digital delay line, as many delay lines as required by a digital signal processing (DSP) program running on the processor, up to a predetermined number. The delay lines contain data samples to be operated on, or produced by DSP program. The cache memory implements a number of delay caches that temporarily store data samples and support the delay lines. Each delay line is associated with a read cache and a write cache. A block of data samples are “pre-fetched” from a delay line in the main memory and provided to the associated read cache. The data samples in the read cache are then accessed, as needed, by the processor. Data samples generated by the DSP program are provided to the write cache. Periodically, a block of data samples is “post-written” from the write cache to its corresponding delay line in the main memory.

Abstract: Sets of waveform data of unit waveforms stored in a memory each include first and second loop waveform segments at both ends of a non-loop waveform segment and any one of the unit waveform data sets can be selectively readout from the memory. The waveform data set of a desired one of the unit waveforms is read out from the memory and is connected with another waveform preceding or following the read-out unit waveform using the first or second loop waveform segment in the read-out unit waveform. Thus, a smooth connection between the read-out unit waveform and the other waveform is achieved with ease. This is because the loop waveform can be smoothly connected with any other waveform through cross-fade synthesis or phase-matched connection technique performed at an appropriate point in the loop.

Abstract: A transmitting end transmits to a receiving end event data of an MIDI type with first time data indicative of a timing of processing the event data at the receiving end, and waveform data and second time data indicative of a timing to process the waveform data at the receiving end. The receiving end receives and stores the event data and first time data in a music data buffer. When the receiving end receives the waveform data, it stores it in a waveform buffer. When the receiving end receives the second time data, it starts reproduction of the waveform data stored in the waveform buffer at a timing specified by the received second time data. The start time is incremented at predetermined timings. The event data stored in the music buffer is reproduced at a timing determined based on the start time and first time data stored in the music buffer. As a result, the receiving end is capable of processing a large amount of waveform data, etc., at an appropriate timing irrespective of its reception route.

Abstract: Compressed waveform samples are read out from a memory on the basis of progressive phase information corresponding to a tone pitch. Readout controller controls the readout so as to provide successive compressed waveform samples from the one corresponding to the phase information of a last sampling cycle to the one corresponding to the phase information of a current sampling cycle. Thus, irrespective of the pitch, all the samples existing between the last sampling cycle and the current sampling cycle are read out. Each of the readout samples is decoded and the thus-decoded sample is used as a prediction value for decoding the following sample, so that all the successive compressed waveform samples can be decoded. As the actual sample corresponding to the current sampling cycle, a necessary sample corresponding to the current phase information is selected from among the decoded samples. Loop reproduction is performed by repeating the advance of the phase information between loop start and end locations.

Abstract: A musical tone signal processing apparatus which synchronizes a read timing of a reader unit for reading a musical tone signal from a memory at least temporarily storing the musical tone signal, the musical tone signal processing apparatus comprising: a master clock input unit for externally inputting a master clock information used for synchronizing the read timing of the musical tone signal; a first sync clock generator unit for generating a first sync clock used for synchronizing the read timing of the musical tone signal, in accordance with the master clock information externally input; a second sync clock generator unit for generating a second sync clock used for synchronizing the read timing of the musical tone signal, separately from the first sync clock; a detector unit for detecting an abnormality of an input state of the master clock information; and a sync clock switching unit for changing a sync clock used for reading the musical tone signal from the first sync clock to the second sync clock, when

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method and apparatus are provided wherein loop discontinuities are eliminated. In the case of amplitude discontinuities, the harmonic amplitudes contained in the loop are progressively scaled over the duration of the loop, so that for each harmonic the loop end amplitude matches the loop beginning amplitude. In the case of phase discontinuities, the harmonic phases are progressively shifted over the duration of the loop, so that for each harmonic the loop end phase matches the loop beginning phase. Shifting the phase is accomplished by slightly altering the frequency of the harmonics to produce the desired amount of phase-shift at the loop end. In accordance with the present invention, the method also provides a technique to select loop begin and end points to minimize the amount of phase adjustment.

Abstract: A music apparatus has a set of controls manually operable to input a performance event, a waveform memory storing an original waveform sample composed of a series of digital values sequentially readable from a default start address, and a processor for executing a tone generating process in response to the performance event.

Abstract: Wavetables for a wavetable synthesizer are divided into nonpaged and paged segments. The nonpaged segments are page locked in system memory, so that the wavetable may beginning playing when referenced. The paged segments are paged into memory as needed, and may be paged out of memory when no longer required. The segmentation of the wavetable is determined based on the maximum data rate for the wavetable and a maximum paging delay for the system. Wavetable segmentation is automatically tuned by monitoring actual paging delays and, taking into account a margin for error, updating the value of the maximum paging delay used to determine the required size for a nonpaged wavetable segment. An aggressive margin for error may be employed where an alternative mechanism is provided for handling overruns of the nonpaged wavetable segments.

Abstract: When a low-pass filter 204 cuts a loud tone component from a waveform signal that soft and loud tone components are synthesized, and outputs a soft tone component signal, and a high-pass filter 205 cuts a soft tone component from the waveform signal that soft and loud tone components are synthesized, and outputs a loud tone component signal, the outputs at this time are switched on the basis of tone information (touch information, pitch information, tone color information, and the like).

Abstract: A device to perform tone generation while efficiently using a broad bit width bus and essentially eliminating the delay from the request for tone expression until its expression. An arithmetic processing device that generates tones reads the data all at once from a memory in which tone data is stored. This is set so that the delay time from when there is a request for tone generation until the tone is actually generated and expressed is negligible.

Abstract: A music apparatus is constructed for generating a music tone at a specified pitch while freely contracting and expanding the music tone along a time axis. In the music apparatus, a waveform memory memorizes a music tone in the form of waveform data composed of a sequence of waveform units arranged in cycles along the time axis. Each waveform unit has a normalized cycle length. A read address generator generates a read address which successively increments at a rate corresponding to the specified pitch, thereby reading out the waveform data from the waveform memory according to the read address. A tone generator processes the read waveform data to generate the music tone at the specified pitch. A virtual address generator generates a virtual address effective to freely contract and expand the time axis of the waveform data.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with an embedded PCI 2.1 compliant bridge provides expanded functionality as system-level implementations of a PCI-to-PCI bridge, and enhances the level of integration possible. The embedded PCI-to-PCI bridge allows the creation of multi-function, multimedia add-on cards supporting multiple devices. Multi-function, multimedia subsystems that provide audio, graphics, MPEG, etc., are mapped into a bridged-to PCI-bus that keeps such traffic off the main PCI-bus. The advantage for the system or add-in card vendor is that the various multimedia chips that are combined can come from different sources, providing an optimized and highly customized combination of functions.

Abstract: During a succession of working cycles, a sound synthesizer system for obtaining at an output a series of electrical samples produces first level samples from zero level samples which can come from diverse sources. The samples are produced allowing for parameters such as the frequency, amplitude, phase or a filter coefficient. All of the data used in establishing samples is processed in cells materialized by locations of a plurality of memories. The content of the cells can evolve from one working cycle to the other and data calculation means are used on a timesharing basis for all the cells. The first level samples can be selectively combined to form second level samples before they are transferred to an output.

Abstract: A digital sampling instrument for multi-channel interpolatative playback of digital audio data stored in a waveform memory provides improved interpolation of musical sounds by use of a cache memory.

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: Wavetables for a wavetable synthesizer are divided into nonpaged and paged segments. The nonpaged segments are page locked in system memory, so that the wavetable may beginning playing when referenced. The paged segments are paged into memory as needed, and may be paged out of memory when no longer required. The segmentation of the wavetable is determined based on the maximum data rate for the wavetable and a maximum paging delay for the system. Wavetable segmentation is automatically tuned by monitoring actual paging delays and, taking into account a margin for error, updating the value of the maximum paging delay used to determine the required size for a nonpaged wavetable segment. An aggressive margin for error may be employed where an alternative mechanism is provided for handling overruns of the nonpaged wavetable segments.

Abstract: For use in a synthesizer having a wave source that produces a periodic wave, frequency shifting circuitry for frequency-shifting the periodic wave and waveshaping circuitry for transforming the periodic wave into a waveform containing a formant, the frequency-shifting causing displacement of the formant, a circuit for, and method of, compensating for the displacement and a synthesizer employing the circuit or the method. In one embodiment, the circuit includes bias circuitry, coupled to the wave source and the frequency shifting circuitry, that introduces a bias into the periodic wave based on a degree to which the frequency shifting circuitry frequency shifts the periodic wave, the bias reducing a degree to which the formant is correspondingly frequency-shifted.

Abstract: A wavetable audio synthesis system includes a simplified burst data transmission interface and a modified wavetable data structure in a system memory to transfer wavetable data from the system memory to a wavetable audio synthesis device with reduced hardware complexity. The system memory is configured to store voice data in patches including a plurality of voice data samples beginning at an initial address and extending through a plurality of ramp voice data samples to a starting loop address. The voice data in the patches then includes a plurality of looping voice data samples from the starting loop address to an ending loop address. The voice data patches are extended by repeating the voice data samples beginning with the sample at the starting loop address and extending toward the samples at the ending loop address. The number of repeated samples extend for a number of samples equal to the size of a burst transfer.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method and apparatus are provided wherein loop discontinuities are eliminated. In the case of amplitude discontinuities, the harmonic amplitudes contained in the loop are progressively scaled over the duration of the loop, so that for each harmonic the loop end amplitude matches the loop beginning amplitude. In the case of phase discontinuities, the harmonic phases are progressively shifted over the duration of the loop, so that for each harmonic the loop end phase matches the loop beginning phase. Shifting the phase is accomplished by slightly altering the frequency of the harmonics to produce the desired amount of phase-shift at the loop end. In accordance with the present invention, the method also provides a technique to select loop begin and end points to minimize the amount of phase adjustment.

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: MIDI performance information is received via an operating system (OS) and an application-level software tone generator is driven on the basis of the received MIDI performance information, so as to allow the software tone generator to have an increased range of simple applications on the OS level. To this end, a fake driver is installed in the OS, and performance information output from application software is received by the fake driver via the operating system and then sent to the application-level software tone generator. As another example, the software tone generator is installed as a driver in the operating system so that information output from application software can be received by the software tone generator via the operating system.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for wavetable style playback of audio data received from a bursty source is disclosed. Incoming audio data is directed to one buffer while another buffer is available for playback to permit simultaneous buffer filling and playback. When a buffer becomes full of newly received data, the buffers exchange roles. Methods and apparatus for efficiently and accurately controlling addressing of the buffers for playback are disclosed.

Abstract: Basic tone waveform corresponding to a designated tone color and pitch is generated in each of a plurality of channels. Effect is imparted to the basic tone waveform in accordance with an algorithm for providing a predetermined effect, independently for each of the channels. The effect to be imparted is controlled in accordance with the designated tone pitch, separately for each of the channels. The effect impartment may be conducted using a processor, such as a DSP, executing a predetermined program containing a predetermined effect-imparting algorithm. In one example of the effect-imparting algorithm, a delay loop is employed through which an input exciting signal is circulated while being delayed, and an effect specific to an electromagnetic pickup of an electric guitar can be approximated by controlling the delay amount in the delay loop.

Abstract: A musical sound generating apparatus creates a waveform to generate a musical sound according to performance information. In the apparatus, a first waveform generator is operable for creating a waveform. A second waveform generator is operable independently from the first waveform generator for creating a waveform. An input device provides performance information. A designating device designates at least one of the first waveform generator and the second waveform generator in correspondence with the provided performance information. A controller selectively operates the designated one of the first waveform generator and the second waveform generator to create the waveform according to the provided performance information. An output device generates the musical sound based on the created waveform.