Abstract: A system and method for generating new musical improvisations, based on a database of existing improvisations. An automated method for converting the existing improvisations to a database and generating a new improvisation from the database. Musical improvisations are performed by musicians and stored in MIDI Data format. The Chord symbols used and key signature are input, and added to the improvisation. The system analyzes the performances, and information about sections and phrases of the solo are stored in a "Riffs" file. The musicians' original performances, the chord symbols and the Riffs files are combined into a Soloist Database File, consisting of one or more improvisations. An Options file is created by the user to control parameters about the solo to be generated. The system then generates a new improvisation based on any input chord progression and key, and the Options file, by choosing portions of the Soloist Database to construct the new improvisation.

Abstract: Among the stored musical waveform in a data format, a waveform segment to be repetitively read out as a loop is designated by a user of the instrument. Upon designation of the waveform segment having a loop length LL anew, a loop time length TL is computed corresponding to the loop length LL, and the number of measures MN is determined corresponding to the loop time length TL (steps S11 and S12). Thus determined loop segment in the measure number MN is temporarily subdivided according to a sixteen-beat rhythm rate (steps S13 and S14), zero-cross points near the temporary subdivision points are then searched for, and the located zero-cross points are determined to be definitive division points (step 15). Each of the divided sub-segments are subject to time axis scaling at each scale factor such that the segment should be superimposed onto another intended musical phrase in a matched rhythm and tempo.

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: A music apparatus uses a processing unit of a universal type having an extended instruction set used to carry out parallel computation steps in response to a single instruction which is successively issued when executing a program. A software module defines a plurality of channels and is composed of a synthesis program executed by the processing unit using the extended instruction set so as to carry out synthesis of waveforms of musical tones through the plurality of the channels. The plurality of the channels are optimally grouped into parallel sets each containing at least two channels. The synthesis of the waveforms of at least two channels belonging to each parallel set are carried out concurrently by the parallel computation steps. A buffer has a capacity sufficient to store the waveform samples allotted to one frame period. A cache has a capacity sufficient to store a subset of the waveform samples which is an integer division of the set allotted to one frame period.

Abstract: An electronic musical apparatus utilizes a central processing unit for working various modules to generate music tones, while controlling a work load of the central processing unit. The apparatus is composed of a player module, a driver module, a sound source module, and a timing module. The player module provides a sequence of event data indicating an event of a music tone and timing data indicating an occurrence time of the event. The driver module is intermittently triggered to process the event data to create control parameters reserved for use in generation of the music tone corresponding to the event data. The sound source module is routinely triggered to load therein the reserved control parameters for generating the music tone according to the timing data.

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: An electronic musical apparatus utilizes a central processing unit for working a player module, driver module, sound source module and timing module, while controlling a work load of the central processing unit. The player module provides a sequence of event data indicating an event of a music tone and timing data indicating an occurrence time of the event. The driver module is intermittently triggered to process the event data for creating control parameters reserved for use in generation of the music tone corresponding to the event data, and for determining an envelope of the music tone according to the control parameters, the envelope being also reserved for use in generation of the music tone. The sound source module is routinely triggered to load therein the reserved control parameters and the envelope for generating the music tone according to the timing data.

Abstract: A waveform-data dividing device, employed by an electronic musical instrument providing a waveform memory, is used to automatically divide waveform data into registers. The device provides a division-data table in which a plurality of division data are respectively written at locations which are arranged in connection with the registers. When a new waveform is inputted so that corresponding new waveform data are stored in the waveform memory, one division data is created based on the waveform data and is written into the division-data table at the location which is determined responsive to a pitch of the waveform data. Herein, one new waveform is divided into multiple sections so that detection of pitch is performed with respect to each of the sections. When the same pitch is detected with respect to two consecutive sections, that pitch is used as the pitch representing the waveform data as a whole.

Abstract: A waveform generator LSI generates waveform data in units of time slots corresponding to tone generation channels in accordance with tone control data assigned to the individual channels, and accumulates waveform data for the individual channels to form at least one polyphonic tone data. The tone control data are updated by time division control in units of time slots of the channels. By suspending update of control data in the time slot of an unused channel in accordance with data indicating the used/unused status of each channel, switching of CMOS elements composing the waveform generator LSI is suppressed so that the LSI operates at low power. In a system using a waveform memory outside the waveform generator LSI, the read address to be supplied to the waveform memory in the time slot of an unused channel is fixed at a previous value, thus also attaining power savings of the external memory.

Abstract: A music apparatus processes a number of waveforms designated by performance information to concurrently generate the designated number of voices. In the music apparatus, an input section can provide the performance information in repeatable sessions. A computing section can compute a limited number of the waveforms in one session when the performance information is provided by the input section. A memory section memorizes the waveforms computed by the computing section. A controlling section operates in a first session if the designated number exceeds the limited number for controlling the computing section to skip computation of a remaining number of the waveforms while the computed waveforms are memorized in the memory section, and further operates in a second session for controlling the computing section to compute the remaining number of the waveforms.

Abstract: A digital sound-producing device having a digital signal processor (DSP) and data cache memory, and using an external sample memory for storing digital audio sample data, includes a virtual cache memory block for dynamically allocating cache lines of the data cache memory. The virtual cache memory block is located in the address path between the DSP and both the data cache memory and sample memory, while the data cache memory is on the data path between the DSP and sample memory. Requests by the DSP for access to the sample memory are in the form of a virtual address corresponding to a particular sample memory address. The virtual cache memory block determines whether the virtual address already has an allocated cache line for the data cache memory, and if so transfers the requested data between that cache line and the DSP. If not, it allocates a data cache line as corresponding to the virtual address, and transfers data from the corresponding sample memory address to the cache line.

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: The present invention discloses a digital processing device with smooth-clipping function and a digital musical tone synthesizing device using it. When one or a plurality of digital values are input to the digital processing device and a smooth-clipping mode is activated, an overflow during processing of the digital values is avoided as the internal resulting value of the device is scaled down before it is output. The scaling down of the internal resulting value is continuously increased in dependence on the increase of the value of the internal resulting value, such that an overflow is avoided. For example, if the digital processing device is performing a summation of two digital operands in a digital musical tone forming device, the time behavior of the resulting tone signal slope is smooth and thus the sound dynamics are improved and sound distortions are avoided during sound reproduction.

Abstract: A wavetable cache for an audio synthesizer which synthesizes music signals from voice data in a pooled memory uses a vertical architecture cache to communicate data from the memory to an audio signal processor. The vertical architecture cache includes a substantially limited number of queues, corresponding to only a fraction of the voices stored in the main memory and processed in the audio signal processor. A plurality of samples are transferred in a batch mode from the memory via a system bus to a queue. The samples are subsequently processed and accumulated for the entire plurality of samples by the audio signal processor. The limited number of queues are shared among the different voices in a round-robin fashion.

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: For a given tone generating channel, tone waveform sample data corresponding to a plurality of sampling cycles (e.g., 100 samples) are arithmetically formed collectively. Once performance information such as MIDI event data is supplied to a tone generator MIDI driver from an application program such as a MIDI sequencer, the MIDI driver, in response to an input MIDI signal, assigns new tone generation to a designated tone generating channel of a tone generator task, and prepares tone controlling parameters to be set in the designated channel. The tone generator task arithmetically forms tone waveform data by use of the tone controlling parameters and passes the tone waveform data to a CODEC circuit functioning as an A/D converter. The program and a general-purpose operating system are sequenced and executed by a preemptive multitask management program. In this way, it is possible to reduce overheads involved in arithmetically forming tone waveform samples.

Abstract: In brief, an object oriented thread context manager, a method and computer program product are provided for object oriented thread context management, particularly for relational databases working with distributed transactions. A context manager is provided for managing a plurality of ContextControl objects. Each ContextControl object comprises a plurality of methods for creating, resuming and suspending context on a thread for a target object. A ContextCoordinator class is provided for managing calls to the plurality of ContextControl objects. A ContextHandleList is provided for storing context information for the ContextControl objects. A specialized ContextCoordinator is provided for managing calls to a specialized ones of the ContextControl objects. A DatabaseContextCoordinator is an example of the specialized ContextCoordinator. The specialized ones of the ContextControl objects are registered and unregistered with the ContextCoordinator class and then registered DatabaseContextCoordinator.

Abstract: A digital sound generating system is provided which is capable of, in addition to generating a tone (first waveform data), recording or reproducing PCM sound data representing a human voice or sound of a music piece lasting for a relatively long time (second waveform data). To this end, in the tone generating process, tone waveform sample data is read out from a waveform RAM on the basis of address data given from an address calculating section and is then output as an analog signal via an interpolating section and D/A converter. In reproduction of PCM sound data, the PCM sound data supplied via a CPU interface is transferred using the waveform RAM as a buffer and is then supplied outside of the system through a same channel as in the tone generating process. In recording of PCM sound data, a high-frequency-component removing process is performed, by a filtering calculating section, on PCM sound data received via an A/D converter so as to prevent unwanted aliasing noise.

Abstract: A tone waveform reproduction apparatus, for an electronic musical instrument employing a plurality of samples in consonance with tone ranges, that can reduce a change in a timbre so that it will not be noticeable, and that can provide a natural transition of musical tones. An address generator generates a read address for a waveform memory. In the waveform memory are stored waveform data that differ for each timbre and each specific pitch range. A digital filter has a low-pass property and is controlled by a cutoff controller to adjust a timber or a tone quality. The cutoff controller generates a cutoff control signal for compensating for a discontinuity, at a point where tone ranges are switched, of reproduced frequencies of tone signals extracted from the waveform memory, and outputs the cutoff control signal fcn.

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 digital sound generating apparatus and sound generating method therefor is disclosed including a CPU interface for exchanging information with a CPU controlling the generation of a sound, a slot memory for storing various control parameters of the sound to be generated, a slot assigner for providing slot information for generating a new sound to the CPU when the new sound is generated, a data processor for executing an operation to reproduce an original sound using the various parameters of the slot memory, and a volume controller for receiving the information of the slot memory and the slot assigner to control the volume of the original sound.

Abstract: An improved method for shifting the pitches of a tone is disclosed. It comprises: (a) subjecting a digitized original waveform to a whitening process using an all-zero filter (AZF) to obtain a whitened waveform; (b) resampling the whitened waveform at a desired scaling ratio to obtain a scaled and whitened waveform; (c) subjecting the scaled and whitened waveform to a coloring process using an all-pole filter (APF) to obtain a synthesized waveform. In a preferred embodiment, the all-zero filter performs the transformation function of: ##EQU1## and the all-pole filter performs the transformation function of: ##EQU2## wherein the a.sub.i 's and b.sub.i 's are linear predictive coefficients. The whitened waveforms can be compressed and stored as wavetables, which can be subsequently retrieved and decompressed before resampling.

Abstract: A tone signal generator includes a tone signal data generating device, a signal data generating device, and a sound effects imparting device, such as a digital signal processor. The sound effects are imparted to the tone signal data based on the signal data in such a way that the digital signal processor processes the tone signal data and the signal data by repeatedly multiplying and adding them. In the process, a signal data supplying device supplies the tone signal data to the signal data generating device so that the tone signal data is used in place of the signal data. The digital signal processor processes the first tone signal data generated by the tone signal generating device and the second tone signal device supplied by the signal data supplying device so that the sound effects are imparted to the first tone signal data based on the second tone signal data.

Abstract: The PC audio circuit described interfaces with and provides audio enhancement to a host personal computer of the type including a central processor, system memory and a system bus. The PC audio circuit includes a digital signal processor (DSP) for processing wavetable data and generating digital audio signals for a plurality of voices. The wavetable data is stored in the host computer's system memory and transferred in portions, as needed by the DSP, to a smaller, low-cost cache memory included with the PC audio circuit. The DSP processes several frames of data samples for an active voice before processing another voice. Processing in this manner alleviates concerns about the percentage use of system bus bandwidth and the maximum allowable system bus latency. These concerns are further alleviated by deriving frequency compensated wavetable data and storing it in system memory to be retrieved by the DSP for generating digital audio signals having high frequency ratios.

Abstract: A remote control device for an electronic device includes a first storage device for storing a plurality of remote control data for controlling an object remotely, a first selection device for selecting respective remote control data from among the plurality of remote control data stored in the first storage device, and an output device for transmitting the respective remote control data selected by the first selection device toward a remote control receiver of the controlled object. A second storage device is provided for storing frequency data on the frequency of transmission of each remote control data output by the output device, and a data updating device is provided for incrementing the respective frequency data stored in the second storage device responsive to the output device transmitting remote control data.

Abstract: A method for storing and transferring wave table audio samples from system memory to a cache unit. The method creates a linked-list of pages in system memory for storing the audio sample. The linked-list is actually a pointer list indicating the locations in system memory where the audio samples are stored. A Digital Signal Processor (DSP) is able to translate the starting address of the pointer list to retrieve a requested audio sample from the system memory. The requested audio sample is then transferred to the cache unit where the DSP is able to retrieve audio samples in a linear fashion at a rate much faster than individually fetching the required portions of the audio sample from the main memory of the system.

Abstract: An automatic performance device includes a memory for storing automatic performance data (including accompaniment-related data) for a plurality of performance parts and automatic accompaniment data, performance and accompaniment sections for reading out the automatic performance data and automatic accompaniment data respectively to execute performance based on the respective read-out data, and a mute section for muting a performance for at least one of the performance parts of the automatic performance data when the accompaniment section executes the performance based on the automatic accompaniment data.

Abstract: Digital waveform data stored in a waveform memory is read out in response to the ON/OFF operations of key switches such as a keyboard of an electronic musical instrument. The waveform data is passed through a low-pass filter, then subjected to amplitude envelope processing such as attack, decay, release, and the like. The processed waveform data is D/A-converted to output it as a tone signal. A look-up table that stores resonant frequency data and resonance sharpness data (quality factor) of a filter in correspondence with the touch (operation strength or key-ON velocity) of the switch operation at, e.g., the keyboard is used. The resonant frequency and resonance sharpness data are read out from the table in correspondence with the touch data of the keyboard operation to control filter characteristics such as a cutoff frequency, roll-off or slope, and the like, by coefficient data to the filter.

Abstract: A musical tone generating apparatus is capable of reproducing natural musical tones while waveform memories of a nominal capacity. The apparatus comprises a first waveform memory 1a for storing first waveform data of one period of a stationary first waveform existing after an elapse of a certain period from the beginning of generation of a musical tone and a second waveform memory 1b for storing second waveform data of one period of a second waveform representing differential spectral components derived from spectral differences between a fundamental wave component and harmonic components of the non-stationary waveform determined immediately after the beginning of generation of the musical tone and a fundamental wave component and harmonic components of the first waveform.

Abstract: A synthesizer system includes a CPU and host memory operating a software routine. The software routine stores a first part of each waveform signal in a sample pool of host memory and provides remaining portions of selected musical sounds from the hard drive to a stream cell array without an audio perceivable delay. The synthesizer system utilizes a caching system which allows low cost, high storage devices to be utilized in an audio synthesizer system. MIDI control signals are provided to an audio processor for selecting appropriate digital waveform signals.

Abstract: A method for compressing music into a digital format. An audio signal that corresponds to music is received and converted from an analog signal to a digital signal. The audio signal is analyzed, and a tone is identified. The musical note and instrument that correspond to the tone are determined, and data elements that represent the musical note and instrument are then stored.

Abstract: A computer system for generating delay-based audio effects in a wavetable music synthesis system in which wavetable data is stored in system memory. The system comprises a system memory wherein wavetable data is stored, an I/O bus coupled to the system memory and a system audio device. The system audio device comprises an I/O bus interface coupled to the I/O bus, a synthesizer, a plurality of buffers coupled to the I/O bus interface and to the synthesizer for buffering the wavetable data from the system memory, a plurality of write-back buffers coupled to the I/O bus interface and the synthesizer for effects processing, and a buffer manager coupled to the I/O bus interface, the synthesizer, the plurality of buffers, and the plurality of write-back buffers.

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: An audio synthesizer is disclosed for generating an analog or digital audio output in response to coded control instructions representing musical events, such as a MIDI data stream. The synthesizer has a general purpose computer portion with a CPU programmed to receive the control instructions and generate audio samples and a special purpose hardware portion for receiving the control instructions and generating the audio samples. The synthesizer also has a controller for directing the control instructions either to the general purpose computer portion or to the hardware portion to generate the audio samples; and means to combine the audio samples generated by the general purpose computer portion and the hardware portion to form an audio output which accords with the control instructions.

Abstract: In order to change an electronic sound between a piano sound generated without manipulation of a damper pedal and a piano sound generated under manipulation of the damper pedal, an electronic keyboard musical instrument assigns two tone generating channels to a depressed key for generating a fundamental tone signal representative of the piano sound generated by striking the set of strings and a resonating tone signal representative of a resonating sound generated through the resonance, and the resonating sound signal is mixed with the fundamental tone signal under manipulation of a pedal corresponding to the damper pedal, thereby making the electronic sound close to the piano sound.

Abstract: A control circuit is integrated in a semiconductor chip for controlling operation of an electronic musical instrument according to a custom program stored in an external memory so as to generate a musical tone. In the control circuit, an internal memory is formed in the semiconductor chip separately from the external memory for permanently storing a common program which is dedicated to synthesis of the musical tone while the custom program stored in the external memory is customized for the operation of the electronic musical instrument. A tone synthesizer is formed in the same semiconductor chip for synthesizing -,he musical tone when the common program is executed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for editing digital audio information, such as musical material. Original musical parameters (302) are extracted and/or inputted from recorded original digital audio material (300). The original musical parameters (302) are then edited. The resulting edited musical parameters (304) are compared to the original musical parameters (302) to provide time varying control functions (308, 310, 312). The original digital audio material (300) is then processed with signal processing algorithms (314, 316, 318) which are controlled by the time varying control functions (308, 310, 312). This processing changes the original digital audio material (300) into new digital audio material (320) having musical characteristics which correspond to the edited musical parameters (304).

Abstract: An electronic sound source comprises an adder which calculates a sum of volume data and differential volume data in response to each clock signal supplied at equal intervals of time and transfers it to a limiter and a volume register. The sum volume data is then limited to a predetermined value by the limiter and passed across a volume register to a volume controller where it is multiplied by an output of a mute processor.

Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument, playing data are produced by depressing a key in a keyboard, and divided into plural groups. At least one of the semi-automatic playing channels processes sound data of a musical piece read out of a memory to generate musical tones in synchronism with the playing data of at least one group. The sound data may be corrected according to sound correcting data before being used to generate musical tones.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprises an analysis section, an excitation-waveform memory and a synthesis section. In the analysis section, difference data, which are calculated between target-sound data and output of an analysis loop, are subjected to compressive coding to produce compressed data. The compressed data are stored in the excitation-waveform memory as excitation-waveform data. The analysis loop, containing at least a delay circuit, is driven by an excitation signal which is produced by expanding the compressed data. In the synthesis section, the excitation-waveform data, read out from the excitation-waveform memory, are expanded; and expanded data are added to output of a synthesis loop, containing at least a delay circuit, so as to produce musical tone data representative of a musical tone to be generated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sound source controlling device in which the processing load required for interpretation of music data may be varied, depending upon the CPU load. The interval of music data interpretation is changed, without changing the music data itself, and the reproduced music composition is not changed in tempo. A system load judgment unit 152 compares the system load information acquired by a system load information acquisition unit 151, with a threshold value stored in a system load threshold value holding unit 153, and accordingly selects a timer interrupt interval held by a timer interrupt interval holder 131. A time information supervisor 143 supervises the acquisition of music paper data held by a music paper data holder, responsive to the timer interrupt interval held by an internal resolution holder 145. A sound enunciation/sound erasure information controller 144 controls a sound source based upon the acquired music paper data.

Abstract: A PCI-based system and method for performing wavetable music synthesis which uses system memory to store wavetable data is provided. The system and method utilize the benefits of the PCI bus while mitigating the disadvantages introduced by having to arbitrate for a shared system bus. By using system memory for storing wavetable data, a more cost effective personal computer audio system can be produced. In the preferred embodiment a computer system is provided that includes a system memory storing wavetable data samples, a PCI bus, and a PCI-based audio synthesis device. The audio synthesis device includes a PCI bus interface, a synthesizer, and a plurality of buffers coupled to the PCI bus interface and the synthesizer for transferring wavetable data samples between system memory and the synthesizer. The number of buffers defines the maximum number of voices which can simultaneously be active. The operation of the buffers is controlled by a buffer manager.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing the speech information includes a first execution device and a second execution device for executing operations at respective different execution cycles, and a first memory unit for reading and recording the speech information. The first execution device and the second execution device exploit the first memory unit in common for processing the speech information. The processing apparatus further includes a second memory unit for storage of the speech information from the first execution means or the speech information read out from the first memory unit. The first execution device records the speech information on or reads the speech information from the second memory unit during the execution cycle of the first execution device. The second execution device accesses the first memory unit during the execution cycle of the second execution device for outputting the special information to outside.

Abstract: The PC audio circuit described interfaces with and provides audio enhancement to a host personal computer of the type including a central processor, system memory and a system bus. The PC audio circuit includes a digital signal processor (DSP) for processing wavetable data and generating digital audio signals for a plurality of voices. The wavetable data is stored in the host computer's system memory and transferred in portions, as needed by the DSP, to a smaller, low-cost cache memory included with the PC audio circuit. The DSP processes several frames of data samples for an active voice before processing another voice. Processing in this manner reduces the percentage use of system bus bandwidth and alleviates concerns about the maximum allowable system bus latency. Digital audio signals generated for each active voice are accumulated in cache memory.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard instrument for reproducing reflected sound generated by an acoustic piano and providing the feeling that sound is reflected and shifted. Left and right system sound signals are generated corresponding to the position of a depressed key on a keyboard. The sound signals are processed through a digital signal processor, a digital-to-analog converter and amplifiers. The processed sound signals are transmitted to left and right loudspeakers. The digital sound processor is composed of filters for extracting predetermined frequency components from each of the sound signals, delay elements for transmitting outputs from the filters with a delay of predetermined time, and adders for adding outputs from the delay elements to the original left and right system sound signals.

Abstract: An electronic musical apparatus employs a tone-generator section containing a plurality of tone-generator channels, each consisting of a vowel generation unit and a consonant generation unit which operate based on formant sound synthesis, so that a song is automatically swung based on lyric data and performance data. If a syllable within words of a lyric designated by the lyric data consists of a consonant and a vowel, the consonant generation unit generates the consonant with respect to a consonant sounding time which is set in advance whilst the vowel generation unit generates the vowel to follow the consonant. If generation of multiple syllables is allocated to a desired single note within notes corresponding to a melody designated by the performance data, the multiple syllables are sequentially generated during a sounding time of the desired single note. A human operator is capable of inputting words of a lyric to form the lyric data by using a computer keyboard.

Abstract: A tone synthesizer for complex tone modeling, synthesis, or reproduction for simple to complex instruments, both real and imagined. The tone synthesizer has a wave generator that is responsive to a key signal from a key signal generator to produce an analog or digital wave. The key signal corresponds to a discrete musical note value. A preferred digital wave generator for a digital tone synthesizer is a DSP with componentry to read from a digital memory, generally a large RAM, one or more previously recorded, or sampled, digital waveforms loaded to the RAM. The digital wave generators selectably respond to a key signal to produce a primary note output in the from of a digital wave, or to a sympathetic note signal from a sympathetic note signal generator to produce a sympathetic digital wave.

Abstract: A parametric signal modeling musical tone synthesizer utilizes a multidimensional filter coefficient space consisting of many sets of filter coefficients to model an instrument. These sets are smoothly interpolated over pitch, intensity, and time. The filter excitation for a particular note is derived from a collection of single period excitations, which form a multidimensional excitation space, which is also smoothly interpolated over pitch, intensity and time. The synthesizer includes effective modeling of attacks of tones, and the noise component of a tone is modelled separately from the pitched component. The input control signals may include initial pitch and intensity, or the intensity may be time-varying. A variety of instruments may be specified.

Abstract: A MIDI playback system is described in which a sequencer is characterized by: logic for generating a sequence of events, the sequence comprising groups of events, each group comprising events to be executed within a first time interval, the groups being separated in the sequence by marker events for indicating the time intervals, the sequencer being arranged to send the sequence of events together to a synthesizer. A synthesizer is described comprising storage means to receive and store the sequences of events; logic for reading an event from the storage; and logic for determining if the event is a marker event, the synthesizer being arranged to wait, if the event is a marker event, a time equal to the first time interval before reading another event from storage. Using this arrangement, the sequencer is no longer required to schedule the MIDI commands precisely on time and therefore the timing services that a software implementation of such a sequencer might ask from a computer system are reduced.

Abstract: A device and method for producing sound which simulates the sound of an engine, whereby sound segments are digitally stored in memory and accessed by a microcontroller which is responsive to a user accessible switch. When the switch is activated and the device is producing an acceleration or deceleration sound, the device will "match" the acceleration or deceleration sound with a closely matched deceleration or acceleration sound, respectively, so that a realistic engine sound is produced.