Abstract: A method is designed for displaying a visual image of a music system that is constructed to play at least one performance part with a particular timbre and that is applied with an acoustic effect, an accompaniment style and the like.

Abstract: A new method and apparatus for music synthesis is provided. A chaotic system is driven onto a periodic orbit by a compressed initialization code. A one-dimensional, periodic waveform is then produced from the periodic orbit. A variety of periodic orbits produces a variety of sounds, which sounds approximate the sounds of different musical instruments. By sampling the amplitude of the periodic waveforms over time, a digital version of the sound is produced. The frequency and duration of a note to be synthesized are produced by sampling the periodic waveform at the proper rate to produce the desired frequency and then repeating the waveform to produce a note of the required duration.

Abstract: An initial note series is collected from a real-time source of musical input material such as a keyboard or a sequencer playing back musical data, or extracted from musical data stored in memory. The initial note series may be altered to create variations of the initial note series using various mathematical operations. The resulting altered note series, or other data stored in memory is read out according to one or more patterns. The patterns may have steps containing pools of independently selectable items from which random selections are made. A pseudo-random number generator is employed to perform the random selections during processing, where the random sequences thereby generated have the ability to be repeated at specific musical intervals. The resulting musical effect may additionally incorporate a repeated effect, or a repeated effect can be independently performed from input notes in the musical input material.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods and means for estimating the time-varying spectrum of an audio signal based on a conditional probability density function (PDF) of spectral coding vectors conditioned on pitch and loudness values. Using this PDF a time-varying output spectrum is generated as a function of time-varying pitch and loudness sequences arriving from an electronic music instrument controller. The time-varying output spectrum is converted to a synthesized output audio signal. The pitch and loudness sequences may also be derived from analysis of an input audio signal. Methods and means for synthesizing an output audio signal in response to an input audio signal are also described in which the time-varying spectrum of an input audio signal is estimated based on a conditional probability density function (PDF) of input spectral coding vectors conditioned on input pitch and loudness values.

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

Abstract: A 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: A nonperiodic waveform is forced to a periodic character to facilitate looping of the waveform without introducing audible, and thus objectionable, sound artifacts. Nonperiodic waveforms are typically nonperiodic due to the presence of nonharmonic high frequency spectral components. In time, the high frequency components decay faster than low frequency components and looping of the waveform is facilitated. A loop forcing process and loop forcing filter facilitate looping of a nonperiodic waveform by accelerating the removal of the nonperiodic high frequency components. A loop forcing filter accelerates the removal of nonperiodic high frequency components using a comb filter having a frequency selectivity that varies in time.

Abstract: A circuit and method for generating waveforms when synthesizing musical sounds. In one embodiment, the invention provides a multiplexer/shifter which modifies the phase angle input according to the particular waveform desired. Boolean logic gates further modify the multiplexer/shifter output based on the two most significant bits of the phase angle input and according to the particular waveform desired. Finally, a multiplier multiplies the multiplexer/shifter output with the output of the Boolean logic gates to produce the desired waveform. The invention may employ banks of exclusive OR gates and AND gates as the Boolean logic. Another embodiment of the invention provides a waveshaping method where a desired waveform is generated from a phase angle input. The phase angle input is multiplexed/shifted based on the particular waveform desired.

Abstract: A mount by which a component is non-destructively mounted on a musical instrument includes a receptacle and one or more abutment members, such as resilient clips, which do not screw into the instrument but engage the instrument to hold the mount on the instrument. A component is secured to the mount to install the component on the instrument. One such component provides digital control of an analog tone adjustment circuit. The digital control can include selectable preset conditions. Another such component provides on-board effects processing, such as a chorus effect. An output electrical coupling is provided with a switch used to energize the circuit of the component with which it is used.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument is constructed on a mother board for editing a parameter of an extension board necessary for generating a music tone while monitoring the parameter according to display information. In the instrument, a display device is provided for displaying a current value of the parameter to be edited. An input device is operable for inputting an operational variable effective to change the current value of the parameter. A first control circuit contained in a CPU of the mother board is operative when receiving the display information for controlling the display device to display the current value of the parameter, and is operative when the operational variable is inputted from the input device for transmitting the operational variable to the extension board.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for transmitting musical performances over the Internet from a single point such as a piano Internet web site to multipoint such as player pianos located within subscriber's homes. A subscription service associated with the web site would offer monthly subscription services where a subscriber can access any one of millions of prerecorded performances at any time of day and have a signal transmitted to the subscriber's computer. A transmitted signal is received at the subscriber's computer and a musical instrument, such as a player piano, can perform the prerecorded performance. The web site would also offer a mix of live performances as part of the basic subscription at additional cost, at a pay-per-performance basis. The musical performance would be either a live performance which would be transmitted from point to multipoint or prerecorded performance which would be more typically sent from a storage device associated with the web site directly to a single customer.

Abstract: A MIDI-compatible gesture synthesizer is provided for use with a conventional music synthesizer to create musically realistically sounding gestures. The gesture synthesizer is responsive to one or more user controllable input signals, and includes several transfer function models that may be user-selected. One transfer function models properties of muscles using Hill's force-velocity equation to describe the non-linearity of muscle activation. A second transfer function models the cyclic oscillation produced by opposing effects of two force sources representing the cyclic oppositional action of muscle systems. A third transfer function emulates the response of muscles to internal electrical impulses. A fourth transfer function provides a model representing and altering virtual trajectory of gestures. A fifth transfer function models visco-elastic properties of muscle response to simulated loads. The gesture synthesizer outputs MIDI-compatible continuous pitch data, tone volume and tone timbre information.

Abstract: A system and method for creating and composing musical works by selecting existing musical elements and applying modification modules to them. Existing musical selections reside in a database as metrics, or targets for the composition of new pieces. The present invention composes a new piece of music by, for example, specifying component musical features in the selected targets that should be modified or retained in creating the new work. Such musical features include, for example, rhythmic characteristics, harmonic characteristics, and the like. In this manner, a user who is, musically untutored is able to create satisfying, original works having desired characteristics as specified by the user.

Abstract: An arpeggio notes generating apparatus includes a ROM which stores data defining a plurality of arpeggio patterns and a plurality of groove patterns. An arpeggio pattern is composed of a succession of chord constituent notes to be generated at respectively corresponding timings. A set of data for each note include data to identify the note generation timing, the key number, the duration and the velocity value. A groove pattern is composed of a succession of note generation modifier data sets, and each set is for each arpeggio note and includes data to define amounts of modification to be applied to the data for each note generation. Two arpeggio patterns and two groove patterns are selected in correspondence. The note generation timing, the durations and the velocity values in each arpeggio pattern are individually modified according to the corresponding data in each groove pattern to provide two modified arpeggio patterns.

Abstract: There are provided a tone generator system using computer software and a storage medium storing the computer software. A musical tone synthesis module generates a musical tone signal by generating an excitation signal in response to an request for generating the excitation signal and at least delaying and looping the generated excitation signal. A first monitoring module monitors whether or not the request for generating the excitation signal is issued. A second monitoring module monitors whether or not the musical tone signal is generated by the musical tone synthesis module. An interruption module interrupts execution of the musical tone synthesis module when the first monitoring module detects that the request for generating the excitation signal is not issued, and at the same time the second monitoring module detects that the musical tone signal is not generated.

Abstract: An improved method for forming a timbre sample (Q sample) is described. A first Q sample is extracted. A fixed length of the first Q sample is extracted to form a first QL. A portion of the first Q sample other than the first QL is treated as a first pre-waveform. A last portion of the first pre-waveform is extracted and is processed with the second Q sample by a first COS modulation so as to obtain a second QL, which is connected to the first pre-waveform to form a second Q sample. A first period waveform of the second QL and a last portion of the first pre-waveform are processed by a second COS modulation to form a single period QL. Repeating the single period QL forms a third QL. Connecting the third QL to the first pre-waveform forms a third Q sample. The second QL is transformed by a digital Fourier transformation, and its high frequency modes are removed. The transformed second QL is inversely transformed back by an inverse digital Fourier transformation to form a fourth QL.

Abstract: A method for frequency modulation synthesis and apparatus for performing the method. The method uses additions rather than multiplies and therefore saves the space and cost of multipliers in circuit implementations. The method saves further resources by using the coordinate rotation digital computer (CORDIC) algorithm to acquire sine values as opposed to an extensive sine look-up table. The method can be implemented with either a dedicated digital circuit or a programmed special purpose processor such as a digital signal processor. The hardware for implementing the method is normally integrated onto a semiconductor device.

Abstract: A sound synthesizer for a plucked string instrument simulates noises and transients produced before and after and during the transitions between notes. A particularly convincing synthesis of a plucked string instrument is produced by combining the transients into the final output. In particular, the transient tap tone and longitudinal vibration of the string resulting from the string pluck, and the damping tap tones resulting from the string damping, are all simulated. In one embodiment, the tap tone created upon attack and plucking of a string, is synthesized, and then used to stimulate a resonant circuit, thereby simulating both the pluck tap tone, and the transverse vibration of the string. In addition, the final damping transients which occur at the end of an articulated note are also simulated, using either an independent transient synthesis section, or by stimulating the resonant circuit with a tap tone, while simultaneously re-tuning that resonant circuit.

Abstract: In a music and graphic apparatus, a performance input device provides performance information effective to control generation of a music sound. A timbre input device provides timbre information effective to specify a timbre of the music sound. A sound source is operative based on the timbre information to simulate an acoustic instrument capable of creating the specified timbre. The sound source is responsive to the performance information to generate the music sound as if voiced by the acoustic instrument with the specified timbre. A model image generator generates a model image graphically representing at least a part of the acoustic instrument. A dynamic image generator is operative according to the performance information for generating a dynamic image graphically representing an operation of the acoustic instrument.

Abstract: A desired tone signal is generated by the impulse response signals that are repetitively generated, and a tone is formed. Impulse response signals of a predetermined length corresponding to the frequency characteristics of the tone signal to be generated are repetitively generated. The recurring period of the impulse response signals repetitively generated varies depending upon a pitch-determining factor. The rate of generating the impulse response signals is changed depending upon a timbre-determining factor different from the pitch-determining factor, independently of the recurring period. Thus, the timbre of the tone signal formed from the impulse response signals is freely changed independently of the pitch.

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: An electronic musical instrument utilizes a tone generator installed with a plurality of timbres for generating a musical tone having a timbre selected from the installed timbres. A MIDI interface is provided for receiving timbre designation information which designates a primary choice and a secondary choice of desired timbres. A bank selector operates when the primary choice is present in the installed timbres for selecting the same so that the musical tone is generated in a desired timbre of the primary choice, and otherwise operates when the primary choice is absent in the installed timbres for selecting the secondary choice in place of the primary choice from the installed timbres so that the musical tone is generated in another desired timbre of the secondary choice.

Abstract: A musical sound synthesizer generates a predetermined singing sound based on performance data. A compression device determines whether each of a plurality of phonemes forming the predetermined singing sound is a first phoneme to be sounded in accordance with a note-on signal indicative of a note-on of the performance data, and compresses a rise time of the first phoneme when the first phoneme is sounded in accordance with occurrence of the note-on signal of the performance data.

Abstract: A sound source apparatus has operation blocks composed of softwares used to compute waveforms for generating a plurality of musical tones through a plurality of channels according to performance information. In the apparatus, a setting device sets an algorithm which determines a system composed of selective ones of the operation blocks systematically combined with each other to compute a waveform specific to one of the musical tones. A designating device responds to the performance information for designating one of the channels to be used for generating the musical tone. A generating device allocates the selective operation blocks to the one channel and systematically executes the allocated selective operation blocks according to the algorithm so as to compute the waveform to thereby generate the musical tone through the channel.

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: Groove data for imparting a variation to one or more predetermined factors, such as generation timing, gate time and velocity, of a tone based on the automatic performance data are stored in a memory as a groove template. Further, modification data for modifying variation amounts of the predetermined factors are stored in the memory in a time series in corresponding relation to progression of an automatic performance. Automatic performance is carried out by modifying the variation amounts of the one or more predetermined factors in the groove template in accordance with the modification data and thus modifying the predetermined factors of the tone, based on the automatic performance data, in accordance with the thus-modified variation amounts.

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: A karaoke apparatus produces a karaoke accompaniment which accompanies a singing voice of a player. A memory device stores primary characteristics of a model vowel contained in a model voice. An input device collects an input singing voice of the player containing a pair of a lead consonant component and a subsequent vowel component. A separating device separates the lead consonant component and the subsequent vowel component from each other. An extracting device extracts secondary characteristics of the subsequent vowel component separated from the lead consonant component. A creating device creates a substitutive vowel component according to the primary characteristics and the secondary characteristics so that the separated subsequent vowel component is converted into the substitutive vowel component while modified by the model vowel.

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: A performance setting data selecting apparatus including: a data storing unit for storing a plurality set of performance setting data; a table for storing a correspondence between each tune name of the plurality of tunes and each set of the performance setting data stored in the data storing unit suitable for playing a tune having the associated tune name; a designating unit for designating a tune name; and a unit for reading the performance setting data corresponding to the tune name designated by the designating unit from the data storing unit by referring to the table and setting the read performance setting data.

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: An electronic music instrument system, comprising: an electronic music instrument, having selectable groups of reproducible sounds and individually selectable reproducible sounds; a signal generator for energizing an audio amplifier responsive to different digital audio sources, including the groups of sounds and the individual sounds a graphical user interface for displaying at least one control graphic representing controllable parameters of the audio signals generated by the generator; and, a controller responsive to operation of the control graphic for adjusting the controllable parameters of the generator and for selectively coupling different ones of the sources to the generator. The graphical user interface can comprise: a video display; and, a touch-responsive overlay. The controllable parameters can include multiple instrument sound selection and sound layer assignment, controlled responsive to operation of the at least one control graphic.

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 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 musical instrument includes a two-dimension array of note producing elements wherein the elements along one dimension of the array have three-quarter steps or increasing fundamental frequencies F.sub.n according to the equationF.sub.n =F.sub.0 *2.sup.n/8wherein F.sub.0 is the fundamental frequency of the first note producing element in the one dimension and n is the number of the note producing element in the one direction from the first note producing element. The note producing elements along a second dimension of the array have fundamental frequencies which differ by frequency differences (such as perfect fourth intervals) greater than the frequency differences between adjacent note producing elements along the one dimension of the array.

Abstract: An auto-play apparatus has an edit function for thinning out various kinds of music tone control information indicating analog control amounts contained in auto-play data pre-stored in units of parts. A data sequence of music tone control information to be edited is received to detect if the target data and its preceding and succeeding data indicate one of an increment data sequence and decrement data sequence, and thins out the target data to reduce the data volume.

Abstract: A singing sound-synthesizing apparatus sequentially synthesizes vocal sounds based on singing data including lyric data of a lyric formed of a plurality of phonemes and sounding data designating a sounding time period over which the lyric data is sounded. A designating device designates a predetermined voiced phoneme from the plurality of phonemes of the lyric data. A sounding control device carries out sounding control such that sounding of the predetermined voiced phoneme designated by the designating device is started within the sounding time period designated for the plurality of phonemes by the sounding data and continued until the sounding time period designated for the plurality of phonemes elapses. In another form, ones of phoneme parameter sets and ones of coarticulation parameter sets corresponding to signing data are read from a phoneme data storing the phoneme parameter sets and the coarticulation parameter sets.

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: A network system is constructed for operating a music apparatus having a function as an electronic musical instrument under control by a local terminal which is communicable with a host computer through a network. In the system, the host computer is installed with a capability utilized to compute data effective to extent the function of the electronic musical instrument. The local terminal is connectable to the host computer through the network to remotely control the capability of the host computer so as to compute the data prepared for the music apparatus. The local terminal downloads the computed data from the host computer into the music apparatus through the local terminal. The music apparatus operates according to the downloaded data to extend its own function as the electronic musical instrument. Further, the capability itself can be transferred from the host computer to the music apparatus through the local terminal.

Abstract: In a karaoke apparatus, a tone generator responds to a request of a karaoke song for generating musical tones of the karaoke song having a given gender so as to accompany a live singing voice having an actual gender. A voice changer is provided for selectively conducting either of male-to-female conversion effective to upward shift a pitch of the live singing voice and female-to-male conversion effective to downward shift a pitch of the live singing voice. A voice analyzer is provided for analyzing the live singing voice to determine the actual gender of the live singing voice. A parameter generator is provided for comparing the determined actual gender of the live singing voice with the given gender of the karaoke song so as to control the voice changer to select either of the male-to-female conversion and the female-to-male conversion if the actual gender differs from the given gender so that the pitch of the live singing voice can be shifted to match the given gender of the karaoke song.

Abstract: A musical instrument comprises a plurality of keys (10-19), a processor means (20) connected to said keys and arranged to provide an output signal to be utilized in the generation of notes. A data storage means (22) is connected to said processor means (20) and contains a set of data (22a) associated with each key (10-10), each set of data including a predetermined sequence of pitch values. Each time a key (10-19) is struck the processor means (20) reads an item of data in sequence from the data set (22a) and generates an output signal that includes a consecutive one of said pitch values.

Abstract: An improved control structure for music synthesis is provided in which: 1) the sound representation provided to the adaptive function mapper allows for a greatly increased degree of control over the sound produced; and 2) training of the adaptive function mapper is performed using an error measure, or error norm, that greatly facilitates learning while ensuring perceptual identity of the produced sound with the training example. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, sound data is produced by applying to an adaptive function mapper control parameters including: at least one parameter selected from the set of time and timbre space coordinates; and at least one parameter selected from the set of pitch, .DELTA.pitch, articulation and dynamic. Using an adaptive function mapper, mapping is performed from the control parameters to synthesis parameters to be applied to a sound synthesizer.

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: An electric stringed musical instrument that produces and processes electric signals through an analog circuit has the analog circuit digitally controlled. The digital control is preferably such that it enables desired preset conditions for the analog circuit to be stored and later recalled in a simple, rapid manner by a musician while he or she is playing the instrument. The instrument can additionally, or alternatively, include energy management and string responsiveness features.

Abstract: An audio signal processing system including an input circuit for inputting musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) commands in real time over a plurality of channels, a computer including a central processing unit (CPU) supplied with the MIDI commands for simultaneously synthesizing one or more voices for each of the channels in response to the MIDI commands, each of the voices being generated by one or more of a plurality of predefined audio synthesis algorithms executed in software, a random access memory (RAM) for storing digital voice data representative of each of the voices generated by the CPU, an output circuit for audibly reproducing the voices from the digital voice data stored in the RAM, and wherein the CPU, in generating the voices selects the one or more audio synthesis algorithms based on one or more of the following criteria: the external processing demands placed upon the CPU by other operations being performed by the personal computer, a best match, according to predetermined criteria, b

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

Abstract: A computer system and method for controlling a media playing device. The system provides a user interface for allowing a user access to media pieces stored in a media database. The interface is also for controlling a media playing device, like a player piano or movie playing video device, that is coupled to the computer to play the accessed or selected piece of media. In one embodiment there is a computer interface that allows a user to display only music that relates to a selected category, like jazz or classical music. Another embodiment allows the user to direct the media playing device to automatically play selected music pieces that are related to a selected music category. Another embodiment allows a user to direct the media playing device to automatically play selected music pieces that are related to the selected music composer or artist.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument has a composite sound source for generating a musical tone, and includes a first synthesizing circuit for creating a variety of timbres of the musical tone having a superior quality and a second synthesizing circuit for creating another variety of timbres of the musical tone having an inferior quality. The instrument admits designation information effective to designate one of the first and second synthesizing circuits to be activated and effective to designate a timbre to be created by the designated one of the first and second synthesizing circuits. A detector operates when the second synthesizing circuit is designated for providing a detection signal if the designated timbre can be also created by the first synthesizing circuit.