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: A system and a method of measuring, decomposing, processing and uniquely recombining forces and vibrations acting on stringed musical instruments (SMI). The system utilizes a digital signal processor and reproduces the musical sound characteristics of an acoustic instrument into high fidelity electrical signals for amplification, processing and/or filtering and reproduction of musical sounds by uniquely exploiting, through measurements and subsequent signal processing, the vector nature of string excitation forces (SEF) and body vibrations of stringed musical instruments. A signal processing system of the current invention also utilizes a plurality of sensors, each responsive to at least one of force, displacement, velocity or acceleration indicative of the vibrational energy of the strings, to produce a sensor signal vector, which is then processed and transformed by a plurality of re-creation filters into a transformed signal vector, and then resynthesized into an output signal.

Abstract: A text analyzing section converts given text data into syllable data. A melody producing section receives the converted syllable data together with the text data and a standard MIDI file. The syllable data are assigned to a melody of the standard MIDI file and sent to a sequencer section. A software synthesizer converts the syllable data into vocal sounds with the interval variable in accordance the melody.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument has a tone generation instruction operation member for instructing to start tone generation, and a tone generation control unit for starting a tone generation process upon operation of the tone generation instruction operation member, continuing the tone generation process even after the tone generation instruction operation member is released, and executing a mute process when the identical tone generation instruction operation member is operated again.

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 functional storage module is removably connectable to an electronic apparatus as a storage medium of data. The module is composed of a memory core block, a sequencer block and a tone generator block. The memory core block stores various data including music performance data for use in the electronic apparatus. The sequencer block retrieves the music performance data from the memory core block, and sequentially outputs instructions for synthesis of music tones according to the retrieved music performance data. The tone generator block operates in response to the instructions for carrying out the synthesis of the music tones, thereby outputting waveform data representative of the music tones to the electronic apparatus.

Abstract: In an electronic musical apparatus having a generator for generating a tone, a play member is provided for playing a music such that a key-on touch operation and a key-off touch operation are performed on the play member to input a note of the music. A detector detects the key-on touch operation and the key-off touch operation to generate key-on information and key-off information. A controller operates based on the key-on information and the key-off information for controlling the generator to generate a tone corresponding to the note. The detector detects a transitional state of the key-off touch operation for generating a sequence of first key-off information and second key-off information indicative of the transitional state of the key-off touch operation.

Abstract: Data to be used for generating tone waveform data corresponding to a partial time section of a tone are stored in a basic file or expansion file. In a wave part area of each of the files, there are stored wave part data to be used for generating tone waveform data corresponding to a partial time section of a tone, and the wave part data includes information designating several groups of template data indicative of variations, in the partial time section, of a plurality of tone factors, such as a waveform template, pitch template, amplitude template, spectrum template and time template. Each of the expansion files contains data representative of differences from data stored in the corresponding basic file. The data are stored in such a manner as to avoid overlapping data storage, in order to minimize the total quantity of data.

Abstract: There is provided a tone generator system that is capable of generating various types of high-quality musical tones by means of waveform storage means with a small capacity using a tone generator based on the waveform memory method. A first waveform storage stores compressed waveform data. A decoder operates in response to tone color changing instruction data included in musical composition data to be reproduced, to read out from the first waveform storage the compressed waveform data corresponding to at least one tone color corresponding to the tone color changing instruction data and decode the readout compressed waveform data into waveform data in a pulse code modulation format. A second waveform storage stores the waveform data in the pulse code modulation format decoded by the decoder.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a musical sound modification apparatus and method whereby natural musical instrument sounds are analyzed to extract time variant information of pitch, amplitude and timbre, as Musical Sound Modification Data, which are stored in a temporary memory area as pitch Template, amplitude Template and timbre Template for each of attack part, sustain part and release part of a musical sound. Musical Sound Modification Data for one musical note is formed by selectively joining each Template of attack part, sustain part and release part, and for each of pitch, amplitude and timbre, and is pasted to a series of musical note data in music data. At music reproduction by the music data, the generated musical sound gives a “realistic feeling” to human ear owing to supplied time variant characteristics, because each of pitch, amplitude and timbre of the musical sounds corresponding to the musical note data is modified by said Musical Sound Modification Data.

Abstract: A method of generating musical tones and a storage medium storing a program for executing the method are provided. Musical piece data is decomposed into phrases, the musical piece data being formed of pieces of performance data arranged in the order of performance. The pieces of performance data of the musical piece data are analyzed for each of the phrases obtained by the decomposing step. Tone color control data is prepared for each of the phrases according to results of the analyzing. The pieces of performance data of the musical piece data are reproduced by sequentially reading the pieces of performance data at timing at which the pieces of performance data are to be performed to the order of performance.

Abstract: A method of converting performance information is carried out by the steps of receiving identification information that identifies an target tone generator different from an available tone generator, reading out first performance information that indicates a music performance in the form of a sequence of tones, and that includes timbre information specifying a timbre of the tones, and changing the timbre information included in the read first performance information based on the received identification information so as to generate second performance information including the changed timbre information adapted to the target tone generator. By such a manner, the available tone generator can process the second performance information to generate the sequence of tones having a timbre as if generated by the target tone generator.

Abstract: In response to user's selection of a desired instrument style such as a piano style, only some of memory-stored automatic performance data sets that belong to the selected instrument style are made selectable. On the other hand, a tonal characteristic for manual performance is set to a tonal characteristic corresponding to the selected instrument switch. Thus, in executing an ensemble of manual and automatic performances, even a beginner can readily select and set a tone color and performance pattern. According to another aspect, there is provided a memory storing a plurality of automatic performance data sets and the setting parameters in corresponding relation to a plurality of performance styles. Tone setting parameters include manual performance tone setting parameters that are suited at least for the plurality of performance styles.

Abstract: Musical instruments that generate notes according to sounds (e.g., vocal sounds) and manually selected scales are provided. Vocal sounds of the user are analyzed to select a note that will be generated in a scale selected by the user. The user can enter the scale or scale constraints by depressing a chord on a keyboard and the vocal sounds can be analyzed to determine which note on the selected scale is closest in pitch to the vocal sounds. Additionally, the generated notes can be augmented in other ways including having the onset and/or offset of the note generated adjusted to correspond to an identified rhythm in the ambient sounds.

Abstract: A chord performance training system is realized on a personal computer having a display and a keyboard in accordance with music application software. The display provides a user with three types of windows on a screen, namely a main window for displaying chord progression, a select window for displaying a list of genre names for selection and a score window for displaying a score. On the select window, the user selects a specific single genre name to activate model performance information containing chord parts, a percussion part, a chord text and a song text, so that the main window shows chord progression representing chord names and generation timings of chords which are to be sequentially played by the user. Multiple sets of model performance information are provided to suit to different levels, namely a beginners' level and an expert level, which are set to the user in playing chord performance on the keyboard.

Abstract: A software based digital wavetable synthesizer receives musical data from an external source and generates a plurality of digital sample values corresponding to the musical source. The musical source may be a synthesized music source or an actual instrument. In an exemplary embodiment, a sample for each semi-tone for the musical instrument is sampled and stored. A subsequent process analyzes the sampled and selects a single cycle representing that musical instrument at each of the semi-tones. The data is subsequently normalized such that each cycle begins with a zero value and the normalized data is stored in a data structure along with labels indicative of the musical instrument and the musical note. In subsequent use, the user can create synthesized music by selecting the desired instrument and notes. Additional musical rules, such as rules associated with Indian classical music, may be applied to specify the synthesis process.

Abstract: A hybrid keyboard musical instrument includes two electric tone generators, music strings selectively struck with hammers driven for rotation by action mechanisms and a silent system for changing a hammer stopper between a free position and a blocking position, and a controlling system supplies instructions for changing the hammer stopper to the silent system and parameters for electronic tones to the tone generators, wherein a user registers pieces of status information in a hard disk unit, and selectively calls the pieces of status information from the hard disk unit during a performance by manipulating buttons so that the user quickly changes the status of the hybrid keyboard musical instrument.

Abstract: A method is designed for controlling a plurality of tone generating drivers by an integrating driver installed in an operating system to generate music tones according to performance data created by a music application software. In the method, the performance data created by the music application software is inputted into the integrating driver through an application program interface provided by the operating system. The performance data is distributed from the integrating driver to one or more of the tone generating drivers provisionally registered to the integrating driver. The registered tone generating driver is operated to generate waveform data of a music tone at a specific sampling frequency based on the distributed performance data. The waveform data is streamed back from the registered tone generating driver to the integrating driver. The specific sampling frequency of the streamed waveform data is converted into a common sampling frequency by the integrating driver.

Abstract: To a tone generation apparatus is removably attachable a plug-in board for generating a tone on the basis of performance information and extending the tone generating function of the tone generation apparatus. Tone color name information and tone color parameter name information of tone color data possessed by the attached plug-in board is stored in a nonvolatile memory. Thus, any tone color possessed by the plug-in board can be known with reference only to the nonvolatile memory and without a need to refer to the plug-in board. The nonvolatile memory can also store tone color data of a custom voice obtained by editing original tone color data of the plug-in board. With this arrangement, the plug-in board is allowed to obtain the tone color data of the custom voice from the nonvolatile memory, as necessary.

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: A method for determining a fundamental frequency of a note in a musical signal comprising the steps of receiving the musical signal; determining a frequency of each of a plurality of tracks of the musical signal; generating a plurality of subharmonics for each track; and computing the fundamental frequency based on a frequency of at least one subharmonic selected from the plurality of subharmonics, the frequency of the at least one selected subharmonic being within a neighborhood of the frequency of the track having a lowest frequency.

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

Abstract: A musical sound signal generation apparatus for producing a sound corresponding to an operated key can produce a sound of a newly-operated key even if all the musical sound signal generation means for generating a musical sound signal are in use. On producing the new sound, the apparatus prevents the players and the audience from having a sense of incongruity derived from the change in sound production. Especially, when a chord has been produced, it can maintain the state of chord production normally.

Abstract: Data to be used for generating tone waveform data corresponding to a partial time section of a tone are stored in a basic file or expansion file. In a wave part area of each of the files, there are stored wave part data to be used for generating tone waveform data corresponding to a partial time section of a tone, and the wave part data includes information designating several groups of template data indicative of variations, in the partial time section, of a plurality of tone factors, such as a waveform template, pitch template, amplitude template, spectrum template and time template. Each of the expansion files contains data representative of differences from data stored in the corresponding basic file. The data are stored in such a manner as to avoid overlapping data storage, in order to minimize the total quantity of data.

Abstract: A plurality of different fluctuation data are added to a plurality of sound signals, and the plurality of sound signals are synthesized to form a tone. Thus, different fluctuations are added to the sound signals or to part sounds of the sound signals, enabling the fluctuation to be controlled for each of the components of the tone.

Abstract: A music apparatus is constructed for receiving an input signal composed of either of a voice signal and a tone signal and for processing the input signal based on a timbre change command signal to generate at least one channel of an output signal. In the music apparatus, a reference pitch designation section designates a reference pitch. An output signal generation section receives the input signal, the timbre change command signal and the reference pitch designated by the reference pitch designation section for changing a timbre of the input signal in accordance with the timbre change command signal, and for changing a pitch of the input signal above or below the reference pitch in accordance with the timbre change command signal, thereby generating the output signal having the changed timbre and the changed pitch.

Abstract: A musical tone synthesizing apparatus and method are provided to enable automatic addition of parts in response to addition of extended tone colors. Herein, prescribed tone colors are set to the tone-generation instructors, which are respectively assigned to performance inputs for inputting performance data from designated devices such as a keyboard, a sequencer and other MIDI instruments or devices. The tone-generation instructors produce output performance data based on which a tone generator generates corresponding musical tone signals. Addition of the extended tone colors can be actualized by installation of an extended board into an extended slot. Upon detection of the addition of the extended tone colors at a start of system, the apparatus automatically extends tone-generation instructors so that a user is capable of selecting the extended tone colors for the extended tone generation instructors, 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

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 highly expandable musical sound generator using a sound library. Each module receives pointer structures as an argument and executes a processing. Each pointer structures includes attribute data pointers, input data pointers and output data pointers.

Abstract: An electric musical instrument is provided, which enables rich and diverse expressions to be achieved in musical performance. A driving member drives a tone generating source. A driving member-side signal generator obtains a signal from the driving member and outputs the obtained signal. A musical tone signal generator generates a musical tone signal using the signal output by the driving member-side signal generator and outputs the generated musical tone signal. In another aspect of the invention, a tone generating source-side signal generator obtains a tone generating source-side signal from the tone generating source and outputs the obtained signal, and a driving member-side signal generator obtains a driving member-side signal from the driving member and outputs the obtained signal. A modulation device frequency-modulates one of the tone generating source-side signal and the driving member side signal with the other signal. The modulated signal is output from the modulation device as a sound.

Abstract: A tone synthesis system employs digital filtering methods to enable the practical usage of unstable filter elements in a real-time synthesis model. Truncated infinite impulse response (TIIR) filters are used to approximate portions of the reflection impulse response of an acoustic horn such as a trumpet bell. Methods for resetting filter state enable the use of internal unstable filter poles. Similar state resetting methods enable the use of unstable one-pole filters in the scattering junction formed between two conical acoustic bores. High quality tone synthesis can be achieved without the necessity of a complicated filter representing large sections of the bore of a woodwind instrument.

Abstract: Data to be used for generating tone waveform data corresponding to a partial time section of a tone are stored in a basic file or expansion file. In a wave part area of each of the files, there are stored wave part data to be used for generating tone waveform data corresponding to a partial time section of a tone, and the wave part data includes information designating several groups of template data indicative of variations, in the partial time section, of a plurality of tone factors, such as a waveform template, pitch template, amplitude template, spectrum template and time template. Each of the expansion files contains data representative of differences from data stored in the corresponding basic file. The data are stored in such a manner as to avoid overlapping data storage, in order to minimize the total quantity of data.

Abstract: A storage medium stores a mapping file defining a set of timbres and mapping a plurality of waveforms to the set of timbres according to performance information. The mapping file is composed of a set of information blocks corresponding to the set of the timbres. The information block contains specification information for specifying waveforms associated to the corresponding timbre, and selection information for selecting one or more of the specified waveforms according to the performance information to thereby map the selected waveform to the timbre.

Abstract: A synthesized strong hit waveform data is generated by synthesizing a strong hit amplitude component separated from a strong hit waveform data generated based on tone of a strong play and a weak hit phase component separated from a weak hit waveform data generated based on tone of a weak play. This synthesized strong hit waveform data is stored in a memory together with a weak hit waveform data. A musical tone signal is generated by interpolating the weak hit waveform data and the synthesized strong hit waveform data read out from the memory, in response to a signal supplied from external portion.

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: 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 a tone color map generating section, a tone color parameter and the effective time for making the tone color map effective are extracted from an SMF stored in a MIDI file database, and the tone color parameter is stored in a tone color map database. When a demand processing section receives a playback start position for starting the playback of the SMF, a read processing section reads the tone color parameter stored in the tone color map database in accordance with the playback start position, and generates time information indicating time to set the tone color parameter in a MIDI device. A sending circuit sends the tone color parameter together with the corresponding time information, and then sends a MIDI signal from the playback start position thereafter, stored in the MIDI file database.

Abstract: A music apparatus has a central processor, a plurality of generator modules, and a program memory storing instructions for causing the central processor to execute a process of synthesizing a musical tone signal with the generator modules. The process includes the steps of commanding each of the generator modules to generate a predetermined number of samples of the musical tone signal at a common sampling period, and collecting the samples from each of the generator modules and processing the collected samples at the common sampling period to thereby synthesize the musical tone signal. The generator modules include a synchronous generator module that does generate the predetermined number of the samples at the common sampling period, and an asynchronous generator module that does not generate the predetermined number of the samples at the common sampling period.

Abstract: Physical model tone generator, which includes a loop section with a signal delay element, generates a driving signal by modifying a loop output signal from the loop in accordance with a performance parameter such as a bowing velocity, and introduces the generated driving signal to the loop. This way, the tone generator generates a tone signal with a characteristic controlled by the performance parameter, in a pitch period corresponding to a time delay of the loop. To generate the driving signal, a nonlinear conversion section performs a nonlinear conversion on an input signal based on the loop output signal and performance parameter. The conversion section switches an input-output characteristic, to be used for converting the input signal, into one of at least first and second input-output characteristics in accordance with intensity of a signal based on the loop output signal or the input signal, so that a desired nonlinear conversion characteristic is achieved.

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 sound control apparatus and method for an audio/video appliance are disclosed.

Abstract: Harmonic signals of frequencies have a relation fn=f1*n* .sqroot.1+C*n.sup.2 /.sqroot.1+C where C is a constant and n is a harmonic number relative to the fundamental frequency f1, are generated and synthesized to produce a modified sound that can be heard comfortably by human ears.

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: On an initial screen, a conversion ratio indicated by a style conversion ratio data is displayed in a display area 32. Various kinds of styles are displayed in display areas 33 to 38. In this case, a style which is currently selected is "Samba" which blinks, and the conversion ratio is 50%. When a style number corresponding to samba is "2," a style change is conducted for the original performance data based on a style conversion data corresponding to the style number 2. At this time, the conversion ratio of 50% is referred, and changes of a sound-producing timing, a tone color, an additional instrument, and the like are conducted. An image displayed on a monitor is changed based on an image conversion data.

Abstract: A karaoke system capable of performing distribution or delivery of new music without delay and providing high quality karaoke musical accompaniment and video image dedicated for each music well harmonized with the content of each music is disclosed. The karaoke system reproduces a recorded musical accompaniment of a music to sing together with a composite image of lyric words and background image.

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.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument, which is configured to simulate one or more instruments, provides a sound source, a display unit and a control portion. Herein, under control of the control portion, the display unit displays the predetermined graphic pattern corresponding to the tone-generation mechanism, i.e., tone-generation algorithm of an instrument to be simulated. The sound source contains a drive portion, a tone-generation portion and a resonance-radiation portion, each of which further contains a digital signal processor (DSP). All of these portions function to create a digitized musical tone signal corresponding to a simulated sound of the instrument by combining operation data outputted from the DSPs. By controlling the display unit, it is possible to arbitrarily vary the contents of the displayed tone-generation algorithm, so that the performer can easily and freely perform a music on this electronic musical instrument.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having a rhythm performance function includes a first memory for pre-storing plural rhythm tone kinds, rhythm selecting switches each capable of designating one of said rhythm tone kinds and a rhythm tone generator having plural channels. The selected rhythm tone kind is assigned to each channel of the rhythm tone generator. A rhythm tone corresponding to the selected rhythm tone kind is generated by each channel so that continuous rhythm tones will be generated by plural channels based on time division system. In addition, before playing a rhythm performance, rhythm patterns can be arbitrarily programmed and then stored into a second memory by operating the rhythm selecting switches and other switches corresponding to the predetermined rhythm tones of plural musical instruments.

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.