Abstract: An automatic performance apparatus for an electronic musical instrument, which includes a change-instructing device for instructing alteration between first performance pattern and second performance pattern; a first controller for, when the readout device is reading out none of first to fourth automatic performance data at time alteration of a performance pattern is instructed by the change-instructing device, selecting the first automatic performance data or the second automatic performance data in accordance with an instruction of the change-instructing device, and causing a readout device to read out the selected automatic performance data in accordance with an instruction of a start-instructing device; and a second controller for causing the readout device, when reading out the first automatic performance data at a time alteration of a performance pattern is instructed by the change-instructing device, to stop reading out the first automatic performance data, read out the third automatic performance data

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

Abstract: Automatic performance data of plural channels are read from a memory, these data are interpolated by interpolation data and an automatic performance tone is generated on the basis of the interpolated automatic performance data. The interpolation data can be variably set in accordance with an operation by a player whereby the player's feeling can be reflected freely on the automatic performance in real time performance. Change data for changing the automatic performance data may be stored in a memory and this change data may be selected freely by a selective operation by the player. The selected change data may be variably controlled by an operation by the player. Plural types of change data patterns corresponding to one phrase may be stored and a sequence combination of these change data patterns may be freely set and changed. By these arrangements, an automatic performance which is rich in expression of feeling as in a live performance can be realized.

Abstract: A television with a karaoke player has a video function accompanied with music to which a medley function for classifying songs of the same form or theme and successively playing the classified songs by gathering them is added. According to a method for controlling the medley function, a microcomputer controls a display of thematic items of songs in response to a user's selection of the medley function. Upon selection of a thematic item, formational items of the songs are displayed. Songs falling in the selected categories are then played in order.

Abstract: A karaoke sound processor that automatically adjusts to the pitch of the singer's voice is provided. The pitch of the song signal recorded in the accompaniment recording medium for karaoke is detected by a first pitch detecting facility. The pitch of the song signal of the singer entered from the microphone is detected by a second pitch detecting facility. The two song signal pitches are compared in a comparing facility. When the pitches of the two signals are different, the output signal of the accompaniment is automatically changed by a pitch changing facility. The output signal of the pitch changing means and the signal of the microphone are summed up by an adder and produced. Without requring the singer to set the pitch change value, a karaoke sound processor capable of correcting the pitch automatically to a register comfortable for the singer is provided.

Abstract: A system for selectively combining numerous audio tracks recorded on an optical disk, including subtracting, by phase inversion, particular tracks from a full mix. Each track might contain a recording of an individual instrument, or a group of instruments. When the disk is played, the player provides the user with menu choices--which tracks should be played and mixed together. In this way, the user can create his/her own orchestral mix, perhaps omitting an instrument in a "play along" application, or playing one instrument alone to be mimicked for practice purposes. The disk further includes track definitions in multiple languages so that the same disk can be distributed throughout the world, with menu choices being given in a language selected by the user.

Abstract: A karaoke reproducing apparatus which allows a user to specify one vocal part or both vocal parts of two parts when one piece of music selected from a plurality of pieces of music by the user is a multi-audio type, reproduces only instrumental accompaniment (karaoke) when both parts are specified, and reproduces the vocal sounds of an unspecified one of the two parts together with the instrumental accompaniment when only one part is specified.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument with an automatic accompaniment function has a plurality of registration data corresponding to an accompaniment patterns, and a registration can be selected from the plurality of registration data corresponding to the selected and designated accompaniment pattern. The registration data represents a set of data such as the tone color, tone volume, effect, and the like of musical tones, for defining a performance environment. A plurality of accompaniment patterns are prepared for each style. When an accompaniment pattern is changed, the registration is changed in correspondence with the changed accompaniment pattern. Furthermore, when an accompaniment pattern is changed between different pattern groups, the registration is changed. When an accompaniment pattern is changed in one pattern group, the registration is left unchanged. The pattern group is a group of a plurality of similar accompaniment patterns.

Abstract: An accompaniment apparatus has a first memory for memorizing a plurality of original accompaniment patterns corresponding to various accompaniment styles, each original accompaniment pattern being composed of a set of parallel part patterns. An editor is operated for designating different ones of the original accompaniment patterns and collecting therefrom a set of desired part patterns to define a free accompaniment pattern which is different than the original accompaniment patterns. A second memory memorizes designated and collected results by the editor for use in reproduction of the free accompaniment pattern. During the reproduction, a pattern length difference or a meter difference among the set of the collected parallel part patterns can be corrected to maintain a consistent progression of the automatic free accompaniment.

Abstract: A system for interpreting the requests and performance of an instrumental soloist, stated in the parlance of the musician and within the context of a specific published edition of music the soloist is using, to control the performance of a digitized musical accompaniment. Sound events and their associated attributes are extracted from the soloist performance and are numerically encoded. The pitch, duration and event type of the encoded sound events are then compared to a desired sequence of the performance score to determine if a match exists between the soloist performance and the performance score. If a match exists between the soloist performance and the performance score, the system instructs a music synthesizer module to provide an audible accompaniment for the soloist. The system provides a method for marking a music sequence data segment to match a musical performance score using a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) marker message.

Abstract: A karaoke circuit for an optical player including a mixing circuit for mixing signals reproduced from the optical disk to supply them to a speaker, a selector for selecting a digital channel signal recorded on the optical disk, an analog channel signal recorded on the optical disk or a vocal signal of either the analog left channel or the analog right channel according to a user's selection and supplying the selected signal to the mixing circuit, and a path controller for controlling the path of the selector according to a user's mode selection and according to a disk type, thereby simplifying the circuitry and mixing stereo accompaniment and a vocal signal during playback of a hi-fi multivoice disk to improve the sound quality of karaoke.

Abstract: In a Karaoke apparatus, a sound synthesizer reproduces an instrumental accompaniment of a song requested by a singer during the course of a vocal performance of the song by the singer. A whole of the instrumental accompaniment is provisionally divided into a plurality of blocks each having a start address and an end address. A detector successively detects start and end addresses of each block with progression of the reproduction of the instrumental accompaniment. A skip command is inputted by a skip switch when a certain block is being reproduced. A controller responds to the detector and the skip switch, and operates when an end address of said certain block is detected for controlling the sound synthesizer to skip an immediately succeeding block to thereby continue to a start address of a further succeeding block during the course of the reproduction of the instrumental accompaniment. Further, a repeat command may be inputted by a repeat switch so as to effect repeat reproduction of a certain block.

Abstract: An automatic accompaniment device equipped with a CPU that controls, via a bus, a ROM that stores a plurality of rhythm patterns including introduction patterns, fill-in patterns and normal patterns. The device also includes a sound source circuit that generates musical sounds based on rhythm pattern data that is supplied after being selected by switches on an operation panel. In operation, the performer selects an introduction pattern to begin the automatic accompaniment. If the performer desires a shorter introduction, the performer activates a switch on the operation panel that causes a fill-in pattern to begin at a musically natural point in the introduction pattern. The fill-in pattern is shorter than the introduction pattern and provides a musically natural and smooth transition to the normal pattern. Thus, it is possible to end an introduction pattern at an optional point without imparting a musically unnatural quality to the automatic accompaniment.

Abstract: An automatic accompaniment apparatus is provided with a pattern memory for storing a plurality of accompaniment patterns and a reference memory for storing a plurality of references corresponding to respective accompaniment patterns, each reference being representative of a characteristic feature of each corresponding accompaniment pattern. A panel board is provided for inputting a search condition representative of a desired characteristic feature. A CPU operates for searching the references of the reference memory according to the inputted search condition so as to select from the pattern memory a particular accompaniment pattern having the desired characteristic feature specified by the search condition. A tone generator is operated for automatically performing an accompaniment according to the selected accompaniment pattern.

Abstract: An automatic playing device has a memory which stores sequence data consisting of musical sound data and sequence data to control read-out of the musical sound data. A processing unit repeatedly reads out musical sound data specified by the control data included in the sequence data stored in the memory. A movement instruction switch gives instructions for movement of an accompaniment part to be played. A control device terminates, when an instruction for movement of a part to be played is issued by the movement instruction switch, the operation to repeatedly read out musical sound data if musical sound data stored in the memory is being repeatedly read out by the processing unit. In this case, the control device moves system operation to read out the next sequence data.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument has a keyboard and a sound source circuit for manual performance along with automatic accompaniment. A memory is provided for memorizing a plurality of rhythm patterns of the automatic accompaniment such as introduction, normal, fill-in and ending. The memory further stores timbre codes corresponding to the respective rhythm patterns, effective to specify tone color of the manual performance. Selecting switches are manually operated during the manual performance for selecting a desired rhythm pattern. A CPU accesses the memory to retrieve the selected rhythm pattern so as to switch the automatic accompaniment to the selected rhythm pattern. The CPU concurrently controls the sound source circuit to change the tone color of the manual performance according to a particular timbre code associated to the selected rhythm pattern.

Abstract: According to the invention, elapsed time data indicative of a lapse of time are converted to greater values for permitting automatic performance according to the converted time data. Thus, it is made necessary, during fast forward of an automatic performance, only to convert the elapsed time data or time information of automatic performance information. In addition, the elapsed time data are converted into data, the value of which is reduced progressively with the lapse of time at a rate greater than the rate of change in the elapsed time data, for permitting automatic performance according to this data. Thus, it is made necessary, during rewind of an automatic performance, only to convert the elapsed time data or the time information of automatic performance information.

Abstract: A system and method for control of so-called KARAOKE equipment whereby the musical key of the pre-recorded accompaniment music may be altered automatically to substantially coincide with the analyzed or given vocal range of the singer, for example, soprano, tenor, mezzo-soprano, baritone, alto or bass, or with the preferred key to be sung entered by the singer, for example, E key, so as to eliminate the trial-and-error manual key adjustments during singing.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument with playback of background tones and generation of key-on phrase tones, in which a simple adlib play can be performed while a user is singing using a microphone or as an interlude without requiring high-grade techniques is disclosed.The electronic instrument includes an instrument main body (1) having a microphone (5) and a plurality of key pads (6), a section for playing back stored background tones of a song, a memory (21) for storing note pattern data for a plurality of phrases each consisting of a series of a plurality of key-on phrases in correspondence with the plurality of key pads, and a tone generator (20) for reading out the note pattern data of the corresponding phrase in response to an operation of the key pad (6), and forming tone generation signals. The output from the microphone, the playback signals of the background tones, and the tone generation signals of the phrase are supplied to a loudspeaker (11).

Abstract: A device for use in an electronic musical instrument, in which data representing musical factors such as a tempo, a pitch and a timbre are changed at each repetition of an automatic performance, to thereby automatically effect variable automatic performances. Further, data representing a chord type and a chord root are input by a character-data input device such as a ten-key pad, and thus a chord input operation is facilitated, and moreover, a complicated finger manipulation becomes unnecessary. Furthermore, data representing chord types is input by at least one of the pitch input devices, and data representing chord roots is input by at least one of the other pitch input devices, and thus a chord performance is facilitated.

Abstract: An instrument for recording and playing musical playing data comprises a pattern memory, a timing designation key for designating playing back timing of the pattern data, a sequence track for recording sequence data, and a writing device for writing the pattern data into the sequence track at the playing back timing designated with the timing designation key. The pattern data is read from the pattern memory and transferred to the place, in the sequence track, corresponding to the designated timing. The transferred note data is modified with the designated chord. The instrument further comprises a backing track storing backing data, any part of which can be also transferred to the sequence track.

Abstract: In an image reproducing apparatus, a music information reproducing unit reproduces musical information, lyrics information or still picture information from a music information recording medium on which the musical information, the lyrics information or the still picture information relating to a plurality of music pieces are recorded, and an image information reproducing unit retrieves moving picture information in a predetermined order in correspondence with respective music pieces in the music information recording medium from an image information recording medium on which moving picture information divided into a plurality of moving picture information segments is recorded, and reproducing said picture information segments.

Abstract: A music entertaining device which reproduces music instrumental sound and back chorus so that an entertainer can sing a song to the accompaniment of the reproduced music instrumental sound and the back chorus. The music instrumental data and back chorus data are separately stored in a memory device. Upon detection of a code instructing to insert back chorus during the reproduction of the music instrumental data, a computer base controller accesses the memory device in which the back chorus is stored and reproduces the back chorus identified by the code detected.

Abstract: Respecting plural accompaniment patterns belonging to a common accompaniment style, an order is predetermined in which accompaniment patterns are sequentially changed. For example, this order may be predetermined to be an order in which a change of the accompaniment patterns can accomplish a more natural change in an accompaniment tone. Data indicative of a performance state on a keyboard is compared with a predetermined reference value. Whenever a comparison condition is satisfied, change of the accompaniment patterns is effected in the predetermined order. Data related to a changed-over accompaniment pattern is read out from a memory, based on which data an automatic accompaniment tone is generated. There may be a plurality of the predetermined orders. One order may be such that the accompaniment patterns are changed to allow an automatic accompaniment tone to achieve a progressively flourishing mood and another order may be such that brings an effect opposite to that achieved by the one order.

Abstract: An automatic playing device including a memory which stores sequence data consisting of musical sound data and sequence data to control read-out of the musical sound data. A processing unit repeatedly reads out musical sound data specified by the control data included in the sequence data stored in this memory. A movement instruction switch gives instructions for movement of an accompaniment part to be played. A control device which, when an instruction for movement of a part to be played is issued by the movement instruction switch, terminates the operation to repeatedly read out musical sound data if musical sound data stored in the memory is being repeatedly read out by the processing unit. In which case, the control device moves system operation to an operation to read out the next sequence data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for studying music includes a music analysis system, which in conjunction with a proprietary storage medium, enables the user to comparatively analyze a recorded musical performance alone or in synchronization with a modifiable synthesized version of the same musical performance. The system further provides facilities for defining specific segments of the original and synthesized performances as well as means for re-orchestrating the synthesized performance, adding additional instrumental parts to the synthesized performance, changing the tempo of the synthesized performance on playback, and electronically displaying and/or printing the score of the synthesized performance. The invention further includes a proprietary storage medium containing data representative of the original musical performance, digital data representative of the synthesized performance and timing data. The invention further discloses a method for generating the data stored on the proprietary storage medium.

Abstract: In a case where a fill-in pattern is temporarily inserted during an automatic performance, not only a main pattern to which the performance pattern should be shifted but also a main pattern which has been performed immediately before are taken into account and a fill-in pattern is automatically determined in accordance with a combination of the two main patterns. In a case where an introduction pattern is inserted at the beginning of the automatic performance, an introduction pattern is automatically determined depending upon which main pattern is performed after the introduction performance. In a case where an ending performance is inserted at the end of the automatic performance, an ending pattern is automatically determined depending upon which main pattern has been performed immediately before the ending.

Abstract: In a musical accompaniment playing apparatus, a reproducing unit reproduces control information from a recording medium on which control information is recorded according to a MIDI standard, a sound source unit generates musical accompaniment information by the control information, a transducer transforms a singer's voice to voice information, a control unit controls a volume level of the musical accompaniment information according to the singer's ability, mixing unit mixes the musical accompaniment information with the voice information, and an output unit outputs the mixed information as sound.

Abstract: A motif playing apparatus comprises a ROM for storing fixed ad-lib motif data, a RAM for reading out the fixed ad-lib motif data from the ROM and temporarily storing the read ad-lib motif data, a CPU for rewriting the fixed ad-lib motif data stored in the RAM to arbitrary ad-lib motif data, and a tone generator for generating a musical tone corresponding to the ad-lib motif data stored in the RAM. The CPU executes a process of assigning the arbitrary ad-lib motif data, which has replaced the fixed ad-lib motif data stored in the RAM, to a key on a keyboard.This apparatus further has a switch to specify the length of ad-lib motif data at the time of assigning this data to the associated key.Further, the apparatus is designed to be able to synchronously generate motif data indicating a motif of an accompaniment and motif data indicating a melody motif when a multi switch is depressed.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument generates musical tones corresponding to a melody tone and a chord tone which are designated by a performer. In order to apply a specific musical effect or generate an ornament, a front percussive tone, or forefall, is automatically added to the melody tone, wherein this front percussive tone has the predetermined pitch difference with respect to the melody tone. This front percussive tone is additionally generated prior to the melody tone in the predetermined short period. Instead of this front percussive tone, it is possible to generate an additional tone which has the same tone name as any one of constituent tones within the chord tone but its tone pitch is different from that of the melody tone. When generating plural melody tones and plural additional tones, these tones are sequentially generated by a predetermined time difference in a pitch descending or ascending order.

Abstract: Plural normal pattern data, plural introduction pattern data, plural fill-in pattern data and plural ending pattern data for each of various accompaniment styles such as march, waltz and rock are stored in a memory. Relation of correspondence among these pattern data is predetermined and, at transfer from one pattern to another such as transfer from a certain introduction pattern to a normal pattern, transfer from a certain normal pattern to a fill-in pattern, transfer back from the fill-in pattern to the normal pattern or transfer from a certain normal pattern to an ending pattern, predetermined pattern data which corresponds to a pattern which has been so far performed is automatically determined and transfer to the determined pattern is automatically made. Transfer of the pattern which is automatically determined can also be changed as desired by selection by the player.

Abstract: An electrical musical instrument includes a scale designator for sequentially and automatically designating a scale on the basis of prestored data of a music piece, and a musical tone signal generator for outputting a musical tone signal including a harmonic frequency on the basis of the scale designated by said scale designator or as a fundamental frequency. A voice detector detects an external voice and the detected voice is divided by a modulator into voice signals in a plurality of frequency ranges. The musical tone signal is modulated in units of corresponding frequency ranges on the basis of the voice signals divided into the plurality of frequency ranges.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes an emphasis circuit for independently modifying the level of each musically encoded data channel of a selected automatic accompaniment pattern in response to a parameter characterizing key operation, such as key velocity or key aftertouch force. Channel level modification is effected by modifying the MIDI velocity data byte of each channel in accordance with a value selected from a respective emphasis table in response to the current value of the key operating parameter.

Abstract: An automatic performance apparatus provides a performance data memory including plural storing areas each capable of storing different performance data independently. The performance data can be selectively written in and read from each storing area. Based on the performance data read from each storing area, a musical tone signal for an automatic performance is generated independently. When the performance data memory includes two storing areas, the performance data concerning two tunes or two parts can be stored. One of two automatic performances based on the performance data can be selectively played. In addition, two automatic performances can be also player simultaneouly, wherein a predetermined delay time can be provided between two automatic performances. Further, predetermined kinds of rhythm patterns are pre-stored in a rhythm pattern memory in order to perform the desirable rhythm pattern as an accompaniment of the automatic performance.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes a first tone generator for generating a musical tone in response to each depression of key on an accompaniment keyboard and a second tone generator for generating a musical tone in accordance with the musical performance data read from the memory. In a specific mode, the player can cause the first tone generator to generate a musical tone through the accompaniment keyboard with the accompaniment being automatically played. In a mode for recording an accompaniment of a music into the memory in a step manner, a chord is detected from keys depressed on the accompaniment keyboard, and data representative of the detected chord is written into the memory together with data representative of a note-length designated by note-length selection switches. In a mode for recording an accompaniment in real time, each time keys are depressed, the chord data of the depressed keys is written into the memory together with the contents of a tempo clock counter.

Abstract: A present electronic musical instrument is applied to an electronic wind instrument and an electronic keyboard instrument. At least one piece of pitch difference data representing an arbitrary pitch difference with respect to a first pitch that is to be designated by a pitch designation section is stored in a memory section. Before or during a musical performance, the pitch difference data is selected, and an original tone having the first pitch and a coupler tone having a pitch different from the first pitch are simultaneously generated with a pitch difference corresponding to the selected pitch difference data. The timbres of the original tone and the coupler tone may be set different from each other.

Abstract: A device for correcting a timing of music playing information including a determining unit and a correcting unit, the correcting unit corrects the timing of the change of the performance of a piece of music, which is outside the range of short time data, to a timing within the range of the short time data, in response to a determination by the determining unit.

Abstract: A system for automatically determining principal tones of an accompaniment line supporting a melodic line comprises a plurality of principal tone inference engines which after principal tones in accordance with different rules of inference from one another and a priority control which controls priorities among the plurality of inference engines to determine final principal tones in the accompaniment line. Each principal tone inference engine may include a condition checker which checks to see whether musical conditions are met and a principal tone generator which generates principal tones. The priority control monitors the information supplied from the condition checkers to select final principal tones supplied from the principal tone generators. Some of the final principal tones may be dependent from the preceding principal tone while some others may be independent. There may be also be provided a storage of the structure of music which is reflected in a series of the final principal tones.

Abstract: An automatic accompaniment apparatus performs an automatic accompaniment having much variety with less storing amount of information (e.g., rhythm pattern data or pattern data). Based on the stored information, generation of tone or chord is controlled. In addition, tie expression or shifting operation is also controlled. In the shifting operation, some of constituent tones constituting the chord are sequentially generated in a shifting manner. The tie expression is applied to the constituent tones which are commonly used between preceding chord and present chord.

Abstract: A system for automatically determining principal tones of an accompaniment line supporting a melodic line comprises a plurality of principal tone inference engines which infer principal tones in accordance with different rules of inference from one another and a priority control which controls priorities among the plurality of inference engines to determine final principal tones in the accompaniment line. Each principal tone inference engine may include a condition checker which checks to see whether muscial conditions are met and a principal tone generator which generates principal tones. The priority control monitors the information supplied from the condition checkers to select final principal tones supplied from the principal tone generators. Some of the final principal tones may be dependent from the preceding principal tone while some others may be independent. There may also be provided a storage of the structure of music which is reflected in a series of the final principal tones.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument providing a key area dividing unit and a tone area changing unit divides the whole key area of a keyboard into melody key area and accompaniment key area when a diving mode is designated by a player. A tone area of tone pitch information which is generated from each key area can be arbitrarily determined or changed by a manual operation of player. In addition, several kinds of tone colors are respectively assigned to plural tone color switches so that the player can select any one of the tone colors by operating one of plural tone color switches. Based on the selected tone color and tone pitch information, a musical tone signal can be generated in each key area of keyboard.