Abstract: The invention relates to a voice processing system capable of outputting voice prompts and background music. The volume of background music is progressively variable relative to the voice prompts or speech. The progressive variation is effected by multiplying the background music samples by a scaling factor and then adding together a current voice sample and the scaled background music sample. Accordingly, when the combined samples are output to the user the volume of the background music varies.

Abstract: An electric stringed instrument having an integral accompaniment system is proposed. The vibrations of the strings on the electric stringed instrument are detected as analog signals by a pickup device. A portion of the detected signal is extracted, has its voltage adjusted, is converted into a digital signal, and is read into a CPU as a digital signal within a range of 0-5 volts. An amplification factor of the digital signal is determined according to sound volume data included in accompaniment data stored within the accompaniment system, and the proportion of sound volume between the player's performance and an automatically generated accompaniment is adjusted by multiplying the sound volume of the player's performance, or of the accompaniment, by the amplification factor. The sound volume adjustment is effected only once and only when an automatic balancing switch provided on the instrument is depressed.

Abstract: A music composition system, comprising receiving a first harmony including a first melody, analyzing the first harmony to derive in real-time a rule relating the first melody to the first harmony, receiving a second melody, and applying the rule in real-time to the second melody to produce a second harmony relating to the second melody.

Abstract: A harmony chorus apparatus collects an original of a vocal sound performed after a main melody pattern of a song, and adds a chorus sound derived after a chorus melody pattern of the same song to the vocal sound. A memory stores a main melody data representative of the main melody pattern and a chorus melody data representative of the chorus melody pattern which is designed in harmony with the main melody pattern. A pitch difference calculator sequentially retrieves the main melody data and the chorus memory data from the memory in synchronization with progression of the song, and calculates a pitch difference between the main melody pattern and the chorus memory pattern according to the retrieved main melody data and chorus melody data. A chorus generator shifts a pitch of the collected vocal sound by the calculated pitch difference to generate the chorus sound in the form of a variation of the vocal sound.

Abstract: An arpeggiator scans key-pushing data and produces in sequence a plurality of playing data according to results of the scanning. The arpeggiator includes a rhythm pattern table having at least one step which stores therein a time interval of a rhythm, a sound generation continuing time and a sound generation strength coefficient. The arpeggio playing is performed according to the rhythm pattern table. The arpeggiator further includes a scan mode table having at least one step which stores one of a plurality of scan functions. The key-pushing data is scanned by sequentially referring to the stored scan function so as to produce playing data based on which the arpeggio playing is performed. The arpeggiator has a mode where the key-pushing data is erased based on key-releasing data and another mode where erasure of the key-pushing data is prohibited based on given hold data.

Abstract: In an audio signal processor, an input device inputs a polyphonic audio signal containing a plurality of melodic parts which constitute a music composition. A detecting device detects a particular one of the melodic parts contained in the input polyphonic audio signal. An extracting device extracts the detected melodic part from the input polyphonic audio signal. A harmony generating device shifts a pitch of the extracted melodic part to generate a harmony audio signal representative of an additional harmony part. An output device mixes the generated harmony audio signal to the input polyphonic audio signal so as to sound the music composition which contains the additional harmony part derived from the particular one of the melodic parts.

Abstract: An audio block sequence compiler for selecting a plurality of audio blocks to generate a sequence having a duration corresponding to user-prescribed criteria. In a preferred embodiment, a user chooses an audio, e.g., a musical, segment from a predefined audio library and prescribes the duration of an audio sequence. Prior to depositing each musical segment in the library, the musical selection is divided into audio blocks that are identified in a corresponding encoding table with characteristics including (1) duration, (2) suitability for being used as a beginning or ending of an audio sequence, and (3) musical compatibility with each audio block. Using this characteristic table and the user-prescribed criteria, i.e., duration, the audio block sequence compiler generates a plurality of audio sequences satisfying the user-prescribed criteria which can be reviewed, e.g., played, and/or saved for future use.

Abstract: A karaoke device includes a song memory unit for storing digital audio data therein; a processing unit operable to retrieve the digital audio data from the song memory unit; an audio synthesizer unit for receiving the digital audio data and for generating a stereophonic digital audio output corresponding to the digital audio data; a digital-to-analog converting unit converting the digital audio output into an analog audio signal and adapted to be connected electrically to an external microphone unit so as to receive an external voice signal therefrom, the converting unit mixing the analog audio signal and the external voice signal and generating a mixed audio signal output; and an audio-visual signal transmitting unit including an image memory unit for storing predetermined digital video data and character data therein, control means for receiving lyrics data from the processing unit and the digital video data from the image memory unit, the control means being operable to convert the digital video data to an

Abstract: Performance data memory may be a conventional automatic performance memory which store plural kinds of automatic performance data such as song data for achieving an automatic melody performance and pattern data for achieving an automatic accompaniment. Designation information is set optionally which designates at least part of desired automatic performance data. Further, a custom performance data memory is provided for storing the designation information in combination in desired order. The designation information is sequentially read out from the custom performance data memory, and at least part of the automatic performance data designated by the designation information is read out from the performance data memory. Thus, an automatic performance in which at least parts of plural sets of the automatic performance data are sequentially combined is provided as a custom performance.

Abstract: In a karaoke apparatus, a memory device stores song data containing at least accompaniment information representative of a karaoke accompaniment of a desired song and vocal information representative of a model singing voice of the song performed by a model singer. A producing device processes the stored accompaniment information to produce the karaoke accompaniment. An input device collects an actual singing voice performed in parallel to the karaoke accompaniment by a karaoke player. A reading device reads out the vocal information from the memory device in parallel to the karaoke accompaniment. A modifying device modifies at least a volume and a pitch of the model singing voice represented by the read vocal information according to an actual volume and an actual pitch of the collected actual singing voice. An output device sounds the modified model singing voice in place of the collected actual singing voice and in parallel to the karaoke accompaniment.

Abstract: A performance information analyzer wherein one of tone pitch information data applied thereto in response to progress of performance of a musical tune is analyzed into one of plural performance parts on a basis of a difference in tone pitch between the one of the tone pitch information data and a reference tone pitch information data previously assigned to a predetermined part of the plural performance parts during prior analysis of the tone pitch information and the other tone pitch information data are analyzed into the other performance parts on a basis of a difference in tone pitch between the analyzed tone pitch information data and each of the other tone pitch information data.

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 can provide an accompaniment for a selectable amount of time even if the soloist intentionally or unintentionally departs from the score.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for processing an audio signal conveying a musical passage so as to reveal the sequence of musical chords contained within that passage. The signal is amplified, filtered, and converted to digital data, which are then processed using digital filters to determine in real time the amplitude of every note within a predetermined note range. The most prominent notes are compared to chord patterns to determine which, if any, chord is implied, and the chord name is then displayed to the user. Further provided is a means for detecting and correcting for any deviation of the pitches of the notes in the passage from their standard frequencies.

Abstract: Melody and chord information of a music piece are supplied. On the basis of the chord information, one or more possible musical keys are nominated. Then, on the basis of the melody information, it is judged in a collating manner whether it is proper to determine any of the possible musical keys as a musical key of the music piece. For instance, the possible musical keys are nominated on the basis of detection of a dominant motion, since the dominant motion in a chord progression strongly suggests specific musical keys. For instance, of the nominated possible musical keys, those which do not contain all of the melody notes as their scale note are excluded, and a single musical key which contains all of the melody notes as its scale note is determined as the musical key of the music piece. With such arrangements, it is allowed to make a musical key determination which is very reasonable from a musical point of view.

Abstract: Melody note data and chord data are inputted to an automatic arrangement apparatus. When it is detected that a melody note is a nonharmonic note, the melody note is converted into a harmonic note, and an additional note (e.g., a countermelody note) is generated based on the converted harmonic note. An electronic musical instrument comprises such an automatic arrangement apparatus. Melody note data and chord data are inputted to the instrument according to a performance of a player. When it is detected that a melody note is a nonharmonic note, the melody note is converted into a harmonic note, an additional note is determined based on the converted harmonic note, and the additional note is produced as a tone in real time simultaneously with a performance tone.

Abstract: A provisional key is determined on the basis of a relatively small amount of performance information (for instance, information on one chord), while a definite key is determined on the basis of a relatively large amount of performance information (for instance, information on progression of plural chords). If a definite key has been determined, an automatic accompaniment tone is controlled on the basis of the determined definite key, but, if no definite key has been determined, an automatic accompaniment tone is controlled on the basis of the provisional key. The definite key based control is performed in a different manner from the provisional key based control. The definite key based control can achieve control of higher musical quality (for instance, tension notes can be used in a daring manner), but such a daring control is refrained in the provisional key based control.

Abstract: Electronic musical instruments in which if a chord is specified for a melody, a scale suitable for the chord function can automatically be selected for the specified chord type to play the melody. The electronic musical instruments have means selecting a scale corresponding to a chord when a chord progression and a key are specified For a melody pattern, and pitch shift means which performs transposition of each tone according to the chord thereby to modify the pitch so as to accord with the scale.

Abstract: There are disclosed an apparatus adapted to generate musical information of a synthetic sound in accordance with the MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) standard to carry out PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) recording of a natural effect sound including natural sound and/or a human voice such as back chorus to mix them to generate musical accompaniment, thus to mix a voice of singing sung with the musical accompaniment, and a recording medium used for such an apparatus.

Abstract: A melody supplement control apparatus is disclosed wherein supplementary tones for melody tones are produced according to predetermined rules, and the degree of the addition of the aforesaid supplementary tones to the aforesaid melody tones is determined based on the pitch of the said supplementary tones.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of a dual filter duet-sound generating method, by allowing an electronic musical instrument with duet-note capability to simultaneously output a harmonious chord in an instrument voice different from that of the depressed melody keyboard note, each duet note being respectively output in different instrument's voice. The electronic musical instrument for carrying out the invention includes: a microputer 11 for control, a sound-generator IC 21 for generating a duet-sound, a plurality of instrument voice filters, a plurality of buffers connected between the sound-generator and the instrument voice filters, a plurality of inventers for control, a plurality of switches at the user interface, a musical keyboard, amplifiers, and a speaker to produce musical sounds.

Abstract: A microprocessor-based electronic guitar generates a music signal for driving an integral speaker. The electronic guitar includes a housing defining a neck and a body, a plurality of manually actuatable strings secured to the body, and a plurality of pushbuttons distributed along the neck, the strings and pushbuttons being operable by the player for controlling the composition of the music signal generated by the microprocessor. The electronic guitar is playable in a chord mode wherein the microprocessor, upon striking the strings, generates a music signal corresponding to chord sounds, a lead mode wherein the microprocessor, upon striking the strings, generates a music signal corresponding to individual notes, and an automatic mode wherein the microprocessor, upon striking the strings, generates a predetermined chord progression defining a stored melody.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electronic keyboard system capable of producing musical tones on the basis of a sequence of pieces of musical data information and comprising: (a) memory for storing the pieces of musical data information grouped by time durations with respect to a beginning of a performance; (b) modification range defining portion for specifying a head position and a terminational position in the pieces of musical data information; (c) setting portion for establishing a variation; (d) modifying portion for modifying each first musical data information between the head position and the terminational position on the basis of the variation.

Abstract: The practice of this invention enables a musician to augment a main "lead voice" performance by extemporaneously deriving from particularly selected notes of the main performance a separate synthesized accompaniment in which particularly selected notes may be controllably time-extended (e.g. sustained) singly or in a group, in effect "detached" from the lead voice. The first of a pair of low profile footswitches enables/cancels accompaniment triggering; the second enables/cancels accompaniment time-extension. Switch logic is implemented such that the first switch can never override the second switch to cancel time-extension; thus a musician operating the switches interactively, typically one with each foot, is enabled, through strategic timing relative to the lead notes, to trigger accompaniment notes from particularly selected lead notes, to controllably time-extend particularly selected accompaniment notes, and to accumulate groups of such time-extended accompaniment notes.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having automatic bass chord accompaniment performance in which bass tones are generated in different manners depending on the state of the keyboards of the device. Chord and bass notes are selected using lower and pedal keyboards, respectively. The chord type and root note are identified from the depressed keys of the keyboards. The bass tone is generated with consideration of whether the identified root note coincides with the selected bass note. In the situation where the root note coincides with the bass note, a bass tone is generated based on a stored predetermined bass pattern corresponding to the particular chord type and root note identified. In the situation where the root note does not coincide with the bass note, or if a chord type has not been identified, a bass tone is generated based on the depressed bass note key.