Music – Instruments – Electrical musical tone generation
Utility Patent
2000-02-23
2001-01-02
Nappi, Robert E. (Department: 2837)
Music
Instruments
Electrical musical tone generation
C084S610000, C084S612000, C084S634000, C084S636000
Utility Patent
active
06169243
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an automatic performance apparatus for automatically playing a music piece and, more particularly, an automatic performance apparatus adapted to make a tempo of reading of condition setting data used for setting a condition of the automatic performance, faster than another tempo of reading of music sequence data, which is comparable to a musical tempo of the automatic performance, thereby accelerating the start of a note sequence of the automatic performance.
2. Description of Related Art
Automatic performance apparatuses are known, in which condition setting data used for setting the conditions of the automatic performance (for example, timbres) and music sequence data used for automatically performing a music piece are stored in a memory. The condition setting data are read from the memory at a predetermined tempo or rate in response to an automatic performance start command. The performance conditions are set on the basis of the condition setting data. Then, the music sequence data are read from the memory for carrying out the automatic performance of a desired music piece.
According to these known automatic performance apparatuses, the performance conditions are set by reading the condition setting data at a fixed tempo set for the automatic performance (for example, 120 quarter-notes per minute) and then the music sequence data are read at this tempo for effecting the automatic performance. Consequently, it takes too long for setting the performance conditions before starting of a note-on sequence of the music piece, so that a long silent period due to the condition setting is created before the automatic performance. Such a long silent period makes users feel like a lost time in the automatic performance. The silent period increases as a volume of the condition setting data increases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an automatic performance apparatus that is significantly quick in starting a note-on sequence of automatic performance of a music piece.
The inventive automatic performance apparatus comprises a memory section that stores music sequence data used for carrying out an automatic performance of a music piece, and condition setting data used for setting a condition of the automatic performance, a performance section that reads out the condition setting data from the memory section to set the condition of the automatic performance, and that reads out the music sequence data from the memory section to carry out the automatic performance under the set condition, and a control section that controls a first rate of reading of the condition setting data faster than a second rate of reading of the music sequence data, thereby accelerating the setting of the condition prior to the automatic performance.
According to the automatic performance apparatus associated with the invention, the tempo of reading the condition setting data is faster than the tempo of reading the music sequence data. Consequently, the time necessary for setting the automatic performance conditions is shortened, thereby accelerating the start of a note-on sequence of the automatic performance.
The automatic performance apparatus according to the invention may have a command section for commanding the acceleration of the tempo of reading the condition setting data. According to the command given through this command section, the tempo of reading the condition setting data may be made faster than the tempo of reading the music sequence data. This novel constitution makes short or long a preparatory duration before the start of the note-on sequence depending on whether or not the command is given through the command section.
Alternatively, the automatic performance apparatus according to the invention may have a detecting section for detecting the volume of the condition setting data. The value of the condition setting data reading tempo may be determined on the basis of the data volume detected by this detecting section. This novel constitution makes the condition setting data reading tempo faster as the volume of the condition setting data increase, thereby shortening the preparatory time before the start of the note-on of a music piece having a great volume of the condition setting data.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5571981 (1996-11-01), Miyamoto
patent: 5654517 (1997-08-01), Miyamoto
patent: 5703310 (1997-12-01), Kurakake et al.
patent: 3-239293 (1990-02-01), None
patent: 8-248959 (1995-03-01), None
Fletcher Marlon
Morrison & Foerster
Nappi Robert E.
Yamaha Corporation
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