Yamaha Corporation

Taro Shirahama

Masatsugu Okazaki

Tokio Shirakawa

Shigematsu Fujita

A sample counter in each channel performs counting operation at a given rate. Independently for each channel, the rate and an initial value for the counter are set, and start and stop of the counting operation of the counter are controlled, so that a partial portion of an original waveform corresponding to a count range from the set initial value to a count stop point is reproduced in the channel. A control section sets the initial values in individual ones of a set of channels, selected from among the channels, such that sample values at different sample positions of the original waveform are simultaneously retrieved in individual ones of the set of channels, and controls an overlap adder to add up the retrieved sample values, so that sample values of an audio waveform signal with a plurality of partial portions of the original waveform, partially overlapping each other are output.

Multifunctional audio signal generation apparatus

An electronic musical instrument includes a storage unit storing waveform data WD constituted by a plurality of sample values, the waveform data expressing an acoustic waveform of a musical sound emitted from a speaker while a rotor rotates about a rotation axis by a predetermined angle, and a reproduction unit configured to sequentially read out the sample values from the storage unit and generate a musical sound signal based on the read-out sample values, the reproduction unit being configured to change a reproduction speed of the musical sound expressed by the plurality of sample values, without changing a pitch and formant of the musical sound.

Musical sound signal generation apparatus that generates sound emulating sound emitting from a rotary speaker

Waveform data stored in an external memory are transferred from the external memory to an internal waveform memory and read out from the waveform memory to reproduce a tone. Transfer instruction is generated each time data readout from the waveform memory progresses by one page, and the transfer instruction is registered into a transfer queue. Thus, in response to the transfer instruction from the queue, the waveform data are read out on page by page from the external memory and stored into the waveform memory. The external memory also stores therein error correction code attached per page. As the waveform data are transferred from the external memory to the waveform memory, an error is detected using the error correction code, and if the error is correctable, the error is corrected. If the error is uncorrectable, volume of a tone being generated is rapidly attenuated, or a warning is issued.

Tone generation apparatus

With no interrupt to a CPU, waveform data stored in a NAND-type flash memory are read out on a page-by-page basis to supply a buffer of a waveform memory with waveform sample data. A series of waveform data are prestored in successive pages of the intermediate buffer capable of high-speed page access thereto. Page number of a page to be read out first is set, and that page is read into a buffer in advance. Before completion of readout of the first page, another page to be read out next is loaded into the buffer. After that, the page number is incremented by one each time readout of one page is completed, and the waveform sample data of the page number continue to be reproduced while being read into the buffer.

Growing community of inventors

Hamamatsu, Japan

Taro Shirahama