JP2000221978A - Waveform playback device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] The present invention provides a series of audio waveforms (phrases).
A waveform reproducing apparatus that reproduces waveform data expressing
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily confirm musical harmony between phrases reproduced by a waveform reproducing apparatus by test pronunciation. A storage means for storing, as phrase data, a set of waveform data representing a series of audio waveforms and position data capable of designating a start position of a test tone in the audio waveform represented by the waveform data, and the waveform data. Playback means for playing back audio to generate an audio signal;
Test sounding instructing means for instructing test sounding of waveform data, and the reproducing means for starting reproduction of the waveform data from a test sounding start position indicated by the position data in response to a test sounding instruction from the test sounding instructing means. And control means for controlling the

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a waveform reproducing apparatus for reproducing waveform data representing a series of audio waveforms (phrases).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a waveform reproducing apparatus which stores waveform data obtained by sampling musical tones or human voices played and the like and reproduces the waveform data in a later performance is used in an electronic musical instrument. It is supposed to be.

In such an electronic musical instrument, there is a case where the stored waveform data is desired to be test-produced, for example, for a trial listening for confirming the tone color and effect of a musical tone. In this case, conventionally, the stored waveform data is simply reproduced in order from the head position.

[0004]

In many cases, the waveform data reproduced by such an electronic musical instrument is obtained by playing a series of phrases. In such a case, the purpose of test-pronunciation of the phrase is not only to check the tone and effect of the phrase, but also that the phrase to be reproduced harmonizes well with other tones played simultaneously with the phrase. It is also necessary to confirm whether or not. In particular, when the electronic musical instrument can simultaneously produce a plurality of phrases, it is necessary to confirm in advance that the plurality of phrases are musically in harmony with each other. In order to confirm such harmony, the performance pattern (rhythm pattern) of each phrase to be test-pronounced
It is necessary to confirm that the conditions are correct.

[0005] However, the test tone generation function in the conventional waveform reproducing apparatus is a simple one in which the waveform data is always pronounced in order from the head position. When the phrases starting from the middle of the phrase were played at the same time, the rhythm patterns of the phrases became out of alignment, the rhythm was disturbed, and it was difficult to check the harmony of the phrases.

[0006] Also, when test-pronunciation of one phrase, in order to confirm whether the phrase is in harmony with another phrase, the listener listens to the melody or the like of the other phrase in his / her head. In this test, the user pronounces a phrase to be tested and checks whether the phrase is in harmony. It is difficult to match the rhythm pattern with other phrases floating in my head.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to easily confirm the musical harmony between phrases reproduced by a waveform reproducing apparatus by test pronunciation.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a waveform reproducing apparatus according to the present invention comprises, as a first form, waveform data representing a series of audio waveforms and the waveform data representing the audio data. Storage means for storing, as phrase data, a set of position data capable of designating a start position of a test sound in an audio waveform to be reproduced, reproduction means for reproducing the waveform data to generate an audio signal, and test sound generation of the waveform data And a control means for controlling the reproducing means to start reproduction of the waveform data from a test sounding start position indicated by the position data in response to a test sounding instruction from the test sounding instructing means. It is provided with. According to this waveform reproducing apparatus, a test tone can be started from a desired position in the waveform data. For example, by starting a test tone from the first beat of one measure, a performance pattern (rhythm pattern) of the waveform data is obtained. Can be easily confirmed in accordance with the musical rhythm, and thus, for example, it is possible to easily confirm the musical harmony with other phrases assumed by the listener in the mind.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waveform reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the storage means stores a plurality of types of phrase data. The controller reproduces the waveform data of a plurality of types of phrase data simultaneously, and controls the reproducing unit to reproduce the plurality of types of waveform data from the test sounding start position indicated by the position data corresponding to each of the plurality of types of phrase data. It is configured so that According to this waveform reproducing apparatus, for waveform data of a plurality of phrases,
Since each waveform data can start a test tone from a desired position, for example, any phrase starts a test tone from the first beat of the first measure of the waveform data,
Each phrase can be reproduced with the performance pattern (rhythm pattern) of the waveform data matched with each other, so that the musical harmony between the phrases to be reproduced can be easily confirmed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waveform reproducing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, further comprising loop reproduction instructing means for instructing loop reproduction, and a phrase stored in the storage means. The data further includes section data that can specify an arbitrary section in the waveform data,
The control means is configured to control the reproduction means so as to repeatedly reproduce a section in the waveform data indicated by the section data when a loop reproduction instruction is issued by the loop reproduction instruction means. is there. According to this waveform reproducing apparatus, when one phrase is generated by the test sound generation, the waveform data of the desired section can be repeatedly generated for the waveform data. The performance pattern (rhythm pattern) of the waveform data can be easily confirmed. Also, if there are multiple phrases pronounced in the test pronunciation,
Since the waveform data of a desired section of each waveform data can be repeatedly sounded for the plurality of waveform data, for example, the first beat to the end of the first measure of the waveform data of each phrase can be repeatedly sounded, As a result, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not it matches the performance pattern of the waveform data of another phrase.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waveform reproducing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the reproduction tempo for reproducing the waveform data is different from the original tempo of the waveform data itself. A playback tempo instructing means for instructing the playback tempo, wherein the playback means includes a time axis compression / expansion means for generating an audio signal obtained by time axis compression / expansion of the waveform data,
A plurality of types of waveform data of phrase data are simultaneously reproduced at the same specified reproduction tempo. According to this waveform reproducing apparatus, a test tone can be generated for the waveform data of a plurality of phrases in accordance with a desired reproduction tempo. Therefore, even if the original tempos of the respective waveform data are different from each other, these phrase data can be reproduced. It is possible to easily confirm whether the performance patterns (rhythm patterns) match each other.

Further, the recording medium according to the present invention comprises a computer-readable recording medium in which a program for causing a computer to function as each means in the waveform reproducing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects is recorded.

The waveform data may be a time series of sample value data representing an audio waveform, or may be obtained by analyzing an audio waveform such as a time series of frequency information and amplitude information by Fourier transform. Waveform data.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an electronic musical instrument equipped with a waveform reproducing apparatus as one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a CPU 1 is a central processing unit. This CPU 1
The overall control of the apparatus according to the embodiment is performed according to the control program stored in the OM 4. Control to transfer the waveform data to the waveform RAM 5 via the DSP 2, M
Input MIDI signal via IDI interface 9 /
Performs output control.

The DSP 2 is a digital signal processor that reproduces waveform data stored in the waveform RAM 5, and includes functions for controlling tone color and effects in addition to a time axis compression / expansion function and a reproduction tempo adjustment function. It has. The processing program of the DSP 2 is stored in the ROM 4 and set inside the DSP 2 via the CPU 1.

The RAM 3 is a random access memory and is used as a work memory of the CPU 1.
The ROM 4 is a read-only memory, and the CPU 1
And a DSP2 program and various parameters are stored.

The hard disk device 7 is a large-capacity storage device, and stores a large number of phrase data. FIG. 5 shows the data structure of the phrase data stored in the hard disk device 7. The phrase data includes PCM waveform data composed of time series of sample value data (amplitude value data subjected to pulse code modulation (PCM)) obtained by sampling a series of audio waveforms, and includes various types of additional information. This waveform data is stored in a sequential address area at a rate of one sample value data per address. The additional information includes a phrase start address, a phrase end address, a loop start address, a loop end address, an original tempo, and the like. Here, the phrase start address is the start address of the waveform data (the start position of the phrase), the phrase end address is the end address of the waveform data (the end position of the phrase), and the loop start address is the repetition in the waveform data. This is the address of the head position of the loop section to be reproduced, and the loop end address is the address of the tail position of the loop section. In this embodiment, the above-mentioned loop start address and loop end address are set at the start position and end position of the bar, respectively.

The waveform RAM 5 is a memory for storing the above-mentioned waveform data and supplying the same to the DSP 2 for reproduction. The waveform RAM 5 stores the waveform data in the phrase data selected from a large number of phrase data stored in the hard disk device 7. The data is transferred and stored.

The operator group 6 comprises various operators, for example, a test sounding operator 61, a mode selection operator 62, a parameter setting operator 63, a reproduction tempo switching operator 64, a module selection operation as shown in FIG. A control element 65, a loop control element 66, etc., will be described later in detail.

The D / A converter 8 converts a digital waveform signal generated by the DSP 2 into an analog signal, and outputs it. The MIDI interface 9 is an interface for inputting / outputting MIDI data from an external keyboard or the like. The display means 10 is a display such as an LCD for displaying a setting screen of various modes and parameters by operating the operator group 6 and the set values thereof.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration realized by software processing in the DSP 2 in the form of a functional block diagram. In FIG. 2, each waveform data in the four phrase data is stored in a waveform data area 5 in a waveform RAM 5.
To 5 respectively. In these waveform data, it is assumed that the original tempo of each phrase is different. Also, the DSP2 part includes four tone generating means 20 to 20 and these tone generating means 20.
20 to a combining means 21 for adding and combining the respective outputs of.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the musical sound generating means 20 in more detail. The tone generating means 20 to 20 all have the same functional block configuration, and FIG. 4 shows only one of them. The time axis compression / expansion means 205 in the figure is a waveform RAM 5
A digitally-reproduced waveform signal is generated and output by compressing / expanding the waveform data stored in a time axis, and the waveform data can be reproduced without changing the pitch when compressing / expanding the time axis. Can be adopted.

A reproduction start address register 201, a reproduction end address register 202, a loop start address register 203, and a loop end address register 204 are connected to the time axis compression / expansion means 205. In the reproduction start address register 201 and the reproduction end address register 202, the address of the reproduction start position and the address of the reproduction end when reproducing the waveform data are set, respectively, and the loop start address register 203 and the loop end address register 204 are set. The address of the start position and the address of the end position of the section for loop reproduction in the waveform data are respectively set. These addresses are added as additional information to the phrase data read from the hard disk device 7. Address information is set.

The original tempo register 206, reproduction tempo register 207, changeover switch register 20
In the original tempo register 206, the original tempo to which the waveform data transferred to the RAM 5 belongs is set, and in the reproduction tempo register 207, the reproduction tempo set by the parameter setting operator 63 described later is set. The changeover switch register 208 stores a changeover state “0” of a reproduction tempo changeover control 64 described later.
“1” is set. Original tempo register 206
The original tempo and the reproduction tempo of the reproduction tempo register 207 are input to the inputs “0” and “1” of the selector switch 209, respectively. This selector switch 20
Numeral 9 selects one of the inputs “0” and “1” according to the data of the changeover switch register 208, and the selected output is input to the divider 210. Divider 2
The original tempo of the original tempo register 206 is also input to 10, and the original tempo is divided by the switching output of the switch 209 to obtain a tempo ratio to the original tempo and supply it to the time axis compression / expansion means 205. . Time axis compression / expansion means 205
Reproduces the waveform data read from the waveform RAM 5 based on the tempo ratio by adjusting the tempo. The reason why the reproduction tempo register 207 is provided for each of the tone generation means 20 to 20 is that the tone generation means 20 to 20 are set in the reproduction tempo register 207 in the "normal reproduction mode". This is to enable playback at different playback tempos.

Next, FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of the operator group 6 and the display means 10 on the panel surface of the apparatus of this embodiment.
In FIG. 3, a display unit 10 is a display for displaying a value set by each operation element of the operation element group 6 described below, a setting screen, and the like.

The mode control 62 is in the "normal reproduction mode".
This is an operation element for selecting three operation modes of a "test sound generation setting mode" and a "test sound generation mode", and is composed of a button switch. Each time the mode operation element 62 is pressed, the three operation modes are sequentially changed. And the corresponding screen display is displayed on the display means 10. The role of each operation mode is as follows.

"Normal playback mode" In response to a MIDI signal input via the MIDI interface 9 of FIG.
This is an operation mode in which the DSP 2 reproduces the waveform data in the waveform RAM 5. Since the operation in the normal reproduction mode is a conventional technique, a detailed description is omitted here.

"Test sound generation setting mode" This is an operation mode for setting parameters and the like necessary for test sound generation, in which the sound generation mode (for example, the type and tempo of the waveform data) of the reproduced waveform data is set. This “test sound generation setting mode” is realized by processing in the CPU 1. The details will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

This is an operation mode in which a test tone for reproducing waveform data as a test tone in the tone generation mode set in the "test tone generation mode" and the "test tone generation setting mode" is performed.
This "test tone generation mode" is also realized by processing in the CPU 1, and details thereof will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The test sounding manipulator 61 has a test sounding O
This is an operator for instructing N (sound generation) / OFF (stop), which is composed of a button switch. In the "test sound generation mode", the test sound generation operator 61 is operated to generate / stop a test sound. Control.

The module selection operator 65 is an operator for selecting a tone generating means in the DSP 2 for reproducing waveform data in the "normal reproduction mode" and the "test tone generation mode". 65 to 65, each of which corresponds to the musical tone generating means 20 to 20, and when turned on, the corresponding musical tone generating means (module) can be selected for reproduction. That is, the test sound (waveform data) can be set by operating the module selection operator 65.

The parameter setting operator 63 is an operator for setting various parameters and the like in the "test sound generation setting mode" and the like, and includes two cursor keys 631 and a dial 632. By operating the cursor key 631, the screen of the display unit 10 is returned to the previous screen or advanced to the next screen by operating the cursor key 631, and the type of the parameter to be set is selected. These parameters include, for example, the playback tempo and the type of phrase data. The dial 632 is used to continuously change the value of the parameter such as the reproduction tempo displayed on the display means 10 and set it to a desired value.

The playback tempo switching operator 64 is used to select the selected tone generating means 20 in the "test tone generation setting mode".
20 to 20 (modules 1 to 4) are controls for designating whether the test sound generated in the modules 1 to 4 is reproduced at the original tempo or reproduced at the set reproduction tempo. Tempo, OF
F allows you to specify the original tempo. ON (= 1) / OFF (=
The data of 0) is set in the changeover switch register 208 described above.

The loop operation element 66 is an operation element for setting whether or not the loop section in the waveform data is reproduced in a loop. The loop operation element 66 is constituted by a button switch. It is specified that it is OFF and sounds without looping. In the "test sounding mode", the former becomes the "loop sounding mode" and the latter becomes the "one-shot sounding mode" according to the setting state of the loop operator 66.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure performed by the CPU 1 in the “test sound generation setting mode”, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure performed by the CPU 1 in the “test sound generation mode”.

First, the "test sound generation setting mode" is selected by the mode operator 62. This starts the processing flow shown in FIG. First, a "playback tempo setting" screen is displayed on the display means 10, and
A playback tempo commonly used for the modules 20 (modules 1 to 4) can be set (step S1). In this case, the playback tempo item is displayed on the screen as a parameter,
The value of the reproduction tempo can be set to any value by operating the dial 632. The value of the reproduction tempo set in the "setting of reproduction tempo" process is transferred to the reproduction tempo register 207 of each of the musical sound generation means 20 to 20 of the DSP 2, and is set. Therefore, in the "test tone generation mode", when "reproduction tempo" is selected by the reproduction tempo switching operator 64, each of the tone generation means 20 to 20 is selected.
Have the same playback tempo. In the "normal reproduction mode", each of the tone generating means 20 to 20 can reproduce the waveform data according to the reproduction tempo separately set in its own reproduction tempo register 207.

When the "setting of the reproduction tempo" is completed, the operation state of the cursor key 631 is detected (step S2). When the shift to the next screen is instructed by the cursor key 631, a "phrase data setting" screen is displayed on the display means 10, and the tone generation means 20 to 20 used for test sound generation, that is, the test sound is selected and set. (Step S3). In the "phrase data setting" process, the phrase data stored in the hard disk device 7 is displayed on the display means 10, and the phrase data to be test-produced is selected by the dial 632. Select

More specifically, for example, when the module 1 (musical sound generating means 20) is selected by using the module selection operator 65 and the phrase data 1 is selected by the dial 632, the module 1 is stored in the storage area 5 of the waveform RAM 5 of the module 1. The waveform data of the phrase data is set, the “loop start address” in the additional information of the phrase data 1 is stored in the reproduction start address register 201, the “phrase end address” is stored in the reproduction end address register 202,
The “loop start address” is set in the loop start address register 203, the “loop end address” is set in the loop end address register 204, and the “original tempo” is set in the original tempo register 206. Therefore, in the test tone generation, the reproduction of the waveform data is started from the address set in the reproduction start address register 201, that is, the position of the "loop start address".
When the operation mode is the "normal reproduction mode", the "phrase start address" is set in the reproduction start address register 201, and thus the reproduction of the waveform data is started from the beginning of the phrase.

The above selection setting operation is performed by another tone generating means 2
This is also performed for 0 to 20 (modules 2 to 4). When the "phrase data setting" process is completed, the operation state of the cursor key 631 is detected (step S4).
When the transition to the previous screen is instructed by the cursor key 631, the "setting of reproduction tempo" screen is displayed on the display means 10, and the above-described step S1 is repeated.

When a transition to the next screen is instructed by the cursor key 631, the display means 10 displays "set tempo".
A screen is displayed, and it is determined whether the tempo of the test sound to be reproduced by each of the tone generating means 20 to 20 (modules 1 to 4) is the “original tempo” in the phrase data or the set “reproduction tempo”. Playback tempo switching operator 64
Select and set with ON / OFF. For example, if the tone generation means 20 (module 1) is set to reproduce at the original tempo, "0" is stored in the changeover register 208 of the tone generation means 20, whereby the selector switch 209 sets the original tempo register 20
It is switched to select the data on the sixth side. On the other hand, when the reproduction is set to be performed at the set reproduction tempo, the selector switch 209 is switched to select data on the reproduction tempo register 207 side.

Thus, when it is preferable that the tempos of a plurality of test sounds (waveform data) to be used for test sound generation are all the same, the tempo of each test sound is the original tempo after the timing of the start of the test. It is possible to appropriately select a case where it is better to reproduce the sound, and to make it possible to meet various demands for the sound mode of the stet sound.

When the "tempo setting" process is completed,
By selecting the next screen with the cursor key 631, the processing of the "test sound generation setting mode" is completed. When the previous screen is selected, the process returns to step S3 to repeat the "phrase data setting" process.

Next, the mode is switched to the "test sounding mode" by the mode operator 62. Thus, the test sound (waveform data) is generated in the sound generation mode set in the “test sound generation setting mode”. In this test tone generation process, DSP2
The tone generation means 20 to 20 start the sounding process according to the sounding mode and the sounding start instruction from the CPU 1 and stop the sounding process according to the sounding stop instruction. As described above, the instruction to start / stop sounding is given by the test sounding operator 61.

In FIG. 7, when a test tone is instructed (ON) by the test tone operator 61 (step S1).
1), the CPU 1 is provided with the tone generation means 20 to 20 of the DSP 2
Is instructed to start test sound generation (step S1).
2). As a result, the musical sound generating means 20 to 20 generate sound in accordance with the set register and the waveform data stored in the waveform RAM 5. On the other hand, when the test sounding operator 61 stops sounding (OFF) (step S1).
3), the CPU 1 instructs the tone generation means 20 to 20 to stop sound generation (step S14). As a result, the tone generating means 20 to 20 stop generating the waveform data.

In the test tone generation by each of the tone generating means 20 to 20, the loop start address is set as the reproduction start position of the test tone in the reproduction start address register 201 in the "test tone generation setting mode". Test sound generation starts from the address. Since the loop start address is at the beginning of the bar of each phrase as described above, all of the phrases to be pronounced by the musical tone generating means 20 to 20 are to be started at the beginning of the bar. Performance patterns (rhythm patterns) match, and it is easy to check whether or not the phrases are in harmony.

FIG. 8 shows the relationship between each address of the additional information in the waveform data of each phrase data. Waveform data 1 is an example in which a phrase starts from the middle of a measure. A phrase start address is at the beginning, a loop start address is at the beginning of one measure after it, and a loop end address is at an end point of measure. With these, a loop section is set, and finally the end position of the phrase is indicated by the phrase end address.

Waveform data 2 is an example of an after-phrase, in which a phrase starts with a weak beat before the beginning (the strongest beat) of one measure, has a phrase start address at the beginning, and one measure after it. Has a loop start address at the beginning and a loop end address at the end point of a bar, and a loop section is set by these. Finally, the phrase end address indicates the end position of the phrase.

The waveform data 3 is an example in which a phrase starts from the beginning of one measure, and has a phrase start address at the beginning. The loop start address coincides with the phrase start address, and a loop section is set with the loop end address of the end point of one bar after the phrase start address. That is, the first measure of the phrase is a loop section.
Finally, the end position of the phrase is indicated by the phrase end address.

The waveform data 4 is an example in which a phrase starts from the beginning of one measure, and has a phrase start address at the beginning. There is a loop start address at the end position of the first measure (the start position of the second measure), and a loop section is set with the loop end address of the end position of the two measures thereafter. That is, the second bar of the phrase is a loop section. Finally, the end position of the phrase is indicated by the phrase end address.

In the "test tone generation mode", since all of these waveform data start to be emitted from the position of the loop start address, the tone is emitted from the beginning of the bar of all the waveform data.

When the musical tone generating means 20 to 20 reproduce the waveform data in the "test tone generation mode", when the "original tempo" is selected by the reproduction tempo switching operator 64, the tempo of each waveform data has the same value. Playback is performed at each original tempo, and when "playback tempo" is selected, each tone generation means 20-20
In both cases, re-election is performed at the same “playback tempo” set in the “test sound generation setting mode”.

At the time of the above test sound generation, sound is generated in the next "loop sound generation mode" or "one-shot sound generation mode" according to the state set by the loop operator 66.

In the case of the "loop sound generation mode", sound generation of waveform data is started from the position of the reproduction start address register 201 (in this embodiment, the loop start address), and the loop start address and the loop end address of the loop start address register 203 are set. The loop section indicated by the loop end address of the register 204 is repeatedly reproduced. The length of this loop section is in bar units.

In the case of "one-shot sound generation", sound generation starts from the address of the reproduction start address register 201 (in this embodiment, the loop start address), and the address (phrase) of the reproduction end address register 202 regardless of the existence of the loop section. The sound is generated only once to the position of (end address).

In carrying out the present invention, various modifications are possible. For example, the waveform data used in this embodiment is
Instead of sampling and recording musical sounds and human voices actually played, waveform data edited after sampling and recording may be used, or waveform data artificially created by a synthesizer or the like may be used.

In the above embodiment, the address of the waveform data is used as the position information on the time axis of the waveform data and the loop section information. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be information. For example, the waveform data is waveform data of a plurality of measures, and is provided with position information for each bar break (a position corresponding to the timing of the beginning of a measure). It may be position information or section information.

In the above embodiments, the case where the present invention is realized by a dedicated hardware device such as an electronic musical instrument has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a general personal computer or the like may be implemented by using the above-described flowcharts. It can also be realized by installing a program for functioning as a function realizing means corresponding to the above in a personal computer or the like, and connecting a MIDI device or an audio system to the personal computer.
In this case, the program is stored in various computer-readable recording media, for example, a compact disk (C
D), a floppy disk (FD), a magnetic tape, an optical disk, and other recording media for sale.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily confirm the performance pattern of the waveform data of a phrase and the musical harmony with the performance pattern of another phrase.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall hardware configuration of an electronic musical instrument equipped with a waveform reproducing apparatus as one embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional block configuration of a peripheral portion of a DSP 2 in the embodiment device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement state of a display unit and an operation unit group on an operation panel in the embodiment device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a detailed functional block configuration of a musical sound generation unit in the DSP 2 of the embodiment device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data configuration of phrase data stored in a hard disk device of the embodiment device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a “test sound generation setting mode” process performed by a CPU of the embodiment device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a “test sounding mode” process performed by a CPU of the embodiment device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between various waveform data and various addresses in additional information according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2 DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 3 RAM (Random Access Memory) 4 ROM (Read Only Memory) 5 Waveform RAM 6 Operator Group 7 Hard Disk Drive 8 D / A Converter 9 MIDI Interface 10 display means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F-term (reference)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for storing, as phrase data, a set of waveform data representing a series of audio waveforms and position data capable of designating a start position of a test sound in an audio waveform represented by the waveform data. Reproducing means for reproducing waveform data to generate an audio signal; test sounding instruction means for instructing test sounding of the waveform data; and test sounding indicated by the position data in response to a test sounding instruction from the test sounding instruction means. Control means for controlling the reproducing means so as to start reproducing the waveform data from a start position. 2. The storage means stores a plurality of types of phrase data, the reproducing means simultaneously reproduces the waveform data of the plural types of phrase data, and the control means reproduces the plural types of waveform data. 2. A waveform reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reproducing means is controlled so as to reproduce from a test tone generation start position indicated by said position data corresponding to each. 3. A loop reproduction instructing means for instructing loop reproduction, wherein the phrase data in the storage means further includes section data capable of designating an arbitrary section in the waveform data, and the control means includes a loop reproduction instructing means. 3. The waveform reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a loop reproduction instruction is issued, the reproducing means is controlled so as to repeatedly reproduce a section in the waveform data indicated by the section data. 4. A reproduction tempo instructing means for instructing a reproduction tempo for reproducing the waveform data separately from a tempo originally contained in the waveform data itself, wherein the reproduction means converts the waveform data into a time corresponding to the reproduction tempo. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising time axis compression / expansion means for generating an axis-compressed / expanded audio signal, wherein a plurality of types of waveform data of phrase data are simultaneously reproduced at the same designated reproduction tempo. Waveform reproduction device. 5. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for causing a computer to function as each means in the waveform reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 is recorded.