Electronic musical instrument having a ryhthm performance function

Abstract

An electronic musical instrument having a rhythm performance function includes a first memory for pre-storing plural rhythm tone kinds, rhythm selecting switches each capable of designating one of said rhythm tone kinds and a rhythm tone generator having plural channels. The selected rhythm tone kind is assigned to each channel of the rhythm tone generator. A rhythm tone corresponding to the selected rhythm tone kind is generated by each channel so that continuous rhythm tones will be generated by plural channels based on time division system. In addition, before playing a rhythm performance, rhythm patterns can be arbitrarily programmed and then stored into a second memory by operating the rhythm selecting switches and other switches corresponding to the predetermined rhythm tones of plural musical instruments. Further, the roll of rhythm tones can be continuously generated, wherein volume information stored in the first memory is determined such that tone volume of the roll of rhythm tones is set smaller than that of the normal rhythm tones.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An electronic musical instrument having a rhythm performance function, comprising: 
       (a) tone source means having plural rhythm tone source channels, said tone source means storing plural rhythm tone color kinds, each of which can be designated by a player, said tone source means thereby generating a rhythm tone color kind from each rhythm tone source channel;  
       (b) generating means for generating rhythm tone color kind designating information by which at least one rhythm tone color kind to be performed is designated at each one of plural tone-generation timings; and  
       (c) assigning means for assigning said rhythm tone color kind designating information to one of said plural rhythm tone source channels so that a desired rhythm tone color kind is designated in an assigned rhythm tone source channel each time said generating means generates said rhythm tone color kind designating information, wherein when all of said plural rhythm tone source channels are assigned rhythm tone color kind designation information and a new rhythm tone color kind designation information requires assigning, said assigning means further detects a fading state of each rhythm tone signal and assigns said new rhythm tone color kind designation information to one of said plural rhythm tone source channels based on results of said detection.  
     
     
       2. An electronic musical instrument having a rhythm performance function, comprising: 
       (a) storing means having plural storing tracks;  
       (b) selecting means for arbitrarily selecting one of plural rhythm tone color kinds for rhythm patterns to be programmed and generating rhythm tone color kind designating information by which a selected rhythm tone color kind is designated;  
       (c) designating means for designating a tone-generation timing concerning said rhythm tone color kind selected by said selecting means and generating timing information indicative of a designated timing; and  
       (d) writing means for detecting a storing track to which said rhythm tone color kind designating information already has been assigned to thereby write corresponding timing information to a detected storing track each time said selecting means generates said rhythm tone color kind designating information, said writing means assigning said rhythm tone color kind designating information to a non-assigned storing track to thereby write corresponding timing information to the non-assigned storing track when said rhythm tone color kind designating information is not assigned to any of said plural storing tracks.  
     
     
       3. An electronic musical instrument having a rhythm performance function, comprising: 
       (a) tone source means having plural musical tone generating channels, said tone source means generating a musical tone signal corresponding to at least one of plural musical tone color kinds by each musical tone generating channel;  
       (b) designating means for generating musical tone color kind designating information by which the musical tone color kind to be generated is designated;  
       (c) assigning means for assigning said musical tone color kind designating information to at least one of said plural musical tone generating channels so that a musical tone color kind corresponding to said musical tone color kind designating information is designated in an assigned musical tone generating channel each time said designating means generates said musical tone color kind designating information;  
       (d) storing for storing truncate control information corresponding to a tone-generation period of each musical tone color kind;  
       (e) measuring means for measuring a tone-generation remaining time of a musical tone which is being generated based on said truncate control information for each musical tone generating channel to which said musical tone color kind designating information is assigned by said assigning means; and  
       (f) control means for controlling channel assignment of said assigning means based on the tone-generating remaining time which is measured by said measuring means,  
       whereby new musical tone color kind designating information is assigned to a musical tone generating channel which has the shortest tone-generation remaining time of said plural musical tone generating channels.  
     
     
       4. An electronic musical instrument having a rhythm performance function, comprising: 
       tone-generation designating means for generating tone-generation designating information with respect to a specific rhythm tone color kind;  
       (b) roll designating means for generating roll designating information;  
       (c) rhythm tone source means for generating a rhythm tone signal corresponding to said rhythm tone color kind; and  
       (d) control means for controlling said rhythm tone source means based on said tone-generation designating information and said roll designating information,  
       whereby said rhythm tone signal is generated once each time only said tone-generation designating information is generated, while said rhythm tone signal is generated continuously in accordance with each of plural predetermined time intervals when both of said tone-generation designating information and said roll designating information simultaneously are generated.  
     
     
       5. An electronic musical instrument having a rhythm performance function, and capable of being used to drive an external sound system, comprising: 
       (a) memory means for storing at least plural rhythm tone color kinds;  
       (b) rhythm selecting means for selecting one of said plural rhythm tone color kinds to thereby generate rhythm tone color kind designating information representative of a selected rhythm tone color kind;  
       (c) rhythm tone generating means for generating a rhythm tone signal corresponding to a selected rhythm tone color kind, said rhythm tone generating means having plural channels; and  
       (d) assigning means for assigning said rhythm tone color kind designating information to one of said plural channels at each one of plural tone-generation timings, so that said rhythm tone generating means generates a rhythm tone signal corresponding to a selected rhythm tone color kind, said rhythm tone signal driving said external sound system so that rhythm tones of said plural rhythm tone color kinds can be generated on a time division basis, wherein when all of said plural channels are assigned rhythm tone color kind designation information and a new rhythm tone color kind designation information requires assigning, said assigning means further detects a fading state of each rhythm tone signal and assigns said new rhythm tone color kind designation information to one of said plural channels based on results of said detection.  
     
     
       6. An electronic musical instrument according to claim  5  wherein said memory means further stores truncate information and volume information for each musical instrument to be performed, so that a period of generating a musical tone is controlled in response to said truncate information and a tone volume thereof is controlled in response to said volume information for each musical instrument. 
     
     
       7. An electronic musical instrument according to claim  5  wherein said rhythm tone generating means further comprises: 
       (a) storing means for storing data representative of the rhythm tone color kind, key-on information, and volume information for each channel;  
       a rhythm tone waveform memory for pre-storing plural kinds of rhythm tone waveforms;  
       (c) an envelope generator for generating envelope waveform data in response to said key-on information, wherein an attack level of envelope indicated by said envelope waveform data is controlled in response to said volume information; and  
       (d) a multiplier for multiplying data representative of the rhythm tone waveform outputted from said rhythm tone waveform memory and said envelope waveform data to thereby output a digital musical tone signal,  
       whereby said rhythm tone signal is generated based on said digital musical tone signal for each channel.  
     
     
       8. An electronic musical instrument according to claim  6  wherein said volume information is predetermined such that a tone volume of the roll of rhythm tones is less than that of a non-roll rhythm tone. 
     
     
       9. An electronic musical instrument having a rhythm performance function, comprising: 
       (a) memory means for storing at least plural rhythm tone color kinds;  
       (b) a panel unit providing at least rhythm selecting switches so that one of said plural rhythm tone color kinds can be freely selected by operating one of said rhythm selecting switches;  
       (c) a keyboard on which a main musical performance can be performed;  
       (d) a rhythm tone generator having plural channels, one of which is assigned with a selected rhythm tone color kind at each one of plural tone-generation timings, said rhythm tone generator generating a rhythm tone signal corresponding to said selected rhythm tone color kind for each channel;  
       (e) a keyboard tone generator for generating a keyboard musical tone signal based on performance of said keyboard; and  
       (f) means for generating a keyboard musical tone and a rhythm tone respectively based on said keyboard musical tone signal and said rhythm tone signal.  
     
     
       10. An electronic musical instrument according to claim  9 , further comprising: 
       (a) storing means for storing information relating to rhythm tone color kinds and rhythm patterns; and  
       (b) mode selecting means for alternatively selecting one of a play mode and a program mode,  
       whereby the rhythm tones corresponding to rhythm tone color kinds and rhythm patterns are programmed and stored into said storing means in said program mode so that programmed rhythm tones are to be generated in said play mode.  
     
     
       11. An electronic musical instrument according to claim  9  further comprising roll designating means for designating generation of a roll of rhythm tones. 
     
     
       12. An electronic musical instrument according to claim  9  further comprising timer means for generating a clock signal, whereby a remaining period of generating at least one of said keyboard musical tone and said rhythm tone is counted based on said clock signal. 
     
     
       13. An electronic musical instrument according to claim  9  further comprising tempo means for controlling a tempo of at least one of said keyboard musical tone and said rhythm tone to be generated. 
     
     
       14. An electronic musical instrument having a rhythm performance function, comprising: 
       ( a )  tone source means having plural rhythm tone source channels, said tone source means storing plural rhythm tone color kinds, each of which can be designated by a player, said tone source means thereby generating a rhythm tone color kind from each rhythm tone source channel;    
       ( b )  generating means for generating rhythm tone color kind designating information by which at least one rhythm tone color kind to be performed is designated at each one of plural tone - generation timings; and    
       ( c )  assigning means for assigning said rhythm tone color kind designating information to one of said plural rhythm tone source channels so that a desired rhythm tone color kind is designated in an assigned rhythm tone source channel each time said generating means generates said rhythm tone color kind designating information, said assigning means further assigning volume control information to one of said plural rhythm tone source channels corresponding to said assigned rhythm tone color kind designating information.   
     
     
       15. An electronic musical instrument having a rhythm performance function, comprising: 
       ( a )  tone source means having plural rhythm tone source channels, said tone source means storing plural rhythm tone color kinds, each of which can be designated by a player, said tone source means thereby generating a rhythm tone color kind from each rhythm tone source channel;    
       ( b )  generating means for generating rhythm tone color kind designating information by which at least one rhythm tone color kind to be performed is designated at each one of plural tone - generation timings; and    
       ( c )  assigning means for assigning said rhythm tone color kind designating information to one of said plural rhythm tone source channels so that a desired rhythm tone color kind is designated in an assigned rhythm tone source channel each time said generating means generates said rhythm tone color kind designating information, wherein if a rhythm tone source channel corresponds to a rhythm tone signal having the same rhythm tone color kind as said generated rhythm tone color kind designating information, said assigning means assigns said generated rhythm tone color kind designating information to said rhythm tone source channel having said same rhythm tone color kind.   
     
     
       16. An electronic musical instrument having a rhythm performance function, and capable of being used to drive an external sound system, comprising: 
       ( a )  memory means for storing at least plural rhythm tone color kinds;    
       ( b )  rhythm selecting means for selecting one of said plural rhythm tone color kinds to thereby generate rhythm tone color kind designating information representative of a selected rhythm tone color kind;    
       ( c )  rhythm tone generating means for generating a rhythm tone signal corresponding to a selected rhythm tone color kind, said rhythm tone generating means having plural channels; and    
       ( d )  assigning means for assigning said rhythm tone color kind designating information to one of said plural channels at each one of plural tone - generation timings, so that said rhythm tone generating means generates a rhythm tone signal corresponding to a selected rhythm tone color kind, said rhythm tone signal driving said external sound system so that rhythm tones of said plural rhythm tone color kinds can be generated on a time division basis, said assigning means further assigning volume control information to one of said plural channels corresponding to said assigned rhythm tone color kind designating information.   
     
     
       17. An electronic musical instrument having a rhythm performance function, and capable of being used to drive an external sound system, comprising: 
       ( a )  memory means for storing at least plural rhythm tone color kinds;    
       ( b )  rhythm selecting means for selecting one of said plural rhythm tone color kinds to thereby generate rhythm tone color kind designating information representative of a selected rhythm tone color kind;    
       ( c )  rhythm tone generating means for generating a rhythm tone signal corresponding to a selected rhythm tone color kind, said rhythm tone generating means having plural channels; and    
       ( d )  assigning means for assigning said rhythm tone color kind designating information to one of said plural channels at each one of plural tone - generation timings, so that said rhythm tone generating means generates a rhythm tone signal corresponding to a selected rhythm tone color kind, said rhythm tone signal driving said external sound system so that rhythm tones of said plural rhythm tone color kinds can be generated on a time division basis, wherein if one of said plural channels contains a rhythm tone signal corresponding to the same rhythm tone color kind as said rhythm tone color kind designating information to be assigned by said assigning means, said assigning means assigns said generated rhythm tone color kind designating information to said rhythm tone source channel having said same rhythm tone color kind.   
     
     
       18. An electronic musical instrument having a rhythm performance function, comprising: 
       ( a )  a memory device, comprised of at least one of a ROM and a RAM, having plural rhythm tone source channels, said memory device storing plural rhythm tone color kinds, each of which can be designated by a player, said memory device thereby generating a rhythm tone color kind from each rhythm tone source channel;    
       ( b )  a plurality of switches adapted to generate rhythm tone color kind designating information by which at least one rhythm tone color kind to be performed is designated at each one of plural tone - generation timings; and    
       ( c )  a CPU adapted to execute a program, said program comprises the step of assigning said rhythm tone color kind designating information to one of said plural rhythm tone source channels so that a desired rhythm tone color kind is designated in an assigned rhythm tone source channel each time said plurality of switches generate said rhythm tone color kind designating information, wherein when all of said plural rhythm tone source channels are assigned rhythm tone color kind designation information and a new rhythm tone color kind designation information requires assigning, said program further comprises the step of detecting a fading state of each rhythm tone signal and assigning said new rhythm tone color kind designation information to one of said plural rhythm tone source channels based on results of said detection.   
     
     
       19. The electronic musical instrument of claim  18 , wherein said program further comprises the step of assigning volume control information to one of said plural rhythm tone source channels corresponding to said assigned rhythm tone color kind designating information. 
     
     
       20. The electronic musical instrument of claim  18 , wherein if a rhythm tone source channel corresponds to a rhythm tone signal having the same rhythm tone color kind as said generated rhythm tone color kind designating information, said program further comprises the step of assigning said generated rhythm tone color kind designating information to said rhythm tone source channel having said same rhythm tone color kind. 
     
     
       21. An electronic musical instrument having a rhythm performance function, and capable of being used to drive an external sound system, comprising: 
       ( a )  a memory device, comprised of at least one of a ROM and a RAM, for storing at least plural rhythm tone color kinds;    
       ( b )  a plurality of switches adapted to select one of said plural rhythm tone color kinds to thereby generate rhythm tone color kind designating information representative of a selected rhythm tone color kind;    
       ( c )  a rhythm tone generator adapted to generate a rhythm tone signal corresponding to a selected rhythm tone color kind, said rhythm tone generator having plural channels; and    
       ( d )  a CPU adapted to execute a program, said program comprises the step of assigning said rhythm tone color kind designating information to one of said plural channels at each one of plural tone - generation timings, so that said rhythm tone generator generates a rhythm tone signal corresponding to a selected rhythm tone color kind, said rhythm tone signal driving said external sound system so that rhythm tones of said plural rhythm tone color kinds can be generated on a time division basis, wherein when all of said plural channels are assigned rhythm tone color kind designation information and a new rhythm tone color kind designation information requires assigning, said program further comprises the step of detecting a fading state of each rhythm tone signal and assigning said new rhythm tone color kind designation information to one of said plural channels based on results of said detection.   
     
     
       22. The electronic musical instrument of claim  21 , wherein said program further comprises the step of assigning volume control information to one of said plural channels corresponding to said assigned rhythm tone color kind designating information. 
     
     
       23. The electronic musical instrument of claim  21 , wherein if one of said plural channels contains a rhythm tone signal corresponding to the same rhythm tone color kind as said rhythm tone color kind designating information to be assigned, said program further comprises the step of assigning said generated rhythm tone color kind designating information to said rhythm tone source channel having said same rhythm tone color kind.