Tone signal processing apparatus with intermittent clock supply

Abstract

A music apparatus is constructed for processing a music tone signal in response to a clock signal at each sampling period. In the music apparatus, a clock generator generates the clock signal. A signal processor is operable in synchronization to the clock signal for time-divisionally processing a plurality of music tone signals through a plurality of channels within one sampling period. A clock controller is operative during a supply duration allocated within one sampling period for supplying the clock signal to the signal processor from the clock generator to thereby operate the signal processor, and is operative during other than the supply duration within one sampling period for stopping the supplying of the clock signal to the signal processor to thereby suspend the signal processor.

1. An apparatus for processing a music tone signal in response to a clock signal at each sampling period, the apparatus comprising:
 a clock generator that generates the clock signal;  
 a signal processor operable in synchronization to the clock signal for time-divisionally processing a plurality of music tone signals through a plurality of tone generating channels within one sampling period; and  
 a clock controller being operative during a supply duration allocated within one sampling period for supplying the clock signal to the signal processor from the clock generator to thereby operate the signal processor, and being operative during other than the supply duration within one sampling period for stopping the supplying of the clock signal to the signal processor to thereby suspend the signal processor,  
   wherein the supply duration is allocated to correspond with one or more of tone generating channels which are allowed to generate music tones .  
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an allocating device that allocates a predetermined  the supply duration within one sampling period, and a specifying  setting device that specifies a detail of processing of the music tone signals in accordance with the predetermined supply duration so that the signal processor can complete the processing of the music tone signals within the predetermined supply duration  operates based on music data which commands generating of music tones, and that sets one or more of tone generating processes based on the music data to one or more of the plurality of the tone generating channels which time- divisionally process the music tone signals within the allocated supply duration . 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the allocating device allocates the predetermined  supply duration based on a predetermined  number of tone generating channels through which music tones are generated concurrently by the processing of the music tone signals. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the allocating device allocates the predetermined supply duration based on a predetermined number of steps by which a program is executed stepwise for processing the music tone signals. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the specifying  setting device specifies the detail of the processing of the music tone signals in terms of a number of  selects one tone generating channel from the tone generating channels through which the music tone signals are processed for concurrent generation of music tones  through which the signal processor can generate music tones by the clock signal supplied in the supply duration among the plurality of the tone generating channels, and sets the tone generating process to the selected tone generating channel. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the specifying device specifies the detail of the processing of the music tone signals in terms of a kind of a program selectably executed by the signal processor in the processing of the music tone signals. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a specifying  setting device that specifies a detail of processing of the music tone signals,  operates based on music data which commands generating of music tones, and that sets one or more of tone generating processes based on the music data to one or more of the plurality of the tone generating channels, and an allocating device that allocates a supply  the supply duration within one sampling period in accordance with the specified detail of the processing so that the signal processor can complete the specified detail of the processing of the music tone signals within the allocated supply duration  tone generating process set by the setting device. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the allocating device allocates the supply duration in accordance with the specified detail of the processing in terms of a predetermined number of channels through which music tones are generated concurrently by the processing of the music tone signals  the setting device selects one tone generating channel from the plurality of the tone generating channels, and sets the tone generating process to the selected tone generating channel. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the allocating device allocates the supply duration in accordance with the specified detail of the processing in terms of a predetermined number of steps by which a program is executed stepwise for processing the music tone signals. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the specifying device specifies the detail of the processing of the music tone signals in terms of a number of channels through which the music tone signals are processed for concurrent generation of music tones. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the specifying device specifies the detail of the processing of the music tone signals in terms of a kind of a program selectably executed by the signal processor in the processing of the music tone signals. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the signal processor processes the music tone signal in such a manner that waveform data of a designated timbre is read out to generate the music tone signal at a designated pitch. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the signal processor processes the music tone signal in such a manner that waveform data is read out to generate the music tone signal and the generated music tone signal is subjected to filter processing. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the signal processor processes the music tone signal in such a manner as to control an amplitude of the music tone signal. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the signal processor processes the music tone signal in such a manner as to impart an effect to the music tone signal. 
     
     
       16. A method of processing a music tone signal in response to a clock signal at each sampling period, the method comprising the steps of:
 continuously generating the clock signal;  
 operating a signal processor in synchronization to the clock signal for time-divisionally processing a plurality of music tone signals through a plurality of tone generating channels within one sampling period;  
 supplying the generated clock signal to the signal processor so as a to operate the signal processor during a supply duration allocated within one sampling period; and  
 stopping the supplying of the generated clock signal to the signal processor so as to suspend the signal processor during other than the supply duration within one sampling period,  
   wherein the supply duration is allocated to correspond with one or more of tone generating channels which are allowed to generate music tones .  
 
     
     
       17. A medium for use in a music apparatus having a signal processor for processing a music tone signal in response to a clock signal at each sampling period, the medium containing program instructions executable by the music apparatus to perform a method comprising the steps of:
 continuously generating the clock signal;  
 operating the signal processor in synchronization to the clock signal for time-divisionally processing a plurality of music tone signals through a plurality of tone generating channels within one sampling period;  
 supplying the generated clock signal to the signal processor so as a to operate the signal processor during a supply duration allocated within one sampling period; and  
 stopping the supplying of the generated clock signal to the signal processor so as to suspend the signal processor during other than the supply duration within one sampling period,  
   wherein the supply duration is allocated to correspond with one or more of tone generating channels which are allowed to generate music tones .  
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a setting device that operates based on music data which commands generating of music tones, and that sets one or more of tone generating processes based on the music data to one or more of the plurality of the tone generating channels, wherein in case that a tone generating process is set to a tone generating channel, the clock controller starts supplying of the clock signal for a period necessary for the tone generating channel to generate music tones so that the tone generating channel of the clock signal for the period when the volume level of the music tones generated by the tone generating channel becomes less than a predetermined value. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 16  further comprising the step of setting one or more of tone generating processes to one or more of the tone generating channels based on music data which commands generating of music tones, wherein in case that a tone generating process is set to a tone generating channel, the supplying step starts supplying of the clock signal for a period necessary for the tone generating channel to generate music tones so that the tone generating channel starts the generating of the music tone, and the stopping step stops supplying of the clock signal for the period when the volume level of the music tones generated by the tone generating channel becomes less than a predetermined value. 
     
     
       20. The medium according to  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises the step of setting one or more of tone generating processes to one or more of the tone generating channels based on music data which commands generating of music tones, wherein in case that a tone generating process is set to a tone generating channel, the supplying step starts supplying of the clock signal for a period necessary for the tone generating channel to generate music tones so that the tone generating channel starts the generating of the music tone, and the stopping step stops supplying of the clock signal for the period when the volume level of the music tones generated by the tone generating channel becomes less than a predetermined value.