Tone generation method and apparatus based on software

A tone generation method for implementation by use of an apparatus including a processor that executes software, a storage section storing waveform generation software to be executed by said processor, and a buffer storage section that stores waveform data generated by execution of the waveform generation software, said tone generation method comprising:

• a step of receiving a tone generation instruction;
• a step of causing said processor to execute the waveform generation software on the basis of the tone generation instruction received via said step of receiving, to thereby not only generate and output waveform data but also previously generate waveform data to be output later than a current time point;
• a step of storing, into said buffer storage section, the waveform data generated previously via said step of causing;
• and
• a step of generating waveform data for current and subsequent time points on the basis of the received tone generation instruction and adding the generated waveform data for the current and subsequent time points to the waveform data generated previously via said step of causing and stored in said buffer storage section.

A tone generation method for implementation by use of an apparatus including a processor that executes software, a storage section storing waveform generation software to be executed by said processor, and a buffer storage section that stores waveform data generated by execution of the waveform generation software, said tone generation method comprising:

• a step of receiving a tone generation instruction;
• a step of causing said processor to execute the waveform generation software on the basis of the tone generation instruction received via said step of receiving, thereby generating waveform data in a plurality of channels, and mixing the waveform data, generated in the plurality of channels, on a track-by-track basis to thereby output the mixed waveform data for each of the tracks;
• a step of previously generating waveform data for a plurality of channels to be output later than a current time point and mixing the waveform data, previously generated in the plurality of channels, on a track-by-track basis to thereby store, into said buffer storage section, the mixed waveform data for each of the tracks;
• and
• a step of, when there has occurred a situation that prevents waveform generation, outputting the previously-generated waveform data currently stored in said buffer storage section.

A tone generation apparatus comprising:

• a storage section storing waveform generation software;
• a processor coupled with said storage section and capable of executing the waveform generation software;
• and
• a buffer storage section coupled with said processor and arranged to store waveform data generated by said processor executing the waveform generation software,
• wherein said processor is adapted to:
• receive a tone generation instruction;
• execute the waveform generation software on the basis of the received tone generation instruction, to thereby not only generate and output waveform data but also previously generate waveform data to be output later than a current time point;
• store, into said buffer storage section, the previously-generated waveform data;
• when there has occurred a situation that prevents waveform generation, output the previously-generated waveform data currently stored in said buffer storage section;
• wait execution of the tone generation instruction when there has occurred a situation that prevents previous generation of waveform data based on the tone generation instruction;
• and
• generate waveform data based on the waited tone generation instruction when the generation of waveform data based on the tone generation instruction becomes possible later.

A tone generation apparatus comprising:

• a storage section storing waveform generation software;
• a processor coupled with said storage section and capable of executing the waveform generation software;
• and
• a buffer storage section coupled with said processor and arranged to store waveform data generated by said processor executing the waveform generation software,
• wherein said processor is adapted to:
• receive a tone generation instruction;
• execute the waveform generation software on the basis of the received tone generation instruction, to thereby not only generate and output waveform data but also previously generate waveform data to be output later than a current time point;
• store, into said buffer storage section, the previously-generated waveform data;
• and
• generate waveform data for current and subsequent time points on the basis of the received tone generation instruction and add the generated waveform data for the current and subsequent time points to the waveform data previously generated and stored in said buffer storage section.

A tone generation apparatus comprising:

• a storage section storing waveform generation software;
• a processor coupled with said storage section and capable of executing the waveform generation software;
• and
• a buffer storage section coupled with said processor and arranged to store waveform data generated by said processor executing the waveform generation software,
• wherein said processor is adapted to:
• receive a tone generation instruction;
• execute the waveform generation software on the basis of the received tone generation instruction to thereby generate waveform data in a plurality of channels, and mix the waveform data, generated in the plurality of channels, on a track-by-track basis to thereby output the waveform data for a plurality of tracks;
• previously generate waveform data for a plurality of channels to be output later than a current time point and mix the waveform data, previously generated in the plurality of channels, on a track-by-track basis to thereby generate waveform data for a plurality of tracks and store, into said buffer storage section, the waveform data for each of the plurality of tracks;
• and
• when there has occurred a situation that prevents waveform generation, output the previously-generated waveform data currently stored in said buffer storage section.

A machine-readable storage medium containing a group of instructions to cause said machine to perform a tone generation method, said tone generation method being implemented by use of an apparatus comprising a storage section storing waveform generation software, a processor capable of executing the waveform generation software, and a buffer storage section that stores waveform data generated by said processor executing the waveform generation software, said tone generation method comprising:

• a step of receiving a tone generation instruction;
• a step of causing said processor to execute the waveform generation software on the basis of the tone generation instruction received via said step of receiving, to thereby not only generate and output waveform data but also previously generate waveform data to be output later than a current time point;
• a step of storing, into said buffer storage section, the waveform data generated previously via said step of causing;
• a step of, when there has occurred a situation that prevents waveform generation, outputting the previously-generated waveform data currently stored in said buffer storage section;
• a step of waiting execution of the tone generation instruction, when there has occurred a situation that prevents previous generation of waveform data based on the tone generation instruction;
• and
• a step of generating waveform data based on the tone generation instruction waited by said step of waiting, when the generation of waveform data based on the tone generation instruction becomes possible later.

A machine-readable storage medium containing a group of instructions to cause said machine to perform a tone generation method, said tone generation method being implemented by use of an apparatus comprising a storage section storing waveform generation software, a processor capable of executing the waveform generation software, and a buffer storage section that stores waveform data generated by said processor executing the waveform generation software, said tone generation method comprising:

• a step of receiving a tone generation instruction;
• a step of causing said processor to execute the waveform generation software on the basis of the tone generation instruction received via said step of receiving, to thereby not only generate and output waveform data but also previously generate waveform data to be output later than a current time point;
• a step of storing, into said buffer storage section, the waveform data generated previously via said step of causing;
• and
• a step of generating waveform data for current and subsequent time points on the basis of the received tone generation instruction and adding the generated waveform data for the current and subsequent time points to the waveform data generated previously via said step of causing and stored in said buffer storage section.

A machine-readable storage medium containing a group of instructions to cause said machine to perform a tone generation method, said tone generation method being implemented by use of an apparatus comprising a storage section storing waveform generation software, a processor capable of executing the waveform generation software, and a buffer storage section that stores waveform data generated by said processor executing the waveform generation software, said tone generation method comprising:

• a step of receiving a tone generation instruction;
• a step of causing said processor to execute the waveform generation software on the basis of the tone generation instruction received via said step of receiving, thereby generating waveform data in a plurality of channels, and mixing the waveform data, generated in the plurality of channels, on a track-by-track basis to thereby output waveform data for a plurality of tracks;
• a step of previously generating waveform data for a plurality of channels to be output later than a current time point and mixing the waveform data, previously generated in the plurality of channels, on a track-by-track basis to thereby generate waveform data for a plurality of tracks and store, into said buffer storage section, the waveform data for each of the plurality of tracks;
• and
• a step of, when there has occurred a situation that prevents waveform generation, outputting the previously-generated waveform data currently stored in said buffer storage section.