Apparatus for generating, recording or reproducing sound source data

A sound source device comprising:

• a sound source data memory for storing sound source data including consecutive first plural samples and consecutive second plural samples,
• a starting address data memory for storing start address data associated with said first plural samples of the sound source data and looping start address data associated with said second plural samples of the sound source data, and
• an address generator for generating a read-out address of said sound source data memory on the basis of said start address data and said looping start address data, wherein the address generator includes:
• means for reading out said first plural samples from a storage region of said sound source data memory beginning with a start address data determined by the start address data, after the start address data are loaded from the start address data memory into the address generator, and
• means for repeatedly reading out, after said looping start address data are loaded from said start address data memory into said address generator, said second plural samples from a storage region of said sound source data memory beginning with a looping start address determined by the looping start address data to reproduce analog or digital audio signals.

A sound source device comprising:

• a sound source data memory for selectively storing sound source data, wherein the sound source data includes first samples representing a looping domain which is repetitively reproduced, and second samples which do not represent the looping domain, and an end sample,
• a flag check circuit for detecting discriminating flags indicating the presence or absence of the looping domain and the presence or absence of the end sample,
• means for repeatedly reading out said first samples from the sound source data memory and for reading out said second samples from said sound source data memory to reproduce analog or digital audio signals, and
• means for asserting a muting signal when the flag check circuit detects a discriminating flag which indicates the absence of the looping domain and the end of the sound source data.

An apparatus for reproducing continuous sound source data comprising:

• a sound source memory having a first sound source memory area and a second sound source memory area,
• an address register designating a read-out address on the basis of a start address of said address register,
• control means for alternately reading sound source data from said first sound source memory area and said second source memory area on the basis of said read-out address,
• sound source data supply means for writing sound source data in a first one of said first sound source memory area and said second sound source memory area when sound source data are read out from a second one of said first sound source memory area and said second source memory area,
• start address supplying means for writing in said address register the start address of said first one of said first sound source memory area and said second sound source memory area in which said sound source data are written, and
• signal processing means for processing the sound source data read out from said first sound source memory area and said second source memory area.