Performance recording apparatus for recording information used to control music generation instruments

A method for recording plural event data, including a channel discrimination code for discriminating one type of data from other types of data, onto a playing information recording means having separate channels, comprising the steps of:

• determining a channel discrimination code previously recorded on said playing information recording means;
• receiving a channel discrimination code from a musical instrument;
• changing said received channel discrimination code to a channel discrimination code not previously recorded on said playing information recording means;
• merging at least two event data with the plural event data into merged data;
• storing said merged data in said playing information recording means;
• and
• transferring said stored merged data to at least one musical instrument.

Performance recording apparatus for recording plural event data including a channel discrimination code for discriminating one type of data from other types of data as separate plural channels of playing information onto a playing information recording means, comprising:

• channel conversion means for converting a received channel discrimination code in newly received event data to an alternate channel distribution code;
• merging means for merging event data corresponding to the alternate channel discrimination code with other event data which have already been recorded on the playing information recording means;
• and
• search means for searching said playing information recording means to determine an alternate channel discrimination code corresponding to an unused channel discrimination code, the unused channel discrimination code being different from any discrimination code assigned to event data stored on said playing information recording means.