Automatic performance apparatus for musical instrument with improved editing

An automatic performance apparatus for sequentially reading out performance data sequentially stored in a performance data memory to execute an automatic performance, comprising:

• a step forward key;
• detecting means for detecting a depression of the step forward key;
• an address pointer for designating performance data to be used to generate a tone in said performance data memory;
• tone generating means for generating a performance data tone designated by said address pointer when depression of said step forward key is detected;
• and
• means for, when said step forward key is continuously depressed for not less than a first predetermined time from the initial depression timing of said step forward key, sequentially stepping said address pointer upon the passage of each of second predetermined time intervals to generate performance data tones corresponding to addresses sequentially designated by said address pointer.

An automatic performance apparatus comprising:

• a performance data memory for sequentially storing a performance data to execute an automatic performance;
• control means for producing the performance data for storage in the memory with a storage format including a plurality of fixed-length records, each of the fixed-length records including key data concerning tone generation and a portion of additional data for defining a tone generation characteristic for a plurality of successive key data;
• reading means for sequentially reading out said performance data from said performance data memory;
• and
• tone signal generation means for generating musical tones have tone characteristics in accordance with the performance data.