Method and apparatus for retrieving pre-recorded sound patterns in synchronization

An apparatus for storing a plurality of predetermined sequences of sound having complementary beats and allowing them to be retrieved synchronously, comprising:

• a memory for storing data representing the plurality of sequences of sound;
• a buffer for retrieving and holding each sound in a first one of the plurality of sequences of sound until a predetermined time;
• sound generation means for generating the sound represented by the data in the buffer;
• a counter for counting how many sounds in the first sound sequence have been played;
• a processor for calculating which sound in each of the plurality of sound sequences corresponds to the next note in the first sound sequence such that the beats of the sequences will be synchronous;
• input means for selecting a second one of the plurality of sound sequences;
• and
• means for sending the data representing the sound in the selected second sound sequence that corresponds to the next note in the first sound sequence to the buffer at the same time as the next note in the first sound sequence such that the sounds are produced synchronously by the sound generation means.

A method of playing, synchronously with a first sequence of sounds represented by data stored in memory, a second one of a plurality of sequences of sounds represented by data stored in memory, at a selected point during the playing of the first sequence of sounds, comprising:

• identifying the sound in each of the plurality of sequences of sounds which must be played at the same time as the sound in the first sequence of sounds which is to be played at the selected point for the sequences to be synchronous;
• selecting one of the plurality of sequences of sounds as the second sequence of sounds;
• retrieving and holding the data representing both the identified sound in the first sequence and the sound in the selected second sequence which is to be played at the selected point until a predetermined time;
• and
• generating the sounds represented by the identified data at the predetermined time.

A method for storing a plurality of predetermined sequences of sound having complementary beats and allowing them to be retrieved synchronously, comprising:

• storing data representing the plurality of sequences of sound in a memory;
• generating each sound in a first one of the plurality of sequences of sound in order at predetermined intervals;
• counting how many sounds in the first sound sequence have been played;
• selecting a second one of the plurality of sequences of sounds;
• calculating which sound in the selected second sequence corresponds to the next note in the first sound sequence such that the beats of the two sequences will be synchronous;
• and
• generating the sound in the selected second sound sequence that corresponds to the next note in the first sound sequence at the same time as the next note in the first sound sequence such that the sounds are produced synchronously.