Automatic performance control apparatus

An automatic performance control apparatus comprising:

• automatic performance means for sequentially reading out automatic performance data so as to carry out automatic performance;
• a hand controller, in which a plurality of swing detection means are built, for designating beat timings by being swung and manipulated by a human operator;
• beat detection means for detecting a beat number based on output of the plurality of swing detection means, wherein the beat number represents which beat corresponds to a beat timing designated by the human operator;
• and
• tempo control means for controlling a tempo of the automatic performance based on result of detection made by the beat detection means.

An automatic performance control apparatus which is connected to an electronic musical instrument having an automatic performance function through data communication based on MIDI standard, the automatic performance control apparatus comprising:

• a hand controller, containing two gyro sensors, which is swung and manipulated by a hand of a human operator, wherein the two gyro sensors are arranged to detect angular velocity in X and Y directions in a locus of hand-swing motion of the hand controller, so that the hand controller outputs angular velocity data;
• beat detection means for detecting a beat timing based on a peak of angular velocity and/or a bottom of angular velocity on the basis of the angular velocity data;
• beat-number determination means for determining a beat number, representing which of beats in a measure corresponds to a beat timing currently designated, on the basis of a beat number of a previous beat timing;
• and
• means for creating beat-timing detection data based on the beat timing and the beat number, the beat-timing detection data being transmitted to the electronic musical instrument in a data form of MIDI standard,
• whereby tempo control based on the beat-timing detection data is performed on automatic performance played by the electronic musical instrument.

An electronic musical instrument comprising:

• automatic performance means for playing automatic performance based on automatic performance data;
• a hand controller, containing two gyro sensors, which is swung and manipulated by a hand of a human operator, wherein the two gyro sensors are arranged to detect angular velocity in X and Y directions in a locus of hand-swing motion of the hand controller, so that the hand controller outputs angular velocity data;
• beat detection means for detecting a beat timing based on a peak of angular velocity and/or a bottom of angular velocity on the basis of the angular velocity data;
• beat-number determination means for determining a beat number, representing which of beats in a measure corresponds to a beat timing currently designated, on the basis of a beat number of a previous beat timing;
• means for creating beat-timing detection data based on the beat timing and the beat number;
• and
• tempo control means for controlling a tempo of the automatic performance in response to the beat-timing detection data in real time.

A method of controlling automatic performance, comprising the steps of:

• detecting angular velocity applied to an object which is swung by a human operator like a conductor's baton;
• detecting a beat timing, which is designated by swing motion of the object swung by the human operator, based on a manner of variation of the angular velocity;
• and
• controlling a tempo of the automatic performance in response to the beat timing.

A method of controlling automatic performance, comprising the steps of:

• detecting angular velocity applied to an object which is swung by a human operator like a conductor's baton;
• detecting a peak of the angular velocity;
• determining a beat timing based on the peak of the angular velocity;
• detecting an angle of a swing direction of the object;
• determining a beat number, representing which of beats in a measure corresponds to a beat timing currently detected, on the basis of the angle of the swing direction of the object, wherein a current beat number is determined responsive to a previous beat number;
• and
• controlling a tempo of the automatic performance in response to the beat timing and the beat number.

A method of controlling a tempo of automatic performance in response to a swing motion of an object which is swung by a human operator like a conductor's baton, comprising the steps of:

• setting time of a tune which is subjected to automatic performance;
• detecting angular velocity of the object which varies responsive to the swing motion of the object;
• performing analysis on a locus of the swing motion of the object on the basis of a manner of variation of the angular velocity;
• determining a peak timing, corresponding to a peak of the angular velocity, as a beat timing, which is designated by the human operator who swings the object, on the basis of result of the analysis;
• and
• controlling the tempo of the automatic performance in response to the beat timing.