Music and graphic apparatus audio-visually modeling acoustic instrument

A parameter display apparatus comprising:

• a physical model sound source which simulates a vibrating or resonating body;
• means for displaying an operation image of the physical model sound source;
• means for providing a performance parameter to the physical model sound source so as to enable the vibrating or resonating body to generate a music sound;
• and
• means for graphically presenting a magnitude of the performance parameter in association with the displayed operation image of the physical model sound source.

A music sound synthesis apparatus for generating a music sound in response to a performance parameter, comprising:

• a physical model sound source simulating an acoustic musical instrument having a vibrating or resonating body, the physical model sound source being operative according to a performance parameter determining an operation state of the acoustic musical instrument so that a musical sound is generated as if voiced by exciting the vibrating or resonating body;
• basic image generating means for generating a basic image representing at least a part of the acoustic musical instrument;
• performance image generating means for generating a performance image representing the operation state of the acoustic musical instrument according to the performance parameter;
• and
• image synthesis means for displaying the performance image in association with the basic image to thereby visually indicate the operation state of the acoustic musical instrument during the course of generation of the music sound.

A music apparatus comprising:

• a performance input device that provides performance information effective to control generation of a music sound;
• a timbre input device that provides timbre information effective to specify a timbre of the music sound;
• a sound source operative based on the timbre information to simulate an acoustic instrument capable of creating the specified timbre, and being responsive to the performance information to generate the music sound as if voiced by the acoustic instrument with the specified timbre;
• a model image generator that generates a model image graphically representing at least a part of the acoustic instrument;
• a dynamic image generator operative according to the performance information for generating a dynamic image graphically representing an operation of the acoustic instrument;
• and
• a graphic synthesizer that combines the model image and the dynamic image to dynamically model the operation of the acoustic instrument in synchronization with the generation of the music sound.

A method of audio-visually modeling an acoustic instrument comprising the steps of:

• providing performance information effective to control generation of a music sound;
• providing timbre information effective to specify a timbre of the music sound;
• configuring a sound source based on the timbre information to simulate an acoustic instrument capable of creating the specified timbre;
• driving the sound source in response to the performance information to generate the music sound as if voiced by the acoustic instrument with the specified timbre;
• generating a model image graphically representing at least a part of the acoustic instrument;
• generating a dynamic image graphically representing an operation of the acoustic instrument according to the performance information;
• and
• combining the model image and the dynamic image to dynamically model the operation of the acoustic instrument in synchronization with the generation of the music sound.

A machine readable medium for use in a computer apparatus having a CPU and audio-visually modeling an acoustic instrument, the medium containing program instructions executable by the CPU for causing the computer apparatus to perform the method comprising the steps of:

• providing performance information effective to control generation of a music sound;
• providing timbre information effective to specify a timbre of the music sound;
• configuring a sound source based on the timbre information to simulate an acoustic instrument capable of creating the specified timbre;
• driving the sound source in response to the performance information to generate the music sound as if voiced by the acoustic instrument with the specified timbre;
• generating a model image graphically representing at least a part of the acoustic instrument;
• generating a dynamic image graphically representing an operation of the acoustic instrument according to the performance information;
• and
• composing the model image and the dynamic image with each other so as to dynamically modeling the operation of the acoustic instrument in synchronization to the generation of the music sound.