Automated performance technology using audio waveform data

A computer-implemented method for executing an automatic performance by use of waveform data stored in a non-transitory storage medium, the non-transitory storage medium storing waveform data of a music performance based on a desired reference tempo, the method comprising:

• acquiring information designating a variable performance tempo;
• determining, in accordance with relationship between the performance tempo and the reference tempo, whether reproduction of the waveform data is to be limited or not;
• and
• reproducing the waveform data stored in the non-transitory storage medium, said reproducing performing, in order to reproduce the waveform data in accordance with the performance tempo, time axis expansion/contraction control on the waveform data to be reproduced in accordance with the relationship between the performance tempo and the reference tempo, wherein, when said determining has determined that the reproduction of the waveform data is to be limited, said reproducing performs one of an operation for stopping the reproduction of the waveform data and an operation for continuing the reproduction of the waveform data with a resolution of a reproduction process lowered.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing a group of instructions executable by a processor for performing a method executing an automatic performance by use of waveform data stored in a non-transitory storage medium, the non-transitory storage medium storing waveform data of a music performance based on a desired reference tempo, the method comprising:

• acquiring information designating a variable performance tempo;
• determining, in accordance with relationship between the performance tempo and the reference tempo, whether reproduction of the waveform data is to be limited or not;
• and
• reproducing the waveform data stored in the non-transitory storage medium, said reproducing performing, in order to reproduce the waveform data in accordance with the performance tempo, time axis expansion/contraction control on the waveform data to be reproduced in accordance with the relationship between the performance tempo and the reference tempo, wherein, when said determining has determined that the reproduction of the waveform data is to be limited, said reproducing performs one of an operation for stopping the reproduction of the waveform data and an operation for continuing the reproduction of the waveform data with a resolution of a reproduction process lowered.

An automatic performance apparatus comprising:

• a non-transitory storage medium configured to store waveform data of a music performance based on a desired reference tempo;
• a processor configured to:
• acquire information designating a variable performance tempo;
• and
• determine, in accordance with relationship between the performance tempo and the reference tempo, whether reproduction of the waveform data is to be limited or not;
• and
• audio reproduction circuitry and the processor configured to reproduce the waveform data stored in said non-transitory storage medium, said audio reproduction circuitry and the processor performing, in order to reproduce the waveform data in accordance with the performance tempo, time axis expansion/contraction control on the waveform data to be reproduced in accordance with the relationship between the performance tempo and the reference tempo, wherein, when the audio reproduction circuitry and the processor have determined that the reproduction of the waveform data is to be limited, the audio reproduction circuitry and the processor perform one of an operation for stopping the reproduction of the waveform data and an operation for continuing the reproduction of the waveform data with a resolution of a reproduction process lowered.