Music performing apparatus capable of calling registrations for performance and computer readable medium containing program therefor

A music performing apparatus comprises a manipulative music performing device which performs music according to the player's musical performance on the apparatus and an automatic accompaniment performing device which performs musical accompaniment according to automatic accompaniment signals provided in the apparatus. The properties and the manners of a musical performance and an automatic accompaniment are determined by the parameters set by the various controls such as switches and knobs in the control panel provided on the apparatus. A state of combination of such parameters is defined as a registration for a musical performance. Different registrations are stored in a data storage device representing different combinations of the parameters, and a desired one of the registrations is selectively called by the user to set the performance properties and manners. During the time the automatic accompaniment is running, when some registration is selected and the selected registration includes parameters related to the automatic accompaniment, such accompaniment-related parameters shall be excluded in setting the performance properties and manners, while the rest of the parameters are used to control the properties and manners of musical performance other than the automatic accompaniment part. Thus, inadvertent and unwilling changes in the automatic accompaniment can be avoided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a music performing apparatus and method, 
and a computer readable medium, and more particularly to such a music 
performing apparatus and method, and a computer readable medium containing 
computer readable program instructions to configure a computer system to 
construct such a music performing apparatus or to perform processes for 
such a method in which a musical performance is conducted according to 
manipulative operations by a player together with an automatic 
accompaniment performance which is conducted according to automatically 
progressing rhythm signals in the properties and manners of performance as 
determined by the registration or set states of controls in the panel, and 
in which registrations are stored in a storage device and the player can 
selectively call any of the stored registrations to arbitrarily change 
registrations for the performance. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Music performing apparatuses such as electronic musical instruments are 
conventionally provided with plural control switches and knobs in the 
panel which respectively set respective parameters determining properties 
and manners of tone generation and accompaniment progression, and a 
musical performance is conducted according to such a panel set state. The 
panel set states may be arbitrarily changed by the user individually 
setting the respective parameters according to the user's intention, while 
some preset panel states are also prepared in the form of a combination of 
parameters (defined as a registration for a performance) having respective 
recommendable values for the performance. Such registrations are 
represented by data sets each indicating the parameter values defining 
each panel set state, and such registration data sets are stored in a 
storage device so that the player can call a desired registration from 
among the stored ones by manipulating a registration call switch (a 
gang-setting preset switch). When a registration is called, the tone 
properties and controls, the accompaniment manners and styles and so forth 
are collectively set (changed) for the musical performance. On the music 
performing apparatus provided with such a registration call function, the 
player can perform music using various property controls and accompaniment 
manners as changed one after another by manipulating the registration call 
switch during the musical performance. 
The registration data for such a registration call function, however, may 
include data for setting properties and manners of the accompaniment 
performance. Therefore, if the registrations are changed in the middle of 
the musical performance using an automatic accompaniment, the 
accompaniment will lack integrity and consistency, as the sections in the 
course of accompaniment, the split points for the chord key range, and the 
like may be altered during the accompaniment running. From this point of 
view, the registration should not be called anew at the time the automatic 
accompaniment is running. 
In order to solve such a problem, there has been proposed a freeze function 
as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,778, in which particular parameters 
among the registration data are specifically frozen so as not to be used 
for alteration even when the registration is called. But such a freeze 
function needs troublesome setting for individual parameters to edit each 
freeze mode, and therefore it has been difficult for the user to 
understand the way of setting the freeze function and to actually set the 
same in the electronic musical instrument having such capability. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a 
music performing apparatus in which the parameter settings related to an 
automatic accompaniment will not be altered, when a registration is called 
by the user in the middle of the music performance using the automatic 
accompaniment. A further object of the present invention is to provide a 
computer readable medium containing program instructions and registration 
data which will not alter the registration parameters related to the 
accompaniment when a registration is called anew during the musical 
performance using the automatic accompaniment. 
According to one aspect of the present invention, the object is 
accomplished by providing a first type of music performing apparatus which 
comprises: a manipulative music performing device which performs music 
according to manipulative operations by a user to play music on the 
apparatus; an automatic accompaniment performing device which performs 
musical accompaniment according to automatically progressing rhythm 
signals; a data storage device which stores at least one registration data 
set each set including a first data subset which represents first 
parameters for defining registrations substantially related to musical 
performance other than the automatic accompaniment, and a second data 
subset which represents second parameters for defining registrations 
substantially related to the automatic accompaniment, the first parameters 
substantially determining properties and manners of musical performance 
other than the automatic accompaniment and the second parameters 
substantially determining properties and manners of automatic 
accompaniment; a parameter supplying device which supplies the first and 
second parameters to the manipulative music performing device and the 
automatic accompaniment performing device, respectively, to render the 
manipulative music performing device operative to perform music with the 
properties and manners determined by the first parameters, and to render 
the automatic accompaniment performing device operative to perform musical 
accompaniment with the properties and manners determined by the second 
parameters; a judging device which judges whether an automatic 
accompaniment performance is now running or not; a registration call 
instructing device for inputting an instruction to selectively call one of 
the at least one registration data set; and a registration calling device 
which reads and sends the selected registration data set from the data 
storage device to the parameter supplying device upon instruction of the 
registration call, such that the registration calling device sends only 
the first data subset to the parameter supplying device, when the judging 
device judges that an automatic accompaniment performance is running now. 
According to another aspect of the present invention, the object is 
accomplished by providing a second type of music performing apparatus 
which comprises: a manipulative music performing device which performs 
music according to manipulative operations by a user to play music on the 
apparatus; an automatic accompaniment performing device which performs 
musical accompaniment according to automatically progressing rhythm 
signals; a registration data setting device for setting at least one 
user-set registration data set by the user of the apparatus, each set 
including a first data subset which represents first parameters for 
defining registrations substantially related to musical performance other 
than the automatic accompaniment, and a second data subset which 
represents second parameters for defining registrations substantially 
related to the automatic accompaniment, the first parameters substantially 
determining properties and manners of musical performance other than the 
automatic accompaniment and the second parameters substantially 
determining properties and manners of automatic accompaniment; a data 
storage device which stores the at least one user-set registration data 
set which is set by the registration data setting device, and further 
stores at least one preset registration data set which is preset in the 
apparatus each set including a third data subset which represents third 
parameters for defining registrations substantially related to musical 
performance other than the automatic accompaniment, and a fourth data 
subset which represents fourth parameters for defining registrations 
substantially related to the automatic accompaniment, the third parameters 
substantially determining properties and manners of musical performance 
other than the automatic accompaniment and the fourth parameters 
substantially determining properties and manners of automatic 
accompaniment; a parameter supplying device which supplies the first and 
second parameters or the third and fourth parameters to the manipulative 
music performing device and the automatic accompaniment performing device, 
respectively, to render the manipulative music performing device operative 
to perform music with the properties and manners determined by the first 
or third parameters, and to render the automatic accompaniment performing 
device operative to perform musical accompaniment with the properties and 
manners determined by the second or fourth parameters; a registration call 
instructing device for inputting an instruction to selectively call one of 
the at least one user-set registration data set or the at least one preset 
registration data set; a judging device which judges whether the 
selectively called registration data set is a preset registration data set 
or not; and a registration calling device which reads and sends the 
selected registration data set from the data storage device to the 
parameter supplying device upon instruction of the registration call, such 
that the registration calling device sends the first and second data 
subsets to the parameter supplying device, when the judging device judges 
that the selectively called registration data set is not a preset 
registration data set. 
According to a further aspect of the present invention, the object is 
accomplished by providing a third type of music performing apparatus which 
comprises: a manipulative music performing device which performs music 
according to manipulative operations by a user to play music on the 
apparatus; an automatic accompaniment performing device which performs 
musical accompaniment according to automatically progressing rhythm 
signals; a data storage device which stores at least one registration data 
set each set including a first data subset which represents first 
parameters for defining registrations substantially related to musical 
performance other than the automatic accompaniment, and a second data 
subset which represents second parameters for defining registrations 
substantially related to the automatic accompaniment, the first parameters 
substantially determining properties and manners of musical performance 
other than the automatic accompaniment and the second parameters 
substantially determining properties and manners of automatic 
accompaniment; a parameter supplying device which supplies the first and 
second parameters to the manipulative music performing device and the 
automatic accompaniment performing device, respectively, to render the 
manipulative music performing device operative to perform music with the 
properties and manners determined by the first parameters, and to render 
the automatic accompaniment performing device operative to perform musical 
accompaniment with the properties and manners determined by the second 
parameters; a mode setting device for selectively setting a call-inhibited 
mode in which the second data subset shall not be called; a judging device 
for judging whether the call-inhibited mode is set or not; a registration 
call instructing device for inputting an instruction to selectively call 
one of the at least one registration data set; and a registration calling 
device which reads and sends the selected registration data set from the 
data storage device to the parameter supplying device upon instruction of 
the registration call, such that the registration calling device sends the 
first and second data subsets to the parameter supplying device, when the 
judging device judges that the call-inhibited mode is not set. 
According to still further aspect of the present invention, the object is 
accomplished by providing a fourth type of music performing apparatus 
which comprises: a manipulative music performing device which performs 
music according to manipulative operations by a user to play music on the 
apparatus; an automatic accompaniment performing device which performs 
musical accompaniment according to automatically progressing rhythm 
signals; a data storage device which stores at least one registration data 
set each set including a first data subset which represents first 
parameters for defining registrations substantially related to musical 
performance other than the automatic accompaniment, a second data subset 
which represents second parameters for defining registrations 
substantially related to the automatic accompaniment, and a data flag 
which indicates whether the second data subset shall be called or not, the 
first parameters substantially determining properties and manners of 
musical performance other than the automatic accompaniment and the second 
parameters substantially determining properties and manners of automatic 
accompaniment; a parameter supplying device which supplies the first and 
second parameters to the manipulative music performing device and the 
automatic accompaniment performing device, respectively, to render the 
manipulative music performing device operative to perform music with the 
properties and manners determined by the first parameters, and to render 
the automatic accompaniment performing device operative to perform musical 
accompaniment with the properties and manners determined by the second 
parameters; a judging device for judging whether the data flag indicates 
that the second data subset shall be called or not; a registration call 
instructing device for inputting an instruction to selectively call one of 
the at least one registration data set; and a registration calling device 
which reads and sends the selected registration data set from the data 
storage device to the parameter supplying device upon instruction of the 
registration call, such that the registration calling device sends both 
the first and second data subsets to the parameter supplying device, when 
the judging device judges that the data flag indicates that the second 
data subset shall be called. 
According to still further aspect of the present invention, the object is 
accomplished by providing a fifth type of music performing apparatus which 
comprises: a manipulative music performing device which performs music 
according to manipulative operations by a user to play music on the 
apparatus; an automatic accompaniment performing device which performs 
musical accompaniment according to automatically progressing rhythm 
signals; a data storage device which stores at least one registration data 
set each set including a first data subset which represents first 
parameters for defining registrations substantially related to musical 
performance other than the automatic accompaniment, a second data subset 
which represents second parameters for defining registrations 
substantially related to the automatic accompaniment, and a third data 
subset including data flags each of which corresponds to each of the 
second parameters and indicates whether the corresponding parameter shall 
be called or not, the first parameters substantially determining 
properties and manners of musical performance other than the automatic 
accompaniment and the second parameters substantially determining 
properties and manners of automatic accompaniment; a parameter supplying 
device which supplies the first and second parameters to the manipulative 
music performing device and the automatic accompaniment performing device, 
respectively, to render the manipulative music performing device operative 
to perform music with the properties and manners determined by the first 
parameters, and to render the automatic accompaniment performing device 
operative to perform musical accompaniment with the properties and manners 
determined by the second parameters; a judging device for judging whether 
each the data flag indicates that each the corresponding second parameter 
shall be called or not; a registration call instructing device for 
inputting an instruction to selectively call one of the at least one 
registration data set; and a registration calling device which reads and 
sends the selected registration data set from the data storage device to 
the parameter supplying device upon instruction of the registration call, 
such that the registration calling device sends to the parameter supplying 
device both the first and second data subset, when the judging device 
judges that none of the data flags indicate that the corresponding second 
parameter shall not be called. 
Any of the above-described types of music performing apparatus can be 
constructed by employing a computer system such that some or all of the 
respective mentioned element devices are constituted by configuring the 
computer system to perform the respective mentioned functions according to 
computer program instructions. 
For any of the above-described types of music performing apparatus, what is 
useful will be a machine readable medium containing the above-described 
respective registration data sets to be transferred to the data storage 
device comprised in the apparatus. 
For example, for the above-mentioned fourth type of music performing 
apparatus, what is useful will be a machine readable medium containing 
plural registration data sets each set including a first data subset which 
represents first parameters for defining registrations substantially 
related to musical performance other than the automatic accompaniment, a 
second data subset which represents second parameters for defining 
registrations substantially related to the automatic accompaniment, and a 
data flag which indicates whether the second data subset shall be called 
or not, wherein the first parameters substantially determine properties 
and manners of musical performance other than the automatic accompaniment 
and the second parameters substantially determine properties and manners 
of automatic accompaniment. 
For example, for the above-mentioned fifth type of music performing 
apparatus, what is useful will be a machine readable medium containing 
plural registration data sets each set including a first data subset which 
represents first parameters for defining registrations substantially 
related to musical performance other than the automatic accompaniment, a 
second data subset which represents second parameters for defining 
registrations substantially related to the automatic accompaniment, and a 
third data subset including data flags each of which corresponds to each 
of the second parameters and indicates whether the corresponding parameter 
shall be called or not, wherein the first parameters substantially 
determine properties and manners of musical performance other than the 
automatic accompaniment and the second parameters substantially determine 
properties and manners of automatic accompaniment. 
According to still further aspect of the present invention, the object is 
accomplished by providing a machine readable medium containing program 
instructions for use in a computer system to configure the computer system 
upon being read and executed by the computer system to perform the 
processes of: providing a manipulative music performing device which 
performs music according to manipulative operations by a user to play 
music on the computer system; providing an automatic accompaniment 
performing device which performs musical accompaniment according to 
automatically progressing rhythm signals; storing at least one 
registration data set each set including a first data subset which 
represents first parameters for defining registrations substantially 
related to musical performance other than the automatic accompaniment, and 
a second data subset which represents second parameters for defining 
registrations substantially related to the automatic accompaniment, the 
first parameters substantially determining properties and manners of 
musical performance other than the automatic accompaniment and the second 
parameters substantially determining properties and manners of automatic 
accompaniment; supplying the first and second parameters to the 
manipulative music performing device and the automatic accompaniment 
performing device, respectively, to render the manipulative music 
performing device operative to perform music with the properties and 
manners determined by the first parameters, and to render the automatic 
accompaniment performing device operative to perform musical accompaniment 
with the properties and manners determined by the second parameters; 
judging whether an automatic accompaniment performance is now running or 
not; providing a registration call instructing device for inputting an 
instruction to selectively call one of the at least one registration data 
set according to the user's selection; and reading and sending the 
selected registration data set from the data storage device to the 
parameter supplying process upon instruction of the registration call, 
such that the first data subset is supplied to the manipulative music 
performing device only and that the second data subset is not supplied to 
the automatic accompaniment performing device, when the judging process 
judges that an automatic accompaniment performance is running now. 
According to the above-described first type of music performing apparatus, 
when a registration is called form among the stored registrations during 
the time the automatic accompaniment is running, the parameters related to 
the automatic accompaniment will be automatically excluded from being 
supplied to the automatic accompaniment performing device and only the 
parameters related to the musical performance other than the automatic 
accompaniment will be supplied to the manipulative music performing 
device. Therefore, even though the player might call a registration in the 
middle of a performance using the automatic accompaniment function, 
inadvertent and unwilling alteration of parameters related to the 
automatic accompaniment will be avoided with no need of troublesome 
operations. 
According to the above-described second through fifth types of music 
performing apparatus, the use of the accompaniment-related parameters may 
be previously prohibited with respect to the preset registrations only or 
the prohibition of the use of the accompaniment-related parameters may be 
selectively determined by the player. Or the information for prohibiting 
the use of the accompaniment-related parameters is included in the 
registration data sets, or the data flags for indicating the prohibition 
of the use of the accompaniment-related parameters are individually 
included in the registration data sets, and the use of the respective 
parameters are determined in accordance with such information and data 
flags. Therefore, the player can enjoy a performance with precisely wanted 
panel settings by merely calling a registration during the musical 
performance. 
The machine readable medium containing registration data sets includes a 
data flag indicating whether the second parameters shall be called or not 
or data flags each indicating whether each of the second parameter shall 
be called or not, and therefore the accompaniment-related parameters can 
be collectively or individually prohibited as desired when a registration 
in called by the player. This permits an automatic judgment whether to 
call the accompaniment-related parameters or not collectively or 
individually when the automatic accompaniment is running on the apparatus, 
as the player merely sets the medium containing the registration data to 
the music performing apparatus and merely instructs to call any intended 
registrations from among the recorded registrations on the medium. Thus, 
the player can enjoy a musical performance under any desired panel 
settings as the player calls desired registrations from the recorded 
medium of this invention containing various registrations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings is a block diagram showing an outline 
of the hardware structure of an embodiment of a music performing apparatus 
of the present invention. 
In FIG. 1, a CPU (central processing unit) 1 is to control the overall 
operations of the apparatus, a ROM (read-only memory) 2 stores music and 
accompaniment performance programs executed by the CPU 1 and preset 
registration data to be called for the performance, a RAM 3 is to be used 
as a storing area for user-set registration data and a work area for the 
CPU 1, and a timer 4 is to count lapse time and to generate timer 
interruptions at a predetermined time interval and is used for the time 
control in the automatic accompaniment performance, the envelope 
formation, effects impartation and so forth. An external storage device 5 
includes a hard disk drive (HDD), a floppy disk drive (FDD), and CD 
(compact disk)-ROM, a magneto-optical disk (MO), a digital versatile disk 
(DVD) for storing various programs such as music and accompaniment 
performance programs and various data such as registration data. 
A MIDI interface (MIDI I/F) 6 is to transmit MIDI signals between the music 
performing apparatus of the present invention and other MIDI apparatuses 7 
such as a sequencer and an electronic musical instrument handling MIDI 
format data signals. A communication interface 8 is to connect the music 
performing apparatus of the present invention with a server computer 10 
via a communication network 9 including LAN (local area network) such as 
an Ethernet and a telephone line such as Internet so that the music 
performing apparatus may receive externally provided registration data, 
music performing programs and other application software. 
A keyboard 11 is a manipulating device for a musical performance and 
includes music playing keys, and a key detecting circuit 12 detects key 
depression signals indicating the note-on and the note-off states and 
other data indicating the after-touch conditions under the manipulation of 
the keys to send to a bus 19 in the system. Switches 13 are provided, for 
example, in a control panel, and a switch detecting circuit 14 detects the 
switch information under the actuation of the switches 13 to send to the 
bus 19. A display device 15 is to display various information necessary 
for setting registration data and so forth by actuating the switches 13 
and information related to a music performance while the music performance 
is running. 
A tone generator circuit 16 generates musical tones based on tone control 
data stored in tone generation registers for a plurality of tone 
processing channels, and an effects circuit 17 is to impart various 
effects such as a reverberation effect, a chorus effect and a variation 
effect onto the tone data as generated by the tone generator circuit 16 
based on effect control data for controlling effectors. A sound system 18 
is to amplify analog tone signals outputted from the effects circuit 17 as 
converted into analog signals and to emit audible sounds. The bus 19 
interconnects the respective element blocks in the system. 
With the music performing apparatus as constructed as above, the properties 
and control manners of the musical tones for performance and the 
properties and manners of the musical accompaniment can be set by means 
the plurality of switches 13 provided in the control panel, and a musical 
performance can be conducted under such a condition as set according to 
the panel switch setting state, which is usually referred to as the 
registration for a musical performance. The panel setting states may be 
arbitrarily set by the user and so set states may be stored in the RAM 3 
as registration data, and other panel setting states which are previously 
set in the music performing apparatus of the present invention are stored 
in the ROM 2 as registration data. The registration data indicating panel 
setting states and stored in the ROM 2 or in the RAM 3 can be called by 
manipulating a registration call switch among the switches 13 in the 
panel, whereupon the called data determine a panel setting state so that 
the musical performance is conducted under the so set panel setting state. 
Namely, a single manipulation of the registration call switch among the 
switches 13 can realize a desired panel setting state consisting of a 
combination of individual switch and control states in place of 
troublesome setting of a plurality of individual switches 13 in the panel. 
The registration data can be generally classified into two categories, the 
data representing parameters for defining registrations substantially 
related to the ordinary manipulative musical performance other than the 
automatic accompaniment and the data representing parameters for defining 
registrations substantially related to the automatic accompaniment 
performance. The former parameters substantially determine the properties 
and manners of the musical performance other than the automatic 
accompaniment including the tone properties and the control manners, while 
the latter parameters substantially determine the properties and manners 
of the automatic accompaniment including the tone properties and the 
control manners. When the registration call switch among the panel 
switches 13 is actuated before a musical performance (or during a 
performance not using the automatic accompaniment function), all of the 
registration data are called to set all switches and controls in the panel 
to the state of a selected registration. 
In the first type embodiment of the music performing apparatus according to 
the present invention, when the registration call switch 13 is actuated in 
the middle of a musical performance using the automatic accompaniment 
function, only the parameters related to the musical performance other 
than the automatic accompaniment are called for setting the panel 
condition, and the parameters related to the automatic accompaniment are 
automatically excluded (prohibited) from being called. Thus, by 
prohibiting the parameters related to the automatic accompaniment from 
being called in the middle of a music performance using the automatic 
accompaniment function, the panel setting state related to the automatic 
accompaniment, i.e. the panel registration determining the properties and 
manners of the automatic accompaniment will be maintained without being 
altered or affected, even when any registration is called during the 
performance employing the automatic accompaniment. Therefore, the player 
can enjoy a musical performance according to the panel setting state as 
desired for the ordinary performance by calling a desired registration in 
the middle of the musical performance employing the automatic 
accompaniment. 
In the second type embodiment of the music performing apparatus according 
to the present invention, when the registration call switch 13 is actuated 
in the middle of a musical performance using the automatic accompaniment 
function, all of the registration data representing the parameters 
including those related to the automatic accompaniment will be called, if 
the called registration is a user-set registration which was set by the 
user by actuating the respective panel switches and stored in the RAM 3. 
On the other hand, if the called registration is a factory preset 
registration for the apparatus and is stored in the ROM 2, only the 
parameters related to the musical performance other than the automatic 
accompaniment are called for setting the panel condition, and the 
parameters related to the automatic accompaniment is prohibited from being 
called. In this way, by prohibiting the call of the parameters related to 
the automatic accompaniment only in the case of calling preset 
registration data, the player can enjoy a music performance under the 
particularly desired panel setting state by calling a desired registration 
in the middle of the performance employing the automatic accompaniment, 
which reflects the intention of the player more closely. 
In the third type embodiment of the music performing apparatus according to 
the present invention, the user can set whether only the parameters 
related to a musical performance other than the automatic accompaniment 
shall be called or not, when the registration call switch 13 is actuated 
in the middle of a musical performance using the automatic accompaniment 
function. And where the user has set that only the data other than the 
parameters related to the automatic accompaniment shall be called, if the 
registration call switch 13 is actuated in the middle of a music 
performance using the automatic accompaniment, then only the parameters 
other than those related to the automatic accompaniment will be called and 
the parameters related to the automatic accompaniment will be prohibited. 
But, where the user has set that not only the accompaniment-unrelated 
parameters but all of the parameters shall be called, if the registration 
call switch 13 is actuated, then all of the registration data including 
the parameters related to the automatic accompaniment will be called. In 
this way, as the user can set whether the data other than the parameters 
related to the automatic accompaniment shall be called or not, the player 
can enjoy a music performance under the specifically desired panel setting 
state by calling a desired registration in the middle of the performance 
employing the automatic accompaniment, which closely reflects the 
intention of the player. 
In the fourth type embodiment of the music performing apparatus according 
to the present invention, the registration data include a data flag for 
each registration data set to indicate whether only the data other than 
the parameters related to the automatic accompaniment shall be called or 
not, when the registration call switch 13 is actuated in the middle of a 
musical performance using the automatic accompaniment function. And where 
the data flag is set to indicate that only the data other than the 
parameters related to the automatic accompaniment shall be called, if the 
registration call switch 13 is actuated in the middle of a music 
performance using the automatic accompaniment, then only the parameters 
other than those related to the automatic accompaniment will be called and 
the parameters related to the automatic accompaniment will be prohibited. 
But, where the data flag is set to indicate that not only the data other 
than the accompaniment-related parameters but all of the parameters shall 
be called, if the registration call switch 13 is actuated, then all of the 
registration data including the parameters related to the automatic 
accompaniment will be called. As the data flag can be arbitrarily set by 
the user, the player can enjoy a music performance under the specifically 
desired panel setting state by calling a desired registration in the 
middle of the performance employing the automatic accompaniment. 
In the fifth type embodiment of the music performing apparatus according to 
the present invention, the registration data include data flags each 
corresponding to each of the accompaniment-related parameters and 
indicating whether each corresponding accompaniment-related parameters 
shall be called or not, when the registration call switch 13 is actuated 
in the middle of a musical performance using the automatic accompaniment 
function. And therefore, when the registration call switch 13 is actuated 
in the middle of a music performance using the automatic accompaniment, 
then the parameters related to the automatic accompaniment other than 
those parameters of which the corresponding data flags are set not to call 
the respective parameters and all parameters related to musical 
performance other than the automatic accompaniment will be called, while 
the parameters whose corresponding data flags are set not to call the 
respective parameters related to the automatic accompaniment will be 
prohibited. As each data flag corresponding to each parameter among the 
accompaniment-related parameters can be arbitrarily set by the user, the 
player can enjoy a music performance under the specifically desired panel 
setting state by calling a desired registration in the middle of the 
performance employing the automatic accompaniment. 
A plurality of registrations may be set, according to a program, to be 
called in a sequence one after another in the middle of the performance, 
so that the actuations of the registration call switch 13 can set one 
registration after another in the programmed order for the performance. 
Alternatively, a plurality of registration switches 13 may be provided 
corresponding to the respective ones of a plurality of registrations 
(panel setting states) so that the actuation of any of those registration 
switches 13 will call the registration which corresponds to the actuated 
call switch. 
FIG. 2 shows the details of the registrations composed of the parameters 
related to the musical performance other than the automatic accompaniment 
and the parameters related to the automatic accompaniment. Shown in FIG. 2 
are four sets of registration data Reg1 through Reg4, each set including a 
like set of parameters. The player can selectively call any desired one 
from among these four registrations for applying to his/her performance. 
The contents of the registration data are explained hereunder with 
reference to the registration Reg1 as an example. The 
accompaniment-unrelated parameters, which is the parameters for defining 
registrations substantially related to (i.e. for substantially determining 
the properties and manners of) the musical performance other than the 
automatic accompaniment, are the main voice parameters for setting main 
voice properties, the dual voice parameters for setting dual voice 
properties, the split voice parameters for setting split voice properties, 
the effect parameters for setting effects and other parameters for setting 
other properties for the music performance. 
The main voice parameters are comprised of parameters respectively 
indicating the voice number, the volume (tone intensity), the planning 
(sharing signal intensities between the L and R channels to locate the 
sounds in the stereophonic audio system), the octave, and so forth for the 
main voice. The dual voice parameters are parameters to determine the 
properties of the dual voice which is a secondary voice (tone) to the main 
voice (tone) when two tones are simultaneously generated under the 
condition of "dual mode on", and are comprised of parameters respectively 
indicating the voice number, the volume, the panning, the octave, the dual 
mode on/off, and so forth for the dual voice. Where the dual mode is set, 
the parameters for the primary voice are the main voice parameters. 
The keyboard 11 is split in two key (note) ranges where the split mode is 
set "on". The tones generated in the lower key range are termed "split 
voices", while the tones generated in the higher key range are the main 
voices under the split mode, and the split voices and the main voices may 
be assigned with different tone properties such as tone colors. The split 
voice parameters to determine the properties of the split voice are 
comprised of parameters respectively indicating the voice number, the 
volume, the panning, the octave, the split mode on/off, the split point, 
and so forth for the split voice. Where the split mode is set, the 
parameters for the tones generated in the higher key range are the main 
voice parameters. The main voice parameters, the dual voice parameters and 
the split voice parameters are transmitted to the tone generation register 
in the tone generator circuit 16 for setting the tone generator circuit 16 
to generate respective tone signals in the voices determined by these 
parameters. 
The effect parameters which determines the properties and manners of 
effects to be imparted in the effects circuit 17 to the tone signals 
generated by the tone generator circuit 16 are comprised of parameters 
respectively indicating the reverberation type, the reverberation on/off, 
the chorus type, the chorus on/off, the harmony type, the harmony on/off, 
and so forth among the effects to be imparted to the tone signals. The 
other parameters are parameters respectively indicting the touch 
sensitivity, the touch bend range, the tuning, the transposition, and so 
forth for the performance. 
The accompaniment-related parameters, which is the parameters for defining 
registrations substantially related to (i.e. for substantially determining 
the properties and manners of) the automatic accompaniment, are the 
accompaniment on/off parameter for setting whether to use the automatic 
accompaniment function, the style parameter for setting the accompaniment 
style number which designates the style (or genre) of the automatic 
accompaniment, the section parameter for setting the section such as the 
introduction, the fill-in, the main and the ending within the designated 
style to which the selected registration is to be applied, the split point 
parameter for setting the split point which is the border of the chord key 
range, the synchro parameter for setting the synchronized start/stop 
function in which the automatic accompaniment shall start upon first 
depression of any key in the keyboard 11 under the standby state, and the 
accompaniment tone control parameters for setting the effects on and 
properties of the accompaniment tones. 
The accompaniment on/off parameter is a parameter to set whether chords and 
basses are to be generated in addition to the rhythm tones with the chord 
key range being designated or only rhythm tones are to be generated with 
the chord key range being cleared. When the synchro parameter indicating 
the use of the synchronized start/stop function is called while the 
automatic accompaniment is not running, the apparatus is set to the 
standby state for the synchronized start of the accompaniment. Among the 
accompaniment tone control parameters, there are parameters indicating the 
send-to-reverberation level (level of tone signals to be sent to the 
reverberation device), the send-to-chorus level (level of tone signals to 
be sent to the chorus effect imparting device), the filter factors, the 
attack level, the release level, the modulation degree, etc., and these 
parameters are provided for the bass channel, the chord channel and the 
rhythm channel separately to control the accompaniment tones in the 
respective channels individually. 
Where the automatic accompaniment is performed according to the setting by 
the accompaniment related parameters, the keyboard 11 is divided into the 
chord key range and the ordinary key range at the split point so that 
chords are detected based on the depressed keys in the chord key range. 
The way of detecting chords may be the fingered chord mode in which chords 
are detected from the actually depressed chord constituent note keys or 
may be the single finger mode in which chords are detected from one 
through three (or more) keys as depressed according to a predetermined 
simple rules provided between the respective chords and the respective 
combination patterns of the depressed keys. Or alternatively, the chord 
detection mode may be a full keyboard mode in which chords are detected 
from the key depression states through the whole keyboard range without 
dividing into the chord key range and the ordinary key range. When the 
accompaniment-off condition is set, the chord detection will not take 
place. The automatic accompaniment will be started by the actuation of a 
rhythm start switch (although not shown), or by the depression of any key 
in the keyboard when the synchronized start mode is set. However, when the 
rhythm start switch is simply actuated, or when a key in the ordinary key 
range is depressed under the synchro-start mode, the automatic 
accompaniment will start with only the rhythm tones first, and thereafter 
when the keys in the chord key range are depressed, then the generation of 
the chord tones and/or the bass tones will start. On the other hand, when 
the first depression of keys is in the chord key range under the 
synchro-start mode, the chord part tones and/or the bass part tones will 
start from the beginning in addition to the rhythm tones. However, where 
the accompaniment-off mode is set, only the rhythm tones will be 
generated. 
As is apparent from FIG. 2, there are provided a plurality of registration 
data sets Reg1 through Reg4 and the player can selectively call any of 
them to apply to his/her performance. Therefore, the ROM2 stores a number 
of accompaniment style data, among which the accompaniment style data 
corresponding to the selected style number will be read out and be used 
for conducting the automatic accompaniment performance. Each set of 
accompaniment style data is comprised of plural parts like a rhythm part, 
a chord part and a bass part, and is also comprised of plural sections 
like an introduction, a main, a fill-in, an ending, etc. To the 
accompaniment tones may also be imparted a reverberation effect, a chorus 
effect and so forth, and further the tone characteristics may also be 
controlled in terms of the filter characteristics and the envelope 
characteristics. 
Now a description will be made about the first-type embodiment of the music 
performing apparatus according to the present invention with reference to 
the flowchart of FIG. 3 showing the process of calling a registration. The 
actuation of the registration call switch among the switches 13 in the 
panel starts the process of calling a registration, and first a step S10 
conducts the process of calling (reading out from the ROM 2 or the RAM 3 
and setting the switches and controls accordingly) accompaniment-unrelated 
parameters, i.e. the parameters substantially determining properties and 
manners of a musical performance other than an automatic accompaniment. 
Next, a step S11 judges whether the automatic rhythm performance is 
running or not. If the automatic rhythm is running, the process of calling 
a registration goes to its end without calling the accompaniment-related 
parameters, whereas if the automatic rhythm is not running, the process 
moves forward to a step S12 to call the accompaniment-related parameters, 
i.e. the parameters substantially determining the properties and the 
manners of an automatic accompaniment performance, before ending the 
registration call processing. 
Thus, in the middle of a music performance using the automatic 
accompaniment function, the accompaniment-related parameters will be 
prohibited from being called so that the panel setting state about the 
accompaniment-related switches and controls will not be changed, i.e. the 
properties and manners of the automatic accompaniment will be maintained 
without alteration, even though a registration is called anew during the 
music performance using the automatic accompaniment function. Therefore, 
the player can enjoy the music performance according to his/her intended 
panel setting state even by arbitrarily calling stored registrations 
during the performance employing the automatic accompaniment. 
Next, a description will be made about the second-type embodiment of the 
music performing apparatus according to the present invention with 
reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 showing the process of calling a 
registration. The second-type embodiment, however, includes the 
preset-registrations as shown in FIG. 4(a) which are previously 
factory-set in the ROM 2 in the music performing apparatus and the 
user-set registrations as shown in FIG. 4(b) which have been set by the 
user according to the manipulation of plural switches 13 and are stored in 
the RAM 3. Each of the preset registrations and the user-set registrations 
includes accompaniment-unrelated parameters and accompaniment-related 
parameters as seen from these figures. From among these plural 
registrations, the player can selectively call any of the preset 
registrations and the user-set registrations to arbitrarily alter the 
panel setting state. Upon actuation of the registration call switch among 
the panel switches 13, the registration calling process starts and a step 
S20 calls an accompaniment-unrelated parameters. Next, a step S21 judges 
whether the called registration is a preset registration or not. Where the 
called registration is a preset registration stored in the ROM 2, the 
judgement answer is YES and the process flow branches to a step S23, which 
in turn judges whether the automatic rhythm (accompaniment) is running or 
not. If the automatic rhythm is running, the answer here will be YES, and 
the processing moves forward to an end to terminate the registration 
calling process without calling the accompaniment-related parameters. If 
the automatic rhythm is not running, the judgement answer will be NO, and 
the processing moves forward to a step S22, which in turn calls the 
accompaniment-related parameters, thereafter ending the registration call 
processing. On the other hand, when the step S21 judges that the called 
registration is a user-set registration stored in the RAM 3, the process 
moves forward to the step S22 to call the accompaniment-related parameters 
to thereafter terminate the registration calling processing. 
Thus as explained above, during the performance employing the automatic 
accompaniment, the accompaniment-related parameters will be prohibited 
from being called only where the called registration is a preset 
registration so that the panel setting state related to the automatic 
accompaniment is maintained, even when a preset-registration may be called 
in the course of music performance using the automatic accompaniment. 
Therefore, the player can enjoy the music performance according to his/her 
intended panel setting state without suffering from inadvertent 
(unintended) changes in the panel setting, even by calling the stored 
registrations during the performance employing the automatic 
accompaniment. 
Next, a description will be made about the third-type embodiment of the 
music performing apparatus according to the present invention with 
reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively showing the 
processes of a call inhibition switch function and of a registration call 
function. In the third-type embodiment, the user is permitted to set 
whether only the data of accompaniment-unrelated parameters shall be 
called or not when a registration is called during the music performance 
using the automatic accompaniment. This setting according to the user's 
intention is conducted by the call inhibition switch processing. Upon 
actuation of the call inhibition switch provided among the panel switches 
13 by the user, the call inhibition switch processing as shown in FIG. 6 
is started. A step S30 judges whether or not it has been under the 
call-inhibited mode in which only the data of accompaniment-unrelated 
parameters shall be called when a registration is called during the music 
performance using the automatic accompaniment. If the step S30 judges that 
the present state is under the call-inhibited mode, the process moves 
forward to a step S31 to clear the call-inhibited mode, and the call 
inhibition switch processing comes to its end. On the other hand, if the 
step S30 judges that the present state is not under the call-inhibited 
mode, the process moves forward to a step S32 to set the call-inhibited 
mode, and the call inhibition switch processing comes to its end. In this 
way, every time the call inhibition switch is actuated, the states are 
alternately changed from the call-inhibited mode set state to the 
call-inhibited mode cleared state, and vice versa, thereby serving as a 
push-push change over switch for the user to arbitrarily set the intended 
one of the two states. 
Then, the actuation of the registration call switch 13 initiates the 
process of calling a registration (selectively from among the plural 
registrations provided) as shown in FIG. 7, wherein a step S40 calls the 
accompaniment-unrelated parameters. Thereafter, a step S41 judges whether 
or not the present state is under the call-inhibited mode in which only 
the data of accompaniment-unrelated parameters shall be called when a 
registration is called during the musical performance using the automatic 
accompaniment. Where the situation is under the call-inhibited mode, the 
judgement says YES and the process branches to a step S43 to judge whether 
the automatic rhythm (accompaniment) is running or not. If the rhythm is 
running, the judgement here says YES and as a result the process of 
calling a registration comes to its end without calling an 
accompaniment-related parameters. On the other hand if the rhythm is not 
running, the judgement at the step S43 says NO and as a result the process 
moves to a step S42 to call the accompaniment-related parameters, and 
thereafter the process of calling a registration comes to its end. If the 
step S41 judges that the call-inhibited mode has been cleared, the process 
moves directly to the step S42 to call the accompaniment-related 
parameters, and thereafter the process of calling a registration comes to 
its end. 
Thus as explained above, during the musical performance using the automatic 
accompaniment, when the registration call switch 13 is actuated to 
selectively call a desired registration from among the stored plurality of 
registrations, only the data other than the accompaniment-related 
parameters are read out, if the user has set the call-inhibited mode, and 
the accompaniment-related parameters will not be called. Where the user 
has cleared the call-inhibited mode, both the accompaniment-unrelated 
parameters and the accompaniment-related parameters will be called whether 
the automatic accompaniment is being used or not. Thus, the user can 
selectively set whether to call only the data other than the 
accompaniment-related parameters or not, and accordingly the player can 
enjoy a music performance under his/her intended panel setting state while 
calling a registration during the performance using the automatic 
accompaniment. 
Next, a description will be made about the fourth-type embodiment of the 
music performing apparatus according to the present invention with 
reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9 showing the process of calling a 
registration. The data structure of the registrations in the fourth-type 
embodiment includes a call inhibition flag for each data set of a 
registration as shown in FIG. 8. As seen from this figure, there are 
provided four registration data sets Reg1 through Reg4 as an example, each 
set including a like set of parameters. The player can selectively call 
any desired one from among these four registrations for applying to 
his/her performance. The contents of the registration data are explained 
hereunder with reference to the registration Reg1 as an example. With 
respect to the registration which has a call inhibition flag of the "on " 
condition, if it is called during the music performance using the 
automatic accompaniment, then only the data other than the 
accompaniment-related parameters will be read and applied for the panel 
setting out of the called registration. The on/off condition is to be 
individually set for each registration by the user arbitrarily. Upon 
actuation of the registration call switch 13, the registration calling 
process starts and a step S50 calls an accompaniment-unrelated parameters. 
Thereafter, a step S51 judges whether or not the call inhibition flag is 
"on" under which only the data other than the accompaniment-related 
parameters shall be called when a registration is called during the 
musical performance using the automatic accompaniment. Where the call 
inhibition flag is in the "on" condition, the judgement at the step S51 
says YES and the process branches to a step S53 to judge whether the 
automatic rhythm (accompaniment) is running or not. If the rhythm is 
running, the judgement at the step S53 says YES and as a result the 
process of calling a registration comes to its end without calling the 
accompaniment-related parameters. On the other hand, if the rhythm is not 
running the judgement at the step S53 says NO and as a result the process 
moves to a step S52 to call the accompaniment-related parameters, and 
thereafter the process of calling a registration comes to its end. If the 
step S51 judges that the call inhibition flag is "off", the process moves 
directly to the step S52 to call the accompaniment-related parameters, and 
thereafter the process of calling a registration comes to its end. 
Thus as explained above, during the musical performance using the automatic 
accompaniment, when the registration call switch 13 is actuated to 
selectively call a desired registration from among the stored plurality of 
registrations, only the data other than the accompaniment-related 
parameters are read out and applied, if the user has set the call 
inhibition flag at the "on" condition for the registration under call, and 
the accompaniment-related parameters will not be called. Where the user 
has set the call inhibition flag at the "off" condition, both the 
accompaniment-unrelated parameters and the accompaniment-related 
parameters will be called whether the automatic accompaniment is being 
used or not. Thus, the user can selectively set whether to call only the 
data other than the accompaniment-related parameters or not, and 
accordingly the player can enjoy a music performance under his/her 
intended panel setting states while calling registrations during the 
performance using the automatic accompaniment. 
Next, a description will be made about the fifth-type embodiment of the 
music performing apparatus according to the present invention with 
reference to the flowchart of FIG. 11 showing the process of calling a 
registration. As shown in FIG. 10, there are provided four registration 
data sets Reg1 through Reg4 as an example, each set including a like set 
of parameters. The player can selectively call any desired one from among 
these four registrations for applying to his/her performance. The data 
structure of the registrations in the fifth-type embodiment includes a 
call inhibition flag F for each element parameter P among the 
accompaniment-related parameters in each registration as shown in FIG. 10 
for the registration Reg1 as an example. When a registration is called 
during the music performance using the automatic accompaniment, then only 
the element parameters P other than those of which the corresponding call 
inhibition flag F is "on" among the accompaniment-related parameters will 
be read and applied for the panel setting. The on/off condition of the 
call inhibition flag F is to be individually set for each element 
parameter P among the accompaniment-related parameters by the user 
arbitrarily. 
Upon actuation of the registration call switch 13, the registration calling 
process starts and a step S60 calls an accompaniment-unrelated parameters. 
Thereafter, a step S61 selects the top (first) element parameter P among 
the accompaniment-related parameters, and next a step S62 judges whether 
or not the call inhibition flag F corresponding to the selected element 
parameter P is "on " under which that element parameter P shall not be 
called when a registration is called during the musical performance using 
the automatic accompaniment. Where the call inhibition flag F for the top 
element parameter P is in the "on" condition, the judgement at the step 
S62 says YES and the process branches to a step S64 to judge whether the 
automatic rhythm (accompaniment) is running or not. If the rhythm is 
running, the judgement at the step S64 says YES and as a result the 
process moves forward to a step S65 without calling the top element 
parameter P to judge whether all the element parameters have been 
processed or not. In this instance of the top element parameter P, the 
processes for all the element parameters have not finished yet, and 
therefore the process branches to a step S66 to select the next element 
parameter P before going back to the step S62. On the other hand, if the 
rhythm is not running, the judgement at the step S64 says NO and as a 
result the process moves directly to a step S63 to call the currently 
selected top element parameter before moving to the step S65. If the step 
S62 judges that the call inhibition flag F for the currently selected 
element parameter is "off", the process moves directly to the step S63 to 
call the corresponding element parameter P. Then the process moves to the 
step S65, and if all the element parameters P have not processed yet, the 
process flow branches to the step S66 to select the next element parameter 
P before going back to the step S62. Likewise the above described process 
flow from the step S62 through the step S66 is repeated about every 
element parameters in the accompaniment-related parameters. When such a 
process flow has conducted with respect to all the element parameters, the 
step S65 judges YES and the process of calling the registration comes to 
its end. 
Thus as explained above, when a registration is called during the musical 
performance using the automatic accompaniment, only the 
accompaniment-related parameters whose corresponding call inhibition flag 
is "on" are prohibited from being read out and applied. On the other hand, 
the accompaniment-related parameters whose corresponding call inhibition 
flags are individually set "off" by the user will be called whether or not 
the automatic accompaniment is currently running. 
In this way, during the musical performance using the automatic 
accompaniment, when the registration call switch 13 is actuated to 
selectively call a desired registration from among the stored plurality of 
registrations, only the element parameters P in the accompaniment-related 
parameters other than the element parameters P whose respectively 
corresponding call inhibition flags F are set "on" by the user will be 
called and set in the panel. Thus, the user can selectively set which 
element parameters to call on a parameter-by-parameter basis, and 
accordingly the player can enjoy a music performance under his/her 
intended panel setting state while calling registrations during the 
performance employing the automatic accompaniment. 
Any of the above described five types of embodiments may be employed in 
combination in a single apparatus according to the present invention. For 
example, the registration calling rule in the second embodiment in which 
the accompaniment-related parameters in the preset registrations are 
prohibited from being called and the parameters in the user-set 
registrations are always callable and the registration calling rule in the 
third embodiment in which the call-inhibited mode can be either set or 
cleared may be combined to make a new registration calling rule in which 
the accompaniment-related parameters in the preset registrations are 
prohibited from being called in case the call-inhibited mode is set and 
are callable in case the call-inhibited mode is cleared whereas the 
parameters in the user-set registrations are always callable. 
Alternatively, the registration calling rule in the fourth or fifth 
embodiment in which the accompaniment-related parameters are prohibited 
from being called where the call inhibition flag is "on" and the 
registration calling rule in the third embodiment in which the 
call-inhibited mode can be either set or cleared may be combined to make 
another new registration rule in which the accompaniment-related 
parameters are prohibited from being called if the call inhibition flag is 
"on" and the cell-inhibited mode is set whereas the parameters are 
callable if the call-inhibited mode is cleared even though the call 
inhibition flag is "on", and whereas the parameters are callable as long 
as the call inhibition flag is "off" even though the call-inhibited mode 
is set. Although not exemplarily described herein, any combinations with 
further types of inhibition rules may be possible and available for the 
present invention. 
The kinds of parameters in the registration data may not be limited to 
those examples illustrated in FIG. 2, and may be more in number or may be 
less in number than the illustrated examples. Further, some of the 
parameters illustrated within the "accompaniment-related parameters" may 
be included in the "accompaniment-unrelated parameters" (i.e. parameters 
not related to call inhibition) instead. Still further, the registration 
data may be so designed as to be particularly preferable for the 
respective accompaniment styles on a style-by-style basis (i.e. the data 
to define the panel setting state particularly desirable for the music 
performance using the respective accompaniment styles such as rock, jazz 
and pops), wherein, however, all or some of the accompaniment-related 
parameters are to be prohibited from being called when any 
accompaniment-style-specific registration data may be called during the 
musical performance using the automatic accompaniment. 
The operation of calling a registration data set (i.e. setting the panel 
switch states) may be conducted by manipulating the corresponding one of 
the control knobs provided in the panel uniquely corresponding to the 
respective registration data sets, or may be programmed beforehand to call 
plurality of registration data sets in sequence according to the 
designated calling order so as to call the registrations one after another 
automatically in the designated order (namely, not only the calling order 
but also the calling timings are to be programmed), or to call the 
registrations one after another manually in the programmed order by 
manipulating a uniquely provided predetermined trigger knob (in the latter 
case, the timings of the respective calls will follow the timings of 
manipulation of the trigger knob). Further, in case the registrations are 
to be called by manipulating the control knobs, the registration may be 
called (altered) at the time the control knob is actuated or may be called 
in synchronism with the predetermined timings such as the beat timings and 
the bar line timings in the musical progression of the accompaniment (for 
example, by waiting for each such timing which comes first after each 
manipulation of the control knob). 
Further, the registration data may not be limited to such data as are 
inherently stored in the internal storage device ROM 2 and to such data as 
are inputted to the present apparatus by manipulating the knobs and are 
stored in the RAM 3, but may be supplied from an external storage device 
or may be supplied from other MIDI apparatuses 7 or a server computer 10 
via the MIDI interface 6 or the communication interface 8. 
Further, a music performing apparatus of the present invention may not 
necessarily be a stand-alone apparatus, but may also be realized in the 
form of a personal computer plus application software. Such application 
software may be stored in a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a 
semiconductor memory and so forth and may be supplied directly to the 
personal computer or via some network. 
Further, a music performing apparatus of the present invention may not 
necessarily be in the form of a keyboard-type musical instrument, but also 
may be a stringed musical instrument type, a wind musical instrument type 
or a percussion musical instrument type. The tone generator device and the 
automatic accompaniment device may not necessarily be limited to those 
built in the main body of the music performing apparatus, but also may be 
separate devices provided outside the main apparatus and may be connected 
with each other by means of appropriate communication networks or MIDI 
connection cables. 
The tone generator circuit 16 for a music performing apparatus of the 
present invention may be of any type such as a waveform memory type, an FM 
synthesis type, a physical model type, a harmonics synthesis type, a 
formant synthesis type and an analog synthesizer type including the 
configuration of VCO+VCF+VCA. The tone generator 16 may not necessarily be 
constructed by an exclusive hardware circuit, but may be constructed by 
using a DSP+a unique microprogram, or by a CPU+a software program. 
Further, the tone generator 16 may include a plurality of tone generation 
channels formed by a time-sharing configuration of a single circuit or may 
include a plurality of circuits each forming each of the plurality of 
channels. 
A hard disk drive (HDD) which can constitute the external storage device 5 
is a storage device for storing control programs and various data. Where 
the ROM 2 does not store the control programs for the music performing 
apparatus, the control programs may be stored in the hard disk in the HDD 
unit and may be loaded into the RAM 3 so that the CPU 1 conducts similar 
operations as in the case of the ROM 2 which stores the control programs. 
With such an arrangement, addition or up-grading of the control programs 
can easily be conducted. A CD-ROM drive which can constitute the external 
storage device 5 is a device reading out the control programs and various 
data stored in a detachable CD-ROM. The read out control programs and 
various data can be stored in the hard disk in the HDD unit so that new 
installation or up-grading of the control programs can easily be 
conducted. Other than such a CD-ROM drive, a floppy disk drive, a 
magneto-optical disk (MO) drive, a DVD (digital versatile disk) drive and 
other various media drive may be employed for utilizing various detachable 
storage media. 
The communication interface 8 is connected to the communication network 9 
such as a LAN (local area network), Internet and a telephone line to be 
connected to the server computer 10 via the communication network 9. The 
communication network 9 is used to download the programs and the data from 
the server computer 10 in case the control programs and various data are 
not stored in the ROM 2 or the hard disk drive. In such a situation, the 
music performing apparatus of the present invention is a client to the 
server computer 10, and transmits a command to the server computer 10 via 
the communication interface 8 with the communication network 9 requesting 
the downloading of the programs and the data. The server computer 10 
receives the command, and then delivers the requested programs and data to 
the music performing apparatus of the present invention via the 
communication network 9. The music performing apparatus of the present 
invention then receives the delivered programs and data through the 
communication interface 8 to store in the hard disk drive, thereby 
completing the downloading procedure. 
As will be understood from the above description, according to the 
embodiment of the first type of music performing apparatus of the present 
invention, the parameters substantially related to the automatic 
accompaniment will be automatically excluded from being called and applied 
to the panel setting and the parameters substantially unrelated to the 
automatic accompaniment will be called, in case a registration is called 
while the automatic accompaniment is running. Consequently, even though 
the user calls a registration for altering the panel setting state in the 
middle of the music performance employing the automatic accompaniment, an 
inadvertent and unintended change in the panel setting state for the 
automatic accompaniment will be avoided without requiring troublesome 
complicated manipulations. 
According to the embodiments of the second through fifth types of music 
performing apparatus of the present invention, the parameters 
substantially related to the automatic accompaniment can be prohibited 
from being called and applied to the panel setting only with respect to 
the previously preset registrations and the user can arbitrarily select 
whether the parameters substantially related to the automatic 
accompaniment are to be called or not. And further, the registration data 
are so arranged that each registration data set includes a data flag 
indicating that the parameters substantially related to the automatic 
accompaniment should be prohibited from being called and applied to the 
panel setting or not when a registration is called during the music 
performance employing the automatic accompaniment, or so that each element 
parameter within the accompaniment-related parameters is paired with a 
data flag indicating that the paired corresponding element parameter 
should be prohibited from being called and applied to the panel setting or 
not, thereby excluding or calling the respective element parameters based 
on the indication of the corresponding data flags. Therefore, the player 
can enjoy the music performance according to the panel setting state as 
intended by himself/herself merely by calling the stored registrations. 
The registration data to be used in the present invention may preferably be 
stored in a machine readable medium for externally supplying such data to 
the music performing apparatus of the present invention. The data stored 
in the medium includes comprehensive call inhibition information 
indicating whether the accompaniment-related parameters in the called 
registration as a whole are to be called or not, or individual call 
inhibition information indicating whether the individual element 
parameters in the accompaniment-related parameters in the called 
registration are to be called or not on an element-by-element basis, and 
accordingly, when registration data are called, the accompaniment 
parameters as a whole or individually designated by the call inhibition 
information will be prohibited from being called and applied to the panel 
setting. Therefore, by setting the storage medium containing the 
registration data according to the present invention to the medium reader 
of the music performing apparatus of the present invention and thereafter 
commanding the call of the stored registration data, the music performing 
apparatus automatically judges whether the accompaniment-related 
parameters as a whole or the individual element parameters thereof should 
be called or not. Thus, the player can enjoy the musical performance with 
his/her intended panel setting state by taking out the registration from 
the storage medium containing the registration data of the present 
invention. 
The invention is not limited to a music performing apparatus of an 
integrated form comprising in itself the enumerated element devices as 
shown in FIG. 1, but may be applied to a system constituted by separate 
element devices connected together to configure the music performing 
apparatus of the present invention in combination. Also various manners of 
technology prevailing in the computer field may also be available. 
While several forms of the invention have been shown and described, other 
forms will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from 
the spirit of the invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the 
embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for 
illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the 
invention, which is defined by the appended claims.