Patent Description:
There is a musical instrument referred to as a tonewheel organ. The tonewheel organ can create a tone color having a characteristic fluctuation and is often used for jazz or rock music. Further, a rotary speaker has been known as a speaker that is often used in combination with the tonewheel organ.

The rotary speaker includes a high-pitch speaker and a low-pitch speaker. Further, the high-pitch speaker is provided with a hone rotor, and the low-pitch speaker is provided with a drum rotor. The hone rotor and the drum rotor are rotated by a motor included in the rotary speaker, whereby a sound is output radially from the high-pitch and low-pitch speakers. Thus, effects such as a chorus, a vibrato and a tremolo are provided to the sound to be output from the high-pitch and low-pitch speakers due to the Doppler effect. <CIT> discloses a rotating speaker simulator, <CIT> discloses interfacing a LFO for transition between flanger and filter effects. Finally, digital audio workstations comprising rotary speaker simulators are known, as disclosed in <NPL>, and <NPL>.

A musical sound signal generation device may generate a musical sound signal simulating a sound of an electric organ to be output from a rotary speaker.

A device that generates a musical sound signal simulating a sound to be output from the rotary speaker is utilized, whereby a player can enjoy a musical performance sound similar to a sound to be output when a rotary speaker is used while using a normal speaker. Such a device does not use the rotary speaker in which a speaker rotates mechanically. Therefore, because mechanical restriction that is present in a case where the rotary speaker is actually used is not present, a musical performance sound is output without this restriction. Thus, creation of a device with a new additional value is expected.

An object of the present disclosure is to generate a musical sound signal simulating a sound to be output from a rotary speaker and output a sound signal having characteristics not provided by a mechanical rotary speaker.

An inventive sound signal conversion device according to appended claim <NUM> is set out in the present disclosure, and includes a supplier that supplies a periodic change to an input sound signal and outputs the sound signal to which the periodic change is supplied, wherein the supplier includes a phase determiner that determines a phase at which the periodic change supplied to the sound signal starts based on initial phase information when receiving a start instruction for starting supply of the periodic change to the sound signal.

Further, a sound signal conversion method according to appended claim <NUM> as well as a sound signal conversion program according to claim <NUM> are provided.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:.

A sound signal conversion device, a sound signal conversion method, a sound signal conversion program and a musical instrument according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

Prior to the description of the sound signal conversion device, the sound signal conversion method, the sound signal conversion program and the musical instrument of the present embodiment, definition of the terms used in the present embodiment will be described. The sound signal conversion device of the present embodiment supplies a periodic change to a sound signal. The periodic change refers to a periodic change of the pitch, the volume or the sound quality of a sound signal. The periodic change is supplied to a sound signal in this manner, so that the sound signal simulating a sound to be output from a rotary speaker can be output.

<FIG> is a block diagram showing the sound signal conversion device <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present disclosure and the musical instrument <NUM> according to the present embodiment of the present disclosure to which the sound signal conversion device <NUM> is connected. The musical instrument <NUM> of <FIG> is an electronic keyboard musical instrument, for example. The musical instrument <NUM> includes an output interface <NUM> and an input interface <NUM>. When a player performs a performance operation, the musical instrument <NUM> outputs a sound signal via the output interface <NUM>. The sound signal conversion device <NUM> receives the sound signal that is output from the output interface <NUM>.

The sound signal conversion device <NUM> converts the sound signal that is received from the musical instrument <NUM>. Specifically, the sound signal conversion device <NUM> converts the sound signal by supplying a periodic change to the sound signal. That is, the sound signal converted by the sound signal conversion device <NUM> is a signal simulating a sound that is obtained when the sound signal output from the musical instrument <NUM> is output via the rotary speaker.

The sound signal conversion device <NUM> outputs the converted sound signal. The musical instrument <NUM> receives the converted sound signal that is output from the sound signal conversion device <NUM> via the input interface <NUM>. The musical instrument <NUM> outputs the sound signal that is converted in the sound signal conversion device <NUM> from a speaker <NUM>. Thus, when the player performs a performance operation on the musical instrument <NUM>, a musical performance sound having a fluctuation such as a sound to be output from the rotary speaker is output from the speaker <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of the functions of the sound signal conversion device <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. The sound signal conversion device <NUM> includes an operation unit <NUM>, a display <NUM>, an input interface <NUM>, an output interface <NUM> and an external interface <NUM>. The operation unit <NUM>, the display <NUM>, the input interface <NUM>, the output interface <NUM> and the external interface <NUM> are connected to a bus.

The operation unit <NUM> is an operator that accepts an operation that is performed on the sound signal conversion device <NUM>. The player operates the operation unit <NUM>, thereby providing an instruction for starting or stopping conversion of a sound signal to the sound signal conversion device <NUM>. The display <NUM> is a device that displays a state of the sound signal conversion device <NUM>. For example, an LED is used in the display <NUM>.

The input interface <NUM> receives a sound signal. In a case where the sound signal conversion device <NUM> is connected to the musical instrument <NUM> shown in <FIG>, the input interface <NUM> receives a sound signal that is output by the musical instrument <NUM> via the output interface <NUM>. The output interface <NUM> outputs a sound signal. In a case where the sound signal conversion device <NUM> is connected to the musical instrument <NUM> shown in <FIG>, the musical instrument <NUM> receives a sound signal that is output from the output interface <NUM> via the input interface <NUM>.

The sound signal conversion device <NUM> further includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) <NUM>, a RAM (Random Access Memory) <NUM> and a ROM (Read Only Memory) <NUM>. The CPU <NUM>, the RAM <NUM> and the ROM <NUM> are connected to the bus.

The ROM <NUM> is made of a non-volatile memory, for example, and stores various data including a program. In the present embodiment, EEPROM such as a flash memory is used as the ROM <NUM>, and various data can be rewritten. A sound signal conversion program P1, initial phase information PP and reset phase information RP are stored in the ROM <NUM>. The RAM <NUM> is made of a volatile memory, for example, is used as a work area for the CPU <NUM> and temporarily stores various data.

The CPU <NUM> performs the below-mentioned sound signal conversion method by executing the sound signal conversion program P1 stored in the ROM <NUM>. The CPU <NUM>, the RAM <NUM> and the ROM <NUM> constitute a controller <NUM> of the sound signal conversion device <NUM>.

While the sound signal conversion program P1, the initial phase information PP and the reset phase information RP are stored in the ROM <NUM> in the present embodiment, these data may be stored in an external storage device such as a hard disc. Further, the sound signal conversion program P1 may be supplied in the form of being stored in a recording medium <NUM> which is readable by a computer such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM or a flash memory and installed in the ROM <NUM> or the external storage device. Further, the CPU <NUM> may execute the sound signal conversion program P1 stored in the recording medium <NUM> via the external interface <NUM>. Further, in a case where the sound signal conversion device <NUM> is connected to a communication network, the sound signal conversion program P1 distributed from a server connected to the communication network may be installed in the ROM <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the controller <NUM> included in the sound signal conversion device <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the controller <NUM> includes a sound signal receiver <NUM>, an accepter <NUM>, a supplier <NUM>, a sound signal outputter <NUM> and a setter <NUM>. The supplier <NUM> has a phase determiner <NUM>. The function of each constituent element (<NUM> to <NUM>) of the controller <NUM> is implemented when the CPU <NUM> of <FIG> executes the sound signal conversion program P1 stored in the ROM <NUM> while using the RAM <NUM> as a work area.

The sound signal receiver <NUM> receives a sound signal via the input interface <NUM>. In a case where the sound signal conversion device <NUM> is connected to the musical instrument <NUM>, the sound signal receiver <NUM> receives a sound signal from the musical instrument <NUM>. The sound signal that is received from the musical instrument <NUM> is a signal of a musical performance sound generated by the player of the musical instrument <NUM>.

The accepter <NUM> accepts an operation performed using the operation unit <NUM>. <FIG> is a diagram showing one example of the operation unit <NUM> and the display <NUM>. The operation unit <NUM> includes a SLOW button <NUM>, a FAST button <NUM>, a STOP button <NUM> and a reset phase setting button <NUM>.

The SLOW button <NUM> is a button for setting the periodic velocity of a periodic change supplied to a sound signal lower. The FAST button <NUM> is a button for setting the periodic velocity of a periodic change supplied to a sound signal higher. As described above, the sound signal conversion device <NUM> simulates a sound to be output from the rotary speaker and converts a sound signal. Decreasing or increasing the periodic velocity of a periodic change corresponds to the simulation of a sound to be output in a case where the rotational velocity of the rotary speaker is decreased or increased.

The STOP button <NUM> is a button for providing an instruction for stopping the supply of a periodic change to a sound signal. When the STOP button <NUM> is depressed one time, the supply of the periodic change to the sound signal is stopped, and the current phase of the periodic change is held as an initial phase. Holding of the current phase of the periodic change as the initial phase corresponds to the stop of supply of a periodic change to the sound signal and simulatively corresponds to the stop of rotation of the rotary speaker at a current position. When the STOP button is held down, the supply of the periodic change to the sound signal stops, and a reset phase is set as the initial phase. Setting of the reset phase as the initial phase corresponds to the stop of supply of the periodic change to the sound signal and simulatively corresponds to the movement of rotation of the rotary speaker to a reset rotation position. An initial phase is a phase at which the supply of a periodic change to a sound signal starts. A reset phase is a phase that is set as an initial phase in accordance with preference of the player. Details of the initial phase and the reset phase will be described below.

The reset phase setting button <NUM> is a button that is operated by the player and for setting a reset phase. When the STOP button <NUM> is held down, an initial phase is set based on a reset phase. The player can freely set the reset phase in the range of <NUM>° to <NUM>° (alternatively, the range may be from - <NUM>° to <NUM>°. ) The display <NUM> displays a current operating state of the sound signal conversion device <NUM>. For example, when a conversion process of a sound signal is in execution because the SLOW button <NUM> is depressed, the display <NUM> may be lit up in red. When the conversion process of a sound signal is in execution because the FAST button <NUM> is depressed, the display <NUM> may be lit up in green. The operation unit <NUM> and the display <NUM> are arranged on the surface or the like of the sound signal conversion device <NUM>.

Reference is made to <FIG> again. The supplier <NUM> supplies a periodic change to a sound signal that is received from the sound signal receiver <NUM>. The supplier <NUM> supplies the periodic change to the pitch, the volume, the sound quality or the like of the sound signal. For example, in a case where the periodic change is supplied to the pitch of the sound signal, the supplier <NUM> multiplies the pitch (frequency) of the sound signal by a coefficient that changes periodically. While the method of determining a multiplication coefficient is not limited in particular, a multiplication coefficient may be determined such that a sound to be output from the rotary speaker is simulated, for example. The period of the periodic change is determined based on which button between the SLOW button <NUM> and the FAST button <NUM> the player depressed.

The phase determiner <NUM> determines an initial phase of a periodic change supplied to a sound signal. The phase determiner <NUM> determines the initial phase based on the initial phase information PP stored in the ROM <NUM>.

Further, the phase determiner <NUM> executes an update process of the initial phase information PP. When the player depresses the STOP button <NUM> one time, the phase determiner <NUM> acquires a current phase of the periodic change supplied to the sound signal and updates the initial phase information PP based on the acquired current phase. When the player holds down the STOP button <NUM>, the phase determiner <NUM> updates the initial phase information PP based on the reset phase information RP.

The reset phase information RP is set by the player. When the player operates the above-mentioned reset phase setting button <NUM> and inputs the value of a reset phase, the setter <NUM> updates the reset phase information stored in the ROM <NUM>.

The sound signal outputter <NUM> outputs a sound signal to which a periodic change is supplied by the supplier <NUM>. The converted sound signal that is output from the sound signal outputter <NUM> is output to the musical instrument <NUM> via the output interface <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart showing the sound signal conversion method performed in the sound signal conversion device <NUM> of <FIG>. The sound signal conversion method of <FIG> is performed when the CPU <NUM> of <FIG> executes the sound signal conversion program P1 stored in the ROM <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams in which the phases of a sound signal simulatively correspond to the rotation positions of the rotary speaker.

Reference is made to <FIG>. First, the accepter <NUM> determines whether the SLOW button <NUM> or the FAST button <NUM> is depressed (step S1). In a case where neither the SLOW button <NUM> nor the FAST button <NUM> is depressed, the determination process of the step S1 is repeated. In a case where the SLOW button <NUM> or the FAST button <NUM> is depressed, the phase determiner <NUM> acquires the initial phase information PP stored in the ROM <NUM> (step S2). The phase determiner <NUM> determines an initial phase based on the initial phase information PP.

Next, the supplier <NUM> supplies a periodic change to a sound signal that is received from the sound signal receiver <NUM>. Specifically, the supplier <NUM> supplies a periodic change that starts from the initial phase determined by the phase determiner <NUM> to the sound signal (step S3). For example, in a case where the initial phase is at <NUM>°, the supplier <NUM> supplies a periodic change that starts from the phase of <NUM>° to the sound signal. This means that the sound to be output when the rotary speaker starts rotating from the position where the rotary speaker is rotated by <NUM>° from an forwardly oriented position is simulated. In a case where the initial phase is at <NUM>°, the sound to be output when the rotary speaker starts rotating from the forwardly oriented position is simulated. The periodic velocity of a periodic change is determined based on which one of the SLOW button <NUM> and the FAST button <NUM> is depressed.

Next, the accepter <NUM> determines whether the STOP button <NUM> is depressed one time (step S4). One-time depression of the STOP button <NUM> refers to a case where the STOP button <NUM> is depressed for a short period of time and not held down. The accepter <NUM> compares the period of time during which the STOP button <NUM> is depressed with a predetermined threshold value. In a case where the period of time during which the STOP button <NUM> is depressed is smaller than the predetermined threshold value, it is determined that the STOP button <NUM> is depressed one time.

In a case where the STOP button <NUM> is depressed one time, the phase determiner <NUM> acquires a current phase of a periodic change at a point in time at which the STOP button <NUM> is depressed one time. The phase determiner <NUM> updates the initial phase information PP based on the acquired current phase (step S6), and then the supplier <NUM> stops the supply of a periodic change to the sound signal (step S7). One-time depression of the STOP button corresponds to "a case where the reset phase information is not supplied" in the present disclosure. After the step S7, the process returns to the step S1 again, and the accepter <NUM> determines whether the SLOW button <NUM> or the FAST button <NUM> is depressed.

In the step S4, in a case where it is not determined that the STOP button is depressed one time, the accepter <NUM> determines whether the STOP button <NUM> is held down (step S5). In a case where the period of time during which the STOP button <NUM> is depressed is equal to or larger than the above-mentioned predetermined threshold value, the accepter <NUM> determines that the STOP button <NUM> is held down.

In a case where the STOP button <NUM> is held down, the phase determiner <NUM> acquires the reset phase information RP from the ROM <NUM>. The phase determiner <NUM> updates the initial phase information PP based on the reset phase information RP (step S8). Subsequently, the supplier <NUM> continues supplying a periodic change to the sound signal until the sound signal is at a reset phase (step S9). At a point in time at which a periodic change supplied to the sound signal coincides with the reset phase, the supplier <NUM> stops supplying a periodic change to the sound signal. Holding down of the STOP button <NUM> corresponds to "a case where the reset phase information is supplied" in the present disclosure. After the step S9, the process returns to the step S1 again, and the accepter <NUM> determines whether the SLOW button <NUM> or the FAST button <NUM> is depressed.

As described above, the phase at which the player desires a periodic change to start is stored as the reset phase information RP. The player sets the reset phase information RP in advance by operating the reset phase setting button <NUM>. The player can set the reset phase as the start phase of a periodic change supplied to the sound signal by holding down the STOP button <NUM>.

In the step S9, continuation of the supply of a periodic change to the sound signal by the supplier <NUM> until the sound signal is at the reset phase corresponds to continuation of rotation of the rotary speaker until the rotary speaker is at a reset position. For example, the reset phase being at <NUM>° corresponds to the rotary speaker rotating to a forwardly oriented position (reset position) and stopping rotating. As a matter of course, when the STOP button <NUM> is held down, the supplier <NUM> may immediately stop supplying a periodic change to the sound signal. Because a rotary speaker that rotates mechanically is not used, even in a case where the supply of a periodic change to the sound signal is immediately stopped, the initial phase information PP can be updated based on the reset phase information RP.

The example in which the phase of a periodic change supplied to the sound signal simulatively corresponds to the rotation position of the rotary speaker will be described next. <FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams in which the phase of a periodic change supplied to the sound signal corresponds to the rotation position of the rotary speaker.

First, the example in which the STOP button <NUM> is depressed one time will be described with reference to <FIG>. As shown in <FIG> (A1), when the player depresses the SLOW button <NUM> or the FAST button <NUM>, the supply of a periodic change to a sound signal starts from an initial phase. Here, <NUM>° is stored as the initial phase information PP, by way of example. Therefore, the periodic change supplied to the sound signal corresponds to the operation of starting rotation performed by the rotary speaker that outputs a sound from a forwardly oriented position.

Thereafter, as shown in <FIG> (A2), the phase of the periodic change supplied to the sound signal changes. This corresponds to the rotary speaker's operation of outputting a sound while rotating from the forwardly oriented position. The velocity of the periodic change determined by the SLOW button <NUM> or the FAST button <NUM> corresponds to the rotation speed of the rotary speaker.

Next, as shown in <FIG> (A3), when the player depresses the STOP button <NUM> one time, the phase determiner <NUM> updates the initial phase information PP based on a current phase. This corresponds to the rotary speaker's operation of stopping rotating at a point in time at which the STOP button is depressed.

As shown in <FIG> (A4), when the player depresses the SLOW button <NUM> or the FAST button <NUM> again, the supply of the periodic change to the sound signal starts from an initial phase. Because the current phase is stored as the initial phase information PP in <FIG> (A3), the periodic change starts at the phase at which the rotation is stopped in <FIG> (A3). This corresponds to the rotary speaker's operation of starting rotating again from a position at which the rotation is stopped in <FIG> (A3).

Next, the example in which the STOP button <NUM> is held down will be described with reference to <FIG> (B1) and <NUM> (B2) are similar to <FIG> (A1) and <NUM> (A2). Next, as shown in <FIG> (B3), when the player holds down the STOP button <NUM>, the phase determiner <NUM> updates the initial phase information PP based on the reset phase information RP as shown in <FIG> (B4). This corresponds to the rotation of the rotary speaker to a preset reset position and stopping rotation of the rotary speaker after the STOP button <NUM> is held down. In a case where <NUM>° is set as the reset phase information RP, updating of the initial phase information PP based on the reset phase information RP corresponds to the rotary speaker's operation of rotating to a forwardly oriented position and stopping rotating.

Next, as shown in <FIG> (B5), when the player depresses the SLOW button <NUM> or the FAST button <NUM>, the periodic change supplied to the sound signal starts from the initial phase (reset phase). In <FIG> (B4), the reset phase is stored as the initial phase information PP, the periodic change does not start from the phase of a point in time at which the STOP button <NUM> is depressed in <FIG> (B3) but starts from the reset phase.

With the present embodiment, the phase at which a periodic change supplied to a sound signal starts is determined based on the initial phase information PP. While outputting a sound simulating a sound to be output from a rotary speaker, the sound signal conversion device <NUM> does not include the rotary speaker that actually rotates. As such, the sound signal conversion device <NUM> takes advantage of not having the restriction of the rotary speaker that rotates mechanically and makes determination about the periodic change based on the initial phase information, thereby being able to output a sound signal having unconventional characteristics. The musical instrument <NUM> to which the sound signal conversion device <NUM> is connected can produce a musical performance sound in which the periodic change starts based on the initial phase information PP.

Further, with the present embodiment, when a stop instruction for stopping the supply of the periodic change is accepted by the accepter <NUM>, in a case where the reset phase information RP is provided, the initial phase information PP is updated based on the reset phase information RP. The player can start the periodic change from a predetermined phase by utilizing the reset phase information RP. For example, at the start of a musical performance, because the periodic change can start from the same phase, a musical performance sound that is not obtained using the rotary speaker that rotates mechanically can be output.

Further, with the present embodiment, when a stop instruction for stopping the supply of the periodic change is accepted by the accepter <NUM>, in a case where the reset phase information RP is not provided, the initial phase information PP is updated based on a current phase of the periodic change with respect to a sound signal. When starting the supply of the periodic change the following time, the sound signal conversion device <NUM> can start the supply of the periodic change from the phase at which the stop instruction is accepted. The player can obtain a performance feeling similarly to the time when the rotary speaker is actually used.

Further, with the present embodiment, because the setter <NUM> for setting the reset phase information RP is included, the player can set a desirable phase at which the periodic change starts. The setter <NUM> can set a phase different from the phase corresponding to the sound to be output when the rotary speaker is oriented forwardly as the reset phase information RP. For example, the initial phase can be determined in accordance with the preference of the player such that the periodic change starts from the phase corresponding to the position at which the rotary speaker is rotated by <NUM>°, for example. The volume is relatively the largest during the periodic change when the rotary speaker is oriented forwardly. Thus, some players may feel that the phase is unsuitable as the initial phase at the start of a musical performance. With the present embodiment, the initial phase can be set freely in accordance with such preference of the player.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the supplier <NUM> supplies a periodic change to a sound signal. In another embodiment, the supplier <NUM> may supply a periodic change based on a plurality of phases to a sound signal. At this time, the supplier <NUM> may start the periodic change based on a plurality of initial phase information pieces. Further, in regard to the periodic change based on the plurality of phases, the rotation directions of phases may be the same or opposite to one another. In a case where the rotation directions of phases are opposite to one another, a sound to be output from a rotary speaker including a horn rotor and a drum rotor can be simulated, for example.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, when the STOP button <NUM> was held down, the initial phase information PP was updated based on the reset phase information RP stored in the ROM <NUM>. In another embodiment, when the STOP button <NUM> is held down, a reset phase may be determined randomly. At this time, the phases may be determined randomly except for the phase corresponding to a case where the rotary speaker is oriented forwardly.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, when the STOP button <NUM> was depressed one time, the initial phase information PP was updated based on a current phase in the step S6 of <FIG>. In another embodiment, after the STOP button <NUM> is depressed one time, the initial phase information PP may be updated with the phase at which a sound signal is positioned after a predetermined period of time elapses as a current phase. The predetermined period of time can be changed in accordance with which one of the SLOW button <NUM> and the FAST button <NUM> is depressed for the supply of a periodic change. At this time, after the STOP button <NUM> is depressed one time, the change in phase of the periodic change may gradually slow down. This enables simulation of the rotary speaker's operation of gradually slowing down the rotation and stopping rotating.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the STOP button <NUM> was held down, and then the supply of a periodic change continued until the sound signal was at the reset phase. In another embodiment, when the STOP button is held down, the output from the sound signal conversion device <NUM> may be muted. In that case, the output may be unmuted after a predetermined period of time elapses, or may be automatically unmuted in association with a musical performance operation of the player.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, when the STOP button <NUM> was held down, the initial phase information PP was updated based on the reset phase information RP. In a separate embodiment, when the STOP button <NUM> is double-clicked, similar effects may be provided. Alternatively, another button for resetting may be provided.

In the embodiment described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the rotation direction of the periodic change is counter-clockwise, by way of example. In the sound signal conversion device <NUM>, the rotation direction of the periodic change may be set to clockwise or counter clockwise.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the sound signal conversion device <NUM> is connected to the musical instrument <NUM>, by way of example. In another embodiment, the sound signal conversion device <NUM> may be incorporated in the musical instrument <NUM>. In a case where the sound signal conversion device <NUM> is incorporated in the musical instrument <NUM>, the operation unit <NUM> and the display <NUM> may be provided at the body of the musical instrument <NUM>. In a case where the musical instrument <NUM> is an electronic keyboard instrument, for example, the operation unit <NUM> and the display <NUM> may be provided in the back or side of a keyboard. The sound signal conversion device <NUM> can be connected to various musical instruments such as an electric guitar or an electric acoustic guitar in addition to an electronic keyboard instrument.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the sound signal conversion device <NUM> is connected to the musical instrument <NUM>, by way of example. In another embodiment, the functions of the sound signal conversion device <NUM> can be provided in a cloud server. For example, the sound data that is output from a musical instrument may be divided based on a predetermined frame size to be transmitted to a cloud server as files or packets, and a sound signal may be converted in the cloud server. The musical instrument can output a converted sound signal that is received from the cloud server. Alternatively, sound data may be transmitted to the cloud server from a smartphone or a tablet terminal instead of a musical instrument.

Claim 1:
A sound signal conversion device (<NUM>) comprising:
a supplier (<NUM>) that supplies a periodic change to an input sound signal and outputs the sound signal to which the periodic change is supplied, wherein
the supplier (<NUM>) includes a phase determiner (<NUM>) that determines a phase at which the periodic change supplied to the sound signal starts based on initial phase information (PP) stored in a storage device (<NUM>) when receiving a start instruction for starting supply of the periodic change to the sound signal, and characterised in that
the supplier (<NUM>) stops supplying the periodic change to the sound signal and updates the initial phase information (PP) based on a current phase of the periodic change with respect to the sound signal, when accepting a stop instruction for stopping the supply of the periodic change to the sound signal, in a case where a reset phase information (RP) is not provided.