Patent ID: RE41297

Claim:
A method of generating a tone waveform based on automatic performance information, using a processor device executing a plurality of different programs on a time division basis, said method including executing a waveform calculating process for calculating tone waveform samples on the basis of one of the programs by sharing the processor device with another process based on another one of the programs, said method comprising the steps of: detecting an available time portion in which said processor device is not currently used for the other process, as available processing capability for the waveform calculating process; calculating a plurality of tone waveform samples based on the performance information in advance of predetermined generation timing thereof by executing the waveform calculating process using said available processing capability detected by said step of detecting, said step of calculating including a step of storing the calculated tone waveform samples in a memory; and generating a tone waveform by reading out the tone waveform samples from the memory.