Electronic musical instrument

Claim 1

An electronic musical instrument comprising: an envelope generator which utilizes a phase splitting system whereby individual envelopes of respective tones of a plurality of tones are split into plurality of phases on the time base, each phase being represented by phase data composed of speed data (SPD), phase end value data (PEP) and-/+flag data wherein the-/+flag data is a binary signal representative of attack or decay, each tone including demanded phase data composed of demanded speed data (DEMSPD), demanded predetermined end value data (DEMPEP) and demanded-/+flag data wherein the demanded-/+signal is a binary signal representative of attack or decay for each demanded phase, key data being generated in response to a key depression and assigned to tone generating channels smaller in number than the total number of keys, the envelope generator including: a high-speed release demand signal generator for generating a high speed release demand signal when a new tone is assigned to a tone generating channel which is in operation for generating a previous tone, for switching speed data in the phase of the previous tone to demanded speed data in the same phase, releasing the envelope of the previous tone at a high speed, for comparing the level of the phase of the previous tone with the demanded predetermined phase end value data (DEMPEP) and for terminating the high-speed release demand signal upon detection that the level of the envelope of the previous tone phase drops below the demanded predetermined phase end value data (DEMPEP) and for reading thereinto the key data of the new tones; and, a phase counter which, upon the high speed release demand signal being turned off causes the tone generating channel to proceed from the phase of the previous tone to a first, attack phase of the new tone.