Sound synthesizing apparatus

Claim 2

A sound synthesizing apparatus, comprising: means for providing an analog sound signal, means for providing a signal representing a predetermined sampling period, storage means, means for providing a write clock signal having a first frequency, means for providing a read clock signal having a second frequency, control means responsive to said sampling period representing signal and said write clock signal for writing in said storage means said analog sound signal as a succession of sound elements, each determined by said sampling period representing signal, and responsive to said read clock signal for reading said sound elements in succession from said storage means, means for joining said sound elements read from said storage means in succession at a junction therebetween for synthesization of a reproduced sound, means responsive to said write clock signal for providing first data concerning the waveform of a preceding sound element being stored in said storage means and second data concerning the waveform of a succeeding sound element being stored in said storage means following said preceding sound element, means responsive to said first data and said second data for evaluating a phase relation between the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements for providing closer similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements, and means responsive to said phase relation evaluating means for controlling a phase relation between said preceding and succeeding sound elements for joining said preceding and succeeding sound elements with closer similarity of waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements.

Claim 3

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first and second data providing means are adapted to provide said first data concerning the waveform at the trailing end portion of a preceding sound element and said second data concerning the waveform at the leading end portion of a succeeding sound element following said preceding sound element.

Claim 4

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said phase relation controlling means comprises means responsive to said phase relation evaluating means for controlling the timing of the writing operation of said succeeding sound element in said storage means.

Claim 5

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein said first and second data providing means comprises means for providing a sampling clock signal, sampling means responsive to said sampling clock signal for sampling said preceding and succeeding sound elements for providing sample values as said first and second data, and sample storage means for storing said sample values.

Claim 6

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 4, which further comprises analog/digital converting means for converting said sample values into a digital form.

Claim 7

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein said phase relation evaluating means comprises means for evaluating a shifting value in terms of the sampling points of said sample values of said first data for providing closer similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of the junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements.

Claim 8

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said sampling clock signal is adapted to be synchronized with said write clock signal.

Claim 9

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein said sampling clock signal providing means comprises frequency dividing means for frequency dividing said write clock signal at a predetermined frequency division rate.

Claim 10

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 6, which further comprises counter means for counting said sampling clock signal for controlling said first and second predetermined numbers.

Claim 11

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said counter means is adapted to define, as a first storage period, a period from the beginning of each sampling period determined by said sampling period representing signal until said first predetermined number of sampling clock signals are counted, and to define, as a second storage period, a period after said first predetermined number is counted and from said second predetermined number of sampling clock signals before the end of said sampling period to the end of said second sampling period.

Claim 12

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said sample storage means comprises addressing means for addressing in succession said sample storage means responsive to said sampling clock signal in said first and second storage periods.

Claim 13

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said sample storage means comprises a random-access memory.

Claim 14

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said sample storage means comprises a shift register.

Claim 15

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein said phase relation evaluating means comprises means for evaluating a square error between said sample values at said trailing end portion of said preceding sound element obtainable from said sample storage means and said sample values at said leading end portion of said succeeding sound element obtainable from said sample storage, shifting means coupled to said square error evaluating means for shifting in succession a correlation of said sample values obtainable from said sample storage means for enabling said square error evaluation at each shift, and means for determining a shift amount for minimizing said square error among the successively evaluated square errors.

Claim 16

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein said phase relation evaluating means comprises means for evaluating a correlation function between said sample values of said trailing end portion of said preceding sound element obtainable from said storage means and said sample values of said leading end portion of said succeeding sound element obtainable from said sample storage means, shifting means coupled to said correlation function evaluating means for shifting in succession a correlation of said sample values obtainable from said sample storage means for enabling said correlation function evaluation at each shift, and means for determining a shift amount for maximizing said correlation function among the successively evaluated correlation functions.

Claim 17

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein said phase relation evaluating means comprises means for evaluating a sum of the absolute value of a difference between said sample values of the trailing end portion of said preceding sound element obtainable from said sample storage means and said sample values of said leading end portion of said succeeding sound element obtainable from said sample storage means, shifting means coupled to said sum evaluating means for shifting in succession a correlation of said sample values obtainable from said sample storage means for enabling said sum evaluation of the absolute value of said difference at each shift, and means for determining a shift amount for minimizing said sum among the successively evaluated sums.

Claim 18

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said analog/digital converting means comprises means for converting each said sample value into a two-value signal.

Claim 19

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein said means for converting each said sample value into a two-value signal comprises level detecting means for detecting each said sample value at a predetermined level.

Claim 20

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 18, wherein said detecting level of said level detecting means is selected to be a zero level of said sample value.

Claim 21

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 19, which further comprises biasing means for biasing said sample value such that said detecting level of said level detecting means is selected to be a given bias level.

Claim 22

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein said means for converting each said sample value into a two-value signal comprises amplitude saturation amplifying means for amplitude saturating said sample value.

Claim 23

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 21, which further comprises clamping means for clamping the output of said amplitude saturating amplifying means at a predetermined level.

Claim 24

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein said phase relation evaluating means comprises means for adopting, as first sampled data, the sample values of said succeeding sound element as shifted by a shift amount for representing the closest similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements, means for comparing a predetermined number of sample values in the vicinity of and including said first sample data with the sample values of the trailing end portion of said preceding sound element, means for adopting, as second sampled data, one set of sample values among said predetermined number of sets of digital sample values closest to the sample value of the trailing extremity of said preceding sound element, and means for evaluating a shift amount with which said second sample data is obtained.

Claim 25

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said storage means comprises an analog memory.

Claim 26

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 24, wherein said analog memory comprises a bucket brigade device.

Claim 27

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 24, wherein said analog memory comprises a charge coupled device.

Claim 28

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said storage means comprises a digital memory, and which further comprises analog/digital converting means for converting the sound element derived from said analog sound signal into a digital data for writing said digital data into said digital memory, and digital/analog converter means for converting the output read from said digital memory into an analog signal.

Claim 29

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said write clock signal generating means and said read clock signal generating means each comprise an independent clock pulse generator.

Claim 30

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said write clock signal generating means and said read clock signal generating means each comprise fundamental clock signal generating means, said write clock signal generating means comprises frequency dividing means for frequency dividing said fundamental clock signal at a frequency division rate suited for generation of said write clock signal, said read clock signal generating means comprises frequency dividing means for frequency dividing said fundamental clock signal at a frequency division rate suited for generation of said read clock signal.

Claim 31

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 29, wherein said write clock signal generating means further comprises means coupled to said frequency dividing means for varying the frequency division rate of said frequency dividing means.

Claim 32

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for determining said sampling period comprises frequency dividing means for dividing one of said write clock signal and said read clock signal at a predetermined frequency division rate.

Claim 33

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein said storage means has a predetermined number of storing unit positions, said storage means is adapted to store substantially the same predetermined number of samples last obtained during the sampling period following a preceding sampling period as a succeeding sound element following said preceding sound element, and said first and second data providing means are adapted such that said second predetermined number of sampling clock signals substantially correspond to said leading end portion of said succeeding sound element being stored in said following sampling period.

Claim 34

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 32, wherein said phase relation evaluating means comprises means for evaluating a shifting value in terms of the sampling points of said sample values of said first data for providing closer similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of the junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements.

Claim 35

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 33, wherein said phase relation controlling means comprises means responsive to said shifting value for stopping said write clock signals applied to said storage means.

Claim 36

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 34, wherein said write clock signals are stopped during a time period corresponding to said shifting value in said following sampling period counting from the end of said following sampling period.

Claim 37

A sound synthesizing apparatus, comprising: means for providing an analog sound signal the time axis of which has been compressed by a factor 1/m as compared with that of an original sound, means for providing a signal representing a predetermined sampling period, storage means, means for providing a write clock signal having a first frequency, means for providing a read clock signal having a second frequency, control means responsive to said sampling period representing signal and said write clock signal for writing into said storage means said analog sound signal as a succession of sound elements, each determined by said sampling period representing signal, and responsive to said read clock signal for reading said sound elements in succession from said storage means, said first frequency being selected such that the time axis of said sound elements read from said storage means is expanded by a factor m, whereby the time axis of said sound elements read from said storage means is regained to the original state of said original sound, means for joining said sound elements read from said storage means in succession at a junction therebetween for synthesization of a reproduced sound, means responsive to said write clock signal for providing first data concerning the waveform of a preceding sound element being stored in said storage means and second data concerning the waveform of a succeeding sound element being stored in said storage means following said preceding sound element, means responsive to said first data and said second data for evaluating a phase relation between the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements for providing closer similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements, and means responsive to said phase relation evaluating means for controlling a phase relation between said preceding and succeeding sound elements for joining said preceding and succeeding sound elements with closer similarity of waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements.

Claim 38

A sound synthesizing apparatus, comprising: means for providing an analog sound signal the time axis of which has been compressed by a factor 1/m as compared with that of an original sound, means for providing a signal representing a predetermined sampling period, storage means, means for providing a write clock signal having a first frequency, means for providing a read clock signal having a second frequency, control means responsive to said sampling period representing signal and said write clock signal for writing into said storage means said analog sound signal as a succession of sound elements, each determined by said sampling period representing signal, and responsive to said read clock signal for reading said sound elements in succession from said storage means, said first frequency being selected such that the time axis of said sound elements read from said storage means is expanded by a factor m, whereby the time axis of said sound elements read from said storage means is regained to the original state of said original sound, means for joining said sound elements read from said storage means in succession at a junction therebetween for synthesization of a reproduced sound, means responsive to said write clock signal for providing first data concerning the waveform of a preceding sound element being stored in said storage means and second data concerning the waveform of a succeeding sound element being stored in said storage means following said preceding sound element, means responsive to said first data and said second data for evaluating a phase relation between the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements for providing closer similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements, and means responsive to said phase relation evaluating means for controlling a phase relation between said preceding and succeeding sound elements for joining said preceding and succeeding sound elements with closer similarity of waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements.

Claim 39

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 36, wherein the ratio of said second frequency of said read clock signal to said first frequency of said write clock signal is determined in association with said time axis compression factor m.

Claim 40

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 36, wherein said write clock signal generating means and said read clock signal generating means each comprise fundamental clock signal generating means, said write clock signal generating means further comprises frequency dividing means for frequency dividing said fundamental clock signal at a frequency division rate suited for generation of said write clock signal, said read clock signal generating means further comprises frequency dividing means for frequency dividing said fundamental clock signal at a frequency division rate suited for generation of said read clock signal for providing said second frequency which is 1/m of said first frequency of said write clock signal.

Claim 41

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 36, wherein said first and second data providing means is adapted to provide said first data concerning the waveform at the trailing end portion of a preceding sound element and said second data concerning the waveform at the leading end portion of a succeeding sound element following said preceding sound element.

Claim 42

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 39, wherein said phase relation controlling means comprises means responsive to said phase relation evaluating means for controlling the timing of the writing operation of said succeeding sound element in said storage means.

Claim 43

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 40, wherein said first and second data providing means comprises means for providing a sampling clock signal, sampling means responsive to said sampling clock signals for sampling said preceding and succeeding sound elements for providing sample values, and sample storage means for storing said sample values as said first and second data.

Claim 44

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 41, wherein said first and second data providing means further comprises analog/digital converting means for converting said sample values into a digital form.

Claim 45

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 42, wherein said phase relation evaluating means comprises means for evaluating a shifting value in terms of the sampling points of said sample values of said first data for providing closer similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of the junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements.

Claim 46

A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 42, wherein said phase relation evaluating means comprises means for adopting, as first sampled data, the sample values of said preceding sound element as shifted by a shift amount for representing the closest similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements, means for comparing a predetermined number of sample values in the vicinity of and including said first sampled data with the sample values of the trailing end portion of said preceding sound element, means for adopting, as second sampled data, one set of sample values among said predetermined number of sets of sample values closest to the sample value of the trailing extremity of said preceding sound element, and means for evaluating a shift amount with which said second sample data is obtained.

Claim 47

A sound synthesizing method, comprising the steps of providing an analog sound signal, providing a signal representing a predetermined sampling period, providing a write clock signal having a first frequency, providing a read clock signal having a second frequency, writing, as a function of said sampling period representing signal and said write clock signal, in storage means, said analog sound signal as a succession of sound elements, each determined by said sampling period representing signal, reading, as a function of said read clock signal, said sound elements in succession from said storage means, joining said sound elements read from said storage means in succession at a junction therebetween for synthesization for reproduced sound, providing, as a function of said write clock signal, first data concerning the waveform of a preceding sound element being stored in said storage means and second data concerning the waveform of a succeeding sound element being stored in said storage means following said preceding sound element, evaluating, based on said first data and said second data, a phase relation between the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements for providing closer similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements, and controlling, based on said evaluation of a phase relation, a phase relation between said preceding and succeeding sound elements for joining said preceding and succeeding sound elements with closer similarity of the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements.

Claim 48

A sound synthesizing method, comprising the steps of providing an analog sound signal, providing a signal representing a predetermined sampling period, providing a write clock signal having a first frequency, providing a read clock signal having a second frequency, writing, as a function of said sampling period representing signal and said write clock signal, in storage means, said analog sound signal as a succession of sound elements, each determined by said sampling period representing signal, reading, as a function of said read clock signal, said sound elements in succession from said storage means, joining said sound elements read from said storage means in succession at a junction therebetween for synthesization for reproduced sound, providing, as a function of said write clock signal, first data concerning the waveform of a preceding sound element being stored in said storage means and second data concerning the waveform of a succeeding sound element being stored in said storage means following said preceding sound element, evaluating, based on said first data and said second data, a phase relation between the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements for providing closer similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements, and controlling, based on said evaluation of a phase relation, a phase relation between said preceding and succeeding sound elements for joining said preceding and succeeding sound elements with closer similarity of the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements.

Claim 49

A sound synthesizing method in accordance with claim 45, wherein said phase relation controlling step comprises the step of controlling, based on said evaluation of a phase relation, the timing of the writing operation of said succeeding sound element in said storage means.

Claim 50

A sound synthesizing method in accordance with claim 46, wherein said step of providing said first and second data comprises the steps of providing a sampling clock signal, sampling, as a function of said sampling clock signals, said preceding and succeeding sound elements for providing sample values, and storing said sample values in sample storage means as said first and second data.

Claim 51

A sound synthesizing method in accordance with claim 47, wherein said step of providing said first and second data further comprises the step of converting said sample values into a digital form.

Claim 52

A sound synthesizing method in accordance with claim 47, wherein said phase relation evaluating step comprises the steps of evaluating a shifting value in terms of the sampling points of said digital sample values of said first data for providing closer similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of the junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements.

Claim 53

A sound synthesizing method in accordance with claim 49, wherein said phase relation evaluating step comprises the steps of evaluating a square error between said sample values at said trailing end portion of said preceding sound element obtainable from said sample storage means and said sample values at said leading end portion of said succeeding sound element obtainable from said sample storage means, shifting in succession a correlation of said sample values obtainable from said sample storage means for enabling said square error evaluation at each shift, and determining a shift amount for minimizing said square error among the successively evaluated square errors.

Claim 54

A sound synthesizing method in accordance with claim 49, wherein said phase relation evaluating step comprises the steps of evaluating a correlation function between said sample values of said trailing end portion of said preceding sound element obtainable from said sample storage means and said sample values of said leading end portion of said succeeding sound element obtainable from said sample storage means, shifting in succession a correlation of said sample values obtainable from said sample storage means for enabling said correlation function evaluation at each shift, and determining a shift amount for maximizing said correlation function among the successively evaluated correlation functions.

Claim 55

A sound synthesizing method in accordance with claim 49, wherein said phase relation evaluating step comprises the steps of evaluating a sum of the absolute value of a difference between said sample values of the trailing end portion of said preceding sound element obtainable from said sample storage means and said sample values of said leading end portion of said succeeding sound element obtainable from said sample storage means, shifting in succession a correlation of said sample values obtainable from said sample storage means for enabling said sum evaluation of the absolute value of said difference at each shift, and determining a shift amount for minimizing said sum among the successively evaluated sums.

Claim 56

A sound synthesizing method in accordance with claim 49, wherein said phase relation evaluating step comprises the steps of adopting, as first sampled data, the sample values of said succeeding sound element as shifted by a shift amount for representing the closest similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements, comparing a predetermined number of sample values in the vicinity of and including said first sample data with the sample values of the trailing end portion of said preceding sound element, adopting, as second sampled data, one set of sample values among said predetermined number of sets of sample values closest to the sample value of the trailing extremity of said preceding sound element, and evaluating a shift amount with which said second sample data is obtained.

Claim 57

A sound synthesizing method, comprising the steps of providing an analog sound signal the time axis of which has been compressed by a factor 1/m as compared with that of an original sound, providing a signal representing a predetermined sampling period, providing a write clock signal having a first frequency, providing a read clock signal having a second frequency, writing, as a function of said sampling period representing signal and said write clock signal, in storage means, said analog sound signal as a succession of sound elements, each determined by said sampling period representing signal, reading, as a function of said read clock signal, said sound elements in succession from said storage means, said first frequency being selected such that the time axis of said sound elements read from said storage means is expanded by a factor m, whereby the time axis of said sound elements read from said storage means is regained to the original state of said original sound, joining said sound elements read from said storage means in succession at a junction therebetween for synthesization for reproduced sound, providing, as a function of said write clock signal, first data concerning the waveform of a preceding sound element being stored in said storage means and second data concerning the waveform of a succeeding sound element being stored in said storage means following said preceding sound element, evaluating, based on said first data and said second data, a phase relation between the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements for providing closer similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements, and controlling, based on said evaluation of a phase relation, a phase relation between said preceding and succeeding sound elements for joining said preceding and succeeding sound elements with closer similarity of the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements.

Claim 58

A sound synthesizing method, comprising the steps of providing an analog sound signal the time axis of which has been compressed by a factor 1/m as compared with that of an original sound, providing a signal representing a predetermined sampling period, providing a write clock signal having a first frequency, providing a read clock signal having a second frequency, writing, as a function of said sampling period representing signal and said write clock signal, in storage means, said analog sound signal as a succession of sound elements, each determined by said sampling period representing signal, reading, as a function of said read clock signal, said sound elements in succession from said storage means, said first frequency being selected such that the time axis of said sound elements read from said storage means is expanded by a factor m, whereby the time axis of said sound elements read from said storage means is regained to the original state of said original sound, joining said sound elements read from said storage means in succession at a junction therebetween for synthesization for reproduced sound, providing, as a function of said write clock signal, first data concerning the waveform of a preceding sound element being stored in said storage means and second data concerning the waveform of a succeeding sound element being stored in said storage means following said preceding sound element, evaluating, based on said first data and said second data, a phase relation between the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements for providing closer similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements, and controlling, based on said evaluation of a phase relation, a phase relation between said preceding and succeeding sound elements for joining said preceding and succeeding sound elements with closer similarity of the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements.

Claim 59

A sound synthesizing method in accordance with claim 54, wherein said phase relation controlling step comprises the step of controlling, based on said evaluation of a phase relation, the timing of the writing operation of said succeeding sound element in said storage means.

Claim 60

A sound synthesizing method in accordance with claim 55, wherein said step of providing said first and second data comprises the steps of providing a sampling clock signal, sampling, as a function of said sampling clock signals, said preceding and succeeding sound elements for providing sample values, and storing said sample values in sample storage means as said first and second data.

Claim 61

A sound synthesizing method in accordance with claim 56, wherein said step of providing said first and second data further comprises the step of converting said sample values into a digital form.

Claim 62

A sound synthesizing method in accordance with claim 57, wherein said phase relation evaluating step comprises the steps of evaluating a shifting value in terms of the sampling points of said digital sample values of said first data for providing closer similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of the junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements.

Claim 63

A sound synthesizing method in accordance with claim 58, wherein said phase relation evaluating step comprises the steps of evaluating a square error between said sample values at said trailing end portion of said preceding sound element obtainable from said sample storage means and said sample values at said leading end portion of said succeeding sound element obtainable from said sample storage means, shifting in succession a correlation of said sample values obtainable from said sample storage means for enabling said square error evaluation at each shift, and determining a shift amount for minimizing said square error among the successively evaluated square errors.

Claim 64

A sound synthesizing method in accordance with claim 58, wherein said phase relation evaluating step comprises the steps of evaluating a correlation function between said sample values of said trailing end portion of said preceding sound element obtainable from said sample storage means and said sample values of said leading end portion of said succeeding sound element obtainable from said sample storage means, shifting in succession a correlation of said sample values obtainable from said sample storage means for enabling said correlation function evaluation at each shift, and determining a shift amount for maximizing said correlation function among the successively evaluated correlation functions.

Claim 65

A sound synthesizing method in accordance with claim 58, wherein said phase relation evaluating step comprises the steps of evaluating a sum of the absolute value of a difference between said sample values of the trailing end portion of said preceding sound element obtainable from said sample storage means and said sample values of said leading end portion of said succeeding sound element obtainable from said sample storage means, shifting in succession a correlation of said sample values obtainable from said sample storage means for enabling said sum evaluation of the absolute value of said difference at each shift, and determining a shift amount for minimizing said sum among the successively evaluated sums.

Claim 66

A sound synthesizing method in accordance with claim 59, wherein said phase relation evaluating step comprises the steps of adopting, as first sampled data, the sample values of said succeeding sound element as shifted by a shift amount for representing the closest similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements, comparing a predetermined number of sample values in the vicinity of and including said first sample data with the sample values of the trailing end portion of said preceding sound element, adopting, as second sampled data, one set of sample values among said predetermined number of sets of sample values closest to the sample value of the trailing extremity of said preceding sound element, and evaluating a shift amount with which said second sample data is obtained. .Iadd. 63. A sound synthesizing apparatus comprising: means for providing a sound signal, means for providing a signal representing a predetermined sampling period, storage means, means for providing a write clock signal having a first frequency, means for providing a read clock signal having a second frequency, control means responsive to said sampling period representing signal and said write clock signal for writing in said storage means said sound signal as a succession of sound elements, each determined by said sampling period representing signal, and responsive to said read clock signal for reading said sound elements in succession from said storage means, means for joining said sound elements read from said storage means in succession at a junction therebetween for synthesization of a reproduced sound, means responsive to said write clock signal for providing first data concerning the waveform of a preceding sound element being stored in said storage means and second data concerning the waveform of a succeeding sound element being stored in said storage means following said preceding sound element, means responsive to said first data and said second data for evaluating a phase relation between the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements for providing closer similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements, and means responsive to said phase relation evaluating means for controlling a phase relation between said preceding and succeeding sound elements for joining said preceding and succeeding sound elements with closer similarity of waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound

Claim 67

elements. .Iaddend..Iadd. 64. A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 63, wherein said storage means comprises a digital memory means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 65. A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 64, wherein the digital memory means is a shift register. .Iaddend..Iadd. 66. A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 64, wherein the digital memory means is a random-access memory. .Iaddend..Iadd. 67. A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 66, wherein said storage means further comprises a digital/analog converting means connected to an output of the random-access memory and an addressing circuit connected to the random-access memory. .Iaddend..Iadd. 68. A sound synthesizing apparatus in accordance with claim 66, wherein said storage means further comprises an analog/digital converting means connected to an input of the random-access memory. .Iaddend..Iadd. 69. A sound synthesizing apparatus, comprising: means for providing a sound signal the time axis of which has been compressed by a factor 1/m as compared with that of an original sound, means for providing a signal representing a predetermined sampling period, storage means, means for providing a write clock signal having a first frequency, means for providing a read clock signal having a second frequency, control means responsive to said sampling period representing signal and said write clock signal for writing into said storage means said sound signal as a succession of sound elements, each determined by said sampling period representing signal, and responsive to said read clock signal for reading said sound elements in succession from said storage means, said first frequency being selected such that the time axis of said sound elements read from said storage means is expanded by a factor m, whereby the time axis of said sound elements read from said storage means is regained to the original state of said original sound, means for joining said sound elements read from said storage means in succession at a junction therebetween for synthesization of a reproduced sound, means responsive to said write clock signal for providing first data concerning the waveform of a preceding sound element being stored in said storage means and second data concerning the waveform of a succeeding sound element being stored in said storage means following said preceding sound element, means responsive to said first data and said second data for evaluating a phase relation between the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements for providing closer similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements, and means responsive to said phase relation evaluating means for controlling a phase relation between said preceding and succeeding sound elements for joining said preceding and and succeeding sound elements with closer similarity of waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound

Claim 68

elements. .Iaddend..Iadd. 70. A sound synthesizing method, comprising the steps of providing a sound signal, providing a signal representing a predetermined sampling period, providing a write clock signal having a first frequency, providing a read clock signal having a second frequency, writing, as a function of said sampling period representing signal and said write clock signal, in storage means, said sound signal as a succession of sound elements, each determined by said sampling period representing signal, reading, as a function of said read clock signal, said sound elements in succession from said storage means, joining said sound elements read from said storage means in succession at a junction therebetween for synthesization for reproduced sound, providing, as a function of said write clock signal, first data concerning the waveform of a preceding sound element being stored in said storage means and second data concerning the waveform of a succeeding sound element being stored in said storage means following said preceding sound element, evaluating, based on said first data and said second data, a phase relation between the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements for providing closer similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements, and controlling, based on said evaluation of a phase relation, a phase relation between said preceding and succeeding sound elements for joining said preceding and succeeding sound elements with closer similarity of the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements. .Iaddend..Iadd. 71. A sound synthesizing method, comprising the steps of providing a sound signal the time axis of which has been compressed by a factor 1/m as compared with that of an original sound, providing a signal representing a predetermined sampling period, providing a write clock signal having a first frequency, providing a read clock signal having a second frequency, writing, as a function of said sampling period representing signal and said write clock signal, in storage means, said sound signal as a succession of sound elements, each determined by said sampling period representing signal, reading, as a function of said read clock signal, said sound elements in succession from said storage means, said first frequency being selected such that the time axis of said sound elements read from said storage means is expanded by a factor m, whereby the time axis of said sound elements read from said storage means is regained to the original state of said original sound, joining said sound elements read from said storage means in succession at a junction therebetween for synthesization for reproduced sound, providing, as a function of said write clock signal, first data concerning the waveform of a preceding sound element being stored in said storage means and second data concerning the waveform of a succeeding sound element being stored in said storage means following said preceding sound element, evaluating, based on said first data and said second data, a phase relation between the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements for providing closer similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements, and controlling, based on said evaluation of a phase relation, a phase relation between said preceding and succeeding sound elements for joining said preceding and succeeding sound elements with closer similarity of the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements. .Iaddend.

Claim 69

elements. .Iaddend..Iadd. 70. A sound synthesizing method, comprising the steps of providing a sound signal, providing a signal representing a predetermined sampling period, providing a write clock signal having a first frequency, providing a read clock signal having a second frequency, writing, as a function of said sampling period representing signal and said write clock signal, in storage means, said sound signal as a succession of sound elements, each determined by said sampling period representing signal, reading, as a function of said read clock signal, said sound elements in succession from said storage means, joining said sound elements read from said storage means in succession at a junction therebetween for synthesization for reproduced sound, providing, as a function of said write clock signal, first data concerning the waveform of a preceding sound element being stored in said storage means and second data concerning the waveform of a succeeding sound element being stored in said storage means following said preceding sound element, evaluating, based on said first data and said second data, a phase relation between the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements for providing closer similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements, and controlling, based on said evaluation of a phase relation, a phase relation between said preceding and succeeding sound elements for joining said preceding and succeeding sound elements with closer similarity of the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements. .Iaddend..Iadd. 71. A sound synthesizing method, comprising the steps of providing a sound signal the time axis of which has been compressed by a factor 1/m as compared with that of an original sound, providing a signal representing a predetermined sampling period, providing a write clock signal having a first frequency, providing a read clock signal having a second frequency, writing, as a function of said sampling period representing signal and said write clock signal, in storage means, said sound signal as a succession of sound elements, each determined by said sampling period representing signal, reading, as a function of said read clock signal, said sound elements in succession from said storage means, said first frequency being selected such that the time axis of said sound elements read from said storage means is expanded by a factor m, whereby the time axis of said sound elements read from said storage means is regained to the original state of said original sound, joining said sound elements read from said storage means in succession at a junction therebetween for synthesization for reproduced sound, providing, as a function of said write clock signal, first data concerning the waveform of a preceding sound element being stored in said storage means and second data concerning the waveform of a succeeding sound element being stored in said storage means following said preceding sound element, evaluating, based on said first data and said second data, a phase relation between the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements for providing closer similarity of said waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements, and controlling, based on said evaluation of a phase relation, a phase relation between said preceding and succeeding sound elements for joining said preceding and succeeding sound elements with closer similarity of the waveforms of said preceding and succeeding sound elements in the vicinity of said junction between said preceding and succeeding sound elements. .Iaddend.