An electronic musical instrument includes a sound source LSI to generate a musical sound using a RAM that retains waveform data that has been selectively read from a plurality of waveforms stored in a large-capacity flash memory, and smoothly executes transfer of additional waveform data from the flash memory to the RAM when the requisite waveform data is not retained in the RAM during the performance. Performance data is generated by a sequencer, a prescribed delay time is applied to the performance data by an event time generator and an event delay buffer so as to provide for sufficient time for the transfer of the additional waveform if such transfer is needed. A musical sound is generated by an event buffer and a sound source driver on the basis of the delayed performance data.

A musical sound generation device including a first memory having a plurality of storage areas where waveform data is read out and stored, a waveform generator which functions as a plurality of waveform generating sections each of which generates a waveform for emitting a sound by reading out waveform data from a selected storage area of the first memory; and a control processor which determines, when an instruction for sound emission is provided, a combination of a waveform generating section and a storage area to be used for the instructed sound emission, based on a status of reading waveform data from each storage area by each waveform generating section.

When transferring waveform data from a waveform region in a high-capacity flash memory to a waveform buffer in a RAM, first, whether a non-ring buffer region that can receive the waveform data can be allocated in the RAM is determined, and if so, the waveform data is transferred to the allocated non-ring buffer region. If such a non-ring buffer region cannot be allocated, then whether a ring buffer region that can receive the waveform data can be allocated in the RAM is determined, and if so, the waveform data is transferred to the ring-buffer region in a ring buffer operational manner.

An electronic musical instrument includes a sound source LSI to generate a musical sound using a RAM that retains waveform data that has been selectively read from a plurality of waveforms stored in a large-capacity flash memory, and smoothly executes transfer of additional waveform data from the flash memory to the RAM when the requisite waveform data is not retained in the RAM during the performance. Performance data is generated by a sequencer, a prescribed delay time is applied to the performance data by an event time generator and an event delay buffer so as to provide for sufficient time for the transfer of the additional waveform if such transfer is needed. A musical sound is generated by an event buffer and a sound source driver on the basis of the delayed performance data.

A musical sound generation device including a first memory having a plurality of waveform data, a second memory which stores waveform data read out from the first memory, and a control processor which controls such that, when a sound emission instruction is provided and specified waveform data is in the second memory, the waveform data is read out by the sound source processor, or controls such that, when a sound emission instruction is provided and specified waveform data is not in the second memory, the specified waveform data is transferred from the first memory to the second memory and read out by the sound source processor, in which the control processor controls such that waveform data satisfying a set condition is not subjected to a waveform data change by the transfer and waveform data not satisfying the set condition is subjected to the waveform data change by the transfer.

An electronic musical instrument includes a first memory storing a plurality of waveform data; and a second memory having a plurality of waveform buffer regions that respectively function as ring buffers, wherein one of a processor or a sound source executes the following: setting a plurality of threshold margin values respectively for the plurality of waveform buffer regions, at least some of the threshold margin values are different from each other; identifying, at a prescribed timing, among the plurality of waveform buffer regions, a waveform buffer region in which a waveform read margin calculated for said waveform buffer region reaches the threshold margin value set and assigned to said waveform buffer region; and stopping a sound that has been generated from the waveform data read from the waveform buffer region that is identified by the identified process.

An electronic musical instrument includes a first memory storing a plurality of waveform data; and a second memory having a plurality of waveform buffer regions that respectively function as ring buffers, wherein one of a processor or a sound source executes the following: setting a plurality of threshold margin values respectively for the plurality of waveform buffer regions, at least some of the threshold margin values are different from each other; identifying, at a prescribed timing, among the plurality of waveform buffer regions, a waveform buffer region in which a waveform read margin calculated for said waveform buffer region reaches the threshold margin value set and assigned to said waveform buffer region; and stopping a sound that has been generated from the waveform data read from the waveform buffer region that is identified by the identified process.

When transferring waveform data from a waveform region in a high-capacity flash memory to a waveform buffer in a RAM, first, whether a non-ring buffer region that can receive the waveform data can be allocated in the RAM is determined, and if so, the waveform data is transferred to the allocated non-ring buffer region. If such a non-ring buffer region cannot be allocated, then whether a ring buffer region that can receive the waveform data can be allocated in the RAM is determined, and if so, the waveform data is transferred to the ring-buffer region in a ring buffer operational manner.

A musical sound generation device including a first memory having a plurality of waveform data, a second memory which stores waveform data read out from the first memory, and a control processor which controls such that, when a sound emission instruction is provided and specified waveform data is in the second memory, the waveform data is read out by the sound source processor, or controls such that, when a sound emission instruction is provided and specified waveform data is not in the second memory, the specified waveform data is transferred from the first memory to the second memory and read out by the sound source processor, in which the control processor controls such that waveform data satisfying a set condition is not subjected to a waveform data change by the transfer and waveform data not satisfying the set condition is subjected to the waveform data change by the transfer.

A musical sound generation device including a first memory having a plurality of storage areas where waveform data is read out and stored, a waveform generator which functions as a plurality of waveform generating sections each of which generates a waveform for emitting a sound by reading out waveform data from a selected storage area of the first memory; and a control processor which determines, when an instruction for sound emission is provided, a combination of a waveform generating section and a storage area to be used for the instructed sound emission, based on a status of reading waveform data from each storage area by each waveform generating section.