SPEECH SPEED CONVERTER

PURPOSE: To enable a stable waveform elongation operation and a silence interval deletion operation by setting the threshold for a speech speed conversion processing according to an inputted voice level. CONSTITUTION: When the power value P for every frame is calculated by the power decision processing within a speech speed conversion processing, the power value P is delivered to a power value comparison means 71 independently of the transfer of frame data and the power value is compared with the maximum power value Pmax and the minimum power value Pmin stored in a storage means 72. When the power value of this time is larger than the Pmax, the power value of this time is stored as the Pmax. Conversely, when the power value is lower than the Pmin, the power value of this time is stored as the Pmin. This comparison/update is performed for every frame. The maximum and minimum power values stored in the storage means 72 are reset at fixed time interval by a reset means 73. Thresholds Th and To to be used for the power decision processing 31 within a speech speed conversion processing 30 are changed by a threshold changing means 75.