JP2000137490A - Karaoke sing-along machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a KARAOKE sing-along machine which enables the user to repeatedly listen to the songs which are sung once. SOLUTION: A musical piece recorded in a musical piece memory section 1 is outputted from a speaker 33 via a bus and a MIDI reproducing section 15. When the user sings the song in compliance with this musical piece, the singing voices are detected by a microphone 19 and while the singing voice are graded by a control section 5, the singing voices are recorded in the musical piece memory section 1 via the bus 3, a buffer memory 7, etc., from the control section 5. If the score is high upon ending of the singing, the recorded song is read out of the musical piece memory section 1 and is encore-reproduced from the speaker 33 via the bus 3, the control section 5, a voice reproducing section 35, etc. The grading thereof is displayed on a monitor 47 as well. The user is able to make training by selecting only the portions of the low grade in respective time zones during the reproduction while repeatedly reproducing these portions.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus for outputting accompaniment music and lyric information corresponding to a song to be sung so that the user can sing along with the accompaniment of the music.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Karaoke apparatuses are widely used in restaurants, karaoke boxes, homes, and the like. However, conventional karaoke apparatuses merely sing a song along with accompaniment, and the sung song flows as it is. Even if you sing very well, you can't listen to the song repeatedly. In other words, if you sing the same song or multiple songs several times, you may not be able to sing well, but in some cases, you may be able to sing well. There are a lot of things I want to listen to again.

The karaoke apparatus can of course be used for practicing a song. However, the conventional karaoke apparatus only sung along with the accompaniment as described above. I can't listen to the song again and see what's wrong. If you can record a song once sung and listen to it repeatedly or find out what is wrong, the karaoke device will be a very convenient and wonderful practice device.

[0004]

As described above, the conventional karaoke apparatus merely sings a song along with the accompaniment, and there is a problem that a song once sung cannot be heard again or repeatedly. In particular, when a singer is sung wonderfully well, he often wants to listen again as an encore, but there is a problem that such an encore cannot be performed with a conventional karaoke apparatus.

[0005] Further, the conventional karaoke apparatus does not record the sung song, so that it is not possible to repeatedly listen to the sung song once, and it is not possible to confirm what is wrong. If you can repeatedly listen to the song you sang once and check what is wrong, the karaoke device can be a convenient and wonderful device for practice, but in the past it was impossible to repeatedly listen to the song once sung like this. is there.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a karaoke apparatus that can repeatedly listen to a song sung once.

[0007]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an accompaniment music corresponding to a song to be sung so that the user can sing the song along with the accompaniment while watching the lyrics. And a karaoke device for outputting lyric information. The karaoke device detects a voice of a sung song, and records the detected voice information in synchronization with the accompaniment information, and encores the recorded voice. The gist of the present invention is to have an encore availability determining means for determining whether or not to play back, and a playback means for playing back and outputting the recorded sound when the encore availability determining means determines to perform the encore playback.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the voice of the sung song is detected, and the detected voice information is recorded in synchronization with the accompaniment information, and the recorded voice is encoded. If it is decided to play, to reproduce and output the recorded voice, for example, you can encore play a wonderfully sung song and listen to it many times repeatedly, and by listening repeatedly, You can check what is wrong and it is effective for singing.

Further, the present invention described in claim 2 is based on claim 1.
In the invention described above, the gist of the invention is to include a scoring unit that evaluates and scores the detected voice as a song level.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the detected voice is evaluated and scored as the level of the song, it is possible to accurately check how good the sung song is, and It is effective for practice.

The present invention according to claim 3 provides the invention according to claim 2.
In the invention described above, the gist of the present invention is to have a high-score encore reproducing means for encore-reproducing and outputting the recorded voice when the score scored by the scoring means is higher than a predetermined score.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, if the score of the sung song is higher than a predetermined score, the recorded voice is encore-played and output, so that the sung song is sung very well. You can listen to the song over and over again by playing the encore, and you can save it for listening to music.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a karaoke apparatus for outputting accompaniment music and lyrics information corresponding to a song to be sung so that the song can be sung along with the accompaniment of the song. Encore enable / disable execution means for deciding whether or not to perform encore playback of the song, and playback means for playing back and outputting accompaniment music of the song when the encore enable / disable execution means has performed the encore playback The gist is to have

According to the present invention, in the case where the user wants to sing the same music again (the person or another person) due to the successful singing or the like, the accompaniment of the music is set again by setting the encore reproduction. Performed, which allows you to sing the same song over and over. Also, in conjunction with the scoring means, the encore reproduction may be automatically performed when the score is higher than a predetermined score.

That is, according to the first aspect, for example, when the score is higher than a predetermined score, the recorded voice is reproduced together with the accompaniment, whereas in the fourth aspect, only the accompaniment is played, so that the high score is obtained. Free use is possible, such as the acquired person may sing again or the challenger sings.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a karaoke apparatus for outputting accompaniment music and lyrics information corresponding to a song to be sung so that the user can sing the song along with the accompaniment of the song. Time information recording means for detecting a voice of the song, and recording a plurality of continuous time zone information divided at predetermined time intervals in synchronization with the detected voice; and Scoring means for each time slot for evaluating and scoring the detected voice as the level of the song, and scoring designation for evaluating a score for each time slot scored by the scoring means for each time slot and designating a score of a desired value The gist of the present invention is to include a specific portion reproducing means for reproducing and outputting at least one of the music piece of the portion corresponding to the time zone having the score specified by the score specifying means and the recorded voice.

In the present invention, the voice of the song is evaluated and scored for each of a plurality of time zone information divided in synchronization with the voice, and the score is scored for each time zone. To designate a score of a desired value out of the scores, and to reproduce and output at least one of the music and voice of a portion corresponding to the time zone having the designated score, for example, designate and reproduce a portion having a low score It is possible to check (listening, confirming, re-singing) a part with a low score, that is, a part where the song is poor, which is effective for practicing the song.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a karaoke apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. The karaoke apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has a music storage unit 1 composed of a large-capacity hard disk (HDD) of several gigabytes in which music information for accompaniment music is recorded. The song storage unit 1 stores song names of a large number of songs sung as karaoke, songs (MIDI compressed files) as accompaniment information, song numbers for identifying the songs, singer names, and MIDI (Musical Instrument) for song information.
rument Digital Interface) information, background image information for karaoke (still images, moving images), new music information, etc. are recorded in correspondence with each other, and audio information of the song sung as karaoke is also included in the song information as described later. MID that is
The information is recorded in synchronization with the I information. Note that MIDI means a standard for exchanging music data between a synthesizer, a computer, and the like, and the MIDI data stored in the music storage unit 1 in the present embodiment.
The IDI information means music information described in the MIDI standard. The song information also includes lyrics character information, chorus information, and the like. M including music information
The IDI information is distributed from, for example, an information center (not shown) via a communication line or the like, and is recorded in the music storage unit 1.

The music storage unit 1 is connected to a control unit 5 via a bus 3. The control unit 5 controls the overall operation of the karaoke apparatus and also has a scoring function for scoring songs sung by the karaoke apparatus.

The bus 3 has a music storage unit 1 and a control unit 5
In addition, a buffer memory 7 acting as a buffer which is a temporary memory when writing and reading information to and from the music storage unit 1, and a DRA which is a high-speed accessible dynamic random memory for temporarily storing various information
M9, ROM 11, which is a read-only memory for storing fixed information such as programs, and font storage unit 1 for storing font information for displaying karaoke lyrics information
3. MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)
e) A MIDI reproducing unit 15 for reproducing information and a voice synthesizing unit 17 for synthesizing a sound for simulating, for example, a sound of encore or applause when a karaoke song is sung are connected.

The karaoke apparatus according to the present embodiment has a microphone 19 for detecting the voice of a sung song and converting the voice into an electric signal. The voice signal of the song detected by the microphone 19 is amplified by an amplifier 21. And the A / D converter 23
The digital signal is supplied to the control unit 5 after being converted into a digital signal by the control unit. When receiving the voice of the song converted into the digital signal, the controller 5 evaluates the voice and starts scoring. The audio digital signal thus scored is sent from the control unit 5 via the bus 3 to the buffer memory 7.
Is temporarily stored in the music storage unit 1 via the bus 3. In this case, the recording of the audio signal of the song is performed in synchronization with the song information of the song and corresponding to the song information.

Music information recorded in the music storage unit 1;
When MIDI information such as lyric character information is read from the music storage unit 1 under the control of the control unit 5, the MIDI information
It is supplied to the IDI reproducing unit 15 to be reproduced, supplied to the mixing unit 29 via the DA converter 25, input from the mixing unit 29 to the speaker 33 via the amplifier 31, and the accompaniment which is music information from the speaker 33. It is designed to be output as music. The mixing section 29 is also supplied with a pseudo voice such as an encore and a pseudo signal such as a pseudo applause from the voice synthesis section 17 via the DA converter 27, and these pseudo signals are converted into MIDI information by the mixing section 29. And output from the speaker 33 via the amplifier 31.

An audio reproducing unit 35 is connected to the control unit 5 via the bus 3, and a reproduced audio signal from the audio reproducing unit 35 is transmitted from a DA converter 37 to a mixing unit 29 and an amplifier 31. The signal is output from the speaker 33. Note that the audio reproduction unit 35 reproduces the audio information by the audio reproduction unit 35 when the audio information from the microphone 19 is recorded in the music storage unit 1 as described above. The audio information is DA
The information is converted into analog information by the converter 37 and
In 9, after being synthesized with the music information or the like, which is the MIDI information from the MIDI reproducing unit 15, it is amplified by the amplifier 31 and output from the speaker 33.

Further, a background picture video server 41 and a VDP (Video Display Processor) 43 are connected to the control unit 5, and these are connected to a monitor 47 via an encoder 45. The background video server 41 stores background image information for karaoke. The background image information stored in the background video server 41 corresponds to each piece of music information in the music storage unit 1. The background image information other than the background image information stored in the music storage unit 1 is read from the background image video server 41, and the background image information is monitored via the encoder 45. 47 is displayed. The monitor 47 can, of course, also display background image information recorded in the music storage unit 1 corresponding to each piece of music information, and also displays the background image (still image / moving image) displayed on the monitor 47. Of course, the lyric character information is also displayed along with the karaoke song.

A music selection and music number display section 39 connected to the control section 5 displays a music number for selecting a karaoke song to be sung, and this music selection is performed by an operation panel section (not shown). Alternatively, the operation is performed by an operation remote controller shown in FIG. 2, and the selected information is input to the control unit 5.

FIG. 2 shows a remote controller for operating the karaoke apparatus.
A numeric keypad for inputting numerical information of 2, 3,... 0, a clear key “C” to the left of the numeral 0, a reproduction end key “R” above the numeral 2, and a reproduction end key “R” , A start key "S" on the right side of ".", An encore practice mode key provided in three rows at the bottom, an encore key, a practice key, a display provided at the top, and the like.

The numeric keypad is used for selecting a song to be sung, and when a desired song is selected with the numeric keypad, the song selection information is supplied from the song selection and song number display section 39 to the control section 5, The selected music information and the like are read from the music storage unit 1 and temporarily stored in the DRAM 9. Then, the user presses the start key "S"
Is operated, the music information and the like stored in the DRAM 9 are transferred to the bus 3, the MIDI playback unit 15, and the D-
The signal is output from the speaker 33 via the A converter 25, the mixing unit 29, and the amplifier 31, and karaoke is started.

When the karaoke starts and the accompaniment music as the music information is output from the speaker 33 as described above,
When the user sings a song to the microphone 19 in time with the accompaniment music, the sound of the song is transmitted to the microphone 1.
9 is supplied to the control unit 5 via the amplifier 21 and the AD converter 23. The control unit 5 evaluates the voice by the scoring function and performs scoring. This scoring is performed by the control unit 5 from the VDP4
3 is displayed on the monitor 47.

The scoring is performed for the entire sung song, but is also performed finely at predetermined time intervals. Specifically, the voice of the song sung by the user is detected by the microphone 19, and a plurality of continuous time zones defined at predetermined time intervals (or syllables) are defined in synchronization with the detected voice. The plurality of time zone information is recorded in the music storage unit 1 in synchronization with the recording of the sound in the music storage unit 1. And the control unit 5
Is supplied with the voice of the song from the microphone 19,
Each voice is scored for each of a plurality of time zones by the scoring function, and the score thus scored is stored in the music storage unit 1 under the control of the control unit 5.

A specific description will be given with reference to FIG. FIG.
(A), (b), (c), and (d) respectively show the signal waveform of the music music when the user sings a song to the music music output from the speaker 33 as described above, and the user sings. It is a figure which shows the waveform of the audio | voice signal of the singing song, several time zones, and the score in each time zone.

When the user sings a song in tune with the musical composition whose signal waveform is shown in FIG. 3A, the waveform of the audio signal is generated, for example, as shown in FIG. 3B. As shown in FIG. 3C, a plurality of time zones T1, T2,
T3,... Are defined, and the voice of the song in each time zone is scored by the control unit 5, and for example, as shown in FIG. Scores are obtained such as 60 points for the time zone T2 and 80 points for the time zone T3. This score and each time period T1, T2,
The time zone information indicating T3,... Is recorded in the music storage unit 1 under the control of the control unit 5 in synchronization with the music information and the voice of the song. The control unit 5 also scores the entire sung song as described above, and records the score in the music storage unit 1 as well.

When the score scored for the entire song is equal to or more than a predetermined score, for example, 90 or more, the control unit 5 automatically reproduces the karaoke song recorded in the music storage unit 1. You can also play encore. Also, in this encore playback, the voice or applause of pseudo encore is output by the voice synthesizing unit 17 and the D-
The signal is output from the A converter 27 to the speaker 33 via the mixing unit 29 and the amplifier 31.

Furthermore, in the case of singing well and a high score, if the user wants to sing the same song again (the person or another person), the accompaniment of the song is played again by setting encore playback, whereby the same song is played. You can sing as many times as you like. If the score is higher than a predetermined score, it can be set so that the encore playback is automatically performed.

For example, when the score is higher than a predetermined score, the voice recorded together with the accompaniment (the voice of the person who obtained the high score) is reproduced, or only the accompaniment of the music is played to obtain the high score. You can let the person sing again, or you can let the challenger sing.

The control unit 5 evaluates the score scored for each of a plurality of time zones, and only the songs in the portion corresponding to the time zone whose score is lower than the desired score, for example, 70 points or less, are evaluated. The music is extracted from the music storage unit 1 or the DRAM 9, and only the song with the low score is controlled to be reproduced from the speaker 33 a plurality of times or an arbitrary number of times. This facilitates singing practice. In addition,
Designation of a score to be reproduced for practice can be performed using, for example, a remote controller shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the karaoke apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the power of the present karaoke apparatus is turned on, a recording mode, an automatic mode, a manual mode, and the like are automatically set. In the processing of FIG. 4, first, it is checked whether or not the recording mode is set (step). S11). If the mode is not the recording mode, a normal performance of karaoke is performed (step S1).
3) When the performance ends (step S15), the process returns to the first step S11. In the case of the recording mode, the performance is started and the grading of the song sung by the user by the grading function of the control unit 5 is also started. Then (step S17), recording starts (step S19). At the start of the recording, the recording data number is set to, for example, 1
And music data, time data corresponding to the time zone information, voice data of the song detected by the microphone 19 and converted by the A / D converter 23, the total score of the song, and each time zone. The scoring data, which is the score of each partial data, is recorded in the music storage unit 1. The recording of such information is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 7 via the bus 3 from the control unit 5 (step S21). The music is stored in the music storage unit (HDD) 1 via the bus 3 (step S23).

As described above, when the song sung in the karaoke is completed and the performance ends (step S2).
5) It is checked whether the mode is set to the encore mode (step S27). In addition, the setting of the encore mode is set by, for example, an “encore practice mode key” on a remote controller. When this key is operated,
The display indicating the encore practice mode is instantaneously displayed on the monitor 47. In this encore practice mode,
When the "practice key" on the remote control is operated once, step S
The recorded contents corresponding to the recording data numbers set at 19, for example, 1 to 8, are displayed on the monitor 47 as follows.

1: Tokyo Anna 2: Nagasaki Elegy 3:……… 8: The World of Two People In the above example, up to eight songs are temporarily stored as an example so that karaoke sung by an individual can be immediately reproduced by practice. This number indicates that the song has been set, and this number is selected using the “numeric keypad” on the remote control, and the selected key is operated by operating the start key “S” on the remote control. Will be able to do that.

If it is determined in step S27 that the encore mode is set,
In the next step S29, it is checked whether the encore is automatic or manual. In the case of encore automatic, it is checked whether or not the score is 90 points or more (step S31),
If the score is 90 or more, the pseudo-encore voice and applause are output from the speaker 33 by the voice synthesis unit 17 or the voice reproduction unit 35 (step S33), and the encore song is read from the music storage unit 1. Then, the encore playback performance starts (step S35). The encore playback performance is performed based on audio data, music data, time data that is time zone information, and the like recorded in the music storage unit 1 (step S37). When the encore playback performance ends (step S15),
It returns to the first step S11. At this time, for example, by operating the “encore practice mode key” by “pressing twice” or “keeping the key pressed”, only the music (or only the voice) is reproduced at the time of the encore reproduction, thereby singing the song again (repeat song). ) You can also. By playing back only the voice, it is possible to hear (check) the voice more accurately or sing a different part.

If it is determined in step S29 that the encore is manual, it is checked whether or not there is an encore command (step S39). If there is an encore command, the flow advances to step S33 to execute the above-described step S33. The same processing as the subsequent processing is performed. In addition,
This encore command is output by an “encore key” of the remote controller shown in FIG. This encore key can function during the encore manual mode until the next performance.

Further, the score is 90 in the judgment in step S31.
If not, or if there is no encore command in the determination of step S39, the process returns to step S11.

If it is determined in step S27 that the current mode is not the encore mode, the process proceeds to step S41 to enter the practice mode, where the recorded data is reproduced (step S41). As described in connection with step S19, the tune selected in this reproduction is selected from the tunes recorded corresponding to the recording data numbers 1 to 8 by operating any of the recording data numbers. And
While the selected song is being played, the score scored by the scoring function of the control unit 5 is displayed on the screen of the monitor 47 in accordance with each time zone, so that it is possible to know which part has a lower score. (Step S43). Then, by designating the score thus scored from a remote controller or the like, only the portion corresponding to the designated score can be searched and only this portion can be reproduced. For example, it is also possible to repeatedly reproduce only a portion whose score is lower than 70 points, or reproduce only a portion whose score is higher than 90 points.

By operating the rewind key and the fast-forward key indicated by “▽” and “△” on the remote controller shown in FIG. 2 during reproduction of the song selected as described above, the same portion or the same song is reproduced. Reproduction can be repeated any number of times (step S45). When the reproduction is completed in this way (step S47), the process returns to the first step S11. At the end of the reproduction, the reproduction end key “R” of the remote controller is operated. By operating the rewind key “キ ー” of the remote controller twice during playback, fast-forward rewind is performed.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Detects the voice of the sung song, records the detected voice information in synchronization with the accompaniment information, and plays back the recorded voice if it is determined that the recorded voice should be played back by encore. For example, a wonderfully well-sung song can be encore-reproduced and repeatedly listened to many times, and by repeatedly listening, it is possible to check what is wrong and to practice the song.

Further, according to the present invention, the detected voice is evaluated as a song level and scored, so that it is possible to accurately check how good the sung song is, and it is effective for singing practice. is there.

Further, according to the present invention, if the score of the sung song is higher than a predetermined score, the recorded voice is encore-played and output, so that the very well-sung song is encore-played , You can listen to it many times and save it for listening to music.

According to the present invention, a song is scored for each of a plurality of pieces of time zone information synchronized in synchronization with a voice, and a score of a desired value is designated among the scores scored for each time slot. Since the audio of the portion corresponding to the time zone having the designated score is reproduced and output, for example, a portion having a low score can be designated and reproduced, a song in a poor portion can be checked, and the song can be checked. It is effective for practice.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a structure of a remote controller used in the karaoke apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a signal waveform of music music when a song is sung along with music music, a waveform of an audio signal of a song sung by a user, a plurality of time zones, and scores in each time zone.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the karaoke apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Music storage unit 3 Bus 5 Control unit 7 Buffer memory 15 MIDI playback unit 17 Voice synthesis unit 19 Microphone 33 Speaker 35 Audio playback unit 39 Song selection and song number display unit 41 Background image video server 47 Monitor

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A karaoke apparatus for outputting accompaniment music and lyrics information corresponding to a song to be sung so as to be able to sing a song along with the accompaniment of the song, wherein the karaoke device detects the voice of the sung song, Recording means for recording the detected audio information in synchronization with the accompaniment information in synchronization with the accompaniment information; encall enable / disable execution means for deciding whether or not to perform the encore playback of the recorded audio; A karaoke apparatus comprising: a reproducing unit that reproduces and outputs the recorded voice when it is determined that the karaoke sound is recorded. 2. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a scoring unit that evaluates and scores the detected voice as a song level. 3. A karaoke system according to claim 2, further comprising a high score encore reproducing means for encore reproducing and outputting said recorded voice when the score scored by said scoring means is higher than a predetermined score. apparatus. 4. A karaoke apparatus for outputting accompaniment music and lyric information corresponding to a song to be sung so as to be able to sing the song along with the accompaniment of the music, wherein the sung song is encore-reproduced. A karaoke system comprising: an encore availability determining means for determining whether or not the song is encore-reproduced by the encore availability determining means; and a playback means for playing back and outputting accompaniment music of the song. apparatus. 5. A karaoke apparatus for outputting accompaniment music and lyrics information corresponding to a song to be sung so as to be able to sing a song along with the accompaniment of the song, wherein the karaoke device detects the voice of the sung song, Time information recording means for recording a plurality of continuous time zone information divided at predetermined time intervals in synchronization with the detected voice; and the detected voice as a song level for each of the plurality of time zones. Scoring means for each time slot for evaluating and scoring, scoring means for evaluating each time slot scored by the scoring means for each time slot, and specifying a score of a desired value; and A karaoke apparatus comprising: a specific portion reproducing means for reproducing and outputting at least one of a music piece corresponding to a time zone having a designated score and the recorded voice.