JP3761907B2 - Automatic composer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an automatic music composition device that allows anyone from infants to adults to easily enjoy composition.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for educational toys that focus on developing sound and rhythm. Furthermore, if it is possible to compose music with a simple operation while playing with such a toy, the child can enjoy the joy of creation, and the interest in music can be further enhanced.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the actual situation is that an automatic music composition apparatus configured so as to be able to compose music with a simple operation is not provided at present.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an automatic music composition device capable of automatically composing a plurality of music pieces with a simple operation.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the automatic musical composition apparatus according to claim 1 selects a performance information memory for storing a plurality of pieces of performance information each consisting of a plurality of notes for each section of the piece of music and one of the plurality of pieces of performance information. The first operating means, the trial performance means for performing the trial performance of each section based on the performance information selected by the first operating means, the second operating means for confirming the performance information, and the section in the section of the music When the second operation means is operated, a confirmation means for confirming performance information selected by the first operation means at that time as performance information of the section, and performance information confirmed by the second operation means There together indicate which one of the plurality of performance information, display means for displaying a symbol indicating a section of the music belongs the performance information, an instruction for continuous playback is given, the determination means Thus it is characterized by comprising a performance information reading means for reading out the determined performance information in the order of sections.
[0006]
Also, automatic composition according to claim 2, the performance information memory and writable constructed, and is characterized in that a writing means for writing the performance data to the memory.
[0007]
[Action]
In the automatic musical composition apparatus according to claim 1, the performance information stored in the performance information memory is appropriately selected by the first operation means, so that the trial performance is performed based on the performance information, while each section of the music is performed. When the second operating means is operated, the performance information selected by the first operating means at that time is determined as the performance information of the section, the performance information determined by the second operating means and the performance information When an image showing the section of the music piece to which it belongs is displayed and a continuous performance instruction is given, the confirmed performance information is read out in the order of the section, and one piece of music is played. In the automatic composition device according to the second aspect, the performance information can be written in the performance information memory, so that the performance content of each section can be arbitrarily configured.
[0008]
【Example】
A. Configuration of Embodiment First, an automatic composition apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration when the present invention is applied to an educational toy, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overall configuration. The automatic music composition apparatus of this embodiment is configured to compose a music composed of four bars by appropriately selecting four types of melody prepared for each bar.
[0009]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an operation board. On the operation board 1, four cursor switches ( first operation means ) SW1,... SW4 that are operated when selecting a melody are arranged. The cursor switches SW1,... Are arranged in a cross shape, and are color-coded into “red”, “blue”, “yellow”, and “green” clockwise from SW1. The operation board 1 is provided with a trigger switch ( second operation means ) 1b for confirming the selected melody, and the operation board 1 outputs the operation information via the bus 17 (see FIG. 1). In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a touch pen, and the pen tip position is detected at any time by the tablet 3. In addition, a switch is provided at the pen tip of the touch pen 2, and when the pen tip is pressed against the tablet 3, the operation information is output from the touch pen 2 via the bus 17. Reference numeral 4 denotes a MIDI interface, which transmits and receives MIDI signals to and from external devices. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1c denotes a cap into which the touch pen 2 is inserted.
[0010]
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a sheet body 20 on which various symbols are drawn is placed on the tablet 3. The sheet body 20 is simply printed with various graphics on paper. The sheet body 20 is formed integrally with the ROM cassette 7, and a currently opened page is detected by a predetermined sensor. When the touch pen 2 is pressed against a predetermined pattern of the sheet body 20, the operation position is detected by the tablet 3, and the operation content is specified in relation to the currently opened page. The details of this technique are described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-137646.
[0011]
Next, 5 is a CPU (performance information reading means) that controls other components based on a program stored in the ROM cassette 7. In the memory of the ROM cassette 7, in addition to image information and audio information on the screen displayed on the display 9, performance information of accompaniment that flows to the back during performance of the composed music is stored. The ROM cassette 7 is provided with a plurality of melody memories (performance information memories) M1-1 to M4-4 shown in FIG. The memory area of each melody memory M1,... Stores note information including melody pitch, note length, and event time in the order of phrases.
[0012]
The melody memories M1-1 to M1-4 store four different melodies adopted for the first bar, respectively. In this case, although the note arrangement of each melody is different, all are melody harmonized with the chord of “C”. These are selected by operating the cursor switches SW1 to SW4, respectively. The melody memories M2-1 to M2-4 store the second measure melody that harmonizes with the chord "F", and the melody memories M3-1 to M3-4 harmonize with the chord "G7". The melody of the third measure is stored, respectively, and the melody of the fourth measure harmonized with the chord of “C” is stored in the melody memories M4-1 to M4-4. The melody after the second measure is also selected by operating the cursor switches SW1 to SW4 for each measure. Note that the melody of the fourth measure is structured like a music ending.
[0013]
The CPU 5 stores the head addresses of the melody memories M1-1,... Corresponding to the cursor switches SW1 to SW4 in each measure in a register. For example, the head address corresponding to the cursor switch SW1 in the first bar is stored as “100”, and the head address corresponding to the cursor switch SW2 in the second bar is stored as “600”.
[0014]
Next, reference numeral 6 denotes a RAM which temporarily stores processing contents of the CPU 5 and the like. A graphic display controller 8 outputs a video signal based on image data supplied from the CPU 5. This video signal is displayed on the display 9. Reference numeral 10 denotes a sound source that synthesizes and outputs a musical sound signal based on performance information supplied from the CPU 5. Reference numeral 11 denotes an effector, which performs reverberation / volume control and the like under CPU control on the musical sound signal output from the sound source 10. Reference numeral 13 denotes a microphone effector that performs reverberation / volume control and the like on the audio signal input from the microphone 12. Similarly to the effector 11, the microphone effector 13 can also control the volume and reverberation of sound generated by the control of the CPU 5. A digital audio processing circuit 14 converts the digital audio signal supplied from the CPU 5 into an analog signal and outputs it. The digital audio processing circuit 14 can convert a signal supplied from the microphone 12 via the microphone / effector 13 into a digital signal and store it in the RAM 6 via the bus 17. Reference numeral 15 denotes a mixer, which mixes and outputs musical tone signals and audio signals supplied from the effector 11, the microphone / effector 13, and the digital audio processing circuit 14. The output mixed signal is sounded through the sound system 16.
[0015]
B. Operation of the embodiment
(1) Melody selection operation Next, the operation of the automatic musical composition apparatus of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the operator opens a predetermined page of the sheet body 20 so that the mode of the automatic music can be selected. Next, for example, the operator presses the tip of the touch pen 2 against the character A on the left page of the sheet 20 (SP0) as an operation for starting the mode of the automatic composition. Thereby, CPU5 advances a process to step SP1. In step SP1, the CPU 5 reads the image information from the memory of the ROM cassette 7 and displays the image shown in FIG. Note that this processing is not described in the flow. In the image shown in FIG. 5, the lower part of the character C is divided into four parts, and the character C is located at the left end, which indicates that the melody to be selected is for the first measure. . Four circles arranged in the lower part of the character C are arranged in the order of “red”, “blue”, “yellow”, “green” in the clockwise direction from the upper one in the same manner as the cursor switches SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4. They are color-coded. In step SP1, measure number i and melody number j are set to initial values “1” and “0”, respectively.
[0016]
Next, the CPU 5 proceeds to step SP 2, reads out voice information for operation guidance, for example, “Choose a ball” from the memory of the ROM 7, and supplies this voice information to the digital voice processing circuit 14. The digital audio processing circuit 14 decodes the supplied audio information into an analog signal, and supplies this to the sound system 16 via the mixer 15. Then, the sound system 16 utters a sound prompting the user to select the first measure melody, and enters a state of waiting for the melody number input by the operator's cursor switch operation. Next, when the operator operates the cursor switch SW1, for example, the CPU 5 proceeds to step SP3. In step SP3, the CPU 5 recognizes “100” as the leading address of the corresponding melody memory M1-1 by operating the cursor switch SW1, and sequentially reads performance information starting from this address “100”. The read performance information is sequentially supplied to the sound source 10 and synthesized and converted into a tone and note length musical sound signal corresponding to the performance information with a predetermined tone color, and the sound is transmitted through the effector 11 and the mixer 15. Sounded from system 16. The melody of the first measure selected in the above process is played as a trial according to the operation of the cursor switches SW1,... (SP5). When the melody performance ends, the process of the CPU 5 proceeds to step SP6. In step SP6, the CPU 5 waits for input of the trigger switch 1b. If the input operation does not belong to the trigger switch 1b, the determination result is “NO”, and the above-described SP2 to SP6 are repeated. If the other melody memories M1-2 to MI-4 are selected in the repetition process, the melody for the first measure stored in the memory is trial-played. On the other hand, if the trigger switch 1b is operated, the determination result is “YES” in Step SP6, and the process proceeds to the next Step SP7.
[0017]
In step SP7, the CPU 5 stores the start address of the melody memory M1-1,... Storing the performance information of the currently selected melody in the performance buffer in the RAM 6. For example, if the cursor switch SW1 is operated, the CPU 5 recognizes the leading address “100” of the melody memory M1-1 and stores it in the performance buffer. Further, the CPU 5 increments the register i indicating the measure number. Next, the CPU 5 proceeds to step SP8 and determines whether or not the content of the register i is “5”, that is, whether or not the selection of melody for four measures has been completed. If this determination is “NO”, the process proceeds to step SP9 to select a melody for the remaining measures.
[0018]
In step SP9, the CPU 5 performs a process of changing the screen according to the type of the selected melody. For example, if the melody memory M1-1 is selected, an image in which a “red” circle corresponding to the cursor switch SW1 among the circles in the leftmost section of the screen is lit (high brightness) is displayed. Control. Further, the CPU 5 controls the image so that the color of the ball positioned around the person on the screen of FIG. 5 located at the left end (indicating the first bar) is red. Further, the CPU 5 controls the image so that the character C on the screen moves to the right of one section, and proceeds to step SP2 to proceed with the process in the next second measure.
[0019]
And CPU5 repeats the process from step SP2 to step SP6 until the trigger switch 1b is operated similarly to the case of the 1st bar mentioned above. If the cursor switch SW2 is operated when the trigger switch 1b is operated in step SP6, the CPU 5 recognizes the leading address “600” of the melody memory M2-2 corresponding to the cursor switch SW2, This is stored in the performance buffer. Next, the register i is incremented and the process proceeds to step SP8. If it is determined whether “i” = 5, the result is “NO”, and the process proceeds to step 9. In step SP9, the CPU 5 controls the image so that the “blue” circle corresponding to the operated cursor switch SW2 among the circles in the second section from the left of the screen shown in FIG. Among the balls arranged around the person on the screen, image control is performed so that the color of the ball located second from the left end is blue. Further, the CPU 5 controls the image so that the character C on the screen further moves to the right of one section, and proceeds to step SP2 in order to proceed with the process in the next third measure.
[0020]
Processing in the third bar and the fourth bar is performed in the same manner as described above. In step SP8 of the process of the fourth measure, since the content of the register i is 5, the determination result is “YES”. As a result, the CPU 5 advances the process to step SP10. When the operator operates the trigger switch 1b in step SP10, the CPU 5 advances the process to step SP11 for continuous performance.
[0021]
(2) Continuous performance of melody In step SP11, the CPU 5 reads out the top addresses of the melody memories M1-1,... Stored in the performance buffer. For example, if the read start address is “100”, “600”, “900”, “1600”, the CPU 5 accesses the start address “100” of the melody memory M1-1 to read the performance information, This performance information is supplied to the sound source 10 to play the first measure melody. Further, the CPU 5 reads performance information for accompaniment from the memory of the ROM cassette 7 and supplies this performance information to the sound source 10 to simultaneously advance the performance of the accompaniment.
[0022]
When the reading of the melody memory M1-1 is completed, the CPU 5 accesses the head address “600” of the melody memory M2-2, reads the performance information, and supplies it to the sound source 10. In this way, the melody up to the fourth measure is continuously played. The CPU 5 determines whether or not the fourth performance by the sound system 16 has been completed, and if it is determined to be “finished”, the process proceeds to step SP0. When the operator presses the touch pen 2 against the character A in step SP0, the same operation as described above is repeated. Further, when the touch pen 2 is pressed against a cloud other than the character A, for example, or the page of the sheet body 20 is turned, a mode other than “automatic music” is set.
[0023]
As described above, according to the automatic music composition apparatus having the above configuration, although there are four melodies prepared for each measure, 256 kinds of music can be played by combining them. Moreover, since it is only necessary to select a phrase that harmonizes with the chord progression prepared in advance, the music can be completed without any combination, and even young people can easily enjoy composition. In particular, in the above embodiment, the phrase can be selected while listening to the melody by operating the cursor switch SW1,. It becomes easy to compose music.
[0024]
C. Modified example Next, a modified example of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. In this modification, performance information of a melody composed by an operator is stored in a battery-backed RAM 6 and can be used. As shown in FIG. 6, a keyboard sheet (performance means) 30 is placed on the board 1 d of the operation board 1. In this case, a program stored in the tablet 3 and the ROM cassette 7 generates performance information by detecting the operation position and operation time and generating performance information when the touch pen 2 is pressed against the key of the keyboard sheet 30. Part (not shown). The performance information at this time is supplied to the sound source 10 to perform the performance. The performance information is stored in a temporary storage memory provided on the operation board 1 and supplied to the RAM 6.
[0025]
The electrical configuration of this modification is as shown in FIG. 1 as in the above-described embodiment, but a rhythm generator 31 is added. The rhythm generator 31 is turned on by pressing the touch pen 2 against a predetermined position of the keyboard sheet 30, generates a rhythm signal, and supplies it to the bus 17. The period of the rhythm signal generated by the rhythm generator 31 can be arbitrarily adjusted. FIG. 7 shows the melody memories M1-1 to M4-4 set in the RAM 6. This modification also has four melody memories M1-1,... In each measure (1 to 4) as in the above embodiment. Which melody memory M1-1,... Is stored is designated by operating the cursor switches SW1,. The performance information generated in response to the operation of the keyboard sheet 30 is supplied to the melody memories M1-1,... Designated by the cursor switches SW1,. If the performance information is already stored in the melody memory M1-1,..., The old performance information is deleted. When changing the measure number, the trigger switch 1b is operated. At that time, the character C shown in FIG. 5 moves to display which measure is the composition target.
[0026]
Next, the operation of the above modification will be described. First, for example, the operator operates the cursor switch SW1 to select the melody memory M1-1 for storing performance information. Next, when the operator presses the touch pen 2 against a predetermined portion of the keyboard sheet 30, the rhythm generator 31 generates a rhythm signal, which is supplied to the sound source 10 via the bus 17 and is generated as a rhythm sound by the sound system 16. The The operator plays the first measure while pressing the touch pen 2 against the key of the keyboard sheet 30 in accordance with the rhythm sound generated from the sound system 16. When the touch pen 2 is pressed against the keyboard sheet 30, the performance information generator generates performance information. Then, the CPU 5 inputs performance information from the top address of the melody memory M1-1. At the same time, the CPU 5 supplies performance information to the sound source 10 and the melody sound input to the sound system 16 is generated. In this manner, the operator selects and memorizes the melody memories M1-1 to M1-4 as appropriate while coming up with the melody for the first measure.
[0027]
Next, the operator operates the trigger switch 1b. The CPU 5 controls the image so that the character C on the screen shown in FIG. 5 moves to the right adjacent section, thereby displaying that the composition target has moved to the second measure. Next, the operator plays a melody for the second measure in the same manner as described above. The CPU 5 stores performance information corresponding to the performance in the melody memory M2-1,. In this way, the composition up to the melody for the fourth measure and the performance information are stored in the melody memory M1-1. The operation of composing a single piece of music by combining the composed melody is the same as in the above embodiment. That is, the stored melody is appropriately selected for each measure to obtain a melody having four measures, and these are automatically played in order.
[0028]
According to the modified example, since the operator can compose a melody for each measure, it is possible to compose a large number of completely original songs. Moreover, since many different melodies are memorize | stored, it can select while listening the best thing of these combinations. In addition, this invention is not limited to the Example mentioned above, For example, a various deformation | transformation is possible as follows.
[0029]
{Circle around (1)} Each of the above-described embodiments and modified examples incorporates the automatic musical composition apparatus of the present invention into an educational toy, but can also be configured as a single automatic musical composition apparatus.
{Circle around (2)} In the above embodiment, the progression of the melody is “C → F → G7 → C”, but it is needless to say that the melody can be used in harmony with various chords. For example, the progress of the melody can be changed to “C → Am → G7 → C”, or a minor tune can be constituted by a melody progression such as “Am → Dm → E7 → Am”. One measure can be composed of a plurality of melodies that harmonize with different chords.
(3) It is possible to increase the number of melody memories per measure as well as the number of melody memories from the beginning to the end of one song.
(4) In the modification, the melody performance information is stored. However, for example, the performance information based only on percussion instruments may be stored.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the automatic musical composition apparatus of the present invention, by selecting performance information stored in the performance information memory as appropriate for each section, the performance information is read in the order of the sections, and one piece of music is played. Is done. Therefore, anyone from infants to adults can easily enjoy composition.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a view of the operation board 1 and the tablet 3 as viewed from above.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a melody memory of a ROM cassette 7;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a control program according to the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen display of the display 9 in the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the operation board 1 in a modification of the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a melody memory of a RAM 6 in a modified example.
[Explanation of symbols]
SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4 cursor switch ( first operation means ),
1b Trigger switch ( second operating means ),
5 CPU (performance information reading means , confirmation means, trial performance means ),
30 Keyboard sheet (writing means).

Claims (2)

A performance information memory for storing a plurality of pieces of performance information each consisting of a plurality of notes for each section of music;
First operating means for selecting any of the plurality of pieces of performance information;
Trial performance means for performing a trial performance of each section based on the performance information selected by the first operation means;
A second operating means for determining performance information;
When the second operation means is operated in each section of the music, a confirmation means for confirming the performance information selected by the first operation means at that time as performance information of the section;
Display means for displaying which of the plurality of pieces of performance information is the performance information determined by the second operation means , and displaying a symbol indicating a section of the music to which the performance information belongs;
An instruction for continuous playback is given, automatic composition apparatus characterized by comprising a performance information reading means for reading the performance data that has been determined by said determining means in the order of sections. 2. The automatic musical composition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said performance information memory is configured to be writable, and further comprises a writing means for writing performance information into this memory.

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