JPH06217039A - Electronic sound source device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To suppress the time lag and at the same time to increase the number of sounds produced at a time by reproducing an acoustic waveform only when it is coincident with the number of an electronic sound source and generating the audio signals. CONSTITUTION:The electronic sound sources 1A, 1B and 1C are connected in parallel to each other, and the performance information (a) are supplied at a time to these sources 1A-1C. In this case, however, only the acoustic waveforms of the percussion instruments are stored in the waveform memory of the source 1A. Meanwhile the acoustic waveforms of the wind instruments and the string instruments are stored in the memories of the sources 1B and 1C respectively. Thus each CPU 2 disuses the undesired data and fetches only the necessary data as long as the information (a) are supplied to the memories 1A-1C in parallel to each other. Then the CPU 2 has an access to each waveform memory 4 to output the data. A mixer 6 mixes together the outputs of the memories 1A-1C and then generates an audio output (b).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for producing a variety of tone colors by using an electronic sound source, and is particularly used for a cable music broadcast receiver and a BGM music broadcast receiver.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A technique for downloading data for an electronic sound source via a public line or the like and playing back music such as BGM using an electronic sound source mounted on a terminal device is already known. Further, there is already known a technique of selecting a desired type of music by channel selection and sequentially reproducing the music (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-70252).

Inside the electronic sound source, tone colors for sound generation are stored in a waveform memory as a large number of acoustic waveforms, and when performance information composed of binary codes is input, a dedicated waveform reading circuit is used to store the tone colors from the waveform memory. The corresponding sampling waveform is read and the audio signal is output from the D / A converter. In the waveform reading circuit, the pitch of the sound is controlled by the reading speed of the acoustic waveform, and the timbre is controlled by designating the address of the acoustic waveform in the waveform memory.

[0003]

By the way, these conventional techniques are premised on the use of one electronic sound source, and the number of simultaneous sounds is limited by the capability of the electronic sound source. Further, since these electronic tone generators are based on the MIDI standard and have a structure in which performance information input as a serial data string is sequentially processed and sounded, strictly speaking, there is a time lag between each sound generation. This time difference is
This occurs inevitably because it is restricted by the response time of the device such as the operating speed of the CPU used in the waveform reading circuit and the access time of the waveform memory. Therefore, simultaneous pronunciation in the correct sense is impossible. However, there is no problem as long as the human hearing is within a tolerable time lag, but for example, it takes about 0.1 seconds to pronounce 10 voices, which is unnatural for a person with a good sense. It will give an impression. Therefore, in order to give a natural impression, work such as devising the order of sound generation at the time of simultaneous sound generation and deleting unnecessary sound data while listening to the reproduced music is performed.

However, in the case of music that uses an extremely large number of musical instruments such as an orchestra performance, the number of simultaneous sounds must be about 30 to 60, and one sound sequence of such a data string is required. Deciding one will put a great burden on the operator. On the other hand, when the sound data is reduced, natural simultaneous utterance is possible, but there is a contradictory problem that the expressiveness of music becomes poor because the number of sounds decreases.

The present invention is intended to solve such a conventional problem, and discloses an electronic sound source capable of increasing the number of simultaneous sound generation while suppressing a time lag.

[0006]

Therefore, in the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, as a first means, a storage means for storing a plurality of binary-encoded acoustic waveforms and a binary code inputted from the outside. The electronic sound source device is equipped with a plurality of electronic sound sources having means for generating a sound signal by reading out a necessary acoustic waveform from the storage means in accordance with the performance information. Then, while inputting performance information in parallel to these plural electronic sound sources, each electronic sound source has the above-mentioned storage means for storing different acoustic waveforms, and each electronic sound source determines a different sound source number, while, Each electronic sound source uses a means of generating an audio signal by reproducing an acoustic waveform according to the performance information only when it matches the sound source number of its own.

Further, as a second means, a storage means for storing a plurality of binary-encoded acoustic waveforms, and a necessary acoustic waveform are read out from the storage means in accordance with the binary-coded performance information inputted from the outside to obtain an audio signal. Using an electronic sound source having a plurality of electronic sound sources having a means for generating, input performance information in parallel to the plurality of electronic sound sources,
In this performance information, a sound source number designating any one of the plurality of electronic sound sources is mixed. Then, in each electronic sound source, only the data having the same sound source number is processed to generate an audio signal. Further, both the first means and the second means identify the sound source number of the performance information in each electronic sound source, read the data that follows only when this sound source number matches, select the acoustic waveform according to the type of data, It also selectively uses the means of performing pronunciation or stopping pronunciation.

Further, a means for performing final output after mixing audio signals output from a plurality of electronic sound sources is also adopted.

[0009]

According to the present invention, the electronic sound sources complying with the MIDI standard and having a plurality of acoustic waveforms are used. In the first means, however, each has a different acoustic waveform, and each electronic sound source produces a different acoustic wave. It will function as a container.
The performance information controls the electronic sound source based on the MIDI standard, and the music signal such as the tone color designation and pitch is used as a data string. If this performance information is input in parallel to each electronic sound source, each electronic sound source The sound waveform is reproduced only when it matches the sound source number held by, and an audio signal is generated. On the other hand, in an electronic sound source whose sound source numbers do not match, the data is ignored and the input of the corresponding data is awaited. Then, by arranging a plurality of these electronic sound sources in parallel, the function of increasing the number of simultaneous sound generation is exhibited.

Next, in the second means, each electronic sound source has the same acoustic waveform, and a specific electronic sound source is designated by the sound source number mixed in the performance information.
Each electronic sound source has a function of reading the sound source number of the performance information and reading the subsequent data if the number matches the self. Therefore, the sound source number in the performance information functions as an ID code, which serves to reduce the load on each electronic sound source. Further, the electronic sound sources having the same numbers read data and are controlled according to the data to generate an audio signal.

Further, the mixing means according to claim 4 has a function of reconstructing audio signals output from a plurality of electronic sound sources into stereo, monaural, or a plurality of channels of audio signals. It works to output a proper signal to the connected amplification amplifier.

[0012]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a basic structure of an electronic sound source 1, and performance information a which is a data string represented by a binary code. If input, the CPU 2 performs sequential processing, and issues a read command to the waveform read circuit 3. The waveform reading circuit 3 accesses the waveform memory 4 storing a plurality of acoustic waveforms,
Extract the required acoustic waveform. The acoustic waveform referred to here is
For example, the tone colors of various musical instruments such as piano tone, string instrument tone, and percussion instrument tone color are sampled. And since this acoustic waveform is expressed digitally, D /
The A converter 5 converts it into an analog waveform and outputs the audio output b. However, with this configuration, the performance information a is serially input and similarly serially input to the D / A converter 5, so that a time lag occurs.
Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, three electronic sound sources having the basic structure of FIG. 1 are connected in parallel as 1A, 1B, 1C, and the performance information a is supplied to these three electronic sound sources. I tried to input at the same time. These electronic sound sources 1A and 1B
The difference in 1C is that the sampling waveforms stored in the respective waveform memories 4 are not duplicated. That is, for example, only the acoustic waveform relating to percussion instruments is stored in the waveform memory of the electronic sound source 1A, and the electronic sound source 1B
A wind instrument and an electronic sound source 1C store acoustic waveforms related to string instruments. Then, when the performance information a is input in parallel to the three electronic sound sources, each CPU 2 discards the data not related to itself, fetches only the related data, and accesses each waveform memory 4 to output it. I do. 6 is a mixer for each electronic sound source 1A, 1B, 1
The audio output b is generated after the output of C is mixed. In FIG. 2, three electronic sound sources are conceptually shown. If the electronic sound source actually has a THRU terminal, the performance information a is input to the first electronic sound source 1A and the second electronic sound source is input. The THRU terminal is used for the subsequent electronic sound sources 1B and 1C. By doing this, only the data related to each electronic sound source will be processed,
If the transmission rate of the performance information a to the electronic sound source is high, it is possible to triple the number of simultaneous sounds that can be naturally heard.

Next, another embodiment using the configuration of FIG. 2 will be described. In the above embodiment, the waveform memory 4 of each electronic sound source stores separate acoustic waveforms. However, in this case, the data to be written in the waveform memory must have a completely different structure, which is troublesome in manufacturing. It takes. Also, since the addressing of the acoustic waveform is different for each electronic sound source, the programs of the CPU 2 must be different. In order to avoid this, in this embodiment, the three electronic tone generators 1A, 1B and 1C have exactly the same configuration, and the data structure of the performance information a is processed. FIG. 3 shows a simple data structure of performance information a and electronic sound sources 1A, 1B, 1
The pronunciation opportunity of C is contrasted. First, in the performance information a, a sound source number is written in addition to a data string compliant with the normal MIDI standard, and each electronic sound source takes in a subsequent data string only when the sound source number corresponding to itself is identified. That is, the sound source number functions as an ID. Explaining in the figure, if the sound source number A relating to the electronic sound source 1A first appears, each electronic sound source 1
The A, 1B, and 1C simultaneously identify this, and only the electronic sound source 1A having the same sound source number captures the following data sequence for processing, and the other electronic sound sources 1B and 1C ignore them.
Next, when the sound source number B appears, the data string followed by the electronic sound source 1B is taken in, and the other electronic sound sources 1A and 1C ignore them. In this way, only the electronic sound source corresponding to the designated sound source number operates, thereby reducing the load on each electronic sound source. In FIG. 3, the sounds of the electronic sound sources do not overlap with each other in timing, but this has only been described in accordance with the flow of the performance information a, and each electronic sound source is necessary for itself in the actual processing. Sequential processing while fetching only the data into the buffer once,
Since unnecessary data is ignored as it is, if the transmission rate of the performance information a is sufficiently high, the sounding timing will be partially overlapped. Therefore, the number of simultaneous sounds can be increased even in this configuration.

FIG. 4 shows a procedure of processing in each electronic sound source, and these are performed simultaneously by three electronic sound sources. First, when the performance information a is received, it waits until the sound source number appears, and if the sound source number is received, it is identified whether or not it is its own number. If it is not your own number, the standby state is maintained again until the next sound source number is received. on the other hand,
If the numbers match, the subsequent data is read. If the data is a sounding command, the waveform reading circuit is set to the sounding state, and if the sounding stop command is set, the waveform reading circuit is set to the stopped state.
Alternatively, in the case of a tone color change command, various processes such as changing the address for accessing the waveform memory are performed.
When one process is completed in this way, the reception of the sound source number is again waited for, and the process is repeated until the performance information a is completed.

In the above embodiment, three electronic sound sources were connected, but the number of electronic sound sources is not limited to this, and two electronic sound sources may be connected.
Basically, even if four or more units are connected, nothing will change. Further, in the case of the second embodiment, if the music has a small number of simultaneous sounds, all the electronic sound sources are not used, but only one electronic sound source is designated and driven depending on the data structure of the performance information. Of course, you can also do it.

[0016]

As described above, in the present invention, performance information is input in parallel to a plurality of electronic sound sources, and each electronic sound source is driven in parallel by this, so that the load on each electronic sound source is reduced. I was able to increase the number of polyphony while reducing it. Therefore, as compared with the conventional configuration in which simultaneous sound generation is possible only within a very limited range, the expressive power can be dramatically improved.

Further, in the first configuration in which a plurality of electronic sound sources have different acoustic waveforms, each electronic sound source processes only the data relating to the acoustic waveform possessed by itself, and generates the audio signal. The performance information can be used as it is, and it is possible to save labor in music production.

On the other hand, in the second structure in which a plurality of electronic sound sources have the same structure and the sound source numbers are mixed in the performance information, each electronic sound source can be manufactured to a unified standard, which is advantageous in terms of cost. In addition, since a specific electronic sound source can be designated by the sound source number, the degree of freedom in data production has expanded.

Further, by mixing a plurality of audio signals, it becomes possible to reproduce music without selecting a device such as an amplification amplifier connected in a subsequent stage, and it is possible to provide a very effective technique as an electronic sound source device. did it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an internal block diagram of one electronic sound source,

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic sound source device according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a graph explaining the relationship between performance information and pronunciation of each electronic sound source in the second embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1A / 1B / 1C Electronic sound source 2 CPU 3 Waveform readout circuit 4 Waveform memory 5 D / A converter

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for storing a plurality of binary-encoded acoustic waveforms, and a means for reading out a required acoustic waveform from the storage means according to binary-coded performance information inputted from the outside to generate an audio signal. An electronic sound source device comprising a plurality of electronic sound sources having, while inputting the performance information in parallel to the plurality of electronic sound sources, each electronic sound source has a storage means for storing different acoustic waveforms,
While defining a different sound source number for each electronic sound source,
An electronic sound source device, which reproduces an acoustic waveform according to only performance information corresponding to its own sound source number to generate an audio signal. 2. A storage means for storing a plurality of binary coded acoustic waveforms, and a means for reading out a necessary acoustic waveform from the storage means in accordance with performance information of a binary code inputted from the outside to generate an audio signal. An electronic sound source device comprising a plurality of electronic sound sources having the above, wherein the performance information is input in parallel to the plurality of electronic sound sources, and a different sound source number is set for each electronic sound source, while each electronic sound source An electronic sound source device which reproduces an acoustic waveform according to only data having a matched sound source number to generate an audio signal. 3. Each electronic sound source identifies a sound source number of performance information, reads data that follows only when the sound source numbers match, selects an acoustic waveform according to the type of data, produces sound,
Alternatively, the electronic sound source device according to claim 1 or 2, which performs a process of stopping sound generation. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for mixing audio signals output from a plurality of electronic sound sources.
Electronic sound source device described.