JP2000029484A - Karaoke machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to offset the defects of a system having just either of an updatable music data memory means and unupdatable music data memory means and to expand the function of the system by combinedly using both means. SOLUTION: The music data which can be periodically updated are stored in a main storage 21 and the music data which assure the permanent infeasibility of the updating are stored in an auxiliary storage 22. When a playing means acceptance section 23 receives the request from a singer, this section references a table 24 by its music numbers and judges whether the music data of the corresponding to music number are stored in either of the storages. When the playing music acceptance section 23 applies the storage number read out of the table 24 and the requested music number to a storage switching circuit 25, this storage switching circuit 25 reads the music data of the corresponding music number out of the main storage 21 or the auxiliary storage 22 and transfer this data to a KARAOKE playing section 20. This KARAOKE playing section 20 starts playing when the music data are transferred thereto.

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 generating musical tones from a sound source based on music data, and more particularly to a karaoke apparatus in which a plurality of storages for storing music data are provided for different purposes to extend the functions of the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are various types of karaoke apparatuses for playing musical pieces from a speaker and simultaneously displaying background images and lyrics on a monitor. For example, a music reproduction karaoke system in which all performance data and background image data of performance music are stored in a non-updatable storage medium such as an LD (laser disk), and the requested music data is read from the LD and played. The device is one example.

On the other hand, recently, required music data is fetched from a host station via a communication line, and is stored in an HDD.
A karaoke apparatus of a tone synthesis type which is downloaded and used on an updatable recording medium such as a (hard disk) has also appeared. This music synthesis type karaoke apparatus is also called a sound source karaoke apparatus because it has a sound source that generates a music sound based on music data.

In recent years, one of the reasons why a sound source karaoke apparatus has attracted attention is that updating of music data is easy. That is,
There is a limit to the music data that a single karaoke apparatus can hold in a storage medium, and in many cases, old music with few requests and new music that has just been released recently are not held. In order to play such a song with a music reproduction karaoke device,
It is necessary to purchase an LD or the like that newly stores the music, but since it takes time until the LD or the like actually arrives, it cannot be handled at the time of the request.
On the other hand, in the case of the musical sound synthesis type karaoke apparatus of the musical tone synthesis type, even if the music data of the requested music piece is not stored in the storage medium at that time, the music data can be immediately taken in from the host station using the communication line. Can respond to requests.

[0005]

However, if the music data storage medium of the sound source karaoke apparatus is only an updatable storage, the music data may be erroneously updated or the music data may be destroyed. The present invention improves the drawbacks of a system capable of updating song data and a system incapable of updating song data by using both an updatable song data storage medium and a non-updatable song data storage medium, and has a large amount of information. An object of the present invention is to provide a karaoke apparatus in which the storage efficiency of a storage medium for storing background video information is enhanced.

[0006]

According to the karaoke apparatus of the present invention, a sound source (1) for generating a musical sound of a music piece to be played based on music data is provided.
A karaoke performance unit (20) having a karaoke music data and a first storage means (2) storing a plurality of music data in an updatable state;
1), a second storage means (22) for storing a plurality of pieces of music data in a state where the music data cannot be updated, and a monitor (1) for displaying background image information of lyrics simultaneously with generation of musical sounds based on the music data.
0), third storage means (42) for storing background video information displayed on the monitor (10), a music piece receiving section (23) for receiving a request for a music piece, and a music piece receiving section (23). The performance song of the request accepted by 23) is the first
And a table (24) indicating which of them is stored in the second storage means (21), (22), and a first or second storage means (21),
Storage switching means (25) for selecting the song data of the corresponding song number from (22) and transferring it to the karaoke performance section;
A video reproducing means (7) for reading and reproducing background video information from the third storage means at the same time as generating a musical tone of the performance music of the request received by the performance music receiving section (23);
And the third storage means constitute one storage medium and storage medium reading device (42).

[0007] The storage medium (42) stores the background video information corresponding to the music data stored therein, and the video reproducing means (7) stores the background video information corresponding to the requested performance music. It is desirable that the data be read out from the storage medium (42) and reproduced.

The storage medium (42) is, for example, a CD-ROM.
ROM, and the storage medium reading device (42)
It is a D-ROM drive.

A plurality of music data stored in the first storage means can be updated by using a communication line or the like. The plurality of music data stored in the second storage means is guaranteed not to be updated or destroyed. When there is a request from the singer, the music piece receiving unit controls the storage switching means so as to read the music piece data from the storage means storing the music piece data of the corresponding music piece by referring to the table.
The karaoke performance section starts the performance without being aware of which storage means the music data was supplied from. By using both the updatable music data storage means and the non-updatable music data storage means in this way, it is possible to make up for the drawbacks of a system having only one of them, and to extend the functions of the system.

[0010] Further, a third recording means for recording background image information having a large amount of information and a second storage means for storing music data having a small storage capacity and not to be updated are stored in the same storage medium. Therefore, the storage medium can be effectively used, and when music data stored in the second storage means is accessed, the background image can be accessed at the same time, so that access efficiency can be improved.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a main block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a karaoke performance unit having a sound source for generating a musical tone of a performance music based on music data, 21 a main storage (first storage means) storing a plurality of music data in an updatable manner, Reference numeral 22 denotes a secondary storage (second storage means) for storing a plurality of pieces of music data in a non-updateable state, 23 a music piece receiving unit for receiving a music piece request, and 24 a request music piece receiving unit for receiving a music piece request. Performance music is primary and secondary storage 21 and 22
The table 25 indicates which music data of the corresponding music number is selected from the main and auxiliary storages 21 and 22 indicated by the table 24, and the karaoke performance section 2
This is a storage switching circuit for transferring data to 0.

The main storage 21 is a rewritable storage medium such as an HDD or an MO (magneto-optical disk), while the sub storage 22 is a semiconductor ROM (read only memory) or a CD-ROM (compact disk RO).
M) or a read-only storage medium. Main storage 2
1 stores song data that can be updated periodically, and the sub-storage 22 stores song data that is guaranteed not to be updated permanently.

As an example, the main storage 21 is used to store music data that can be updated freely using a communication line or the like without any problem of copyright or the like. On the other hand, consider a system in which music data that cannot be supplied through a communication line is stored in advance in the secondary storage 22 due to a problem of copyright and the like, and the secondary storage 22 is supplied (sold) to the karaoke apparatus holder.

The operation will be described. Upon receiving the request from the singer, the music piece receiving section 23 refers to the table 24 by the music number and determines in which storage the music data of the corresponding music number is stored. Table 24
Are storage numbers A or B in the order of music numbers 1, 2, 3,... (A is the main storage 21, B is the secondary storage 22)
Are associated with each other. The data in the table 24 increases with the addition of the music number, but is not rewritten.

The music piece receiving section 23 is a storage switching circuit 2
5 is given the storage number A (or B) read from the table 24 and the requested music number, the storage switching circuit 25 reads out the music data of the corresponding music number from the main storage 21 (or the secondary storage 22) and performs karaoke It is transferred to the performance unit 20. The karaoke performance unit 20
When the music data is transferred, the performance starts regardless of which storage the music data is supplied from.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the whole sound source karaoke apparatus including the karaoke performance section 20 of FIG. In this figure, 1 is a CP that controls and manages the operation of the entire system.
U (Central Processing Unit), 2 is a RAM (Random Access Memory) used when the CPU 1 controls and manages the operation of the whole system, and 3 is a data and address bus for coupling the whole system.

Reference numeral 41 denotes an HDD capable of updating music data corresponding to the main storage 21 shown in FIG.
(Hard Disk) 42 also stores a plurality of music data, but cannot be updated.
CD-ROM drive and CD-ROM corresponding to 2, 4
Reference numeral 5 denotes switching means for switching between the two storage means.
1 can be realized by storing the music number input from the panel I / F 5 in the RAM 2, and the table 24 is stored in the ROM 15 or in the RAM 2 when the power is turned on. Medium, HDD when turning off
4 is set.

5 is a panel I / F (interface),
Reference numeral 6 denotes a controller such as a plurality of remote controllers for giving instructions to the present system via the panel I / F 5, reference numeral 7 denotes a background video storage / reproduction unit for storing and reproducing background video, and reference numeral 8 denotes a background still image and lyrics. 9 is a video selector for selecting and synthesizing a background video (moving image) from the background video storage / reproducing unit 7 and an image from the image / lyrics display unit 8, and 10 is a video selector for selecting and synthesizing. Is a monitor that displays the displayed image.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a microphone for inputting the singing voice of the singer, and 12 denotes a mixer for mixing the singing voice and the musical sound of the performance tune and an effector for providing various sound effects. Reference numeral 13 denotes a speaker that amplifies and outputs the synthesized singing voice and performance music with an amplifier. Reference numeral 14 denotes a sound source for producing musical tones of a musical piece, and reference numeral 15 denotes a sequencer for controlling the sound source 14 and the mixer and effector 12. This sequencer 15
Has a program ROM in which programs used by the CPU 1 are stored. Reference numeral 16 denotes a digital audio decoder for decoding encoded digital audio data.

Hereinafter, the overall operation will be described. When a musical piece is designated by the operation of the controller 6, the CPU 1 refers to the musical piece list stored in the storage device 41, and stores the musical piece data of the corresponding musical piece and the encoded voice data for back chorus in the HDD 41. Or CD-ROM
Then, control is transferred to the sequencer 15 from the RAM 42. At this time, the CPU 1 performs the storage selection described with reference to FIG.

The sequencer 15 executes a plurality of events including a music performance simultaneously in parallel based on a plurality of event data included in the music data. That is, the sequencer 15
The data relating to the timbre of the musical instrument is transmitted to the sound source 14, the encoded audio data is transmitted to the digital audio decoder 16, the background video number is transmitted to the background video recording / playback unit 7, and the lyrics number is transmitted to the image / lyric display unit 8 Respectively. As a result, the background image is displayed on the entire surface of the monitor 10 and the lyrics are superimposed on a part of the background image, while the speaker 13 is in a performance state in which the performance music and the back chorus are output.

In this embodiment, an example in which two main storages and two auxiliary storages are used is shown. However, three or more storages may be used together. In addition, information other than the music data, for example, BGV (background image) or the like can be stored in the secondary storage. Thus, the background image data corresponding to the selected music data can be read together with the music data.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, the third recording means for recording background image information having a large amount of information, and the second recording means for storing unupdated music data having a small storage capacity. Since the storage means is stored in the same storage medium,
The storage medium can be effectively used, and when music data stored in the second storage means is accessed, the background image can be accessed at the same time, so that access efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the whole sound source karaoke apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CPU, 2 ... RAM, 3 ... Bus, 4 ... Song data storage device, 5 ... Panel I / F, 6 ... Controller, 7 ... Background video storage / playback unit, 8 ... Image / lyric display unit, 9 ... Video Selector, 10 monitor, 11 microphone, 12 mixer and effector, 13 amplifier and speaker, 14 sound source, 15 program ROM and sequencer, 16 digital audio decoder, 20 karaoke performance section, 21 main storage, Reference numeral 22: secondary storage, 23: performance tune receiving unit, 24: table, 25: storage switching circuit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G11B 27/00 A 27/10 A

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A karaoke performance section (20) having a sound source (14) for generating a musical tone of a performance music based on music data, and a first storage means (1) for storing a plurality of music data in an updatable state. 21); a second storage means (22) for storing a plurality of songs in a state in which the song data cannot be updated; and a monitor (10) for displaying background video information of the lyrics simultaneously with generation of musical tones based on the song data. Third storage means (42) for storing background video information displayed on the monitor (10); and a music piece receiving section (23) for receiving a music piece request.
A table (24) indicating in which of the first and second storage means (21) and (22) the performance music of the request received by the performance music receiving section (23) is stored; Storage switching means (25) for selecting music data of a corresponding music number from the first or second storage means (21), (22) indicated by (24) and transferring it to the karaoke performance section; (23) video playback means (7) for reading out and playing back background video information from the third storage means simultaneously with the generation of musical tones of the performance music of the request accepted by the request (23), the second storage means and the third storage means Wherein the karaoke apparatus constitutes one storage medium and one storage medium reading device (42). 2. The storage medium (42) stores background video information corresponding to the music data stored therein, and the video playback means (7) stores the background video information corresponding to the requested performance music. 2. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the karaoke apparatus is read from a storage medium and played. 3. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium is a CD-ROM. 4. The storage medium reading device (42) includes a CD-R.
3. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the karaoke apparatus is an OM drive.