JP2000259161A - Method and device for audio signal simultaneous and bi-directional transmission and reception - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a method and a device for audio signal simultaneous and bi-directional transmission and reception in which the degree of enjoyment for KARAOKE is improved. SOLUTION: Accompaniment audio signals V1 which are beforehand recorded in accordance with a selected music, are reproduced by a KARAOKE device 1. Audio signals of the song of a user singer U transmitted from a microphone 5 are received and user singer voice signals V2 are superimposed over the audio signals V1 and outputted from a speaker 4. In the above operation, voice signals V3 of a model singer's song beforehand recorded in accordance with the selected music are reproduced by the device 1 and the signals V3 are transmitted to the earphone 7 of the user singer U.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving voice in karaoke, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving voice simultaneously in karaoke to improve the entertainment of karaoke.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The TV and radio singing programs, CDs and LDs have become popular, and the number of singers has increased.
In recent years, the spread of karaoke has allowed amateurs to sing and enjoy their favorite songs with accompaniment. Accordingly, various karaoke apparatuses have been developed.

The karaoke apparatus 41 shown in FIG. 4 includes a music selection device 2, a monitor 3, a speaker 4, a microphone 5, and a microphone cord 12. A person singing in karaoke (hereinafter referred to as a user singer) U selects a song to be sung by the song selection device 2. The music selection device 2 outputs the accompaniment voice V1 of the music from the speaker 4 and displays the video G for the music including the lyrics S on the monitor 3.
Is displayed. In accordance with this, when the user singer U sings a song, the user singer voice V is input to the receiving unit input terminal 13 of the music selection device 2 via the microphone 5 and the microphone code 12 as indicated by an arrow A3.
2 is converted into an electric signal. The user singer's voice V2 is output from the speaker 4 while being superimposed on the accompaniment voice V1.

A karaoke apparatus 51 shown in FIG.
It has a microphone 5 with an infrared transmitter 10 that can transmit a user singer's voice as an infrared signal, and an optical receiver 8 of the music selection device 2 that receives the infrared signal. When the user singer U sings a song, the user singer voice V2 is converted into an electric signal inside the microphone 5, and the electric signal is further converted into an infrared signal and transmitted as indicated by an arrow A2. The infrared signal including the audio information is converted into an electric signal by the light receiving unit 8. This user singer voice V2 is superimposed on the accompaniment voice V1 and the speaker 4
Will be output.

A karaoke apparatus having various functions other than the above is known. For example, in the vocal changer function, not only the accompaniment voice but also the voice of the professional singer is recorded, and while the user singer U is singing, the voice of the professional singer is not output from the speaker 4, but the user singer U sings. When the user stops, the voice of the professional singer is output from the speaker 4. The key and tempo control function is for adjusting the pitch (key) of the desired sound and the speed (tempo) of the music.

[0006]

However, the conventional karaoke apparatus has the following problems.

(1) It is difficult for a singer who has poor singing skills to sing comfortably along with the accompaniment without removing the melody (rhythm, tempo, pitch, etc.) of the song.

(2) When singing a song that has not been practiced sufficiently, it is difficult to sing comfortably along with the accompaniment.

(3) It is difficult to sing a song that is to be sung for the first time or a song that has not been memorized comfortably along with the accompaniment.

It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a method and apparatus for simultaneous transmission and reception of voices which improve the entertainment of karaoke.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a method of the present invention is to play back a pre-recorded accompaniment voice according to a selected song on a karaoke apparatus and to transmit the accompaniment voice from a microphone. When the voice of the song of the user singer is received, and the voice of the user singer is superimposed on the accompaniment voice and output from the speaker, the voice of the model singer recorded in advance according to the selected music is reproduced. It is reproduced by the karaoke device and the model singer's voice is transmitted to the user singer's earphone.

[0012] The model singer's voice may be transmitted to the earphone by a wired electric signal.

The model singer's voice may be converted into an infrared signal and transmitted to the earphone, and the earphone may have an optical receiving function.

[0014] The model singer's voice may be converted into a radio signal and transmitted to the earphone, and the earphone may have a wireless receiving function.

[0015] The user singer's voice is transmitted by an electric signal from the microphone by wire, or the user's singer's voice is converted into an infrared signal by the microphone and transmitted, and the infrared signal is received by the karaoke apparatus. You may.

The user singer's voice may be converted into a radio signal by the microphone and transmitted, and the radio signal may be received by the karaoke apparatus.

The user singer voice is converted by the microphone into an infrared signal having a different wavelength from the infrared signal of the model singer voice and transmitted. The infrared signal of the user singer voice is received by the karaoke apparatus. Good.

The model singer's voice may be switched to be output from the speaker.

Further, the apparatus of the present invention is a receiving means for receiving a voice of a song of a user singer transmitted from a microphone to a karaoke apparatus for reproducing a voice of an accompaniment recorded in advance according to a selected music piece. In a device that superimposes the user singer voice on the accompaniment voice and outputs it from the speaker, the karaoke device reproduces the voice of the model singer's song recorded in advance according to the selected song, A transmission means for transmitting the model singer's voice to the user singer's earphone is provided.

[0020] The transmitting means may transmit the model singer's voice to the earphone by an electric signal via an electric code.

[0021] The transmitting means may convert the model singer's voice into an infrared signal and transmit it to the earphone, and the earphone may be provided with an infrared receiver for receiving the infrared signal and converting it into an electric signal.

The receiving means receives the user singer's voice transmitted by an electric signal from the microphone via an electric cord, or converts the singing voice into an infrared signal by an infrared transmitter attached to the microphone and transmits the signal. The received user singer's voice may be received and converted into an electric signal.

The microphone is provided with an infrared transmitter for converting the user singer's voice into an infrared signal having a wavelength different from that of the model singer's infrared signal and transmitting the infrared signal. An infrared signal may be received and converted into an electric signal.

A switch mechanism for switching the model singer's voice to be output from the speaker may be provided.

[0025] The karaoke apparatus may have a function of displaying a pre-recorded video including at least lyrics on a monitor in synchronization with the reproduction of the accompaniment voice in accordance with the selected music.

The karaoke apparatus has an external video input function of inputting a video from an external video reproducing device, and synchronizes the lyrics corresponding to the selected music with the reproduction of the accompaniment voice and reproduces the video superimposed on the input video. A function of displaying the information on a monitor may be provided.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a karaoke apparatus to which the simultaneous voice bidirectional transmission / reception method of the present invention and the apparatus are applied.

The karaoke apparatus 1 reproduces an accompaniment voice (hereinafter referred to as an accompaniment voice) V1 recorded in advance in accordance with the selected music, and also transmits a voice of a user singer's song transmitted from the microphone 5. (Hereinafter referred to as user singer voice)
V2, and receives the user singer voice V2 and accompaniment voice V1.
Output from the speaker over the
In synchronization with the reproduction of No. 1, a pre-recorded karaoke picture G including lyrics is displayed on the monitor 3, and a pre-recorded voice of a song by a model singer such as a professional singer (hereinafter referred to as a model singer voice). V3 is reproduced and transmitted to the earphone 7.

As shown, the karaoke apparatus 1
Comprises a music selection device 2, a monitor 3, a speaker 4, a microphone 5, an optical transmission unit 6, and an earphone 7.

The music selection device 2 constitutes the main body of the karaoke device 1, and receives a user singer's voice V2 which is converted into an infrared signal by the microphone 5 and transmitted, and converted into an electric signal. A transmitter output terminal 9 for detachably connecting the optical transmitter 6 is provided, and a remote controller receiver (not shown) for receiving an infrared signal from a remote controller (not shown). Further, a control unit (not shown) for executing music selection, volume adjustment, key adjustment, tempo adjustment and the like by operating a remote controller inside the music selection device 1, and obtains from a recording medium or a communication medium according to the selected music. Audio / video processing unit (not shown) for reproducing the information of the accompaniment voice, the karaoke video, and the model singer voice.

The microphone 5 is provided with an infrared transmitter 10 for converting the user singer voice V2 into an infrared signal and transmitting the infrared signal.

The optical transmitter 6 converts the model singer's voice V3 from the transmitter output terminal 9 into an infrared signal and transmits it to the earphone 7.

The earphone 7 is provided with an infrared receiver 11 for receiving an infrared signal of the model singer voice V3 from the optical transmitter 6 and converting the infrared signal into an electric signal.

The operation of the karaoke apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

The user singer U selects and starts a favorite song by operating a remote controller or the like. The music selection device 2 reproduces the accompaniment voice V1 and outputs it from the speaker 4, and also reproduces the recorded karaoke video G with the lyrics S superimposed on a scene or the like according to the music and displays it on the monitor 3. Furthermore, the model singer voice V3 is output from the optical transmitter 6 connected to the transmitter output terminal 9.
Is transmitted. The infrared signal of the model singer voice V3 reaches the earphone 7 with the infrared receiver 11 attached to the ear of the user singer U as indicated by an arrow A1. The model singer's voice V3 is converted into an electric signal, and is heard by the earphone 7. The user singer U can sing while listening to the model singer voice V3.

The user singer's voice V2 is converted into an electric signal by the microphone 5 with the infrared transmitter 10, and then converted into an infrared signal and transmitted. The infrared signal of the user singer's voice V2 reaches the optical receiver 8 of the music selection device 2 as indicated by an arrow A2 and is received. The user singer's voice V2 is converted into an electric signal, and is output from the speaker 4 together with the accompaniment voice V1.

In the above operation, the user singer U not only looks at the lyrics S displayed on the monitor 3 but also sings while listening to the model singer's voice V3 from the earphone 7, so that the accompaniment is performed without removing the melody. You can sing along with the song. And even if you sing a song you haven't practiced enough,
Even when singing the song for the first time, it is sufficient to sing and be guided by the model singer voice V3, so that it is possible to sing without releasing the melody. Since the model singer voice V3 cannot be heard by the people around, the singer can sing comfortably. Until now,
Even those who have the mental distress of not being able to sing in public because they are not confident in singing skills can easily sing with the feeling of singing with a professional singer, so they can enjoy karaoke and improve their singing skills Can be expected.

FIG. 2 shows a karaoke apparatus according to another embodiment. In the karaoke apparatus 1, a microphone code 12 is attached to a microphone 5, and the microphone code 12 is connected to a receiving section input terminal 13 of the music selection apparatus 2 for use. The user singer's voice V2 is converted into an electric signal by the microphone 5 and input to the receiving unit input terminal 13 of the music selection device 2 via the microphone code 12 as indicated by an arrow A3. The music selection device 2 converts this electric signal into sound. Others are the same as the configuration of FIG. Therefore, transmission is light, and reception is simultaneous voice bidirectional transmission and reception by electricity.

FIG. 3 shows a karaoke apparatus according to another embodiment. The karaoke apparatus 1 has an earphone 7 with an earphone code 14 attached thereto. The earphone code 14 is connected to the output terminal 9 of the music selection device 2 for use. The model singer's voice V3 has an earphone code 14 as an electric signal.
Is output to the earphone 7 as indicated by an arrow A4. The earphone 7 converts this electric signal into sound. Otherwise, the configuration is the same as that of FIG. Therefore, both transmission and reception perform simultaneous voice bidirectional transmission and reception by electricity. in this case,
As the microphone cord 12 and the earphone cord 14, two single-core electric cords are juxtaposed or twisted, or a composite two-core cord may be used. In the illustrated example, the microphone cord 12 and the earphone cord 14 are combined into one cable as a transmission / reception signal transmission cable 15 and branched in the vicinity of the music selection device 2 and in the vicinity of the microphone 5 and the earphone 7, thereby reducing the scattering of the code. To prevent it.

In another embodiment, an image displayed on the monitor 3 is an image G in which a scene or the like corresponding to a song is recorded in advance.
The VCR 16, as shown in FIG.
An external video input function for inputting video from an external video playback device such as the laser disk player 17 may be provided so that a desired video E can be input and displayed. At this time, the lyrics S synchronized with the reproduction of the accompaniment voice V1 may be displayed so as to be superimposed on the input video E.

The model singer's voice V3 may be sent to the speaker 4 via a switch mechanism (not shown) in addition to being sent to the transmission unit output terminal 9. If an operation unit of such a switch mechanism is provided on a front panel or the like of the music selection device 2 or a remote controller, and it is possible to freely switch whether or not to output the model singer's voice V3 from the speaker 4, it can be used for singing lessons. First, the professional singer can listen to the song, and then the user singer U can use it to sing.

In the configuration of FIG. 1, the wavelength λ _{1 of the} infrared signal transmitted from the infrared transmitter 10 of the microphone 5 is different from the wavelength λ _{2 of the} infrared signal transmitted from the optical transmitter 6 connected to the music selection device 2. Is preferred. The wavelengths λ ₁ and λ ₂ are preferably selected from the range of 780 nm to 980 nm.

Light sources of the infrared transmitter 10 and the light transmitter 6 are preferably light emitting diodes. As the light receiving elements of the light receiving unit 8 and the infrared receiver 11, a photodiode, a CCD, or the like may be used. In addition, if a wavelength selection filter is provided on the front surface of the light receiving element as needed, it is possible to suppress reception of unnecessary light.

The present invention can be applied to known video compact disc karaoke apparatuses, video compact disc karaoke apparatuses with a built-in television, communication karaoke apparatuses, and laser disc karaoke apparatuses.

Headphones may be used instead of earphones 7.

It is also possible to provide a two-system microphone input system and use two microphones so that the user singer U can perform duet with two people. At this time, two earphones 7 with infrared receivers may be used, and each user singer U may sing while listening to the model singer voice V3. Further, the number of earphones 7 with an infrared receiver may be increased so that surrounding people can also hear the model singer's voice V3.

In the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a radio transmission unit (for example, an FM transmission unit) is connected to the transmission unit output terminal 9 of the music selection device 2 instead of the optical transmission unit 6, and the infrared reception of the earphone 7 is performed. Instead of the device 11, a wireless receiving unit (for example, an FM receiving unit) may be used. In this case, the radio wave to be used may be a weak radio wave, and a small transmitting and receiving unit can be realized. Furthermore, instead of the infrared transmitter 10 of the microphone 5,
A wireless transmission unit similar to the above may be used, and a wireless reception unit may be used instead of the optical reception unit 6 connected to the music selection device 2. In this case, interference is prevented by making the frequencies of the carrier waves of the two radio transmission units slightly different or by making the modulation frequencies slightly different.

[0049]

The present invention exhibits the following excellent effects.

(1) By transmitting the model singer's voice to the earphone, it is possible to sing by being guided by the model singer's voice.
Even with the first song, you can sing comfortably without losing the melody, and you can expect to improve your singing skills. Thereby, the entertainment of karaoke is further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a karaoke apparatus showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a karaoke apparatus showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a conventional karaoke apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a conventional karaoke apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Karaoke device 2 Music selection device 3 Monitor 4 Speaker 5 Microphone 6 Optical transmitter 7 Earphone 8 Optical receiver 10 Infrared transmitter 11 Infrared receiver 12 Microphone code 14 Earphone code 16 Video deck (external video playback device) 17 Laser disk player ( External video playback device)

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. An accompaniment voice recorded in advance according to a selected music piece is reproduced by a karaoke apparatus, and a user's singer's voice transmitted from a microphone is received. When outputting from the speaker over the accompaniment voice, the karaoke apparatus reproduces the voice of the model singer's song recorded in advance in accordance with the selected music, and the model singer's voice is transmitted to the user singer's earphone. A simultaneous voice two-way transmission / reception method characterized by transmitting to a user. 2. The simultaneous simultaneous two-way transmission / reception method according to claim 1, wherein the model singer's voice is transmitted to the earphone by a wired electric signal. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the model singer's voice is converted into an infrared signal and transmitted to the earphone, and the earphone has an optical receiving function. 4. The simultaneous voice bidirectional transmission / reception method according to claim 1, wherein said model singer's voice is converted into a radio signal and transmitted to said earphone, and said earphone is provided with a wireless reception function. 5. The user singer voice is transmitted by an electric signal from the microphone by wire, or the user singer voice is converted to an infrared signal by the microphone and transmitted, and the infrared signal is transmitted to the karaoke apparatus. 5. The simultaneous voice bidirectional transmission / reception method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving. 6. The voice simultaneous singing device according to claim 1, wherein the user singer's voice is converted into a radio signal by the microphone and transmitted, and the radio signal is received by the karaoke apparatus. Transmission / reception method. 7. The user singer voice is converted by the microphone into an infrared signal having a different wavelength from the infrared signal of the model singer voice and transmitted, and the infrared signal of the user singer voice is received by the karaoke apparatus. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein
The simultaneous voice two-way transmission / reception method described. 8. The simultaneous voice two-way transmission / reception method according to claim 1, wherein the model singer voice can be switched to be output from the speaker. 9. A karaoke apparatus for reproducing accompaniment voice recorded in advance according to a selected music piece, comprising a receiving means for receiving a voice of a user singer's song transmitted from a microphone. In a device that superimposes a singer's voice on the accompaniment voice and outputs it from a speaker, the karaoke device reproduces the voice of the model singer's song recorded in advance in accordance with the selected music, and uses the model singer's voice as a user. A simultaneous voice two-way transmission / reception device comprising transmission means for transmitting to a singer's earphone. 10. The simultaneous voice two-way transmission / reception apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said transmission means transmits said model singer's voice to said earphone by an electric signal via an electric code. 11. The transmitting means converts the model singer's voice into an infrared signal and transmits it to the earphone, and the earphone is provided with an infrared receiver for receiving the infrared signal and converting it into an electric signal. The simultaneous voice two-way transmission / reception device according to claim 9. 12. The receiving means receives the user singer voice transmitted by an electric signal from the microphone via an electric cord, or converts the voice into an infrared signal by an infrared transmitter attached to the microphone. The simultaneous voice two-way transmission / reception device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the user singer's voice transmitted by the reception is converted into an electric signal. 13. An infrared transmitter for converting the user singer's voice into an infrared signal having a different wavelength from the infrared signal of the model singer's voice and transmitting the user's singer's voice, wherein the receiving means includes a user singer's voice. 12. The simultaneous voice two-way transmission / reception device according to claim 11, wherein the voice infrared signal is received and converted into an electric signal. 14. The simultaneous voice two-way transmission / reception apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a switch mechanism for switching the model singer's voice to be output from the speaker. 15. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function of displaying a pre-recorded video including at least lyrics on a monitor in synchronization with the reproduction of the accompaniment voice according to the selected music. Item 15. The simultaneous voice two-way transmission / reception device according to any one of Items 9 to 14. 16. The karaoke apparatus has an external video input function of inputting video from an external video reproducing device, and superimposes lyrics corresponding to the selected music on the input video in synchronization with the reproduction of the accompaniment voice. The simultaneous voice two-way transmitting / receiving apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 14, further comprising a function of displaying an image on a monitor.