JP2000267678A - Karaoke device featuring echo adjusting function for microphone input - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to freely set an echo quantity to be added to a section to be sung to a KARAOKE accompaniment by determining the echo quantity by an echo quantity adjusting means according to a set command value and determining the echo quantity in an unsung section according to another set command value. SOLUTION: A DSP operation control part 33 generates digital data corresponding to various set states of the command value of echo quantities inputted by a user on a DSP console panel 32 and action and nonaction of a DSP 30 as a main constitution part for an echo adjusting function and transfers them to a DSP control part 31. When a user wants to sing a KARAOKE music by using a variable echo adjusting function, the user individually set the echo quantity for a sung section and the echo quantity for an unsung section by a user interface such as the DSP console panel 32 and a remote control transmitter prior to the playing of KARAOKE music and the variable echo adjusting function inputs the setting that an echo is added.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus, and more particularly, to a karaoke apparatus having a feature of adjusting an echo of a microphone input.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A karaoke apparatus processes music generation data which is the source of accompaniment music of a requested karaoke music piece and generates an audio signal of the accompaniment music. Then, the audio signal of the accompaniment music is amplified by an amplifier or the like and output to a speaker or the like. On the other hand, the audio signal input from the microphone by the singer is output to the above-described amplifier or another signal amplifying system, and to an accompaniment music output or another system of speakers. Many karaoke apparatuses have an echo adjusting function in addition to the basic function.

[0003] The echo adjusting function is a function of adding an echo to an audio signal input by an echo adding means interposed in a microphone input amplification system. The echo adding means adds an echo according to a command value of an echo amount set by a user through an appropriate user interface for adjusting an echo amount.

According to the technique described in Japanese Patent No. 2797645 (cited example), echo amount setting data for designating an echo amount in a performance time series in music generation data is appropriately inserted, The echo adding means adds an echo with an echo amount based on the setting data in synchronization with the accompaniment music generation processing. Thereby, the echo amount added to the audio signal input to the microphone during the performance is variably controlled.

[0005]

In the conventional echo adjustment function, the audio signal from the microphone input to the echo adding means is not included in the singing voice or the announcement by the moderator or the like for the venue. Echoes are uniformly added with the same echo amount. For example, if the moderator tries to excite the space by narrating between singings, such as during preludes, interludes, or during standby, the audio signal input from the moderator's microphone is the same as the echo added during singing. An echo is added according to the echo amount. If possible, do not add echo or reduce the amount of echo when the moderator is using microphone input.
I want to add an echo with an appropriate echo amount only when singing.

[0006] Of course, microphones are distinguished for singers and presenters, and dedicated echo adding means are individually interposed in the input system from each microphone, and the command value of the echo amount given to each adding means is provided. The above-mentioned problem can be solved by setting individually. However, providing an echo adding means for each microphone input system increases the cost of the karaoke apparatus. In addition, there is a possibility that the microphone may be mistaken, and an echo opposite to the desired amount of echo may be added between the singer and the moderator.

On the other hand, in the technique described in the above cited reference, an echo can be added with a different echo amount between the singing part and the prelude or interlude. However, since the echo amount is set in advance for each music, the echo amount cannot be set to the user's preference. There is also a drawback that echo is not added unless the karaoke accompaniment music is being played.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the user can freely set the echo amount of the echo to be added to the section to be sung according to the karaoke accompaniment music, and the echo is added with the echo amount set only in the section to be sung. It is an object of the present invention to provide a karaoke apparatus that variably controls the karaoke apparatus.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems The first invention is specified by the following items (1) to (6). (1) A karaoke apparatus characterized by an echo adjustment function for microphone input. (2) The music generation data which is the origin of the karaoke accompaniment music is accompanied by singing section information for distinguishing a singing section to be sung along with the accompaniment and other non-singing sections. (3) Amplify and output the audio signal of the karaoke accompaniment music generated based on the music generation data and the audio signal from the microphone. (4) Echo addition means for adding an echo effect is interposed in the microphone input amplification system. The echo adding means varies the echo amount according to the given command value. (5) Echo amount adjusting means for variably setting the command value of the echo amount by a user input. (6) In the process of processing the music generation data and outputting the karaoke accompaniment music, when the singing section information indicates the singing section, the echo amount is determined based on a command value set by the echo amount adjusting means. When the determination is made and the non-singing section is indicated, the echo amount is determined based on an appropriate command value set separately.

The echo amount adjusting means accepts setting of different echo amount command values corresponding to the singing section and the non-singing section, respectively. In the process of outputting karaoke accompaniment music, the singing section information indicates. A second aspect of the present invention is a karaoke apparatus that determines an echo amount based on a command value corresponding to a section.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS === Configuration of Karaoke Apparatus and Basic Operation === FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The central control unit 11 has a CPU, a RAM,
A microcomputer including a ROM, which performs data communication with peripheral components via a data bus 100 and a control bus 110,
The karaoke apparatus 1 is supervised. The hard disk drive 12 stores MIDI data for a number of karaoke songs
The music generation data that is the origin of the karaoke accompaniment music described by the format, the lyrics characters to be drawn in synchronization with the music performance, and the attributes of the characters (display position, display color, display /
Erasing timing) is described. Also, various data accompanying the music generation data are stored in association with the ID (song number) of each music.

When the central control unit 11 receives the music number of the requested music input by the user through the remote control transmitter 17 and the operation panel 18 via the operation control unit 19, the input order is associated with the music number. By storing the music in the RAM, a performance reservation process for the music is performed. Then, when the performance order of the music comes, the corresponding music generation data and lyrics rendering data are extracted from the hard disk device 12 and processed. The music generation data is sequentially transferred to the synthesizer 13, and the audio signal of the accompaniment music generated here is input to the mixing amplifier 14. In addition, microphone 1
The audio signal input from 6 is input to the DSP 30. The DSP 30 adds an echo to the audio signal as necessary and outputs the audio signal to the mixing amplifier 14 when there is an instruction from a user input. The mixing amplifier 14 mixes the input audio signal of the accompaniment music and the audio signal of the microphone input, and outputs the audio signal to the speaker 15.

On the other hand, the lyrics rendering data is processed in synchronization with the above-described audio signal processing, and the lyrics images synchronized with the accompaniment music are sequentially developed into a bit map in the video RAM 20. Further, by controlling the video CD changer 22,
Play the appropriate mood video. And the video control unit 2
1 superimposes the lyrics image on the mood video, and outputs a video signal corresponding to the mood video containing the lyrics image. This video signal is input to the display 23 and output for display.

=== Configuration and Basic Operation of DSP === The karaoke apparatus 1 has an echo adjustment function of adding an echo with an appropriate echo amount to an audio signal input to a microphone and outputting sound. FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of a DSP 30 which is a main component in the echo adjustment function. The DSP control unit 31 is a dedicated microcomputer for DSP control including an interface for performing data communication with the central control unit via the data bus 100 and the control bus 110 in addition to the CPU, RAM, and ROM. This D
The SP control unit 31 controls the internal components to control the DSP 30
Is supervised.

The DSP operation panel 32 is a user interface for the echo adjustment function, and variably adjusts the command value of the echo amount and switches the operation / non-operation of the DSP 30 so that an echo is added with an appropriate echo amount. Controls (knobs, keys, etc.) In this embodiment, the volume of the echo component is used as the echo amount. The DSP operation control unit 33 includes a command value of the echo amount input by the user on the DSP operation panel 32 and a DSP.
And generates digital data corresponding to various setting states such as operation / non-operation of the DSP controller 31 and transfers the digital data to the DSP controller 31. Of course, various operation settings of the DSP 30 can also be made by a user interface (such as the remote control transmitter 17) on the karaoke apparatus main body side. In this case, the central control unit 11
Transfers data corresponding to the operation setting of the DSP 30 received via the operation control unit 19 to the DSP control unit 31.

The A / D converter 34 samples the audio signal input from the microphone terminal 35 and converts it into digital audio data. In this embodiment, two microphone terminals 35 are provided on the assumption that a singer who sings along with the karaoke accompaniment music and a non-singer such as a moderator use the microphone 16 individually. The A / D converter 34 samples the audio signals input from the two microphone terminals 35 as one audio signal. Therefore,
The audio signal is supplied to the microphone terminal 35 of either system.
, The same amount of echo is added.

The DSP controller 31 converts digital audio data corresponding to an audio signal input from a microphone into a digital audio signal.
While transmitting to the / A converter 36 in real time,
It is temporarily stored in the internal RAM. The stored digital audio data is read from the RAM with a predetermined time delay from the real-time audio data. Then, the dynamic range of the audio data is appropriately increased or decreased according to the set echo amount command value. The audio data whose volume has been adjusted is transmitted to the D / A converter 36.
, An audio signal corresponding to the echo component is output, and an echo of the set echo amount is added to the audio signal input to the microphone. The analog audio signal to which the echo has been added is output to the mixing amplifier.

The above is the operation of the conventional echo adjustment function by the DSP 30. Further, the karaoke apparatus 1 includes a section to be sung during the performance of the karaoke song (singing section) and a section that does not sing even during the performance (prelude or interlude) or a non-singing section that does not sing, such as a stand-by state where no music is played. It also has a variable echo adjustment function that automatically switches the echo amount. Hereinafter, the variable echo adjustment function will be described.

=== Outline of Variable Echo Adjustment Function === In the variable echo adjustment function, the user individually sets the echo amounts for the singing section and the non-singing section in advance, and the central controller 11 controls the karaoke music. In the performance processing, when it is recognized that the section at the current performance point is a singing section, the DSP 30 is controlled so as to add an echo in the setting for the singing section.

=== Singing Section Information === Information for recognizing whether or not the current playing time is a singing section during the performance of karaoke accompaniment music is prepared as singing section data. This data is data associated with the music generation data by being associated with the song number, and is data in which the performance time series of the corresponding karaoke song is associated with a sign indicating that the song is a singing section or a non-singing section. .
In the present embodiment, the elapsed time from the start of the performance and the identification code indicating the type of the section (singing section / non-singing section) are described as a set.

=== User Interface Environment for Variable Echo Adjustment Function === When a user wants to sing a karaoke song using the variable echo adjustment function, a user interface such as the DSP operation panel 32 or the remote control transmitter 17 is required. Before the performance of the karaoke music, the echo amount for the singing section and the echo amount for the non-singing section are individually set, and a setting input to add an echo by the variable echo adjustment function is input.
The user interface according to the present embodiment is provided with keys and the like for receiving an input for designating a singing section or a non-singing section. If an echo amount is adjusted following an appropriate section designating operation, the echo amount of a desired section is reduced. Is set. When a voice is input from the microphone 16 while specifying a section, an echo is added to the voice and the speaker 1 is input.
5 is output. Therefore, it is possible to adjust while checking the echo amount. Instead of switching the section in which the echo amount is to be set, it is also possible to provide two systems of echo amount setting operators corresponding to each section.

When the echo amount for each section has been set in this way, an operation input for operating the DSP 30 by the variable echo adjustment function at the time of performing the karaoke music may be performed. Note that when the DSP 30 is operated by the variable echo adjustment function, the DSP controller 31 calculates the echo amount set for the non-singing section unless receiving data indicating that the section is a singing section from the central controller 11. We are going to adopt it. Therefore, an echo is added to the voice input input through the microphone during the stand-by performance with the echo amount set for the non-singing section. Further, when a user input for designating a normal echo adjustment function is performed, an echo is always added to the voice signal of the microphone input in an echo amount for a singing section.

=== Operation in Variable Echo Adjustment Function =
== Upon receiving the data indicating that the variable echo adjustment function is being activated from the DSP control unit 31, the central control unit 11 performs the following processing upon starting the performance processing of the accompaniment music.
First, the music generation data of the requested karaoke music and the singing section data accompanying the music generation data are extracted from the hard disk device 12. Then, the performance elapsed time and the code of the section are acquired as a set.

When the performance process is started, the measurement of the performance elapsed time is started in synchronization with the performance process. Each time the elapsed time matches the time associated with the sign that it is a singing section,
The section code associated with the elapsed time is transferred to the DSP control section 31. The DSP control unit sets the command value of the echo amount to a value for an appropriate section according to the sign. Further, when data indicating that the performance has been completed is received from the central control unit 11, control is performed to unconditionally set the echo amount command value to a value for a non-singing section.

=== Other Modifications / Applications === In the above embodiment, the singing section data is attached as a separate file from the music generation data. A code indicating a section may be inserted therein. It is also possible to acquire the main melody part (song part) from the music generation data and recognize from the note length included in that part the singing section from which playing time to which playing time. In this case, at the time when the singing section starts, the sign to that effect is transferred to the DSP control unit,
The lapse of time for the singing section obtained based on the note length from that point is monitored, and a code indicating that the section is a non-singing section is transmitted. Of course, the music generation data may be analyzed before the performance process is started, and data may be generated in which each section is associated with the performance elapsed time.

Instead of variably adjusting the echo amount in the non-singing section as in the above embodiment, the echo amount may be fixed to a predetermined echo amount in advance. Of course, the echo may not be added in the non-singing section. Further, the volume of the echo component is defined as the echo amount, but is not limited to this. For example, in addition to the volume, the echo mode (prepared for each different echo characteristic such as the frequency characteristic of the echo component) and the echo time (the delay time and the decay time of the echo component) are adjusted (selected) as the acoustic characteristics of the echo component. If it is possible, it can be defined as an echo amount. Then, various parameter setting inputs such as echo mode selection and time setting may be received through the user interface, and the setting state may be used as an echo amount command value.

[0027]

According to the karaoke apparatus of the present invention, when an echo is added to the audio signal input through the microphone during the performance of the karaoke accompaniment music, the amount of echo between the singing section that the singer should sing and the non-singing section that does not. Can be switched automatically. In addition, the user can freely set the echo amount in the singing section. Therefore, an echo is added with an appropriate echo amount only when the singer is singing. Further, even when the singer and the moderator use the microphones individually, it is possible to add an echo in a non-singing section with an echo amount suitable for the moderator's narration. Of course, an echo can be added to the audio signal input to the microphone even when the performance is not being performed. Furthermore, if the amount of echo during non-singing can be adjusted, the amount of echo can be adjusted more flexibly and adapted to the user's preference.

[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 DSP in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 Karaoke device 11 Central control unit 12 Hard disk device 16 Microphone 30 DSP 31 DSP control unit 32 DSP operation panel 33 DSP operation control unit 34 A / D converter 35 Microphone terminal 36 D / A converter

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. The invention specified by the following items (1) to (6). (1) A karaoke apparatus characterized by an echo adjustment function for microphone input. (2) The music generation data which is the origin of the karaoke accompaniment music is accompanied by singing section information for distinguishing a singing section to be sung along with the accompaniment from other non-singing sections. (3) Amplify and output the audio signal of the karaoke accompaniment music generated based on the music generation data and the audio signal of the microphone input. (4) Echo addition means for adding an echo effect is interposed in the microphone input amplification system. The echo adding means varies the echo amount according to the given command value. (5) Echo amount adjusting means for variably setting the command value of the echo amount by a user input. (6) In the process of processing the music generation data and outputting the karaoke accompaniment music, when the singing section information indicates the singing section, the echo amount is determined based on a command value set by the echo amount adjusting means. When the determination is made and the non-singing section is indicated, the echo amount is determined based on an appropriate command value set separately. 2. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The echo amount adjusting unit receives a command value of a different echo amount corresponding to each of the singing section and the non-singing section, and outputs a command corresponding to the section indicated by the singing section information in a process of outputting karaoke accompaniment music. Determine the echo amount based on the value.