JP2000276172A - Musical sound generating device and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate a musical sound having the number of channels more than those limited by the slow data transfer speed of a storage device according to waveform data stored in the storage device. SOLUTION: When a cache hit of waveform data whose sound generation is indicated is detected, a musical sound is generated by using waveform data held in a cache memory 11 and when a cache miss of the waveform data whose sound generation is indicated is detected, the waveform data regarding the sound generation indication are read out of a waveform memory 10 and transferred to the cache memory 11, so that a musical sound is generated by using the transferred waveform data. Further, when timbre switching is indicated, whether or not waveform data used preferentially for the switching-indicated timbre are held in the cache memory 11 is detected and when the waveform data are not held in the cache memory 11, the waveform data are read out of the waveform memory 10 and transferred to the cache memory 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for controlling the number of channels which is larger than the number of channels limited depending on the data transfer speed of a storage device based on waveform data stored in the storage device having a lower data transfer speed. The present invention relates to a musical sound generation device that generates musical sounds and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the following is known as a tone generator for generating a tone based on waveform data stored in a storage device (including a waveform memory (ROM)) having a low data transfer rate. . (1) In a tone generator for generating a desired musical tone waveform by interpolating a waveform sample read from a waveform memory, a read waveform sample used for interpolation is stored in a cache memory, and the cached waveform sample is stored. Generating a musical tone waveform based on a sample (2) Loading waveform data stored in a hard disk, which is a storage device having a low data transfer rate, into a RAM having a low capacity and a high data transfer rate, and loading the waveform data. It is a musical sound generation device or the like that generates musical sounds based on waveform data.

[0003]

However, in (1) of the above-described conventional tone generator, a tone waveform to be generated advances, and waveform samples for interpolation generation of the tone waveform are held in a cache memory. If not, the waveform sample must be read from the waveform memory, so that the number of channels of the generated tone waveform depends on the data transfer rate of the waveform memory.

In the conventional tone generator (2), when a sound is instructed and the waveform data corresponding to the tone to which the sound is instructed is not loaded in the RAM, the waveform data is not stored in the RAM. Music tone could not be generated.

The present invention has been made in view of this point, and based on waveform data stored in a storage device having a low data transfer speed, the data transfer speed is limited depending on the data transfer speed of the storage device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a musical sound generation device and a storage medium capable of generating musical sounds having a greater number of channels than the number of channels.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a musical sound generating apparatus for storing a plurality of waveform data, the first storing means having a low data transfer speed, and the data transfer means. A second storage unit having a high speed; a determination unit configured to determine whether or not waveform data related to the read instruction is stored in the second storage unit; When the waveform data is not stored in the second storage, the waveform data according to the read instruction is read from the first storage in response to the read instruction, and is transferred to the second storage. Transfer means for reading out the stored waveform data from the second storage means and generating a tone based on the read-out waveform data; Characterized in that it is performed asynchronously with the generation of the musical tone by the transfer and the tone generating means of the waveform data.

Here, the first storage means typically comprises
The waveform memory (ROM) is not limited to this, but may be any storage means such as a hard disk or an MD that has a low data transfer rate. The second storage unit is typically a cache memory, but is not limited thereto, and may be a RAM as long as the data transfer speed is high. The above is the same even if the claims change.

Preferably, the transfer means transfers the waveform data according to the read instruction to the second storage means in waveform data units.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a musical sound generating apparatus for storing a plurality of waveform data, a first storing means having a low data transfer rate, a second storing means having a high data transfer rate, and a timbre switching. Means for instructing tone color switching, and whether or not waveform data preferentially used in the designated tone color is stored in the second storage means when tone color switching is instructed by the tone color switching instruction means. Determination means for determining whether or not the waveform data to be used preferentially is not stored in the second storage means, the waveform data is read out from the first storage means; Transfer means for transferring the stored waveform data to the second storage means; and a tone generator for generating a tone based on the read waveform data from the second storage means. And having a means.

[0010] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a musical sound generating apparatus for storing a plurality of waveform data comprising a plurality of waveform samples, a first storage means having a low data transfer rate, and a second storage means having a high data transfer rate. Storage means, determining means for determining whether or not waveform data relating to the sounding instruction is stored in the second storage means, and as a result of the determination by the determining means, the waveform data relating to the sounding instruction is stored in the second storage means. Transfer means for reading, from the first storage means, each waveform sample of the waveform data relating to the sounding instruction in response to the sounding instruction, when not stored in the storage means. A tone generation unit for sequentially reading waveform samples of waveform data according to the tone generation instruction from the second storage unit in accordance with the tone generation instruction, and generating a tone based on the read waveform sample; And a stage, the transfer rate of each waveform sample of the waveform data by said transfer means, characterized by being faster than the read rate of each waveform sample by the music generation means.

In order to achieve the above object, a storage medium according to a fifth aspect of the present invention determines whether or not the waveform data according to the read instruction is stored in the second storage means having a high data transfer rate. A determination module for determining, and as a result of the determination by the determination module, when the waveform data according to the read instruction is not stored in the second storage unit, the waveform data according to the read instruction is changed according to the read instruction. A transfer module which stores a plurality of waveform data and which is read from the first storage means having a low data transfer rate and transfers the read data to the second storage means, and a stored waveform stored in the second storage means. A tone generation module for reading data and generating a tone based on the read waveform data; and transferring the waveform data by the transfer module. Characterized in that it is performed asynchronously with the generation of the musical tone by the musical tone generation module.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium, wherein a tone color switching instruction module for instructing tone color switching, and when tone color switching is instructed by the tone color switching instruction module, the storage medium is preferentially used in the designated tone color. A discrimination module for discriminating whether the waveform data is stored in the second storage means having a high data transfer rate, and as a result of the discrimination by the discrimination module, the waveform data to be used preferentially is stored in the second storage means. When the waveform data is not stored in the storage means, the waveform data is read from the first storage means in which a plurality of waveform data are stored and the data transfer speed is low,
A transfer module for transferring the stored waveform data to the second storage means; and a tone generation module for reading the stored waveform data from the second storage means and generating a tone based on the read waveform data. It is characterized by.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium, comprising: a discriminating module for discriminating whether or not waveform data relating to a sounding instruction is stored in a second storage means having a high data transfer rate; As a result of the determination, when the waveform data according to the sounding instruction is not stored in the second storage means, each waveform sample of the waveform data according to the sounding instruction is converted from a plurality of waveform samples in accordance with the sounding instruction. Read out from the first storage means having a low data transfer rate in which a plurality of waveform data
And a transfer module for transferring the waveform sample of the waveform data according to the tone generation instruction from the second storage means in accordance with the tone generation instruction, and generating a tone based on the read waveform sample. And a transfer speed of each waveform sample of the waveform data by the transfer module is higher than a reading speed of each waveform sample by the tone generation module.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a musical sound generating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a musical sound generating apparatus according to the present embodiment has a panel switch 1 having a plurality of switches for inputting various information, and a large liquid crystal display (for example, a large liquid crystal display) for displaying various information. A display device 2 including an LCD) and a light emitting diode (LED); a CPU 3 for controlling the entire device; a ROM 4 for storing a control program executed by the CPU 3 and various table data;
A RAM 5 for temporarily storing performance data, various input information, calculation results, and the like, a timer 6 for measuring an interrupt time and various times in a timer interrupt process, and various application programs and various data including the control program are stored. Hard disk drive 7 and external M
M for inputting an IDI (musical instrument digital interface) signal or outputting a MIDI signal to the outside
IDI interface 8, ch (channel) data (described later with reference to FIG. 2) and C (cache) management data (FIG. 3)
And a register 9 provided with an area for storing data such as the following.
8 are connected to each other.

As described above, the hard disk device 7 can also store a control program to be executed by the CPU 3.
If the control program is not stored in OM4,
By storing the control program in the hard disk and reading it into the RAM 5, the same operation as when the control program is stored in the ROM 4 is performed by the CP.
U3. This makes it easy to add a control program, upgrade a version, and the like.

The MIDI interface 8 is not limited to a dedicated one, but may be RS-232C or USB (universal).
It may be constituted by a general-purpose interface such as a serial bus) or IEEE 1394 (I Triple E 1394). In this case, data other than the MIDI message may be transmitted and received at the same time.

The register 9 has a large capacity (for example, 12
8Mword) and a low data transfer rate (for example,
The waveform data stored in the waveform memory (ROM) 10 of 6 Mword / sec is stored in a small capacity (for example, 4 Mword / second).
rd) and a high data transfer rate (for example, 66 Mw)
ord / sec) into the cache memory 11 or
By accumulating, for each sounding channel, a cache control unit 12 for reading waveform data loaded in the cache memory 11 and an F number FN indicating an address advance per sample when reading waveform data. A phase generator 14 for generating a read address (relative address) of the waveform data for each channel and a DSP (digital signal processor) 15 for processing the waveform data read from the cache memory 11 are connected. I have.

Here, the musical sound generating apparatus according to the present embodiment
When a musical tone is generated, waveform data serving as a reference for generating the musical tone is always read from the cache memory 11, and a musical tone is generated based on the waveform data. The waveform data serving as a reference for generating the musical sound is stored in the cache memory 1.
1 is not held in the memory 1, that is, when a cache miss occurs, the waveform data is stored in the waveform memory 10
From the cache memory 11 and transferred to the cache memory 11,
The waveform data is read from the cache memory 11 to generate a musical tone. At this time, as will be described later, the transfer speed of the waveform data from the waveform memory 10 to the cache memory 11 is set faster than the advance amount (read speed) of the read address of the waveform data in the cache memory 11, so that the sound generation is performed. On the way, the waveform sample to be read to the cache memory 11 does not enter a state of not being transferred.

In this embodiment, when the sampling frequency of the apparatus is, for example, 50 kHz, and the read address generated by the phase generator 14 includes a decimal part, the waveform sample at that address is calculated by linear interpolation. Therefore, since it is necessary to read out two waveform samples per cycle, the sampling frequency is substantially 100 kHz.

In one cycle of the 100 kHz sampling frequency, one waveform sample (having a data capacity of 1 w
can read out the stored waveform data (waveform sample) by always accessing the cache memory 11 as in the present embodiment. When used for musical tone generation, 66 Mword / sec @ 100 kW
Musical sounds for ord / second / ch = 660 ch can be generated.

In this embodiment, however, data transfer at a maximum of 6 Mword / sec, that is, data transfer of waveform data from the waveform memory 10 to the cache memory 11 is performed within one sampling period.
Seconds ÷ 100 kword / second / ch = 60 ch minutes, 6 above
It is necessary to subtract from 60ch. Therefore, the musical sound generation device of the present embodiment can generate musical sounds of up to 600 channels.

The phase generator 14 generates each sound channel stored in the register 9 (the number of channels is, as described above,
A read address (real value) of the waveform data for each channel is generated based on the channel data for each of the 600 channels (maximum 600 channels), and its integer part is supplied to the cache control unit 12 and its decimal part is supplied to the DSP 15. .

The cache control unit 12 determines whether or not the waveform data to be read in each channel is stored in the cache memory 11 based on the C management data stored in the register 9 and stores it. If not, the reading of the waveform data in the channel is started, and at the same time, the waveform data is read from the waveform memory 10 and transferred to the cache memory 11. On the other hand, if stored, the integer part of the read address generated in the channel is read. Is read from the cache memory 11 and supplied to the DSP 15.

Here, the waveform data is stored in a block unit from the waveform memory 10 (one block corresponds to one block in this embodiment).
kword) and loaded into the cache memory 11. Usually, since the capacity of the waveform data to be read is larger than 1 kword, a plurality of blocks are loaded into the cache memory 11. If there is no free space in the cache memory 11 having a capacity corresponding to the plurality of blocks, Are discretely stored on the cache memory 11. On the other hand, the phase generator 14 generates a read address assuming that the addresses of the waveform data are continuous. For this reason,
By defining a virtual address for the real address on the cache memory 11 and rearranging the virtual address (virtual address for each block), the real address is the address of the waveform data that still exists discretely. Is apparently continuous. This type of technology is called garbage collection. This eliminates the need to transfer the data stored in the cache memory 11 when consolidating the free areas, so that the processing can be performed at high speed.

The cache control unit 12 is connected to the cache memory 11 via an address conversion unit 13 for converting the virtual address into a real address on the cache memory 11 in order to read out the target waveform data from the cache memory 11. ing.

The DSP 15 performs sound channel processing, effect processing, and mixer processing, and converts the digital musical tone data subjected to each of these processing to a DAC (digital to analog).
g converter) 16 and the DAC 16
The digital tone data supplied from 5 is converted into an analog tone signal, and is converted into sound via a sound system 17 including an amplifier and a speaker.

Here, the main sound generation channel processing includes, for example, inter-sample interpolation processing, tone color filter processing, volume envelope processing, and channel accumulation processing.

In the inter-sample interpolation processing, an interpolation operation is performed based on the waveform data supplied from the cache control unit 12 and the decimal part of the read address supplied from the phase generation unit 14, and the waveform sample of the interpolated waveform data is obtained. Generate. In the present embodiment, the cache control unit 12 supplies two waveform samples for each channel to the DSP 15, and the DSP 15 generates an interpolation sample by linear interpolation based on the two waveform samples. of course,
A waveform sample read in the past may be stored, and higher-order interpolation may be performed based on this waveform sample and a newly read waveform sample.

In the timbre filter processing, timbre control is performed on the interpolated waveform data by, for example, a low-pass filter operation. This low-pass filter operation is performed based on the cut-off characteristics and resonance characteristics supplied as parameters.

In the volume envelope processing, a time change (envelope) of the volume from the rise to the fall of a musical tone is applied to the waveform data that has been subjected to the tone color filter processing.
give. This volume envelope processing is also performed based on EG (envelope generator) control information supplied as a parameter.

In the channel accumulation processing, the level of the envelope data is controlled for each effect processing (in this embodiment, there are three types of processing: chorus processing, reverb processing, and equalizer processing). After that, accumulation for all channels is performed and output to each effect processing.

In the chorus processing, a chorus effect is given to the waveform data output for this processing.

In the reverb processing, a reverberation effect is added to the waveform data output for the processing.

In the mixer processing, each volume of the waveform data to which the chorus effect is added and the waveform data to which the reverberation effect is added are controlled, and each of the waveform data subjected to the volume control and the waveform data output for the equalizer processing is controlled. Mixing.

In the equalizer processing, the frequency characteristics of the waveform data mixed by the mixer processing are processed and controlled.

The waveform data whose frequency characteristics have been processed and controlled are supplied from the DSP 15 to the DAC 16.

As described above, the phase generator 14 and the DS
P15 is a maximum of 60 within one sampling period.
It is necessary to perform processing for generating a musical instrument for 0 ch in a time-division manner. In order to realize this processing, each circuit may be parallelized or pipelined as necessary. That is, a configuration in which each process is pipelined into a plurality of stages by 600 channels in time division, a configuration in which two processes are parallelized and pipelined into a plurality of stages by 300 channels each in time division, and a plurality of processes are parallelized into 150 channels each in 150 channels A configuration in which the stages are pipelined can be employed. Typically,
Increasing the number of parallelizations can reduce the number of pipeline stages.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data format of ch data stored in the register 9.

Each channel data is composed of a plurality of data necessary for generating a tone in the sounding channel. The register 9 is provided with areas ch1 to ch600 for storing data for 600 channels. I have. In addition,
Since all the data formats of the ch data are common, FIG. 2 representatively illustrates the data format of the ch data of ch3.

In the figure, ch data is F number F
N, the overall volume of the generated tone, the waveform ID for specifying the waveform data on the waveform memory 10 used for generating the tone, and the (waveform) on the waveform memory 10 (or the cache memory 11). Relative address information of a predetermined position (for example, a read start position, a loop read start position, and a loop read end position) with respect to the head storage position (address) of the waveform data (corresponding to the ID); DCF (digital controlled filter) control information (including the cut-off characteristic and the resonance characteristic), which is a parameter used in the calculation,
EG control information, which is a parameter used for volume control in the volume envelope processing, other information used for tone generation, and on / off data indicating a note on / off state of “0” and “1”, respectively. It is configured.

As described above, the F number FN indicates the advance amount of the address per sample when reading the waveform data. If the pitch of the musical tone to be generated and the waveform data used for the generation are determined, , Its value is determined. The phase generator 14 accumulates the F number FN for each channel in synchronization with the sampling frequency of the system (in the present embodiment, as described above, 50 kHz), and reads the waveform data for each channel. Generate an address (relative address).

Each waveform data stored in the waveform memory 10 is assigned an ID. By specifying the waveform ID in the ch data, the target waveform data can be specified on the waveform memory 10. .

The on / off data starts generating the musical tone of the channel when its value changes from "0" to "1", and when the value changes from "1" to "0". So that the release of the DS
This is for instructing P15.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data format of the C management data stored in the register 9.

The C management data is composed of a plurality of data necessary for managing the state of the waveform data stored in the cache memory 11, and the register 9 stores areas cw1 to cw1 for storing 600 waveform data. cw600 is provided. Since the data format of each C management data is common, cw (cache wav) is shown in FIG.
e) The data format of the C management data of 3 is illustrated.

In the same figure, the C management data is
A waveform ID acting in the same manner as the waveform ID in the data, a transfer state TS indicating a transfer state of the waveform data to the cache memory 11, and a transfer speed TA indicating a speed at which the waveform data is transferred to the cache memory 11. A cache storage location virtual address representing the storage location of the waveform data on the cache memory 11 by a virtual address, a transferred size indicating the data size of data of the waveform data transferred to the cache memory 11,
The total size indicating the entire data size of the waveform data and the storage location of the waveform data on the waveform memory 10 are represented by the real address (since the waveform data is normally (continuously) stored on the waveform memory 10, And a linear address of a waveform memory storage position indicated by (address).

The transfer state TS takes any integer value from "0" to "2", and each integer value means the following state.

0: The state in which the waveform data indicated by the waveform ID is not used for tone generation 1: The state in which the waveform data indicated by the waveform ID is being transferred to the cache memory 11 2: The state in which the waveform data indicated by the waveform ID is cached A state in which the transfer to the memory 11 has been completed. The transfer speed TA takes an integer value from “0” to “120”, and the number of the blocks to be transferred per second (50 in the present embodiment). Block = 50
kword) is one unit. For example, TA = 0
Indicates that data is not transferred to the cache memory 11, and TA = 1 indicates that data transfer to the cache memory 11 is not performed.
Indicates a state in which data transfer of blocks / second is performed, and TA = 2
Indicates a state in which data transfer to the cache memory 11 is performed at 100 blocks / sec.
As the value set as A increases, the number of blocks transferred per second, that is, the transfer speed increases.

Here, one unit of the number of blocks transferred per second is set to 50 blocks when this transfer rate is set to F1 when the F number FN is set to "1" (the system sampling frequency (= (50 kHz) when reading each waveform sample of the waveform data).

As described above, the maximum transfer rate TA can be "120". This is because the data transfer speed from the waveform memory 10 is 6 Mword / sec in the present embodiment. Therefore, when there are a plurality of waveform data to be transferred to the cache memory 11, "120" must be distributed. (That is, the total value of the transfer speed TA assigned to each load does not exceed “120”.) As a distribution method, for example, the following method can be considered. That is, (1) a larger integer value is preferentially assigned to the load at the time of tone generation than to the load at the time of tone switching. (3) An arbitrary integer value of 120 or less may be allocated to the load at the time of tone color switching (for example, the transfer speed TA allocated to another load may be assigned to the load at the time of tone color switching). When the total reaches “120”, the transfer speed TA may be set to “0” for the remaining loads at the time of switching the tone color. When the waveform data corresponding to the musical tone that is about to be generated is not stored in the cache memory 11, the waveform data is read from the waveform memory 10 and loaded into the cache memory. It means to load the memory 11. The load at the time of tone color switching means that, for example, when data for instructing tone color switching is supplied as performance data, a waveform which is preferentially used (for example, most frequently used) by the designated tone color If the data is not stored in the cache memory 11, in the present embodiment, the waveform data is read from the waveform memory 10 and loaded into the cache memory 11, which means this loading.

In the above (2), the F number FN
Is, for example, a value obtained by rounding up the decimal point of the F number FN, and “2” when FN = 1.5.
It is. The reason why the transfer rate TA is set to an integer value equal to or greater than the integer value corresponding to the F number FN is that one unit of the transfer rate is set based on the transfer rate required when the F number FN = 1. If the F number FN is set to a value greater than "1", the waveform data must be transferred to the cache memory 11 at a transfer rate commensurate with the F number FN. This is because the address of the sample may be exceeded, and in this case, the musical tone cannot be reproduced.

Further, in the above (3), the set value of the transfer speed TA for the load at the time of tone color switching is changed to the value of the above (2).
The reason for not providing such a condition is that there is a time margin between the instruction to switch the timbre and the actual generation of a musical tone in the timbre.

As described above, the cache storage location virtual address is a representation of the storage location of the waveform data in the cache memory 11 as a virtual address, and is discretely arranged in the real address space of the cache memory 11. The blocks constituting the waveform data are successively rearranged in the virtual address space. In the present embodiment, each waveform sample of the waveform data is read based on the virtual address of the cache storage location. Therefore, the phase generation unit 14 simply adds up the F number FN and sets the read address. Can be generated. The relocation of the data block on the virtual address space is automatically performed by the cache control unit 12,
Based on the result, the cache control unit 12 rewrites an address conversion table provided in the address conversion unit 13 for converting between the virtual address and the real address. The control processing executed by the cache control unit 12 is described in detail in JP-A-6-35473, and a description thereof will be omitted. By employing the hardware address conversion described in this publication, access to the cache memory 11 by a virtual address can be executed without time delay.

The control processing executed by the musical sound generating apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described first, and then an outline thereof will be described.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

The tone generator of this embodiment mainly performs the following control processing. That is, (1) a cache hit or a cache miss of waveform data instructed to be sounded is detected, and when a cache hit is detected, a musical tone is generated using the waveform data held in the cache memory 11 and cached. When a miss is detected, the waveform data relating to the tone generation instruction is read out from the waveform memory 10 and is read from the cache memory 11.
(2) When tone switching is instructed, the waveform data that is preferentially used in the tone to be switched is stored in the cache memory 11. It is detected whether or not the waveform data is stored. If the waveform data is not stored in the cache memory 11, the waveform data is read from the waveform memory 10 and transferred to the cache memory 11. (3) The above (1) and Waveform memory 10 in (2)
Of the waveform data (waveform sample) held in the cache memory 11 for generating the musical sound of each channel is asynchronously executed. (4) Caching of the waveform data Caching to the memory 11 is performed in units of one waveform (however, the transfer of the waveform data from the waveform memory 10 does not need to be performed in units of one waveform.
In the present embodiment, a plurality of divided waveforms are transferred in parallel in a time-division manner. In short, cache management such as determination of a cache hit and a load instruction when no hit is performed is performed not for each sample or a plurality of samples in one waveform but for each one waveform. . Further, the manner of storing the waveform data on the cache memory 11 may be discrete or continuous. (5) The transfer at the time of a cache miss in the above (1), that is, the transfer of the waveform data from the waveform memory 10 to the cache memory 11 is performed faster than the reading speed of the waveform sample (the amount of address advance) at the time of generating the musical tone. Next, the details of the control processes (1) to (5) will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a tone switching event process executed by the tone generator according to the present embodiment, in particular, the CPU 3, which realizes the control process (2). This processing is started when a timbre switching event is supplied as performance data.

In the figure, first, a timbre number (new timbre number) of a new timbre designated by a timbre switching event is obtained, and an area TC (hereinafter, referred to as a “secure”) secured at a predetermined position in the RAM 5 is acquired.
The contents of this area are stored in "tone color TC" (step S1).

Next, the waveform ID of the waveform data to be loaded into the cache memory 11 is determined according to the priority among various waveform data used in the timbre TC (step S).
2).

Then, it is determined whether or not the waveform data corresponding to the determined waveform ID is to be newly loaded into the cache memory 11 (step S3). Here, whether or not a new load is to be performed is determined as follows.

That is, it is checked whether or not the same waveform ID as the waveform ID determined in step S2 exists in the C management data whose transfer state TS is other than “0”. Is determined to be newly loaded.

In step S3, if the target waveform data is being transferred to the cache memory 11 or the transfer has been completed, and there is no waveform data to be newly loaded, the main tone color switching event process is immediately terminated, while If there is waveform data to be loaded into the cache memory 11, after executing a load instruction processing subroutine (to be described later with reference to FIG. 6) for instructing the loading of the waveform data into the cache memory 11 (step S4), the main tone switching event processing To end.

Here, the load instruction processing subroutine
As will be described later, the low-speed load instruction and the high-speed load instruction can be switched by one subroutine in accordance with the value set for the transfer speed TA.
In this example, a low-speed load instruction is issued by setting a value corresponding to "low speed" in the transfer speed TA. This is because, as described above, it is not necessary to perform the loading at a high speed when switching the timbre.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the note-on event process executed by the CPU 3, which realizes the control process (1). This process is started when a note-on event is supplied as performance data.

In the figure, first, a note number and (&) velocity are acquired from the supplied note-on event, and an area NN secured at a predetermined position in the RAM 5 (hereinafter, the contents of this area are referred to as “note number”). NN "
) And an area VEL (hereinafter, the contents of this area are referred to as “velocity VEL”) (step S).
11).

Next, note number NN and tone color TC
(This tone color TC is already set when the note-on event is supplied.) The waveform ID corresponding to the tone color TC is detected (step S12).

Then, it is determined whether or not the waveform data of the detected waveform ID is loaded on the cache memory 11 (step S13). This determination is performed by the same method as the determination in step S3.

If the target waveform data is not loaded on the cache memory 11 at step S13,
After executing the load instruction processing subroutine (however, the high-speed load instruction) (step S14) in the same manner as in step S4, the process proceeds to step S15, and when the target waveform data is loaded on the cache memory 11, Skip step S14 and step S1
Go to 5.

In step S15, a vacant channel is detected, and tone generation is assigned to that channel.

In a succeeding step S16, various parameters corresponding to the tone color TC and the note number NN are set to the assigned channel. Specifically, the register 9
In the ch data storage area for 600 ch of the above, the F number F is stored in the ch data area corresponding to the assigned channel.
N, waveform ID, relative address, DCF control information, EG control information, and other information are written.

After the note-on is set for the channel (step S17), the note-on event process ends. Here, note-on settings are
Note on / in the ch data area in step S16
This is performed by setting the off data to note-on ("1").

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of the load instruction processing subroutine of steps S4 and S14. The control process (5) is realized by the load instruction process.

Referring to FIG.
In the C management data storage area for the waveform, the smallest k is obtained from the area cwk (k is an integer from 1 to 600) where the transfer state TS is “0” (step S21).

Next, the determined (or detected) waveform ID
Memory 1 for storing the waveform data indicated by
One area is allocated (step S22). This area allocation is performed, for example, as follows. That is, (1) a plurality of waveform data stored in the cache memory 11 is stuffed up on a virtual address. (2) An area for writing the waveform data indicated by the waveform ID is secured in a vacant area formed thereafter. (3) If there is not enough free space, the area where the waveform data that is not currently used is stored is released, and the above processes (1) and (2) are repeated.

In a succeeding step S23, parameters necessary for the area cwk are set. Specifically, the waveform I
D, transfer state TS, cache storage location virtual address, total size, and waveform memory storage location linear address are written.

Then, after assigning (distributing) the transfer speed TA of each waveform data according to the priority of the waveform data to be loaded at the same time (step S24), the load instruction processing is terminated. Here, the distribution is performed by the above-described method, and each of the distributed transfer speeds TA corresponds to the area cw.
During k, data is written to the corresponding transfer speed TA area. Thus, in the tone color switching event process, a transfer speed corresponding to “low speed” is set, and in the note-on event process, a transfer speed corresponding to “high speed” is set. Note that “low speed” and “high speed” are relative expressions of the transfer speed in the tone switching event process and the note control event process. As a result of the distribution, a larger speed is used for the transfer in the note-on event process. It means that it can be assigned. Even if “low speed” is set, “120” is all assigned to the transfer speed TA unless another transfer is performed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the transfer process executed by the cache control unit 12, and realizes the control processes (3) and (4). This transfer processing is started when a load instruction is issued by the load instruction processing subroutine of FIG.

In FIG. 7, first, load is instructed (TS
= 1), the smallest k (initial value) is detected in the area cwk, and stored in an area L (hereinafter, referred to as “index L”) secured at a predetermined position in the RAM 5 (step S31).

The area cwL indicated by the index L
Then, the transfer speed TA (L) is acquired and stored in a software counter area CNT (hereinafter, this content is referred to as “counter CNT”) secured at a predetermined position in the RAM 5 (step S32).

Next, the waveform data corresponding to the waveform ID (L) in the area cwL indicated by the index L is stored in the waveform memory 1.
The data is read from 0 and transferred to the area on the cache memory 11 allocated in the step S22 (step S33). This transfer is for one or more blocks,
In other words, the transfer is performed for blocks for which a transfer speed of 50 blocks / sec is obtained.

In the following step S34, waveform ID (L)
It is determined whether the transfer of the waveform data corresponding to is completed. This determination is made by comparing the transferred size in the area cwL with the total size.

In step S34, when the transfer of the waveform data corresponding to the waveform ID (L) has not been completed yet,
After decrementing the counter CNT by "1" (step S35), it is determined whether or not the counter CNT is "0" (step S36).

In step S36, when CNT ≠ 0, there are blocks of waveform data to be transferred, so the flow returns to step S33 to repeat the transfer of one or a plurality of blocks.

On the other hand, in step S34, the waveform ID (L)
Is completed, the transfer state TS (L) in the area cwL is set to "2" (step S37), and then another area cwk whose transfer state TS is "1" exists. It is determined whether or not this is the case (step S38).

In step S38, when there is no other area cwk whose transfer state TS is "1", the present transfer processing is terminated. On the other hand, when there is another area cwk whose transfer state TS is "1", the process ends. Between the regions cwk,
The transfer rate TA is redistributed (step S39). The redistribution is performed, for example, in consideration of trigger factors and priorities between waveform data being transferred. Then, the transfer speed TA thus redistributed is written in the corresponding transfer speed TA area.

In the following step S40, the transfer state TS is set to "1" in order to obtain the next waveform data to be transferred.
In the area cwk, the next k (here, the next “k”) of the area cwL transferred to the previous row is cyclically selected. For example, the area where the transfer state TS is “1” is k = 2 ,
At 5, 10, 25, if “L” of cwL is “2”, the next “k” is “5”, and if “L” is “25”, the next “k” is “5”. 2 ". ) Is acquired and set to the index L, and in the same manner as in step S32,
Transfer speed TA in area cwL indicated by index L
After (L) is acquired and stored in the counter CNT (step S41), the process returns to the step S33.

On the other hand, when CNT = 0 in step S36, there is no block of the waveform data to be transferred.
The process proceeds to step S40.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when generating a musical tone, the waveform data is supplied at a high speed using only the waveform data stored in the cache memory. The limitation of the number of sound channels depending on the delay of the sound can be eliminated.

At the time of a cache hit, a tone is generated using the waveform data held in the cache memory, so that there is no need to transfer the waveform data from the waveform memory to the cache memory.

At the time of a cache miss of the waveform data instructed to generate sound, the waveform data is transferred to the cache memory at a higher priority than the waveform data instructed to be loaded due to other factors, and the lower limit of the transfer speed is determined by the waveform data. Since control is performed in accordance with the F number, a state in which waveform samples to be read out to the cache memory are not transferred during sound generation can be eliminated, and a tone can be stably reproduced.

Since the advance of the read address of the waveform sample and the transfer of the waveform data from the waveform memory to the cache memory are performed asynchronously, the method of transferring the waveform data to the cache memory is not limited. The most efficient transfer method such as transfer can be used.

Since the caching of the waveform data into the cache memory is performed in units of one waveform, that is, it is not a method of dividing the waveform data and caching only a part of the data, so that the data management is simplified.

Since high-priority waveform data is stored in the cache memory in advance in accordance with the tone color selection, the cache data can be efficiently hit for the first use of the waveform data.

In this embodiment, a waveform memory (ROM) is used as a storage device for storing waveform data. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a hard disk device or an MD device that can be accessed randomly may be used. . In this case, first, only the respective leading portions of all the waveform data are stored in the cache memory, and thereafter, the used waveforms and necessary waveforms are sequentially transferred from the storage device to the cache memory.

In this embodiment, high-priority waveform data is loaded at the time of tone color selection.
However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, waveform data likely to be used later may be predicted according to a change in the performance range or tempo, and the predicted waveform data may be loaded in advance. Alternatively, the performer may designate waveform data to be used in the future prior to the time of use, and load the designated waveform data in advance.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the waveform data read from the waveform memory is transferred to the cache memory, a so-called full associative system is adopted as an arbitrary free place, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, any of the direct map system and the set associative system may be adopted.

The storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and the computer (or CPU 3 or MPU) of the system or the apparatus stores the storage medium in the storage medium. Needless to say, the object of the present invention can be achieved by reading and executing the program code.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As storage media for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM,
CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, RO
M4 or the like can be used. Further, the program code may be supplied from a server computer via another MIDI device or a communication network.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also an OS or the like running on the computer operates based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where a part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU 3 provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by the processing is also included.

[0103]

As described above, claim 1 or claim 5
According to the invention described in (1), when the waveform data according to the read instruction is stored in the second storage unit, the waveform data according to the read instruction is stored in the second storage unit based on the stored waveform data. When it is not stored in the storage means, the waveform data is read out from the first storage means, transferred to the second storage means, and then a tone is generated based on the stored waveform data. That is, when generating a musical tone, the waveform data is supplied at a high speed using only the waveform data stored in the second storage means having a high data transfer speed. The limitation on the number of sound channels depending on the first storage means can be eliminated.

Further, the transfer of the waveform data from the first storage means to the second storage means and the generation of the musical tone based on the waveform data read from the second storage means are performed asynchronously. The transfer method of the waveform data to the second storage means is not limited, and for example, the most efficient transfer method such as block transfer or burst transfer can be used.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the waveform data according to the read instruction is transferred to the second storage means in units of waveform data, that is, the waveform data is divided and only a part thereof is divided. Since the data is not transferred to the second storage means, the data management is simplified.

According to the third or sixth aspect of the present invention,
When the tone color switching is instructed, when the waveform data preferentially used in the instructed tone color is not stored in the second storage means, the waveform data is read out from the first storage means, Since the waveform data is transferred to the second storage unit, the waveform data used for the first time can be efficiently cache hit.

According to the invention described in claim 4 or 7,
The transfer rate of each waveform sample of the waveform data when the waveform data relating to the sounding instruction is not stored in the second storage means is set to the value of each waveform at the time of generating a musical tone based on the waveform sample read from the second storage means. Since the speed is higher than the sample reading speed, it is possible to eliminate a state in which the waveform sample to be read to the second storage means is not transferred during the sound generation, and to stably reproduce the musical sound.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a musical sound generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data format of ch data stored in a register of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data format of C management data stored in a register of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a tone color switching event process executed by the musical tone generating device of FIG. 1, in particular, a CPU;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a note-on event process executed by the CPU of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of a load instruction processing subroutine of FIG. 4 or 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a transfer process executed by the cache control unit in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 CPU (determination means, transfer means, tone color switching instruction means) 10 waveform memory (first storage means) 11 cache memory (second storage means) 12 cache control unit (transfer means, tone generation means) 13 address conversion unit (Transfer means, musical sound generating means) 15 DSP (musical sound generating means)

Claims (7)

[Claims] A first storage unit that stores a plurality of waveform data and has a low data transfer speed; a second storage unit that has a high data transfer speed; and the second storage unit that stores a plurality of waveform data. Determining means for determining whether or not the data is stored in the storage means; and as a result of the determination by the determining means, when the waveform data relating to the read instruction is not stored in the second storage means, Transfer means for reading the waveform data according to the read instruction from the first storage means and transferring the read waveform data to the second storage means; and reading the stored waveform data from the second storage means. And a tone generating means for generating a tone based on the output waveform data. The transfer of the waveform data by the transfer means and the tone generation by the tone generating means are performed asynchronously. Tone generation apparatus according to claim Rukoto. 2. The tone generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit transfers the waveform data according to the read instruction to the second storage unit in units of waveform data. 3. A first storage means for storing a plurality of waveform data and having a low data transfer rate, a second storage means having a high data transfer rate, a tone color switching instruction means for instructing a tone color switching, Discriminating means for discriminating whether or not waveform data preferentially used for the designated tone color is stored in the second storage means when tone color switching is instructed by the tone color switching instruction means; As a result of the discrimination by the discriminating means, when the preferentially used waveform data is not stored in the second storage means, the waveform data is read out from the first storage means, and is read out to the second storage means. Transfer means for transferring, and tone generation means for reading the stored waveform data from the second storage means and generating a tone based on the read waveform data. That tone generation apparatus. 4. A first storage means having a low data transfer rate for storing a plurality of waveform data comprising a plurality of waveform samples; a second storage means having a high data transfer rate; Discriminating means for discriminating whether data is stored in the second storage means, and as a result of the discrimination by the discriminating means, when waveform data relating to the sounding instruction is not stored in the second storage means A transfer unit that reads, from the first storage unit, each waveform sample of the waveform data according to the sounding instruction in accordance with the sounding instruction, and transfers the waveform sample to the second storage unit; Sequentially reading the waveform samples of the waveform data according to the sounding instruction from the second storage means;
Tone generating means for generating a musical tone based on the read waveform sample, wherein a transfer speed of each waveform sample of the waveform data by the transfer means is higher than a reading speed of each waveform sample by the musical sound generating means. A musical sound generation device characterized by the following. 5. A discriminating module for discriminating whether or not waveform data according to a read instruction is stored in a second storage unit having a high data transfer rate, and as a result of the discrimination by the discriminating module, the discriminating module determines whether or not the read command is received. When such waveform data is not stored in the second storage means, in response to the read instruction, the waveform data according to the read instruction is replaced with a plurality of waveform data stored at a low data transfer speed. A transfer module that reads from the first storage means and transfers the read waveform data to the second storage means; and reads the stored waveform data from the second storage means, and generates a musical tone based on the read waveform data. A transfer of waveform data by the transfer module and generation of a tone by the tone generation module are performed asynchronously. A storage medium storing a computer-implementable program, characterized by being stored in a storage medium. 6. A timbre switching instruction module for instructing timbre switching, and waveform data preferentially used in the designated timbre when timbre switching is instructed by the timbre switching instruction module, has a data transfer rate of A discrimination module for discriminating whether or not the waveform data is stored in the high-speed second storage means; and as a result of the discrimination by the discrimination module, when the preferentially used waveform data is not stored in the second storage means. A transfer module that reads out the waveform data from a first storage unit that stores a plurality of waveform data and has a low data transfer rate and transfers the read data to the second storage unit; and a second storage unit. And a tone generation module for reading the stored waveform data from the CPU and generating a tone based on the read waveform data. A storage medium that stores a program that can be realized. 7. A discriminating module for discriminating whether or not waveform data relating to a sounding instruction is stored in a second storage means having a high data transfer speed, and as a result of the discrimination by the discriminating module, the discriminating module outputs When such waveform data is not stored in the second storage means, in response to the sounding instruction, each waveform sample of the waveform data according to the sounding instruction is stored as a plurality of waveform data including a plurality of waveform samples. A transfer module for reading from the first storage means having a low data transfer rate and transferring the read data to the second storage means, and a waveform relating to the sound generation instruction from the second storage means in response to the sound generation instruction. Read data waveform samples sequentially,
A tone generation module that generates a tone based on the read waveform sample, wherein the transfer rate of each waveform sample of the waveform data by the transfer module is higher than the read rate of each waveform sample by the tone generation module. A storage medium storing a program that can be realized by a computer, characterized in that: