JP2001109470A - Automatic performance device and automatic performance method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily manage music data which is continuously reproduced in accordance with a prescribed music order. SOLUTION: Music data is managed so that plural pieces of music data and one music order data are included in one directory with data holding structure in a storage means as directory structure. Music order data instructs the reproduction order of plural pieces of music data included in the same directory in one directory. A reproduction means sequentially reads prescribed music data from plural pieces of music data stored in the storage means in accordance with the instruction of music order data and continuously reproduces performed sound based on music data which are read. Thus, a user can easily manage music data by limiting music data that can be registered in music order data to music data in one directory.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument, an automatic performance device, and other performance devices for reading out music data (performance data) stored in advance and reproducing musical tones based on the music data. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic performance apparatus and method for continuously reproducing music by sequentially connecting music data in an arbitrary order.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a performance apparatus such as an electronic musical instrument or an automatic performance apparatus, a plurality of music data (performance data) is stored in a storage medium, and an automatic performance is performed based on any selected music data. (That is, playback of a song). In such an electronic musical instrument or a performance device such as an automatic performance device, in response to one playback instruction, a plurality of pieces of music data are sequentially connected in the order of playback of the music data set by the user, and the playback of a plurality of songs is sequentially performed. It can be carried out. This function is generally called a “chain function”, and the order of reproduction of a plurality of music data is stored in a storage medium as a “chain data file” (a music data group linked by the “chain function”). A technique for sequentially and continuously reproducing a plurality of music data based on a "chain data file" to reproduce music has been known (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 7-199925).

[0003]

By the way, it is possible to store arbitrary music data in the storage medium in the order of reproduction in one "chain data file", and to store the number of music data or the "chain data file". When the number of songs increases, it is difficult to know which song data is registered in which “chain data file”. Also, when creating a “chain data file”, it is difficult to know which song data is to be registered in a desired “chain data file” from a large amount of stored song data. Therefore, data management by the user is required, but there is a problem that this data management is very troublesome and troublesome for the user.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is intended to limit the music data that can be registered in a desired "chain data file" to a predetermined range so as to facilitate data management. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic performance apparatus and a method capable of efficiently and easily creating or editing a “chain data file”.

[0005]

An automatic performance device according to the present invention stores a plurality of music data composed of automatic performance data and music order data indicating at least two or more pieces of music data in order of reproduction. A reproducing unit for sequentially reading predetermined music data from a plurality of music data stored in the storage unit in accordance with the music order data, and continuously reproducing a performance sound based on the read music data; And a control means for managing the data holding structure in the storage means to a directory structure so as to include a plurality of music data and one music order data in one directory,
The music order data in the one directory indicates a reproduction order of a plurality of music data included in the same directory.

[0006] The song order data is data for recording the order of songs to be reproduced, and is stored in the storage means. In addition, music data is stored in the storage means. The data holding structure in the storage means is a directory structure, and one directory stores a plurality of music data and one music order data. The music order data in the one directory indicates a reproduction order of a plurality of music data included in the same directory. That is, the music data whose reproduction order is recorded in the music order data is the music data stored in the same directory as the music order data. The reproducing means sequentially reads out the music data based on the music order data, and reproduces the music based on the music data. That is, predetermined music data is sequentially read from the plurality of music data stored in the storage means in accordance with the music order data, and the performance sound is continuously reproduced based on the read music data. As described above, the data holding structure in the storage medium is a directory structure, the music order data indicates a plurality of music data stored in one directory, and the music data that can be registered in the music order data is one. Since the music data is limited to music data in one directory, data management by the user can be easily performed.

The music order data in one directory can include the music data stored in another directory in the reproduction order. In this case, the directory contains the music data. It is characterized by storing storage position information indicating a storage position of music data stored in another directory.

As described above, the music order data in the one directory indicates the reproduction order of a plurality of music data contained in the same directory. Can be included. In this case, storage position information indicating the storage position of the music data stored in the other directory is stored in the same directory, and the music order data indicates the reproduction order of the music data by the storage position information. can do. Therefore, even when the song order data indicates song data stored in another directory, information on song data in another directory is stored in one directory storing the song order data. As a result, the user can easily perform data management.

The present invention can be constructed and implemented not only as an apparatus invention but also as a method invention. Further, the present invention can be implemented in the form of a program of a computer or a processor such as a DSP, and can also be implemented in the form of a recording medium storing such a program.

[0010]

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

FIG. 1 is a hardware block diagram showing an overall schematic configuration of an automatic performance apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. The automatic performance device shown in this embodiment includes a microprocessor unit (CPU) 1, a read-only memory (ROM) 2,
The microcomputer is controlled by a random access memory (RAM) 3. C
PU1 controls the operation of the entire automatic performance apparatus. For this CPU 1, a read only memory (ROM) 2, a random access memory (RAM) 3, a key press detection circuit 4, a switch detection circuit 5, a display circuit 6, a sound source circuit 7, an effect, via a data and address bus 1D. Circuit 8, external storage device 9, MIDI interface (I /
F) 10 and the communication interface 11 are connected respectively. Further, the CPU 1 is connected to a timer 1A that measures an interrupt time and various times in a timer interrupt process.

The ROM 2 stores various programs and various data executed or referred to by the CPU 1. The RAM 3 is used as a working memory for temporarily storing various performance information relating to automatic performance and various data generated when the CPU 1 executes a program, or as a memory for storing a program currently being executed and data related thereto. Is done. A predetermined address area of the RAM 3 is assigned to each function and used as a register, a flag, a table, a memory, and the like.
The keyboard 4A has a plurality of keys for selecting the pitch of a musical tone, and has a key switch corresponding to each key. The keyboard 4A can of course be used for musical tone performance. It can also be used as input means for instructing selection of a music data file (described later) or selection instruction of a chain data file (described later). The key press detection circuit 4 detects the press and release of each key on the keyboard 4A and generates a detection output. The switch 5A includes various operators for inputting an instruction to select a music data file or an instruction to select a chain data file, or to input various music conditions relating to an automatic performance music. For example, a numeric keypad for inputting numerical data, a keyboard for inputting character data, a panel switch, or the like. In addition, various controls for selecting, setting, and controlling a pitch, a tone, an effect, and the like may be included. Switch detection circuit 5
Detects the operation state of each operation element of the switch section 5A and outputs switch information corresponding to the operation state to the CPU 1 via the data and address bus 1D. The display circuit 6 is C
Various kinds of information such as the control state of the PU 1 and the contents of the music data file or the chain data file are displayed on a display 6A constituted by, for example, a liquid crystal display panel (LCD) or a CRT.

The tone generator 7 is capable of simultaneously generating musical tone signals on a plurality of channels.
The performance information given via D is input, and a tone signal is generated based on this data. The tone signal generated from the tone generator 7 is generated via the sound system 8A. The effect circuit 8 gives various effects to the tone signal generated from the tone generator 7. The tone signal generation method in the tone generator circuit 7 may be of any type. For example, a waveform memory reading method for sequentially reading out tone waveform sample value data stored in a waveform memory according to address data that changes in accordance with the pitch of a musical tone to be generated, or a method in which the address data is used as a predetermined A known system such as an FM system for performing tone modulation sample value data by executing a frequency modulation operation, or an AM system for executing tone amplitude sample operation by performing a predetermined amplitude modulation operation using the address data as phase angle parameter data. May be appropriately adopted. In other words, the sound source circuit method is a waveform memory method, FM method, physical model method, harmonic synthesis method, formant synthesis method, VC
Any system such as an O + VCF + VCA analog synthesizer system or an analog simulation system may be used. Further, the present invention is not limited to the case where the tone generator circuit is configured using dedicated hardware.
Alternatively, the tone generator circuit may be configured using a CPU and software. Further, a plurality of tone generation channels may be formed by using one circuit in a time sharing manner, or one tone generation channel may be formed by one circuit.

The external storage device 9 stores data relating to automatic performance music, such as a music data file and a chain data file, and data relating to control of various programs executed by the CPU 1. When the control program is not stored in the ROM 2, the control program is stored in the external storage device 9 (for example, a hard disk), and the control program is stored in the ROM 2 by reading the control program into the RAM 3. Similar operations can be performed by the CPU 1. This makes it easy to add a control program, upgrade a version, and the like. The external storage device 9 is not limited to a hard disk (HD), but may be a floppy disk (FD),
Compact disk (CD-ROM / CD-RAM),
Magneto-optical disk (MO) or DVD (Digit
The storage device may use various removable external storage media such as an al Versatile Disk.

MIDI interface (I / F) 10
Is to input MIDI standard performance information (MIDI data) from another MIDI device 10A or the like to the automatic performance device or to transmit MIDI standard performance information (MIDI data) from the automatic performance device to another MIDI device 10A or the like. This is an interface for outputting to. The communication interface 11 is connected to a communication network 11B such as a LAN, the Internet, or a telephone line, and communicates with the server computer 11 via the general communication network 11B.
A is an interface that is connected to A and takes in control programs and various data from the server computer 11A to the automatic performance device side. That is, when the control program and various data are not stored in the ROM 2 or the hard disk, it is used for downloading the control program and various data from the server computer 11A. The automatic performance device serving as a client transmits a command for requesting download of a control program and various data to the server computer 11A via the communication interface 11 and the communication network 11B. Upon receiving this command, the server computer 11A transmits the requested control program and data to the communication network 11B.
The control program and various data are received via the communication interface 11 and stored in the hard disk, whereby the download is completed. Note that the MIDI interface 10
Are not limited to those using a dedicated MIDI interface, but include RS232-C, USB (Universal Serial Bus), IEEE1394 (I Triple E 139)
The MIDI interface may be configured using a general-purpose interface such as 4). In this case, MI
Data other than the DI message may be transmitted and received at the same time.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a data flow for explaining exchange of various data (song data file and chain data file or MIDI data) in the automatic performance apparatus shown in FIG. However, in the following description, a case will be described in which the song data file and the chain data file are exchanged by using various removable external storage media 9A. The automatic performance device 100 in this embodiment can save (write) and load (read) a music data file or a chain data file with the external storage medium 9A (arrow X).
1). That is, C that controls the entire automatic performance device 100
By operating the external storage medium 9A in accordance with a predetermined control command transmitted from the PU 1, it is possible to save and load the external storage medium 9A for each of the data files. In addition, the automatic performance device 10 in the present embodiment.
0 indicates that MIDI data can be received from another MIDI device 10A (for example, a keyboard instrument or an automatic performance device) (arrow X2). The received MIDI data is stored in a memory (for example, R
AM3), and a tone can be reproduced using the MIDI data. Of course, the stored MIDI data can be saved in the external storage medium 9A. The external storage medium 9A detachable from the main body of the automatic performance apparatus 100 can be used in another automatic performance apparatus 100A. Therefore, after the music data file created by the automatic performance device 100 is saved in the external storage medium 9A, the automatic performance device 100
A is removed, and the external storage medium 9A is attached to another automatic performance apparatus 100A.
The music data file stored in A can be loaded by another automatic performance device 100A. As a result, the music data file created by the other automatic performance apparatus 100A is reproduced by the automatic performance apparatus 100, and the MIDI data received and stored by the automatic performance apparatus 100 is reproduced by the other automatic performance apparatus 100A. Can be easily performed. Further, the automatic performance device 100 in this embodiment
Performs “chain playback” of a song based on a plurality of song data files stored in the external storage medium 9A (that is,
It is possible to create a chain data file for continuous playback of music by the “chain function” (details will be described later).

FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually showing one embodiment of a data structure adopted in the automatic performance apparatus according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the “directory structure” is a concept including all general hierarchical structures adopted to manage a large number of data (files). For example, various data (song data and chain data) are stored in a "directory structure" in the external storage medium 9A used in the automatic performance device according to the present invention. That is,
The song data and the chain data are stored in a predetermined directory, which is hierarchically arranged in a tree shape, in a predetermined format (referred to as a song data file and a chain data file). And chain data can be specified. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, an A directory and a B directory are located below the root directory, and a C directory is located below the B directory. Each directory contains one or more song data files (shown as "song data file 1", "song data file 2", etc.)
And a pointer for indicating a predetermined music data file (indicated by adding "'" like "music data file 1'" or "music data file 4 '"), and one chain data file. Can be recorded. In the pointer, a directory name and a file name where the original music data file is recorded are recorded. For example, "Song data file 1 '" is recorded as "Song data file 1 in directory A". Since the song data file can be specified using such a pointer, one song can be recorded in a plurality of directories without increasing the storage capacity much.

The chain data file is a file that defines the order of reproduction of some or all of the music data files and pointers recorded in the same directory as the chain data file. For example, if the content of the chain data file in the A directory is “Song data file 1 →
When the reproduction is started based on the chain data file in the A directory in the order of "song data file 2 → song data file 3," the songs are reproduced in the order of "song 1 → song 2 → song 3." The contents of the chain data file (ie, the designation of the music to be reproduced and the reproduction order thereof) are created automatically or according to a user's instruction. In the case of automatic creation, all song data files in the same directory as the directory in which the chain data file is created are set as songs to be played, and the file name (eg, song name)
The playback order is specified in alphabetical order. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and the order of reproduction may be specified in various orders other than alphabetical order, such as alphabetical order, file capacity order, or the like. In the case of creating a chain data file according to a user's instruction, the user specifies the songs to be played back in a chain (that is, the playback of the song data file by the chain function) and the order of playback.

When a certain directory includes a lower directory, a music data file and a chain data file in the lower directory may be designated in the chain data file in the higher directory. For example, "Song data file 6" is designated in the chain data file in the B directory,
A chain data file in a directory may be specified. For example, the content of the chain data file in the B directory is “Song 4 → Song 5 → C directory chain”.
Assuming that the contents of the chain data file in the C directory are “Song 6 → Song 1 ′ → Song 4 ′”, when the B directory is chain-reproduced based on the chain data file, “Song 4 → Song 5 → Song” The music data file is reproduced in the order of “6 → music 1 → music 4”. Of course, a pointer to a predetermined music data file stored in a certain directory can be stored in another directory, and this pointer can be specified in the chain data file. A common song data file can be designated by a chain data file in a plurality of directories without copying and storing the same song data file in a plurality of directories.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of the "song reproduction process based on a song data file" executed by the CPU 1 in the automatic performance apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing the first half of the "song reproduction process based on the song data file", and FIG. 4B is a flowchart showing the second half of the "song reproduction process based on the song data file". That is, following the processing shown in FIG.
Is performed. Hereinafter, the operation of the "song reproduction process based on the song data file" will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4A and 4B.

First, the first half of the "song reproduction process based on the song data file" shown in FIG. 4A will be described. In the first half, a process of reproducing a song for each song mainly based on one song data will be described. Step S1
Then, it is determined whether or not the user has performed a directory selection instruction operation. If the directory selection instruction operation has not been performed (NO in step S1), the process jumps to step S3. If a directory selection instruction operation has been performed (YES in step S1),
Proceeding to step S2, the selected directory is set to the "current directory". That is, when a directory is selected for the external storage medium, the selected directory is set as the “current directory”. As a method of instructing the selection of the directory, for example, a selection instruction input from a command line in a DOS system often used in a personal computer or the like, a selection instruction input in a GUI in a window system, a selection instruction using up, down, left, and right arrow keys An appropriate method such as input may be used. In subsequent processes described later, various processes are performed based on the “current directory” thus set. As an initial state, for example, the “current directory” may be set in advance as the root directory, or may be set in advance in another directory desired by the user. In this case, when the directory selection instruction operation has not been performed (step S1).
NO), various processes are performed based on the "current directory" in the initial state.

In step S3, it is determined whether or not the user has performed an operation of instructing selection of one song. If the instruction to select one song has not been issued (NO in step S3), the process jumps to step S6. When the instruction to select one song has been issued (YES in step S3),
Display all music data files in the directory of the external storage medium set as "current directory" on the display 6A
A list is displayed above (step S4), and one of the music data files selected based on the user's music data file selection instruction input is loaded into a memory (for example, RAM3) in the main body of the automatic performance apparatus (step S5). ).
That is, when there is an instruction to load one song, the contents of the "current directory" of the external storage medium are read, and a list of all the song data files stored in the "current directory" is displayed. Then, when one of the music data files is selected according to an instruction from the user, the selected music data file is loaded into a memory in the main body of the automatic performance apparatus. As a method of instructing the selection of the music data file, an appropriate method such as a method using a command line, a method using a GUI, a method using an arrow key, or the like may be used as in the case of the input of the instruction to select a directory.

In step S6, it is determined whether or not MIDI data has been received. That is, M from other external MIDI equipment 10A or the like via the MIDI interface 10.
It is determined whether IDI data has been received. Other external M
If MIDI data has not been received from the IDI device 10A or the like (NO in step S6), the process jumps to step S8. On the other hand, when MIDI data is received from another external MIDI device 10A or the like (step S6).
YES), the received MIDI data is stored as music data in a memory (for example, RAM3) in the automatic performance device. At this time, the received MIDI data is not unconditionally stored in the memory, but is received only when there is a storage instruction according to the presence or absence of a storage instruction from the user (for example, input of an instruction to start storage, storage end, etc.). The stored MIDI data may be stored in the memory.

Next, it is determined whether or not an instruction to play one song has been given by the user (step S8). When an instruction to play one song is given (YE in step S8)
S), if the music data is stored in the memory inside the automatic performance device main body (YES in step S9), the reproduction of the music is started based on the music data (step S10). Then, the reproduction of the music based on the music data is repeatedly performed until the music data ends (step S11). On the other hand, when the instruction to play one song has not been issued (NO in step S8), the process jumps to step S12. That is, the music is not reproduced. As described above, when an instruction to play one song is given, the song data stored in the memory in the main body of the automatic performance apparatus (the song data loaded from the external storage medium based on the user's designation (see step S5) or the external The reproduction of the music is started based on the music data received from the MIDI device or the like and stored in the memory (see step S7). When the reproduction of the music progresses to the end of the music data, the reproduction of the music based on the music data ends. It is needless to say that in the case where the music data is not stored in the memory in the automatic performance device main body, the music is not reproduced even if the instruction to play one music is issued. In the above-described example, the reproduction of the music is ended until the music data ends. However, the reproduction of the music may be forcibly ended even in the middle of the music data.

When the reproduction of the music according to the instruction to play one music is completed (YES in step S11), or when the instruction to play one music is not issued (NO in step S8),
It is determined whether or not the user has given an instruction to save music data (step S12). When the instruction to save the music data has been issued (YES in step S12), the directory of the save destination and the file name at the time of saving are designated by the instruction from the user (step S13 and step S14), and the automatic performance device The music data stored in the memory is saved under the specified file name in the directory specified in the external storage medium (step S1).
5). In this way, if the user likes the song data reproduced by the one-song play, the user can save the song data in an external storage medium, so that the user can load the song data at a desired time. Then you can play the same song again. In the above description, “one song” (one song load or one song play) is used to represent the entire song reproduced based on one song data, and may be the entire song, May be only a part of it. That is, the music data may be data for reproducing the entire music or data for reproducing a part (eg, a bar) of the music.

Next, the latter half of the "song reproduction process based on the song data file" shown in FIG. 4B will be described. In the latter part, a description will be given of a “chain playback” process of continuously playing back a plurality of songs based on a plurality of song data. In step S16, it is determined whether or not an instruction of chain play (that is, “chain reproduction”) has been given by the user. If no chain play instruction has been issued (NO in step S16), the process jumps to step S22. That is, the continuous reproduction of the music based on the music data in the chain data file is not performed. If an instruction for chain play has been given (Y in step S16)
ES), it is checked whether or not the chain data file exists in the directory of the external storage medium set as the “current directory” (step S17). If the chain data file exists (YE in step S17)
S), the chain data file is loaded into a memory (for example, RAM3) in the automatic performance device main body (step S18). Then, the music data files are sequentially loaded from the external storage medium to the memory in the main body of the automatic performance apparatus in accordance with the contents (the music order) of the loaded chain data files, and the reproduction of the music is started based on the music data files ( Step S19). Then, the reproduction of the music data file is repeated until the reproduction of the loaded music data file is completed (NO in step S20). When the reproduction of the music data file is completed, the reproduction of the music data file is performed in accordance with the contents of the chain data file loaded into the memory. Then, the next song data file is loaded into the memory, and the reproduction of the song is started based on the newly loaded song data file (NO in step S21). The above process is repeated until the next song is not specified in the loaded chain data file (steps S19 to S22). On the other hand, if the chain data file does not exist in the directory of the external storage medium set as the “current directory” (NO in step S17), the music data file cannot be specified, and the music is not reproduced. Needless to say. Also, it goes without saying that music reproduction is not performed even when the external storage medium is not attached to the automatic performance device main body. In the present embodiment, an example in which the music data files are loaded into the memory one by one according to the chain data file has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of music data files may be loaded into the memory collectively according to the chain data file. It may be.

As described above, the chain reproduction is performed based on the chain data stored in the selected directory according to the "chain reproduction" instruction. Therefore, the "chain reproduction" can be performed without specifying the chain data file itself. "Reproduction" can be specified. Therefore, "chain reproduction" can be performed without knowing the file name of the chain data file. Also,
Since the song data files registered in the chain data file are limited to song data files stored in the same directory as the chain data file, which song data file is registered in the chain data file Can be easily understood.

In step S22, it is determined whether or not a user has issued a chain data file creation instruction. If the instruction to create the chain data has not been issued (NO in step S22), the process jumps to step S31. That is, no chain data file is created. If an instruction to create a chain data file has been issued (YES in step S22), it is first checked whether a chain data file already exists in the directory of the external storage medium set as the "current directory". (Step S23). If the chain data file already exists (Y in step S23)
ES), delete the existing chain data file to create a new chain data file and store it in the directory (step S24). When deleting the chain data file, instead of unconditionally deleting the chain data file, the user is asked whether the chain data file can be deleted. It is advisable to delete the existing chain data file only when done.

Next, it is determined whether the chain data file is automatically created or manually created (step S25). For example, an option of “automatic creation of a chain data file” or “manual creation of a chain data file” is presented (displayed) on the display 6A, and the user is made to select either. If “Chain data file automatic creation” is selected (YE in step S25)
S) All the music data files in the "current directory" are automatically selected (step S26), and the reproduction order of the music data files is designated in the alphabetical order of the selected music data files (step S27). Then, a chain data file containing the reproduction order of the specified music data file is saved in the "current directory" (step S30). The playback order of the music data files in the “automatic creation of chain data files” is not limited to being specified in alphabetical order, but may be specified in the order of the Japanese syllabary of the music data files or the file capacity. In addition, the user may be allowed to select the order of reproduction. For example, "current directory"
Is the B directory (see FIG. 3), if "automatic creation of chain data file" is selected by the user, the reproduction order of the music data in the newly created chain data file is "song 4 → "Song 5".

On the other hand, if "manual creation of chain data file" is selected (NO in step S25),
The user can select a plurality of arbitrary music data files from the music data files in the "current directory" (step S28), and the user arbitrarily specifies the reproduction order of the selected music data files (step S2).
9). The playback order of the song data file is specified in alphabetical order or the like as an initial state, and the playback order of the initial state is modified by an instruction from the user to specify the playback order of the song data file. Is also good.
Then, as in the case of selecting "automatic creation", a chain data file containing the reproduction order of the designated music data file is saved in the "current directory" (step S).
30). If a directory is set further below the “current directory”, the lower directory may be part of the chain data file.

In step S31, "other processing" is performed, and when "other processing" is completed, step S1 (FIG. 4)
A), and the above-described processing is repeatedly executed according to a new instruction from the user. The above-mentioned “other processes” include the following processes. For example, “pointer creation / deletion processing” can be mentioned. That is, a pointer is created by designating the directory and file name of the song data file indicated by the pointer and the directory in which the pointer is recorded, and the song data file can be designated using the pointer. When the pointers created in this way become unnecessary, these pointers can be deleted. For example, “music data file deletion processing” may be mentioned. That is, a desired music data file can be deleted from the directory.
An example is "editing a chain data file". That is, the contents of the created chain data file are edited (for example, the number of songs is increased / decreased, or the order of songs is changed), and the chain data file is deleted. At this time, when the pointer or the music data file related to the contents of the chain data file is deleted, it is preferable to correct the contents of the related chain data file. Also,
A warning may be issued to the user when a pointer or music data file related to the contents of the chain data file is deleted. By doing so, the deleted pointer or song data file is not recorded in the chain data file.
Data management becomes easier. For example, a “tempo and tone setting process during reproduction” can be mentioned. That is, it may be possible to set the tempo and timbre of music reproduction during single music play or chain play. For example, “directory editing processing” can be mentioned. That is, processing such as creation of a new directory, modification of an existing directory name, or deletion of a directory is performed. When the directory is deleted, the contents (song data file and chain data file) stored in the directory are also deleted. When the directory name indicated by the pointer is corrected or the directory itself does not exist due to the correction of the directory name or the deletion of the directory, a warning may be given to the user. Further, when the directory name indicated by the pointer is modified or the directory itself does not exist, it is preferable to modify the contents of the pointer or delete the pointer itself.

As described above, the data holding structure in the external storage medium 9A is a directory structure, and a chain data file is created using only a plurality of music data files stored in one directory. The song data files that can be registered in the chain data file are limited to song data files in one directory. In addition, it is possible to create a chain data file by a designation method such as “create using all music data files in one directory”.
As described above, since the chain data file is created using the music data files stored in one directory, the user can easily perform data management. By doing so, you can efficiently create and edit chain data files,
And it can be easily performed.

When the automatic musical instrument according to the present embodiment is applied to an electronic musical instrument, the electronic musical instrument is not limited to a keyboard instrument, but may be a string instrument, a wind instrument, or a percussion instrument. In such a case, the sound source device, the automatic performance device, and the like are not limited to those built in one electronic musical instrument main body, but each device is separately configured, and each device is configured using communication means such as a MIDI interface and various networks. It is needless to say that the present invention can be similarly applied to a configuration configured to connect. Further, the configuration may be a configuration of a personal computer and application software. In this case, the processing program may be supplied from a storage medium such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, or may be supplied via a network. Further, the present invention may be applied to a karaoke device, a game device, a portable communication terminal such as a mobile phone, an automatic performance piano, and the like.

The data stored in the chain data file is not limited to the songs to be played back and the order in which the songs are to be played back. Playback of the next song will not be started until this is done), whether or not to insert a silence period between each song, the silence period when inserting it, whether or not to perform fade-in / fade-out, the playback tempo for each song, Information such as the reproduction tone for each song and the designation of the playback section in each song (by playing only a section of the song to enable the medley performance by connecting the sections of each song) is also stored. You may. The data format of the chain data file can take various forms. The format of the music data is the “event + absolute time” format in which the event occurrence time is represented by an absolute time in a song or bar, and the event occurrence time is represented by the time from the immediately preceding event. "Event + relative time" format, "Pitch (rest) + note length" format in which song data is expressed in note pitch and note length or rest and rest length, for each minimum resolution of performance Any type may be used, such as a “solid” type in which a memory area is secured and events are stored in a memory area corresponding to the time when a performance event occurs. When music data for a plurality of channels is present, a format in which data of a plurality of channels are mixed or a format in which data of each channel is separated for each track may be used. Further, the method of processing the music data includes a method of changing the processing cycle according to the set tempo, a method of changing the value of timing data during automatic performance according to the set tempo while the processing cycle is constant, and a processing cycle. May be any method such as a method of changing the counting method of the timing data in the music data in accordance with the tempo in a single process. In the memory, time-series music data may be stored in a continuous area, or music data scattered and stored in discrete areas may be separately managed as continuous data. Good. That is, it is only necessary to be able to manage the music data as time-series continuous music data, and it does not matter whether the music data is continuously stored in the memory.

[0035]

According to the present invention, the data holding structure in the storage medium is made a directory structure, and the chain data is created using a plurality of music data stored in one directory. Since the music data files that can be registered in the chain data file are limited to music data files in one directory, there is an effect that data management by the user is facilitated. In addition, since the chain data is automatically created using a plurality of music data stored in one directory, an excellent effect that the creation of the chain data can be easily achieved is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a hardware block diagram showing an overall schematic configuration of an automatic performance device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a data flow for explaining data exchange in the automatic performance device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually showing an embodiment of a data structure in an external storage medium employed in the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing the first half of the process of the “song reproduction process based on the chain data file” executed by the CPU 1;

FIG. 4B is a flowchart showing the latter half of the “song reproduction process based on the chain data file” shown in FIG. 4A, which follows the first half.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CPU, 1A ... Timer, 2 ... Program memory, 3
... Working memory, 4 ... Key press detection circuit, 4A ... Keyboard,
5 switch detection circuit, 5A numeric keypad & keyboard &
Various switches, 6: display circuit, 6A: display, 7
... sound source circuit, 8 ... effect circuit, 8A ... sound system,
9 external storage device, 9A external storage medium, 10 MID
I interface, 10A ... other MIDI equipment, 11A
... server computer, 11B ... communication network, 1
D: data and address bus, 100 (100A): automatic performance device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Shimizu 10-1 Nakazawa-cho, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka Yamaha Corporation (72) Inventor Atsushi Fukada 10-1 Nakazawa-cho, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka Yamaha Corporation F Terms (reference) 5D378 MM12 MM51 MM52 MM54 MM62 MM63 MM72 QQ01 QQ32 QQ33 QQ34 XX12 XX20 XX30

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for storing a plurality of music data composed of automatic performance data and music order data for instructing a reproduction order of at least two or more of the music data, and a plurality of music data stored in the storage means. Playing means for sequentially reading predetermined music data from the music data in accordance with the music order data, and continuously playing performance sounds based on the read music data; and a data holding structure in the storage means having a directory structure, One directory contains multiple song data and one
And control means for managing the song order data so as to include the song order data, wherein the song order data in the one directory indicates a reproduction order of a plurality of song data included in the same directory. An automatic performance device characterized by the following. 2. A storage means for storing a plurality of music data composed of automatic performance data and music order data for instructing a reproduction order of at least two or more pieces of the music data, and a plurality of music data stored in the storage means. Playing means for sequentially reading predetermined music data from the music data in accordance with the music order data, and continuously playing performance sounds based on the read music data; and a data holding structure in the storage means having a directory structure, One directory contains multiple song data and one
And control means for managing the song order data so as to include the song order data. The song order data in the one directory may include song data stored in another directory in the reproduction order. An automatic performance apparatus wherein the directory stores storage location information indicating the storage location of the music data stored in the other directory. 3. The automatic performance apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising editing means for adding / deleting music data in the music order data and changing the reproduction order of the music data. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said editing means automatically creates music order data using all music data stored in one desired directory. An automatic performance device according to the present invention. 5. The apparatus further comprises selection instruction means for selecting a desired directory, wherein the reproducing means sequentially reads out predetermined music data in accordance with music order data stored in the selected directory, and reads out the read music data. 5. The automatic performance device according to claim 1, wherein the performance sound is continuously reproduced based on the music data. 6. A step of storing a plurality of music data comprising automatic performance data and music order data indicating at least two or more pieces of the music data in order of reproduction, respectively; Sequentially reading predetermined music data from the music data in accordance with the music order data, and continuously reproducing the performance sound based on the read music data; and setting the data holding structure of the music data and the music order data to a directory structure. Managing one or more song data and one song order data in one directory, wherein the song order data in the one directory includes a plurality of song data included in the same directory. An automatic playing method for indicating the playback order of music. 7. The automatic performance method according to claim 6, further comprising a step of adding / deleting music data in the music order data and changing a reproduction order of the music data.