JP2003015673A - Karaoke lesson supporting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a karaoke lesson supporting method which enables the client of a karaoke shop to receive a singing instruction from an expert by utilizing an information communication technology base such as broadband Internet. SOLUTION: A piece of music selected by a student is played by a karaoke machine, and the singing voice of the student is recorded by a singing voice recording system together with a synchronizing signal with karaoke accompaniment music. A correction object file is constituted by adding information such as title of the piece of music or name of the student to these recorded data and transmitted from a shop computer to a lesson mediating server. That correction object file is sent from the lesson mediating server to a suitable teacher computer. By using the teacher computer, a teacher produces a correction instruction file, which is edited focused on singing instruction video, and sends it to the lesson mediating server. That correction instruction file is sent to the relevant student.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a karaoke training support method which enables a customer of a karaoke shop to receive singing instruction from an expert by utilizing an information communication technology base such as a broadband Internet. .

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION People who love to sing often use karaoke boxes. There, with a high-quality audio device, the accompaniment music is played with a loud sound that cannot be played at home,
You can also expand your own singing voice greatly and enjoy singing without any twist. Many people go to karaoke boxes and practice their favorite songs repeatedly. Some karaoke boxes are equipped with a recording device. Play the desired song on the karaoke machine and sing it yourself. The singing voice with the accompaniment at that time can be recorded and recorded on a medium such as a compact disc or a mini disc and taken back. You can always play this back on your home player. Listen to this and have it evaluated by yourself, your family and friends, and practice to sing better.

Many karaoke devices generally have a scoring device attached thereto. The scoring device attached to the karaoke compares the main melody data incidental to the karaoke accompaniment music that has been electronically scored with the sampling data of the singing voice signal that is input to the microphone to determine the accuracy of the pitch and the accuracy of the generation timing. It is general to roughly measure and output as a total point. This is a great topic at karaoke parties, but it is not useful for people who practice songs seriously.

This is, for example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-6.
It is described in detail in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7084. In the invention of this publication, a host device for online karaoke is equipped with a scoring device for performing advanced scoring analysis processing, and a singing voice sung by a customer is recorded using a online karaoke terminal and transferred to the host device. The scoring device on the host side analyzes and evaluates the customer's singing voice recording data over a sufficient period of time, and reports the result to a personal computer of the customer's home by e-mail.

According to this publicly known technique, since the scoring functions are collectively provided in the communication karaoke host device, it is possible to employ a more sophisticated song analysis algorithm than the scoring function provided separately to each karaoke terminal. By adopting a method that takes time to analyze later, it will be possible to perform more useful singing analysis than the method of scoring in real time as the customer sings.

However, even if the result of an extremely human act of singing a song is mechanically analyzed by a computer, it will not be possible to accurately evaluate the persuasive power, appealing power and artistry of the song. . For those who are serious about studying songs, it would be ideal to receive singing instruction from a specialist private lesson.

[0007]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended for those who are practicing songs seriously using a karaoke box, and utilize an information communication technology base such as a broadband Internet to provide a personal lesson. The purpose is to make it easy to take karaoke lessons similar to singing instruction. That is, the karaoke lesson support method according to the present invention is basically specified by the following items (1) to (6). (1) A singing voice recording system attached to a karaoke device installed at a karaoke store,
A store computer coupled to the singing voice recording system and also coupled to an external information communication network, and a teacher computer used by a store computer and a singing teacher coupled to the information communication network and singing instruction A learning intermediary server that can individually communicate with many computers such as student computers used by people is used. (2) Perform the music selected by the student on the karaoke device,
The singing voice of the student is recorded by the singing voice recording system together with a synchronization signal with karaoke accompaniment music. A file to be corrected is formed by adding information such as a song name and a student name to the recorded data, and the file is delivered from the store computer to the lesson intermediation server. (3) In the training intermediary server, a large number of teachers and their contact information are registered, and
Assigned division information is set for determining the music instructed by each teacher. (4) The training intermediation server stores the correction target file delivered from the store computer, determines a teacher who gives a singing instruction for the correction target file based on the song name of the correction target file, and determines the teacher. Communicate with the teacher computer in a timely manner and deliver the file to be corrected. (5) An appropriate video system in which the teacher uses the teacher computer to process the correction target file transmitted from the training intermediary server, reproduce and listen to the student's singing voice, and correct the singing voice. The video and sound of the singing instruction by the teacher are recorded at, and the singing voice of the student and the singing instruction video are combined and edited to create a digital compression encoded correction instruction file. This correction instruction file contains information that identifies which file to be corrected,
It is delivered from the teacher computer to the lesson intermediary server.

(6) The lesson intermediary server stores the correction instruction file delivered from the teacher computer, and communicates with the student computer or the store computer in a timely manner so as to pass the file to the corresponding student. The correction instruction file is delivered.

In the above karaoke training support method, preferably, when the student records his or her own singing voice and creates the correction target file, the correction target file includes information for designating a teacher who wants to receive instruction. The teaching mediation server is configured to deliver the correction target file with the designation information to the teacher computer of the designated teacher.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION === Overview of entire system === FIG. 1 shows an overview of a computer network system to which a karaoke training support method according to the present invention is applied. This system includes a karaoke set system installed in a karaoke store having a large number of guest rooms (karaoke boxes), a learning intermediation server 10, a plurality of teacher computers 20, a large number of student computers 30, and the like. It is connected to the Internet 6.

First, a karaoke collection system in a karaoke store, which is a place for recording the singing voice of a student and transmitting a file to be corrected, will be explained, and the learning intermediary server 10 and the teacher computer 20 will be used in accordance with the flow of information from here. The relationship will be explained in order.

The karaoke set system includes a karaoke performance terminal 1 and a guest room multi-use terminal 2 installed in each guest room, and one shop server 3 installed in a shop, which are connected by a LAN 8 to provide a client. The server system is configured. The LAN 8 uses, for example, 10BASE-T Ethernet (registered trademark), and TCP / LAN is used between each karaoke performance terminal 1, each guest room multipurpose terminal 2, and the store computer 3 connected by LAN.
Mutual communication according to IP and other protocols can be performed.

Further, one karaoke performance terminal 1 and one guest room versatile terminal 2 installed in the same guest room are connected to each other by an RS-232C cable, and data communication is possible. It is also connected by an audio signal cable, and is configured so that the accompaniment music output from the karaoke performance terminal 1 and the audio signal of the voice of the singer can be introduced into the recording input interface of the guest room multi-use terminal 2 by separate lines. ing.

=== Basic configuration as a communication karaoke system === Each karaoke performance terminal 1 is connected to a public telephone line 4 directly or via an in-home exchange, and an external karaoke connected to the public telephone line 4 is connected. Inter-host communication control means for communicating with the host device 5, and karaoke data (including data for generating accompaniment music and data for displaying lyrics) acquired from the karaoke host device 5 by the inter-host communication control means. An information processing unit that stores the data in a hard disk device and manages it as a music database; and a user interface that receives request music and manages the queue,
Performance control means for extracting the karaoke data of the requested music from the music database in accordance with the queue and outputting the audiovisual image in synchronization with the accompaniment music and the lyrics is provided. Further, each karaoke performance terminal 1 has an operation opportunity creating means for converting the performance history and the execution result of the self-diagnosis program into data and recording them in the hard disk device, and an appropriate opportunity to communicate with the karaoke host device 5 via the public telephone line 4. In addition, a history report means for notifying the recorded performance history and self-diagnosis result is provided.

=== Internet connection function === The store computer 3 is connected to the Internet 6 and functions as a proxy server, and each karaoke performance terminal 1 and each guest room multipurpose terminal 2 and the external network 6 connected to the LAN. It relays TCP / IP communication with the external server 7 operated above. The lesson intermediary server 10 according to the present invention is positioned as one of the external servers 7.

Each guest room multi-use terminal 2 has an interactive GUI (graphical user interface) using a display with a touch panel, voice input / output means in the form of a telephone handset (handset), and a guest room multi-use terminal. Interactive contents of contents available on the terminal 2 (information service provided by the external server 7 and information service provided by the store computer 3 on the LAN 8 described later)
It is provided with means for presenting to the user via the UI and means for accessing the external server 7 providing the content selected by the user via the store computer 3.

Each guest room multipurpose terminal 2 has a function as a web client computer equipped with a browser, and an external server 7 on the Internet 6 under the control of the store computer 3 as a proxy server.
And HTTP communication. The store computer 3 manages the communication between the guest room multi-use terminal 2 and the external server 7, and the store computer 3 records the charging information of the pay contents used in each guest room multi-use terminal 2 to the administrator. Present in a timely manner.

=== Karaoke recording function === When the user of the karaoke box operates the guest room multi-use terminal 2 and inputs that the karaoke recording service is to be used, the guest room multi-use terminal 2 is connected to the karaoke performance terminal 1. The singing voice signal from the microphone is captured in parallel with the performance of the karaoke accompaniment music, digitally converted and recorded in the hard disk device. In other words, make a digital recording. At this time, the basic rhythm signal of the karaoke accompaniment music and the like are recorded as synchronization information in time alignment with the singing voice recording track. These are handled as a singing voice recording file that represents these with a predetermined data structure (this is the file to be corrected).

When the user desires to send the above-mentioned singing voice recording file to the lesson intermediary server 10 of the present invention for correction and guidance, he operates the guest room multi-use terminal 2 to input the command. Then, the singing voice recording file temporarily stored in the hard disk device of the guest room multi-use terminal 2 is transferred to the store computer 3 and delivered from the store computer 3 to the lesson intermediation server 10 on the Internet as the correction target file. Information such as the song name, student name, karaoke store name, date and time, etc. is added to this file to be corrected, and information such as the student's e-mail address is also attached.

=== Teaching Mediation Server 10 === A teacher list is created in the database of the learning mediation server 10. The teacher list contains teacher names and contact information (including e-mail addresses and IP addresses of teacher computers), as well as division information for determining the teacher's music composition. ing. As the division information, the person in charge is expressed by the song name, the person in charge is expressed by the name of the original song artist, and the enka /
Various methods can be adopted, such as expressing the person in charge in a music genre such as pop music or Western music.

When a file to be corrected on the lesson intermediary server 10 is delivered from a store computer 3,
The name of the song written in the file is compared with the division information in charge to determine the teacher who gives the singing instruction for the correction target file. Next, the learning intermediary server 10
Create an e-mail with the content “Please give me guidance for correcting the song“ ○○○ ”” and send it to the e-mail address listed on the list.

The teacher who has read the e-mail accesses the training intermediation server 10 by the teacher computer 20 and downloads the specified file to be corrected. The teacher computer 20 is provided with the same music database and synthesizer that plays the music data as the above-mentioned karaoke performance terminal 1 in the karaoke store, and is the same when reproducing the singing voice of the student in the correction target file and playing it from the speaker. The karaoke accompaniment music of a song can be automatically played. At this time, by using the synchronization information included in the singing voice recording file, the accompaniment music can be played in the same relationship as when the student recorded the singing voice. The teacher hears this and evaluates it.

The teacher's teaching work space is equipped with a video camera for taking a picture of the teacher who teaches singing by using a piano and a microphone for taking sound, and the video / audio signals output from these devices are provided. A video capture system for capturing and editing in the teacher computer 20 is incorporated in the computer 20. In addition,
The terms "video" and "singing instruction video" are used here as audio information is attached to video information.

The teacher reproduces, pauses, or partially repeats the singing voice of the student, speaks a comment to be conveyed to the student, and sings as an example while playing the piano. The video and audio (song instruction video) of the situation are taken into the teacher computer 20, edited appropriately, and a correction instruction file digitally encoded in MPEG format is created. of course,
Information to specify which file to be corrected is the correction instruction file is added to the correction instruction file. The correction instruction file thus created is delivered from the teacher computer 20 to the lesson intermediary computer 10 in a timely manner.

=== Send a correction instruction file to students ==
= The learning intermediation server 10 that has received the correction instruction file from the teacher computer 20 identifies to which student it should be sent. Once you have identified the students,
Create an email saying "I have a singing instructional video of your song" and send it to the student's email address. If the student has not submitted the e-mail address, an e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address of the karaoke store where the student recorded the singing voice, asking the same intent.

If the student who knows this has a student computer 30 that he can use, the student mediation server 10
You can access and download the relevant correction instruction file and view it anytime and many times. If you don't have such a student computer 30,
I went to a karaoke store where I recorded the song, and the store computer 3
Alternatively, the guest room multi-use terminal 2 can access the lesson intermediation server 10 to download the corresponding correction instruction file and view it on the guest room multi-use terminal 2. Also, the correction instruction file downloaded to the store computer 3 is a DVD.
I asked them to copy it to a RAM disk, convert the signal format, and record it on their home video tapes.
You can take it home and watch it again and again.

=== Others === When sending the file to be corrected to the lesson intermediary server 10,
A list of teachers may be displayed on the screen of the guest room multi-use terminal 2 or the store computer 3 so that a teacher who wants to receive correction instruction can be designated. Payment of the fee for receiving the correction instruction is settled at the karaoke store, the information is notified to the training intermediary server 10, the amount of remuneration to be paid to each teacher is calculated in the training intermediary server 10, and the method of the entire system is settled. Try to supervise.

[0028]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the karaoke training support method of the present invention, it is intended for those who are seriously practicing singing using a karaoke box, and utilize information communication technology base such as broadband Internet. , You can feel free to take a karaoke lesson that is similar to singing instruction by a private lesson by an expert.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of an entire computer network system to which a karaoke lesson support method according to the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Karaoke performance terminal 2 Guest room multi-purpose terminal 3 store computers 10 Training intermediary server 20 teacher computer 30 student computers

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A karaoke lesson support method specified by the following items (1) to (6). (1) A singing voice recording system attached to a karaoke device installed in a karaoke store, a store computer coupled to the singing voice recording system and coupled to an external information communication network, and the information communication network. A plurality of computers such as the store computer, the teacher computer used by the singing teacher and the student computer used by the person receiving the singing instruction, and a training intermediary server capable of individually communicating are used. (2) Perform the music selected by the student on the karaoke device,
The singing voice of the student is recorded by the singing voice recording system together with a synchronization signal with karaoke accompaniment music. A file to be corrected is formed by adding information such as a song name and a student name to the recorded data, and the file is delivered from the store computer to the lesson intermediation server. (3) In the training intermediary server, a large number of teachers and their contact information are registered, and
Assigned division information is set for determining the music instructed by each teacher. (4) The training intermediation server stores the correction target file delivered from the store computer, determines a teacher who gives a singing instruction for the correction target file based on the song name of the correction target file, and determines the teacher. Communicate with the teacher computer in a timely manner and deliver the file to be corrected. (5) An appropriate video system in which the teacher uses the teacher computer to process the correction target file transmitted from the training intermediary server, reproduce and listen to the student's singing voice, and correct the singing voice. The video and sound of the singing instruction by the teacher are recorded at, and the singing voice of the student and the singing instruction video are combined and edited to create a digital compression encoded correction instruction file. This correction instruction file contains information that identifies which file to be corrected,
It is delivered from the teacher computer to the lesson intermediary server. (6) The training intermediation server stores the correction instruction file delivered from the teacher computer, and communicates with the student computer or the store computer in a timely manner to transfer the correction instruction file to the corresponding student. Deliver the file. 2. When the student records his or her own singing voice and creates the correction target file, the correction target file can include information for designating a teacher who wants to be instructed. The karaoke lesson support method, wherein the lesson intermediation server delivers the correction target file with the nomination information to the teacher computer of the appointed teacher.