JP2004053736A - Method for using karaoke system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology for enabling a user to enjoy singing in chorus alone in a karaoke performance by recoding his or her singing in advance. <P>SOLUTION: A karaoke playing device is characterized in that: a singing recording means that the user can handle is prepared prior to karaoke use; the user records his or her singing while outputting an accompaniment of a desired song to generate a singing track recording file together with information on a tempo, a key, etc., in sound recording; a file storage server on an information communication network is accessed to deliver and store the generated file while a user ID and a musical piece ID are made to correspond to the file; and the the file storage server is accessed from the karaoke playing device in use to receive the singing track recording file specified with the user ID and musical piece ID. Further, the karaoke playing device takes an accompaniment musical sound of the same song with the song recorded in the file out of a karaoke database, outputs the accompaniment and the singing recorded in the file musically in synchronism with each other, and mixes a voice inputted to a microphone to output a sound. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of using a communication karaoke system, and more particularly, to a method of recording a singing voice of a user prior to using karaoke and enabling one to enjoy chorus during karaoke performance.
[0002]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are various forms of singing fun. In solo singing, you can get drunk with your own voice, in singing you can feel a sense of unity with the people on the spot, and in chorus you can enjoy the harmony created by everyone on the spot.
[0003]
There are many duet songs in karaoke songs, and you can enjoy chorus. However, you can't enjoy it without someone who sings with you. Conversely, even if someone invites you to sing, if you do not have enough practice and you are not confident enough to sing, it is difficult to say that you can easily participate because of the feelings of the other party.
[0004]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-91173 discloses a karaoke apparatus that allows a single player to perform a duet. In this method, the voice of a person who has performed a duet using the karaoke apparatus before that is recorded on a DVD-RAM or the like, and reproduced as the other part of the duet. Due to male and female duets, duets are only for male or female parts. Although it is advantageous in that it can be duet with a real human singing voice instead of an electrical synthetic voice, it is a stranger's voice of a stranger. Therefore, even this technique is not enough to enjoy the original enjoyment of the chorus of enjoying the harmony created with the people present. Singing alone is better than singing with strangers. In addition, the karaoke device must be the same for both recording and duet. Even if you can record your own or acquaintance's voice, you can only enjoy it with the same karaoke device.
[0005]
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the present inventor thought that it would be convenient to sing and record a chorus part in advance at home or the like with his own voice, and to be able to perform a choral work using only his own voice at a karaoke place. This is the idea of a new way of enjoying karaoke.
[0006]
The present invention relates to a communication karaoke system in which a number of karaoke performance devices managed by a karaoke host device are scattered in various places via an information communication network, and a desired tune of a user is retrieved from a karaoke database of the karaoke performance device and played. How to use In more detail, singing recording means that can be handled by the user prior to using karaoke are prepared, the user records the singing voice while outputting the accompaniment music of the desired song as sound, and information such as tempo and key at the time of recording And a file creation process for creating a singing track recording file, and accessing a file storage server on the information communication network by means of information communication means linked to the singing recording means, and storing the user ID and music ID in the created singing track recording file. A file depositing process in which the file is stored in the file storage server in association with the file storage server, and a file storage server on the information communication network is accessed by information communication means associated with the karaoke performance device to be used. Karaoke equipment that uses the singing track recording file specified by In the karaoke performance device that obtains the singing track recording file, the accompaniment music of the same song recorded in the file is extracted from the karaoke database, and the accompaniment music and the voice recorded in the file are extracted. And a karaoke chorus process of outputting sound in synchronism with music and mixing and outputting sound input to the microphone.
[0007]
In the present invention, preferably, the singing track recording means is mounted on a computer accessible to the file storage server via the Internet.
[0008]
Preferably, the singing track recording means is mounted on a computer linked to a karaoke performance device. In this case, preferably, the information communication means associated with the singing track recording means is the same as the information communication means for the karaoke host device to manage the karaoke performance device.
[0009]
More preferably, the singing track recording means enables multiple recording of the same music. In this case, preferably, in the choir process, it is possible to designate not to reproduce any of the multi-recorded tracks.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
=== Overview of system configuration ===
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This system includes a karaoke collection system installed in a karaoke store having a number of guest rooms, a file storage server, and a user terminal, which are connected to the Internet.
[0011]
The karaoke collection system in the karaoke store includes a karaoke performance device 1 and a guest room versatile terminal 2 installed in each guest room, and one store server 3 installed in the store. A client server system has been built. The LAN 8 uses Ethernet based on 10BASE-T or the like, and the karaoke apparatus 1, the versatile guest room terminal 2, and the shop server 3 connected to the LAN can communicate with each other according to a protocol such as TCP / IP. I have.
[0012]
One karaoke apparatus 1 and the versatile terminal 2 installed in the same guest room can perform data communication by connecting their respective computers via an RS-232C cable.
[0013]
Each karaoke performance apparatus 1 is connected to a public telephone line 4 directly or via a private branch exchange, and has inter-host communication control means for communicating with an external karaoke host device 5 connected to the public telephone line 4; An information processing means for storing karaoke data including data for generating accompaniment music and data for displaying lyrics acquired from the karaoke host device 5 by the communication control means in a hard disk device and managing it as a music database; It has a user interface for receiving and managing queues, and performance control means for extracting karaoke data of the requested music from the music database in accordance with the queue, synchronizing accompaniment music and lyrics, and outputting audio and video in synchronism.
[0014]
The store server 3 is connected to the Internet 6 and functions as a proxy server. The store server 3 is connected between each of the karaoke performance apparatuses 1 and the cabin multipurpose terminal 2 connected to the LAN and the external server 7 operated on the external network 6. Is relayed. The file storage server 10 according to the present invention is positioned as one of the external servers 7.
[0015]
Each guest room versatile terminal 2 includes 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). Means for presenting available content (information service provided by the external server 7 or information service provided by the in-store server on the LAN 8) to the user through an interactive GUI, and an external device for providing the content selected by the user Means for accessing the server 7 via the store server 3.
[0016]
Each guest room versatile terminal 2 has a function as a web client computer equipped with a browser, and performs HTTP communication with an external server on the Internet under the control of the store server 3 as a proxy server. The store server 3 manages the communication between the guest room multi-purpose terminal 2 and the external server, and the store server 3 records the billing information of the pay content used in each guest room multi-purpose terminal 2 and the time is provided to the manager in a timely manner. To present.
[0017]
In addition, karaoke stores are scattered in various places. The store server 3 of each karaoke store is connected to the Internet 6, and each karaoke performance device 1 is connected to the public telephone line 4 so as to be able to communicate with the karaoke host device 5.
[0018]
The file storage server 10 is a computer operated by a karaoke company. A Web server unit that communicates with the store server 3 and a user's browser-equipped personal computer 20 via the Internet, and a storage unit for storing singing track recording data transmitted from the user. .
[0019]
Further, the file storage server 10 outputs the accompaniment music data (digitally compressed and encoded in the MP3 format or the like) for outputting the karaoke accompaniment music of the desired music when the user records the singing voice for the singable music. In addition, it stores and accumulates song names, singer names, etc., and manages them as a choral song database.
[0020]
The user terminal 20 is a computer installed at a user's home or the like. It is configured to be connectable to the Internet and has a browser function for browsing the Internet. The microphone further includes a microphone for collecting singing voice, an encoder / decoder for MP3 format data, a speaker for outputting the sound, and a function for recording singing voice.
[0021]
=== File creation process ===
Assuming the following situation, an embodiment of the present invention will be sequentially described. A person is planning a karaoke party a few days later with his friends. The karaoke store for the party has not yet been decided. He loves singing, decides what to sing at the upcoming party, and practices hard. Many of the songs in the original artist's work have been duplicated or triplet due to multiple recordings by the same vocalist, making them attractive songs. However, when singing with ordinary karaoke, the charm of the impressive repetition part cannot be sufficiently reproduced. Therefore, the karaoke chorus service according to the embodiment of the present invention is used.
[0022]
The user makes his / her personal computer (user terminal) 20 used at home function as the above-mentioned singing track recording means, and records the user's own singing voice while outputting the accompaniment music of the desired music as sound. A singing track recording file is created together with information such as tempo and key of the song. The personal computer 20 has a system for reproducing various digital music data in the MP3 format or the MIDI format, and a system for recording and editing music such as a desktop music (DTM) system. I have.
[0023]
The data which is the origin of the accompaniment music of the desired music is obtained by accessing the music providing window of the file storage server 10 from the personal computer 20 of the user. When the browser of the personal computer 20 is used to connect to the URL of the file storage server 10 which is notified in advance by the karaoke company, an interactive GUI screen for the karaoke chorus service is displayed. FIG. 2 illustrates a screen transition at this time. At this time, the user's personal computer 20 can download and use the program from the file storage server 10 as needed.
[0024]
The user exchanges an HTML-format document with the file storage server 10 and designates a user ID and a music ID by an operation input to the personal computer 20 (A). The file storage server 10 retrieves the accompaniment music data of the designated music from the choral music database and returns it to the personal computer 20.
[0025]
When the user inputs the start of recording to the personal computer 20, the accompaniment music data is reproduced (B). When the user sings a certain part toward the microphone attached to the personal computer 20 according to the accompaniment music, the personal computer 20 digitally encodes the singing voice collected from the microphone in an MP3 format or the like and stores it in an appropriate storage unit. At this time, a singing track and a time axis are recorded as synchronization information such as a basic rhythm signal of accompaniment music. These are handled as singing track recording files represented by a predetermined data structure.
[0026]
The created singing track recording file can be played back to check the recorded content. If the result of the singing is not satisfactory, it is possible to repeat the recording any number of times (from (C) to (B)).
[0027]
A single singing track recording file can record a plurality of tracks. The ID of each track (singing track ID) may be a chorus part name appropriately input by the user, such as a treble part, a bass part, and a prelude. If the singing track ID already recorded is designated and recorded, the data is overwritten. Therefore, it can be re-recorded any number of times. Alternatively, one singing track ID can be assigned to a plurality of singing track ID groups recorded for a certain piece of music.
[0028]
The singing track recording file is accompanied by information on performance key settings and performance tempo of accompaniment music. At the time of recording, the performance key and the performance tempo can be changed. For example, even a female part can be sung by a male without concern. It can also be attached as information along the performance time series. Accordingly, it is possible to cope with a case where the user has changed the phrase so that it is easy to sing.
[0029]
Alternatively, when creating a singing track recording file, the user can specify a recording start position. The information on the start position specified by the user is included in the singing track recording file.
[0030]
=== File Deposit Process ===
If the user is satisfied with the result of the singing in the file creation process, the user performs an operation input to deposit the file in the file storage server 10. The personal computer 20 of the user sends the singing track recording file to the file storage server 10 via the Internet 6 (C). Upon receiving this, the file storage server 10 stores the file in association with the user ID and the music ID.
[0031]
=== File obtaining process ===
It was the day of the karaoke party. The karaoke store to be the party venue was decided after everyone gathered. With the wishes of those who recorded their singing voices as described above, they decided to go to a karaoke shop where karaoke chorus services were available.
[0032]
This user uses the karaoke chorus service using the singing track previously recorded in his singing voice. FIG. 3 illustrates a screen of the cabin multipurpose terminal 2 at that time. When the user specifies his / her user ID and the music ID of the music to be sung and inputs the operation, the user ID and the chorus service are used together with the music ID in the performance reservation queue of the karaoke performance apparatus 1. Is registered.
[0033]
When the preparation for playing the music is started according to the queue, the guest room versatile terminal 2 receives the notification to that effect and accesses the file storage server 10 via the store server 3. The file storage server searches for the singing track recording file deposited and returns the singing track recording file corresponding to the song ID and the user ID. The guest room multi-use terminal 2 transfers the received singing track recording file to the karaoke performance device 1.
[0034]
=== Karaoke Chorus Process ===
In the order of performance of the music, the karaoke performance apparatus 1 reproduces the singing track recording file in synchronization with the performance processing of the accompaniment music data retrieved from the music database. By analyzing the synchronization information included when the singing track recording file was created, synchronization can be easily achieved. If the performance tempo of the singing track recording file has been changed, it is possible to correct the tempo before the change and play it back. Even when the performance key setting has been changed, it is also possible to modify the performance key to be the standard value before the change and to reproduce the corrected value.
[0035]
Then, when the user sings a part to be sung using the microphone in accordance with the reproduction of the singing track recording file, the chorus is completed with all parts.
[0036]
When a plurality of tracks are recorded in the singing track recording file (a plurality of singing track IDs are assigned), it is necessary for the user to specify that a part other than the part that the user actually wants to sing in karaoke is reproduced. Is also possible.
[0037]
=== Other Embodiments ===
The accompaniment music data of the choral music database is not limited to the MP3 format. It is also possible to store in MIDI format. Further, a method of supplying the information on a CD-ROM or the like is also possible. Alternatively, a method of accessing and extracting the music database of the karaoke performance apparatus 1 is also possible.
[0038]
It is also possible to use a mobile phone with a browser as the user terminal 20. In this case, the mobile phone number can be used as the user ID. Further, by sending an e-mail of a predetermined format to the file storage server 10, a singing track recording file can be created and deposited.
[0039]
In the above-described embodiment, the user terminal 20 located in a place different from the karaoke apparatus is provided with a recording function (singing track recording means). However, such a recording function may be provided in the cabin multipurpose terminal 2. It is possible. In this case, the file storage server 10 does not necessarily need to include the choral music database. When a user sings and creates a singing track recording file, the accompaniment music is output using the karaoke data of the music database.
[0040]
Further, the karaoke performance apparatus 1 can be provided with a recording function. It can be realized as hardware integrated with the guest room multi-purpose terminal 2 described above. In this case, it is not always necessary to connect to the Internet. The singing track recording file can be transferred to the file storage server 10 via a communication karaoke network (public telephone line 4) connected between the karaoke host device 5 and the karaoke performance device 2.
[0041]
Regarding the use of the karaoke chorus service, the file storage server 10 can also perform a charging process mainly. When recording a singing track or when using a karaoke chorus service at a karaoke store, a fee is charged based on the information accessed to the file storage server 10, and payment can be made when the karaoke store is used.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
According to the method of using the communication karaoke system according to the present invention, it is possible to register one's own singing voice alone and perform as a chorus at a karaoke store. You can easily record at your own house. Moreover, since a plurality of parts can be recorded, one can experience multiple singing alone. Since you can re-record as many times as you like, you can pursue the perfection and expect to see more people enjoying karaoke.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of screen transition when recording a singing track according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a screen when using a chorus service according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Karaoke performance device 2 Guest room multipurpose terminal 3 Store server 4 Public telephone line (communication karaoke network)
6 Internet (external network)
10 File storage server 20 User terminal

Claims (6)

A number of karaoke performance devices managed by a karaoke host device via an information communication network are scattered in various places, and a method of using a communication karaoke system in which a user's desired song is retrieved from a karaoke database of the karaoke performance device and played. So,
A singing track recording means that can be handled by the user prior to using karaoke is provided, and the user records the singing voice while outputting the accompaniment music of the desired song as sound, and the singing track along with information such as the tempo and key at the time of recording. A file creation process for creating a recording file,
A file storage server on the information communication network is accessed by the information communication means linked with the singing track recording means, and the created singing track recording file is associated with the user ID and the music ID and transmitted to the file storage server for storage. File entrustment process and
A file storage server on the information communication network is accessed by the information communication means linked to the karaoke performance device to be used, and the singing track recording file specified by the user ID and the music ID is transmitted from the file storage server to the karaoke performance device to be used. File retrieving process,
In the karaoke performance device that ordered the singing track recording file, the accompaniment music of the same song recorded in the file is extracted from the karaoke database, and the accompaniment music and the sound recorded in the file are musically synchronized and sounded. A karaoke chorus process that mixes and outputs the sound input to the microphone and outputs the sound.
A method of using a communication karaoke system, comprising: 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the singing track recording unit is mounted on a computer that can access the file storage server via the Internet. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said singing track recording means is mounted on a computer associated with a karaoke performance device. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the information communication means associated with the singing track recording means is the same as the information communication means for the karaoke host device to manage the karaoke performance device. . The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the singing track recording means can perform multiple recording of the same song. 6. The method for using a communication karaoke system according to claim 5, wherein in the choir process, it is possible to designate not to reproduce any of the multi-recorded tracks.

Images