JP2004085821A - Sound volume controller and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable users to check whether the performance operation carried out by themselves with the tones having various degrees of loudness or softness according to performance operation forms is correct or wrong at all times. <P>SOLUTION: When the sound volume based on the sound volume control information acquired according to the operation forms of performance operators is smaller than the reference sound volume, the sound volume control information is so changed as to make the sound volume greater than the reference sound volume. A changing means changes the acquired sound volume control information so as to make the sound volume greater than the reference sound volume when the sound volume based on the sound volume control information meeting the operation forms of the performance operators acquired by an acquiring means is smaller than the reference sound volume set by a setting means. Then, the users can clearly listen to the tones produced according to the performance operation and are enabled to check whether the performance based on the performance operation carried out by themselves is correct or wrong by listening to the tones. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a volume control device and a program for controlling a volume of a sound generated in response to an operation of a performance operator by a user, and particularly to a case where the volume of a sound determined in accordance with a performance operation mode by a user is too weak. The present invention relates to a volume control device and a program for controlling the volume so as to correct only the volume.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, a performance guide function (also referred to as a lesson function) is provided for a user who wants to enjoy playing an instrument at the same time as a desired song to be played automatically or to practice instrument playing for the desired song. Electronic musical instruments are known. For example, in an electronic musical instrument such as an electronic piano having keyboard-type performance operators, a musical score of a user-requested tune or a piano roll score is displayed on a display, or is arranged corresponding to each key of a keyboard. It has a performance guide function such as turning on and off the LEDs and the like sequentially as the practice song progresses. By operating the keyboard in accordance with such a performance guide (ie, playing the keyboard), the user can enjoy playing a musical instrument in accordance with a desired song or practice musical instrument playing for the desired song.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when a user who is a beginner who has just started playing an electronic musical instrument such as an electronic piano practices a musical instrument performance according to the above-described performance guide, the user must carefully play the keyboard so as not to mistake the keyboard. In many cases, key press operation is performed. In such a case, the key pressing operation by the user tends to be a slow (that is, weak key pressing) operation. If the key-pressing operation is a slow operation, volume control information such as, for example, velocity becomes small, so that the sound to be generated in response to the key-pressing operation despite the user performing the key-pressing operation Does not sound, or is sounded only at a very low volume. Then, since the user cannot clearly hear (or becomes difficult to hear) the sound generated in response to the key pressing operation, the user can play the electronic musical instrument by himself, There is a problem that the correctness of the key pressing operation performed by the user cannot be confirmed by listening to the sound. In order to solve such a problem, an electronic musical instrument equipped with a volume control device that sets the velocity of each sound to a uniform value for a specific practice part in a practice song, that is, a part where a user practices musical instrument performance according to a performance guide. Conventionally known. However, if the velocity of each sound is set to a uniform value as a volume control in a conventional electronic musical instrument, each sound will always be generated at a constant volume without reflecting the strength of key depression according to the user's operation at all. become. In this case, the user who has improved to a certain extent cannot practice musical instrument performance with rich musical expression with strong and weak keys for each key press, which is extremely inconvenient and inconvenient. there were.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible for a user to change the volume control information so as to increase the volume only when the volume determined according to the performance operation mode by the user is too low. It is an object of the present invention to provide a volume control device and a program capable of always confirming the correctness of a performance performed by a user with a sound having a strength corresponding to a performance operation mode.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A volume control device according to claim 1 of the present invention is configured to acquire volume control information according to an operation mode of a performance operator, a setting device to set a reference volume, and to set the volume control information based on the acquired volume control information. Comparing means for comparing a volume with the reference volume, and when the volume based on the obtained volume control information is smaller than the reference volume, the acquired volume so that the volume is higher than the reference volume. Changing means for changing the control information.
[0006]
According to the present invention, when the volume based on the volume control information acquired according to the operation mode of the performance operator is lower than the reference volume, the volume control information is changed so that the volume is higher than the reference volume. I did it. The comparing means compares the sound volume based on the sound volume control information according to the operation mode of the performance operator acquired by the acquiring means with a reference sound volume set by the setting means. The change unit changes the acquired volume control information such that the volume is higher than the reference volume when the volume based on the acquired volume control information is lower than the reference volume. By doing so, the user can always clearly hear the sound generated in response to the performance operation, so that the user can confirm the correctness of the performance operation performed by listening to the sound. become.
[0007]
A volume control device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a function setting unit that sets a function to a mode for executing a performance guide, an acquisition unit that obtains volume control information according to an operation mode of a performance operator, and a reference volume. Setting means for setting, and comparing means for comparing the volume based on the obtained volume control information with the reference volume, and when the volume based on the obtained volume control information is smaller than the reference volume, the Changing means for changing the obtained volume control information so that the volume is higher than a reference volume; and when the function setting means sets a function to a mode for executing a performance guide, Control means for controlling the comparing means and the changing means so as to perform the change automatically. According to this, simply by setting the function to the mode for executing the performance guide, the volume control information acquired according to the operation mode of the performance operator can be automatically changed, which is convenient.
[0008]
The present invention can be constructed and implemented not only as a device 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, or can be implemented in the form of a storage medium storing such a program.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0010]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hardware configuration showing an embodiment of an overall configuration of an electronic musical instrument to which a volume control device according to the present invention is applied. The electronic musical instrument shown in this embodiment is controlled by a microcomputer including a microprocessor unit (CPU) 1, a read only memory (ROM) 2, and a random access memory (RAM) 3. The CPU 1 controls the operation of the entire electronic musical instrument. The ROM 1, the RAM 3, the communication interface (I / F) 4, the input operation unit 5, the display unit 6, the external storage device 7, and the sound source 8 are transmitted to the CPU 1 via a communication bus 1D (for example, a data and address bus). It is connected. The ROM 2 stores various control programs (for example, a volume control process to be described later) and various data (for example, a volume control process to be described later) and various data (for example, an example of one tune as a model used for performing a performance guide for turning on and off an LED). It stores music data, display data used for performing a performance guide for displaying individual music pieces on the display 6A in a display mode such as a musical score or a piano roll music score, and the like. The RAM 3 is used as a working memory for temporarily storing various data generated when the CPU 1 executes a predetermined program, or as a memory for storing a program currently being executed and data related thereto. 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.
[0011]
The communication interface (I / F) 4 is connected to a wired or wireless communication network such as a LAN, the Internet, and a telephone line, and is connected to an external device 4A and the like via the communication network. It is an interface for taking control programs and various data into the electronic musical instrument main body. Such a communication interface 4 may comprise both wired or wireless, not both. The input operation unit 5 includes a performance operator such as a keyboard having a plurality of keys for selecting a pitch of a musical tone, a mode setting switch for setting a function of the electronic musical instrument to a performance guide function (mode), and a musical instrument. There are a song selection switch for selecting a song (referred to as a model song or a practice song) to be played, a start button and a stop button for starting or stopping a performance guide. Performance operators such as a keyboard can be used not only for musical performances, but also as input means for starting or stopping a performance guide, or for inputting pitches and rhythms used for automatic performance. It can also be used as a means. Needless to say, the input operation unit 5 also includes a numeric keypad for inputting numerical data and a keyboard for inputting character data used for selecting, setting, and controlling pitch, tone color, effects, and the like, or a predetermined display displayed on the display 6A. And various operating elements such as a mouse used to operate the pointing device of the present invention. The display unit 6 displays an image (for example, a staff notation display image, a piano roll notation display image, or the like) displaying the selected sample music in a predetermined display mode, for example, a display 6A including a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), a CRT, or the like. And various information such as a list of sample songs and the control state of the CPU 1 are displayed on the display 6A.
[0012]
Like the ROM 2, the external storage device 7 stores sample music data and display data, various control programs executed by the CPU 1, and various parameters used in automatic performance. When the control program is not stored in the ROM 2, the control program is stored in the external storage device 7 (for example, a hard disk), and is read into the RAM 3 so that the control program is stored in the ROM 2. Similar operations can be performed by the CPU 1. By doing so, it is possible to easily add a control program or upgrade the version. Note that the external storage device 7 is not limited to a hard disk (HD), and is a removable disk such as a flexible disk (FD), a compact disk (CD-ROM / CD-RAM), a magneto-optical disk (MO), or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). It may be a storage device using various types of external recording media. Alternatively, it may be a semiconductor memory or the like.
[0013]
The tone generator 8 is capable of simultaneously generating musical tone signals on a plurality of channels, and is used for operating performance information (for example, note events and velocities) in the sample music data provided via the communication bus 1D and operating a performance operator. The performance information and the like generated in response thereto are input, and a tone signal is generated based on the performance information. A tone signal generated from the sound source 8 is generated by a sound system 8A including an amplifier, a speaker, and the like. A predetermined effect may be applied to the tone signal generated from the sound source 8 using an effect circuit or the like (not shown). The format of the performance data may be a digitally encoded format such as the MIDI format, or may be a waveform sample data format such as PCM, DPCM, and ADPCM. As the configuration of the sound source 8 and the sound system 8A, any conventional configuration may be used. For example, the sound source 8 may adopt any of various tone synthesis methods such as FM, PCM, physical model, and formant synthesis, may be constituted by dedicated hardware, or may be constituted by software processing by the CPU 1. Is also good.
[0014]
In the electronic musical instrument described above, the performance operator is not limited to a keyboard instrument, but may be a string instrument, a wind instrument, or a percussion instrument. Further, the electronic musical instrument is not limited to one in which the input operation unit 5, the display 6A, the sound source 8 and the like are built in one electronic musical instrument main body. It goes without saying that the device may be configured to connect the devices. Furthermore, the device to which the volume control device according to the present invention is applied is not limited to the form of an electronic musical instrument, but any form of device or device such as a portable communication terminal such as a personal computer or a mobile phone, or a karaoke device or a game device. May be applied. When applied to a mobile communication terminal, not only when the specified function is completed only with the terminal, but also a part of the function is provided on the server side, and the specified function is realized as the whole system consisting of the terminal and the server You may make it.
[0015]
In the electronic musical instrument shown in FIG. 1, when the performance guide mode is set, the volume is not controlled by the volume according to the volume control information (in this embodiment, the velocity is used) determined in accordance with the operation mode of the performance operator such as the keyboard by the user. Only when it is too weak, the volume control information is changed and changed so that the volume is offset-corrected to the plus side, and the sound generated according to the operation mode of the performance operator is set to a sound that can be heard by the user. . Such processing is performed by the CPU 1 of the electronic musical instrument shown in FIG. 1 executing a predetermined program (software) for realizing the volume control processing. Therefore, the operation of the “volume control process” executed by the CPU 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the “volume control process”. The "volume control process" is started when the power of the electronic musical instrument is turned on, and is ended when the power is turned off. Hereinafter, the processing operation in this processing will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0016]
In step S1, it is determined whether or not the function of the electronic musical instrument is set to the performance guide mode. If the function is not set to the performance guide mode (NO in step S1), normal sound generation processing is performed (step S2). That is, it is determined whether or not the user has set the function to the mode for executing the performance guide in the electronic musical instrument by using the mode setting switch. Is performed at a sound volume determined in accordance with the operation mode of the performance operator. Specifically, a process for generating a predetermined sound assigned to the pressed key at a volume according to the velocity determined according to the speed (or strength) of the key pressing by the user is performed. On the other hand, when the function is set to the performance guide mode (YES in step S1), user setting is performed (step S3). In this user setting, the user can set a velocity addition value, a reference value, and the like. The method of setting the velocity addition value and the reference value may be set using the input operation unit 5 of the electronic musical instrument, a setting screen (not shown) displayed on the display 6A, or the like. In step S4, the sample music data is determined and read. The sample music data is data in which each note data in the data has volume control information (velocity). When the user operates the music selection switch, the sample music data corresponding to the music for which the user practices the musical instrument performance is stored in the ROM 2 or the external memory. It is read from the storage device 7 or the like.
[0017]
In step S5, a performance guide is started. The performance guide is started by, for example, operating a start button or a predetermined key, and turning on / off an LED or the like arranged on a key that generates a sound corresponding to each note data based on the sample music data. Alternatively, execution of a performance guide or the like based on the musical score or piano roll musical score displayed on the display 6A based on the display data is started. In step S6, it is determined whether the electronic musical instrument has been played by the user. Specifically, when the user operates the keyboard, a detection signal is generated for each key in accordance with the key-pressing operation, and thus it is determined whether or not the detection signal has been detected. If the user is playing by hand (YES in step S6), velocity processing is performed on each sound generated corresponding to the key pressed (step S7).
In this velocity processing, a new velocity is set for the volume control information (velocity) for each sound generated in response to a key-depressing operation by the user, and as a result, each sound is generated at a volume higher than the user can hear. Volume control is performed so as to generate Details of the velocity processing will be described later.
[0018]
In step S8, it is determined whether the performance guide has been stopped. That is, it is determined whether the stop button or a predetermined key has been operated by the user. If the performance guide has not been stopped (NO in step S8), the process returns to step S6, and the volume control by velocity processing for each sound generated by the user's hand-playing performance is continuously performed. I do. On the other hand, when the performance guide has been stopped (YES in step S8), it is determined whether or not the model music has been changed. If the sample song has been changed, that is, if another song is selected as the practice song (YES in step S9), the process returns to step S4, and the processes in steps S4 to S8 are repeated. If the model music has not been changed (NO in step S9), it is determined whether to change the user setting (step S10). That is, it is determined whether or not the user newly sets a velocity addition value, a reference value, and the like. If the user setting is to be changed (YES in step S10), the process returns to step S3, performs new user setting, and executes subsequent processing. On the other hand, when the user setting is not changed (NO in step S10), the process returns to step S1.
[0019]
In the above-described volume control process, it is determined whether or not the performance guide mode has been set according to the operation of the mode setting switch as the process of step S1. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In such a case, the function of the electronic musical instrument may be automatically set to the performance guide mode even when the mode setting switch is not operated. In addition, the processes in steps S4 and S5 may be skipped if they are the same as in the previous performance guide, that is, if the performance guide is continued with the same music without changing the practice music.
[0020]
Here, "velocity processing" (see step S7 in FIG. 2) executed in the volume control processing will be described. First, velocity processing when there is no sample music data will be described with reference to FIG. When there is no sample music data, for example, when the user practices musical instrument performance according to a performance guide with a score or piano roll notation displayed on the display based on only display data without using the sample music data, Alternatively, even when practicing musical instrument performance according to a performance guide by turning on / off the LED using the sample music data, when performing volume control without using the volume control information (velocity) in the sample music data It is.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of the velocity processing in such a case.
[0021]
In step S11, the velocity of the note (Note) event is stored in the RAM 3 as the velocity for output reproduction of the note (Note) event. In step S12, it is determined whether or not the stored velocity for output reproduction of the note event is smaller than a preset reference value (see step S3 in FIG. 2). If the velocity for output reproduction of the note event is smaller than the reference value (YES in step S12), the velocity for output reproduction of the note event is set to the velocity addition value set in advance to the velocity of the note event (step S3 in FIG. 2). (See step S13). That is, when the velocity of a note event (performance sound) generated based on the user's hand-playing performance is smaller than the reference value, the volume of the sound to be emitted is a volume that is difficult for the user to hear. By offsetting the velocity of the sound to the plus side by the velocity added value, the volume is changed to a volume that can be heard by the user. There are a plurality of methods for changing the velocity of the performance sound in addition to the above-described method of adding the velocity added value. For example, the velocity of the performance sound is replaced with a reference value or a velocity added value (for example, 100). The velocity of the performance sound is multiplied by a predetermined value (for example, 1.5 times). However, in any case, it is needless to say that the velocity is changed so as to be equal to or higher than the velocity of the performance sound generated based on the user's hand-playing performance and, as a result, to have a volume that can be heard by the user. No. In step S14, it is determined whether or not the velocity for output reproduction of the note event is larger than 127. If it is larger than 127 (YES in step S14), the velocity for output reproduction of the note event is set to 127 (step S15). That is, in this embodiment, the possible value of the velocity is set to 0 to 127. Therefore, the velocity is adjusted so as not to exceed 127 which is the maximum value of the possible values. In step S16, the note event is pronounced at the velocity for output reproduction of the note event.
[0022]
Next, velocity processing for executing volume control in accordance with volume control information (velocity) of each note data in the read sample music data will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the velocity processing.
[0023]
In step S21, the velocity of the note event is stored in the RAM 3 as the velocity for output reproduction of the note event. In step S22, it is determined whether or not there is a sound (note event) corresponding to the note event in the sample music data. That is, whether or not there is a note event corresponding to a note event generated based on the user's playing performance in the latest predetermined range in the sample music data, or a note event in the sample music data to be played next. It is determined whether the note event generated based on the user's playing performance is the same or not.
[0024]
If there is a corresponding sound (YES in step S22), it is determined whether or not the velocity for output reproduction of the note event is smaller than the velocity of the corresponding sound in the sample music data (step S23). If it is smaller than the velocity of the corresponding sound in the sample music data (YES in step S23), the output event playback velocity of the note event is changed to the velocity of the corresponding sound in the sample music data (step S24). That is, when the velocity of the note event (performance sound) generated based on the user's hand-playing performance is smaller than the velocity of the corresponding sound in the sample music data, the volume of the sound to be produced is difficult for the user to hear. Therefore, by changing the velocity of the performance sound to the velocity of the corresponding sound in the sample music data, the volume is changed to a volume that can be heard by the user. There are a plurality of methods for changing the velocity of the performance sound in addition to the above-described methods. However, even in this case, it is needless to say that the velocity is changed so as to be equal to or higher than the velocity of the performance sound generated based on the user's hand-playing performance, and as a result, to have a volume that the user can hear. . In step S25, it is determined whether or not the velocity for output reproduction of the note event is greater than 127. If it is larger than 127 (YES in step S25), the velocity for output reproduction of the note event is set to 127 (step S26). That is, the setting is changed to 127 which is the maximum value among the values that can be taken as the velocity. In step S27, the note event is pronounced at the velocity for output reproduction of the note event.
[0025]
In this way, the user can concentrate on which key must be pressed without being conscious of the strength and speed of the key pressed while practicing playing the instrument, and always listen to the sound played by the user. This allows the user to always confirm the correctness of his / her performance operation from the sound. Further, since not all the velocities are uniformly changed to a predetermined set value, it is possible to generate a sound with high and low intensity according to the performance operation mode of the user. Further, since the velocity is changed only for a sound having a low velocity, a sound having a high velocity can be confirmed as a sound having the same intensity according to the performance operation mode performed by the user.
[0026]
In the above-described embodiment, the velocity addition value used when changing the velocity determined according to the operation mode of the performance operator by the user, or the velocity determined according to the operation mode of the performance operator by the user, The reference value used to determine whether the value is small is set by the user as appropriate. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that a predetermined fixed value (default value) may be used.
When comparing the velocity determined according to the operation mode of the performance operator by the user with the velocity of the corresponding sound in the sample music data, the velocity determined simply according to the operation mode of the performance operator by the user Instead of determining whether is smaller, it may be possible to make a wide determination such as how small is. Alternatively, the sample music data may be compared with a processed sound whose velocity is processed.
[0027]
When the velocity determined according to the operation mode of the performance operator by the user is changed, the user may be notified that the velocity has been changed. As such a velocity change display, for example, there is a method of turning on an LED, or displaying the changed velocity while displaying a music piece.
When recording a performance, the velocity before the change may be recorded as it is, or the velocity after the change may be recorded. In this way, the user can repeatedly listen to the performance performed by the user, so that the user can repeatedly check the correctness of the performance operation of the user many times.
In the above-described embodiment, the case where velocity is used as the sound volume control information for controlling the sound volume is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Is also good. However, in this case, the volume control information is output immediately before each note event generated in response to the operation of the performance operator by the user, for example.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, instead of uniformly changing all velocities to a predetermined set value, the velocities are changed only for sounds having low velocities. The effect is that the user can always listen to the sound, so that the correctness of the performance operation performed by the user can be confirmed by the sound.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a hardware block diagram showing an embodiment of an overall configuration of an electronic musical instrument to which a volume control device according to the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a “volume control process”.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a velocity process.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of velocity processing.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CPU, 2 ... ROM, 3 ... RAM, 4 ... Communication interface, 4A ... External equipment, 5 ... Input operation part, 6 ... Display part, 6A ... Display, 7 ... External storage device, 8 ... Sound source, 8A ... Sound System, 1D ... communication bus

Claims (6)

Acquisition means for acquiring volume control information according to the operation mode of the performance operator,
Setting means for setting a reference volume;
Comparison means for comparing the volume based on the obtained volume control information and the reference volume,
A volume control device comprising: changing means for changing the obtained volume control information so that the volume based on the obtained volume control information is lower than the reference volume when the volume is lower than the reference volume. . Function setting means for setting a function to a mode for executing a performance guide;
Acquisition means for acquiring volume control information according to the operation mode of the performance operator,
Setting means for setting a reference volume;
Comparison means for comparing the volume based on the obtained volume control information and the reference volume,
When the volume based on the obtained volume control information is smaller than the reference volume, changing means for changing the obtained volume control information so that the volume is higher than the reference volume,
Control means for controlling the comparing means and the changing means so as to automatically change the acquired volume control information when the function setting means sets the function to a mode for executing a performance guide. Volume control device. Selecting means for selecting music data having volume control information for each sound,
The said setting means sets the volume control information of the sound corresponding to the sound corresponded to the performance operation element operated from the selected music data to a reference volume. Volume control device. 4. The volume control according to claim 3, wherein the change unit changes the acquired volume control information according to volume control information of a sound corresponding to a sound corresponding to the operated performance operator. 5. apparatus. On the computer,
A procedure for acquiring volume control information according to the operation mode of the performance operator,
Steps to set the reference volume,
Comparing the volume based on the acquired volume control information and the reference volume,
And changing the acquired volume control information so that the volume based on the acquired volume control information is lower than the reference volume when the volume is lower than the reference volume. On the computer,
Procedure for setting the function to the mode for executing the performance guide,
A procedure for acquiring volume control information according to the operation mode of the performance operator,
Steps to set the reference volume,
Comparing the volume based on the acquired volume control information and the reference volume,
When the volume based on the obtained volume control information is lower than the reference volume, a step of changing the obtained volume control information so that the volume is higher than the reference volume,
When the function is set to a mode for executing a performance guide by the function setting unit, a procedure for controlling the comparing unit and the changing unit is performed so that the acquired volume control information is automatically changed. Program for.

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