JP2004171027A - Sound source device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sound source device which can generate an operation sound, an effect sound, etc., while sounding music and whose internal sound source can effectively be used. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of memories (MM1, MM2) are provided and sounding information is read out of the memories by one sequencer SQ. According to a priority information TB containing a description showing sounding information of the memories to be preferentially sounded, sounding information that the sequencer SQ should sound is selected and allocated to sound sources SS1 to SS16 respectively. The memories MM1 and MM2 are divided into a memory which stores sounding information on a musical sound such as a termination melody etc., and a memory which stores sounding information on the operation sound, effect sound, etc., and the priority of the latter memory is set higher than that of the former memory. Consequently, the internal sound source can sufficiently be used for music reproduction and when the operation sound, effect sound, etc., are generated at the same time, their sounding information can preferentially be allocated to the sound source. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

  The present invention relates to a sound source device for generating an incoming melody of a telephone call or an e-mail and reproducing music in a portable information terminal such as a portable telephone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

  2. Description of the Related Art Recent advances in information communication technology have promoted the expansion of functions of portable information terminals such as cellular phones and PDAs. One of the expanded functions is a music playback function. That is, a sound source device to which technology such as a music synthesizer is applied is incorporated in a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone so that higher quality music can be enjoyed. By operating such a sound source device, the user can enjoy music when receiving a telephone call or an e-mail, and further, the portable information terminal can be used as a karaoke device or a game device.

  FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of a conventional sound source device employed in a portable information terminal. The sound source device SD2 is provided with sound information (pitch, pitch start / end time: note on, note off, sound volume) from a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 100 that controls the entire portable information terminal via an interface IF. : Volume, pronunciation intensity: velocity, timbre information: information on pronunciation such as program number).

  The sound generation information is temporarily stored in a FIFO (First In First Out) memory MM, and the sequencer SQ sequentially reads out the sound generation information from the FIFO memory MM while referring to the sound generation start time and the like.

  Then, the sequencer SQ assigns the sound information to the sound sources SS1 to SS8 and reproduces the music by using the sequence data as a series of time series of the read sound information. Each of the sound sources SS1 to SS8 stores sampling waveforms of various timbres, and can output a sound waveform under the control of the sequencer SQ.

  At this time, the sequencer SQ appropriately assigns sequence data to each of the sound sources SS1 to SS8 so as to enable polyphonic (simultaneous polyphonic) sound while taking into account the limitation by the number of simultaneously soundable sounds (that is, the number of sound sources) and the used timbre. Assign. In the case of FIG. 4, the number of sound sources that can be controlled by the sequencer SQ is eight sound sources SS1 to SS8. The FIFO memory MM may store sound information for each of a plurality of channels (for example, 1 to 8 Ch). Note that the number of channels and the number of sound sources do not correspond to each other, and a large number of sound sources may be occupied by 1 Ch, such as a chord.

  In FIG. 4, sound sources SS9 to SS16 are provided in addition to the sound sources SS1 to SS8. Even if the sequencer SQ is playing music using the sound sources SS1 to SS8, these sound sources are provided for, for example, immediately sounding an operation sound or a sound effect of a portable information terminal (interrupting sound). It is a sound source.

  If information such as an operation sound and a sound effect is given to the FIFO memory MM and the sequencer SQ attempts to generate an operation sound and a sound effect, the sequence data of, for example, about 5 seconds is already stored in the FIFO memory MM. Therefore, the operation sound, the sound effect, and the like cannot be sounded until after the reproduction thereof. It is desirable that the operation sound, the sound effect, and the like sound at the same time as the operation of the portable information terminal or at the same time as the occurrence of an event such as an incoming e-mail.

  Therefore, in the sound source device SD2, the operation sound, the sound effect, and the like are sounded not by the control performed by the sequencer SQ but by the direct control (via the interface IF) from the CPU 100 of the portable information terminal to the sound sources SS9 to SS16. .

  Prior art document information related to the invention of this application includes the following.

JP-A-7-210159

  In the case of the sound source device SD2 of FIG. 4, the CPU 100 outside the sound source device needs to directly control the sound source in order to perform the interrupting sound despite the built-in sequencer SQ. Therefore, the load on the CPU 100 is large. This is because when directly controlling a sound source, the CPU 100 needs to take timing of sound generation and synchronize the sound generation of each sound source. The sequencer SQ is introduced so as not to impose such a burden on the CPU 100, and the tone generator SD2 in FIG. 4 has room for improvement in that respect.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration in which the sound source device SD2 is improved from the above viewpoint. As shown in FIG. 5, the sound source device SD3 includes a FIFO memory MM1 and a sequencer SQ1 for playing music such as a ring tone, and a FIFO memory MM2 and a sequencer SQ2 for playing operation sounds and sound effects. I have.

  If the memory and the sequencer are provided in two series, the external CPU 100 does not need to directly control the sound source, so that the load on the CPU 100 is reduced. The CPU 100 only needs to control the sound information of the music such as the incoming melody so as to be input to the FIFO memory MM1 and to control the sound information such as the operation sound and the sound effect to be input to the FIFO memory MM2. .

  Then, since the sound information such as the operation sound whose sounding time is shorter than the music is input to the FIFO memory MM2, the sounding process can be performed quickly. Therefore, the sequencer SQ2 can immediately perform the sound generation process when the sound generation information is input to the FIFO memory MM2.

  However, in each of the sound source device SD2 of FIG. 4 and the sound source device SD3 of FIG. 5, the sound source used for the sound information of the music and the sound source used for the sound information such as the operation sound and the sound effect are separated. (The sound sources SS1 to SS8 are fixedly assigned to the sound information of the music, and the sound sources SS9 to SS16 are fixedly assigned to the sound information such as the operation sound and the sound effect.) Since the sounding information such as operation sounds and sound effects is generally shorter in sounding time than music, after sounding once, the sound source SS9 to SS16 may not be used in some cases. Even if there are many built-in sound sources like this, it could not be said that all of them were used effectively.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a sound source device that can emit an operation sound, a sound effect, and the like while playing music, and can effectively use a built-in sound source.

  The invention according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of memories each capable of recording pronunciation information, a plurality of sound sources each capable of outputting a sound waveform, and the plurality of sound sources are sequentially read out from the plurality of memories, and the plurality of sound sources are read out. And a sequencer for assigning sound to the sound source. Based on the origin of the sound information, priority information describing which sound information should be preferentially sounded is determined, and sound is generated more than the number of the plurality of sound sources. If the number of pronunciation information to be greater, the sequencer selects the pronunciation information to be emitted and assigns it to each of the plurality of sound sources based on the priority information, and the origin of the pronunciation information is A sound source device that indicates which of the plurality of memories the pronunciation information has been output from.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the sound source device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of sound sources further includes a port information storage unit that stores information on the origin of the pronunciation information. .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the sound source device according to the first or second aspect, at least one of the plurality of memories temporarily stores reading of pronunciation information from the other plurality of memories. A sound source device including control information for controlling the sequencer for stopping or temporarily lowering the value of volume information in the sound information from the plurality of memories.

  According to the first aspect, the sequencer selects sound generation information to be sounded and assigns the sound generation information to each of the plurality of sound sources based on the priority information. Therefore, for example, a plurality of memories are divided into a memory that stores pronunciation information of music such as a ringtone melody and a memory that stores pronunciation information such as operation sounds and sound effects, and the priority of the latter memory is set to the former. Set higher than the memory priority. By doing so, the built-in sound source can be used fully during music playback, while sound sources such as operation sounds and sound effects can be preferentially assigned to sound sources when operating sounds and sound effects are played simultaneously. A device is obtained. As a result, it is possible to produce a sound source device that can emit operation sounds and sound effects while playing music, and can effectively use the built-in sound source. The origin of the pronunciation information indicates from which of the plurality of memories the pronunciation information was output. Therefore, by setting the priority of the memory, it is possible to allocate sound information to sound sources in detail.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, each of the plurality of sound sources further includes a port information storage unit that stores information on the origin of the pronunciation information. Therefore, when the sequencer selects sound information to be sounded and assigns it to each of the plurality of sound sources, the sequencer determines which sound source among the currently occupied sound sources should be assigned the sound information with higher priority. It's easy to do.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, at least one of the plurality of memories temporarily suspends reading of the pronunciation information from the other plurality of memories, or the pronunciation information from the other plurality of memories. Control information for controlling the sequencer relating to temporarily lowering the value of the medium volume information is included. Therefore, it is possible to cause the sequencer to temporarily stop reading the pronunciation information from another memory, or to control the sequencer to temporarily lower the value of the volume information in the pronunciation information.

  The embodiment of the present invention describes a sound source device that has a plurality of memories and reads out pronunciation information from a plurality of memories with one sequencer, and describes which memory or channel from which the pronunciation information should be given priority to generate sound. The sound source device selects sound generation information to be sounded by the sequencer based on the priority information and assigns the sound generation information to each of the plurality of sound sources. A plurality of memories are divided into a memory for storing pronunciation information of music such as a ringtone melody and a memory for storing pronunciation information such as operation sounds and sound effects, and the priority of the latter memory is set to the former memory. Higher than the priority of. By doing so, the built-in sound source can be used fully during music playback, while sound sources such as operation sounds and sound effects can be preferentially assigned to sound sources when operating sounds and sound effects are played simultaneously. A device is obtained. As a result, it is possible to produce a sound source device that can emit operation sounds and sound effects while playing music, and can effectively use the built-in sound source.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a sound source device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the sound source device SD1 includes an interface IF that receives pronunciation information from a CPU 100 that controls the entire portable information terminal. As with the sound source device SD3 of FIG. 5, a FIFO memory MM1 for playing music such as a ringtone melody and a FIFO memory MM2 for playing operation sounds and sound effects are provided.

  Also in the sound source device SD1, the external CPU 100 does not need to directly control the sound source, so that the load on the CPU 100 is light. The CPU 100 only needs to control the sound information of the music such as the incoming melody so as to be input to the FIFO memory MM1 and to control the sound information such as the operation sound and the sound effect to be input to the FIFO memory MM2. .

  However, unlike the case of the tone generator SD3, only one sequencer is provided. The sequencer SQ sequentially reads out the sounding information stored in the FIFO memories MM1 and MM2 while referring to the sounding start time and the like.

  Then, the sequencer SQ assigns the sound information to the sound sources SS1 to SS16 and reproduces the music by using the sequence data as a series of time series of the read sound information. Each of the sound sources SS1 to SS16 stores sampling waveforms of various timbres, and can output a sound waveform under the control of the sequencer SQ.

  4 and 5, the sequencer SQ receives tone generation signals from a plurality of FIFO memories, but this can be easily dealt with by increasing the number of input ports of the sequencer SQ. The sequencer SQ controls all of the sound sources SS1 to SS16, but this can be easily dealt with by increasing the output ports of the sequencer SQ.

  At the time of music reproduction, if the number to be sounded is smaller than or equal to the number of sound sources, the sequencer SQ appropriately assigns sequence data to each of the sound sources SS1 to SS16 so as to enable polyphonic sounding. . In the case of FIG. 1, the number of sound sources that can be controlled by the sequencer SQ is 16 sound sources SS1 to SS16. The FIFO memories MM1 and MM2 may store sound generation information for each of a plurality of channels (for example, 1 to 16 Ch). Note that the number of channels and the number of sound sources do not correspond to each other, and a large number of sound sources may be occupied by 1 Ch, such as a chord.

  On the other hand, if the number of sounds to be produced is larger than the number of sound sources, the sequencer SQ needs to select which piece of pronunciation information should be given priority. In order to perform the processing in this case, the sequencer SQ is provided with FIFO priority information TB which describes which pronunciation information should be given priority to be pronounced based on the origin of the pronunciation information. Further, each of the sound sources SS1 to SS16 stores information on the origin of the pronunciation information, that is, port information storage for storing which of the FIFO memories MM1 and MM2 is currently assigned with the pronunciation information. Parts PM1 to PM16 are provided.

  An operation of the sound source device having the configuration including the FIFO priority information TB and the port information storage units PM1 to PM16 will be described.

  First, FIG. 1 shows a case in which the pronunciation information is from which of a plurality of memories. Then, a priority for each FIFO memory is set as the FIFO priority information TB.

  That is, in the FIFO priority information TB, for example, the priority is 10 (for any channel) if the sound information is from the FIFO memory MM1, and the priority is (if any channel) if the sound information is for the FIFO memory MM2. Is set as 15 or the like.

  The sequencer SQ compares the priority of the read pronunciation information and selects the pronunciation information to be pronounced. Then, sound information to be sounded is assigned to each of the sound sources SS1 to SS16.

  For example, when the pronunciation information of the FIFO memory MM1 is compared with the pronunciation information of the FIFO memory MM2, the latter has a higher priority. Therefore, when the assignment to the sound source conflicts, the latter is given priority.

  That is, for example, even if all of the sound sources SS1 to SS16 are currently occupied by the pronunciation information (for 16 chords) from the FIFO memory MM1 that stores the pronunciation information of the music, the sound as the operation sound or the sound effect is generated. When the sound information is input from the FIFO memory MM2, the sequencer SQ assigns the sound information of the FIFO memory MM2 to any one of the sound sources SS1 to SS16.

  Therefore, a plurality of memories such as the FIFO memories MM1 and MM2 are divided into a memory for storing pronunciation information of music such as a ring tone and a memory for storing pronunciation information such as operation sounds and sound effects. The priority of the memory is set higher than the priority of the former memory. By doing so, the built-in sound source can be used fully during music playback, while sound sources such as operation sounds and sound effects can be preferentially assigned to sound sources when operating sounds and sound effects are played simultaneously. A device is obtained. As a result, it is possible to produce a sound source device that can emit operation sounds and sound effects while playing music, and can effectively use the built-in sound source.

  Next, the port information storage units PM1 to PM16 in FIG. 1 will be described. In order to newly assign the unassigned sound information among the sound information of higher priority to the currently assigned sound source, the sequencer SQ needs to know which FIFO memory data the sound source is currently occupied by. .

  The port information storage units PM1 to PM16 are provided for this purpose, and store information on the origin of the pronunciation information occupying each sound source.

  As described above, if the port information storage units PM1 to PM16 are provided, when the sequencer SQ selects sound generation information to be sounded and assigns it to each of the plurality of sound sources, any of the sound sources currently occupied by the sound source is selected. It is easy to determine whether or not to assign high-priority pronunciation information to.

  Further, as the information on the origin of the pronunciation information, information on which channel of which memory is output may be adopted.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the FIFO priority information TB is, for example, table information describing which channel of which of the FIFO memories MM1 and MM2 should be given priority to generate sound information. In FIG. 2, the priority is represented by the magnitude of the number.

  For example, when the pronunciation information of Ch1 in the pronunciation information of the FIFO memory MM1 is compared with the pronunciation information of Ch1 in the pronunciation information of the FIFO memory MM2, the former is set to the priority 128 and the latter is set to 192. . That is, since the latter has a higher priority, when the assignment to the sound source conflicts, the latter pronunciation information has priority.

  In the sequencer SQ, sound information of each channel of the FIFO memories MM1 and MM2 may be mixed and input. For example, there may be a case where the sound information of Ch1 to Ch13 is input from the FIFO memory MM1 and the sound information of Ch12 to Ch15 is input from the FIFO memory MM2. At this time, since a total of 17 pieces of pronunciation information have been input, any one piece of pronunciation information will not be selected.

  In such a case, just because the sound information is the sound information of the FIFO memory MM2, the sound should not necessarily be sounded. In this case, the priority of each pronunciation information is compared to determine which pronunciation information should be erased and which pronunciation information should be output. This is illustrated in the flowchart of FIG.

  That is, the sequencer SQ periodically takes in the sound generation information in each of the FIFO memories MM1 and MM2 based on an external control clock cycle or the like (step S01). At this time, it is determined whether or not the number to be sounded exceeds the number of sound sources (step S02). If it does not exceed, the sound source has a vacancy or a vacancy occurs, so additional sound information is allocated to a vacant sound source other than the currently allocated sound source (step S03). Then, each sound source is caused to sound (step S04). Then, the process returns to step S01.

  On the other hand, if the number to be sounded exceeds the number of sound sources, the allocation of sound information to sound sources competes, so the sequencer SQ selects sound information to be assigned with reference to the FIFO priority information TB. For this selection, for example, the priority of each pronunciation information is read from the FIFO priority information TB, and the pronunciation information corresponding to the number of sound sources is selected from the highest priority (step S05), and the unassigned sounds are selected among them. Information may be newly assigned to the currently assigned sound source (step S03). Then, each sound source may be caused to sound (step S04).

  In this way, if the FIFO priority information TB also describes from which of the plurality of channels the sound generation information should be given priority, not only the priority of the FIFO memory but also the priority of the channel is described. By setting the degree, more detailed assignment of the pronunciation information to the sound source is possible.

  Note that the FIFO priority information TB need not be in the table format as shown in FIG. For example, the priority may be set only for each channel of the FIFO memory MM1, and for each channel of the FIFO memory MM2, a value multiplied by 1.5 may be used to calculate and obtain. Good.

  In the case of FIG. 2, in each of the FIFO memories MM1 and MM2, the priority is set to decrease as the number of channels increases (except for the channel 10). This is based on a concept often adopted in standard MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) files and the like. That is, low-numbered channels are assigned elements such as melody and rhythm sections that are difficult to form as music if they are missing, and high-numbered channels are assigned parts such as decorative stringed instrument sounds. , Channel 10 is often assigned a drum section, and therefore has a high priority despite the high number of channels.)

  When the priority information as shown in FIG. 2 is adopted, the port information storage units PM1 to PM16 store which channel of which of the FIFO memories MM1 and MM2 is assigned with the sound generation information. Then, similarly to the above, when the sequencer SQ selects the sound information to be sounded and assigns it to each of the plurality of sound sources, it assigns the sound information with high priority to any sound source currently occupied. It is easy to make a decision as to what should be done.

  Note that the FIFO memories MM1 and MM2 may include control information for controlling the sequencer SQ relating to the sound generation information from another memory, in addition to the sound generation information.

  For example, there may be a case where sound information as operation sounds or sound effects is input from the FIFO memory MM2 to the sequencer SQ, or a case where it is desired to temporarily mute the sound of music input from the FIFO memory MM1. In such a case, if control information for controlling the sequencer SQ relating to the sound generation information from the FIFO memory MM1 is output from the FIFO memory MM2 in addition to the sound generation information, the music from the FIFO memory MM1 is transmitted to the sequencer SQ. Control such as temporarily stopping the reading of the pronunciation information of, or temporarily lowering the value of the volume information in the pronunciation information.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a sound source device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing priority information of the sound source device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the sound source device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a conventional sound source device. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a conventional sound source device.

Explanation of reference numerals

100 CPU
IF interface MM, MM1, MM2 FIFO memory SQ, SQ1, SQ2 Sequencer SS1 to SS16 Sound source TB FIFO priority information PM1 to PM16 Port information storage

Claims (3)

A plurality of memories each capable of recording pronunciation information,
Multiple sound sources that can output sound waveforms,
A sequencer that sequentially reads out the pronunciation information from the plurality of memories and assigns sound to the plurality of sound sources,
Based on the origin of the pronunciation information, priority information describing which pronunciation information should be preferentially pronounced is determined,
If the number of pieces of sound information to be pronounced is larger than the number of the plurality of sound sources, the sequencer selects sound information to be sounded and assigns the sound information to each of the plurality of sound sources based on the priority information. ,
The source of the pronunciation information refers to a memory from which of the plurality of memories the pronunciation information is output. The sound source device according to claim 1,
A sound source device further comprising a port information storage unit for storing information on the origin of the pronunciation information in each of the plurality of sound sources. The sound source device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
At least one of the plurality of memories temporarily suspends reading of pronunciation information from the other plurality of memories, or temporarily stores a value of volume information in the pronunciation information from the other plurality of memories. A sound source device that includes control information for controlling the sequencer with respect to lowering the sound source.

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