JP2004233431A - Karaoke machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a karaoke machine that can automatically tune an external musical instrument to the key of karaoke music by sending data indicating the key of the karaoke music from the karaoke machine to the external musical instrument and input and score musical performance information from the external musical instrument. <P>SOLUTION: Initial transposition data as the difference between the key of the karaoke music and a basic key (C major etc.) are written to a hard disk 11 of the karaoke machine 1. When a musical performance starts, the initial transposition data are sent to the external musical instrument 2 and then the external musical instrument can be played in the basic key irrelevantly to the key of the karaoke music. Even when the key is changed during the musical performance, its key control information is sent to the external musical instrument 2, which can be made to follow up a transposed key of the karaoke music. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus that can be connected to an externally connected device such as an electronic musical instrument to perform together.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed a device capable of connecting an external device via a MIDI interface and outputting MIDI data to the external device (for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-07-199792
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
On the other hand, there is a need not only to sing along with the karaoke song played by the karaoke apparatus, but also to practice musical instruments. It does not transmit information about the performance of a karaoke song to an external musical instrument to be played. For this reason, if the singer's singing range does not match and the karaoke performance is raised or lowered, the player must transpose the musical instrument performance up or down accordingly, resulting in a very high performance skill. Was requested.
[0005]
Further, the above-mentioned conventional karaoke apparatus does not have a function of receiving performance information from an external musical instrument, scoring the performance information, and assisting in improving the performance of the musical instrument.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a karaoke apparatus capable of automatically transmitting the tone of a karaoke song from a karaoke device to an external instrument and automatically adjusting the external instrument to the tone of the karaoke song. .
[0007]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a karaoke apparatus capable of inputting performance information from an external musical instrument and scoring the information.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a karaoke tune is played by a storage means for storing tune data, a performance means for playing a karaoke tune based on the tune data, an interface means to which an external instrument is connected, and a performance means. Transposition means for transposing a key to be played, and output means for outputting, when the key for playing the karaoke song is transposed by the transpose means, transposition data representing the transposition amount to an external instrument via the interface means. It is characterized by having.
[0009]
The invention according to claim 2 is a storage means for storing music data including initial transposition data which is a difference between a key of a karaoke music and a reference key, a performance means for playing a karaoke music based on the music data, and an external musical instrument. And an output means for outputting the initial transpose data to an external musical instrument via the interface means before the performance means starts playing the karaoke tune.
[0010]
The invention according to claim 3 is a storage means for storing music data including initial transposition data which is a difference between a key of a karaoke music and a reference key, a performance means for playing a karaoke music based on the music data, and an external musical instrument. Is connected to the playing means, transposing means for transposing a key for playing a karaoke song to the playing means, and the initial transposing data is sent to the interface means before the playing means starts playing the karaoke song. Output means for outputting to the external instrument via the interface means, when the key for playing the karaoke song is transposed by the transposing means, and outputting the transposed data to the external instrument via the interface means. It is characterized by having.
[0011]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned invention, scoring means for scoring the performance of the external instrument by comparing performance information input from the external instrument via the interface means with the music data during performance of the karaoke song. It is characterized by.
[0012]
<Action>
According to the present invention, there is provided a transpose means for transposing the key (performance key) of the karaoke song up and down in order to match the singing range of the singer. If the key of the karaoke song is transposed by the transposing means, the person playing the musical instrument in accordance with the performance of the karaoke song must also transpose accordingly. However, transposition is not easy in musical instrument performance, and requires considerable skill.
[0013]
Therefore, in the present invention, when the key of a karaoke song is further transposed, transpose data indicating the transposition amount is output to an external musical instrument at the same time. This makes it possible to automatically transpose the performance keys on an external instrument, so that even if the karaoke performance is transposed (transposed) because the singing range does not match, the external instrument retains the original key. The performance can be continued by the key performance operation.
[0014]
Further, in the present invention, the difference between the key of the karaoke tune (the key played by default) and the reference key is stored as initial transpose data. The reference key is set to the most basic key in playing a musical instrument (basically in C major and A minor, and in the case of a wind instrument, in B flat major). By outputting this initial transpose data to the external instrument at the start of the performance of the karaoke song, the external instrument can be transposed to the key of the karaoke song (transpose). Even if the external musical instrument is played in a key with many flats), the external musical instrument can be played by a reference key performance operation that is easy to play.
[0015]
Further, according to the present invention, since the performance information input from the external instrument during the performance of the karaoke song can be compared with the song data of the karaoke song and scored, not only can the performance of the karaoke song be used for singing practice but also It can also be used to practice musical instrument performance and score its skill.
In the present invention, the performance information input from the external musical instrument may be note data representing individual performance sounds or chord data representing chords. When note data is input, the note data may be directly compared with the song data and scored. A chord (chord) is detected from the note data, and the chord is compared with the song data. You may score.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The karaoke apparatus displays the lyrics telop in parallel with the performance of the karaoke song, and the song code (chord) is displayed on the lyrics telop together with the lyrics as shown in FIG. 2 (D).
[0017]
The singer can sing while watching the lyrics telop, and perform the performance along with the performance of the karaoke apparatus using an external instrument such as a guitar or a keyboard while watching the code displayed together with the lyrics. The external musical instrument is connected to the karaoke apparatus via a MIDI cable, receives transpose data from the karaoke apparatus by key operation or the like via MIDI, and automatically changes (transposes) the tuning of the musical instrument. Here, the key operation is an operation of transposing the key of the karaoke song up and down in order to match the range of the karaoke song with the singing range of the singer. The transposing of the external musical instrument is a process of changing a setting of a musical tone at which pitch is generated by the same performance operation. For example, in the case of tuning in C major, a musical tone having a pitch of "CDE" is generated according to the operation of "Doremi", and in the case of tuning in G, the musical tone of "GAB" is generated in accordance with the operation of "Doremi" Is generated, and transpose is a process of changing the pitch setting.
[0018]
The chord played by the external instrument is input to the karaoke apparatus via MIDI, and the performance is scored by the chord scoring program. The singer who sings the karaoke song and the player who plays the external instrument may be the same person or different people.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the karaoke apparatus 1 and the external musical instrument 2. The karaoke apparatus 1 includes a CPU 10 for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus, and various devices connected to the CPU 10. The CPU 10 is connected with a hard disk 11, a RAM 12, a sound source 13, a mixer (effector) 14, a MIDI interface 19, an MPEG decoder 20, a synthesizing circuit 21, and an operation unit 23.
[0020]
The hard disk 11 stores programs such as a system program, a sequencer (sequence program) 30, a background video reproduction program 34, and a chord scoring program 33, as well as music data 40 for playing karaoke music and a monitor 22 for background video. Is stored. The RAM 12 has an area for reading the above-mentioned programs and music data. The system program, the sequencer 30, the background video reproduction program 34, and the code scoring program 33 are read from the hard disk 11 to the RAM 12 and executed by the CPU 10.
[0021]
The sequencer 30 is a program for sequentially reading out the track data (see FIG. 2) of the song data based on the tempo clock and executing the performance of the karaoke song and displaying the lyrics telop. The sequencer 30 executes the song and the song sequencer 31 executes the lyrics. It is composed of a lyrics sequencer 32 for executing telop display. These are executed synchronously based on the same tempo clock. The music sequencer 31 inputs event data of a musical sound track to the sound source 13 and controls generation of a performance sound. The lyrics sequencer 32 generates a character pattern image of the lyrics telop based on the event data of the lyrics track.
[0022]
The background video reproduction program 34 is a program that reads MPEG-compressed background video data 41 from the hard disk 11 and inputs the data to the MPEG decoder 20. This background video reproduction program is also executed in synchronization with the music playing operation of the sequencer 30.
[0023]
The chord scoring program 33 compares the chord composed of the note event data input via the MIDI interface 19 with the accompaniment chord read out from the chord sequence track of the music data (see FIG. 2), and This is a program for scoring the performance of No. 2.
[0024]
The sound source 13 forms a tone signal in accordance with music data (note event data or the like) input by the music sequencer 31 executed by the CPU 10. The formed tone signal is input to the mixer 14. The mixer 14 gives effects such as echo to a plurality of tone signals generated by the sound source 13 and a singing voice signal of the singer input via the microphone 17-A / D converter 18, and the like. Mix the signals with the proper balance. The mixed digital audio signal is input to the sound system 15. The sound system includes a D / A converter and a power amplifier, converts an input digital signal into an analog signal, amplifies the signal, and emits the sound from the speaker 16. The effect of the mixer 14 on each audio signal and the balance of the mixing are controlled by the CPU 10.
[0025]
The background video reproduction program 34 reads the background video data 41 stored on the hard disk 11 and inputs the data to the MPEG decoder 20. The background video data 41 is encoded in the MPEG2 format, and the MPEG decoder 20 converts the input background video data into an NTSC video signal and inputs the NTSC video signal to the synthesis circuit 21. The synthesizing circuit 21 is a circuit for synthesizing a lyric telop or the like on the video signal of the background video. The synthesized video signal is displayed on the monitor 22.
[0026]
The operation unit 23 includes a panel switch interface, a remote control receiving circuit, and the like, and inputs an operation signal corresponding to an operation of a panel switch or a remote control device by a user to the CPU 10. The CPU 10 detects this operation signal by the operation input processing program 35 and executes a corresponding process. This operation input processing program 35 is included in the system program. The panel switch and the remote controller are provided with a numeric keypad for selecting a song number, a lyrics display mode selection switch 23a for selecting a lyrics display mode (whether or not to display a code in ruby), and a performance key (key). A key control switch 23b is included.
[0027]
The external musical instrument 2 includes a microcomputer 50 as a control device, and an operation unit 51, a sound source unit 52, and a MIDI interface 53 connected to the microcomputer 50. The operation unit 51 includes performance operators for playing musical instruments and setting operators for setting timbres and the like. The tone generator 52 generates a musical tone designated by the operation of the performance operator, converts the musical tone into an analog signal, and sounds the internal speaker. The MIDI interface 53 receives the transpose data from the karaoke apparatus 1 and outputs note event data input from the performance operator to the karaoke apparatus 1. When the transpose data is input from the MIDI interface 53, the microcomputer 50 raises and lowers the pitch of the generated musical tone by this transpose data. That is, the pitch input from the performance operator is shifted up and down by the transposition data and input to the tone generator 52, and the MIDI data of the shifted pitch is edited and transmitted to the karaoke apparatus.
[0028]
Here, the music data stored in the hard disk 11 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2A, the song data includes a header in which karaoke song management data is written, a music track for playing the karaoke song, a guide melody track for generating a guide melody, and a lyrics telop. It is composed of a lyrics track for display, a chord sequence track in which chord data for accompaniment is written, and the like. The music data includes audio data, audio data control tracks, and the like in addition to the above, but is omitted in this figure for simplicity.
[0029]
The header shows the song number, title, bibliographic information such as the composer and composer, and also indicates how far the karaoke song is from the basic key (in C major and A minor). Initial transpose data has been written. For example, "+7" is written if the song is in G major, and "-3" is written if it is in G minor. By transmitting the initial transposition data to the external musical instrument 2 via MIDI and transposing the external musical instrument 2, the external musical instrument 2 can perform any basic karaoke in C major or A minor regardless of the key of the karaoke tune to be played. Music can be played with a typical chord pattern.
[0030]
Each track such as a musical tone track is described in accordance with the MIDI format, and includes event data and timing data indicating the read timing of each event data, as shown in FIG. The timing data can be composed of duration data indicating a time interval between event data, absolute time data indicating an absolute time from the start time of the music, and the like. The event data of the musical tone track and the guide melody track are composed of event data indicating the pitch, volume, on / off, etc. of the musical tone. When the note event data is input to the sound source 13, the sound source 13 Produces or silences the musical tone corresponding to. Note that the musical tone track is composed of a plurality of tracks for generating musical tones of a large number of musical instruments.
[0031]
The lyrics track is a data track for displaying the lyrics telop on the monitor 22 in synchronization with the performance of the karaoke song. The lyrics telop is data for displaying, in addition to the lyrics of the karaoke song, a code for accompaniment of the song with an external instrument at the ruby position of the lyrics. The event data of this track is described as a system exclusive message, and as shown in FIG. 10C, data for displaying one page of lyrics telop is described so as to be read out at the same timing.
[0032]
The chord sequence track is a track that outputs the accompaniment code of the karaoke song in synchronization with the musical tone track and the guide melody track. The data of the chord sequence track is used for scoring the performance by the external musical instrument. The performance of the karaoke tune by the musical tone track is based on the same chord progression.
The chord progression in the performance of the karaoke song by the musical tone track, the chord progression of the chord sequence track, and the chord progression displayed as ruby by the lyrics track are synchronized.
[0033]
In the karaoke apparatus having the above configuration, when a music number is input from a remote controller or a panel switch, the operation input processing program 35 detects this and transmits it to the sequencer 30 as a karaoke music request. In response, the sequencer 30 reads out the song data of the karaoke song identified by the song number from the song data storage area 40 of the hard disk 11 and copies it to the RAM 12. Then, the performance of the karaoke tune is executed using the tune data on the RAM 12. First, the initial transpose data is read from the header and transmitted to the external musical instrument 2 via the MIDI interface 19, and the initial transpose value is displayed on the monitor 22. The display on the monitor 22 is for the purpose of notifying the performer that the external musical instrument 2 outputs a musical tone having a pitch different from the pitch at which the performance operation has been performed due to the transposition.
[0034]
The sequencer 30 is composed of the music sequencer 31 and the lyrics sequencer 32 as described above. The music sequencer 31 reads data of a track such as a performance data track or a guide melody track in the music data, and uses the data to generate the sound source 13. By performing the control, the performance sound of the karaoke tune is generated. The lyrics sequencer 32 reads out the data of the lyrics track in the music data, creates an image pattern of the lyrics telop based on the data, and outputs it to the synthesizing circuit 21. Further, the background video control program 34 reads out predetermined background video data according to an instruction from the sequencer 30 and inputs the data to the MPEG decoder 20. As shown in FIG. 2 (D), the lyrics telop displayed by the lyrics sequencer 32 has an accompaniment code displayed in ruby in addition to the lyrics. The player plays the external instrument 2 while watching the accompaniment chord.
[0035]
The external musical instrument 2 independently generates musical tones, which are transposed as described above, and are performed in a basic key, such as C major or G major, to produce a karaoke tune. A combined musical tone can be generated.
[0036]
If the singer operates the key-con switch 23b to transpose the key of the karaoke song up or down during the performance of the karaoke song, transpose data representing the transposition amount is input from the MIDI interface 19 to the external musical instrument 2. You. The external musical instrument 2 (microcomputer 50) changes (transposes) the tuning with the transpose data. Thus, no matter how the key of the karaoke song is transposed, the external musical instrument 2 can always perform by the reference key performance operation.
[0037]
Then, when the player plays the external musical instrument 2, the external musical instrument 2 generates the musical tone, edits note data corresponding to the musical operation, and inputs the edited note data to the karaoke apparatus 1 through the MIDI interfaces 53 and 19. The code scoring program 33 of the karaoke apparatus 1 compares the code data (event data) read from the code sequence track of the music data with the code detected from the note data input from the MIDI interface 19, and determines the degree of coincidence. Based on the above, the skill of the performance operation of the external musical instrument 2 is scored. The scoring result is displayed on the monitor 22 after the end of the karaoke song.
[0038]
3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the operation of the karaoke apparatus 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a karaoke song performance processing operation. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a chord scoring processing operation for scoring chords input from the external musical instrument 2.
[0039]
In FIG. 3, when a song number is input and song selection is performed (s1), song data identified by the song number is read from the hard disk 11 to the RAM 12 (s2). Then, the initial transposition data in the header is output as MIDI to transpose the external musical instrument 2 (s3), and the initial transpose value is displayed on the monitor 22 so that the performer (singer) receives the transpose value. Notify (s4).
[0040]
After this, the performance of the karaoke song is started. While generating the music sound of the karaoke tune based on the music track (s5: music sequencer 31), the lyrics telop including the accompaniment code is displayed based on the lyrics track (s6: lyrics sequencer 32). When the display mode is switched by operating the lyrics display mode selection switch 23a, the display mode of the displayed lyrics telop is changed to display lyrics and chords, display only lyrics, display only chords, The display is switched to any one of the four modes of not displaying.
[0041]
The singer sings the song in accordance with the performance of the karaoke song and the display of the lyrics telop, and the performer plays the external instrument 2. Since the note event data is input from the MIDI interface 19 by the performance of the external musical instrument 2, the performance is scored by comparing the chord detected from the note event data with the accompaniment chord read from the chord sequence track ( s7: Code scoring program 33).
[0042]
When the key-con switch 23b is operated during the performance of the karaoke song, the key of the karaoke song is transposed up and down in response to this operation (s9), and transpose data representing the transposition amount is output as MIDI (s10). According to the transposition data, the external musical instrument 2 is automatically transposed in accordance with the transposition of the karaoke tune.
When the music ends (s11), the result of scoring by the chord scoring program 33 is displayed (s12), and the operation ends.
[0043]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the scoring processing operation executed by the code scoring program 33. When note event data is input from the external musical instrument 2 via the MIDI interface 19, the note data (pitch data) is buffered (s21). When the accompaniment code is read from the chord sequence track (s22), the accompaniment code is stored (s23). The pitch data input via the MIDI interface 19 is accumulated and buffered for a predetermined time, but only the latest accompaniment code is overwritten and stored.
[0044]
Then, code detection and matching score processing are executed at regular intervals. This fixed time may be about one second to several seconds. First, a chord (chord) is detected based on the buffered note data (pitch data) (s25). If a code is detected from the buffered pitch data, the process proceeds from s26 to s27. If the chord cannot be detected, the input pitch data is compared with the current accompaniment chord, and the performance is scored based on a criterion such as whether or not a constituent sound of the accompaniment chord is included (s29).
[0045]
If a chord is detected, the chord is compared with the current accompaniment chord (s27) and scored according to the degree of coincidence (s28). In other words, a perfect score is given when they completely match, and when the accompaniment chord is a genus 7 chord, a minor seventh component is missing or when a major chord becomes a minor chord, the match (mismatch) Scores are given according to the degree of).
[0046]
The above processing operations are continued until the music ends, and when the music ends (s30), the scoring results are totaled, output to the display operation (s12 in FIG. 3), and the operation ends.
[0047]
In this embodiment, the performance of the karaoke tune is continued regardless of the presence or absence of the chord input. However, until the chord same as the accompaniment chord read from the chord sequence track is input from the external musical instrument 2. Alternatively, the performance of the karaoke song may be stopped.
[0048]
Alternatively, the accompaniment chord read out from the chord sequence track may be input to the external musical instrument 2 via the MIDI interfaces 19 and 53, and the external instrument 2 may guide the player to play the chord. As an external musical instrument having such a guide function, there is an electronic stringed musical instrument disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-287750 previously filed by the present applicant.
[0049]
In this embodiment, the chord is detected based on the note data input from the external musical instrument 2 and the chord is scored. However, the note data may be scored directly. In this case, guide melody data or data of a musical sound track may be used as reference data serving as a reference.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the key for performing a karaoke song is transposed, the transpose data representing the transposition amount is output to the external instrument, so that the external instrument can be automatically transposed. This makes it possible for the player to transpose the tuning of the instrument in accordance with the transposition of the karaoke song, or to continue the performance by performing the operation without changing the performance key.
[0051]
Further, according to the present invention, since the initial transpose data, which is the difference between the performance key of the karaoke song and the reference tone, is sent to the external instrument prior to the performance of the karaoke song, the external instrument automatically adjusts the tone of the karaoke song. Since the transpose can be performed, the performer can play the external instrument in a standard tone that is easy to play, regardless of the key of the karaoke song.
[0052]
Further, according to the present invention, performance information input from an external instrument can be scored based on music data, so that the performance of a karaoke song can be used not only for practicing singing but also for practicing performance of an external instrument. Can be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of music data used in the karaoke apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a performance processing operation of the karaoke apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a scoring process operation of the karaoke apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1. Karaoke device 2. External instrument,
10 CPU, 11 hard disk, 12 RAM, 13 sound source, 14 mixer (effector), 15 sound system, 16 speaker, 17 microphone, 18 A / D converter, 19 MIDI interface, 20 MPEG decoder, 21 synthesis circuit, 22 monitor, 23 operation unit, 23a display mode changeover switch, 23b key control switch,
30 ... sequencer, 31 ... music sequencer, 32 ... lyrics sequencer, 33 ... code scoring program, 34 ... background video reproduction program, 35 ... operation input processing program, 40 ... music data storage area, 41 ... background video storage area
50 microcomputer, 51 operating unit, 52 sound source unit, 53 MIDI interface

Claims (4)

Storage means for storing song data;
Performance means for playing a karaoke song based on the song data,
An interface means to which an external instrument is connected;
Transposing means for transposing a key for playing a karaoke song with respect to the playing means;
Output means for outputting, when the key for playing the karaoke song is transposed by the transposing means, transposition data representing the transposition amount to an external instrument via the interface means;
Karaoke device equipped with. Storage means for storing song data including initial transpose data which is the difference between the key of the karaoke song and the reference tone;
Performance means for playing a karaoke song based on the song data,
An interface means to which an external instrument is connected;
Output means for outputting the initial transpose data to an external musical instrument via an interface means before the performance means starts playing a karaoke song;
Karaoke device equipped with. Storage means for storing song data including initial transpose data which is the difference between the key of the karaoke song and the reference tone;
Performance means for playing a karaoke song based on the song data,
An interface means to which an external instrument is connected;
Transposing means for transposing a key for playing a karaoke song with respect to the playing means;
Before the performance means starts playing the karaoke song, the initial transposition data is output to an external instrument via the interface means, and when the key for performing the karaoke song is transposed by the transposition means, the transposition amount is calculated. Output means for outputting transpose data representing the following to an external instrument via the interface means:
Karaoke device equipped with. 4. A scoring means for scoring the performance of an external instrument by comparing performance information input from an external instrument via an interface means with music data during performance of a karaoke song. A karaoke device as described.

Images