JP2006276716A - Karaoke apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a karaoke apparatus capable of simply adjusting the volume of each karaoke music piece. <P>SOLUTION: The karaoke apparatus 7 downloads a volume list from a center 1 separately from a data of a karaoke music piece. The volume list describes volume change information for each karaoke music piece. When playing the karaoke music piece, the karaoke apparatus determines whether the karaoke music piece exists in the volume list, and if it exists in the list, the karaoke apparatus reads out the described volume information to determine the volume. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus that controls an appropriate volume of karaoke music.

  In a conventional karaoke apparatus, the volume of a microphone and the volume of a karaoke song are manually adjusted using a volume knob provided on the apparatus body. However, since the volume of the karaoke song varies from song to song, such a karaoke apparatus has a problem that the volume must be adjusted each time the karaoke song changes.

Therefore, a volume automatic adjustment device for a karaoke device that automatically adjusts the volume of a microphone or musical sound in accordance with the volume of each song has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-9-214266

  The volume adjusting device for a karaoke apparatus described in Patent Document 1 adjusts the level of the sound signal of the microphone and the karaoke song (musical sound) at the final stage immediately before the speaker. In the case of such a device, it is necessary to incorporate a dedicated volume control circuit into the karaoke device, and there is a problem that it takes a lot of time and effort to incorporate it later. In addition, since the level adjustment process is always performed during the performance so as to achieve the reference volume, there is a problem that the CPU is burdened.

  An object of this invention is to provide the karaoke apparatus which can adjust the volume of each karaoke song simply.

  The karaoke apparatus of the present invention has a storage means for storing a plurality of song data for generating musical sounds of karaoke songs, and a karaoke device with a volume based on volume information which is information for reading the song data and determining the volume of the karaoke song. Performance means for generating musical sounds, and volume list download means for downloading a volume list in which the volume information of a plurality of karaoke songs is respectively stored and storing the volume list in a storage means, wherein the performance means is a karaoke song performance. If the volume list of the karaoke song exists in the volume list, the karaoke song is played at the volume described in the volume list, and if it does not exist in the volume list, The volume is determined based on the volume information included in the music data. Characterized in that it played the orchestra music.

  In the present invention, a volume list in which information for determining the volume of each karaoke song is described is downloaded separately from the song data of the karaoke song. The performance means (sequencer) refers to this volume list to change the volume of the musical sound and reproduce the karaoke song.

  The present invention is further characterized in that the volume list is a list describing volume information of a musical tone track, a chorus track, and a guide vocal track.

  In the present invention, the sequencer changes the volume for each of the musical tone track, the chorus track, and the guide melody track. Thereby, the volume balance of each track can be adjusted.

  According to the present invention, the volume list further includes a flag indicating whether or not the volume of the chorus track and the guide melody track is changed in conjunction with the change of the volume of the musical tone track. Then, when changing the volume of a musical sound track, the volume of other tracks is also changed in conjunction with it.

  In the present invention, when the volume of the tone track is changed in the volume list, a flag for changing the volumes of the chorus track and the guide melody track is set. When playing a karaoke piece in which the flag is described, the volume of the other track is also changed at the rate of the change in the volume of the musical tone track. As a result, the overall volume can be changed without changing the volume balance of all tracks.

  According to this invention, apart from the song data of the karaoke song, the volume list describing the information for determining the volume of the karaoke song is downloaded, and the karaoke song is played at the volume described in the volume list at the time of performance. The volume of the song can be adjusted easily.

  The karaoke apparatus of this embodiment downloads a volume list in which volume information, which is information for determining the volume of each karaoke song, is described separately from the karaoke song. The volume information described in this volume list is adjusted so that the volume of each song is uniform, and by reading the volume information in this volume list and determining the volume when playing a karaoke song, Even if you play multiple karaoke songs, you can play them at the same volume level.

  Hereinafter, the karaoke apparatus of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the equipment arrangement of a karaoke store. In this karaoke store, a plurality of karaoke apparatuses and remote controllers according to embodiments of the present invention are installed. The center 1 is connected to the router 4 of the karaoke store 3 via the Internet 2. A router 4, a management device 6, and a plurality of karaoke devices 7 are connected to the karaoke store 3 via a LAN 5 in the store.

  The router 4 and the management device 6 are installed in the management room of the karaoke store. A plurality of karaoke apparatuses 7 are installed one by one in each private room (karaoke box). One or a plurality of remote controllers 9 are installed in each private room.

  The center 1 stores and stores music data and a volume list describing information for determining the volume of each music data. Each karaoke device 7 accesses the center 1 via the LAN 5, the router 4, and the Internet 2, and performs communication such as downloading music data and downloading a volume list. The volume list will be described in detail later.

  The management device 6 is a terminal device operated by a staff member of the karaoke store 3, and receives management of usage time of each karaoke device 7 (private room) and orders for food and drink from each private room.

  The remote control 9 has a request function for a user to request a karaoke song.

  The remote control 9 installed in each private room communicates with the karaoke apparatus 7 installed in the private room. The request made by the user operating the remote controller 9 is transmitted to the karaoke device 7, and the karaoke device 7 plays the received karaoke song.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the karaoke apparatus 7 installed in each private room. The karaoke apparatus 7 includes a CPU 10 that controls the operation of the entire apparatus, and various devices connected to the CPU 10. Connected to the CPU 10 are a hard disk 11, RAM 12, sound source 13, mixer (effector) 14, MPEG decoder 20, synthesis circuit 21, operation unit 23, LAN interface 24, infrared communication unit 25, and the like.

  The hard disk 11 stores a volume list in which music data for playing karaoke music, video data to be displayed as a background video on the monitor 22, and information for determining the volume of each music data are stored. Video data stores both moving images and still images. The volume list is data referred to when playing (reproducing) each karaoke song. Details will be described later.

  In the RAM 12, an area to be read for executing a program, an area for reading music data to perform karaoke music, and the like are set.

  The CPU 10 executes processes such as the sequencer 30, the background video reproduction process 33, and the operation input process 34 based on a program stored in the hard disk 11. The sequencer 30 includes a song sequencer 31 and a lyrics sequencer 32.

  The song sequencer 31 is a program for executing a karaoke song based on song data stored in the HDD 11. The music data is composed of a header, volume information, a track group, and an audio data section as shown in FIG.

  The music sequencer 31 controls the sound source 13 on the basis of the data such as the music sound tracks, and generates the music sounds of the karaoke music. Also, the lyrics sequencer 32 synthesizes the character pattern of the lyrics in synchronism with the progress of the song based on the lyrics track in the song data shown in FIG. 3, converts the character pattern into a video signal, and sends it to the synthesis circuit 21. input.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the sequencer 30 reads MP3 data based on data such as an MP3 musical sound track of music data composed of MP3 (MPEG AudioLayer-3). The read MP3 data is decoded by the CPU 10 and is generated as a musical sound of a karaoke song.

  The sound source 13 forms a musical sound signal according to data (note event data of a musical sound track) input from the CPU 10 by the processing of the music sequencer 31. In the case of music data composed of MP3, the CPU 10 decodes the MP3 data to form a musical tone signal. The formed tone signal is input to the mixer 14. The mixer 14 echoes a plurality of musical sound signals generated by the sound source 13 (or musical sound signals decoded by the CPU 10) and a singing voice signal of the singer input via the microphone 17-A / D converter 18. In addition to the above effects, these signals are mixed with an appropriate balance. The mixed digital audio signal is input to the sound system 15. The sound system 15 includes a D / A converter and a power amplifier. The input digital signal is converted into an analog signal, amplified, and emitted from the speaker 16. The effect that the mixer 14 gives to each audio signal and the balance of mixing are controlled by the CPU 10.

  The background video reproduction process 33 reads the video data 41 stored in the HDD 11 and reproduces the background video in synchronization with the generation of musical sounds and the generation of lyrics telop by the sequencer 30. The video data of the moving image is encoded in the MPEG2 format. The background video reproduction process 33 inputs the read video data to the MPEG decoder 20. The MPEG decoder 20 converts the input MPEG data into an NTSC video signal and inputs it to the synthesis circuit 21. In addition to the video signal of the background video, the lyrics telop character pattern and the like are input to the synthesis circuit 21. The synthesizing circuit 21 synthesizes an OSD such as a lyrics telop on the video signal of the background video and outputs it to the monitor 22. The monitor 22 displays the video signal input from the synthesis circuit 21.

  The operation unit 23 has various key switches provided on the operation panel surface and a panel switch interface for detecting operations of the key switches.

  The LAN interface 24 is an interface for controlling communication via the LAN 5. The karaoke device 7 communicates with the center 1 and the management device 6 via the LAN 5.

  The infrared communication unit 25 is a circuit that receives an infrared signal from the remote controller 9. An operation from the remote controller 9 is accepted via the infrared communication unit 25.

  Instead of the infrared communication unit 25, it is also possible to accept an operation from the remote controller 9 via the LAN 5. In this case, a configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of wireless access points are connected to the LAN 5 shown in FIG. 1 and the remote controller 9 is connected to the LAN 5 by wireless communication via the wireless access points. It is assumed that the remote controller 9 installed in each private room is associated with the karaoke apparatus 7 installed in the private room by the operation of a store clerk.

  On the operation panel surface of the karaoke device 7, a numeric keypad for inputting a song number, a tempo control switch for changing the tempo of the song, a fast-forward switch for fast-forwarding and rewinding the song, a rewinding switch, and a song A key control switch or the like for transposing is provided.

  The remote controller 9 includes a numeric keypad for inputting a music number. Also, a tempo control switch for changing the tempo of a song before and during performance, a fast-forward switch for fast-forwarding and rewinding the song, a rewind switch, and a key control switch for transposing the song, etc. It also has. Note that these buttons and switches may be realized by buttons and switches displayed on the LCD provided with an LCD and a touch panel in the remote controller 9.

  The operation unit 23 detects that the panel switch is operated and outputs a corresponding operation signal to the CPU 10.

  Further, the remote controller 9 detects various switch operations and transmits an operation signal corresponding to these operations to the karaoke apparatus 7 by infrared communication. The infrared communication unit 25 inputs an operation signal received from the remote controller 9 to the CPU 10.

  The CPU 10 executes corresponding processing based on the operation signal input from the operation unit 23 or the infrared communication unit 25.

  For example, when the requested music number is input from the panel switch or the remote controller 9, this music number is input to the sequencer 30, and each program executes the following processing.

  In response, the sequencer 30 reads the song data of the karaoke song identified by this song number from the song data storage area 40 of the hard disk 11. The song sequencer 31 reads data of a track such as a musical tone track in the song data and controls the sound source 13 with this data to generate a performance sound of the karaoke song. When the song data of the karaoke song identified by this song number is composed of MP3, the CPU 10 decodes the MP3 data to generate a karaoke song tone.

  The lyrics sequencer 32 reads the data of the lyrics track in the song data, creates a lyrics telop image pattern based on the data, and outputs the image pattern to the synthesis circuit 21. Further, the background video reproduction processing 33 reads predetermined video data in accordance with an instruction from the sequencer 30 and inputs it to the MPEG decoder 20.

  When a tempo control signal, fast forward, or rewind signal is input from the panel switch or the remote controller 9, the song number is input to the sequencer 30, and the performance tempo and the progress of the lyrics display are in accordance with the contents of the signal. The setting is changed.

Next, the composition of music data will be described in detail.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of music data stored in the hard disk 11.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the music data includes a header, volume information, a lyrics track for displaying lyrics telop, a musical sound track for playing karaoke music, a chorus control track for generating a back chorus, It consists of a guide vocal control track for generating guide vocals, audio data, and the like.

  Bibliographic data such as song numbers and titles are written in the header. The musical tone track is described in accordance with the MIDI format, and includes event data such as note-on event data and note-off event data, and timing data indicating the read timing of each event data, as shown in FIG. The note-on event data includes pitch data, and designates the pitch and volume of a musical sound generated by the note-on. This musical sound continues until the corresponding note-off event data is read out.

  The timing data can be composed of duration data indicating the time interval between the event data, absolute time data indicating the absolute time from the start time of the music, and the like.

  The event data of the musical tone track is composed of the MIDI event data indicating the pitch, volume, on / off, etc. of the musical tone as described above. By inputting the MIDI event data to the sound source 13, the sound source 13 Sounds or mutes the musical sound corresponding to the data. The musical sound track is composed of a plurality of tracks (parts) in order to generate musical sounds of a large number of musical instruments.

  The lyric track is sequence data that implements various data for displaying the song title and lyrics of the karaoke song, and includes character display data that is event data and timing data that indicates a time interval of each event data.

  The chorus control track and the guide vocal control track are tracks that control the playback timing of the back chorus (guide vocal) stored in the audio data section, and are composed of audio designation data and timing data that are event data. The voice designation data has contents for designating which voice data is to be pitch shifted to which frequency.

  The audio data is composed of compressed data such as ADPCM (Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation) or MP3, and the CPU 10 decodes them as necessary. A hardware decoder may be provided exclusively for voice data of karaoke songs.

  The lyrics track, chorus control track, and guide vocal control track are not general-purpose MIDI data, but are written in the MIDI format in order to unify the implementation data and facilitate the work process.

  Volume information is added to the musical tone track, the chorus control track, and the guide vocal control track. The volume information is data for designating at which volume each track is sounded. The music track event data is MIDI event data indicating the volume of the musical tone as described above, but this is a volume balance adjusted at the time of implementation for each track (part), and is attached to the musical tone track. The volume information is information as a master volume of all tracks (parts). When the karaoke song is played, the song sequencer 31 determines the volume according to the volume information.

  In the chorus control track and the guide vocal control track, the level of the tone signal read out by the music sequencer 31 and decoded by the CPU 10 is determined according to the volume information.

  FIG. 5B is a diagram showing the composition of song data of karaoke music composed of MP3 data. The music data includes a header, volume information, a lyrics track for displaying lyrics telop, an MP3 musical sound track, a chorus track for generating a back chorus, a guide vocal track for generating a guide vocal, and the like. The header and the lyrics track are the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 4A, but the music data is MP3 music track (audio track data) instead of the music track, chorus track and guide vocal instead of the chorus control track. A guide vocal track is configured instead of the control track.

  The MP3 musical sound track, the chorus track, and the guide vocal track are audio data tracks that generate the musical sound, chorus sound, and guide vocal sound of the karaoke song, and the CPU 10 decodes the MP3 musical sound track and generates the musical sound of the karaoke song. .

  Also, volume information is added to the MP3 control track, the chorus track, and the guide vocal track. As described above, the volume information is data that specifies at which volume each track is to be sounded, and determines the level of the tone signal that has been read and decoded according to the volume information.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of the volume list. This volume list is downloaded from the center 1 separately from the music data main body.

  The volume list includes an item indicating the song number of the song data, an item describing the change volume information of each track, and a follow flag. When the requested song number is input, the sequencer 30 refers to the changed volume information and the tracking flag identified by this song number in the volume list.

  The changed volume information is information for replacement with the volume information attached to each track of the karaoke song main body described above. The changed volume information describes volume information in which the volume balance of each karaoke song is adjusted. By replacing the volume information with the changed volume information when the karaoke song is played, the volume difference between the karaoke songs is eliminated. Thereby, even if a plurality of karaoke songs are played continuously, they can be played at the same volume level. The sequencer 30 determines the volume based on the changed volume information described in this list. If the requested song number does not exist in this list, the volume is determined based on the volume information of the karaoke song body.

  Specifically, the change volume information includes change volume information of a tone track, an MP3 tone track, a chorus control track (chorus track), and a guide vocal control track (guide vocal track). Since the MP3 musical sound track does not exist in the karaoke music composed of musical sound tracks, the changed volume information of the MP3 musical sound track is not described in this volume list. In addition, the karaoke music composed of MP3 music tracks does not describe the change volume information of the music tracks.

  The following flag is described for each karaoke song in the list. In the karaoke song in which the follow flag is set to ON, only the change volume information of the music track or the MP3 music track is described. The volume of the chorus control track and the guide vocal control track is changed in conjunction with the change volume information of the musical tone track or the MP3 musical tone track. For example, when the volume described in the changed volume information is 10% larger than the volume described in the volume information attached to the musical tone track of the karaoke song body, the chorus control track and the guide vocal control track are also stored in the karaoke song body. 10% higher than the volume described in the volume information.

  That is, in the karaoke piece in which the follow flag is on, the overall volume is changed without changing the volume balance of the musical sound, chorus, and guide vocal. As for the karaoke song in which the follow flag is described as OFF, the volume is changed according to the changed volume information described for each track.

  The above volume list is created in advance at the center 1 and is adjusted so that the volume of each karaoke song is audibly balanced.

  In the case of a medley song, it is not described in the volume list described above. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a medley description file that is music data of a medley song. The medley description file includes a header, a plurality of medley section setting data for instructing music data to be medley reproduced, and bridge data connecting the medley sections. In the header, the medley song number, title (song name), etc. are written.

  The medley section setting data specifies the song number that specifies the music data, the start address of the medley section in the music data, and the bridge data that generates music between the medley section and the next medley section. Volume information that describes how much the volume is to be changed from the volume of the karaoke song body in this medley section, and the key shift amount that indicates how much the key is moved up or down from the original key in this medley section. ing. The same applies when the karaoke song is MP3 data.

  As described above, in the case of a medley song, the volume is determined according to the volume information of the medley description file.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the music selection operation of the karaoke apparatus. The music selection operation is selected using the numeric keypad for inputting the music number provided on the operation panel surface of the karaoke device 7 or the remote controller 9.

  When a karaoke song is selected by the above operation, a song selection message including the song number of the karaoke song is received (s10). When the karaoke device 7 receives the music selection message, it reads the music number included in the music selection message and registers it in the reservation list (s11).

  Here, the reservation list is a list in which music numbers input from the remote controller 9 or the panel switch of the karaoke apparatus 7 main body are stored in the order of input. The sequencer 30 plays sequentially from the karaoke song of the song number input previously. The song number of the karaoke song is read from the head of the reservation list (s12), and it is determined whether or not the song is a medley song (s13). If it is a medley song, the medley description file is retrieved and read (s14), and the process proceeds to medley performance processing (s15). The medley description file is as described above. The music number is read in order from the written medley section setting data, and the music data specified by the music number is read.

  On the other hand, in the case of a normal karaoke song (a karaoke song that is not a medley song), the volume list is searched (s16), and it is determined whether or not the karaoke song specified by the song number exists in the volume list (s17). ). If the designated song number exists in the volume list, the volume information of each track is read based on the changed volume information described in this list (s18).

  At this time, if the follow-up flag described above is on in the volume list, the volume of the chorus control track (chorus track) and the guide vocal control track (guide vocal track) is also changed at the volume change rate of the tone track or MP3 tone track. change. If the karaoke song specified by the song number does not exist in the volume list, the volume information is not changed and the volume is determined by the volume information of the karaoke song body.

  Thereafter, the music data designated by the music number is read (s19), and the performance of the karaoke music is started (s20). During the karaoke performance, the volume is not changed and the performance operation similar to that of the existing karaoke apparatus is performed. The above operation is the same for karaoke music composed of MP3 data.

  As described above, the karaoke apparatus of the present invention downloads a volume list separately from the karaoke song main body, and determines whether the song number exists in the volume list when requesting a karaoke song. If it exists in the volume list, the volume is determined with reference to the changed volume information described in the list. Thereby, the volume of each karaoke song can be adjusted simply.

Diagram explaining equipment layout of karaoke store Block diagram of karaoke equipment installed in each private room Diagram showing composition of music data Diagram explaining the structure of the volume list Flow chart showing music selection operation The flowchart which shows the music performance operation | movement of the karaoke apparatus 7.

Explanation of symbols

1-center 7-karaoke device 9-remote control 10-CPU
11-HDD

Claims (3)

Storage means for storing a plurality of song data for generating musical sounds of karaoke songs;
Performance means for reading out the music data and generating a musical sound of the karaoke song at a volume based on volume information which is information for determining the volume of the karaoke song;
A volume list download unit that downloads a volume list describing volume information of each of a plurality of karaoke songs and stores the volume list in a storage unit;
With
The performance means searches the volume list when starting the performance of the karaoke song, and if the volume information of the karaoke song exists in the volume list, the karaoke song is played at the volume described in the volume list, A karaoke apparatus which plays a karaoke song at a volume based on volume information included in the song data when it does not exist in the volume list.   The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the volume list is a list in which volume information of a musical sound track, a chorus track, and a guide vocal track is described. In the volume list, a flag indicating whether or not to change the volume of the chorus track and the guide melody track in conjunction with the change of the volume of the music track is described,
3. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the flag is on, the performance unit changes the volume of the other track in conjunction with the change of the volume of the musical sound track.

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