JP2008158433A - Parameter setting device for electronic musical instrument, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display that is made easy to know which of the parameters of which element is being edited when parameters of elements constituting a voice of an electronic musical instrument are edited. <P>SOLUTION: An editor window 20 has: a part area 21 where a part choices each for selecting one of a plurality of parts 32 constituting song data 30 to be edited and pieces of information for the parts are displayed; an element area 22, where an element choices each for selecting one of a plurality of elements 39 constituting one part (voice) and parameter group choices each for making a user select one arbitrary parameter group from among a plurality of parameter groups obtained by grouping a plurality of parameters constituting the element by one to a plurality of parameters are displayed; and an editing area 23, where a parameter detail screen corresponding to the parameter group of the element selected in the element area 22 is displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a parameter setting device for setting parameters of an electronic musical instrument using a GUI (graphical user interface) and a program for causing a computer to perform the parameter setting.

  As conventionally known, a synthesizer, which is a kind of electronic musical instrument, has a function of synthesizing musical sounds, and a user can create an arbitrary tone color. Also, by executing dedicated software on a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) externally connected to the electronic musical instrument, various parameters relating to the timbre and effects of the electronic musical instrument can be set and edited on the PC. In this specification, data constituting one timbre (pronunciation timbre) used at the time of sound generation is referred to as “voice”, and dedicated software for setting and editing various parameters relating to the timbre of the electronic musical instrument and its effects. This is called “voice editor”.

For example, in the product name “MOTIF ES” sold by the applicant, one voice to be edited by the voice editor is composed of a combination of multiple (up to 4) “elements”. One audio waveform data is assigned to.
The user uses GUI parts such as a button image and knob operator image constituting the main screen of the voice editor to set parameters common to all elements constituting the voice to be edited and each element constituting the voice. ON / OFF, output level of each element, connection to effector for each element, etc. can be set. In addition, the main screen is equipped with a GUI component designed with a keyboard image for instructing sound generation, and the user confirms the result of editing the voice by using it to sound the musical sound of the voice. can do.

The user can arbitrarily select an element to be edited on the main screen, and can open an edit screen for editing the selected element on a screen different from the main screen. On the edit screen, the element parameters (oscillator, pitch, filter, amplitude, etc.) constituting the selected element can be set while visually confirming using GUI components for each parameter. As described above, the user can arbitrarily create and edit a voice using a conventionally known voice editor and save the created and edited voice (see Non-Patent Document 1 below).
http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/pdf/emi/japan/synth/MOTIFVoiceEditorJ.pdf (Synthesizer sold by the applicant: Instruction manual for the software “Voice Editor” for the product name “MOTIF ES” )

  In the conventional voice editor, the main screen for selecting an element and the edit screen for editing the parameter of the selected element are separate screens. For this reason, when editing is performed on the edit screen, the edit screen is displayed in the foreground as the active screen, so the information displayed on the main screen (parameters related to which elements of which voice are edited) It was difficult to understand. In addition, in order to audition the musical tone that has been edited in detail on the edit screen, it was necessary to return to the main screen, making it difficult to reciprocate between editing and checking.

  In addition, since GUI parts are displayed for all parameters constituting the element to be edited on one edit screen, the display size of the edit screen must be relatively large. For this reason, it has been impossible to display both the main screen and the edit screen side by side on the display while maintaining a sufficient size necessary for viewing the information. In addition, when all the parameters are displayed within a limited screen size when the screen size is increased, it is difficult to display individual parameters in detail and in an easy-to-understand manner because there is a large amount of information to be displayed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points. For example, when editing various parameters in an electronic musical instrument such as a synthesizer using a GUI, information to be edited can be displayed in detail and in an easy-to-understand manner. It is an object of the present invention to provide a parameter setting device and a program for causing a computer to perform the parameter setting.

  The present invention provides a storage means for storing voices used as a sound source of an electronic musical instrument, wherein each of the voices is composed of a plurality of elements, and each of the plurality of elements has a plurality of parameters of the same type. An element for displaying a display means and an element option for displaying a list of the plurality of elements constituting one voice on the display means and allowing a user to select any one element from the element option A selection means and a parameter group option for displaying a list of a plurality of parameter groups obtained by grouping the plurality of parameters into one or more parameters are displayed on the display means, and any one parameter group is selected from the parameter group options. Parameter group selection hand to let you select On the display screen of the display means, an edit for displaying a parameter detail screen composed of an element area for displaying the element option and the parameter group option and a GUI component group for editing the parameter group in detail Display control means for displaying the areas side by side, and a parameter detail screen corresponding to the parameter group selected by the parameter group selection means is displayed in the edit area, and the element selected by the element selection means is selected. Display control means for displaying the value of each parameter included in the parameter group on each corresponding GUI component on the displayed parameter detail screen, and by the user on the parameter detail screen displayed in the edit area Depending on the parameter editing operation, a parameter setting apparatus and a editing means for editing the values of the operating parameters for the currently selected element.

  In the parameter setting device according to the present invention, in the element area, the element option and the parameter group option are fixedly displayed, and the element selected by the element selecting unit and the parameter group option are connected and indicated. The part may be further displayed. The parameter setting device according to the present invention may further display a plurality of GUI parts for switching on / off setting for each element for the plurality of elements in the element region.

  Furthermore, the present invention is a software program for causing a computer to execute a function of editing a voice used as a sound source of an electronic musical instrument, wherein each of the voices includes a plurality of elements. Each of which has a plurality of parameters of the same type, and on the display screen of the display means, an element option for displaying a list of the plurality of elements constituting one voice and one or more of the plurality of parameters. An element area for displaying a parameter group option for displaying a list of a plurality of parameter groups each grouped by a parameter, an edit area for displaying a parameter detail screen composed of GUI parts for editing the parameter group in detail, and And display the above Corresponding to a parameter group selected by the user from the parameter group option, a procedure for the user to select any one element from the parameter option, a procedure for the user to select any one parameter group from the parameter group option The parameter detail screen is displayed in the edit area, and the value of each parameter included in the selected parameter group for the element selected by the user from the element selection is displayed in the corresponding GUI of the displayed parameter detail screen. A procedure for editing the value of the operated parameter for the currently selected element in accordance with the procedure of displaying on each part and the parameter editing operation by the user on the parameter detail screen displayed in the edit area. Is a program with a door.

  According to this invention, since the element area and the edit area are displayed side by side, the user is editing which parameter group of which element in the edit area from the display of the element option and parameter group option in the element area. Can be easily grasped. In addition, it is possible to quickly and efficiently switch between the work of changing the selection of an element or parameter group in the element area and the work of performing detailed editing of the parameter group in the editor area. In addition, a parameter detail screen corresponding to any one parameter group selected by the parameter group option in which a plurality of parameter groups obtained by grouping a plurality of parameters into groups of one to a plurality of parameters is displayed in the edit area. Thus, the amount of information to be displayed in the edit area can be greatly reduced, so that individual parameters can be displayed in detail even within a limited display area. In addition, since the parameter groups are listed in the parameter group options in the element area, the user can easily check what parameter groups exist and easily select the parameter groups. Also, in the element area, the element selected by the element option and the parameter group option are connected and displayed by a connecting unit, thereby fixing the display configuration of the element area, that is, the display of the element option and the parameter group option. Therefore, the currently selected element and parameter group can be presented to the user in an easy-to-understand manner with a simple display process that does not significantly change the display contents of the element area. Further, by constantly displaying the ON / OFF setting for each element of the plurality of elements constituting one voice in the element area, it is easy to check and change the setting state of the ON / OFF parameter of the element. .

  The present invention may be configured and implemented in the form of a dedicated hardware device for realizing the parameter editing function of an electronic musical instrument, or a software program for causing a computer to execute the parameter editing function of an electronic musical instrument. It may be configured and implemented in the form.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the hardware configuration of a personal computer (PC) and an electronic musical instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an electronic musical instrument (synthesizer), a processing circuit 1 including a CPU controls the operation of the electronic musical instrument and is connected to each unit via a communication bus 1B. The storage circuit 2 includes storage means such as a ROM, a RAM, and a flash memory, and stores various data, parameters, a control program, and the like. The processing circuit 1 executes various controls based on the control program.

  The operation unit 3 includes a keyboard unit composed of a plurality of keys for performing performance input (pronunciation instructions), controller operators for various performance controls arranged on the main body panel, and switches for various settings. include. The operation detection circuit 4 detects an operation in the operation unit 3 and outputs the detected operation information to the processing circuit 1 via the communication bus 1B. The display control circuit 6 controls the display of the display unit 5 disposed on the front panel of the electronic musical instrument, and displays various information on the display unit 5 based on instructions from the processing circuit 1.

  The electronic musical instrument is connected to a personal computer (PC) via a communication I / F 7 in a wired or wireless manner so that bidirectional communication is possible. The communication I / F 7 may be an interface compliant with any conventionally known communication standard, for example, a general-purpose communication interface such as USB or IEEE 1394, or a communication standard for a music system proposed by the present applicant. An mLAN (registered trademark) or a MIDI interface can be applied.

  The tone generator circuit 8 is a circuit that generates a tone signal in accordance with performance data (MIDI message) generated by performance input at the keyboard, various controller operations, automatic performance (sequencer playback), or the like. Appropriate methods known in the art such as methods (for example, the AWM (Advanced Wave Memory) sound source method, which is a sound source method developed by the applicant of the present application, which makes sound from digitally recorded waveform data), are adopted. You can do it. The musical tone signal generated by the tone generator circuit 8 is generated from a sound system 9 including an amplifier, a speaker and the like. The tone generator circuit 8 may be constituted by dedicated hardware, may be constituted by a microprogram by DSP, or may be constituted by a software tone generator program by CPU. In addition, the sound source system can be expanded by adding plug-in sound source boards.

  In this tone generator circuit 8, the musical instrument tone color used for sound generation is called "voice". The voice is composed of a combination of one or more elements, and the user can create an arbitrary tone color by setting various parameters related to the voice and each element. The element is a minimum unit for forming a musical sound signal, and corresponds to waveform data digitally recorded in the sound source memory of the sound source circuit 8. One element itself can be used as one voice, but by configuring one voice with multiple elements, a voice with a “thick” feature that cannot be expressed by one element, key-pressing strength and range ( It is possible to realize a voice that switches elements to be used according to the key range. The sound source circuit 8 can be operated as a so-called multi sound source when performing an automatic performance by a sequencer, that is, can simultaneously generate musical sound signals using different voices for each of a plurality of parts.

  The outline of the tone generation operation in the tone generator circuit 8 having the above configuration will be described. As described above, one voice is composed of a combination of one or more elements, and the tone generator circuit 8 constitutes one voice. A musical tone signal based on each of the one or more elements is generated, and the musical tone signal generated for each element is output from the sound generation channel assigned to each element. The musical tone signal for each element output from the sound generation channel is appropriately processed and effected based on the parameter setting for the element, and the musical tone signal for each element is unified so that 1 based on one voice. The musical tone signal for the part is formed. The musical sound signal for one part is sounded from the sound system 9 with appropriate processing and effects applied based on mixing settings (part parameter settings) related to the part. When reproducing song data (performance data) composed of a plurality of parts, the data for each part is received by the MIDI channel corresponding to each part, and assigned to the corresponding part for each MIDI channel. By generating a musical tone signal based on the voice, it is possible to generate a musical tone signal of a voice assigned to the part corresponding to each MIDI channel.

  As one of the basic functions of the electronic musical instrument according to this embodiment, there are two functions: a mixing function for song data composed of a plurality of parts and a parameter editing function for editing parameters of each element in detail with respect to the voice for each part. An “editor function” including As will be described in detail later, the editor function in the electronic musical instrument can be remotely controlled from the PC by executing an application program for realizing the editor function in a PC externally connected to the electronic musical instrument.

  In FIG. 1, a PC is a general-purpose personal computer on which an application program (hereinafter referred to as “editor software”) for remotely controlling the editor function (setting of various parameters) of the electronic musical instrument is mounted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the PC operates a processing circuit 10 that includes a CPU and controls the operation of the PC, a storage circuit 11 that includes storage means such as ROM, RAM, and flash memory, and an operation unit 12 such as a keyboard and a mouse. An operation detection circuit 13 for detecting, a display control circuit 15 for controlling display on a display unit (display) 14, and a communication I / F 16 for connecting to an external device by wire or wirelessly are configured. It is connected via the communication bus 10B.

  The communication I / F 16 may be an interface compliant with any conventionally known communication standard such as USB, IEEE 1394, mLAN (registered trademark), MIDI, etc., like the communication I / F 7 of the electronic musical instrument. It is connected to the electronic musical instrument via the communication I / F 16 so as to be capable of bidirectional communication.

  The storage circuit 11 stores editor software for remotely controlling the editor function of the electronic musical instrument. When the processing circuit 10 executes the editor software, the editor function of the electronic musical instrument connected externally via the communication I / F 16 can be remotely controlled from the PC side. That is, the user can edit and set various parameters of the electronic musical instrument using the user interface on the PC side. As will be described in detail later, the present invention is characterized by a screen configuration of a window displayed on the display unit 14 when the editor software is executed. In addition to the editor function, the electronic musical instrument functions that can be remotely controlled from the PC include a sequencer function that reproduces song data by an operation on the PC side and causes the electronic musical instrument to perform automatically.

  The storage circuit 11 stores data to be edited by the editor function, that is, a storage area for storing a data group related to various parameters of each part, voice, and element data, their setting values, etc. A buffer area is provided for buffering various data generated during execution. Note that the storage contents of the memory circuit 11 can be matched by appropriately synchronizing the storage contents related to the editor function in the storage circuit 11 and the corresponding storage contents in the storage circuit 2 on the electronic musical instrument side.

  When the editor software is activated on the PC, an editor window for setting various parameters of the electronic musical instrument is displayed on the display unit 14. 2A and 2B show examples of the screen configuration of the editor window 20 displayed on the display unit 14.

  In FIG. 2A, the editor window 20 is composed of a part area 21, an element area 22, and an edit area 23. Further, a menu bar 24 is provided at the upper part of the editor window 20. A keyboard part 25 made of a GUI part simulating a keyboard is provided at the lower part of each. An edit area display on / off switch button 26 for instructing switching of the screen configuration of the editor window 20 (display / non-display of the edit area 23) is provided above the element area 22.

  The editor window 20 is roughly divided into two functions: a mixing function for mixing a plurality of parts constituting song data, and a parameter editing function for detailed editing of element parameters. When using the parameter editing function, as shown in FIG. 2A, an “edit parameter detail screen” for displaying the edit area 23 in the editor window 20 and editing the parameter in detail in the edit area 23. Is displayed. When the mixing function is used, as shown in FIG. 2B, the display area 23 is not displayed and the display width of the part area 21 is increased so that the amount of information that can be displayed in the part area 21 is reduced. Do more. That is, the user can switch the screen configuration in one editor window 20 according to the function to be used.

  In this specification, when the edit area 23 is displayed in the editor window 20, the display format (see FIG. 2A) in which the part area 21 is displayed with a narrow display width is referred to as a “reduced screen”. A display format (see FIG. 2B) in which the part area 21 is displayed with a wide display width when the edit area 23 is not displayed in the editor window 20 is referred to as an “enlarged screen”.

  When the editor software is started, first, an editor window 20 is started on the display unit 14, and the part area 21 is displayed on the enlarged screen on the left side of the editor window 20, and the element area 22 is adjacent to the right side of the part area 21. And the keyboard part 25 is displayed at the bottom. That is, when the editor software is activated, the window 20 shown in FIG. 2B is displayed in which the edit area 23 is not displayed. As will be described in detail later, the user can perform mixing settings for each part, selection of elements and parameters to be edited, and detailed editing of parameters in the respective areas 21 to 23 in the editor window 20. The editor window 20 may be displayed large on the entire display area (the entire screen) of the display unit 14. Further, as is clear from FIG. 2B, the part area 21 and the element area 22 of the enlarged screen are arranged so that the combined width of the part area 21 and the element area 22 arranged on the left and right substantially matches the width of the editor window 20. Each display size is defined.

  In the editor window 20 displayed when the editor software is started up, predetermined GUI parts such as button images and character string display fields that are defined in advance are displayed. At this time, the song data to be edited is still selected. Therefore, specific information (such as parameter setting values) is not set in each area. If the edit area 23 is displayed by operating the edit area display on / off switch button 26 after the editor window 20 is started and the song data to be edited is not selected, a blank area is displayed as the edit area 23. It is secured on the window 20 (see FIG. 2A). This is because the GUI component to be displayed in the edit area 23 is not specified while the parameter to be edited is not selected. As shown in FIG. 2A, the three areas of the part area 21, the element area 22, and the edit area 23 are displayed side by side in the editor window 20 with a display size that roughly matches the width of the editor window 20. . The display on / off operation of the edit area 23 will be described later.

  The user can open a file menu from a menu bar 24 provided at the top of the editor window 20 and select any one song data as an editing target from the file menu. FIGS. 3A to 3D show data configuration examples of song data to be edited by the editor software. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for displaying the editor window 20 when song data is selected. This process is started when the user selects one song data from the file menu, and reads various parameter setting values for the song data selected by the user, and displays based on the read parameter setting values. This is a process for displaying the contents in the areas 21 to 23 of the editor window 20.

  In step S1, it is checked whether the display format of the part area 21 is “enlarged screen”, that is, whether the edit area 23 is displayed. This is because the types of parameters to be displayed differ depending on the enlargement or reduction of the part area 21 (display / non-display of the edit area 23). If the part area 21 is an enlarged screen, that is, if the edit area 23 is not displayed (YES in step S1), display processing of the part area 21 on the enlarged screen is performed in step S2 based on the song data selected for editing. Do.

  FIG. 3A shows a configuration example of the song data 30. A plurality of song data 30 can be stored in the storage circuit 2 or 11. One song data 30 includes a master parameter 31 representing parameter settings for the entire song and data of a plurality of parts 32 (up to 16 parts in this example) constituting the song. The master parameter 31 is, for example, a master volume level for the entire song, and the value of the parameter is set for each song data 30.

  Each part 32 includes voice instruction data 33, part parameters 34, and performance data 35. The voice instruction data 33 is a pointer to voice data assigned to the part (see FIG. 3B described later), and contains data of the voice name. In the part parameter 34, a plurality of types of parameters relating to the mixing setting of the part are defined in advance, and the value of each part parameter 34 is set for each part 32. The type of part parameter 34 will be described with reference to FIG. The performance data 35 is composed of a sequence of MIDI events and represents the performance content in the part 32. Each part 32 may be composed of only the voice designation data 33 and the part parameter 34 without having the performance data 35.

  The set value of the part parameter 34 of each part 32 is information displayed on the part area 21 of the editor window 20. As will be apparent from the description below, the part parameter 34 is displayed only on the enlarged screen shown in FIG. 2B, and is displayed on both the reduced screen (a) and the enlarged screen (b). In addition, there are three types of display methods different in the reduced screen of (a) and the enlarged screen of (b).

  With reference to Fig.5 (a), it refers to the detailed structure of the enlarged screen of the part area | region 21. FIG. The part area 21 is an area for displaying a list of a plurality of parts 32 constituting song data to be edited and setting values of part parameters 34 for each part 32. The user can select any one part 32 of a plurality of parts constituting the song data in the part area 21.

  In the part area 21, a plurality of part information display fields 50 respectively corresponding to all the parts 32 constituting the song data 30 to be edited are arranged vertically. Each part information display column 50 includes a part number display section 51, a mute on / off setting 52, voice name information 53, an equalizer (EQ) setting 54, an insertion effect (Ins. EF) setting 55, a pan ( PAN) setting 56 and volume level (Level) setting 57 GUI components are displayed from right to left on the drawing. In this embodiment, it is assumed that all parameters included in the part parameter 34 are all displayed in the part area 21 of the enlarged screen. That is, the part parameter 34 shown in FIG. 3A includes parameters corresponding to the GUI parts indicated by the reference numerals 51 to 57.

  In the part area 21, each part 32 constituting one song data is assigned a part number consisting of a positive integer serial number (“1” to maximum “16”) for convenience, and a part number display unit 51. The upper number indicates the part number. The part number display unit 51 is configured by a GUI part of a selection button, and provides a user with part options for selecting a part to be edited (voice data assigned to the part). When this part number display section 51 is selected by a mouse click operation or the like, the display state of the entire part information display column 50 corresponding to the selected part is changed to highlighted display so that it can be distinguished from others. FIG. 5A shows a state in which the third part is selected as an example, and the entire display field 50 of the third part is highlighted by a shaded display. Part selection is made alternatively. The mute on / off setting 52 is constituted by a GUI component of a button image for switching mute on / off for each part.

  In the voice name information 53, information on the name and classification of the voice data assigned to the part is displayed. The voices assigned to one part 32 are managed in a tree-type classification structure including a category (category), a number (No.), a bank (Bank), and a name (Voice Name) which are major classifications. As shown in FIG. 5A, on the enlarged screen, detailed classification information including not only the name but also the category, number, and bank information is displayed as the voice name information 53 assigned to the part.

  The equalizer (EQ) 54 is configured by three knob-type operation unit GUI parts respectively corresponding to three frequency bands of a low frequency (Lo), a mid frequency (Mid), and a high frequency (Hi). The rotation position of each knob-type controller indicates the set value of the equalizer parameter of the part. An insertion effect (Ins. EF) 55 is a GUI for a knob-type operator for adjusting each level of reverb (Rev) and chorus (Cho) mounted as an insertion effect on / off setting button and an insertion effect. It is composed of parts, and the user can use these GUI parts to turn on / off the insertion effect of the part and adjust the level of each insertion effect. A pan (PAN) 56 is composed of a GUI part of a knob-type operator, and represents a pan (sound image localization) set value of the part by its rotational position. A volume level (Level) 57 displays a level meter and a set value of the volume level.

Accordingly, in step S2 of FIG. 4, the set values of all the part parameters 34 constituting each of the 16 parts 32 constituting the song data 30 to be edited are read out, and the corresponding part of each part information display column 50 is read. Each of the read setting values of the parameter 34 is displayed (see FIG. 5A). As a result, each part information display field 50 in the part area 21 is assigned 16 parts 32 constituting the song data 30 to be edited, and the values of all the part parameters 34 of the assigned part 32 are set. Is displayed.
On the enlarged screen of the part area 21, since all values of the part parameters 34 of all the parts 32 constituting the song data 30 to be edited are displayed in detail, when using the mixing function for setting the mixing for each part, The part parameters of each part 32 can be set in detail. The user can edit the part parameter 34 (mixing setting for each part) by using the GUI part in each part information display field 50, or change the voice assignment for each part. Further, one of the 16 parts 32 constituting the song data 30 can be selected as a part (voice data) to be displayed in the element area 22.

  The part selection state in the part area 21 is held in the selected part buffer area. In the selected part buffer area, the data of the part number of the currently selected part 32 is held for each song data 30 to be edited. Therefore, when a certain song data 30 is selected for editing, the part selected at the time of the previous editing operation for the song data can be read from the selected part buffer area and set as the selected part. . If, for example, when the selected song data 30 is read for the first time to be edited, information on the selected part is not held in the selected part buffer area, a predetermined part based on the initial setting (for example, the first part) ) Is automatically set to the currently selected part. The data storage in the selected part buffer area may be either volatile or non-volatile storage.

  In step S3, the currently selected part is read from the selected part buffer area, and the element area 22 is displayed based on the voice data assigned to the selected part.

  FIG. 3B shows a configuration example of voice data. A plurality of voice data 36 can be stored in the storage circuit 2 or 11. One voice data 36 includes a voice name 37 of the voice, a voice master parameter 38, and a plurality (eight in this example) of elements 39. The voice name 37 is data representing the name of the voice data 36 and is linked to the voice instruction data 33 included in each part 32 in the song data 30. That is, by referring to the voice instruction data 33 of the selected part buffered in the selected part buffer area, the voice data 36 to be displayed in the element area 22 is specified. The voice master parameter 38 is various parameters related to the entire voice.

  The voice data 36 is composed of a plurality (eight in this example) of elements 39. Each element 39 includes a plurality of parameter groups (element data 40) shown in detail in FIG. 3C and an element on / off setting indicating an on / off setting of an element which is one of the parameters constituting the element 39. OFF data 41 is included. Here, the element on / off data 41 of the parameter group constituting the element 39 is extracted and shown in the hierarchy of the voice data 36. The element on / off data 41 indicates the element 39 as described later. This is because the parameters are classified into parameters that are always displayed in the element region 22 separately from the other parameter groups that are configured. The value of element on / off data 41 (on or off) is set for each element 39 of each voice data 36. The user can arbitrarily set the timbre of the voice by a combination of elements 39 constituting the voice (on / off setting of each element 39), parameter setting for each element 39, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 3C, the element data 40 includes a waveform instruction data 42 for specifying the waveform data assigned to the element and a plurality of types of parameters for processing the waveform data assigned to the element. Is included. As shown in FIG. 3D, a plurality of waveform data 49 is stored in the memory of the tone generator circuit 8. Based on the waveform instruction data 42 included in the element data 40, one waveform data 49 assigned to the element data 40 is specified. Strictly speaking, the data assigned to the element data 40 is a “waveform” composed of a set of “key banks” that is a combination of a key (note) range to which sampled waveform data is assigned and a velocity range. In this specification, for convenience of explanation, the data assigned to the element data 40 is referred to as “waveform data”.

  As shown in FIG. 3C, the parameters constituting the element data 40 include an oscillator parameter 43, a pitch parameter 44, a filter parameter 45, an amplifier parameter 46, an LFO parameter 47, and an EQ parameter 48. These types of parameters are common to all element data 40, and a unique parameter value is set for each element data 40. As will be described later, in the element area 22, a “table of contents” composed of a plurality of parameter groups in which these parameters 43 to 48 are grouped by one to a plurality of parameters according to the control target of each parameter is edited in the edit area 23. It is displayed as a parameter group option for selecting a target.

  FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of the element region 22. The element area 22 displays a list of a plurality of elements constituting the voice data assigned to the part selected in the part area 21 and a parameter for selecting an editing target from a parameter group included in the element. This is an area for displaying group options (“table of contents”). The user can select any one element in the element region 22 and any parameter group among the parameter groups of the element. As shown in FIG. 6, in the element area 22, element on / off switches 58 corresponding to the eight elements 39 constituting one voice data 36, and eight element selection buttons corresponding to the eight elements 39 respectively. 59 and a table of contents column 60 for selecting a parameter group to be displayed in the editor area 23 are provided. The element on / off switch 58 is configured by a GUI component of a check box for switching on / off of the corresponding element 39. In the figure, it is assumed that an element in which an on / off switch (check box) 58 is checked is set to an on state.

  Eight element selection buttons 59 arranged vertically in the element area 22 provide element options for allowing the user to select an element to be edited. When the element selection button 59 is selected by a mouse click operation or the like, an element corresponding to the selected button 59 is selected alternatively, and the display state of the selected element selection button 59 is highlighted (in FIG. Switch to display). In the example of FIG. 6, the state corresponding to the element number “2” is selected as an example, and the corresponding element selection button 59 is highlighted in a shaded display. The numbers “1” to “8” on the element selection button 59 are element numbers assigned to the eight elements 39 for convenience.

  A table of contents column 60 is provided to the right of the element selection button 59. The table of contents column 60 displays a table of contents 61 to 64 in which a plurality of types of parameters 43 to 48 (see FIG. 3C) included in the element 39 are grouped into a plurality of groups according to the control target. These contents 61 to 64 are parameter options for selecting parameters to be edited in the edit area 23. The table of contents 61 is an oscillator pitch group corresponding to the oscillator parameter 43 and the pitch parameter meter 43 (“OSCILLATOR / PITCH”), the table of contents 62 is a filter group (“FILTER”) corresponding to the filter parameter 45, and the table of contents 63 is an amplifier parameter 46. The table of contents 64 is an LFO / EQ group (“LFO / EQ”) corresponding to the LFO parameter 47 and the EQ parameter 48. The filter group 62 includes a plurality of types of parameters related to the filter such as a filter type, an envelope generator, and a filter scale. The amplifier group 63 includes a plurality of types related to the amplifier such as an amplifier level, an envelope generator, and an amplifier scale. Parameters are included.

  The user can alternatively select the specified contents 61 to 64 by specifying any of the contents 61 to 64 in the table of contents column 60 by a mouse click operation or the like. The display state of the selected character portion of the table of contents 61 to 64 is changed to highlighted display. In the figure, an example in which the oscillator / pitch group 61 is selected is shown, and this is highlighted by a shaded display.

  Further, between the element selection button 59 and the table of contents column 60, a connection unit 65 that connects between one element selection button 59 and the table of contents column 60 is displayed. The linking unit 65 connects the currently selected element selection button 59 and the table of contents column 60 in a tree shape, so that the table of contents (parameter group) 61 to 64 selected in the table of contents column 60 includes eight elements 39. Of which element the parameter group belongs to.

  As for the element number being selected and the data of the selected table of contents in the element area 22, a selected element buffer area for holding the selected element number and the table of contents data is provided for each song data 30 to be edited. To do. Therefore, when the song data 30 to be edited is selected, the currently selected element and table of contents at the time of the previous editing work are read from the selected element buffer area and the selected data at the time of the current editing work is read out. You can set the element and table of contents. If the selected element number and table of contents information are not held in the selected element buffer area, as in the case of the selected part buffer area described above, a predetermined element and table of contents (for example, the first table of contents) The element's oscillator / pitch group, etc.) are automatically set to the currently selected element and table of contents.

  In step S3 in FIG. 4, element on / off data 41 for each element 39 in the voice data 36 of the selected part is read, and each element on / off data 41 in the element area 22 is read based on each element on / off data 41. The display of the on / off state of the / off switch 58 is updated. Thus, in the element region 22, the value of the element on / off data 41 is displayed on each element on / off switch 58, and the other parameter groups constituting each element 39 are not displayed. In the element area 22, the currently selected element selection button 59 is highlighted based on the selected element number held in the selected element buffer area, and the currently selected element selection button 59. Each table of contents 61 to 64 in the table of contents column 60 is connected by a connecting portion 65. Further, one of the contents 61 to 64 is highlighted based on the data of the selected table of contents held in the selected element buffer area. Thereby, it is clearly shown which parameter belongs to which element a parameter group (parameter detail screen) displayed in an editor area 23 shown in FIG. 7 described later.

  Returning to step S1 of FIG. 4, the case where the display format of the part area 21 is the reduced screen, that is, the edit area 23 is displayed (NO in step S1) will be described. When the display format of the part area 21 is a reduced screen, the display size is small. Therefore, as will be described later with reference to FIG. The display is omitted. Therefore, only the values of some parameters to be displayed in the part area 21 of the reduced screen among the song data 30 selected as the editing target are read out, and the corresponding part of the part area 21 is read based on the read out data. Display is performed (step S4).

  FIG. 5B is a display example of a reduced screen of the part area 21. In the part area 21, a part information display field 50 corresponding to each part 32 includes a part number display section 51, a mute on / off setting 52, a voice name information 53, a pan (PAN) setting 56, and a volume level ( Each information of the (Level) setting 57 is displayed. That is, some of the part parameters 34 are omitted from the reduced screen of the part area 21. It is assumed that the type of part parameter 34 omitted in the reduced screen is defined in advance. The voice name information 53 is displayed on the enlarged screen including the detailed classification information such as the category (see FIG. 5A). On the reduced screen, the classification information such as the category is displayed. Only the voice name is displayed without displaying, and the number of characters displayed for the voice name is also limited, and the voice name consisting of a long character string exceeding the limit of the number of characters is displayed in a suitably shortened form.

  In this way, on the reduced screen of the part area 21, the display of some of the parameters specified in advance in the part parameters 34 is omitted, and only the remaining some parameters are displayed. By changing the display format of the voice name between the reduced screen and the enlarged screen, only the minimum necessary information can be presented even in a narrow display width. The case where the part area 21 is displayed on the reduced screen is a case where the edit area 23 is displayed and the parameter of the element is edited in detail, and at this time, the information of the part parameter 34 needs to be presented in detail. There is no. In addition, even if the user is a reduced screen, the user can operate the values of some of the parameters displayed on the screen.

  Step S5 is the same as the processing of step S3, and based on the element on / off data 41 of each element 39 of the voice data 36 of the currently selected part, each element on / off switch (check box) 58 of the element area 22 is selected. Is displayed (see FIG. 6). In step S6, the selected element and selected table of contents data stored in the selected element buffer area are read out, and the parameter group corresponding to the table of contents is selected based on the read table of contents (parameter group) data. A parameter detail screen composed of a GUI component group for editing is displayed, and the parameter group corresponding to the selected table of contents is selected from the parameters 43 to 48 constituting the read element data 40 being selected. Each parameter setting value is read out and displayed at the corresponding GUI part location on the parameter detail screen.

  A configuration example of the “parameter detail screen” displayed in the edit area 23 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the overall characteristics of the edit area 23, and is not a diagram that accurately depicts the components of the parameter group for the sake of illustration and explanation. I want. The edit area 23 is an area for displaying a parameter detail screen corresponding to the selected parameter group of the selected element of the selected part. The user can edit the parameters included in the currently selected parameter group in the edit area 23 in detail. As described above, the contents 61 to 64 posted as parameter group options to be read in the edit area 23 include the four groups of the oscillator / pitch group 61, the filter group 62, the amplifier group 63, and the LFO / EQ group 64. The type of GUI component group constituting the parameter detail screen is predetermined for each group. As shown in FIG. 7, the parameter detail screen displays a GUI part such as a graph showing parameter characteristics, a list box, a text box, a slider, or a knob-type operator image with a numerical value display column. The rotational position, numerical value display, graph characteristics, etc. of the knob type operation element of each GUI component are set based on the parameter setting values for the selected parameter group of the selected element. The user can graphically edit the setting value of the parameter to be edited, the graph characteristics, and the like using various GUI parts on the edit area 23.

  Since the parameter detail screen to be displayed in the edit area 23 is prepared for each parameter group (table of contents), the number of GUI parts to be displayed in the edit area 23 is relatively small and each GUI part has a margin. Can be displayed large. Therefore, even within a limited display size, the parameters can be displayed in detail and in an easy-to-understand manner, and the operability is excellent. In addition, since the display size itself of the edit area 23 does not need to be so large, it is convenient for the screen configuration of this embodiment in which three areas are secured in one editor window 20.

  In addition, about the detail of GUI component structure and operation | movement content for each parameter group 61-64, since a well-known technique should be used, the illustration and description are abbreviate | omitted.

  Thus, by the processing shown in FIG. 4, setting values of various parameters for the song data 30 to be edited are displayed in the areas 21 to 23 on the editor window 20. As described above, the main information necessary for editing one song data appears in the corresponding portions of the three areas 21 to 23 juxtaposed on the one editor window 20, so that the user can display the screen. Necessary information can be simultaneously and easily confirmed on the editor window 20 without scrolling or displaying another window.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, in the editor window 20, the part area 21, the element area 22, and the edit area 23 are displayed side by side from left to right. Further, as shown in (b), when the edit area 23 is not displayed, the part area 21 of the enlarged screen is displayed on the left side of the window 20, and the element area 22 is displayed on the right side thereof. That is, regardless of whether the editor window 20 is configured to display / hide the edit area 23, the horizontal arrangement relationship of the part area 21, the element area 22, and the edit area 23 is maintained. As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D, the song data 30 has a hierarchical data structure (tree structure) including the song data 30, voice data 36, element 39, and waveform data. Therefore, when the tree structure of the song data is made to correspond to the arrangement of the areas 21 to 23 in the editor window 20, the uppermost song data 30 is displayed in the part area 21 located at the left end of the editor window 20. The voice data 36 that is the lower layer of the song data 30 is displayed in the element area 22 located on the right side, and the edit area 23 located on the right side of the element area 22 is the lower level data of the voice data 36. A group of parameters constituting the element 39 is displayed. Therefore, it is possible to intuitively understand the tree-like mutual relationship of the data displayed in the areas 21 to 23 from the arrangement relation of the areas 21 to 23 in the editor window 20.

Next, the display / non-display switching operation of the edit area 23 will be described.
The user can issue an instruction to switch the display / non-display of the edit area 23 using the edit area display on / off switch button 26 provided in the element area 22. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the edit area display ON / OFF switch button 26 is drawn with a left-pointing arrow on the left half side and a right-pointing arrow on the right half side forming the appearance of the button 26. It is. As shown in FIG. 2A, when the edit area 23 is in the display-on state (part area 21 is a reduced screen), the right-pointing arrow of the edit area display on / off switch button 26 is lit (colored display). This shows that the display of the edit area 23 is erased in response to the instruction of the button 26. The direction of the lighting arrow on the button 26 (rightward) corresponds to the display size expansion direction of the part area 21 when the part area 21 is switched to the enlarged screen in response to the display area 23 being turned off, as will be described later. Yes.
As shown in FIG. 2B, when the edit area 23 is not displayed (the part area 21 is an enlarged screen), the left arrow of the edit area display on / off switch button 26 is lit, and the button It shows that the edit area 23 is displayed in response to the instruction 26. The direction of the lighting arrow on the button 26 (leftward) corresponds to the display size reduction direction of the part area 21 when the part area 21 switches to the reduced screen in response to the display area 23 being turned on, as will be described later. Yes.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of an operation procedure for displaying the edit area 23, that is, an operation procedure when the edit area 23 is switched from the non-display state (see FIG. 2B) to the display state (see FIG. 2A). It is a flowchart to show. The display-on operation of the edit area 23 described below is executed when the edit area display on / off switch button 26 is operated when the edit area 23 is not displayed (when the part area 21 is an enlarged screen). The Further, it can also be executed when any one of the contents 61 to 64 is selected by the user in the element area 22.

  When the user instructs display on the edit area 23, in step S7, the process of changing the display of the part area 21 from the enlarged screen (see FIG. 2B) to the reduced screen (see FIG. 2A). Is done. At this time, the display format of the part area 21 is changed so as to reduce the display width of the part area 21 by sliding the right end of the part area 21 displayed on the enlarged screen leftward. In step S8, information to be displayed in the part area 21 changed to the reduced screen (part of part parameters of the currently selected song) is displayed (step S8 in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5B). )).

  In step S9, a process for moving the display position of the element region 22 is performed. As shown in FIG. 2B, when the part area 21 is an enlarged screen, the display sizes and display positions of both the areas 21 and 22 are designed so that the element area 22 is positioned at the right end of the editor window 20. In step S7, the display width of the part area 21 is reduced to the left. Accordingly, the display position of the element area 22 is moved to the left side so that the element area 22 is adjacent to the right side of the part area 21. Maintain a relationship. In step S10, the edit area 23 is displayed in the empty area (right next to the element area 22) secured on the right side of the editor window 20 by reducing the part area 21 and moving the element area 22. Thus, in the editor window 20, the part area 21, the element area 22, and the edit area 23 are arranged in order from the left side in accordance with the hierarchical structure of the song data 30. At this stage, the parameter detail screen (GUI component group) is not displayed in the edit area 23, and only a blank area is secured.

  In step S11, a parameter detail screen corresponding to the currently selected table of contents (parameter group) is displayed in the edit area 23 based on the information on the table of contents (parameter group) held in the selected element buffer area. At this stage, values have not yet been set for the parameters for each GUI component constituting the parameter detail screen of the edit area 23. In step S12, the parameter setting values of the selected table of contents (parameter group) of the selected element held in the selected element buffer area are read out, and the nuclear GUI parts constituting the parameter detail screen of the edit area 23 The read parameter setting values are displayed on the screen (see FIG. 7).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the display off operation of the edit area 23. The user can use the edit area display on / off switch button 26 to instruct display off of the edit area 23 (close the edit area 23). When the edit area display ON / OFF switch button 26 is operated while the edit area 23 is in the display-on state (when the part area 21 is a reduced screen), the display of the edit area 23 disappears in the editor window 20 (step In step S13, the element region 22 is moved to the right end of the window 20 that has become blank due to the deletion of the edit region 23 (step S14). In step S15, the display width of the part area 21 displayed on the reduced screen is expanded rightward, so that the display format of the part area 21 is changed to an enlarged screen. In step S16, information to be displayed in the part area 21 of the enlarged screen (all part parameters of the currently selected song) is displayed in the corresponding part of the part area 21 (step S2 in FIG. 4 and FIG. a)).

  Thus, when the display on / off of the edit area 23 is switched, the enlargement / reduction display switching of the part area 21 and the movement of the display position of the element area 22 are performed, whereby the element area 22 and the edit area 23 are edited. The horizontal order of the three areas of the area 23 is maintained. Further, when the display area 23 is switched on / off, the display size and display contents of the element area 22 are not changed, and the operability of the element area 22 can be controlled regardless of whether the edit area 23 is displayed on / off. The visibility is not changed. In the part area 21, the number of parameters to be displayed and the display method are changed according to switching between enlargement / reduction of the display size (voice name complete notation / abbreviation notation). Note that the display size is not enlarged or reduced.

  Next, processing when an operation for selecting a new part in the part area 21 is performed will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As described above, the user designates a plurality of part number display portions 51 displayed in the part area 21 by a mouse click operation or the like, and thereby designates the designated part (voice data assigned to the part) in the element area. 22 can be selected as information to be displayed. When the user performs an operation to newly select one part, the part information display column 50 corresponding to the newly selected part is changed to highlighted in step S17, and corresponds to the previously selected part. The part information display field 50 returns to the normal display state. Further, the stored contents of the selected part buffer area are rewritten to the part number corresponding to the newly selected part.

  In step S18, element on / off data 41 for each of the eight elements 39 constituting the voice data 36 corresponding to the newly selected part is read, and based on the read element on / off data 41, The display (ON / OFF display) of each element ON / OFF switch 58 in the element area 22 is updated. If the part area 21 is displayed on the enlarged screen (YES in step S19), the display update of the editor window 20 is finished here. On the other hand, when the part area 21 is displayed on the reduced screen (NO in step S19), in step S20, according to the change of the selected part, display of the corresponding part in the edit area 23 (each parameter setting) Value). This process itself is the same as the process in step S4 of FIG. That is, when a new part is selected, there is no change in the display configuration of the element area 22 (the number of points of the element on / off switch 58 and the element selection button 59), the selected element number, and the selected state of the selected table of contents. Further, the configuration of the parameter detail screen (configuration of the GUI part) in the element area 23 is left as it is, and only the setting values of each parameter are rewritten according to the newly selected part (voice data).

  Next, processing when an operation of newly selecting an element in the element region 22 is performed will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As described above, the user selects one of the plurality of element selection buttons 59 displayed in the element area 22 by a mouse click operation or the like, thereby selecting the specified element as an element to be edited in the edit area 23. be able to. In step S21, the element selection button 59 corresponding to the newly selected element is switched to highlighted display (shaded display), and the element selection button 59 corresponding to the previously selected element returns to the normal display state. Further, the selected element number in the selected element buffer area is rewritten to an element number corresponding to the newly selected element.

  In step S22, the display of the connecting portion 65 that connects the element selection button 59 and the table of contents column 60 is updated. That is, the connection unit 65 connects the newly selected element selection button 59 and the table of contents column 60. FIG. 12 shows an example of display update of the connection part 65 when the selected element is changed from the element number “2” to the same number “8” as an example of display update of the connection part 65 in the element region 22. . As shown in FIG. 12, when the element selection is changed, only the positions of the connecting limbs of the connecting portion 65 are maintained while the display configuration of the plural (eight) element selecting buttons 59 and the table of contents column 60 is fixed. Is changed according to the selected element number.

  If the part area 21 is displayed on the enlarged screen (YES in step S23), the display update process in the editor window 20 ends here. On the other hand, when the part area 21 is displayed on the reduced screen (NO in step S23), in step S24, in accordance with the change of the currently selected element, the corresponding part in the edit area 23 is displayed (each parameter setting). Value). This process itself is the same as the process in step S4 in FIG. Accordingly, the configuration of the parameter detail screen (configuration of the GUI part) in the element area 23 is left as it is, and only the setting values of each parameter on the parameter detail screen are rewritten according to the newly selected element.

  Next, processing when an operation for selecting a new table of contents in the element region 22 is performed will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As described above, the user designates a plurality of contents 61 to 64 in the contents column 60 displayed in the element area 22 by a mouse click operation or the like, so that the designated contents are set as parameter groups to be edited in the edit area 23. You can choose. In step S25, the newly selected table of contents switches to highlighted display (shaded display), and the previously selected table of contents returns to the normal display state. Further, the selected table of contents in the selected element buffer area is rewritten with the element number corresponding to the newly selected element.

  When the part area 21 is displayed on the enlarged screen (when the edit area 23 is not displayed) (YES in step S26), the edit area 23 is displayed in steps S27 to S32 according to the table of contents selection operation. Perform the process. That is, the part area 21 is changed to a reduced screen format, the display position of the element area 22 is moved, the parameter detail screen of the edit area 23 is configured for the newly selected table of contents, and each parameter setting value is set at the corresponding position. Is displayed. Since the processing of steps S27 to S32 is the same as the processing described with reference to FIG. 8, the details thereof should be referred to the above description.

  On the other hand, when the part area 21 is displayed on the reduced screen (NO in step S26), since the edit area 23 is already displayed, the edit area 23 is displayed in accordance with the newly selected contents 61-64. The configuration of the parameter detail screen 23 is changed (step S33), and the selected table of contents of the currently selected element (newly selected table of contents) is added to each GUI component of the parameter detail screen corresponding to the newly selected table of contents. Each parameter setting value is displayed (step S34). The processes in steps S33 and S34 are the same as the processes in steps S11 and S12 described with reference to FIG.

  The user can graphically set various parameters and edit data using various GUI components on the editor window 20. When the parameters displayed in the part area 21 are changed, the parameter display contents in the part area 21 are updated based on the change operation by the user, and the song data 30 currently read in the part area 21 is updated. The setting value of the changed parameter included in is rewritten with new setting content. When the part area 21 is an enlarged screen, the user can edit all the part parameters 34 of all the parts 32 constituting the song data 30 to be edited from the editor window 20 (see FIG. 5A). When the part area 21 is a reduced screen, the user can edit some part parameters 34 of all the parts 32 constituting the song data 30 to be edited from the editor window 20 (FIG. 5B). reference).

  When the parameter displayed in the element area 22 is changed, the parameter display content in the element area 22 is updated based on the change operation by the user, and the voice data 36 currently read in the element area 22 is updated. The setting value of the changed parameter included in is rewritten with new setting content. That is, the user sets ON / OFF of the elements 39 constituting the voice data 36 read out to the element area 22, and edits the combination of the elements 39 constituting the voice data 36, or selects an element selection button. 59 or the table of contents 61 to 64 in the table of contents column 60 can be used to arbitrarily change the parameter group read to the edit area 23. The display content of the element area 22 does not change regardless of whether the edit area 23 is displayed or not. Therefore, even when the user is editing the parameters of one element in the editor area 23 in detail, Even when the part parameter 34 is being edited in the part area 21, the ON / OFF setting of each element of the voice data 36 to be edited can be confirmed and changed.

  When the parameter displayed in the edit area 23 is changed, the parameter display content in the element area 22 is updated based on the change operation by the user, and the element currently selected in the element area 22 is selected. The set value of the changed parameter in the table of contents (parameter group) in the middle is rewritten with new setting contents. By the parameter editing work in the element area 23, the user can edit any parameter of any element in detail to create a desired voice (timbre). As described above, since the parameter detail screen (GUI component group) corresponding to the parameter group included in the table of contents (parameter group) selected by the user is displayed in the edit region 23, the GUI component to be displayed in the edit region 23 is displayed. Since the number of display points may be relatively small, the parameters can be displayed in detail and in an easy-to-understand manner even in a limited display area, and the operability is excellent. In addition, since a keyboard section 25 composed of GUI parts simulating a keyboard is always displayed at the bottom of the editor window 20, an editing operation for editing parameters in detail in the edit area 23 and a trial listening to the edited voice are performed. It is possible to quickly switch pronunciation confirmation work, and work efficiency is good.

  The user uses the editing result of the part parameter on the editor window 20 to play back the song data (automatic performance playback) with desired mixing settings, edit the voice data (element on / off setting, An arbitrary voice can be created by setting parameters for each element), and a musical tone can be generated using the created voice, or an arbitrary name can be assigned to the created voice and stored.

  In the above embodiment, the song data 30 is composed of 16 parts 32, and one part 32 is composed of eight elements 39. However, the number of parts and the number of elements are not limited to this. . Moreover, the data structure shown to Fig.3 (a)-(d) is an example illustrated in order to demonstrate clearly the relationship between the hierarchical relationship of each data, and the display location of each data in the editor window 20, The data structure needs to be at least a data structure in which each voice assigned to each of a plurality of parts constituting song data is composed of a plurality of elements, and each of the plurality of elements has a plurality of parameters of the same type. . For example, the voice data 36 shown in FIG. 3B includes the element data 40 and the element on / off data 41 shown in FIG. 3D for each of a plurality of elements 39 constituting one voice data. However, in the hierarchy of the voice data 36, a detailed parameter (element on / off data) of the element data 40 is configured as a configuration having the link data to the element data 40 corresponding to each element 39 and the element on / off data 41. May be divided into lower-level data.

  Further, in the element region 22, in the above-described embodiment, the parameters are grouped for each parameter control target, but the grouping method is not limited to that described above. Also, the types of parameters to be grouped are not limited to those listed in the above embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, the element area 22 is provided with only GUI parts relating to selection / setting for each element, such as the element on / off button 58, the element selection button 59, and the table of contents column 65. Furthermore, a GUI component related to selection / setting of parameters relating to the entire voice data (part) to be edited may be provided. In the above embodiment, the edit area display on / off switch button 26 is provided above the element area 22, but the edit area display on / off switch button 26 is used to display / edit the edit area 23. As long as it is always displayed in any case of non-display, an appropriate place other than the element area 22, for example, on the menu bar 24 at the top of the editor window 20 or near the keyboard portion 25 at the bottom of the window 20 And so on.

  As described above, the configuration of the editor window 20 according to this embodiment has various advantages as follows.

  In the editor window 20, the three areas of the part area 21, the element area 22, and the edit area 23 are secured in accordance with the data hierarchical structure to be edited. Various parameters can be displayed and edited in detail for each area while confirming the relationship between the parts, voices and elements constituting the song data 30.

  In addition, the arrangement of the three areas of the part area 21, the element area 22, and the edit area 23 in the editor window 20 is arranged in order from the left according to the hierarchical structure of the song data 30 to be edited. The tree-type hierarchical structure of the song data 30 can be intuitively grasped by the horizontal relationship between the areas. Therefore, to which element the parameter currently being edited in detail in the element area 23 belongs, to which voice the element belongs, and to which part the voice is assigned It is easy to confirm the interrelationship of data.

  In addition, the corresponding display of each area on the editor window 20 is updated in accordance with the selection of information to be edited, such as selection of part options, selection of element options, or selection of the table of contents column 60. The selected information can be quickly and easily confirmed on one editor window 20.

  Further, main information necessary for editing one song data appears in the corresponding portions of the three areas 21 to 23 juxtaposed on one editor window 20, so that the user can perform a screen scrolling operation. Necessary information can be viewed on the editor window 20 without performing an operation for displaying a separate window.

  Depending on the function (mixing function or editor function) that the user wants to execute, the screen configuration is switched between non-display of the editor area 23 (enlargement of the part area 21) / display of the editor area 23 (reduction of the part area 21). As a result, any function of the mixing function or the editor function can be executed in one editor window 20, so that it is possible to search for necessary ones from a plurality of windows, and separate windows and software depending on the work contents There is no hassle to start up, and work efficiency is good. Further, only necessary information can be appropriately displayed within a limited screen size according to the operation that the user wants to execute without enlarging the screen size.

  By grouping a plurality of parameter groups constituting one element into groups (tables 61 to 64) corresponding to the control target, and preparing a parameter detail screen to be displayed in the edit area 23 for each group, one element The amount of information to be displayed can be greatly reduced as compared to the case where all the included parameter groups must be displayed in detail. As the edit area 23, an area capable of displaying only the parameter detail screen corresponding to the parameter group included in one parameter group (any of the contents 61 to 64) may be secured. Inside, the individual parameters to be edited can be displayed in detail.

  In particular, the element area 22 for displaying the element option (element selection button 59) and the parameter group option (table of contents column 60) and the edit area 23 for displaying the parameter detail screen are displayed side by side, so that the user can edit Which parameter group of which element is being edited in the area 23 can be easily grasped from the selection state in the element area 22. In addition, switching between the work of changing the selection of an element or parameter group in the element area 22 and the work of performing detailed parameter editing in the editor area 23 can be performed quickly without performing a work of switching to another window. It can be done efficiently.

  In addition, since the table of contents of the parameter group is displayed in a list in the table of contents column 60, the user can easily confirm what kind of parameter group exists and can easily select the parameter group.

  In the element region 22, one element selection button 59 selected from the element options (a plurality of element selection buttons 59) and the table of contents column 60 are connected and shown by the connection unit 65, thereby displaying the element region 22. That is, since the list of the element selection buttons 59 and the display configuration of the table of contents column 60 can be fixed, simple display processing (that is, highlighting and display) can be performed without significantly changing the display contents of the element region 22. Only the update of the connection unit 65) can present the currently selected element and parameter group to the user in an easy-to-understand manner (see FIG. 12 and the like).

  By providing the element on / off switch 58 in the element area 22, it is easy to check and change the setting state of the element on / off parameters, and which parameter group of which element is displayed in the edit area 23. Even when it is set, each element can be switched on / off. For this reason, for example, when detailed parameter settings are made in the edit area 23, the sound generation confirmation (trial listening) of only the selected element in which the parameters other than the selected element are turned off and the detailed parameter settings are made is performed. ), Or checking the pronunciation when multiple elements are turned on and using multiple elements at the same time. It can be carried out. In addition, since the element area 22 is always displayed regardless of whether the edit area 23 is displayed or not, the user can always check and set the ON / OFF state of the element for each voice (part). .

  Therefore, according to the present invention, information to be edited can be displayed in detail and in an easy-to-understand manner in the editor window 20 in which various parameter settings in an electronic musical instrument such as a synthesizer are performed using GUI parts, and the operability is excellent. It is possible to provide an excellent user interface.

  The embodiment according to the present invention may be configured and implemented in the form of a software program (editor software) that causes a computer to execute an editing function of various parameters of an electronic musical instrument using a GUI component. It may be configured and implemented in the form of a dedicated hardware device that implements an editing function (editor function) for various parameters of an electronic musical instrument using the.

1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of a personal computer on which an electronic musical instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention and a software program (editor software) for remotely controlling parameter settings of the electronic musical instrument are mounted. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen structure of the editor window for editing the parameter meter of the electronic musical instrument which concerns on the Example, Comprising: (a) is the state where the edit area | region was displayed, (b) is an edit area | region non-displaying. Status. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure of the edit object of the editor software which concerns on the Example, (a) is song data, (b) is voice data, (c) is element data, (d) is waveform data. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation procedure when song data to be edited is selected in the editor software according to the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the part area | region displayed on the editor window which concerns on the Example, Comprising: (a) is a structural example of an "enlarged screen", (b) is a structural example of a "reduced screen". The figure which shows the structural example of the element area | region displayed on the editor window concerning the Example. The figure which shows the structural example of the parameter detail screen displayed on the edit area | region displayed on the editor window concerning the Example. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of an edit area display-on operation procedure, which is an editor window screen switching operation according to the embodiment; 9 is a flowchart showing an example of an edit area display-off operation procedure, which is an editor window screen switching operation according to the embodiment; The flowchart which shows an example of an operation | movement procedure when a part is selected in the part area | region of the editor window which concerns on the same Example. The flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement procedure when an element is selected in the element area | region of the editor window concerning the Example. The display update example of the connection part in the said element area | region. The flowchart which shows an example of an operation | movement procedure when a table of contents (parameter group) is selected in the element area | region of the editor window which concerns on the same Example.

Explanation of symbols

20 Editor window, 21 Part area, 22 Element area, 23 Edit area, 26 Edit area display ON / OFF switch button, 51 Part number display part Part number display part (part option), 59 Element selection button (element option), 60 Table of contents (parameter group options), 61-64 table of contents (parameter group), 65 connections

Claims (4)

Storage means for storing voices used as a sound source of an electronic musical instrument, wherein each voice is composed of a plurality of elements, each of the plurality of elements having a plurality of parameters of the same type,
Display means;
An element selection means for causing the display means to display element options for displaying a list of the plurality of elements constituting one voice, and for allowing a user to select any one element from the element options;
In order to display on the display means a parameter group option for displaying a list of a plurality of parameter groups obtained by grouping the plurality of parameters into one or more parameters, and to allow a user to select any one parameter group from the parameter group options Parameter group selection means,
On the display screen of the display means, an element area for displaying the element option and the parameter group option, and an edit area for displaying a parameter detail screen composed of a GUI component group for editing the parameter group in detail. Display control means for displaying side by side,
A parameter detail screen corresponding to the parameter group selected by the parameter group selection means is displayed in the edit area, and the value of each parameter included in the selected parameter group for the element selected by the element selection means is displayed. Display control means for displaying each corresponding GUI part on the displayed parameter detail screen;
A parameter setting device comprising: editing means for editing the value of the operated parameter for the currently selected element in response to a parameter editing operation by the user on the parameter detail screen displayed in the edit area.   The element option and the parameter group option are fixedly displayed in the element region, and a connection unit is further displayed to connect the element selected by an element selection unit and the parameter group option. Item 2. The parameter setting device according to Item 1.   3. The parameter setting device according to claim 1, further comprising: displaying a plurality of GUI parts for switching on / off setting for each of the plurality of elements in the element region. 4. A software program for causing a computer to execute a function of editing a voice used as a sound source of an electronic musical instrument, wherein each of the voices is composed of a plurality of elements, and each of the plurality of elements is of the same type Have multiple parameters,
On the display screen of the display means, an element option for displaying a list of the plurality of elements constituting one voice, and a parameter group for displaying a list of a plurality of parameter groups obtained by grouping the plurality of parameters by one to a plurality of parameters. A procedure for displaying an element area for displaying options and an edit area for displaying a parameter detail screen configured by a GUI component group for editing the parameter group in detail;
A procedure for a user to select any one element from the element options;
A procedure for a user to select any one parameter group from the parameter group options;
A parameter detail screen corresponding to a parameter group selected by the user from the parameter group options is displayed in the edit area, and each element included in the selected parameter group for the element selected by the user from the element options is displayed. A procedure for displaying a value on each corresponding GUI component on the displayed parameter detail screen;
And a procedure for editing the value of the operated parameter for the currently selected element in response to a parameter editing operation by the user on the parameter detail screen displayed in the edit area.

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