JP2009217025A - Electronic musical instrument and program thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique with which a sudden change of a parameter value by means of a slider operation is mitigated, in an electronic musical instrument setting/changing various kinds of parameter values by using a slider having no moving function. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic musical instrument provided with a slider manipulator has: a means of detecting operational start of the slider; and a means of waiting for a prescribed time from the operational start and setting a value corresponding to the position of the slider as a parameter present value after the prescribed time. When it is detected that the value corresponding to the position of the slider reaches the parameter present value before the prescribed time elapses, the value corresponding to the position of the slider at the point of time may be set as the parameter present value without waiting the elapse of the prescribed time. The parameter present value may be gradually changed up to the value corresponding to the position of the slider. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for mitigating rapid changes in parameter values caused by slider operation in an electronic musical instrument having a slider operator.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, electronic musical instruments having a slider (fader) for setting / changing various parameter values such as a volume level are known. Usually, since the number of parameters to be set / changed is larger than the number of sliders on the external panel, a plurality of parameter values can be set / changed while switching the function of one slider. In this case, the position of the slider knob may not match the current value of the parameter value to be set / changed, but the slider has a so-called moving function (a drive mechanism that forcibly sets the knob to a position corresponding to the parameter value). If the slider is equipped with a slider), the slider knob can be forcibly set at a position corresponding to the current value of the parameter value. On the other hand, in the case of a slider that does not have a moving function, (1) a method in which a parameter value is immediately changed as the slider position is changed, or (2) a so-called pickup method is applied.

  FIG. 9 shows a change example of the slider value and the parameter value when the method (1) is adopted. The horizontal axis shows the passage of time, and the vertical axis shows the slider value and the parameter value. “Slider value” refers to a parameter value corresponding to the position of the slider knob. Assume that the slider operation starts at time 901 with the current value of the parameter value being on the dotted line 911 and the slider value being on the dotted line 912. At this time, as the position of the slider changes, the current value of the parameter changes rapidly to the slider value, as indicated by a dotted line 913. Thereafter, as indicated by a dotted line 914, the parameter current value also changes in accordance with the operation of the slider, and finally reaches the target value 915.

  FIG. 10 shows a change example of the slider value and the parameter value in the method (2). The pickup method is a method of changing the parameter value according to the slider position after the slider is once operated to the position of the parameter current value when the slider value and the parameter current value are different. In FIG. 10, it is assumed that the slider operation is started at time 1001 in a state where the current parameter value is the dotted line 1011 and the slider value is the dotted line 1012. At this time, even if the slider value is changed as indicated by the dotted line 1013, the parameter current value does not change because the parameter current value has not yet been reached. After the slider value reaches the current parameter value, the parameter value changes according to the slider position as indicated by a dotted line 1014. Thereafter, the target value 1015 may be set.

  9 and 10 described above, there is no particular problem when the parameter value is changed by changing the slider position from the state where the slider value and the parameter value match. However, if the target parameter to be set / changed with the slider is switched, for example, immediately after calling another tone or screen switching, the slider position is changed from the state where the slider value does not match the current parameter value. Parameter value will be changed. In this case, in the method of FIG. 9, since the parameter value is immediately reflected and changed after the slider position is changed, there is a problem that the parameter value changes abruptly particularly when there is a large difference between the positions. In addition, there is a problem that noise is generated based on the change. In the method of FIG. 10 described above, regardless of the target value, it is necessary to operate the slider once to the current parameter value position, and then to operate again to the target value to be set. In addition, there is a problem that the operation is time consuming and troublesome.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for alleviating a rapid change in a parameter value caused by a slider operation in an electronic musical instrument in which various parameter values are set / changed using a slider having no moving function.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electronic musical instrument provided with a slider operator, a means for detecting the start of operation of the slider, a predetermined time from the start of the operation, and after the predetermined time, Means for setting a value corresponding to the position of the slider as a parameter current value.

  If it is detected that the value corresponding to the position of the slider has reached the current parameter value before the predetermined time elapses, the value corresponding to the position of the slider at that time is not waited for without waiting for the elapse of the predetermined time. A value may be set as a parameter current value. The means for setting a value corresponding to the position of the slider as the parameter current value may gradually change the parameter current value to a value corresponding to the position of the slider. In this case, the degree of gradually changing the parameter current value to a value corresponding to the position of the slider may be determined according to the parameter resolution.

  The predetermined time may be determined for each parameter. Further, for each parameter, a method of changing the current parameter value without waiting for a predetermined time from the start of operation of the slider and a method of changing the current parameter value after waiting for a predetermined time from the start of operation of the slider can be selected. It may be.

  The slider operator includes an image displayed on a screen and operated by a pointing device or the like.

  According to the present invention, noise associated with the slider operation can be reduced compared to the conventional method, and an intuitive operation can be performed. Users who are accustomed to conventional operations can accept it without any discomfort. In particular, with a small (short) slider with a small stroke, a slight difference in position may result in a large parameter value difference. Change can be suppressed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a hardware configuration example of an electronic musical instrument 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 is a processing device that controls the operation of the entire electronic musical instrument. A RAM (random access memory) 102 is a volatile memory used for a load area and a work area of a program executed by the CPU 101. A ROM (read only memory) 103 is a nonvolatile memory that stores a control program executed by the CPU 101 and various data. The operation element 105 is an operation element such as a switch or a slider provided on the external panel of the electronic musical instrument, and a performance operation element such as a keyboard. The operation of the operation element 105 is detected by the detection circuit 106, and the detection result is sent to the CPU 101. The display unit 107 is a display that displays various types of information. The display circuit 108 displays given data on the display unit 107 based on an instruction from the CPU 101. A communication interface (I / F) 109 is an interface for connecting to an external device 110 or an external network. Any connection method may be used. The sound source 104 generates a musical sound signal based on an instruction from the CPU 101. The generated musical sound signal is converted into an analog acoustic signal, amplified by the amplifier circuit 111, and then emitted by the speaker 112.

  FIG. 2 is an image diagram showing an external panel image of the electronic musical instrument 100 of FIG. 1 and a state in which a communication command is received from the outside. On the external panel of the electronic musical instrument 100, a plurality of sliders 201, other switches and volumes 202 and 203, a display 204, and the like are provided. The slider 201 and switches 202 and 203 correspond to the operation element 105 in FIG. 1, and the display 204 corresponds to the display unit 107 in FIG. The screen displayed on the display 204 can be switched by operating the switches 202 and 203, and the parameters assigned to the sliders 201 can be switched accordingly. Of course, the parameter assignment to each slider 201 may be changed without switching the screen.

  When an operator on the external panel including the slider 201 is operated, an event corresponding to the operation is generated inside, and processing corresponding to the event is executed. This will be described later with reference to FIG. In addition, the electronic musical instrument of the present embodiment has a function of inputting a communication command from the external network 130 or the external device 110 and executing processing according to the communication command. In particular, the communication command includes a “pseudo operator operation command”. The “pseudo operator operation command” is a command that generates an event as if the operators 201 to 203 of the electronic musical instrument were operated. Processing when the “pseudo-operator operation command” is input will be described later with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 shows an example (part 1) of changes in the slider value and the current parameter value in the electronic musical instrument of the present embodiment. The horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents the slider value and parameter current value. It is assumed that the user starts the slider operation at the time point 301 in a state where the parameter current value 311 and the slider value 312 are different. The slider value changes as indicated by a dotted line 313, but the parameter current value does not change until a predetermined time 321 (here, about 300 msec) elapses. At the time 302 when the predetermined time 321 has elapsed, the current parameter value is set according to the slider value, and the target value 314 is reached. In this method, since the difference between the slider value and the parameter current value can be reduced during a predetermined time and the parameter current value can be set and changed according to the slider position, noise can be reduced.

  FIG. 4 shows a modification of FIG. It is assumed that the slider operation is started at the time point 401 in a state where there is a difference between the parameter current value 411 and the slider value 412. At this time, the slider operation is not reflected in the parameter current value during the predetermined time 421, which is the same as the example of FIG. In FIG. 4, the parameter current value 413 is gradually brought closer to the slider value 414 from the time point 402 after the predetermined time 421 has elapsed to reach the target value 415. Note that the method of gradually approaching the parameter current value to the slider value from the time point 402 is arbitrary. For example, the parameter current value may be changed by a predetermined value Mstep every Nmsec so as to gradually approach the slider value. According to this method, noise can be reduced and an intuitive operation can be performed.

  FIG. 5A shows a flowchart of a main routine executed by the CPU 101. In step 501, an event is detected, and if detected, the process proceeds from step 502 to 503, and the event is issued to the corresponding task. For example, when a slider on the external panel is operated, a slider operation event is detected, and the slider operation event is sent to the slider task in FIG. Similarly, in the case of other events, the event is sent to a task corresponding to the event and processing corresponding to the event is executed, but the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 5B shows a flowchart of a slider task executed in response to a slider operation event. In step 511, it is determined whether the drastic change mitigation task (which will be described later with reference to FIG. 5C) is being executed (determined with reference to a flag which will be described later). If it is not being executed, the flag is turned on in step 512, and the sudden change mitigation task is activated in step 513. The above flag indicates that the sudden change mitigation task is being executed when it is on, and indicates that it is not being executed when it is off.

  FIG. 5C shows a flowchart of the sudden change mitigation task activated in step 513. In step 521, a predetermined time (300 msec) is waited. This waiting time corresponds to 321 and 421 described with reference to FIGS. Next, in step 522, it is determined whether the offset is within the range. This is to determine whether the slider value is within the range of the parameter current value ± 3% by comparing the slider value at this time and the parameter current value (the parameter current value is the slider value ± 3%). You may determine if it is within range). If the slider value is within this offset range, it is considered that the slider value matches the parameter current value, and the process proceeds to step 524. If it is outside the offset range, the parameter value is set in accordance with the slider value in step 523 and the process proceeds to step 524. In step 524, the flag is turned off and the process ends.

  The operation of the method of FIG. 3 is realized by the processing of FIG. The process in FIG. 5 is a so-called event-driven process, and the process on the CPU 101 side is separated from the process on the slider and other control elements. That is, as long as the slider (same for other controls) is started and continuously operated, an operation event is repeatedly issued from the slider side. The CPU 101 only receives all of these operation events and simply executes a process according to the operation event. In the slider operation event, there is a process of waiting for 300 msec in step 521, and a slider operation event may be issued during that time. In this case, it is determined in step 511 that the sudden change mitigation task is being executed, and the process ends. There is no. As can be seen from the above flow, the processing of FIG. 5C is not executed only by changing the assignment of the slider and the parameter by screen switching or scene recall. When the user deliberately operates the slider, it starts when the operation starts.

  Although FIG. 5 illustrates the case where the operation event of the slider on the external panel is detected, in the present embodiment, the same processing is performed when an operation element operation event corresponding to the pseudo operation element operation command is detected.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a command reception routine executed by the communication I / F 109 in the electronic musical instrument of this embodiment. As described with reference to FIG. 2, when a communication command is received from the external network 130 or the external device 110, the processing of FIG. 6 is executed. The command analysis of the communication command received in step 601 is performed. In step 602, it is determined whether it is a pseudo-manipulator operation command. If so, the CPU 101 is notified of the manipulator operation event corresponding to the pseudo-manipulator operation command in step 603. To do. If the command is not a pseudo-manipulator operation command, processing corresponding to the command is executed in step 604.

  The event notified to the CPU 101 in step 603 is detected in step 501 in FIG. 5A, is passed to a task corresponding to the event, and processing corresponding to the event is executed. The operation element operation event corresponding to the pseudo operation element operation command notified to the CPU 101 in step 603 is the same as the operation element operation event issued when the operation element on the actual external panel is operated. In any case, the process according to the instructed manipulator operation command is executed without distinguishing between the case where the manipulator is actually operated and the case where the manipulator is input from the outside with a communication command.

  As a result, it is possible to remotely control the electronic musical instrument of this embodiment as if the operator itself was operated using a communication command from the outside. This function is effective, for example, when it is desired to control the student's device from the teacher's device in the musical instrument classroom (the same applies when controlling the student's device via the Internet or the like). Even in the prior art, various parameters of the electronic musical instrument can be set and changed from the outside. However, for that purpose, the parameter and the value of the parameter can only be set by a command. If the parameter value is directly changed in this way, the student often does not know what operation the parameter value will be changed. In this embodiment, by sending a pseudo controller operation command from the teacher's device to the student's device, not only the parameters are changed, but the behavior as if the operator of the student's device was operated is shown to the student. Can do. Some devices / operators / target parameters are not immediately reflected in the parameter value even if the operator is operated, and the parameter value is changed after a certain time (for example, the slider described above). The control from the outside in this embodiment works effectively in such a situation.

  Next, a first modification of the above embodiment will be described. The first modification is the above-described method of FIG. In order to realize this, when setting the slider value to the parameter current value in step 523 of FIG. 5, it is sufficient to gradually bring the value close to each other over a predetermined time. When the values are gradually approached, it is determined in the same manner as in step 522 whether the current parameter value is within the range of the slider value ± 3%, and if it falls within that range, the process of approaching the value may be terminated.

  In the above-described embodiment and the first modification (the method shown in FIGS. 3 and 4), a user who is accustomed to the conventional operation can accept it without a sense of incongruity. In particular, for a slider with a small (short) stroke, a slight position difference may result in a large parameter value difference. Even in such a case, an unintended rapid change in the parameter value can be suppressed by using the algorithm of the present application.

  A second modification of the above embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 shows a modification of the sudden change mitigation task routine of FIG. Step 521 is replaced with the procedure of FIG. In step 701, the slider value at that time is acquired, and in step 702, it is determined whether the slider value straddles the current parameter value. If not, it is determined in step 703 whether 300 msec has elapsed since entering this routine, and if not, the process returns to step 701. If 300 msec has elapsed, the process proceeds to step 522.

  According to the second modification, even if 300 msec has elapsed since the start of the slider operation, if the slider value crosses the parameter current value, the parameter value can be set. As a result, when agile operation is performed, parameter setting is executed without waiting for 300 msec, so that an impression can be given as if the device responded quickly to the operation.

  A third modification of the above embodiment will be described. The third modification is an improvement in processing when a pseudo operator operation command is input from the outside. In the above embodiment, the slider does not have a moving function, but in the third modified example, it has a moving function. Further, in addition to the processing described with reference to FIG. 5, when the detected event is an operator operation event corresponding to the pseudo operator operation command, the operator position change task of FIG. 8 is executed. In FIG. 8, in step 801, the position of the corresponding operation element is changed using the moving function. As a result, it is possible to control the state in which the manipulator actually moves in accordance with a pseudo manipulator operation command from the outside.

  In the methods of FIGS. 3 and 4, a predetermined period of time after the start of the slider operation may be determined according to the parameter resolution. For example, when the resolution of a parameter is 0 to 127 (in short, the value that the parameter can take is any of 0, 1,..., 127), the predetermined time is 300 msec, and the resolution is 0 to 31. In some cases, the predetermined time is set to 200 msec. The predetermined time may be determined for each parameter type.

  In the method of FIG. 4, the degree of gradual change may be determined according to the parameter resolution. For each parameter, (1) the method shown in FIG. 9, (2) the method shown in FIG. 10, (3) the method shown in FIG. 3, and (4) the method shown in FIG. 4 may be selected. Any of these four methods may be selected.

  The operation element is described as an example of hardware provided on the external panel as shown in FIG. 2, but includes an operation element that displays an image of the operation element on the screen and is operated by a pointing device. Shall be.

The figure which shows the hardware structural example of the electronic musical instrument which concerns on embodiment of this invention Image diagram showing external panel image of electronic musical instrument and communication command received from outside A diagram showing an example (part 1) of changes in slider value and current parameter value Diagram showing an example (part 2) of changes in slider value and parameter current value Flow chart of each routine executed by CPU Flowchart of command reception routine executed by communication I / F Figure showing a variation of the sudden change mitigation task routine Flowchart of operator position change task The figure which shows the example (the 1) of a change of the slider value and parameter current value in a prior art The figure which shows the example (the 2) of a change of the slider value and parameter current value in a prior art

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Electronic musical instrument, 101 ... CPU (central processing unit), 102 ... RAM (random access memory), 103 ... ROM (read-only memory), 104 ... Sound source, 105 ... Operating element, 106 ... Detection circuit, 107 ... Display part 108, display circuit, 109, communication interface (I / F), 110, external device, 111, amplification circuit, 112, speaker.

Claims (8)

An electronic musical instrument with a slider operator,
Means for detecting the start of operation of the slider;
An electronic musical instrument comprising: means for waiting for a predetermined time from the start of the operation, and setting a value corresponding to the position of the slider as a parameter current value after the predetermined time. An electronic musical instrument with a slider operator,
Means for detecting the start of operation of the slider;
Wait for a predetermined time from the start of the operation, and after the predetermined time, a value corresponding to the position of the slider is set as a parameter current value, and the value corresponding to the position of the slider is set to the parameter before the predetermined time elapses. Means for setting, as a parameter current value, a value corresponding to the position of the slider at that time without waiting for the elapse of the predetermined time when it is detected that the current value has been reached. Musical instrument. The electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 or 2,
The electronic musical instrument characterized in that the means for setting a value corresponding to the position of the slider as a parameter current value gradually changes the parameter current value to a value corresponding to the position of the slider. The electronic musical instrument according to claim 3,
The means for setting the value according to the position of the slider as the parameter current value determines the degree of gradually changing the parameter current value to the value according to the position of the slider according to the resolution of the parameter. An electronic musical instrument characterized by The electronic musical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The electronic musical instrument characterized in that the predetermined time is determined for each parameter. The electronic musical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
For each parameter, means for selecting a method for changing a parameter current value without waiting for a predetermined time from the start of operation of the slider and a method for changing a parameter current value after waiting for a predetermined time from the start of operation of the slider, An electronic musical instrument further comprising: A program for operating a computer as an electronic musical instrument having a slider operator,
The computer,
Means for detecting the start of operation of the slider;
A program that waits for a predetermined time from the start of the operation and, after the predetermined time, functions as an electronic musical instrument comprising means for setting a value corresponding to the position of the slider as a parameter current value. A program for operating a computer as an electronic musical instrument having a slider operator,
The computer,
Means for detecting the start of operation of the slider;
Wait for a predetermined time from the start of the operation, and after the predetermined time, a value corresponding to the position of the slider is set as a parameter current value, and the value corresponding to the position of the slider is set to the parameter before the predetermined time elapses. When it is detected that the current value has been reached, the electronic musical instrument is provided with means for setting a value corresponding to the position of the slider as the current parameter value without waiting for the predetermined time to elapse. A program characterized by

Images