JP2009237333A - Electronic musical instrument and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology for suppressing an abnormal sound that may be made when repeatedly striking keys in an electronic keyboard musical instrument. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic musical instrument includes: a depression quantity measuring part 31 measuring the depression quantity of keys; a key press processing part 33 estimating the chord striking speed of a hammer using the depression quantity; a return confirmation part 35 confirming whether the depression quantity has returned to the predetermined depression quantity; and a sounding processing part 34 producing a sound corresponding to the chord striking speed. The sounding processing part 34 produces no sound when the return confirmation part 35 does not confirm from the preceding sounding that the depression quantity has returned to the predetermined depression quantity. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument that electronically generates a sound in response to a key depression.

  First, the action mechanism of the upright piano will be described with reference to FIGS.

  When the key 11 is pushed in the direction of the arrow A1, the capstan 12 provided at the rear end of the key 11 is pushed up and moves in the direction of the arrow A2. The capstan 12 pushes up the jack 14 supported by the pen 13 and the pen 13 so as to be rotatable. The jack 14 pushes up the hammer bat 15 that contacts the jack 14. The hammer bat 15 is rotatably supported by the main rail 16, and the hammer shank 17 fixed to the hammer bat 15 and the hammer 18 provided at one end of the hammer shank 17 are rotated in the direction of arrow A3.

  When the key pressing amount exceeds a certain amount, the small jack 14a of the jack 14 hits the regulating button 20 as shown in FIG. 5, and the jack 14 and the hammer bat 15 are separated. Thereafter, the force from the key 11 is not transmitted to the hammer 18, and the hammer 18 moves by inertial force. This hammering out of the hammer 18 is called letoff. In this manner, the hammer 18 moves by hitting the string 19 by transmitting the key pressing force.

  When the hammer 18 strikes the string 19, the hammer 18 returns by the reaction, that is, moves as indicated by an arrow A 4 in FIG. Specifically, the backstop 22 fixed to the hammer bat 15 hits the backcheck 21, and the hammer 18 stops thereby.

As an electronic musical instrument that electronically generates sound generated by such an upright piano, for example, an electronic musical instrument described in Patent Document 1 is known. An electronic musical instrument described in Patent Literature 1 includes a fixed slit hole provided between a pair of light emitting elements and a light receiving element, a movable slit hole that changes in size according to a key pressing depth in conjunction with a key. The change in the amount of light received by the light receiving element is observed using the area of the light passage hole formed by the overlap. The key pressing speed is calculated by measuring the time from this change, and a sound corresponding to the key pressing is generated (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-026983

  As a characteristic of the action mechanism of the upright piano, when the key 11 is repeatedly hit at a short time interval, as illustrated in FIG. 7, each part of the action mechanism is not interlocked and does not follow the key pressing operation. Specifically, the short time interval is a time interval of about 1/7 second to about 1/10 second or less.

  That is, if the key 11 is repeatedly hit at short time intervals, the jack 14 may be pushed up before the hammer bat 15 returns. In this case, the jack 14 is knocked against the hammer bat 15, so that a sound is generated. do not do. Further, if the key 11 is repeatedly hit at a short time interval, the capstan 12 and the wipen 13 may be separated from each other. In this case, the key pressing force transmitted to the hammer 18 is attenuated by the distance.

  For this reason, in the upright piano, when the key 11 is repeatedly hit at short time intervals, no sound is generated or even if it is generated, only a small sound is generated.

  However, the electronic musical instrument described in Patent Document 1 generates a sound corresponding to repeated hits without considering the characteristics of the upright piano even when the key 11 is repeatedly hit at short time intervals. For this reason, the electronic musical instrument described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that when the key 11 is repeatedly hit at short time intervals, a sound unintended by the player is generated and a natural feeling of performance cannot be obtained.

  An object of this invention is to provide the electronic musical instrument which can obtain a natural performance feeling, and its program in view of the said problem.

  According to the electronic musical instrument of the first aspect, the pressing amount measuring unit that measures the key pressing amount, the key pressing processing unit that estimates the stringing speed of the hammer using the pressing amount, and the pressing amount are predetermined. A return confirmation unit that confirms whether or not the pressed amount has been returned, and a sound generation processing unit that generates a sound according to the string hitting speed. If it has not been confirmed from the previous pronunciation that it has returned to the pressed amount, no sound is generated.

  When the amount of pressing has returned to a predetermined amount of pressing, if it has not been confirmed from the previous pronunciation, no sound is generated, so even if the key is repeatedly pressed at short time intervals, no sound unintended by the player is generated, A natural feeling of performance can be obtained.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic musical instrument according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a press amount measurement unit 31, a press amount monitoring unit 32, a key press processing unit 33, a sound generation processing unit 34, a return confirmation unit 35, and a key release process. Part 36 and a muffler 37. The electronic musical instrument according to one embodiment of the present invention performs the processing from step S1 to step S7 illustrated in FIG.

<Step S1>
The pressed amount measuring unit 31 measures the pressed amount of the key (step S1). The measured pressing amount is sent to the pressing amount monitoring unit 32. Specifically, the pressed amount measurement unit 31 includes a key position measurement unit 311 and a correction unit 312 and performs the processes of steps S11 and S12 described below.

<< Step S11 >>
The key position measuring unit 311 is a light receiving element such as a phototransistor, receives light emitted from the light emitting element and reflected by the back surface of the key, and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the light quantity (step S11). As a result, the key press amount is expressed by being converted into the voltage or current of the electric signal. The electric signal is sent to the correction unit 312.

<< Step S12 >>
For each key, a light emitting element and a light receiving element which is the key position measuring unit 311 are arranged. However, since there is an individual difference in the light receiving element, it is necessary to correct the individual difference. Therefore, the correction unit 312 of the pressing amount measuring unit 31 corrects the electrical signal to obtain a corrected pressing amount that does not depend on the light receiving element (step S12). The calculated pressing amount after correction is sent to the pressing amount monitoring unit 32.

For example, the key k (k = 1, ... K , K is the total number of keys) when the depression amount of is represented by converting the voltage v _k of the electronic signal, depressing amount measuring unit 31, the following formula Based on this, the corrected pressing amount is obtained.

Pressed amount v _k ′ after correction = voltage v _k × (upper limit voltage maxv _k −lower limit voltage minv _k ) / 127
Here, the upper limit voltage maxv _k is the voltage of the electronic signal when the key k is completely depressed, and the lower limit voltage minv _k is the voltage of the electronic signal when the key k is not depressed, and these upper limit voltages The maxv _k and the lower limit voltage minv _k are measured in advance.

  For example, by calculating the corrected pressing amount based on the above formula, the corrected pressing amount can be expressed in 128 steps. Hereinafter, when “pressed amount” is referred to, “corrected pressed amount” means in principle.

<Step S21>
The pressing amount monitoring unit 32 monitors the pressing amount and determines whether or not the amount has changed beyond a predetermined amount of change (step S21). If it is determined that the amount of change has exceeded a predetermined amount of change, the process of step S22 is performed.

<Step S22>
When it is determined that the amount of change has exceeded a predetermined amount of change, the pressing amount monitoring unit 32 determines whether the change is in an increasing direction or a decreasing direction (step S22).

  In the case of increasing direction, a signal indicating that the key pressing process is performed and the pressing amount received from the pressing amount measuring unit 31 are sent to the key pressing processing unit 33. In this case, the pressing amount received from the pressing amount measuring unit 31 is also sent to the return confirmation unit 35.

  If the direction is decreasing, a signal indicating that the key release process is to be performed and the pressing amount received from the pressing amount measurement unit 31 are sent to the key release processing unit 36.

<Step S3>
If the change exceeding the predetermined change amount is in the increasing direction, the key pressing processing unit 33 estimates the hammering speed of the hammer using the pressed amount (step S3). Specifically, information related to the hammer striking speed is generated using the pressed amount, and the information is sent to the sound generation processing unit 34.

  For example, a first threshold value S1 for the pressing amount and a second threshold value S2 for the pressing amount that are larger than the threshold value S1 are determined in advance. The key press processing unit 33 obtains a time difference between the time when the pressing amount exceeds the first threshold S1 and the time when the pressing amount exceeds the second threshold S2. It can be estimated that the smaller the time difference, the faster the hammering speed. For example, this time difference is sent to the sound generation processing unit 34 as information relating to the hammering speed of the hammer.

<Step S4>
The return confirmation unit 35 confirms whether or not the pressing amount has returned to a predetermined pressing amount (assumed to be the third threshold value S3) (step S4). If it is confirmed, a return confirmation signal is sent to the sound generation processing unit 34. Although the predetermined pressing amount varies depending on the required specification, for example, the pressing amount is not more than the threshold value S1. That is, if the predetermined pressing amount is the third threshold value S3, the threshold value S3 ≦ the threshold value S1 <the threshold value S2, as illustrated in FIG.

<Step S5>
When it is confirmed that the pressed amount has returned to the threshold value S3 from the previous sound generation, that is, when the return confirmation signal is received from the previous sound generation, the sound generation processing unit 34 determines the estimated hammering speed of the hammer. A sound corresponding to is generated (step S5). The sound corresponding to the hammering speed of the hammer is, for example, a louder sound as the keying speed is faster. For example, a larger sound is generated as the time difference is smaller. Generating a sound according to the hammer striking speed is called normal pronunciation processing. Thereafter, the process returns to step S1.

  On the other hand, if it is not confirmed that the pressed amount has returned to the threshold value S3 from the previous pronunciation, that is, if no return confirmation signal has been received from the previous pronunciation, the above sound is not generated. In this case, the process returns to step S1.

<Step S6>
If the change exceeding the predetermined change amount is in the decreasing direction, the key release processing unit 36 estimates the key release speed using the pressed amount (step S6). Specifically, information related to the key release speed is generated using the pressed amount, and the information is sent to the mute processing unit 37.

  For example, similarly to the key press processing unit 33, the key release processing unit 36 obtains a time difference between the time when the pressed amount falls below the second threshold S2 and the time when the pressed amount falls below the first threshold S1. It can be estimated that the greater the time difference, the slower the key release speed. This time difference is sent to the mute processing unit 37 as information related to the key release speed.

<Step S7>
The mute processing unit 37 performs a mute process according to the estimated key release speed. For example, the generated sound is gradually reduced as the time difference is larger, and finally silenced. Thereafter, the process returns to step S1.

  In this way, the sound generation processing unit 34 does not generate a sound when the pressed amount has returned to the threshold value S3 and it has not been confirmed from the previous sound generation, so the player does not intend even if the key is repeatedly pressed at short time intervals. No sound is generated. For this reason, a natural performance feeling can be obtained.

  In the state shown in FIG. 7, the key 11 is held due to the jack 14 and the hammer bat 15 being separated from each other and / or the capstan 12 and the wiper 13 being separated from each other. Since the resistance generated when the key is pressed is reduced, the pressed key 11 moves faster than usual. Therefore, when the electronic musical instrument described in Patent Document 1 is attached to the upright piano, a louder sound can be generated due to the key movement faster than usual. However, the electronic musical instrument according to the present invention does not generate such a louder sound. Therefore, it can be said that the effect when the electronic musical instrument according to the present invention is attached to the upright piano is great.

[Modification]
Depending on how the keys are pressed, the key itself may bounce, and the player may unintentionally return the key pressing amount to the threshold value S3 within a short time. According to the above embodiment, the normal sound generation process (see step S5) is performed also in this case. However, in an acoustic upright piano, as described in the section of the problem to be solved by the invention, when a key is repeatedly hit for a short time of about 1/7 seconds to about 1/10 seconds, is no sound generated? Even if it occurs, only a small sound is generated.

  Therefore, when the key pressing amount returns to the threshold value S3 within a short time, it is preferable to perform a process of generating a small sound or not generating a sound. In other words, when it is determined that the elapsed time from the previous pronunciation is shorter than a predetermined time when generating a sound, a sound smaller than the sound corresponding to the keystroke speed is generated. Alternatively, a process that does not generate sound may be performed.

  For this purpose, as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 1, the elapsed time measuring unit 38 that measures the elapsed time from the previous pronunciation, and the time for comparing the elapsed time from the previous pronunciation with a predetermined time. A comparison unit 341 may be provided to perform the processing from step S8 to step S10 indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. Since other processes are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, redundant description is omitted.

<Step S8>
After the sound generation processing unit 34 confirms that the pressed amount has returned to the threshold value S3 (after it is determined as YES in step S4), the time comparison unit 341 of the sound generation processing unit 34 calculates the elapsed time from the previous sound generation, Compare with a predetermined time. The predetermined time is a time of a keystroke interval such that each part of the action mechanism of the acoustic piano cannot be interlocked, and is, for example, about 1/7 second to about 1/10 second. As the elapsed time from the previous pronunciation, the time measured by the elapsed time measuring unit 38 is used.

  When the time comparison unit 341 determines that the elapsed time from the previous pronunciation is longer than the predetermined time, that is, when it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed since the previous pronunciation, The processing unit 34 performs normal sound generation processing in the same manner as in the above embodiment (see step S5).

<Step S9>
On the other hand, when the time comparison unit 341 determines that the elapsed time from the previous pronunciation is shorter than the predetermined time, that is, it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed since the previous pronunciation. If so, the sound generation processing unit 34 does not generate a sound smaller than the sound corresponding to the string striking speed or a sound (step S9). The sound smaller than the sound corresponding to the string striking speed is a sound that is so small that the player can obtain a natural feeling of performance, for example, k (0 <k <1) of the sound corresponding to the string striking speed. The sound has double the volume. For example, k is 1/2. Thereafter, the process returns to step S1.

<Step S10>
In step S5 and step S9, the sound generation processing unit 34 sends a measurement control signal to the elapsed time measurement unit 38 after generating a sound. The elapsed time measuring unit 38 that has received the measurement control signal resets the elapsed time and starts measuring the elapsed time again (step S10). In this way, the elapsed time measuring unit 38 measures the elapsed time from the previous pronunciation.

  As described above, when it is determined that the elapsed time from the previous pronunciation is shorter than a predetermined time when generating a sound, a sound smaller than the sound corresponding to the keystroke speed is generated. By performing a process that does not generate a sound or a sound is generated, a more natural performance feeling can be obtained.

  In the above description, the electronic musical instrument according to the present invention has been described on the assumption that it is attached to the upright piano. However, the electronic musical instrument according to the present invention is not necessarily attached to the upright piano.

  Step S6 (FIG. 2) need not be performed. That is, the key release processing unit 36 may perform the mute process based on a predetermined function independent of the key release speed without calculating the key release speed.

  When the above configuration is realized by a computer, the processing contents of the functions of each unit of the electronic musical instrument are described by a program. By executing this program on a computer, the functions of the above-described units are realized on the computer.

  That is, when the CPU sequentially reads and executes the program, the pressing amount measuring unit 31, the key position measuring unit 311, the correcting unit 312, the pressing amount monitoring unit 32, the key pressing processing unit 33, the sound generation processing unit 34, and the time comparison unit. 341, the return confirmation unit 35, the key release processing unit 36, the mute processing unit 37, and the elapsed time measurement unit 38 are realized. In this case, the CPU functioning as each unit of the electronic musical instrument performs processing on the data read from the auxiliary storage device such as a memory or a hard disk, and stores the processed data in the memory or the auxiliary storage device. .

  The program describing the processing contents can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

  In this embodiment, the present apparatus is configured by executing a predetermined program on a computer. However, at least a part of these processing contents may be realized by hardware.

  In addition, the various processes described above are not only executed in time series according to the description, but may be executed in parallel or individually according to the processing capability of the apparatus that executes the processes or as necessary.

  Needless to say, other modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The example of the functional block diagram of the electronic musical instrument of this invention. The flowchart which illustrates the flow of a process of the electronic musical instrument of this invention. The figure for demonstrating the relationship between key press amount and threshold value S1 to threshold value S3. The figure for demonstrating the characteristic of the action mechanism of an upright piano. The figure for demonstrating the characteristic of the action mechanism of an upright piano. The figure for demonstrating the characteristic of the action mechanism of an upright piano. The figure for demonstrating the characteristic of the action mechanism of an upright piano.

Explanation of symbols

31 Press amount measurement unit 33 Key press processing unit 34 Sound generation processing unit 35 Return confirmation unit 341 Time comparison unit

Claims (3)

A pressing amount measuring unit for measuring the pressing amount of the key;
A key press processing unit that estimates the stringing speed of the hammer using the pressed amount;
A return confirmation unit for confirming whether or not the pressing amount has returned to a predetermined pressing amount;
A sound generation processing unit for generating a sound corresponding to the string striking speed;
Including
The sound generation processing unit does not generate the sound when the return confirmation unit has not confirmed from the previous pronunciation that the pressed amount has returned to the predetermined pressed amount,
An electronic musical instrument characterized by that. The electronic musical instrument according to claim 1,
It further includes a time comparison unit that compares the elapsed time from the previous pronunciation with a predetermined time,
The sound generation processing unit generates a sound smaller than the sound corresponding to the keystroke speed when the time comparison unit determines that the elapsed time from the previous sound generation is shorter than the predetermined time. Do not generate sound
An electronic musical instrument characterized by that.   The program for functioning a computer as each part of the electronic musical instrument of Claim 1 or 2.

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