JP2010004244A - Echo signal output device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for localizing echo sound in a plurality of positions with a simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: A multi-tap delay circuit 14 of an echo device 1 outputs echo signals (first echo signals) resulting from delaying an original sound signal input to an input terminal 11 by delay times t11, t12, ..., t1n. A delay circuit 16 delay the first echo signals output from the multi-tap delay circuit 14 by a delay time t2 to output second echo signals. Gain controllers 172L and 172R amplify the first echo signals output from the multi-tap delay circuit 14 and output the amplified first echo signals to mixing circuits 18L and 18R. At this time, the gain controllers 172L and 172R amplify the first echo signals by different amplification factors. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for generating an echo signal.

  Some electronic musical instruments and sound reproducing apparatuses have a function of imparting acoustic effects such as echo and reverb. With such an effect, the listener can obtain a sense of reality as if he / she was playing at a performance hall or the like. As an apparatus for imparting a reverb effect, for example, in Patent Document 1, after adding a reverberation signal to a monaural original sound signal, the signal is delayed by different delay amounts by a plurality of delay circuits and is not delayed with the delayed signal. There has been proposed an apparatus for creating a stereo signal by adding signals together. According to the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the sound image localization changes with the passage of time depending on a signal that has not been delayed and a plurality of signals that have been delayed and separated in time, so that the spread of sound varies in various ways. Sound effects can be produced.

By the way, in the conventional apparatus, when an echo effect is imparted to an original sound signal, one of two types of methods of monaural echo and stereo echo is generally used. In the monaural echo, the output of the delay circuit is used as the final output, the input signal and the final output added at a predetermined ratio are used as the input of the delay circuit, and L and R output the same signal. In this case, the echo component generated at each delay time is monaural and centered. On the other hand, in the stereo echo, the output (output 1) of the delay circuit is output to one of the stereo outputs, and the output (output 2) obtained by delaying the output 1 is output to the other of the stereo outputs. In this case, the sum of the input signal and the output 2 at a predetermined ratio is used as the input of the delay circuit for the output 1. In this case, the echo component generated at each delay time is completely localized to one of the speakers in stereo.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-118980

When the echo effect is applied in the conventional apparatus, as described above, in the case of monaural echo, the echo is localized only at the center. In the case of stereo echo, it is localized only in front of the speaker. As described above, in the conventional apparatus, the localization position of the echo sound is constant, and the echo sound cannot be spread.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of localizing an echo sound at a plurality of positions with a simple configuration.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention mixes an input signal to which a monaural original sound signal is input, an output terminal for a left channel, an output terminal for a right channel, and an input signal, thereby the left channel. Left channel mixing means for outputting to the output terminal for the right side, right channel mixing means for mixing the input signal to output to the output terminal for the right channel, and amplification of the original sound signal input to the input terminal The original sound signal amplifying means input to each of the left channel mixing means and the right channel mixing means, and the first echo signal obtained by delaying the original sound signal input to the input terminal by different delay times. And a first echo signal generating means for outputting a plurality of generated first echo signals; and A first echo signal mixing means for mixing a plurality of first echo signals generated by the signal generation means, and amplifying the first echo signals mixed by the first echo signal mixing means at different amplification factors. The first echo signal amplifying means input to each of the left channel mixing means and the right channel mixing means, and the first echo signal mixed by the first echo signal mixing means, A second echo signal that is delayed by a delay time longer than the difference between the longest delay time and the shortest delay time among the plurality of delay times set by the one echo signal generating means; Generating means and the second echo signal generated by the second echo signal generating means, It is amplified by the amplification factor to provide an echo signal output apparatus characterized by comprising a second echo signal amplifying means for input to the mixing means and the right channel mixing means for the left channel made.

  The present invention also provides an input terminal for inputting a monaural original sound signal, an output terminal for a left channel, an output terminal for a right channel, and an input signal by mixing the input signals to the output terminal for the left channel. Left channel mixing means for outputting, right channel mixing means for mixing an input signal to output to the right channel output terminal, and amplification of the original sound signal input to the input terminal for the left channel A plurality of first echo signals obtained by delaying the original sound signal input to the input terminal and the original sound signal input to the input terminal by different delay times, respectively. A first echo signal generating means for outputting a plurality of generated first echo signals; and the first echo signal generating means. A first echo signal mixing means for mixing the plurality of first echo signals generated in the step, and amplifying the first echo signals mixed by the first echo signal mixing means at different amplification rates, respectively. The first echo signal amplifying means input to each of the left channel mixing means and the right channel mixing means, and the first echo signal mixed by the first echo signal mixing means is used as the first echo. Second echo signal generating means for generating a second echo signal by delaying by a delay time shorter than the difference between the longest delay time and the shortest delay time among the plurality of delay times set by the signal generating means; The second echo signal generated by the second echo signal generating means is amplified with different amplification factors. Be provided with a second echo signal amplifying means for input to the mixing means and the right channel mixing means for the left channel Te provides an echo signal output apparatus according to claim.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, amplification of the first echo signal amplification means and the second echo signal amplification means is performed so that sound images of the first echo signal and the second echo signal are localized at different positions. Control means for setting the rate may be provided.

  Further, in a further preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided signal detection means for detecting a signal output from an operator operated by a user, wherein the control means is responsive to the signal detected by the signal detection means. The amplification factor of the first echo signal amplifying means and the second echo signal amplifying means may be set.

  Further, in a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the control means is arranged so that the localization position of the sound image of at least one of the first echo signal and the second echo signal changes with time. The amplification factor may be changed over time.

  In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, feedback means may be provided for inputting the second echo signal generated by the second echo signal generation means to the first echo signal generation means.

  Further, in a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the control signal acquisition means for acquiring a control signal corresponding to the original sound signal inputted to the input terminal, and the control signal acquisition means according to the control signal acquired by the control signal acquisition means. Delay time setting means for setting at least one of one delay time and the second delay time.

  In another preferred aspect of the present invention, the first echo signal amplification means amplifies the first echo signal so that a sound image of the first echo signal is localized on the left channel side, and The second echo signal amplifying means inputs the second echo signal so that the sound image of the second echo signal is localized on the right channel side, respectively, to the channel mixing means and the right channel mixing means. It may be amplified and input to the left channel mixing means and the right channel mixing means.

  According to the present invention, the echo sound can be localized at a plurality of positions with a simple configuration.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
<A: Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an echo device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The echo device 1 is a device that adds an echo component to an input monaural original sound signal and outputs the signal. In the figure, a monaural original sound signal is input to the input terminal 11. The output terminal 12L is an output terminal from which an audio signal for the left channel is output, and the output terminal 12R is an output terminal from which an audio signal for the right channel is output. The output terminals 12L and 12R are respectively connected to the speaker via an arithmetic circuit (not shown), a D / A converter, and an audio amplifier.

  The gain adjuster 13 amplifies the original sound signal input to the input terminal 11 and outputs the amplified original sound signal to the multi-tap delay circuit 14. The multi-tap delay circuit 14 outputs a plurality of echo signals (hereinafter referred to as “first echo signals”) obtained by delaying the original sound signal output from the gain adjuster 13 by different delay times. The multi-tap delay circuit 14 includes a plurality of delay circuits that delay the input signal by delay times t11, t12, t13,..., T1n, respectively. , T12, t13,..., T1n are output with delay. In this way, the multi-tap delay circuit 14 outputs echo signals delayed by delay times t11, t12, t13,..., T1n. The gain adjusters 141, 142, 143,..., 14 n adjust the gains of the plurality of first echo signals output from the multi-tap delay circuit 14 and output them to the mixing circuit 15.

  The mixing circuit 15 mixes a plurality of first echo signals output from the gain adjusters 141, 142, 143,..., 14 n, and outputs the mixed first echo signals to the gain adjusters 172 L and 172 R and the delay circuit 16. To do. The delay circuit 16 converts the first echo signal output from the mixing circuit 15 into a delay time t2 longer than the difference Δt between the longest delay time and the shortest delay time among the delay times t11, t12, t13,. An echo signal (hereinafter referred to as a “second echo signal”) is output after being delayed by a certain amount.

  The gain adjusters 171L and 171R amplify the original sound signal input to the input terminal 11, and output the amplified original sound signal to the mixing circuits 18L and 18R, respectively. The gain adjusters 172L and 172R amplify the first echo signal output from the mixing circuit 15, and output the amplified first echo signal to the mixing circuits 18L and 18R, respectively. Here, the gain adjusters 172L and 172R amplify the first echo signal at different amplification factors so that the sound image of the first echo signal is localized on the left channel side.

  The gain adjusters 173L and 173R each amplify the second echo signal output from the delay circuit 16, and output the amplified second echo signal to the mixing circuits 18L and 18R, respectively. At this time, the gain adjusters 173L and 173R amplify the second echo signal with different amplification factors. Here, the gain adjusters 173L and 173R amplify the second echo signal at different amplification factors so that the sound image of the second echo signal is localized on the left channel side.

  The mixing circuit 18L mixes the input audio signal and outputs it to the left channel output terminal 12L. Here, the mixing circuit 18L mixes the original sound signal output from the gain adjuster 171L, the first echo signal output from the gain adjuster 172L, and the second echo signal output from the gain adjuster 173L, and outputs an output terminal. Output to 12L. As a result, the sound represented by the audio signal mixed by the mixing circuit 18L is output from the left channel speaker connected to the output terminal 12L.

  The mixing circuit 18R mixes the input audio signal and outputs it to the output terminal 12R for the right channel. Here, the mixing circuit 18R mixes the original sound signal output from the gain controller 171R, the first echo signal output from the gain controller 172R, and the second echo signal output from the gain controller 173R, and outputs an output terminal. Output to 12R. As a result, the sound represented by the audio signal mixed by the mixing circuit 18R is output from the right channel speaker connected to the output terminal 12R.

  Here, the temporal correspondence of echo signals output from the echo device 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of temporal correspondence of echo signals output from the echo device 1. In the example shown in FIG. 2, for ease of explanation, an example in which an impulse signal is input as an input signal is shown. In FIG. 2, the horizontal axis indicates the time, and the vertical axis indicates the output level. In the figure, the original sound signal S1 is amplified by the gain adjusters 171L and 172R, output to the output terminals 12L and 12R, and output as sound from the speakers connected to the output terminals 12L and 12R, respectively.

  The original sound signal S1 is delayed by delay times t11, t12, t13,..., T1n by the multi-tap delay circuit 14 and output as first echo signals E11, E12, E13,. As shown in FIG. 2, the first echo signal E11 is output when the delay time t11 elapses after the original sound signal S1 is output, the first echo signal E12 is output when the delay time t12 elapses,. As described above, the first echo signal is output when the delay times t11, t12, t13,.

  The first echo signals E11, E12,..., E1n output from the multi-tap delay circuit 14 are delayed by a delay time t2 by the delay circuit 16 and output as second echo signals E21, E22,.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the delay time t2 is set in advance so as to be longer than the difference time Δt. Therefore, the first echo signal and the second echo signal are output from the echo device 1 at different timings, and they are not output in an overlapping manner. Thereby, the sense of localization of the echo sound can be stabilized. In addition, the density of the echo sound that is output can be kept substantially constant, and the density of the echo sound does not vary.

<B: Operation>
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When a monaural original sound signal is input to the input terminal 11, the input original sound signal is input to the multi-tap delay circuit 14 and the gain adjusters 171L and 171R, respectively. In the multi-tap delay circuit 14, the input original sound signal is delayed by delay times t11, t12,... T1n and output as a first echo signal. The first echo signal output from the multi-tap delay circuit 14 is output to the gain adjusters 172L and 172R, and is also output to the delay circuit 16.

  In the delay circuit 16, the first echo signal output from the multi-tap delay circuit 14 is delayed by a delay time t2 and output as a second echo signal. The second echo signal output from the delay circuit 16 is output to the gain adjusters 173L and 173R, respectively.

  The gain controllers 171L, 172L, and 173L each amplify the input audio signal and output the amplified audio signal to the mixing circuit 18L. In the mixing circuit 18L, the original sound signal output from the gain controller 171L, the first echo signal output from the gain controller 172L, and the second echo signal output from the gain controller 173L are mixed and output to the output terminal 12L. Is done. The audio signal output from the output terminal 12L is emitted as sound from the left channel speaker connected to the output terminal 12L.

  The gain adjusters 171R, 172R, and 173R each amplify the input audio signal and output the amplified audio signal to the mixing circuit 18R. In the mixing circuit 18R, the original sound signal output from the gain controller 171R, the first echo signal output from the gain controller 172R, and the second echo signal output from the gain controller 173R are mixed and output to the output terminal 12R. Is done. The audio signal output from the output terminal 12L is output as sound from the right channel speaker connected to the output terminal 12R.

  At this time, of the sound emitted from the speaker, the sound image of the first echo signal is localized on the left channel side, and the sound image of the second echo signal is localized on the right channel side. Thus, in this embodiment, the denseness of echo sound can be obtained by using the multi-tap delay circuit 14.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the output of the multi-tap delay circuit 14 (first echo signal) and the output delayed from the output (second echo signal) are distributed to L and R at an appropriate ratio. Output. As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to output a dense echo sound with a relatively simple configuration.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, since the delay time t2 is set in advance so as to be larger than the difference time Δt, the echo device 1 receives the first echo signal and the second echo signal. They are output at different timings and do not overlap. Thereby, the sense of localization of the echo sound can be stabilized.

<C: Modification>
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, It can implement with another various form. An example is shown below. In addition, you may combine each following aspect suitably.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the echo device 1 localizes the sound image of the first echo signal to the left channel side and localizes the sound image of the second echo signal to the right channel side. The position of localization is not limited to this, but may be other positional relationships. Specifically, for example, the echo device 1 may localize the sound image of the first echo signal to the right channel side and localize the sound image of the second echo signal to the left channel side. In short, the gain adjusters 172L, 172R, 173L, and 173R may be amplified with an amplification factor such that the sound images of the first echo signal and the second echo signal are localized at different positions.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the second echo signal output from the delay circuit 16 may be input to the multi-tap delay circuit 14. An example of the configuration of the echo device 1B in this case is shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the second echo signal output from the delay circuit 16 is input to the multi-tap delay circuit 14. In the multi-tap delay circuit 14, the original sound signal and the second echo signal output from the delay circuit 16 are output after being delayed by delay times t11, t12,.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, the output level of the echo signal with the later time may be lowered. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the echo device 1 may make the output level of the second echo signal lower than the output level of the second echo signal.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, the user may be able to set the localization position of the echo sound. A specific example in this case will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, the operation unit 20 outputs a signal corresponding to the content operated by the user. The user of the echo device 1 </ b> C uses the operation unit 20 to perform an operation for setting the localization positions of the first echo signal and the second echo signal. The operation unit 20 outputs a signal corresponding to the operated content. In accordance with the signal output from the operation unit 20, the control unit 21 adjusts the gain adjusters 172L, so that the localization positions of the sound images of the first echo signal and the second echo signal become positions according to the operated contents. The amplification factors of 172R, 173L, and 173R are set. In this case, the localization of the echo can be appropriately set according to the arrangement of the speakers and the listener's preference. In this way, by allocating the output to L and R at an appropriate ratio according to the arrangement and preference of the speakers, it is possible to obtain an effective localization feeling at the listening position.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, the setting data indicating the localization content of the echo sound is stored in a predetermined memory of the echo device 1 </ b> C, and the control unit 21 reads the setting data from the memory and adds the read data to the read data. Accordingly, the localization control of the echo sound may be performed.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 21 amplifies the gain adjuster so that the localization position of at least one of the first echo signal and the second echo signal changes with time. The rate may be changed over time.

  The control unit 21 may acquire a control signal corresponding to the original sound signal and set at least one of the delay times t11, t12,..., T1n, t2 according to the acquired control signal. . In this case, for example, the control unit 21 may acquire a signal output from the operation unit 20 as a control signal, or may extract a control signal from an original sound signal, for example.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the delay time t2 delayed by the delay circuit 16 is the difference between the longest delay time and the shortest delay time among the delay times t11, t12,. Although the delay time is longer than the time Δt, the delay time t2 delayed by the delay circuit 16 may be a time shorter than the difference time Δt. By doing so, the feeling of localization of the echo sound is reduced, and an effect such as reverb can be imparted.

  In addition, the user may be able to set whether the delay time t2 is made larger or smaller than the difference time Δt. In this case, for example, when the user wants to make the echo sound have a sense of localization, the delay time t2 is set to be larger than the difference time Δt, and conversely, the user wants to eliminate the sense of localization of the echo sound. The delay time t2 may be set to be smaller than the difference time Δt. In this case, in the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the user performs an operation of setting the magnitude relationship between the delay time t2 and the difference time Δt using the operation unit 20, and the operation unit 20 corresponds to the operated content. Outputs an operation signal. The control unit 21 sets the delay times t11, t12,..., T1n and the delay time t2 so that the magnitude relationship between the delay time t2 and the difference time Δt satisfies the setting condition according to the signal output from the operation unit 20. Set at least one of them. By doing in this way, the localization feeling of an echo sound can be adjusted suitably according to a user's preference and the audio | voice reproduced | regenerated.

(6) In the above-described embodiment, the case of two channels of L and R has been described. However, the number of channels is not limited to two and may be larger. Specifically, for example, a device including three output terminals corresponding to three channels may be used. In this case, for example, the delay circuit may be provided in a number corresponding to the number of channels, and control may be performed so that a plurality of echo signals are localized at positions corresponding to the respective channels.

It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of an echo apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the temporal correspondence of an echo signal. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of an echo apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of an echo apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Echo apparatus, 11 ... Input terminal, 12L, 12R ... Output terminal, 13, 171L, 171R, 172L, 172R, 173L, 173R ... Gain controller, 14 ... Multi-tap delay circuit, 15, 18L, 18R ... Mixing circuit 16 delay circuit 20 operation unit 21 control unit

Claims (8)

An input terminal to which a monaural original sound signal is input;
An output terminal for the left channel,
An output terminal for the right channel,
Left channel mixing means for mixing an input signal and outputting it to the output terminal for the left channel;
Right channel mixing means for mixing an input signal and outputting it to the right channel output terminal;
An original sound signal amplifying means for amplifying the original sound signal input to the input terminal and inputting the amplified signal to each of the left channel mixing means and the right channel mixing means;
First echo signal generation means for generating a plurality of first echo signals obtained by delaying the original sound signal input to the input terminal by different delay times, and outputting the generated first echo signals;
First echo signal mixing means for mixing a plurality of first echo signals generated by the first echo signal generation means;
First echo signal amplification that amplifies the first echo signal mixed by the first echo signal mixing means at different amplification factors and inputs the amplified signals to the left channel mixing means and the right channel mixing means, respectively. Means,
The first echo signal mixed by the first echo signal mixing means is calculated from the difference between the longest delay time and the shortest delay time among a plurality of delay times set by the first echo signal generation means. Second echo signal generating means for generating a second echo signal with a delay of a longer delay time;
The second echo signal generated by the second echo signal generating means is amplified at different amplification factors and input to the left channel mixing means and the right channel mixing means, respectively. An echo signal output device comprising: an amplifying unit. An input terminal to which a monaural original sound signal is input;
An output terminal for the left channel,
An output terminal for the right channel,
Left channel mixing means for mixing an input signal and outputting it to the output terminal for the left channel;
Right channel mixing means for mixing an input signal and outputting it to the right channel output terminal;
An original sound signal amplifying means for amplifying the original sound signal input to the input terminal and inputting the amplified signal to each of the left channel mixing means and the right channel mixing means;
First echo signal generation means for generating a plurality of first echo signals obtained by delaying the original sound signal input to the input terminal by different delay times, and outputting the generated first echo signals;
First echo signal mixing means for mixing a plurality of first echo signals generated by the first echo signal generation means;
First echo signal amplification that amplifies the first echo signal mixed by the first echo signal mixing means at different amplification factors and inputs the amplified signals to the left channel mixing means and the right channel mixing means, respectively. Means,
The first echo signal mixed by the first echo signal mixing means is calculated from the difference between the longest delay time and the shortest delay time among a plurality of delay times set by the first echo signal generation means. Second echo signal generation means for generating a second echo signal with a delay of a short delay time;
The second echo signal generated by the second echo signal generating means is amplified at different amplification factors and input to the left channel mixing means and the right channel mixing means, respectively. An echo signal output device comprising: an amplifying unit. Control means for setting amplification factors of the first echo signal amplifying means and the second echo signal amplifying means so that sound images of the first echo signal and the second echo signal are localized at different positions; The echo signal output device according to claim 1, wherein the echo signal output device is provided. Comprising signal detection means for detecting a signal output from an operator operated by a user;
The said control means sets the amplification factor of the said 1st echo signal amplification means and the said 2nd echo signal amplification means according to the signal detected by the said signal detection means. Echo signal output device. The control means sets the amplification factor with time so that a localization position of at least one of the first echo signal and the second echo signal changes with time. The echo signal output device according to claim 3, wherein the echo signal output device is changed. The feedback means for inputting the second echo signal generated by the second echo signal generating means to the first echo signal generating means, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The echo signal output device described. Control signal acquisition means for acquiring a control signal corresponding to the original sound signal input to the input terminal;
And a delay time setting means for setting at least one of the first delay time and the second delay time in accordance with a control signal acquired by the control signal acquisition means. Item 7. The echo signal output device according to any one of Items 1 to 6. The first echo signal amplifying unit amplifies the first echo signal so that a sound image of the first echo signal is localized on the left channel side, and mixes the left channel and the right channel. Enter each
The second echo signal amplifying means amplifies the second echo signal so that a sound image of the second echo signal is localized on the right channel side and mixes the left channel and the right channel mixing means. The echo signal output device according to claim 1, wherein the echo signal output device is input to each of the input signals.

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