JP2011257508A - Performance device and electronic musical instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve production of a musical sound at a desired sound volume level at timing as intended by a performer.SOLUTION: An acceleration sensor 23 is placed on a performance device body 11 that extends in a longitudinal direction thereof and that is to be held by a performer with his or her hand. In the performance device body 11, a CPU 21 gives an instruction for sound production (note on event) to a sound source unit 31 of a musical instrument unit 19, which produces a predetermined musical sound. The CPU 21 generates a note on event at timing, as timing of sound production, when an acceleration sensor value of the acceleration sensor 23 exceeds a predetermined first threshold α and then falls below a second threshold β which is smaller than the first threshold α, and gives an instruction for sound production to the musical instrument unit 19. Further, the CPU 21 calculates a sound volume level to be included in the note on event, based on information on time interval between a time when the acceleration sensor value reaches the first threshold α and a time when the acceleration sensor value reaches the second threshold β.

Description

  The present invention relates to a performance apparatus and an electronic musical instrument that generate music by holding and shaking by a player.

  Conventionally, there has been proposed an electronic musical instrument in which a sensor is provided on a stick-shaped member, and the player detects the movement of the member by holding the member by hand and shakes the member to generate a musical sound. ing. In particular, in this electronic musical instrument, the stick-shaped member has a shape like a drum stick or a drum repellent, so that a percussion instrument sound is uttered in response to the player's action of hitting the drum or drum. It has become.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, an acceleration sensor is provided on a stick-shaped member, and when a predetermined time elapses after the output from the acceleration sensor (acceleration sensor value) reaches a predetermined threshold value, a musical sound is generated. A configured performance device has been proposed.

Japanese Patent No. 2663503

  The performer grasps one end of the stick-shaped performance device with his hand and swings it down from the top to the bottom, for example. In actual drum performance, when the performer swings down the stick, the speed may be increased and the stick may be applied to the striking surface of the drum at the maximum speed. In order to shift to (striking), in many cases, the stick is swung down and then swung up again, and the swung down position becomes the striking surface. Therefore, it is desirable for a performer to swing down a stick-like performance device and generate a musical tone at the lowest position even in an electronic musical instrument.

  However, the performance device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that it is difficult for the performer to produce a sound at the lowest position where the player swings down the stick.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a performance device and an electronic musical instrument capable of generating a musical sound having a desired volume at a timing intended by a player.

An object of the present invention is to provide a holding member extending in a longitudinal direction for a player to hold by hand,
An acceleration sensor disposed in the holding member;
Control means for giving a sound generation instruction to a music sound generating means for generating a predetermined music sound,
The control means uses the timing at which the acceleration sensor value exceeds a predetermined first threshold and then becomes smaller than a second threshold smaller than the first threshold as a sounding timing for the musical sound generating means. Pronunciation timing detection means for giving instructions of pronunciation,
Volume that obtains time interval information from when the acceleration sensor value reaches a predetermined first level until it reaches the second threshold that is the sound generation timing, and calculates a volume level according to the time interval information A level calculation means,
This is achieved by a performance apparatus in which the sound generation timing detection means gives a sound generation instruction to the music sound generation means at the sound generation timing at the sound volume level calculated by the sound volume level calculation means.

  In a preferred embodiment, the sound volume level calculating means acquires time interval information from when the first threshold is reached as the first level until the second threshold is reached.

In a preferred embodiment, the volume level calculation means calculates the volume level Vel based on the time interval information T.
It is calculated based on Vel = a · T (where a · T ≧ volume level maximum value Vmax, Vel = Vmax, a is a positive constant).

In another preferred embodiment, a table in which the range of the time interval information T and the volume level are associated with each other is provided.
The volume level calculating means acquires a volume level based on which range of the table the time interval information T belongs to.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the above performance device,
A musical instrument unit comprising the musical sound generating means,
The performance device and the musical instrument unit are each achieved by an electronic musical instrument comprising a communication means.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to provide the performance apparatus and electronic musical instrument which can sound a musical sound of a desired volume at the timing which the player intended.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic musical instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the performance device main body according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3A is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed in the performance apparatus main body according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 3B is a flowchart showing an example of timer interrupt processing according to the present embodiment. . FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the sound generation timing detection process according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the note-on event generation process according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed in the musical instrument unit according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a graph schematically showing an example of acceleration sensor values detected by the acceleration sensor of the percussion instrument body. FIG. 8 is a graph schematically showing another example of acceleration sensor values detected by the acceleration sensor of the percussion instrument body.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic musical instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic musical instrument 10 according to the present embodiment has a stick-like performance device main body 11 extending in the longitudinal direction for a player to shake in his / her hand. The electronic musical instrument 10 includes a musical instrument unit 19 for generating musical sounds. The musical instrument unit 19 includes a CPU 12, an interface (I / F) 13, a ROM 14, a RAM 15, a display unit 16, an input unit 17, and a sound system 18. Have. As will be described later, the performance device main body 11 has an acceleration sensor 23 in the vicinity of the tip side opposite to the base side held by the performer.

  The I / F 13 of the musical instrument unit 19 accepts data (for example, a note-on event) from the performance apparatus main body 11, stores it in the RAM 15, and notifies the CPU 12 of acceptance of the data. In the present embodiment, for example, an infrared communication device 24 is provided at the base side end of the performance device main body 11, and an infrared communication device 33 is also provided in the I / F 13. Therefore, the musical instrument unit 19 can receive data from the performance apparatus main body 11 when the infrared communication apparatus 33 of the I / F 13 receives the infrared rays emitted from the infrared communication apparatus 24 of the performance apparatus main body 11.

  The CPU 12 controls the electronic musical instrument 10 as a whole, in particular, controls the musical instrument unit 19 of the electronic musical instrument, detects an operation of a key switch (not shown) constituting the input unit 17, and a note-on event received via the I / F 13. Various processes such as generation of musical sounds based on the above are executed.

  The ROM 14 controls the entire electronic musical instrument 10, in particular, controls the musical instrument unit 19 of the electronic musical instrument, detects operation of a key switch (not shown) constituting the input unit 17, and note-on events received via the I / F 13. Various processing programs, such as generation of musical sounds based on, are stored. The ROM 14 includes a waveform data area for storing waveform data of various timbres, particularly percussion instrument waveform data such as bass drum, hi-hat, snare, and cymbal. Of course, it is not limited to the waveform data of percussion instruments, and the ROM 22 may store waveform data of timbres of wind instruments such as flutes, saxophones and trumpet, keyboard instruments such as piano, and stringed instruments such as guitar.

  The RAM 15 stores programs read from the ROM 14 and data and parameters generated in the process. The data generated in the process includes the operation state of the switch of the input unit 17, the sensor value received via the I / F 13, etc., and the sound generation state (sound generation flag).

  The display unit 16 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display device (not shown), and can display a table in which a selected tone color, a range of difference values of angles described later, and musical tone pitches are associated with each other. . The input unit 17 includes a switch (not shown) and can instruct designation of a timbre.

  The sound system 18 includes a sound source unit 31, an audio circuit 32, and a speaker 35. The sound source unit 31 reads waveform data from the waveform data area of the ROM 15 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 12, generates musical tone data, and outputs it. The audio circuit 32 converts the musical sound data output from the sound source unit 31 into an analog signal, amplifies the converted analog signal, and outputs the amplified analog signal to the speaker 35. As a result, a musical sound is output from the speaker 35.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the performance device main body according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the performance apparatus main body 11 has an acceleration sensor 23 on the tip side that is opposite to the base side held by the performer. The acceleration sensor 23 is, for example, a capacitance type or piezoresistive type sensor, and can output a data value indicating the generated acceleration. The acceleration sensor 23 according to the present embodiment outputs, for example, an acceleration sensor value in the axial direction of the performance apparatus main body 11 (see reference numeral 200 in FIG. 2).

  When the performer actually plays the drum, he holds one end (base side) of the stick in his hand and causes the stick to rotate around the wrist or the like. Therefore, in this embodiment, the acceleration sensor value in the axial direction of the performance apparatus main body 11 is acquired in order to detect the centrifugal force accompanying the rotational movement. Of course, a triaxial sensor may be used as the acceleration sensor.

  The performance device main body 11 includes a CPU 21, an infrared communication device 24, a ROM 25, a RAM 26, an interface (I / F) 27, and an input unit 28. The CPU 21 acquires the acceleration sensor value in the performance apparatus body 11, detects the tone generation timing of the musical sound according to the acceleration sensor value, generates the note-on event, and controls the transmission of the note-on event via the I / F 27 and the infrared communication device 24. Etc. are executed.

  The ROM 25 acquires the acceleration sensor value in the performance device main body 11, detects the tone generation timing of the musical sound according to the acceleration sensor value, generates the note-on event, and transmits the note-on event via the I / F 27 and the infrared communication device 24. A processing program such as control is stored. The RAM 26 stores values obtained or generated in the process such as sensor values. The I / F 27 outputs data to the infrared communication device 24 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 21. The input unit 28 has a switch (not shown).

  FIG. 3A is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed in the performance device main body according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3A, the CPU 21 of the performance device main body 11 performs initialization processing including clearing the data in the RAM 26, resetting the timer value t, and the like (step 301). CPU21 acquires the sensor value (acceleration sensor value) of the acceleration sensor 23, and stores it in RAM26 (step 302). As described above, in the present embodiment, the sensor value in the axial direction of the performance device main body 11 is employed as the acceleration sensor value.

  Next, the CPU 21 executes a sound generation timing detection process (step 303). FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the sound generation timing detection process according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 21 reads the acceleration sensor value stored in the RAM 26 (step 401). Next, the CPU 21 determines whether the acceleration sensor value is greater than a predetermined first threshold value α (step 402). When it is determined Yes in step 402, the CPU 21 enables the timer interrupt (step 403) and sets “1” to the acceleration flag in the RAM 26 (step 404). FIG. 3B is a flowchart illustrating an example of timer interrupt processing. The timer interrupt process is started when the timer interrupt becomes valid, and increments the timer value t at a predetermined time interval (step 311).

  After step 404, the CPU 21 updates the time interval information T by adding the timer value t to the time interval information T (step 405). The time interval information T is stored in the RAM 26. Thereafter, the CPU 21 resets the timer value t to “0” (step 406).

  If it is determined No in step 402, the CPU 21 determines whether the acceleration flag in the RAM 26 is “1” (step 407). When it is determined Yes in step 407, the CPU 21 determines whether the acceleration sensor value is smaller than a predetermined second threshold value β (step 408). If it is determined No in step 408, the process proceeds to step 405, where the timer value t is added to the time interval information T. When it is determined Yes in step 408, the CPU 21 executes a note-on event generation process (step 409).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the note-on event generation process according to the present embodiment. The note-on event is transmitted to the musical instrument unit 19 by the note-on event generation process shown in FIG. 5, and then the musical tone unit 19 executes a sound generation process (see FIG. 6), thereby generating musical sound data and the speaker 35. The sound is pronounced.

  Prior to the description of the note-on event generation process, the sound generation timing in the electronic musical instrument 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a graph schematically showing an example of the acceleration sensor value detected by the acceleration sensor 23 of the performance device main body 11. When the performer swings while holding one end (base side) of the performance apparatus main body 11, the performance apparatus main body 11 is caused to rotate with the wrist, elbow, shoulder, or the like as a fulcrum. Accompanying this rotational movement, in particular, acceleration is generated in the axial direction of the musical instrument main body 11 by centrifugal force.

  When the performer swings the performance apparatus main body 11, the acceleration sensor value gradually increases (see reference numeral 701 in the curve 700 in FIG. 7). When the performer swings the stick-like performance apparatus main body 11, generally, the operation is similar to the operation of hitting the drum. Therefore, the performer stops the operation of the stick (that is, the stick-shaped performance device main body 11) just before hitting the stick on the virtually set drum surface. Therefore, the acceleration sensor value gradually decreases from a certain time (see reference numeral 702). The performer assumes that the musical sound is generated at the moment when the stick is struck on the virtual drum surface. Therefore, it is desirable that the musical sound can be generated at the timing assumed by the performer.

In the present invention, the logic described below is employed in order to generate a musical sound at the moment or slightly before the player strikes the virtual drum surface. The sound generation timing is when the acceleration sensor value decreases and becomes smaller than the second threshold value β slightly larger than “0”. However, there is a possibility that the acceleration sensor value vibrates and reaches around the above-described second threshold value β due to an operation unexpected by the performer. Therefore, in order to eliminate unexpected vibrations, it is a condition that the acceleration sensor value once rises and exceeds a predetermined first threshold value α (α is sufficiently larger than β). That is, (see time t _alpha) acceleration sensor value becomes temporarily larger than the first threshold value alpha, then, with the acceleration sensor value is reduced, when it becomes less than the second threshold value beta (see time t _beta), time t _β is used as the sound generation timing. When it is determined that the sound generation timing as described above has arrived, a note-on event is generated in the performance apparatus body 11 and transmitted to the musical instrument unit 10. In response to this, the musical instrument unit 19 performs a sound generation process to generate a musical sound.

Further, in the present embodiment, the time between the time t _α when the acceleration sensor value becomes larger than the first threshold value _α and the time t _β when the acceleration sensor value becomes smaller than the second threshold value β thereafter. The interval information T is measured, and based on the time interval information T, the volume level of the musical sound to be generated is measured. In step 405 of FIG. 4, the timer value t is added to the time interval information T every time the sound generation timing detection process is executed after the acceleration sensor value becomes larger than the threshold value α. Therefore, when it becomes Yes at step 408, the time interval between time t _alpha and time t _beta in FIG. 7 is obtained as the time interval information T.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the note-on event generation process, the CPU 21 refers to the time interval information T stored in the RAM 26 and determines the volume level (velocity) of the musical sound based on the time interval information T ( Step 501).

When the maximum value of the volume level is Vmax, the volume level Vel can be obtained as follows, for example.
Vel = a ・ T
(However, if a · T> Vmax, Vel = Vmax, and a is a predetermined positive coefficient)
Next, the CPU 21 generates a note-on event including the obtained volume level (step 502). Note-on events can include timbre and pitch information. The CPU 21 outputs the generated note-on event to the I / F 27 (step 503). The I / F 27 causes the infrared communication device 24 to transmit a note-on event as an infrared signal. An infrared signal from the infrared communication device 24 is received by the infrared communication device 33 of the musical instrument unit 19. Thereafter, the CPU 21 resets the acceleration flag in the RAM 26 to “0” (step 504). Further, the CPU 21 resets the timer value t to “0” (step 505), and invalidates the timer interrupt (step 506).

  When the note-on event process (step 409) ends, the CPU 21 resets the time interval information T to “0” (step 410). If it is determined No in step 407, step 410 is similarly executed.

  FIG. 8 is a graph showing an example of a change in the acceleration sensor value when the performance device body 11 is shaken. In FIG. 8, the time interval information when the acceleration sensor value is indicated by a curve 800 (first example) is T0, and the time interval information when the acceleration sensor value is indicated by a curve 801 (second example) is T1. is there. As shown in FIG. 8, since T0 <T1, the volume level for the second example is larger than the volume level for the first example.

  When the sound generation timing detection process (step 303) ends, the CPU 21 executes a parameter communication process (step 304). The parameter communication process (step 304) will be described together with the parameter communication process (step 605 in FIG. 6) in the musical instrument unit 19 described later.

  Next, processing executed in the musical instrument unit according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed in the musical instrument unit according to the present embodiment. The CPU 12 of the musical instrument unit 19 executes initialization processing including clearing data in the RAM 15, clearing an image on the screen of the display unit 16, clearing the sound source unit 31, and the like (step 601). Next, the CPU 12 executes a switch process (step 602). In the switch process, for example, the following process is executed. The CPU 12 executes setting of the tone color of a musical tone to be generated according to the switch operation of the input unit 17. The CPU 12 stores the specified timbre information in the RAM 15.

  Next, the CPU 12 determines whether the I / F 13 has newly received a note-on event (step 603). If it is determined Yes in step 503, the CPU 12 executes a sound generation process (step 604). In the sound generation process, the CPU 12 outputs the received note-on event to the sound source unit 31. The sound source unit 31 reads ROM waveform data in accordance with the tone color indicated in the note-on event. The tone generator 31 multiplies the read waveform data by a coefficient according to the volume data (velocity) included in the note-on event to generate musical sound data of a predetermined volume level. The generated musical sound data is output to the audio circuit 32, and finally a predetermined musical sound is generated from the speaker 35.

  After the sound generation process (step 604), the CPU 12 executes a parameter communication process (step 605). In the parameter communication process, for example, the tone color data of the musical tone to be generated set in the switch process (step 602) is transmitted from the infrared communication apparatus 33 to the performance apparatus main body 11 via the I / F 13 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 12. Sent. In the performance apparatus main body 11, when the infrared communication device 24 receives the data, the CPU 21 receives the data via the I / F 27 and stores it in the RAM 26 (step 304 in FIG. 3). When the parameter communication process (step 605) ends, the CPU 12 executes other processes, for example, an update of an image displayed on the screen of the display unit 16 (step 606).

  According to the present embodiment, the acceleration sensor 23 is arranged on the performance device main body 11 extending in the longitudinal direction for the performer to hold by hand. The CPU 21 of the performance device main body 11 gives a sound generation instruction (note-on event) to the sound source unit 31 that generates a predetermined musical sound. The CPU 21 uses the timing at which the acceleration sensor value of the acceleration sensor 23 exceeds the predetermined first threshold value α and then becomes smaller than the second threshold value β, which is smaller than the first threshold value, as a sound generation timing, and takes note-on events. Is generated, and the instrument unit 19 is instructed to generate sound. Therefore, a musical sound can be generated at the moment when the player strikes the virtual drum surface with a stick.

  Further, in the present embodiment, from the time when the acceleration sensor value reaches the predetermined first level to the time when the acceleration sensor value reaches a level corresponding to the sound generation timing (second threshold β smaller than the first threshold). The volume level of the musical sound to be generated is determined based on the time interval. Therefore, it is possible to generate a musical sound having a volume corresponding to the way the player swings.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the predetermined first level is the time when the first threshold value, which is the first trigger for detecting the sound generation timing, is reached. Therefore, the time interval information T can be acquired using the time detected by the acceleration sensor value in the sound generation timing detection process.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the CPU 21 sets the volume level Vel based on the time interval information T to Vel = a · T (where a · T ≧ volume level maximum value Vmax, Vel = Vmax, a Is a positive constant). As a result, it is possible to generate a musical sound with an accurate volume in accordance with how the player swings.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the volume level is calculated by multiplying the time interval information T at the time when the second threshold value β is reached and the coefficient a from the time when the acceleration sensor value reaches the first threshold value α. is doing. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the volume level (velocity) may be determined according to which range the time interval information T belongs to.

In the performance apparatus main body 11 according to another embodiment, the volume level is determined in step 501 as follows. The RAM 26 stores a table in which the range of the time interval information T is associated with the volume level (velocity). The table stores the following information.
0 <T ≦ Tm1: Vel = V1
Tm1 <T ≦ Tm2: Vel = V2
Tm2 <T ≦ Tm3: Vel = V3
Tm3 <T: Vel = Vmax
(However, V1 <V2 <V3 <Vmax)
Tm3 is 0.7 seconds, for example.

  According to this embodiment, the CPU 21 acquires the volume level based on which range of the table the time interval information T belongs to. Therefore, an appropriate volume level can be obtained without requiring multiplication.

  In the embodiment, the CPU 21 of the performance device main body 11 detects an acceleration sensor value when the performer shakes the performance device main body 11, and detects a sound generation timing based on the acceleration sensor value. Further, the CPU 21 of the performance apparatus main body 11 starts from the time when the first threshold value α of the acceleration sensor value is reached, and then the volume level of the musical sound to be generated according to the time interval information T at the time when the second threshold value β is reached. Is determined. Then, the CPU 21 of the performance device main body 11 generates a note-on event including the volume level at the sound generation timing and transmits it to the musical instrument unit 19 via the I / F 27 and the infrared communication device 24. On the other hand, when the instrument unit 19 receives a note-on event, the CPU 12 outputs the received note-on event to the sound source unit 31 to generate a musical sound. The above configuration is suitable when the musical instrument unit 19 is not a dedicated machine for generating musical sounds, such as a personal computer or game machine to which a MIDI board or the like is attached.

  However, the processing in the musical instrument main body 11 and the sharing of the processing in the musical instrument unit 19 are not limited to those in the above embodiment.

  For example, the performance device main body 11 may be configured to acquire an acceleration sensor value and transmit it to the musical instrument unit 19. In this case, the sound generation timing detection process (FIG. 5) and the note-on event generation process (FIG. 6) are executed in the instrument unit 19. The configuration described above is suitable for an electronic musical instrument in which the musical instrument unit 19 is a dedicated machine for generating musical sounds.

  In the present embodiment, the performance device main body 11 and the musical instrument unit 19 are communicated with infrared signals using infrared communication devices 24 and 33. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Absent. For example, the percussion instrument main body 11 and the musical instrument unit 19 may perform data communication by other wireless communication, or may be configured to perform data communication by wire using a wire cable.

10 Electronic Musical Instrument 11 Performance Device Body 12 CPU
13 I / F
14 ROM
15 RAM
16 Display Unit 17 Input Unit 18 Sound System 19 Musical Instrument Unit 21 CPU
23 Acceleration sensor 24 Infrared communication device 25 ROM
26 RAM
27 I / F
31 Sound Source 32 Audio Circuit 33 Infrared Communication Device

Claims (5)

A longitudinally extending retaining member for the performer to hold by hand;
An acceleration sensor disposed in the holding member;
Control means for giving a sound generation instruction to a music sound generating means for generating a predetermined music sound,
The control means uses the timing at which the acceleration sensor value exceeds a predetermined first threshold and then becomes smaller than a second threshold smaller than the first threshold as a sounding timing for the musical sound generating means. Pronunciation timing detection means for giving instructions of pronunciation,
Volume that obtains time interval information from when the acceleration sensor value reaches a predetermined first level until it reaches the second threshold that is the sound generation timing, and calculates a volume level according to the time interval information A level calculation means,
The performance apparatus, wherein the sound generation timing detection means gives a sound generation instruction to the music sound generation means at the sound generation timing at the sound volume level calculated by the sound volume level calculation means.   2. The performance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the volume level calculating means acquires time interval information from when the first threshold is reached as the first level until the second threshold is reached. . Based on the time interval information T, the volume level calculating means calculates a volume level Vel.
3. The performance device according to claim 1, wherein the performance is calculated based on Vel = a · T (where a · T ≧ volume level maximum value Vmax, Vel = Vmax, a is a positive constant). . A table associating the range of the time interval information T with the volume level;
The performance device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the volume level calculation means acquires a volume level based on which range of the table the time interval information T belongs to. The performance device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A musical instrument unit comprising the musical sound generating means,
An electronic musical instrument, wherein each of the performance device and the musical instrument unit includes a communication unit.

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