JP2018159871A - Musical sound creation device, musical sound creation method, musical sound creation program, and electronic musical instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a musical sound creation device, a musical sound creation method, a musical sound creation program, and an electronic musical instrument that can more effectively shorten the time required for musical sound creation processing using a plurality of pieces of waveform data to achieve good musical performance.SOLUTION: A musical sound creation device comprises: a RAM 208 that is used by a sound source LSI 204 in generating musical sound; and a large capacity flash memory 212 that stores all waveform data used for tone colors. Waveform buffers the number of which is larger than the number of sound generators are set in the RAM 208; in transferring the waveform data from the large capacity flash memory 212 to the waveform buffers on the RAM 208, when the waveform data is not present in any waveform buffers in the RAM 208, the waveform data is transferred, from the large capacity flash memory 212, to an arbitrary waveform buffer selected by a buffer assignor on the basis of the history of use and the state of use of the waveform buffers.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a musical sound generation device, a musical sound generation method, a musical sound generation program, and an electronic musical instrument.

  In recent electronic musical instruments and personal computers, a musical sound generation method using a variety of sound source data (waveform data) is employed in order to reproduce musical sounds that are closer to the characteristics of the original sound such as wind instruments and stringed instruments. For example, in software sound sources that run on electronic musical instruments and personal computers, in order to be able to use a larger number of waveform data for a longer time, the waveform data that is not used has a slower access speed such as a flash memory or a hard disk. Store in a storage device with a large storage capacity (low speed and large capacity), transfer only the waveform data to be used to a storage device with a high access speed and a small storage capacity (high speed and low capacity) that can be directly accessed by the sound source device, and perform Some systems employ a system in which waveform data is read out and sounded in response.

  In general, high-speed and low-capacity storage devices are expensive in product price, and low-speed and large-capacity storage devices are inexpensive. By holding it in a storage device with a capacity, and moving to a high-speed, low-capacity storage device only when necessary and using it for sound generation, both a good waveform data read operation and a reduction in product cost are achieved. can do. For example, Patent Literature 1 and the like describe a sound source device that employs such a system and can synthesize a tone of a desired tone color by synthesizing read waveform data.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-7281

  However, such a system has a problem that it takes time to move waveform data from a low-speed and large-capacity storage device to a high-speed and low-capacity storage device. In particular, recent musical tone generation methods employ a method of switching timbres according to the key range and strength played, so timbres that require waveform data with a larger data size or combinations of multiple waveform data In the case of a timbre constituted by the above, it takes more time to read the waveform data. At this time, since the musical sound based on the waveform data cannot be generated until the waveform data is read, the performance may be hindered.

  Therefore, in view of the above-described problems, the present invention provides a musical tone generation apparatus that can effectively shorten the time required for musical tone generation processing using a plurality of waveform data and realize a good performance. An object is to provide a musical sound generation method, a musical sound generation program, and an electronic musical instrument.

The musical sound generating apparatus according to the present invention is
First storage means having a plurality of storage areas for reading and storing waveform data;
Sound generation control means for generating sound by reading the waveform data from the selected storage area of the first storage means;
For each of the plurality of storage areas, update means for updating history information indicating a use history read and used for sound generation by the sound generation control means in the past;
Control means for selecting the storage area for reading the waveform data used for the instructed sound generation based on the history information when the sound generation is instructed;
It is provided with.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the time required for the production | generation process of the musical tone using several waveform data can be shortened more effectively, and a favorable performance can be implement | achieved.

It is an external view which shows one Embodiment of the electronic musical instrument to which the musical tone production | generation apparatus which concerns on this invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the hardware of the electronic keyboard musical instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the example of the internal structure of the sound source LSI applied to this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the management method (the 1) of the waveform data applied to this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the management method (the 2) of the waveform data applied to this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the outline | summary of the information on RAM and large capacity flash memory applied to this embodiment, and its transfer process. It is a figure for demonstrating the management condition of the waveform data in RAM applied to this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the main routine of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the initialization process relevant to the management method of the waveform data applied to the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of RAM dynamic waveform buffer assignment information applied to the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the production | generation process of the RAM tone color waveform directory applied to the initialization process of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the initialization process of the RAM dynamic waveform buffer access information directory applied to the initialization process of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the timbre selection process applied to the switch process of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the key press process and key release process which are applied to the keyboard process of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the note-on process and note-off process which are applied to the keyboard process of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the waveform information acquisition process applied to the note-on process of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the waveform reading start process of the waveform reading apparatus applied to the note-on process of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the allocation process of the waveform buffer for waveform readout apparatuses applied to the note-on process of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the allocation process of the waveform buffer for waveform transfer applied to the note-on process of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the sound source regular process applied to the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for implementing a musical sound generation device, a musical sound generation method, a musical sound generation program, and an electronic musical instrument according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Electronic musical instrument>
FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of an electronic musical instrument to which a musical sound generating device according to the present invention is applied. Here, as an embodiment of the electronic musical instrument according to the present invention, a waveform readout type electronic keyboard musical instrument is shown and described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, for example, an electronic keyboard instrument 100 according to the present embodiment has a keyboard (input means) 102 composed of a plurality of keys as performance operators and a waveform selection operator on one side of the instrument body. A switch panel comprising a timbre selection button (input means) 104 for selecting a timbre, and a function selection button 106 for selecting various functions other than the timbre, and various modulations (performance effects such as pitch bend, tremolo, and vibrato) ) And a display unit such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 110 for displaying tone color and other various setting information. Although not shown, the electronic keyboard instrument 100 includes a speaker (output means) that outputs musical sounds generated by a performance, for example, on the back, side, or back of the instrument body.

  In such an electronic keyboard instrument 100, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the timbre selection button 104 includes a piano ("Piano" in the figure), an electric piano ("E. Piano" in the figure), an organ ("Organ" in the figure). ”), Guitar (“ Guitar ”in the figure), saxophone (“ Saxophone ”in the figure), strings (“ Strings ”in the figure), synths (“ Synth1 ”and“ Synth2 ”in the figure), drums (“ Drums1 ”in the figure) , “Drums2”) and the like as a waveform selection operator for selecting various tone categories. Here, FIG. 1 shows 16 types of timbre categories. A player (user) of the electronic keyboard instrument 100 can select and play an arbitrary tone color category from the above-described 16 types of tone colors by pressing an arbitrary tone color selection button 104.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal structure of a sound source LSI applied to this embodiment.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the electronic keyboard instrument 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 202, a tone generator LSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuit) 204, a DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller 214, an I / O (input). The output controller 216 is directly connected to the system bus 226. Further, the electronic keyboard instrument 100 has a RAM (random access memory) 208 having a high access speed (second read speed) and a low capacity (second storage capacity) via the memory controller 206, and the access speed is high. A low-speed (first reading speed) and large-capacity (first storage capacity) flash memory 212 is connected to the system bus 226 via the flash memory controller 210. The electronic keyboard instrument 100 includes the LCD 110 shown in FIG. 1 via the LCD controller 218, the keyboard 102 shown in FIG. 1, and a switch panel including a tone selection button 104 and a function selection button 106. The vendor / modulation wheel 108 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the I / O controller 216 via the A / D converter (analog / digital conversion circuit) 222 via the scanner 220. Are connected to the system bus 226 via the I / O controller 216. The system bus 226 is connected to the bus controller 224, and signals and data transmitted and received between the above components via the system bus 226 are controlled by the bus controller 224. The tone generator LSI 204 is connected to a D / A converter (digital / analog conversion circuit) 228 and an amplifier 230, and the digital tone waveform data output from the tone generator LSI 204 is converted into an analog tone waveform signal by the D / A converter 228. Further, after being amplified by the amplifier 230, it is output from an output terminal or a speaker (not shown). Here, at least the CPU (control means) 202, the sound source LSI (sound generation means) 204, the RAM (second storage means) 208, and the large-capacity flash memory (first storage means) 212 are used to generate musical sounds according to the present invention. Configure the device.

  As described above, the electronic keyboard instrument 100 is configured around the system bus 226 in which the entire device is controlled by the bus controller 224. Specifically, the bus controller 224 controls the priority order when transmitting and receiving signals and data in each of the above-described components connected to the system bus 226. For example, in the electronic keyboard instrument 100, the RAM 208 has a configuration shared by the CPU 202 and the sound source LSI 204, but since the sound source LSI 204 that generates sound is not allowed to lack data, the bus controller 224 causes the sound source LSI 204 to communicate with the sound source LSI 204. The priority at the time of transmission / reception with the RAM 208 is set to the highest, and access to the RAM 208 by the CPU 202 is restricted as necessary.

  In the configuration as described above, the CPU 202 is a main processor that performs processing of the entire device, and executes a control operation of the electronic keyboard instrument 100 by executing a predetermined control program while using the RAM 208 as a work area. .

  The RAM 208 is a memory device that generally has a high access speed, a low capacity, and an expensive product price compared to a large-capacity flash memory 212 described later, and is connected to the system bus 226 via a memory controller 206 as an interface. Is done. The RAM 208 stores waveform data and control programs transferred from the large-capacity flash memory 212, various fixed data, and the like. In particular, the RAM 208 has a function as a tone generator memory (or waveform memory) for developing waveform data used for tone generation processing executed in the tone generator LSI 204 described later, and the waveform data of the tone to be generated is always obtained. Are arranged on the RAM 208. The RAM 208 is also used as a work area for a DSP (digital signal processing circuit) 306 built in the CPU 202 or the tone generator LSI 204.

  Here, since the storage capacity of the RAM 208 is smaller than that of the large-capacity flash memory 212, the storage contents of the RAM 208 are sequentially replaced, but satisfy a predetermined condition (having a data size that exceeds a threshold value described later). The waveform data is fixedly stored in the RAM 208 without being changed by transferring the waveform data during the performance. For the waveform data satisfying other predetermined conditions (having a data size equal to or smaller than a threshold value described later and already transferred to the RAM 208), the waveform data stored in the RAM 208 is used. As described above, the present embodiment is characterized in the waveform data management method of the stored contents of the RAM 208.

  The large-capacity flash memory 212 is generally a NAND type memory device with a low access speed, a large capacity, and a low product price, and is connected to the system bus 226 via the flash memory controller 210 as an interface. The large-capacity flash memory 212 is used for (or may be used for) tone data generated by the tone generator LSI 204, waveform data for all tones, parameter data for all tones, the CPU 202 and the tone generator. Various fixed data such as program data of a control program executed by the DSP 306 of the LSI 204, music data, and performer setting data are stored. Here, all the waveform data stored in the large-capacity flash memory 212 is compressed, and for example, one word length is set to 8 bits. Waveform data and the like stored in the large-capacity flash memory 212 are read out and transferred to the RAM 208 when the CPU 202 sequentially accesses them.

  In the present embodiment, a configuration in which a NAND flash memory (actually, a solid state drive (SSD) configured by integrating flash memories) is applied as a large-capacity and inexpensive memory device is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a hard disk (HDD) may be applied as a large-capacity and inexpensive memory device. Here, the flash memory and the hard disk may be configured to be detachable (that is, replaceable) with respect to the electronic keyboard instrument 100. When high-speed data transfer is possible, a hard disk on a specific network or the Internet (that is, on the cloud) may be applied as a large-capacity and inexpensive memory device.

  The LCD controller 218 is an IC (integrated circuit) that controls the display state of the LCD 110. The key scanner 220 is an IC that scans the state of the switch panel such as the keyboard 102, the tone color selection button 104, and the function selection button 106, and notifies the CPU 202 of it. The A / D converter 222 is an IC that detects the operating position of the vendor / modulation wheel 108. The LCD controller 218, the key scanner 220, and the A / D converter 222 input / output data and signals to / from the system bus 226 via the I / O controller 216 that is an interface.

  The tone generator LSI 204 is a dedicated IC that executes a tone generation process described later. The large-capacity flash memory 212 cannot be randomly accessed from the CPU 202, and cannot be accessed from the tone generator LSI 204, so the data stored in the large-capacity flash memory 212 can be randomly accessed. Once transferred to the RAM 208. The tone generator LSI 204 reads out the waveform data transferred to the RAM 208 based on the command from the CPU 202 from the target tone color storage area at a speed corresponding to the pitch of the key instructed by the performance. An amplitude envelope of velocity instructed by performance is added to the read waveform data, and the resulting waveform data is output as output musical sound waveform data.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the tone generator LSI 204 includes a waveform generator 302 having 256 sets of waveform readout devices (sound generation means) 304, a DSP 306, a mixer 308, and a bus interface 310. The DSP 306 and the mixer 308 are connected to the system bus 226 via the bus interface 310, and access to the RAM 208 and communication with the CPU 202 are performed. Each waveform reading device 304 of the waveform generator 302 is an oscillator (oscillator) that reads waveform data from the RAM 208 and generates a timbre waveform, and the DSP 306 is a signal processing circuit that produces an acoustic effect on the audio signal. The mixer 308 controls the flow of the entire audio signal by mixing the signal from the waveform generator 302 and transmitting / receiving a signal to / from the DSP 306, and outputs it to the outside. That is, the mixer 308 adds an envelope corresponding to the musical sound parameter supplied from the CPU 202 by the DSP 306 to the waveform data read from the RAM 208 by each waveform reading device 304 of the waveform generator 302 according to the performance. , Output as musical tone waveform data. As shown in FIG. 2, the output signal of the mixer 308 is output as an analog signal having a predetermined signal level to a speaker, headphones, or the like not shown through the D / A converter 228 and the amplifier 230.

(Waveform data management method)
Here, the waveform data stored in the RAM and the large-capacity flash memory will be described in detail.

  4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining a waveform data management method applied to the present embodiment. 4A is an explanatory diagram of the timbre waveform split, FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram of the flash memory timbre waveform directory, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the RAM timbre waveform directory.

  In the present embodiment, when the performer presses the timbre selection button 104 provided on the electronic keyboard instrument 100, any of the 16 types of timbres is selected and played. As a result, in order to reproduce not only the volume and pitch but also the timbre depending on the key range and velocity, the waveform data of the timbre for each pitch or volume is read from the large-capacity flash memory 212 into the RAM 208. Here, each tone color is composed of, for example, a maximum of 32 types of waveforms for each tone color, and the waveform data is stored in the large-capacity flash memory 212. As a technique for managing waveform data for each tone pitch or volume for one tone, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), a key range (a horizontal axis in the figure) played by the performer on the keyboard 102 is used. Waveform data is assigned to each "Key"), and each velocity is shown for each velocity ("Velocity" on the vertical axis in the figure) indicating the speed (strength of performance) when the key is pressed. A management method using a timbre waveform split structure for assigning waveform data is applied. That is, in the waveform data management method using the timbre waveform split structure, the tone range and velocity range of one tone color are two-dimensionally divided, and a maximum of 32 waveforms are assigned to each split (divided) area. . According to this management method, only one waveform to be read is determined from two factors, the speed (velocity) at the time of key pressing and the key number (key range).

  The waveform data stored in the large-capacity flash memory 212 or the RAM 208 is managed based on timbre waveform directory information having a table format. The timbre waveform directory information is stored in the large-capacity flash memory 212, and is read from the large-capacity flash memory 212 by the CPU 202 and transferred to the RAM 208 when the electronic keyboard instrument 100 is activated, for example. When playing a tone of a certain tone color, the CPU 202 reads out the data of the tone color waveform directory information corresponding to the tone color from the RAM 208 and refers to it.

  Here, in the timbre waveform directory information table stored in the large-capacity flash memory 212, for example, as shown in FIG. 4B, for each waveform data included in one timbre number timbre, “Waveform number” of waveform data, “Minimum velocity”, “Maximum velocity”, “Lowest key number” and “Highest key number” indicating the key range and velocity range where the waveform data should be sounded, large capacity Each item value of “address from the top of the waveform area” indicating the address from the top of the storage area (waveform area) on the flash memory 212 and “waveform size” indicating the data size of the waveform data is registered. . That is, in the flash memory timbre waveform directory information, the key area and velocity area information indicating under what conditions the waveform data of each timbre is divided in the above timbre waveform split structure, and the actual large-capacity flash memory Information on which address in 212 and how much the waveform size is is defined in a table format. The flash memory tone color waveform directory information is created in the work area of the CPU 202 when the electronic keyboard instrument 100 is activated.

  Further, in the timbre waveform directory information table stored in the RAM 208, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, a threshold value to be described later is added to each item of the above-mentioned flash memory timbre waveform directory information for each waveform data. A “static flag” indicating whether or not a static waveform has an excess data size and an address on the RAM 208 regardless of whether the waveform data is read into the static waveform area or the dynamic waveform buffer “ Each item value of “waveform address on RAM” is registered. This RAM tone waveform directory information is created in the work area of the CPU 202 when the electronic keyboard instrument 100 is activated. Here, “waveform address on RAM” is “0” in the initial state, indicating that the waveform data is not actually read. When the waveform data is actually read during performance, Stores the address. That is, in the RAM tone waveform directory information, for each waveform data of each tone defined in the table format in the above flash memory tone color waveform directory information, in what kind of data classification and at what address in the storage area on the RAM 208. Information on whether or not it is arranged is defined.

(Information on RAM and large-capacity flash memory)
Next, information on the RAM and the large-capacity flash memory applied to the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment and its transfer process will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the information on the RAM and the large-capacity flash memory applied to the present embodiment and the transfer processing thereof. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the management status of waveform data in the RAM applied to this embodiment. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing an arrangement of waveform data in the static waveform area (first storage area) of the RAM, and FIG. 7B is a dynamic waveform buffer area (second storage area) of the RAM. FIG. 7C is a diagram showing an access status to the dynamic waveform buffer in the RAM.

  On the RAM 208, as shown in "Information on the RAM" on the left side of FIG. 6, various data of the timbre waveform directory, timbre parameters, CPU program, CPU data, CPU work, DSP program, DSP data, DSP work are developed. Is done. Further, on the large-capacity flash memory 212, as shown in "Information on the large-capacity flash memory" on the right side of FIG. 6, the timbre waveform directory, timbre parameter area, CPU program, CPU data, DSP program, and DSP data are stored. Various data are developed.

  Here, when the tone generator LSI 204 executes a waveform reading operation with the performance of the electronic keyboard instrument 100, the waveform data to be read needs to be arranged on the RAM 208. For example, when the electronic keyboard instrument 100 is started up, The tone color waveform directory information, tone color parameters, CPU program, CPU data, DSP program, and DSP data shown in FIG. 4B are transferred from the large-capacity flash memory 212 to the RAM 208.

  In addition, when the electronic keyboard instrument 100 is played, the waveform data to be subjected to the waveform reading operation by the tone generator LSI 204 needs to be transferred to the RAM 208, but the RAM 208 has a smaller storage capacity than the large-capacity flash memory 212. Therefore, all tone color waveform data stored in the large-capacity flash memory 212 cannot be arranged on the RAM 208.

  In the present embodiment, basically, the waveform data necessary for large-capacity flash memory 212 is read from the large-capacity flash memory 212 when sounding by performance, and transferred to the waveform buffer assigned to the waveform reading device 304 on the RAM 208. And temporarily read out and reproduced by the tone generator LSI 204. Here, in the case of waveform data having a large data size, it may take time to transfer the data from the large-capacity flash memory 212 to the RAM 208, delaying the sounding reaction, which may hinder the performance.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, of the waveform data stored in the large-capacity flash memory 212, waveform data having a large data size is transferred to the RAM 208 in advance when the electronic keyboard instrument 100 is activated (when power is turned on), for example. Keep it. That is, all waveform data having a data size exceeding a predetermined threshold is transferred to the RAM 208 at a timing prior to performance as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7 (a), the transferred waveform data (5B, 1A,... 3B) are fixedly stored in the RAM static waveform area in an arrangement corresponding to the address, as shown in FIG. It is managed based on the RAM tone waveform directory information. In the present embodiment, for example, 64 Kbytes is set as a threshold value that defines a data size that is a determination criterion for waveform data transfer processing. According to such a threshold value setting, for example, a tone color waveform of a musical instrument such as a piano or a cymbal has a data size larger than the threshold value, so that it is transferred to the RAM 208 at the time of activation and arranged in the static waveform area.

  On the other hand, in the case of low-capacity waveform data whose data size is a threshold value (64 Kbytes) or less, such as a timbre waveform of a musical instrument such as a guitar, as shown in FIG. In other words, the data is transferred from the large-capacity flash memory 212 to the RAM 208 each time a sound is generated. Here, the waveform data transferred from the large-capacity flash memory 212 at the time of performance is used from any one of the plurality of waveform buffers on the RAM 208 set in correspondence with the plurality of waveform reading devices 304. A waveform buffer that has not been selected is selected and overwritten. Alternatively, the waveform data that is used by the waveform reading device 304 is preferentially selected from the waveform buffers that are used infrequently or used less frequently, and the waveform data to be transferred is overwritten and saved. The management at the time of transferring the waveform data from the large-capacity flash memory 212 to the waveform buffer is such that the waveform data stored in each waveform buffer of the RAM 208 is in use for sound generation by any waveform reading device 304. It is executed based on management information that manages whether or not there is a serial update (in real time). That is, as shown in FIG. 7B, the transferred waveform data is stored in a plurality of waveform buffers (1, 2, 3,... 512) arranged in association with addresses in the RAM dynamic waveform buffer area. This is managed based on the RAM tone waveform directory information shown in FIG. 5 and the RAM dynamic waveform buffer access information directory shown in FIG. These pieces of management information are managed while being updated sequentially (in real time) during transfer processing of waveform data from the RAM 208 to the large-capacity flash memory 212, reading of waveform data by the waveform reading device 304 of the tone generator LSI 204, and sound generation processing. Is done.

  In the present embodiment, 512 sets of waveform buffers, which are larger than 256 sets of waveform readout devices 304 provided in the tone generator LSI 204, are set in the RAM dynamic waveform buffer area, and waveform data is transferred from the large-capacity flash memory 212 during performance. The waveform buffer that is not used for the current waveform readout operation among the 512 sets of waveform buffers by the dynamic waveform buffer assigner, Preferentially selected and assigned, waveform data is overwritten and saved (variably stored). Here, in the initial state such as immediately after the performance is started, the waveform data is not yet read in each waveform buffer in the RAM dynamic waveform buffer area. However, the waveform in such a state (there is no usage history). By determining that the buffer is old in time, allocation is performed preferentially from unused waveform buffers. In addition to the above conditions, waveform buffer selection by the assigner is given priority from waveform buffers that are used less frequently in waveform readout operations, waveform buffers that are not used most recently, or waveform buffers that have a smaller data size to be read. May be selected and assigned.

  In the present embodiment, the number of waveform buffers (512) set in the RAM dynamic waveform buffer area is an example, and is not limited to this. If the correspondence between the waveform readout device 304 and the waveform buffer is not fixed one-to-one, but can be associated dynamically (or variable), one or more than the number of waveform readout devices 304 It is preferable to have a large number. That is, by having a larger number of waveform buffers than the waveform reading device 304, even if the waveform reading device 304 and the waveform buffer are assigned in a one-to-one correspondence relationship, the waveform data is physically read out. There will always be at least one waveform buffer that is not being used, and that waveform buffer can be used to transfer waveform data from the large-capacity flash memory 212, ensuring simultaneous sound generation with the maximum number of tones. However, the memory management of the RAM 208 can be performed efficiently. If the specification of the product allows the number of timbres that are simultaneously sounded to be smaller than the maximum number, the number of waveform buffers is set equal to or less than the number of waveform reading devices 304. May be.

  In the present embodiment, each waveform buffer set in the RAM dynamic waveform buffer area corresponds to the threshold value (64 Kbytes) for dividing the waveform data by the data size, for example, a fixed length of 64 Kbytes. Capacity is allocated.

  The threshold value applied to the waveform data transfer process is set based on, for example, the processing load on the CPU 202 or the delay time during performance. Specifically, in the performance of the electronic keyboard instrument 100, generally, if the total delay time from the time of pressing the key to the sound of the musical tone exceeds approximately 10 msec, the player tends to recognize that the response to the key pressing is slow. Therefore, the delay time allowed for the transfer processing of each tone color waveform data is calculated in consideration of the processing performance of the CPU 202 and the signal delay in the peripheral circuit. Then, the transfer process is completed within the predetermined allowable delay time, and the data size of the timbre waveform that can minimize the storage capacity of the RAM 208 is set as a threshold value. An example of the threshold value calculated by the inventors based on such conditions is 64 Kbytes.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the threshold value is set for the data size of the timbre waveform has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the pitch and velocity that define the timbre waveform. The threshold value may be set based on the same concept as described above.

  In the present embodiment, by these processes, the storage capacity of the waveform buffer that temporarily stores waveform data below the threshold is added to the capacity that can store all waveform data that exceeds the above threshold. A RAM 208 having a storage capacity may be applied. According to the verification by the present inventors, there is a possibility that the storage capacity used for the RAM can be compressed to about ¼ to の by applying this embodiment. It was confirmed.

<Control method of electronic musical instrument>
Next, the electronic keyboard instrument control method (musical sound generation method) according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Here, the overall control method of the electronic keyboard instrument including the tone generation method that is a feature of the present invention will be described. A series of control processes shown below are realized by executing a predetermined control program stored in the RAM 208 in the CPU 202 and the tone generator LSI 204.

(Outline of music generation method)
First, an outline of a tone generation method applied to the electronic keyboard instrument 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. In the electronic keyboard instrument 100 according to the present embodiment, when the player presses the key, the CPU 202 has a large number of simultaneous sounds (that is, there are many sound generation channels). The device 304 is determined. Here, the key assignment is preferentially assigned from the waveform reading device 304 in which the sound generation is stopped. Even if the waveform reading device 304 itself stops reading, the waveform buffer of the waveform reading device 304 is used. Is used by another waveform readout device 304, it is determined that the current state is maintained as much as possible without assigning to the waveform readout device 304.

  More specifically, for example, the CPU 202 manages (in real time) the history information indicating, in what order, each waveform reading device 304 in what order and what waveform data is used for reading. Based on the history information, the waveform readout device 304 associated with the waveform buffer that is not used for the readout operation of the waveform data from any waveform readout device 304, the waveform readout device 304 that is used less frequently, or older in time. The waveform readout operation is performed by preferentially assigning from the waveform readout device 304 or the waveform readout device 304 having a small data size of the readout waveform data.

  Next, the CPU 202 specifies the waveform number of the musical tone instructed by the performance from the timbre waveform split information shown in FIG. 4A based on the velocity and the key range at the time of key depression, and the specified waveform data is determined. It is checked whether or not the static waveform area on the RAM 208 shown in FIG. When the corresponding waveform data does not exist in the static waveform area, the CPU 202 further investigates whether or not it exists in the dynamic waveform buffer area on the RAM 208.

  When the corresponding waveform data exists in the static waveform area on the RAM 208, the CPU 202 sets the waveform data as a target of a reading operation for sound generation described later. When the corresponding waveform data does not exist in the static waveform area but exists in the dynamic waveform buffer area, the CPU 202 does not read the waveform data from the large-capacity flash memory 212 and does not read the waveform data in the same RAM 208. The waveform data is used. Specifically, a waveform buffer in which waveform data instructed to be generated is stored is set as a link destination, and a waveform reading device 304 assigned for a waveform reading operation based on the link information is used to specify the link destination. A method of diverting the waveform data in the RAM 208 can be applied by directly reading the waveform data in the waveform buffer. As another method of diverting waveform data, the waveform data is copied and transferred in the RAM 208 from the waveform buffer storing the waveform data instructed to be generated to the waveform buffer allocated for the waveform reading operation. Thereafter, a method of reading by the waveform reading device 304 can be applied. As a result, the waveform data can be arranged on the RAM 208 in a very short time compared to the case where the waveform data is unconditionally transferred from the large-capacity flash memory 212 to the RAM 208.

  On the other hand, if the corresponding waveform data does not exist in either the static waveform area or the waveform reading device buffer area, the CPU 202 assigns a new waveform buffer by the dynamic waveform buffer assigner of the RAM 208, and increases the large waveform buffer. The corresponding waveform data stored in the capacity flash memory 212 is transferred to the allocated waveform buffer on the RAM 208.

  More specifically, the CPU 202 records the past usage history of what waveform data was used in what order for each of the plurality of waveform buffers dynamically associated with each waveform reading device 304. Management information indicating the current usage state, such as history information indicating the number of waveforms read out, and the size of the read waveform data and the number of waveform reading devices 304 used for sound generation, are sequentially updated (in real time). Then, the CPU 202 uses a waveform buffer that has not been used for sound generation based on history information or management information and has been used for a long time, a waveform buffer that is not used frequently, or a waveform data that has been read. A waveform buffer having a small data size is preferentially selected, and the waveform data transferred to the waveform buffer is stored.

  When the waveform data of the instructed musical tone exists on the RAM 208 and the position of the waveform buffer corresponding to the assigned waveform readout device 304 is determined, the CPU 202 starts the readout operation for sound generation in the tone generator LSI 204. To do.

Hereinafter, the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument will be described in detail in accordance with the outline of the above-described tone generation method.
(Main routine)
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a main routine of the electronic keyboard instrument control method according to the present embodiment.

  In the electronic keyboard instrument control method according to the present embodiment, the following processing operations are generally executed. First, when the player powers on the electronic keyboard instrument 100 by the performer, the CPU 202 activates the main routine shown in FIG. 8 and executes an initialization process for initializing each part of the apparatus (step S802).

  Next, when the initialization process is completed, the CPU 202 processes a switch process (steps S804 to S808) when the performer operates the timbre selection button 104 and the like, and a key pressing event and a key releasing event when the keyboard 102 is played. Keyboard processing (steps S810 to S818), MIDI reception processing (steps S820 to S828) for processing note-on events and note-off events of MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) messages received from the outside of the electronic keyboard instrument 100, constant in the sound source A series of processing operations of the regular sound source processing (step S830) for performing processing for each time is repeatedly executed.

  Although not shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, the CPU 202 ends or interrupts the performance mode or powers off the apparatus power supply during execution of the above-described processing operations (steps S802 to S830). When a change in state is detected, the main routine is forcibly terminated.

Hereinafter, each processing operation described above will be specifically described.
(Initialization process)
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an initialization process related to the waveform data management method applied to the electronic keyboard instrument control method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the structure of RAM dynamic waveform buffer assignment information applied to the electronic keyboard instrument control method according to the present embodiment.

  In the initialization process applied to the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment, first, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, the CPU 202 starts from the large-capacity flash memory 212 with the CPU program, CPU data, DSP program, The DSP data is transferred to the RAM 208 (steps S902 and S904). Thereafter, the CPU 202 includes the construction of the static waveform area portion on the RAM 208 shown in FIG. 7A and the generation of flag information and arrangement address information related to the static waveform on the RAM 208 shown in FIG. RAM tone waveform directory generation processing is performed (step S906).

  Next, after initialization processing of the RAM dynamic waveform buffer access information directory shown in FIG. 7C (step S908), initialization processing of the RAM dynamic waveform buffer assignment information shown in FIG. 10 is performed (step S910). . Here, the RAM dynamic waveform buffer assignment information is assignment information for allocating each waveform buffer in the RAM dynamic waveform buffer area shown in FIG. 7B, and its structure is a general simple unit as shown in FIG. It has a direction list (ring buffer) structure. For example, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C, the initialization processing of the RAM dynamic waveform buffer assignment information is performed for the waveform buffer number 1 for 512 waveform buffers set in the dynamic waveform buffer area of the RAM 208. Are initialized so that the waveform buffer number 512 is always newly assigned and the waveform buffer number 512 is always newly assigned as the waveform buffer number increases.

  Next, the CPU 202 transfers to the RAM 208 timbre parameters necessary for sound generation such as pitch, filter, and volume settings from the large-capacity flash memory 212 (step S912).

(RAM tone waveform directory generation processing)
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a RAM tone waveform directory generation process applied to the initialization process of the electronic keyboard instrument control method according to the present embodiment.

  In the RAM tone waveform directory generation process applied to the initialization process described above, first, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11, the CPU 202 first executes the flash memory tone of the large-capacity flash memory 212 shown in FIG. From the waveform directory to the RAM tone waveform directory on the RAM 208 shown in FIG. 5, each of tone number, waveform number, minimum velocity, maximum velocity, minimum key number, maximum key number, address from the top of the waveform area, and waveform size The item value is copied and transferred (step S1102).

  Next, the CPU 202 uses, as address information for transferring the waveform data having a data size exceeding the threshold value as the static waveform on the RAM 208, as address information for arranging the static waveform shown in FIG. The start address “100000H” of the RAM static waveform area is set and the arrangement address is initialized (step S1104). Next, the CPU 202 confirms the waveform size in order from the top of the RAM tone waveform directory, and determines whether or not the waveform has a waveform size exceeding a preset threshold value (64 Kbytes) (step S1108). ).

  When the waveform size exceeds the threshold value (64 Kbytes), the CPU 202 determines that the waveform is a static waveform, and with respect to the address on the RAM 208 of the previous address information from the large-capacity flash memory 212. The waveform data is transferred by the above size (step S1110). At this time, assuming that the transferred waveform data is a static waveform, the CPU 202 sets the static flag of the RAM tone waveform directory shown in FIG. 5 to “1” (step S1112), and the static waveform on the RAM 208 is set. As the arrangement information, the previous address information is set to the waveform address on the RAM (step S1114). Next, the CPU 202 adds the waveform size of the transferred waveform data to the address of the static waveform address information, and updates the address information (step S1116).

  On the other hand, if the waveform size is equal to or smaller than the threshold value (64 Kbytes), the CPU 202 determines that the waveform is not a static waveform, and sets the static flag of the RAM tone waveform directory to “0” (step S1118). Then, “0” is set to the waveform address on the RAM (step S1120). The CPU 202 executes a loop process (steps S1106 and S1122) that repeats the series of processing operations (steps S1108 to S1120) as many times as the number of elements in the RAM tone waveform directory (that is, up to the last element of the table information).

(RAM dynamic waveform buffer access information directory initialization process)
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing initialization processing of the RAM dynamic waveform buffer access information directory applied to initialization processing of the electronic keyboard instrument control method according to the present embodiment.

  In the initialization process of the RAM dynamic waveform buffer access information directory applied to the above-described initialization process, first, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12, the CPU 202 first uses a counter (not shown) for managing the waveform buffer number of the RAM 208. C) is set to “1” and initialized (step S1202).

  Next, the CPU 202 starts from which waveform (tone color number, waveform number) in the RAM tone waveform directory shown in FIG. 5 in order from the waveform buffer number “1” in the RAM dynamic waveform buffer access information directory shown in FIG. An access waveform table pointer for managing whether access has been made is set to “NULL” (step S1206), and an access count for managing access from the waveform reading device 304 of the tone generator LSI 204 is set to “0” (step S1208). The CPU 202 executes a loop process (steps S1204 and S1210) in which the waveform buffer counter repeats the series of processing operations (steps S1206 to S1208) up to the 512th waveform buffer.

(Switch processing)
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a tone color selection process applied to the switch process of the electronic keyboard instrument control method according to the present embodiment.

  In the switch process (step S804) executed when the performer operates the buttons and switches provided on the electronic keyboard instrument 100, the CPU 202 determines whether or not a tone selection event has occurred due to the switch operation. If it is determined that a timbre selection event has occurred (step S806), a timbre selection process is executed (step S808).

  In the timbre selection process, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 13, the CPU 202 uses the RAM 208 in order to use the timbre number designated by the player operating the timbre selection button 104 in the key pressing process described later. The above CPU work is saved (step S1302). On the other hand, when it is determined that no timbre selection event has occurred, or when the above timbre selection process is completed, the CPU 202 executes a keyboard process to be described later (step S810).

(Keyboard processing)
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a key pressing process and a key releasing process applied to the keyboard process of the electronic keyboard instrument control method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing note-on processing and note-off processing applied to keyboard processing of the electronic keyboard instrument control method according to the present embodiment.

  In the keyboard process (step S810) executed after the above-described switch process (step S804), the CPU 202 operates the keyboard 102 provided to the electronic keyboard instrument 100 by the performer to perform a key press event or a key release event. Is determined (steps S812 and S816). If the CPU 202 determines that a key pressing event has occurred, it executes a key pressing process described later (step S814). If it determines that a key releasing event has occurred, it executes a key releasing process described later. (Step S818).

  In the key pressing process, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14A, the CPU 202 determines the keyboard position and the pressed strength included in the performance information by the key pressing operation when the performer plays the keyboard 102. Each is converted into a key number (note number) and velocity and held as note-on information (step S1402), and processing is executed as a note-on event (step S1404).

  In the note-on process, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 15A, the CPU 202 first assigns the waveform reading device 304 by the key assignment process as described in the outline of the above-described tone generation method ( Step S1502). Next, the CPU 202 executes a process of acquiring waveform information from the note-on information converted from the performance information in the key pressing process (step S1504), and then executes a reading start process in the waveform reading device 304 of the tone generator LSI 204 (step S1504). Step S1506).

  In the key release process, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14B, the CPU 202 uses the key number (note number) to indicate the keyboard position included in the performance information by the key release when the performer plays the keyboard 102. ) And stored as note-off information (step S1422), and processing is performed as a note-off event (step S1424).

  In the note-off process, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 15B, the CPU 202 first obtains a key number (note number) from the note-off information converted from the performance information in the key-press process (step S1522). . Next, the CPU 202 confirms the state of the waveform reading device 304 in order from the number “1” of the waveform reading device 304, and the waveform reading device from the CPU work on the RAM 208 to each waveform reading device 304 that is reading the waveform. The key number corresponding to 304 is acquired, and a comparison is made as to whether or not it matches the key number acquired from the note-off information (step S1526). If the key numbers match, the CPU 202 sets the release level to “0” for the volume control (amplifier envelope) connected to the waveform reading device 304 and obtains it from the timbre parameters on the RAM 208. A release rate is set (step S1528). On the other hand, if the key numbers do not match, the CPU 202 maintains the current amplifier envelope setting. The CPU 202 executes a loop process (steps S1524 and S1530) in which the above-described series of processing operations (steps S1526 to S1528) are repeated for the number of waveform reading devices 304 that are reading out waveforms.

Here, each processing operation applied to the note-on process executed in the above key pressing process will be described in detail.
(Waveform information acquisition process)
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a waveform information acquisition process applied to the note-on process of the electronic keyboard instrument control method according to the present embodiment.

  In the waveform information acquisition process executed in the note-on process, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 16, the CPU 202 first acquires a key number (note number) and velocity from the note-on information acquired in the key pressing process. (Step S1602) The timbre number saved in the timbre selection process is acquired from the CPU work on the RAM 208 (Step S1604).

  Next, the CPU 202 compares the acquired key number, velocity, and timbre number with the RAM timbre waveform directory information in order from the top of the RAM timbre waveform directory. In this comparison process, the CPU 202 extracts directory information that corresponds to the tone number, the key number is not more than the highest key number and not less than the lowest key number, and the velocity is not more than the maximum velocity and not less than the minimum velocity (step). S1608 to S1616), the waveform information having the waveform number and waveform size of the directory information, the static flag, and the waveform address on the RAM is acquired (steps S1620 to S1626).

  On the other hand, in the above comparison process, the tone numbers do not match, the key number is greater than the highest key number, or less than the lowest key number, or the velocity is greater than the maximum velocity or less than the minimum velocity. If any of these conditions is met, the CPU 202 does not acquire waveform information. The CPU 202 executes a loop process (steps S1606 and S1618) that repeats the series of processing operations (steps S1608 to S1616) as many times as the number of elements in the RAM tone color waveform directory (that is, up to the last element of the table information).

(Waveform read start processing)
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a waveform readout start process of the waveform readout apparatus applied to the note-on process of the electronic keyboard instrument control method according to the present embodiment.

  In the waveform readout start process of the waveform readout device 304 executed in the note-on process, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 17, the CPU 202 first determines whether the value of the static flag acquired in the waveform information acquisition process is “0”. Is determined (step S1702). When the value of the static flag is “0”, the CPU 202 executes a waveform reading device buffer allocation process described later (step S1704). On the other hand, when the value of the static flag is “1”, FIG. The waveform read operation of the static waveform is started from the top of the waveform address on the RAM of the RAM tone color waveform directory shown (step S1706).

(Waveform buffer allocation for waveform readout device)
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the waveform read-out apparatus waveform buffer assignment process applied to the note-on process of the electronic keyboard instrument control method according to this embodiment.

  In the waveform reading device buffer allocation processing executed in the waveform reading start processing of the waveform reading device, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 18, the CPU 202 first sets the waveform address on the RAM acquired in the waveform information acquisition processing to “ It is determined whether or not “0” (step S1802). If the waveform address is “0”, the CPU 202 determines that the waveform data has not been transferred to the waveform buffer, executes a waveform transfer buffer assignment process described later (step S1804), and then assigns the waveform data. The waveform reading operation is started from the beginning of the waveform buffer (step S1806).

  On the other hand, if the waveform address on the RAM is other than “0”, the CPU 202 determines that the waveform data has already been transferred to the waveform buffer corresponding to the address (step S1808), and sets the waveform buffer number to that waveform buffer number. The access count of the corresponding RAM dynamic waveform buffer access information directory is incremented (step S1810), and the waveform reading operation is started from the top of the waveform buffer (step S1812).

(Waveform buffer assignment processing for waveform transfer)
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a waveform transfer waveform buffer assignment process applied to the note-on process of the electronic keyboard instrument control method according to this embodiment.

  In the waveform transfer buffer allocation process executed in the waveform buffer allocation process for the waveform readout device, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 19, the CPU 202 is first assigned from the RAM dynamic waveform buffer assignment information shown in FIG. The number of the waveform buffer with the oldest time is acquired (step S1902). Next, the CPU 202 acquires the access count of the RAM dynamic waveform buffer access information directory corresponding to the acquired waveform buffer number, and determines whether or not the value is “0” (step S1904). If the value of the access count is other than “0”, the CPU 202 acquires the number of the waveform buffer having the next oldest time assigned from the RAM dynamic waveform buffer assignment information (step S1906), and then returns to step S1904. The access count is acquired again, and the same processing is repeated until the waveform buffer number whose value is “0” is acquired.

  In step S1904, when the waveform buffer number having an access count value of “0” is acquired, the CPU 202 sets the waveform buffer number as the most recently assigned waveform buffer to the RAM dynamic waveform buffer assignment information. A list process is performed, and assignment information relating to the new and old assignment times is updated (step S1908). Next, the CPU 202 transfers the waveform data from the large-capacity flash memory 212 to the RAM 208 based on the waveform number and the waveform size acquired in the waveform information acquisition process with respect to the acquired most recently assigned waveform buffer. (Step S1910). Next, the CPU 202 sets the acquired waveform buffer address to the waveform address on the RAM of the RAM tone color waveform directory (step S1912).

  Next, the CPU 202 acquires the value of the access waveform table pointer in the RAM dynamic waveform buffer access information directory corresponding to the acquired waveform buffer number, and determines whether or not the value is “NULL” (step S1914). When the access waveform table pointer is “NULL”, the CPU 202 does nothing and maintains the current state. On the other hand, when the access waveform table pointer is other than “NULL”, the CPU 202 sets the waveform address on the RAM of the RAM tone waveform directory indicated by the access waveform table pointer to “0” (step S1916). It is determined that there is no waveform data.

  Next, the CPU 202 sets the address of the RAM timbre waveform directory corresponding to the waveform (tone color number, waveform number) acquired by the waveform information acquisition process in the acquired access waveform table pointer (step S1918). Next, the CPU 202 increments the access count of the RAM dynamic waveform buffer access information directory corresponding to the acquired waveform buffer number (step S1920). Next, the CPU 202 confirms whether or not the waveform transfer from the large-capacity flash memory 212 to the RAM 208 has been completed (step S1922). If the transfer has been completed, the series of waveform transfer buffer assignment processes is terminated.

(MIDI reception processing)
Returning to the main routine shown in FIG. 8, in the MIDI reception process (step S820) executed after the keyboard process (step S810), the CPU 202 includes a note-on event and a note-off event in the received MIDI message. Are determined (steps S822 and S826). If it is determined that there is a note-on event, note-on processing is executed (step S824). If it is determined that there is a note-off event, Then, note-off processing is executed (step S828). Here, processing equivalent to the note-on processing (step S1404) or note-off processing (step S1424) shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 14 and 15 is applied.

(Sound source regular processing)
FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing sound source regular processing applied to the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment.

  In the sound source regular process (step S830) executed after the MIDI reception process (step S820), the CPU 202 executes the sound source process at certain intervals as shown in the flowchart of FIG. The CPU 202 checks the state of the waveform reading device 304 in order from the number “1” of the waveform reading device 304, and the volume control (amplifier envelope) level is “0” for each waveform reading device 304 that is reading the waveform. Is determined (step S2004). When the volume control level is “0”, the CPU 202 executes a waveform readout stop process for stopping the waveform readout operation of the waveform readout device 304 (step S2006). On the other hand, when the volume control level is not “0”, the CPU 202 does not stop the waveform reading operation of the waveform reading device 304 and maintains the current state. Thereafter, the CPU 202 decrements the access count of the RAM dynamic waveform buffer access information directory corresponding to the number of the waveform buffer from which the waveform reading device 304 is reading the waveform (step S2008). The CPU 202 executes a loop process (steps S2002 and S2010) in which the above series of processing operations (steps S2004 to S2008) are repeated by the number of waveform reading devices 304 that are reading waveform data.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the large-capacity storage including the sound source memory including the RAM 208 used by the sound generator LSI 204 when the musical sound is generated and the large-capacity flash memory 212 such as a NAND type that stores all waveform data used for the timbre. The waveform data with a large data size that takes a long time to transfer from the mass storage device to the sound source memory is always placed in the sound source memory, and the waveform data with a relatively small data size is The sound is generated after being transferred to each waveform buffer (dynamic waveform buffer) of the sound source memory dynamically associated with the plurality of sound generators (waveform reading device 304). Here, the number of waveform buffers larger than the number of sound generators is set in the tone generator memory, and when transferring waveform data from the mass storage device to each waveform buffer in the tone generator memory, one of the waveform buffers in the tone generator memory is set. If the waveform data already exists in the sound source memory, the waveform data is diverted in the sound source memory and read from the sound source memory, and if it does not exist, based on the usage history and usage state of each waveform buffer of the sound source memory, The waveform data is transferred from the mass storage device to an arbitrary waveform buffer selected by the buffer assigner, and then read out and pronounced.

  As a result, waveform data with a large data size can be read directly from a sound source memory with a high access speed, and waveform data with a small data size can be read within the sound source memory or read out from a mass storage device. Can be used for the generation process. Even when multiple musical sounds are simultaneously generated using multiple sound generators, it is possible to manage multiple waveform data stored in a high-speed, low-capacity sound source memory, and to manage the sound generator that generates each waveform data. Can be done efficiently. Therefore, it is possible to realize a good performance without delay or interruption in the generation of musical sounds by effectively reducing the time required for musical tone generation processing using a plurality of waveform data with a configuration with reduced product cost. it can. In other words, this means that a larger number of timbre waveform data can be read out and produced simultaneously within a predetermined time required for the musical tone generation process, which makes it possible to obtain the characteristics of the original sound such as wind instruments and stringed instruments. An electronic musical instrument that can reproduce a close musical sound can be realized.

As mentioned above, although several embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, It includes the invention described in the claim, and its equivalent range.
Hereinafter, the invention described in the scope of claims of the present application will be appended.

(Appendix)
[1]
First storage means having a plurality of storage areas for reading and storing waveform data;
Sound generation control means for generating sound by reading the waveform data from the selected storage area of the first storage means;
For each of the plurality of storage areas, update means for updating history information indicating a use history read and used for sound generation by the sound generation control means in the past;
Control means for selecting the storage area for reading the waveform data used for the instructed sound generation based on the history information when the sound generation is instructed;
A musical sound generating device comprising:

[2]
The control means includes
When the sound generation is instructed, the waveform data to be used for the instructed sound generation is selected from the storage areas in which the past use history indicated by the history information is older than the other storage areas. Select as the storage area to be read,
The musical sound generating device according to [1], wherein

[3]
The sound generation control means comprises a plurality of sound generation control means capable of reading waveform data from an arbitrary storage area of the first storage means and simultaneously generating sound,
The updating means manages each of the plurality of storage areas while updating the read number information indicating the number of the sound generation control means reading the waveform data stored in each of the storage areas,
The control means includes
When the pronunciation is instructed, based on the history information and the read number information, the storage area for reading the waveform data used for the instructed pronunciation is selected.
The musical sound generating device according to [1] or [2], wherein

[4]
A second storage means for storing a plurality of the waveform data to be transferred to the first storage means;
The control means includes
If the waveform data used for the instructed pronunciation is stored in the first storage means when the pronunciation is instructed, the waveform data stored in the first storage means is If the waveform data instructed to be read by the selected sound generation control means and the sound generation is instructed is not stored in the first storage means, the waveform data used for the instructed sound generation is stored in the second storage. The waveform data stored in the transferred data is read by the sound generation control means after being transferred from the means to the selected storage area of the first storage means,
The musical sound generating device according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein:

[5]
The control means includes
If it is determined that the waveform data instructed to be sounded is stored in any one of the storage areas of the first storage means, the waveform between the storage areas in the first storage means The musical sound generating device according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the sound is generated by the sound generation control unit using the data.

[6]
The musical tone generation apparatus according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the first storage unit includes a larger number of the storage areas than the number of the sound generation control units.

[7]
The plurality of storage areas of the first storage means include a first storage area for storing the waveform data fixedly, and a second storage area for variably storing the waveform data,
The control means, prior to the start of the performance accompanied by the pronunciation, the waveform data exceeding a predetermined data size among the plurality of waveform data stored in the second storage means. Is transferred to the first storage area of the storage means and fixedly stored, and the waveform data having the predetermined data size or less is stored in the second storage section of the first storage section each time it is instructed by the pronunciation. The musical sound generating device according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the musical sound generating device is variably stored in the storage area.

[8]
The first storage means is a storage device having a first reading speed and a first storage capacity,
The second storage unit is a storage device having a second reading speed slower than the first reading speed and having a second storage capacity larger than the first storage capacity. The musical tone generation device according to any one of [1] to [7].

[9]
First storage means having a plurality of storage areas for reading and storing waveform data;
A sound generation method applied to a sound generation device comprising: a sound generation control means for generating sound by reading the waveform data from the selected storage area of the first storage means,
For each of the plurality of storage areas, update history information indicating a usage history read and used for pronunciation in the past by the pronunciation control means,
When the pronunciation is instructed, the storage area for reading the waveform data used for the instructed pronunciation is selected based on the history information.
A musical sound generation method characterized by the above.

[10]
A musical sound generation program for causing a computer to function as the musical sound generation device according to any one of [1] to [8] or causing the computer to execute the musical sound generation method according to [9].

[11]
The musical sound generating device according to any one of [1] to [8];
Input means for designating the waveform data by performing with the pronunciation;
Output means for outputting the pronounced musical sound;
An electronic musical instrument characterized by comprising:

100 Electronic keyboard instrument (electronic musical instrument)
102 Keyboard (input means)
104 Tone selection buttons (input means)
202 CPU (control means, update means)
204 Sound source LSI (pronunciation control means)
208 RAM (first storage means)
212 Large-capacity flash memory (second storage means)
304 Waveform reading device (sound generation control means)

The musical sound generating apparatus according to the present invention is
A first storage means having a first reading speed and a first storage capacity, and storing a plurality of waveform data ;
It has a second reading speed faster than the first reading speed and a second storage capacity smaller than the first storage capacity, and stores the waveform data read from the first storage means A second storage means having a plurality of storage areas;
A plurality of sound generation control means capable of generating sound by reading waveform data from the selected storage area of the second storage means;
For each of the plurality of storage areas, update means for updating history information indicating a use history read and used for sound generation by the sound generation control means in the past;
When the waveform data used for the instructed pronunciation is stored in the second storage means when the pronunciation is instructed, the waveform data used for the instructed pronunciation is stored in the first storage. The waveform data stored in the second storage means is read by the selected sound generation control means without being transferred to the selected storage area of the second storage means, and the sound generation is instructed. If the waveform data is not stored in the second storage means, the waveform data used for the instructed pronunciation is transferred from the first storage means to the storage area selected by the second storage means. Control means for causing the selected sound generation control means to read the waveform data that has been transferred and stored after being transferred;
With
When the sound generation is instructed, the control means sets a storage area in which the past use history indicated by the history information is older than the other storage areas from the plurality of storage areas to the instructed sound generation. The waveform data to be used is selected as the storage area to be read, and each of the plurality of storage areas and each of the plurality of sound generation control units are managed in association with each other, and the first storage area corresponding to the first storage area When the sound generation control means instructs to read and generate the first waveform data, the first waveform data is not stored in the first storage area, and the first sound generation control means When it is determined that the first waveform data is stored in the second storage area corresponding to the second sound generation control means different from the above, the waveform data stored in the second storage area is The first Without transferring to the storage area, to sound by loading the waveform data stored in the second storage area by the first sound control unit,
It is characterized by that.

100 Electronic keyboard instrument (electronic musical instrument)
102 Keyboard (input means)
104 Tone selection buttons (input means)
202 CPU (control means, update means)
204 Sound source LSI (pronunciation control means)
208 RAM ( second storage means)
212 Large-capacity flash memory ( first storage means)
304 Waveform reading device (sound generation control means)

Claims (11)

First storage means having a plurality of storage areas for reading and storing waveform data;
Sound generation control means for generating sound by reading the waveform data from the selected storage area of the first storage means;
For each of the plurality of storage areas, update means for updating history information indicating a use history read and used for sound generation by the sound generation control means in the past;
Control means for selecting the storage area for reading the waveform data used for the instructed sound generation based on the history information when the sound generation is instructed;
A musical sound generating device comprising: The control means includes
When the sound generation is instructed, the waveform data to be used for the instructed sound generation is selected from the storage areas in which the past use history indicated by the history information is older than the other storage areas. Select as the storage area to be read,
The musical tone generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The sound generation control means comprises a plurality of sound generation control means capable of reading waveform data from an arbitrary storage area of the first storage means and simultaneously generating sound,
The updating means manages each of the plurality of storage areas while updating the read number information indicating the number of the sound generation control means reading the waveform data stored in each of the storage areas,
The control means includes
When the pronunciation is instructed, based on the history information and the read number information, the storage area for reading the waveform data used for the instructed pronunciation is selected.
The musical sound generating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that A second storage means for storing a plurality of the waveform data to be transferred to the first storage means;
The control means includes
If the waveform data used for the instructed pronunciation is stored in the first storage means when the pronunciation is instructed, the waveform data stored in the first storage means is If the waveform data instructed to be read by the selected sound generation control means and the sound generation is instructed is not stored in the first storage means, the waveform data used for the instructed sound generation is stored in the second storage. The waveform data stored in the transferred data is read by the sound generation control means after being transferred from the means to the selected storage area of the first storage means,
The musical tone generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the musical tone generation apparatus is provided. The control means includes
If it is determined that the waveform data instructed to be sounded is stored in any one of the storage areas of the first storage means, the waveform between the storage areas in the first storage means 5. A musical sound generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sound generation control means causes the sound to be generated using the data.   6. The musical tone generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first storage means has a larger number of the storage areas than the number of the sound generation control means. The plurality of storage areas of the first storage means include a first storage area for storing the waveform data fixedly, and a second storage area for variably storing the waveform data,
The control means, prior to the start of the performance accompanied by the pronunciation, the waveform data exceeding a predetermined data size among the plurality of waveform data stored in the second storage means. Is transferred to the first storage area of the storage means and fixedly stored, and the waveform data having the predetermined data size or less is stored in the second storage section of the first storage section each time it is instructed by the pronunciation. 7. A musical tone generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the musical tone generating apparatus is variably stored in the storage area. The first storage means is a storage device having a first reading speed and a first storage capacity,
The second storage unit is a storage device having a second reading speed slower than the first reading speed and having a second storage capacity larger than the first storage capacity. The musical tone generation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7. First storage means having a plurality of storage areas for reading and storing waveform data;
A sound generation method applied to a sound generation device comprising: a sound generation control means for generating sound by reading the waveform data from the selected storage area of the first storage means,
For each of the plurality of storage areas, update history information indicating a usage history read and used for pronunciation in the past by the pronunciation control means,
When the pronunciation is instructed, the storage area for reading the waveform data used for the instructed pronunciation is selected based on the history information.
A musical sound generation method characterized by the above.   A musical tone generation program for causing a computer to function as the musical tone generation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, or causing a computer to execute the musical tone generation method according to claim 9. A musical sound generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
Input means for designating the waveform data by performing with the pronunciation;
Output means for outputting the pronounced musical sound;
An electronic musical instrument characterized by comprising:

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