JP2526751B2 - Electronic musical instrument - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument, and more particularly, to an electronic musical instrument capable of obtaining a new musical expression by interpolating a tone color parameter when switching a tone color.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an electronic musical instrument which has a plurality of tone color changeover switches and which can be operated to change the tone color during a performance. In such an electronic musical instrument having a tone color switching function, the tone color is switched by detecting the tone color switching operation of the player and changing the tone color parameter. However, with such electronic musical instruments,
Since the timbre is rapidly changed when the timbre parameter is changed, there is a problem that noise such as a click sound is generated. Therefore, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-26897, as a preventive measure, a tone color parameter is interpolated at the time of tone color switching so that noise such as a click sound is not generated.

[0003]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
The device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 6897 aims to perform tone color switching without generating noise such as a click sound when a tone color switching operation is performed. Therefore, the interpolation calculation at the time of tone color switching is performed at a speed at which a click sound is not generated. Therefore, the speed of transition from the first timbre to the second timbre is fast, and there is no idea to use the timbre change at the time of this timbre switching as a performance expression.

By the way, the electronic musical instrument can generate a musical tone of a tone color imitating a natural musical instrument, but can generate a musical tone of a tone color which cannot be realized by the natural musical instrument. In particular, in recent years, expectations for obtaining new performance expressions and music expressions have been increasing more and more, and electronic musical instruments capable of producing a wide variety of sounds and realizing new music expressions are required.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic musical instrument which realizes a wider variety of tone color changes and enables new musical expression and performance expression based on the above circumstances.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic musical instrument according to the present invention comprises a tone color switching means for switching a tone color during a performance, and a memory means for storing a tone color parameter defining a tone color. , A tone generator for inputting a tone color parameter and generating a tone signal with a tone color corresponding to the tone color parameter, and a tone color parameter after switching from the storage unit based on a switching instruction from the tone color switching unit, and setting the current tone parameter. Interpolation means for sequentially performing interpolation so that the tone color parameter smoothly changes from a certain tone color parameter to the tone color parameter after switching, and an interpolation means for sequentially outputting the interpolation result to the tone generator means and an interpolation time in this interpolation means are set. To set the interpolation time and the tone color of the musical tone being generated.
Tones in the middle of temporal changes due to interpolation
Tone parameter memory for instructing parameter memory
The instruction means and the finger by this tone color parameter storage instruction means
According to the indication, the tone color parameter during the interpolation is stored in the storage means.
And a tone color parameter writing means for storing the same.

Further, the electronic musical instrument according to the present invention has a tone color switching means for switching a tone color during a performance, a memory means for storing a tone color parameter defining the tone color, and a tone color parameter input to the tone color parameter. Sound source means for generating a tone signal with a tone color according to the above, and a tone color parameter after switching is read from the storage means based on a switching instruction from the tone color switching means, and the tone color parameter currently set is changed to the tone color parameter after switching. Interpolation means for sequentially performing interpolation so that the tone color parameters change smoothly, and sequentially outputting the interpolation result to the sound source, interpolation stopping means for temporarily stopping the execution of the interpolation in this interpolation means, and this interpolation stopping means. The tone color parameter writing means for storing the tone color parameter interpolation result at the time when the interpolation is temporarily stopped by Characterized in that it Bei.

As the interpolation method, various interpolation methods such as linear interpolation and curve interpolation may be used. The number of tone color parameters to be interpolated may be one or more, and may be appropriately selected and interpolated.

[0009]

According to the above arrangement, the interpolation time setting means can arbitrarily set the interpolation time at the time of tone color switching.
By setting the interpolation time as desired, it is possible to handle the temporal change of the tone color at the time of tone color switching as one of performance expressions.

Further, while the interpolation is executed and the timbre is gradually changing, the execution of the interpolation can be temporarily stopped and the timbre parameter at the time of the temporary stop can be stored as a new timbre. It is possible to easily register the tone color parameter corresponding to the tone color.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of an electronic musical instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention and switches on a panel.
The electronic musical instrument of this embodiment includes a panel switch 1, a panel switch interface 2, a keyboard 3, a keyboard interface 4, a tone color RAM (random access memory).
5, working RAM 6, ROM (read only
A memory) 7, a central processing unit (CPU) 8, and a timer 9 are provided. Reference numeral 15 is a bidirectional bus line.

The panel switch interface 2 is an interface for connecting the panel switch 1 to the bus line 15. The panel switch interface 2 detects the operation status of each switch or the like and C
Send to PU8. The keyboard 3 is a keyboard having a plurality of keys for the performer to play. Keyboard interface 4
Is an interface for connecting the keyboard 3 to the bus line 15, and detects the operation status (key on / off) of each key and sends it to the CPU 8. The CPU 8 controls the overall operation of this electronic musical instrument. The CPU 8 controls each unit in a procedure as will be described later with reference to a flowchart, and also interpolates a tone color parameter. The tone color RAM 5 stores tone color parameters that define tone colors. Timer 9
A clock signal is generated at predetermined time intervals. Each time the timer 9 generates a clock signal, a timer interrupt process described later is executed. The tone color parameter interpolation process is performed in this timer interrupt process.

The panel switch 1 is a tone color changeover switch 1.
1, stop / continue switch 12, store switch 1
3 and an interpolation time setting slider 14.

With this electronic musical instrument, it is possible to generate a musical tone by switching between 10 different tone colors. Switching of ten kinds of tone colors is performed by pressing one of the ten tone color changing switches 11. Tones can be assigned to the respective switches of the tone color changeover switch 11 in advance. The timbre can be switched by pressing one of the timbre changeover switches 11 even during performance. When the timbre switching operation is performed, the current timbre is interpolated to the timbre after switching (the timbre assigned to the depressed timbre changeover switch 11), and the timbre smoothly changes.

The stop / continuation switch 12 is a switch for temporarily stopping the interpolation process. That is, by pressing the stop / continuation switch 12, the interpolation process can be temporarily stopped during the interpolation process (while the timbre is gradually changing). By temporarily stopping the interpolation process, the tone color at that time is retained. In this state, when the key of the keyboard 3 is pressed, the held tone color is produced. By pressing the stop / continuation switch 12 again while the interpolation is paused, the paused interpolation processing can be resumed.

When the store switch 13 is pressed with the stop / continuation switch 12 being pressed to temporarily stop the interpolation process, the tone color parameter at that point is assigned to and stored in some of the ten tone color changeover switches 11. be able to. Which of the tone color changeover switches 11 is to be assigned can be appropriately selected. This makes it possible to take out an arbitrary timbre during the interpolation process and assign it to the timbre changeover switch 11 as a new timbre.

The interpolation time setting slider 14 is a slide volume for setting the interpolation time. The interpolation time is the time from the time when the tone color changeover switch 11 is pressed until the time when the tone color changeover is completed (the tone color after the changeover is obtained). By minimizing the interpolation time, immediate tone color switching can be performed without generating noise such as click sounds.

Next, the contents of the tone color RAM 5 and the working RAM 6 used in the electronic musical instrument of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 2 is a memory map showing the contents of these RAMs 5 and 6. The tone color RAM 5 stores tone color parameters corresponding to 10 types of tone colors. The ten kinds of timbres are specified by timbre numbers P1 to P10, respectively. One tone color is defined by a plurality of tone color parameters. For example, the timbre of the timbre number P1 is a plurality of timbre parameters P1.
, -1, P1-2, ..., The timbre of the timbre number P2 is defined by timbre parameters P2-1, P2-2 ,. Similarly, each tone color parameter corresponding to ten types of tone colors is stored in the tone color RAM 5.
These tone color parameters are sent to the sound source 10 by pressing the tone color changeover switch 11. Tones P1, P2, ..., P
Reference numerals 10 correspond to the first, second, ..., Tenth switches of the changeover switch 11, respectively. Therefore, for example, when the first switch 11-1 of the tone color changeover switch 11 is pressed, the tone color parameter P
.., P1-2, ... Are transmitted to the sound source 10 by the processing to be described later, and thereafter, a musical tone is generated by the timbre of the timbre number P1.

The working RAM 6 has a current tone color parameter buffer PB1 and a tone color parameter buffer PB after switching.
2, an edit buffer EB, and other registers or work areas. The current tone color parameter buffer PB1 stores the tone color parameters of the currently assigned tone color. Tone parameter buffer P after switching
Stored in B2 are tone colors PB2-1, PB2-2, ... Of the tone color that is the target tone color when the tone color switch 11 is pressed to switch the tone color, that is, the tone color after switching. The tone color parameter interpolation process is performed by the current tone color parameter buffer P.
Tone color parameters PB1-1 and PB stored in B1
.. from the tone color parameter buffer PB2 after switching to the tone color parameters PB2-1, PB2-2 ,. The edit buffer EB stores the tone color parameters EB-1, EB-2, ... At the time when the interpolation process is temporarily stopped. Each tone color parameter on the edit buffer EB can be edited by the user.

Other registers assigned to the working RAM will be described below.

(A) T: An interpolation time register which stores a value corresponding to the position of the interpolation time setting slider 14.
Specifically, the number of timer interrupts from the start to the end of the interpolation process is stored.

(B) CT: Interpolation time counter. The initial value is set to "0", and when the timbre changeover switch 11 is pressed during sound generation, "1" is incremented for each timer interrupt.

(C) ST: A status register indicating the processing status. "0" indicates a state in which interpolation is not performed, that is, a state in which no tone is produced or a tone is continuously produced with a constant tone color. “1” indicates that the interpolation process is in progress. "2" indicates a state in which the stop / continuation switch 12 is pressed during interpolation and the interpolation process is temporarily stopped.

Next, the operation of this electronic musical instrument will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the main program executed by the CPU 8. When the processing of this electronic musical instrument starts, first, in step S1, various memory areas or registers are initialized. The interpolation time register T stores a value corresponding to the position of the slider 14 at that time. Counter CT and status register ST
Is cleared to zero. In the tone color RAM 5, tone color parameters of 10 types of tone colors selected in advance are initialized, and in the current tone color parameter buffer PB1 of the working RAM 6, tone color parameters of preset tone colors selected in advance are stored.

Next, panel processing is performed in step S2, keyboard processing is performed in step S3, and other processing is performed in step S4, and then the process returns to step S2. The above process is repeated.

The panel processing in step S2 of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the panel processing, first, in step S11, the interpolation time setting slider 14
It is determined whether or not there is an operation event. This determination is made by operating the interpolation time setting slider 14 and detecting that the position is different from the position at the time of the previous detection.
If there is a slider 14 operation event, step S
The slider event process is performed at 12, and the process proceeds to step S13. If there is no event of the interpolation time setting slider 14 in step S11, the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S13, it is determined whether or not there is an on event of any of the tone color selection switches 11, and if there is an on event, the process branches to step S14. In step S14, tone color selection switch event processing is performed, and the flow advances to step S15. If there is no on-event of the tone color selection switch 11 in step S13, the process proceeds to step S15.

In step S15, it is determined whether or not there is an on event of the stop / continuation switch 12, and if there is an on event, the process branches to step S16. In step S16, stop / continue switch event processing is performed.
It proceeds to step S17. Stop at step S15 /
If there is no on event of the continuation switch 12, the process proceeds to step S17.

In step S17, it is determined whether or not there is an on event of the store switch 13, and if there is an on event, the process branches to step S18. After the store switch event process is performed in step S18, the process returns. If there is no ON event of the store switch 13 in step S17, the process directly returns.

The slider event processing of the panel processing step S12 of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the slider event process, a value corresponding to the position of the interpolation time setting slider 14 is stored in the interpolation time register T in step S21. Then return.

The tone color selection switch event processing of the panel processing step S14 of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the tone color selection switch event processing, first, the tone color parameters corresponding to the tone color numbers (P1 to P10) of the tone color selection switch 11 pressed in step S31 are read from the tone color RAM 5 and transferred to the changed tone color parameter buffer PB2 of the working RAM 6. Next, in step S32, it is determined whether or not a musical sound is currently being produced. If the sound is being generated, the timer 9 is started in step S33 to start the interpolation process, and the counter CT is cleared to zero in step S34. Then, in step S35, "1" is set in the status register ST and the process returns.

If it is determined in step S32 that the tone is not currently being generated, the tone color parameter can be switched to the switched tone color parameter without performing the interpolation process, and the process branches to step S36. Step S
36, the tone color parameters PB2-1, PB2-2 of the tone color parameter buffer PB2 after switching of the working RAM 6
Is transmitted to the sound source 10, the contents of the switched tone color parameter buffer PB2 are transferred to the current tone color parameter buffer PB1 in step S37, and the process returns.

Next, the stop / continue switch event processing of the panel processing step S16 of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the stop / continuation switch event processing, first in step S41, the status register ST
Determine the value of. When the value of the status register ST is "0", it means that no sound is being sounded or sound is being generated with a constant timbre.
The process by pressing 2 is not performed and the process directly returns.

When the value of the status register ST is "1" in step S41, it means that the stop / continuation switch 12 was pressed during the interpolation process. Therefore, the timer 9 is first stopped in step S42. In step S43, the current tone color parameter buffer P of the working RAM 6 is calculated based on the values of the interpolation time register T and the counter CT.
The tone color parameters PB1-1, PB1-2, ... of B1 and the tone color parameter P of the tone color parameter buffer PB2 after switching.
B2-1, PB2-2, ... Are interpolated. The interpolation calculation method is the same as the interpolation calculation method of the timer interrupt process (FIG. 9) described later. Next, in step S44, the tone color parameter obtained as a result of the interpolation calculation is transferred to the edit buffer EB, and in step S45, "2" is set in the state register ST, and then the process returns.

If the value of the status register ST is "2" at step S41, it means that the timer 9 is restarted at step S46 since it is in the state of being temporarily stopped during the interpolation process, and at step S47 the status register ST is restarted. After setting "1" to ST, the process returns.

Next, the store switch event processing of the panel processing step S18 of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the store switch event process, first, in step S51, it is determined whether or not the value of the state register ST is "2". If the value of the state register ST is not "2", the interpolation process is not in the temporary stop state, so the process by pressing the store switch 13 is not performed and the process returns.

When the value of the status register ST is "2" in step S51, the store process is executed in step S52.
In the store processing, the tone color parameters EB-1, EB-2, ... Stored in the edit buffer EB are changed to tone color RA.
This is a process of transferring to the storage area of the tone color parameters PN-1, PN-2, ... (N is “1” to “10”) of M5.
As a result, a new tone color is registered. The user can appropriately select which storage area of the tone color RAM 5 is to be transferred and stored, in other words, which number switch of the tone color changeover switch 11 is to be assigned. In addition, the tone color parameter EB- of the edit buffer EB
The values of 1, EB-2, ... Can be changed by the editing process performed by the user, and then can be stored in the tone color RAM 5. After step S52, the contents of the edit buffer EB are transferred to the current tone color parameter buffer PB1 in step S53,
At 54, the status register ST and the counter CT are cleared to zero, and the process returns.

Next, the timer interrupt processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This timer interrupt process is a process executed each time the timer interrupts the CPU 8 at a predetermined time interval from the timer 9. The timer 9 is activated when any one of the tone color selection switches 11 is pressed to start the tone color parameter switching process, that is, the interpolation process (see FIG. 6).
It is started in step S33). Further, when the stop / continuation switch 12 is pressed in the middle of the interpolation processing, the operation is temporarily stopped (step S42 in FIG. 7), and when the stop / continuation switch 12 is pressed again in this state, the operation is restarted (step S42 in FIG. 7). S46).

In the timer interrupt process of FIG. 9, first, in step S61, it is determined whether or not a sound is being produced. If the sound is being generated, the process proceeds to step S62. If the sound is not being generated, it is not necessary to perform the interpolation process, and the process branches to step S66. In step S62, it is determined whether the value of the counter CT has become equal to the value of the interpolation time setting register T (interpolation time). If the value of the counter CT is equal to the interpolation time T, it means that the interpolation process is completed, and the process branches to step S66. Counter CT in step S62
If the value of is not equal to the interpolation time T, the interpolation process is continued.
Based on the value of the tone color parameters PB1-1, PB1-2, ... of the current tone color parameter buffer PB1 and each tone color parameter PB2- of the tone color parameter buffer PB2 after switching.
1, PB2-2, ... Are interpolated. In this example,
The interpolation of these tone color parameters is performed by linear interpolation. That is, the tone color parameters PB1-n (n = 1, 2, ...) Of the current tone color parameter buffer PB1 and the tone color parameters PB2- of the switched tone color parameter buffer PB2.
Interpolation is performed by calculating ([PB2-n]-[PB1-n]). CT / T + [PB1-n] with n to obtain the tone color parameter. Note that [PB1-n] is the value of the nth tone color parameter in the current tone color parameter buffer PB1,
B2-n] is n in the tone color parameter buffer PB2 after switching.
The values of the th tone color parameters shall be shown respectively.

After step S63, each timbre parameter obtained as a result of the interpolation calculation is transferred to the sound source 9 in step S64, the counter CT is counted up in step S65, and the process returns.

If no sound is being produced (when branching from step S61) or at the last stage of the interpolation process (when branching from step S62), step S6.
In step 6, the contents of the switched tone color parameter buffer PB2 are sent to the sound source 9, and in step S67, the contents of the switched tone color parameter buffer PB2 are transferred to the current tone color parameter buffer PB1.
Transfer to. Then, the timer 9 is stopped in step S68, the counter CT is cleared to zero in step S69, and the process returns.

According to the above embodiment, the interpolation time (which can be regarded as the interpolation speed) can be arbitrarily set by operating the interpolation time setting slider 14. When the interpolation time is minimized, the same effect as that of the conventional electronic musical instrument which prevents the click sound at the time of tone color switching can be obtained. Further, the interpolation time can be appropriately set and the time change at the time of tone color switching can be played as one of the performance expressions. Furthermore, when switching tones, pause while the tones are gradually changing,
The tone color parameter at that time can be easily assigned to the tone color changeover switch as a new tone color.

Although the tone color parameters are interpolated by using linear interpolation as the interpolation method in the above embodiment, any interpolation method such as curve function interpolation can be used. Also, different interpolation methods may be applied to each parameter. The number of timbre changeover switches is 10, but the number is not limited to these, and any number of changeover switches may be provided. In other words, the tones that can be selected are not limited to ten types, and can be any number. Further, instead of the tone color changeover switch, tone color changeover may be performed by an external signal such as a MIDI signal. In this case, when a program change (tone color switching command) is instructed, the interpolation processing is performed as described above.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the interpolation time can be arbitrarily set, the temporal change of the timbre when the timbre is switched is one of the performance expressions. It is possible to create various sounds and realize new musical expressions. Further, since the changing tone color can be stopped midway and the tone color parameter at that point can be registered as a new tone color, it is easy to create a new tone color and the range of tone color selection is increased. Furthermore, by changing the interpolation time during the interpolation (for example, operating the interpolation time setting slider during the interpolation), a richer tone color change can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an electronic musical instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a memory map showing the contents of tone color RAM and working RAM.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a main routine of the electronic musical instrument of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a panel process of the electronic musical instrument of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing slider event processing of the electronic musical instrument of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a tone color selection switch event process of the electronic musical instrument of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing stop / continue switch event processing of the electronic musical instrument of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing store switch event processing of the electronic musical instrument of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a timer interrupt process of the electronic musical instrument of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Panel switch, 2: Panel switch interface, 3: Keyboard, 4: Keyboard interface, 5: Sound color RAM, 6: Working RAM, 7: ROM, 8: CP
U, 9: timer, 10: sound source, 11: tone color changeover switch, 12: stop / continue switch, 13: store switch, 14: interpolation time setting slider, 15: bus line.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A tone color switching means for switching a tone color during a performance, a memory means for storing a tone color parameter defining a tone color, a tone color parameter input, and a tone signal with a tone color corresponding to the tone color parameter. The generated tone generator means and the tone color parameter after switching are read from the storage means based on the switching instruction from the tone color switching means, and the tone color parameter is smoothly changed from the currently set tone color parameter to the after tone color parameter. go as sequentially performs interpolation, and interpolation means for the interpolation results are sequentially output to the tone generator, an interpolation time setting means for setting the interpolation time in the interpolation means, the tone color of the musical tone in generation by the interpolation Change over time
Instructing to store the tone color parameters during
A tone color parameter storage instruction means because, according to the instruction by the tone color parameter storage instruction means,
Store the tone color parameter during the interpolation in the storage means
An electronic musical instrument comprising a tone color parameter writing means . 2. A tone color switching means for switching a tone color during a performance, a storage means for storing a tone color parameter defining a tone color, and a tone color parameter input to generate a tone signal with a tone color corresponding to the tone color parameter. The generated tone generator means and the tone color parameter after switching are read from the storage means based on the switching instruction from the tone color switching means, and the tone color parameter is smoothly changed from the currently set tone color parameter to the after tone color parameter. The interpolation means for sequentially performing the interpolation so as to sequentially output the interpolation result to the sound source, the interpolation stopping means for temporarily stopping the execution of the interpolation in the interpolation means, and the interpolation stopping means for temporarily stopping the interpolation An electronic device comprising: a tone color parameter writing unit that stores the tone color parameter interpolation result in the storage unit. Vessel.