JP2560463B2 - Electronic musical instrument with portamento fingerboard - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument capable of playing portamento by sliding a finger or the like on a portamento fingerboard.

(B) Conventional Technology As an electronic musical instrument having a portamento fingerboard,
For example, there are those disclosed in JP-B-49-3292 and JP-B-48-42962. As shown in these publications, in the electronic musical instrument having the conventional portamento fingerboard, the pitch information changes linearly with respect to the pressed position. Further, generally, the portamento fingerboard is provided on an electronic musical instrument having a keyboard and is arranged in parallel with the keyboard 2 as shown in FIG. 15 (A). The portamento fingerboard 1 is set to a length that covers the entire range or partial range of the keyboard 2 as shown in Fig. 15B, and the one that covers the entire range is the keyboard as shown in Fig. 15B. It changes linearly from the lowest note of 2 (pitch of the leftmost key) to the highest note (pitch of the rightmost key of keyboard 2).
When performing the portamento, the performer guesses the position of the first pitch from the keyboard 2. Then, apply an index finger or the like to the estimated position and slide it to the right or left. By this performance operation, portamento performance can be performed.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the electronic musical instrument having the above-described configuration, the first pressed position during portamento performance operation is not accurate, and it is extremely difficult to obtain a correct pitch. There is. That is, as shown in FIG. 16, if the initial pitch when performing the portamento playing operation is made to be the same as the pitch of the key K1, the position of the portamento fingerboard 1 corresponding to the center position a of the key K1. If the player outputs the pitch information of the key K1, the performer outputs correct pitch information only when the player presses the position a of the portamento fingerboard 1, and other b and When the position c is pressed, correct pitch information is not output. Because of this, the key
When the left and right ends of the K1 are pressed first, a large pitch shift occurs with respect to the pitch of the key K1. To eliminate this pitch shift, portamento playing operation becomes extremely difficult. .

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic musical instrument that does not change in pitch even if the first designated position when performing a portamento performance operation deviates slightly back and forth from the correct position.

(D) Means for Solving the Problem The electronic musical instrument of the invention according to claim 1 is an electronic musical instrument having a portamento fingerboard for forming pitch information according to a pressing position, wherein each note name of the portamento fingerboard is The pitch information of a certain range before and after the position corresponding to the above is made the same as the pitch information of the pitch name position, and a means for continuously changing the pitch information in the range exceeding the certain range is provided. Characterize.

The electronic musical instrument of the invention according to claim 2 is an electronic musical instrument having a portamento fingerboard that forms pitch information according to a pressed position, wherein the portamento fingerboard has a fixed range before and after a position corresponding to each note name. Is formed of a conductor, and a portion other than the predetermined range is formed of a continuous strip-shaped resistor.

(E) Action In the electronic musical instrument of the invention according to claim 1, when the portamento fingerboard is designated by a pressing operation or the like, when the designated position is within a certain range before and after the position corresponding to the pitch name, The pitch information to be formed is the same as the pitch information at the pitch name position. Therefore, the change of the pitch information with respect to the designated position of the portamento fingerboard is not linear as in the conventional case, but is a flat, overall step-like change near the pitch name position. By changing the pitch information in this way, the formed pitch information becomes constant even if the designated position due to pressing or the like slightly shifts in the vicinity of the pitch name position.

Further, in the electronic musical instrument of the invention according to claim 2, since the front and rear of the position corresponding to the pitch name on the portamento fingerboard is composed of conductors, even if a position slightly deviated from the pitch name is specified, output is performed. The generated electric signal, that is, the formed pitch information is constant.

(F) Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of an electronic musical instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention. The portamento fingerboard 1 is composed of a switch structure in which a large number of switches are arranged in a line, a resistor, and the like, as described later. With such a configuration, the output of the portamento fingerboard 1 shows a voltage level and a timing signal according to the pressed position. The pressed position information forming means 3 forms analog information (voltage value or the like) or digital information corresponding to the pressed position of the portamento fingerboard 1. The change of the analog or digital information with respect to the pressed position is linear as shown in the figure. The pressed position information formed by the pressed position information forming means 3 is sent to the pitch information conversion circuit 4. The pitch information conversion circuit 4 is responsive to the obtained analog or digital information of the pressed position.
The pitch information of a certain range before and after the position corresponding to the pitch name such as C and C # is converted so as to be the same as the pitch information of the pitch name position. That is, as shown in the figure, when the pressing position information is plotted on the horizontal axis and the pitch information is plotted on the vertical axis, the pitch information for the pressing position information is changed so that the pitch information changes stepwise as the pressing position changes. In addition to the conversion, information conversion is performed such that the center position of the flat portion of the change matches the pitch name position such as C, C # ... FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining this pitch information conversion method. That is, in the pitch information conversion circuit 4, the pitch information in the constant range K before and after the center position a of the key K1 is made constant, and similarly, the center position d of the key K2 is set.
The pitch information in the constant range K before and after is also made constant. If the note name of the key K1 is C and the note name of the key K2 is C #, the pitch information of the constant range K before and after the central position a is output as C, and the sound information of the constant range K before and after the central position d is output. High information is C #
The output is controlled as. With such a conversion method, the pitch information becomes constant no matter which position is pressed in at least the K range, and the pitch information is the pitch information of the key corresponding to the center position of the fixed range K. Become. Therefore, no matter which position in the fixed range K the player presses, the output pitch information becomes constant.

The pitch information output from the pitch information conversion circuit 4 is
Thereafter, the frequency information is sent to the frequency information conversion circuit 5, where it is converted into frequency information corresponding to the pitch information, and the frequency information is guided to the sound source circuit 6 and converted into a musical tone signal, which is output as a musical sound in the sound system 7. To be done.

The pitch information conversion circuit 4 can be composed of, for example, a conversion table including a memory. Figure 3 (A) shows
An example of using the table 10 that outputs all the pitch information corresponding to the positional information from the left end to the right end of the portamento fingerboard 1 in 1: 1 is shown. Further, FIG. 3B shows an example in which a pitch information conversion table 11 for a semitone is prepared, and a pressing position determining means 12 and a pressing position information converting circuit 13 are used. In this example, it is determined whether or not the semitone conversion length is longer than the other positions, such as the pressed position is in the range of B to C or E to F,
When the portamento fingerboard is pressed in the range of B to C or E to F, the pressed position information conversion means 13 halves the position information for pulling the table 11 and apparently extends the table horizontally. The pitch information conversion table 11 has conversion characteristics as shown in FIG. 4 (B), for example. As for the conversion method, for example, as shown in FIG. 9A, if a position deviated from the center position of the key of the note name A by δ is pressed, the conversion table 11 is referred to based on this δ. Thus, the pitch information is obtained as σ (assuming that the pitch is represented by a number that increases by one for each semitone, this pitch information is a number with a decimal point). Pitch information (A + σ) is obtained by adding this σ and A. In this way, if the pitch information conversion table is divided into semitones and only a small number of parts are referred to the conversion table, memory can be saved.

FIG. 3C is an example using the pitch information conversion table 14 for one octave. In this example, stepwise conversion characteristics for one octave are stored, and pitch information is formed for each octave. As a matter of course, the conversion table for one octave may be used.

As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, conversion into pitch information can be performed using a table, but the pitch information is obtained by calculating a function instead of the table. May be. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 (A), when the interval between adjacent note name positions is 1, when the deviation from the left note name position (pitch name position with low pitch) is 0.5 or less, The middle part data σ to be added to the pitch information of the left side position when obtaining the high pitch information is obtained by σ = 2δ ² , and when the deviation from the left pitch name position exceeds 0.5 and is 1 or less, Intermediate data σ, σ = 1-2 (1-
δ) Calculate with ² . T1 in FIG. 5 (A) shows the characteristic when the intermediate data σ is obtained by the above function.

Further, as shown in FIG.
When it is less than or equal to {= (1-k) / 2}, the intermediate data σ = 0, and when the deviation amount δ is within the range of k, the intermediate data σ is σ = {(δ−1). Set to / k}. If the deviation amount δ exceeds (l + k) and is 1 or less, the intermediate data σ is set to σ = 1.
If such a function is used, the conversion characteristic T2 changes linearly within the range of k as shown in FIG. 5 (B). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5B, the lengths of σ = 0 and σ = 1 can be freely set depending on the size of k.
Further, as shown in FIG. 9A, when the conversion characteristic is changed by a curve, the characteristic near the note name position can be made more flat by increasing the index of δ. FIG. 6A shows the conversion characteristics T1 and T2 as a whole.
Indicates a smooth change and T2 indicates an exact step change. The same figure (B) is a diagram comparing the characteristics of T2 with the keyboard,
In the range of note names E and F, the slope is 1/2 compared to other ranges.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show configuration examples of the portamento fingerboard 1, respectively. In the same figure (A), a large number of switches arranged in a line are connected in a matrix, and row output and c
It is divided into an output and an output, and each of the switches is scanned by the scanning means 20 to obtain the pressed position information. Further, FIG. 3B shows a case where a constant current source I ₀ (current value i) is connected to a highly accurate resistor R provided in a strip shape so that the pressed position information can be obtained as a voltage level (V = rli). (R: resistance value per unit length, l: length from the reference potential to the pressed position).

FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic block diagrams of an electronic musical instrument having a single-tone sound producing function and an electronic musical instrument having a multiple-tone producing function, respectively.

In the electronic musical instrument having a single-tone sound generation function shown in FIG.
The pressed position detection circuit 20 detects the pressed position of the portamento fingerboard 1, and the non-linear conversion circuit 21 uses the same stepwise conversion characteristics as the pitch information conversion circuit 4 of FIG. Convert to. And sound source circuit 22
When the key-on signal KON is "1", that is, when the portamento fingerboard 1 is pressed, the sound source signal corresponding to the key code output from the non-linear conversion circuit 21 is output. The key code KC includes a decimal point as described above, and the decimal point portion represents pitch information between pitch name positions. The sound source signal is converted into an analog signal by the DA conversion circuit 23 and output by the sound system 24.

On the other hand, in the electronic musical instrument having the multi-tone sound generation function shown in FIG. 8 (B), the pressed position detection circuit 20 performs the pressed detection operation, and at the subsequent stage of the non-linear conversion circuit 21, there are K channel registers 25. Is provided, and the content of the register stored in the ch register 25 is appropriately changed by the ch assignment control circuit 26.

FIG. 9A is a flow chart showing the main operation of the ch assignment control circuit 26 when the portamento fingerboard 1 is operated in the electronic musical instrument having the multi-tone sound generation function.
Further, FIG. 9 (B) shows a configuration diagram of the key registers and allocation processing flags for N channels (N ≦ K) and the ch register 25 included in the channel allocation control circuit 26.

When a plurality of tones are produced using the portamento fingerboard, it is conceivable, for example, that two fingers are slid in the directions of the arrows from positions A and B as shown in FIG. In such a case, the channel that sounds the tone when moving from A to the left and the channel that sounds the tone when moving from B to the right must be the same channel while you move your finger. I have to. FIG. 9 (A) shows the channel allocation control operation in such a case.

First, it is assumed that the positions A and B are pressed and each key code KC at that time is set in the ch register. The ch assignment of the key code KC is performed by a known ch assignment control. In the state in which the fingers A and B are moved leftward and rightward from the state where A and B are pressed, the new position information is detected by the n1 key scan operation. The pressed position data detected by the key scan is converted into a key code KC with a decimal point by the non-linear conversion circuit 21 and sent to the key register and the ch register 25 in the ch assignment control circuit 26. n3
Then, the allocation process flags of all channels are cleared, and the counter i is set to 1 at n4. Then, the difference between the key code KC _i stored in the key register at n5 and the key codes KC ₁ ′, KC ₂ ′, ... Then, the smallest difference c obtained from KCi is calculated.
Assign KC _i to h. That is, in the ch register, the KC _i having the smallest difference from KC _i is set, and the allocation processing flag of the ch is set to “1”. When the above process is completed for KC _i , next K
The processing of n5 and n6 is performed for C _{(i + 1)} . And this n
The operation of 5, n6 is performed until i = N, that is, for all the key codes stored in the key register.

By the above operation, as shown in FIG.
Therefore, even if a finger is operated in the left and right directions at the same time, the channel that generates a musical sound based on each operation does not replace another channel. This is because KC _i is assigned to the channel with the smallest difference in n6. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the time when A and B are pressed is t ₀ and the time when the next key scan is performed is t ₁ , the key code of the key code set in the ch register is set. among the closest key code in the key code in t ₁ is, ch at t ₀
This is because it is the key code of the position A set in the register and cannot be the key code of the position B which is considerably distant from the position. Therefore, for example, the key code of A is ch ₁
If it is assigned to, all the key codes that change from A will be set to ch ₁ . Similarly, if the key code B is assigned to ch _2, key code will change from B goes all set to ch _2.

In this way, if the above-mentioned processing is performed for all the key codes stored in the key register, then the key-off processing is performed for the unassigned channels at n9. And
The content of the ch register is output to the tone generator circuit 22 at n10.

In the multi-tone sound generation process, the 22 sound source selection operations of the sound source circuit are performed in a time division manner.

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment according to the invention of claim 2.
As shown, in this embodiment, the portamento fingerboard 1
Is constructed by alternately connecting a resistor 30 and a conductor 31 such as a copper plate in a strip shape so that pitch information can be obtained at a voltage level as shown in FIG. 7 (B). Then, the positions of the conductors 31 are arranged at positions corresponding to the pitch names such as A and A #. In the range of note names B to C and in the range of E to F, the resistor 30a has a specific resistance of 1 compared to resistors in other regions.
/ 2 is used. Therefore, as shown in the figure, in the pitch information change characteristic, the slope from B to C is 1/2 of the slope in other regions. When the portamento fingerboard 1 in which the resistor 30 and the conductor 31 are alternately connected is used, a conversion circuit for converting the key code KC is a non-linear conversion circuit as shown in FIG. 8 (A). Instead of 21, a linear conversion circuit 21 'will be used.

In the above embodiments, the electronic musical instrument provided with the keyboard is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to other electronic musical instruments. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, a plurality of portamento fingerboards 1a to 1f are vertically arranged, and a fret 50 is provided vertically on the portamento fingerboard like a guitar. Then, a certain range before and after the fret 50 is set to a region where pitch information corresponding to the pitch name at the fret position is output. With this configuration, it is possible to eliminate pitch changes due to subtle changes in the pressed position near the fret 50, and to output musical tones with a pitch corresponding to the pressed position at positions other than near the fret 50. It becomes possible to perform various performances.

When a plurality of portamento fingerboards are arranged vertically as in the embodiment shown in the figure, it becomes easy to electrically set the pitch difference of each portamento fingerboard. In this way, if you set the pitch difference on each portamento fingerboard,
You will be able to output chords as easily as a guitar. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, in an electronic musical instrument having a keyboard, it is possible to provide a fret 50 at a position corresponding to the center of each key of the portamento fingerboard 1 arranged above the keyboard. By providing the fret 50 in this manner, the operation becomes even more reliable.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, as the portamento fingerboard, which is pressed by a finger is shown, but it is also possible to configure a portamento fingerboard equipped with an optical detection device. For example, many LEs along the portamento fingerboard
By arranging a light emitting element and a light receiving element such as a D element, the position of the finger located on the portamento fingerboard can be determined by detecting the reflected light from the finger of the light emitted from the light emitting element with the light receiving element. According to this structure, it is possible to perform portamento performance without pressing the portamento fingerboard.

(G) Effect of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the pitch information of a certain range before and after the position corresponding to the pitch name is made the same as the pitch information of the pitch name position, and the certain range is Since means for continuously changing the pitch information is provided in the range exceeding the above range, it is possible to prevent the first note from becoming inaccurate when attempting to play portamento during the performance.

In addition, by constructing the portamento fingerboard by alternately connecting resistors and conductors, there is no need for electrically non-linear conversion means for keeping the pitch information near the pitch name constant. There are advantages.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of an electronic musical instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining changes in pitch information with respect to the pressed position information of the portamento fingerboard.
FIGS. 9A to 9C show examples of tables when the pitch information conversion circuit is composed of tables. Fig. 4 (A),
(B) is a diagram for explaining a method of generating pitch information when the table is configured by a table for one semitone. FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining a method of generating pitch information by a function. FIG. 6 (A),
(B) is a diagram for explaining a case where the change characteristic of the pitch information changes smoothly and a case where it changes linearly. FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing a configuration example of the portamento fingerboard. FIGS. 8 (A) and 8 (B) respectively show a configuration example of an electronic musical instrument having a single-tone sound producing function and a configuration example of an electronic musical instrument having a multi-tone producing sound function. FIG. 9 (A) is a flow chart showing the operation of the main part of the ch assignment control unit in the electronic musical instrument having the compound sound producing function. Further, FIG. 9 (B) shows the configuration of registers and flags used in the above operation. FIG. 10 is a view showing an operation example of the portamento fingerboard in explaining the operation of FIG. 9 (A). 11th
The figure shows a structural example of a portamento fingerboard according to the invention of claim 2, and FIG. 12 shows a structural example of an electronic musical instrument using the portamento fingerboard shown in FIG. FIG. 13 shows a constitutional order of an electronic musical instrument when the portamento fingerboard is applied to an electronic musical instrument having no keyboard, and FIG. 14 shows an electronic musical instrument having frets on the portamento fingerboard. Further, FIGS. 15 (A), (B) and FIG. 16 are views for explaining the structure and the drawbacks of the conventional electronic musical instrument. 1 ... Portamento fingerboard, 2 ... Keyboard, 3 ... Pressed position information forming means, 4 ... Pitch information converting means, 5 ... Frequency information converting means, 6 ... Sound source, 7 ... Sound system.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electronic musical instrument having a portamento fingerboard for forming pitch information according to a pressed position, wherein pitch information of a certain range before and after a position corresponding to each pitch name of the portamento fingerboard is given. An electronic musical instrument having a portamento fingerboard, which is provided with means for making the pitch information the same as the position pitch information and continuously changing the pitch information in a range exceeding the predetermined range. 2. An electronic musical instrument having a portamento fingerboard for forming pitch information according to a pressed position, wherein the portamento fingerboard is formed by a conductor in a certain range before and after a position corresponding to each note name. An electronic musical instrument having a portamento fingerboard, characterized in that a portion other than a certain range is constituted by a continuous strip-shaped resistor.