JP2692024B2 - Automatic piano playing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention stores music performance information in a storage device, and when the start of performance is instructed, the music performance information is read out and the keyboard or pedal is driven to automatically play the piano. The present invention relates to an automatic performance device for a piano that plays a piano.

In recent years, an automatic performance device for an acoustic piano has been put into practical use, and an automatic performance device for a piano has been put into practical use in which music is played by operating a drive mechanism based on previously stored music performance information and operating a keyboard or a pedal. Have been served.

In such an automatic performance device, it is necessary to control the strength of keystrokes in accordance with the progress of a piece of music, as in the case where a person plays while referring to a musical score.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional piano automatic performance device, music performance information including, for example, key number, keystroke strength, time information, etc. is stored in advance in a storage device such as a floppy disk device and the performance is started from an operation panel, for example. The musical performance information is read out from the above-mentioned storage device, and the piano keyboard or pedal is driven according to the read musical performance information so that the music is automatically played. There is.

More specifically, the storage device is previously stored in the storage device.
Music performance information, which is a collection of event information, is stored. As shown in FIG. 3, for example, one event information is composed of an identification code, a key number, a keystroke strength, and time information.

When the performance start is instructed, one event information in the music performance information is read from the storage device and the time information included in the event information is checked. Then, when the time information coincides with the timing (time) at which the event should be executed, the event is executed, that is, the key is pressed or released.

The timing of executing the event information is detected as follows. That is, the value of the time counter that counts time in synchronization with the clock is compared with the time information in the read event information, and when they match, it is determined that the timing to execute the event has arrived.

When the execution of one event information is completed, the next event information is newly read from the storage device and the same processing is performed. By repeating this operation, the music is played.

By the way, in the conventional automatic performance device for a piano, the keystroke strength is controlled as follows.

That is, specified in the music performance information,
The drive power of the solenoid is determined on the basis of information about which key (key number) is to be played and how much strength (keystroke strength) is to be played, and the solenoid is driven by the determined drive power. As a result, the key or pedal connected to the solenoid is actuated (depressed or released) at a strength (speed) corresponding to the drive power, and music having a predetermined strength is played.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining drive power applied to a conventional solenoid, in which the vertical axis represents the magnitude of drive power and the horizontal axis represents time.

In the figure, L1 indicates a drive power value (hereinafter referred to as "attack level") corresponding to the keystroke strength,
L2 indicates the minimum drive power value (hereinafter referred to as "holding level") required to hold the keyboard operator.
Further, T1 is a period for applying the attack level (hereinafter,
"Attack period"), and T2 indicates a period for applying the holding level (hereinafter referred to as "holding period").

On the other hand, it is known that the time from when the key is released to when the key is struck depends on the musical range. That is, generally, in the low tone range, the keystroke mechanism is heavy and the operation speed is slow, whereas in the high tone range, the keystroke mechanism is light and the operation speed is fast. FIG. 5 shows the difference in speed of the keystroke mechanism depending on the tone range (key number) when the keystroke strength is constant. The upper row shows the low range and the lower row shows the high range.

In the figure, t indicates a time difference from the time when the keystroke mechanism is driven with the same keystroke strength to the time when a string is struck. As shown, the treble range operates in a shorter time than the bass range.

In the actual piano, the time difference t is maximum t = 50 mse when the keystroke strength is medium.
c. It suffices for the attack period to be slightly longer than the time required to activate the keystroke mechanism for each key.

[0016]

Conventionally, in order to be able to apply sufficient power in the low tone range (the keystroke mechanism is heavy and the operation speed is slow) in which it is necessary to lengthen the period for applying the power, the low power is applied. The attack period T1 is determined based on the musical range, and the drive power is applied regardless of the key number designated by the music performance information. Therefore, there is a problem that the application time is too long in the high tone range (the keystroke mechanism is light and the operation speed is fast).

That is, no electric power was applied at all in the shaded area in FIG. This means that useless power is consumed. Due to this wasteful application of electric power, heat is generated and a malfunction occurs due to the heat generation, and problems such as an increase in size of the device and an increase in cost due to an increase in driving element and power source capacity occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and suppresses heat generation by driving a drive element, and consequently a keyboard operator, with electric power according to a key number, and a drive for driving the keyboard operator. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic performance device for a piano, which can realize the miniaturization of elements or the miniaturization and cost reduction of a power supply device.

[0019]

In order to achieve the above object, an automatic performance device for a piano of the present invention has a storage means for storing music performance information including key number information, and sequentially reads out from the storage means. In an automatic performance device of a piano for playing music by driving an operating element in response to music playing information, a driving means for driving the operating element, and an application time indicating a time at which electric power should be applied to the driving means. Calculation means for calculating the information according to the key number information in the music performance information, and applying the electric power to the driving means for a time determined according to the application time information calculated by the calculation means to perform the operation. And a control means for actuating the child.

[0020]

According to the present invention, the time for which the power is applied to the driving means in accordance with the music performance information is determined corresponding to the key number in the music performance information, and the driving means is powered for the determined application time. The key is pressed by applying.

As a result, the electric power applied to the driving means becomes a necessary and minimum electric power, the heat generation amount of the driving means for driving and controlling the operating element is suppressed, and the operating element and the driving element for driving the operating element are downsized. Also, it is possible to reduce the size and cost of the power supply device.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of an automatic piano playing apparatus according to the present invention.

In the figure, 10 is a central processing unit (CP).
U), which controls each part of the automatic musical instrument according to the control program stored in the read-only memory (ROM) 11. The ROM 11 stores the above-mentioned control program and various fixed data used by the CPU 10. This ROM11 is CP
It is accessed by the U10 via the system bus 30.

12 is a random access memory (RAM)
The working area of the CPU 10, various registers and flags for controlling the automatic musical instrument are defined.
This RAM 12 is also connected to the system bus 3 by the CPU 10.
Accessed via 0.

Reference numeral 13 is an input / output interface. One side of the input / output interface 13 is a system bus 30.
The operation switch 20, the display device 21, the storage device 22 and the external input terminal are connected to the other side.

The operation switch 20 includes various switches such as a "start switch" for instructing the start of automatic performance, a "tempo instruction switch" for instructing the tempo speed, and a volume operator (neither shown) for controlling the volume. It is provided.

The on / off state of each switch of the operation switch 20 is detected by a scan circuit (not shown) and sent to the CPU 10 via the input / output interface 13. The on / off information of this switch is stored in the RAM 12
Is stored in a predetermined area of and is referred to when necessary.

The display device 21 is composed of, for example, an LCD, and is used for displaying various states of the device and messages. For example, when the automatic performance is started, the display device 21 is used to display the performance time. This display device 21
Is controlled by the information sent from the CPU 10 via the input / output interface 13.

As the storage device 22, for example, a floppy disk device is used, and a floppy disk 23 as a storage medium is attached to the floppy disk device. The above-mentioned music performance information is stored in the floppy disk 23.

Here, the music performance information is configured as a set of event information, as shown in FIG. Each event information is composed of an identification code, a key number, a keystroke strength, and time information.

The identification code indicates the type of the event information. For example, whether the event information is the musical performance information of the keyboard operator or the musical performance information of the pedal operator, and the event. Whether the information indicates an on event or an off event is designated.

The key number indicates the number of the key that should execute the event. This key number determines the drive time of the solenoids 25 _{1 to} 25 _n , as will be described later. The keystroke strength specifies the strength (speed) of keystroke or key release at an on-event or off-event. The power (attack level) applied to the solenoids 25 _{1 to} 25 _n is determined by this keystroke strength information.

The time information is information indicating the timing (time) at which the event information should be executed. When this time information matches the count value of the time counter 16, the event based on the event information is executed.

The music performance information read from the floppy disk 23 mounted on the storage device 22 is sent to the CPU 10 through the input / output interface 13 and used for automatic performance of the musical instrument.

Reference numeral 14a is a signal generator which generates a signal for driving the solenoids 25 _{1 to} 25 _n in accordance with keystroke strength information sent from the CPU 10 via the system bus 30. The signal generated by the signal generator 14a is supplied to the solenoid drive device 14b.

The solenoid driving device 14b drives the solenoids 25 _{1 to} 25 _n provided for all keys. Each solenoid 25 _{1 to} 25 _n is connected to the key. When the solenoid drive device 14b is activated by the control signal from the signal generator 14a, the solenoid 25 ₁
.About.25 _n are driven, and the corresponding key is pushed down (or pulled down) to realize the key depression function.

The function of releasing the key is realized by stopping the activation of the solenoid driving device 14b and releasing the solenoids 25 _{1 to} 25 _n by the control signal from the signal generator 14a.

Reference numeral 15 is a conversion table for generating time information (attack period information) for supplying electric power to the solenoids 25 _{1 to} 25 _n based on the key number information in the music control information. The conversion table 15 is composed of, for example, a ROM.

In this embodiment, the conversion table 15
Is provided in an independent ROM, but it goes without saying that it may be provided in the ROM 11 in which programs and the like are stored.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 16 is a time counter, which counts up at a predetermined speed by a clock signal from a clock generator 17. The contents of this time counter 16 are read by the CPU 10,
Used to detect sounding timing.

Reference numeral 18 denotes an attack period counter, which counts the attack period obtained by the conversion table 15. The attack period counter 18 is, for example, a down counter that subtracts the set value with the passage of time. The content of the attack period counter 18 is read by the CPU 10 and used to determine the end of the attack period.

The CPU 10, ROM 11, RA
The M12, the input / output interface 13, the solenoid drive device 14, the conversion table 15, the time counter 16, and the attack period counter 18 are interconnected by a system bus 30.

The operation of this embodiment having the above structure will be described with reference to the flowchart of the automatic performance process shown in FIG. It should be noted that this automatic performance processing routine is called from a main routine (not shown) at a predetermined cycle.

When a start switch (not shown) of the operation switch 20 is pressed, the state of the switch is sent to the CPU 10 via the input / output interface 13. C
When the PU 10 determines that the start switch has been turned on, it activates the time counter 16 to start the automatic performance process.

In the automatic performance processing, it is first checked whether or not there is an event to be executed (step S).
11). This is performed as follows. That is, one event information (see FIG. 3) of music performance information is read from the storage device 22 and time information in the event information is extracted.

Then, the count value is read from the time counter 16, and the count value is compared with the time information in the previously extracted event information. Here, when "count value ≧ time information" is satisfied, it is recognized that the execution timing has come. That is, it is determined that there is an event to be executed.

The above-described processing for checking the presence / absence of an event to be executed is a processing required when an automatic performance is performed based on music performance information stored in advance. In addition to this, music input from an external input terminal is also used. The event information can be configured to be executed in real time according to the performance information. In this case, it is not necessary to judge whether there is an event to be executed, and at the timing when the event information is given,
The event information will be executed. Therefore, the time information is not included in the event information.

If it is determined in step S11 that there is no event to be executed, the process branches to step S16.
The processing from step S16 onward will be described later.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S11 that there is an event to be executed, it is checked whether or not the event is an on event (step S12).
This is done by looking up the identification code in the event information.

When it is determined that the event is not the on event, that is, the off event, the process branches to step S18 to end the driving of the solenoids 25 _{1 to} 25 _n . That is, when the CPU 10 gives predetermined information to the signal generator 14a, the signal generator 14a gives a drive end signal to the solenoid drive device 14b. As a result, the driving of the solenoids 25 _{1 to} 25 _n by the solenoid driving device 14b is stopped. That is, the key release operation is performed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S12 that the event is an on event, an attack level is generated from the keystroke strength information (step S13). This attack level can be generated, for example, by controlling the voltage applied to the solenoid so that the electric power increases as the keystroke strength increases, or by applying a constant voltage to turn it on / off.
Well-known techniques such as a method of controlling an off ratio (duty ratio) can be used.

Next, an attack period is generated based on the key number information (step S14). This is realized by referring to the conversion table 15 based on the key number information and reading the attack period information according to the key number information. The conversion table 15 stores attack period information such that the attack period decreases as the key number increases (in the high frequency range). The values set in the conversion table 15 can be used by finding the optimum values through experiments.

Further, this attack period information is, for example,
A function for approximating the attack characteristic may be prepared, and given a key number as a variable, a predetermined operation may be performed to generate the function.

Next, the drive of the solenoids 25 _{1 to} 25 _n is started by the attack level and the attack period calculated in steps S13 and S14 (step S1).
5). At the same time, the attack period information calculated in step S14 is set in the attack period counter 18. After that, the contents of the attack period counter 18 are
It is decremented over time, asynchronously with the operation of.

Next, it is checked whether or not the attack period has ended (step S16). This is the CPU 10
Is performed by reading the contents of the attack period counter 18 and checking whether or not the contents have become zero.

If it is determined that the attack period has ended, driving at the holding level is performed (step S17). As a result, the solenoids 25 _{1 to} 25 will be used thereafter.
The drive power of _n is maintained at the hold level.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S16 that the attack period has not ended, the process routine is returned. This means that the drive based on the attack level continues.

In the above process, when it is determined in step S11 that there is no event to be executed, the process immediately branches to step S16 to determine whether the attack period is over. Then, if it is determined that the attack period has not ended, driving at the attack level is continued,
When it is determined that the attack period has ended, the process proceeds to the holding level drive.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
The time for applying the electric power to the solenoids 25 _{1 to} 25 _n for driving the keys and the pedals is determined corresponding to the key number information in the music performance information, and the solenoid 2 is operated for the determined application time.
Since it is designed to drive 5 _{1 to} 25 _n , the solenoid 2
The electric power applied to 5 _{1 to} 25 _n is the necessary and minimum electric power, and the key and pedal can be driven under optimum conditions.

[0060]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
Heat generation is suppressed by driving the drive element, and eventually the keyboard operator, with electric power according to the key number, and the drive element that drives the keyboard operator is downsized or the power supply unit is downsized.
It is possible to provide an automatic performance device for a piano, which can realize a reduction in price and further contribute to improvement in reliability or reduction in manufacturing cost.

The applicant has proposed another automatic filing apparatus for a piano, which is another application filed at the same time as the present application, and adopts a method of determining the attack period based on the keystroke strength. A higher effect can be expected by using the method described in the other application and the method described in the present application in combination.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of an automatic performance device for a piano of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure of event information used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining conventional drive power.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between a key number and the speed of a keystroke mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 CPU (calculation means, control means) 15 Conversion table 14b Solenoid drive device (drive means) 18 Attack period counter (time measurement means) 22 Storage device (storage means) 25 _{1 to} 25 _n Solenoid (drive means)

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An automatic piano for playing music, comprising storage means for storing music performance information including key number information, and driving an operator corresponding to the music performance information sequentially read from the storage means. In the playing device, a driving means for driving the operation element, a calculating means for calculating application time information indicating a time for applying electric power to the driving means according to key number information in the music performance information, An automatic performance device for a piano, comprising: a control unit that applies electric power to the drive unit to operate the operating element for a time determined according to the application time information calculated by the calculation unit. 2. The conversion means has a conversion table storing power application time information corresponding to each key number information in the music performance information, and the conversion table when the key number information is given. The automatic performance device for a piano according to claim 1, wherein the application time information is calculated with reference to. 3. The piano according to claim 2, wherein the conversion table stores the correspondence between the key number information and the application time information so that the application time becomes shorter as the key number becomes larger. Automatic playing device. 4. The control means has timing means for timing the application time of electric power, and the power is applied to the driving means until the application time calculated by the calculation means by the timing means is timed. The automatic piano playing apparatus according to claim 1.