JP2745215B2 - Electronic string 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 stringed musical instrument, and more particularly to an electronic stringed musical instrument in which musical tone control information is changed in accordance with an operation of a control.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an electronic stringed musical instrument called a guitar synthesizer. This is, for example, to detect a pitch of a string vibration inputted for each string and to control a sound source so as to generate a musical tone having a pitch corresponding to the detected pitch information. In such electronic stringed instruments,
There has been proposed a device capable of controlling a sound source to change a pitch of a tone signal generated from the sound source to obtain a new tone signal.

[0003]

In an electronic stringed musical instrument, a tone signal generated by controlling a sound source as described above (hereinafter referred to as a synthesizer sound) and a tone signal based on string vibration (hereinafter referred to as a guitar sound). Are sometimes output together. However, as described above, even if the pitch of the synthesizer sound is changed, the pitch of the guitar sound is not changed. There was a problem that would.

[0004] The present invention provides an electronic stringed musical instrument capable of changing the pitch of not only a synthesizer sound but also a guitar sound when both a synthesizer sound and a guitar sound are output so that a musically natural performance can be performed. The task is to provide.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a pitch specifying means for specifying a pitch corresponding to a performance operation for each string, and an output corresponding to an operation amount. On the basis of an operator generated and an output generated from the operator,
Pitch control information generating means for generating pitch control information; a pitch specified for each string by the pitch specifying means; and a pitch control information generated from the pitch control information generating means. First tone generating means for generating a tone corresponding to each string having a pitch determined in accordance with the pitch control information generated by the pitch control information generating means; A second tone generator for generating a tone corresponding to each of the strings by controlling the pitch of the signal; a tone signal generated by the first tone generator; and a second tone generator. And output means for outputting the tone signal generated in the step (1).

[0006]

According to the present invention, the pitch control information is generated by the pitch control information generating means based on the output corresponding to the operation amount of the operating element. The first musical tone generating means corresponds to each string having a pitch specified by the pitch specifying means corresponding to a performance operation for each string and a pitch determined based on the pitch control information. Is generated. On the other hand, the second tone generator generates a tone corresponding to each string by changing and controlling the pitch of the input tone signal based on the string vibration based on the pitch control information. That is, in the first tone generating means, the pitch of the synthesizer sound is controlled in accordance with the operation of the operation element. The pitch of the guitar sound is also controlled by the second musical sound generating means in accordance with the operation of the operator. The tone signal generated by the first tone generator and the tone signal generated by the second tone generator are output by the output unit.

[0007]

1 to 3 show an electronic stringed instrument, for example, a guitar synthesizer, on which the present invention is based. The guitar synthesizer includes a first string 2 ₁ Total six strings of the sixth string 2 ₆ As example shown in FIG. Each of these strings 2 ₁ to 2 ₆ are not shown in the figure, it is stretched to the guitar body.

[0008] Each of these strings 2 ₁ to 2 _6, and pickup 4 ₁ to 4 ₆ are respectively provided. These pickups 4 ₁ to 4 _6, converts the vibration of each string 2 ₁ to 2 ₆ to each electrical signal.

[0009] Electrical signals of the pickup 4 ₁ to 4 ₆ are supplied to the pitch detector 6 ₁ to 6 ₆ corresponding. These pitch detector 6 ₁ to 6 _6, can be used those disclosed in JP Sho 63-298396, based on the electric signal from the pickup 4 ₁ to 4 ₆ each string 2 ₁ to detect a pitch of 2 _6, and generates a digital pitch signal representing the pitch. These digital pitch signal from the pitch detector 6 ₁ to 6 ₆ is supplied to the CPU 8.

[0010] The electrical signal of the pickup 4 ₁ to 4 ₆ is also supplied to an envelope detector 10 ₁ to 10 _6, respectively corresponding. These envelope detectors 10
₁ to 10 ₆ is for detecting the envelope of each string 2 ₁ to 2 ₆ on the basis of an electric signal from each pickup 4 ₁ to 4 _6, generates an envelope signal representing the envelope. These envelope signals are sent to the CPU
A through a multiplexer 12 controlled by
The signal is supplied to the / D converter 14, where it is converted into a digital envelope signal and supplied to the CPU 8.

The CPU 8 has a memory 16 attached thereto.
This stores a control program for the CPU 8 and three coefficient groups as shown in FIG. In the first group, coefficients β _{11 to} β ₁₆ having different values for each string are stored, and in the second group, coefficients β _{21 to} β ₂₆ having the same value are stored for each string. . In the third group, coefficients β _{31 to} β ₃₆ are stored, which are ratios such that when a semitone changes on one string, the whole sound changes on another string. And the first to third
One of the coefficients of the group is read out based on a switch signal generated in response to the operation of the foot switch 22 provided in the CPU 8.

The memory 16 is also provided with an area for temporarily storing data when the control program is executed.

The CPU 8 is provided with a foot volume 18 as an operator. This means that, for example, an output of 0 is supplied to the CPU 8 when not stepped on, and an output of 99 is supplied to the CPU 8 when fully depressed. Are supplied to the CPU 8.

The CPU 8 processes the digital envelope signal, the digital pitch signal, each coefficient, and the output from the foot volume 18 according to the program in the memory 16, and supplies a tone control signal to the tone generator 20. Sound source section 20
Various known devices that change the pitch, volume, and the like according to a musical tone control signal from the CPU 8 can be used.

Some routines of the program of the CPU 8 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. The routine of FIG. 1 is executed every time a predetermined time elapses, and it is assumed that the first coefficient group has already been read from the memory 16 by operating the foot switch 22.

First, after the initial setting is performed (step S
2), and 1 the value n of the software counter for scanning each string 2 ₁ to 2 ₆ (step S4). Next, an envelope signal having a subscript corresponding to the value n of the software counter is supplied to the A / D converter 14 via the multiplexer 12, converted into a digital envelope signal, and supplied to the CPU 8. That is, the envelope ENn of the _nth string is detected (step S6).

[0017] Then, in order to determine whether or not the string is plucked, envelope EN _n that the detection is greater or judges than the threshold value Th defined in advance (step S8). If the answer is YES, it is determined that the string is being played, and a digital pitch signal of the pitch detecting unit 6 _n having the index of the value n of the software counter is supplied to the CPU 8. That is, the pitch _Pn of the _nth string is detected (step S10).

Next, the tone generator 20 is controlled (step S).
12). In this step, first, each string 2 _{1 is} stored in the memory 16.
Or in correspondence with the 2 _6, n of the flag respectively
Determine if the second one is standing. If this flag is not set, the sound generation has not yet started, and the sound generation unit 20 is instructed to start sound generation. Also, it stores that the sound generation has started with the n-th flag set. Further, the detected pitch P _n , the corresponding coefficient β _1n, and the previously stored output α ′ of the foot volume 18 derive P _n
The calculation of (1 + α′β _1n ) is performed. The calculated value is transmitted to the sound source unit 2
Is supplied to the 0, further supplies the envelope EN _n to the tone generator unit 20. As a result, the sound source unit 20 sets the pitch P _n (1
+ In α'β _1n), and it starts the sound at the volume corresponding to the envelope EN _n. It is to be noted that it is already stored in the memory 16 that the sound is being generated, and the pitch P
_{If n} has changed, the current pitch P _n (1+
α′β _1n ) to the sound source unit 20.

[0019] In the control of the sound source, by the following manner, without first tuned exactly before playing each string 2 ₁ to 2 _6, tone generator exact pitch 2
0 can also be supplied. That is, before starting the play, is set to the tuning mode, in this mode, when no pressing a fret, each string 2 ₁ 2
Detect the pitch of ₆ . Assuming that these pitches are P ₁ ′ to P ₆ ′ and the original pitches are P ₁ ″ to P ₆ ″, the ratio P ₁ ″ / P ₁ ′ to P ₆ ″ / P
₆ ′ are stored in the memory 16 respectively. And
In the performance mode, the pitch _Pn of the struck string and the ratio _Pn ″ / P stored in the memory 16 corresponding to the pitch _Pn
n ′ and the resulting value is defined as a pitch P _n . Then, the calculation is performed as described above and supplied to the sound source unit 20. Since used in the sound source control at step S22 to be described later, the pitch of each string 2 ₁ to 2 ₆ is stored in the memory 16.

Further, in the case of the NO determination at step S8, that is, if the envelope EN _n is smaller than the threshold value Th, if not stand n-th flag in the memory 16, sound is not performed Therefore, if no processing is directly performed and the flag is set, the sound source unit 20
The control signal for attenuating the sound generation at step S1 is supplied to the tone generator 20, and the n-th flag in the memory 16 is cleared (step S14).

Then, in order to scan the next string, the value n of the software counter is incremented by one (step S1).
6), the value n is either a one greater 7 than the total number of strings 6, that is, determines whether scanning is finished for each string 2 ₁ to 2 ₆ (step S18). If the answer to this determination is NO, step S6 is performed to scan the remaining strings.
Return to

When the scanning of each of the strings 2 _{1 to} 2 ₆ is completed in this way, that is, when the answer to the determination in step S18 is YES, the output α of the foot volume 18 is read (step S20). Then, control of the sound source unit 20 is performed (step S22). The control of the sound source section 20 is performed as follows.

First, the output α of the foot volume 18 read in step S20 is equal to the foot volume 18 stored in the memory 16 when this routine was last performed.
Is determined to be equal to the output α ′. If they are equal, there is no change in the operation state of the foot volume 18, so that no new processing is performed, and this step S22 ends. Also,
If they are not equal, there is a change in the operation state, so that the pitch of the currently sounding string is changed based on the output α of the foot volume 18 at that time.

That is, for example, when the first string, the third string, and the fifth string are sounding and the pitches stored in the memory 16 are P ₁ , P ₃ , and P ₅ , the memory 16 The coefficients β ₁₁ , β ₁₃ , and β ₁₅ of the first, third, and fifth strings are read out. Then, as the pitch P ₀₁ of the first string, P ₁ (1 + α)
β ₁₁ ) is the pitch P ₀₃ of the third string, and P ₃ (1 + α)
β ₁₃ ) as the fifth string pitch P ₀₅ , P (1 + αβ ₁₅ )
Are calculated and supplied to the sound source unit 20. That is, since the values of the coefficients β ₁₁ , β ₁₃ and β ₁₅ are different values,
The pitches of the first string, the third string, and the fifth string change at different rates according to the operation of one foot volume 18. Thereafter, α is stored for use as α ′ when performing the next routine. Then, this routine ends.

If the memory 1 is
When the coefficient group that is read from 6 is a second group, in step _{S22, P 1 (1 + αβ} 21) as the pitch P ₀₁ of the first string respectively, P ₁ (1 + .alpha..beta the pitch P ₀₃ of the third string ₂₃ ) The pitch P _{05 of} the fifth string
P ₅ (1 + αβ ₂₅ ) is calculated and supplied to the sound source unit 20. However, since β ₂₁ , β ₂₃ , and β ₂₅ have the same value, the pitches of the first, third, and fifth strings change at the same rate.

If the coefficient group read from the memory 16 by the foot switch 22 is the third group, in step S22, P ₁ (1 + αβ ₃₁ ) is set as the first string pitch P ₀₁ and the third string is set as the third string. P ₃ (1 + αβ ₃₃ ) is the string pitch P ₀₃ and the fifth string pitch P
P ₅ (1 + αβ ₃₅ ) is calculated as ₀₅ and supplied to the sound source unit 20. If β ₃₃ is a coefficient β _h for changing a semitone and the other coefficient is a coefficient β _f for changing a whole tone, the pitch of the third string changes by P ₃ αβ _{h and}
Chord and the pitch of the fifth string is changed respectively by _{P 1 αβ f, P 5 αβ} f.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
In this embodiment, like the guitar synthesizer of Figure 2 as shown in FIG. 6, pitch designation means, for example, the pitch of the string is detected by the pitch detector 6 _{1-6 6,} the envelope detector 10 ₁ to 10 envelope of each string 2 ₁ to 2 ₆ can be detected at _6. These are supplied to the CPU 8a provided on the guitar body side. The CPU 8a, the output α and the guitar synthesizer as well as a foot volume 18 in FIG. 2, and a switch signal from the foot switch 22, the output from the pitch shifter 32 ₁ to 32 ₆ to be described later, the output from the tone generator 20a Is supplied from the mixing operation element 24.

Various signals supplied to the CPU 8a are
MIDI interface 2
The signal is supplied to the MIDI interface 30 provided on the sound source 28 side via the communication interface 6. For example each string 2 ₁ to 2 _6,
The pitch control information, for example, the key number determined from the pitch and the velocity determined from the envelope are assigned to the respective channels of the sound source section 20a, which will be described later, and are supplied to the CPU 8b with the respective channel identification codes. 18, the switch signal from the foot switch 22 and the mixing control signal from the mixing operator 24 are used as control changes in the CPU 8b.
Supplied to

The sound source 28 is provided with a first tone generating means, for example, a sound source section 20a, which generates and receives a MIDI standard signal.
Electrical signals from the pickup 4 ₁ to 4 ₆ are supplied, and outputs the change the pitch has a second tone generating means, for example, the pitch shifter 321 to 32 _6. These pitch shifter 32 ₁ to 32 _6,
For example, those disclosed in JP-A-60-159799 can be used.

The output of the output and the sound source section 20a of the pitch shifter 32 ₁ to 32 _6, the output means, for example, mixing section 3
4 is supplied. The mixing section 34 controls each pitch shifter 32 ₁ based on a mixing control signal from the mixing operator 24.
To mix 32 ₆ and output, the output of the tone generator 20a.
The mixing may output only the output of the pitch shifter 32 ₁ to 32 _6, even if the output only the output of the tone generator 20a, and comprise.

The CPU 8b receives the MIDI data supplied from the CPU 8a via the MIDI interfaces 26 and 28.
Based on the standard signal, for controlling the respective tone generator 20a pitch shifter 32 ₁ to 32 _6. Each coefficient group is stored in the memory 16b attached to the CPU 8b.

FIG. 4 shows a routine related to the present invention among the programs executed by the CPU 8a.
This routine is executed every time a predetermined time elapses, and is almost the same as the routine of FIG. 1, but the most different point is that the sound source control is performed in the routine of FIG. This is a point not performed in this embodiment. That is, similarly to the routine of FIG. 1, it is determined whether the envelope of the nth string is larger than the threshold Th (step S8),
If the answer is YES, it sends the note sound information including a key number which is determined by the pitch P _n, and velocity information indicating the volume determined from the envelope EN _n with the MIDI standard (step S10a). Step S8
If the answer is NO, note-off information for stopping sound generation is transmitted in accordance with the MIDI standard (step S14).
a).

When the scanning of each string is completed, that is,
When the answer to step S18 is YES, it is determined whether the operation state of each operator has changed, that is, whether the foot volume output α or the mixing control signal of the mixing operator 24 has changed (step S24). If this answer is NO, this routine ends without performing any new processing. If the answer to step S24 is YES, the output of each of the above-mentioned operators is transmitted as a change control, and this routine ends (step S2).
6).

FIG. 5 shows a routine related to the present invention in the program of the CPU 8b. This routine is executed each time a signal conforming to the MIDI standard is supplied from the CPU 8a, for example. First, it is determined whether the supplied signal is note-on information (step S28).
If the answer is YES, the following sound source control is performed (step S30).

First, the pitch _Pn is determined from the key note number in the note-on information. Next, the output .alpha. Of the foot volume stored in the memory 16b when this routine was first executed and each coefficient of the coefficient group used when this routine was first executed are stored in the memory 16b.
Read from b. Then, a calculation of P _n (1 + αβ _n ) is performed on the pitch P _n , the output α, and the coefficient β _n corresponding to the pitch P _n of the previously used coefficient group, and the calculated value is sent to the sound source unit 20a. Supply.

For controlling the pitch shifter 32 _n ,
The operation of αβ _n is performed, and the result is supplied to the pitch shifter 32 _n . Thus the output of the pitch shifter 32 _n pickup 4 are written at a predetermined speed in _n is read only changed speed .alpha..beta _n than the predetermined speed.

Further, the velocity information is supplied to the sound source section 20a to control the volume. Then, in order to store which string the channel corresponding to is operated, a flag corresponding to the operating channel is set among the flags provided in the memory 16b corresponding to each string. In step S30, the control of the mixing unit 34 is also performed.

If the answer to step S28 is NO, it is determined whether the supplied signal is note-off information (step S32). If this answer is YES, stop the sound generation on the channel corresponding to the string,
The corresponding flag is cleared (step S34).

If the answer to step S32 is NO, it is determined whether the supplied information is change control (step S36). If the answer is no,
Do nothing and end this routine.

If the answer to step S36 is YES, the following sound source control is performed (step S38).
For example, when the changed control change information is the output of the foot volume 18, the sounding channels correspond to the first string, the third string, and the fifth string, and the coefficient group 1 is selected. Assuming that the output of the foot volume 18 is α ′, the pitch supplied to the tone generator 20a this time is P, as in the guitar synthesizer of FIG.
₁ (1 + α′β ₁₁ ), P ₃ (1 + α′β ₁₃ ), P ₅ (1
+ Α′β ₁₅ ), and β ₁₁ , β ₁₃ , and β ₁₅ have different values. Therefore, the pitches of the first string, third string, and fifth string change at different rates by operating the foot volume 18. I do. The same control is performed when the selected coefficient is the second group or the third group.

If the changed control change information is a mixing control signal from the mixing operator 24, the mixing ratio in the mixing section 34 changes to one according to the mixing control signal. Then, this routine ends.

In the above-described embodiment, the foot volume 18 is used as an operation element. However, other than that, a voltage obtained by A / D conversion of a voltage of a volume such as a vender provided on a guitar body, or a rotary encoder can be used. . In addition,
In this case, when the operation is performed in both the positive and negative directions and the operation is performed in the negative direction, the operation amount is a negative value, and the pitch is lowered. Also,
In each of the above embodiments, the pitch is controlled to change the pitch, but other tone control information such as tone color and volume may be changed.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, the common pitch control information generated by operating an operator such as an expression pedal, for example, controls the synthesizer sound and the guitar sound generated during performance. The pitch can be controlled together to output the synthesizer sound and the guitar sound. That is, in addition to changing the pitch of the synthesizer sound by operating the operation element, the pitch of the guitar sound can be similarly changed. The sound and the guitar sound are in harmony, and extremely musical performance can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a guitar synthesizer on which the present invention is based.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the guitar synthesizer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing contents of a memory of the guitar synthesizer.

FIG. 4 is a partial flowchart of one embodiment of an electronic stringed musical instrument according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is another flowchart of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 _{1 to} 2 ₆ strings 4 _{1 to} 4 ₆ Pickup 6 _{1 to} 6 ₆ Pitch detection unit (pitch specifying means) 8a, 8b CPU (pitch control information generating means) 18 Foot volume (operator) 20a Sound source unit (No. 1 tone generator) 32 ₁ to 32 ₆ pitch shifter (second tone generating means) 34 mixing section (output means)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pitch designation means for designating a pitch corresponding to a performance operation for each string, an operator for generating an output corresponding to an operation amount, and an output generated from the operator. Pitch control information generating means for generating pitch control information, based on a pitch specified for each string by the pitch specifying means, and a pitch control information generated from the pitch control information generating means. First tone generating means for generating a tone corresponding to each of the strings, having a pitch determined as described above, and an input tone based on string vibration based on the pitch control information generated from the pitch control information generating means. A second tone generator for generating a tone corresponding to each of the strings by changing and controlling a pitch of a signal; a tone signal generated by the first tone generator; and a second tone generator. Output the tone signal generated in Electronic stringed instrument having an output means.