JP3185740B2 - Karaoke system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a karaoke system capable of easily updating performance data of a karaoke apparatus mounted on a moving body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A karaoke apparatus having a function of reproducing a specified performance music and mixing and outputting sounds input from a microphone is not limited to a restaurant such as a snack, but also includes a karaoke box, a bus, and a private karaoke box. It is also widely used in vehicles such as cars. A typical karaoke apparatus has a storage system that stores performance information and image information, a sound system that reproduces a performance song and mixes the singer's voice with the music, and a video that displays a background image and a lyrics image in accordance with the performance song. There are many tone reproduction types that include both a system and a control system that controls these systems. On the other hand, recently, a musical sound synthesis type karaoke apparatus has been introduced which takes in required music data from a host station via a communication line. This music synthesis type karaoke apparatus has a built-in sound source for generating a music sound based on music data.

A karaoke apparatus of the tone reproduction type cannot respond to a request other than the musical piece stored in the storage system.
In the extreme case, even if there is no song data on the karaoke apparatus side, it is possible to supply song data according to the singer's request from many song data stored in the host station. It will be possible to respond to all requests from singers. The complete tone synthesis type karaoke apparatus has such a configuration, but in order to reduce the communication fee and communication time for accessing the host station each time a request is made, a storage device is provided on the karaoke apparatus side, and the storage apparatus is loaded from the host station here. There is also a semi-tone synthesis type in which music data is stored and reused.

[0004] When the karaoke apparatus is classified according to its installation location, a fixed type installed in a restaurant or a karaoke box,
It can be divided into a mobile type mounted on a moving body. Since the mobile karaoke apparatus is limited in space compared to the fixed karaoke apparatus, it is difficult to construct a system in which a large amount of performance information is stored in a storage device (for example, an LD). However, the user of the karaoke apparatus wants to sing a desired song everywhere, and feels dissatisfied when there is no requested song.

[0005]

In the case of a music synthesis type karaoke apparatus, necessary performance data can be downloaded from a host station through a communication line. The establishment of a communication line connecting with the body and the associated cost problem make online download difficult to achieve. In addition, even in the music reproduction type karaoke apparatus, addition or change of an LD or the like is not frequently performed, so that it is difficult to configure a karaoke system in a mobile body that can efficiently respond to customer requests. Also, even in the case of the fixed type, downloading from the host station may have a high communication cost. The present invention improves such points and is mounted on a moving body or a restaurant,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a karaoke system in which performance information of a karaoke device installed in a karaoke box or the like can be easily added or updated according to the needs of the user.

[0006]

A first karaoke system according to the present invention comprises a host station for supplying music data necessary for karaoke performance, and a sub-host for fetching all necessary music data from the host station through a communication line. a station, and the sub-host station portable download machine for multiple music content stored music data captured by a built-in storage peripherals for music data storage, karaoke reads music data stored in the storage device A plurality of music synthesis type karaoke devices to be played , wherein the karaoke device
Download the data online or
Download music data offline from portable downloaders
And is stored in the storage device .

[0008] A second karaoke system according to the present invention has a built-in storage device for storing song data, reads out the song data stored in the storage device in response to a request, and performs a karaoke performance. A host station for supplying song data required for karaoke performance, a sub-host station for taking in all necessary song data from this host station via a communication line, and a portable downloader for storing the song data taken in by this sub-host station The karaoke apparatus downloads music data from the host station online and stores it in the storage device, and downloads music data offline from the portable downloader and stores it in the storage device. Characterized in that:

[0008] A case is assumed where a plurality of moving bodies move on the basis of a common office, such as a sightseeing bus. A sub-host station is set up at the head office or each sales office of the bus company for the karaoke host station, and the music data taken in by the sub-host station is stored in
It can be stored on one or more portable downloaders. What is necessary is just to carry one download machine and download necessary music data to the mobile karaoke apparatus. Such a system configuration does not require communication equipment on a plurality of mobile sides, so that initial costs and running costs are reduced. In addition, passengers who use sightseeing buses are often distinguished as foreign passengers, seniors, and youths.Therefore, by matching the characteristics of customers and accessing subhosts according to customer requests, If the performance data is stored for each application, the download is completed in a shorter time than downloading all the performance data, and the storage device on the karaoke apparatus side does not need to have a large capacity. The download from the download machine can be performed each time the bus returns to the sales office, so that the performance data can be always updated to the latest and application-specific.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of the overall karaoke system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, an existing music reproduction type karaoke apparatus 10 includes an LD changer system 11, a monitor (TV) 12, a mixing amplifier 13, a microphone 14, and a speaker 15. The karaoke control device 20 of the present embodiment is of a type capable of synthesizing a tone with a built-in sound source unit.
A karaoke device of the music synthesis type is constructed by combining the above.

The karaoke control device 20 is called an integrated system commander, which is called a music reproduction karaoke device 1.
By partially linking to 0, the entire system including tone synthesis / tone reproduction can be integrated and controlled. Reference numeral 30 denotes a host station that supplies requested music data to the karaoke control device 20 through a communication line 40 (for example, a high-speed ISDN line). Reference numeral 50 denotes a remote controller (remote controller) for giving an instruction such as a designation of a music piece to the system.

The musical sound reproducing type karaoke apparatus 10 is a self-contained type system. In an LD changer system 11, a plurality of LDs (storage media) storing a large number of audio signals of musical performances, their background images and lyrics images are stored. The LD outputs an audio output AUDIO of a designated music piece to the mixing amplifier 13 and a video output VIDEO to the monitor 12. The mixing amplifier 13 mixes the singing voice of the singer input from the microphone 14 with the music to be played and outputs the mixed signal, and the speaker 15 outputs this mixing signal in a loud voice. At this time, on the monitor 12, image information stored corresponding to the music,
That is, the singer's singing is guided by displaying the background image and the lyrics image.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the karaoke control device 20 in detail. The karaoke control device 20 is roughly divided into a commander unit 21 for tone synthesis / tone reproduction, a file system unit 22 for tone synthesis, and a performance / display unit 23 having various functions.

The commander unit 21 includes a remote control receiver 21A for receiving a command signal from the remote controller 50 and a key for receiving a command signal from a key input unit (24 in FIG. 1) provided on the front panel of the karaoke control device 20. The input interface 21B, the music selection / reservation controller 21C for controlling the performance of the music according to the input from the remote control receiver 21A or the key input interface 21B, the display 21D for displaying the music selection / reservation contents, and the display 21D are driven. Display driver 21E, an AV input / output selector 21F for selecting input and output of audio (A) and visual (V), respectively, and a control output interface 21G for controlling the LD changer 11A in the LD changer system 11. .

The file system unit 22 has a
A file controller 22A which receives a performance instruction of the selected music from the reservation controller 21C, and an ISDN line 4
An ISDN controller 22B (communication control device) that communicates with the host station 30 via the ISDN 0 and a storage device 22C that stores music data taken in through the ISDN line 40. When receiving the music selection / reservation instruction from the music selection / reservation controller 21C, the file controller 22A first searches whether or not the music data of the corresponding music is stored in the storage device 22C. If the music data is stored, the corresponding music data is read from the storage device 22C. If the music data is not stored, the ISDN controller 22 is read.
B is controlled to have the host station transfer the corresponding music data. As the storage device 22C, for example, a 100 MB HDD (hard disk) capable of storing song data of 1000 songs, with 10 KB per song (B is byte).
Use

The performance / display unit 23 includes a data buffer 23A for temporarily storing music data from the file controller 22A, and a multimedia sequencer for controlling various events such as musical sounds, images, effects and the like according to event information contained in the music data. (MMS) 23B, a sound source processor 23C for forming musical tones of the musical piece under the control of the sequencer 23B, a video processor 23D for generating background images and lyrics images corresponding to the musical piece, and a video processor 23D. Video output to LD changer 11
A video superimposer 23E that overlaps an image (for example, a background image of a moving image) read from the background image LD (BGV-LD) of A.

The AV input / output selector 21 of the commander unit 21
Regarding the audio, F selects either the audio output from the LD changer 11A or the tone synthesized by the sound source processor 23C, and sets it as the audio output to the mixing amplifier 13. For images, LD
An image from the changer 11A and an image from the video superimposer 23E are selected and output as a video to the monitor 12. If the AV input / output selector 21F and the LD changer 11A are not connected, the karaoke control device 20 is systematically independent of the tone reproduction karaoke device 10. An AV input / output selector 21F and a control output interface 21G place the two in a coupled relationship.

In the general karaoke system having the connection relationship as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the commander unit 21 which has received a music selection instruction from the remote controller 50 or the like first sets the corresponding music to L.
It is checked whether or not it is stored in the D changer 11A. In other words, the first priority is given to the music reproduction type karaoke apparatus 10, and its source (audio and video) is used effectively. Here, if there is information of a song corresponding to the LD changer 11A, a karaoke performance is performed using the audio and video outputs.

On the other hand, when there is no corresponding music data in the LD changer 11A, the file controller 2
The music number is transferred to 2A, and the music data on the music synthesis side is used. Also in this case, instead of immediately accessing the host station 30, it is first checked whether or not the music data of the corresponding music is stored in the storage device 22C. Here, when data of the corresponding music piece is stored in the storage device 22C, it is read and used. That is, the storage device 22
The second priority is given to the reading of the music data from C. If there is no music data of the corresponding music in the storage device 22C, the music data of the corresponding music is transferred from the host station 30 through the ISDN line. That is, the fetching of the music data from the host station is set as the third priority. In the complete tone synthesis type without the storage device 22C, taking in data from the host station is the second priority.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram for explaining the functions of the general karaoke system according to the present invention in more detail. The parts not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described as follows. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 61 controls and manages the operation of the entire karaoke system under the program ROM 23B. 62 is a CPU 61
Is a random access memory (RAM) used when controlling and managing the operation of the karaoke system. 63 is a bus (data, address) for connecting the entire system. 64 is MIDI outside
(Musical Instrument Digital Interface) This is an interface for connecting the musical instrument 42. 65 is LD
It is a changer controller for controlling the changer 11, and has a configuration that can be replaced so as to be compatible with a plurality of models.

Reference numeral 66 denotes a multimedia sequencer 23B
Is an ADPCM processor that performs bit conversion and frequency conversion on the ADPCM data output from the A / D converter and expands the data. 6
Reference numeral 7 denotes a pitch shifter that controls the pitch of the output of the ADPCM processor 66 in accordance with the pitch information. Reference numeral 68 denotes an effector mixer which receives the output of the pitch shifter 67 and the output of the tone generator processor 23C as inputs. 69 is microphone 1
4 is a microphone effector that adds an acoustic effect such as an echo or an exciter to the output of the microphone 4. 70 is a microphone effector 69
This is an audio DSP (sound field generator) for giving a sound field effect to the output of the LD changer 11 and the audio output of the LD changer 11.

Reference numeral 71 denotes an ISDN for the storage device 22C.
This portable downloader is used to load a large amount of music data without using the line 40. For example, at the initial stage when the tone synthesis system of this system is installed, the installer can bring it in and load it. Accordingly, the installer does not need to communicate with the host station 30 through the ISDN line 40 for a long time. Other uses of the download machine 71 are conceivable.

The tone generator processor 23C is a so-called music synthesizer that is driven by music data and synthesizes a musical tone signal of a musical piece to be played, and includes, for example, a tone generator section that synthesizes a musical tone based on a MIDI signal and a control section that controls the tone generator section. ing. The video processor 23D processes character information such as lyrics corresponding to the musical piece and background image information such as a still image and a moving image to generate an image signal for display. Here, an example is shown in which a video processor 23D1 for a lyrics image and a video processor 23D2 for a background image are used. The LD changer 11 functions when playing a karaoke tune recorded on an optical disc or when reproducing only video information. When used as a tone synthesis system, the LD changer 11 synchronizes with the accompaniment performance synthesized by the sound source 23C. It reproduces video information such as a still image of a predetermined frame on a predetermined disk or a moving image starting from the predetermined frame. The video selector 23E combines these three types of images into one screen and outputs the combined image.

The operation will be described below. "Tone reproduction / tone synthesis control" When a musical piece is designated by operating the remote controller 24 or the front panel 50, C
The PU 61 refers to the index table stored in the storage means 22C, first checks as to whether there is data of a song corresponding to the LD in the LD changer 11 as the first rank, and if there is, reproduces that part. The video signal from the LD is input to the video selector 23E and displayed on the monitor 12, and the audio signal is input to the audio DSP 70 and output from the speaker 15. The singing voice of the singer is converted into an electric signal by the microphone 14 and input to the audio DSP 70 through the microphone effector 69. Since the mixer 13 mixes the performance music and the singing voice, the speaker 15 produces a mixed sound output.

When the designated music piece is not in the LD changer 11, the CPU 61 searches for a music piece held in the HDD 22C as the second rank. If there is a corresponding tune in the HDD device 22C, the tune data of the tune is read out, and
Loaded into the AM62 and the sound source 23C
The music is synthesized and the karaoke performance is performed. Such performance of the sound source karaoke is performed under the control of the sequencer 23B. With respect to the performance music, the tone generator 23C sequentially generates musical tone information according to the music data read from the RAM 62, and reproduces the music information from the speaker 15 via the mixer effector 68, the audio DSP 70, and the mixer 13.

With respect to the images, similarly, based on the music data read from the RAM 62, the video processors 23D1 and 23D2 generate lyric images and background images in accordance with the progress of the music, in accordance with the instructions of the sequencer 23B.
The image is displayed on the monitor 12 via the video selector 23C. When the background image from the LD changer 11 is also used, these three images are combined and displayed by the video selector 23E. The lyric image displayed on the monitor 12 is instructed so that the singer can easily grasp the place to be sung, for example, by changing the color of the displayed lyric to a character of another color in accordance with the progress of the singing. You. Therefore, the singer is monitor 1
It is sufficient to sing with the microphone 14 while looking at the lyrics image displayed in 2.

If the corresponding music data is not stored in the HDD device 22C, the CPU 61 controls to take in the data of the corresponding music online from the host station 30 as the third rank. That is, the host station 30 is called using the ISDN line 40, and when a response is made, the music number is transmitted, and the corresponding music data is transferred. Since the music data may be reused, the music data is stored in the HDD device 22C.

"Transfer data format from host station" The format of the karaoke song data used in the sound source karaoke apparatus usually starts with a song header as shown in FIG. 4, and contains lyrics having time information and event information. Each track, such as a display track, a sound source performance track, and a digital audio track, is stored in order to constitute data for one music piece.

"Portable download machine" When downloading, for example, 1000 pieces of music data to the HDD 22C of the karaoke system of FIG.
Using 0 increases the line fee. The portal (carriable) download machine 71 is for realizing such a large amount of data downloading offline and inexpensively. FIG.
1 to a karaoke device installation store where downloading of song data is required, and the storage device 22C (hard disk H
DD or mini disc MD). The download machine 71 that has completed loading is
Transport it to the next store and use it for downloading. The download device 71 can be used not only for loading new data, but also for updating all data at regular intervals.

"Data Update to Mobile" The portable downloader 71 described above is more effective when used for downloading to a mobile that is difficult to connect to the ISDN as described above. FIG. 6 shows the sound source karaoke device 4
02, and the types of passengers (foreign, senior, female,
Music data to be used in accordance with a male customer or the like is stored in a portable downloader 403 called a karaoke loader (71 in FIG. 3).
) Is downloaded to the storage device of the karaoke apparatus 402. The download device 403 loads necessary music data from the file server 404 periodically or as needed. This file server 404 receives an I
All necessary music data is supplied via the SDN line 40. In this way, the system of the present invention can be introduced to a mobile unit having a difficult line connection or a low communication speed. FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of FIG. 6, in which the file server 404 is shown as a sub-host of the bus company.

As shown in the above-described example, in the case where a plurality of mobile units 401 move on the basis of a common business office such as a sightseeing bus, the karaoke host station 30 is sent to the head office of the bus company or each business office. A sub-host station 404 is provided, and performance data captured by the sub-host station 404 can be stored in one or more portable downloaders 403. Then, the karaoke apparatus 402 of the mobile unit 401 may carry a downloader to download necessary performance data.

Such a system configuration does not require communication equipment on a plurality of mobile units, so that initial costs and running costs are reduced. In addition, passengers using a sightseeing bus are often distinguished for foreign tours, ski tours, and tours for seniors, so performance data for each application is divided and stored in advance in a plurality of download machines. With this arrangement, the downloading is completed in a shorter time than downloading all the performance data, and the storage device of the karaoke apparatus does not need to have a large capacity. The download from the download machine can be performed each time the bus returns to the sales office, so that the performance data can be always updated to the latest and application-specific.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a karaoke system capable of easily updating performance information of a karaoke apparatus mounted on a moving body or installed indoors.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a general karaoke system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a karaoke control device.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing the system of FIG. 1 in detail.

FIG. 4 is a data structure diagram showing a format example of music data.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a portable downloader of a music synthesis type.

FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of downloading to a mobile body equipped with a karaoke device.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram functionally showing FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Karaoke apparatus of tone reproduction type, 11 ... LD changer system, 12 ... Monitor, 13 ... Mixing amplifier, 1
4 microphone, 15 speaker, 20 karaoke control device, 21 commander unit, 21A remote control receiver, 2
1B: Key input interface, 21C: Music selection / reservation controller, 21D: Display, 21E: Display driver, 21F: AV input / output selector, 21G: Control output interface, 22: File system unit, 22A: File controller, 22B ... ISD
N controller, 22C storage device, 23 performance / display unit, 23A data buffer, 23B multimedia sequencer (MMS), 23C sound source processor, 23D video processor, 23E video superimposer, 25 microcomputer board , 30 ... host station, 40 ... communication line, 50 ... remote control, 61 ... CPU,
62 ... RAM, 63 ... ISDN interface, 64
... MIDI interface, 65 ... changer control, 66 ... ADPCM processor, 67 ... pitch shifter, 68 ... effector mixer, 69 ... microphone effector, 70 ... sound field generator, 71 ... portable download machine, 401 ... mobile object, 402 ... sound synthesis Karaoke device, 403: portable downloader, 404: sub-host station.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI H04M 11/08 H04M 11/08 (56) References JP-A-6-301392 (JP, A) JP-A-61-92054 (JP) JP-A-3-125249 (JP, A) JP-A-3-236657 (JP, A) JP-A-4-67381 (JP, A) JP-A-6-268774 (JP, A) 2-216690 (JP, A) JP 6-36331 (JP, B2) Patent 2930967 (JP, B2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G10K 15/00-15/12 B60R 11/02 G10H 1/00-7/12

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A host station for supplying music data necessary for karaoke performance, a sub-host station for taking in all necessary music data from the host station through a communication line, and a plurality of music data taken in by the sub-host station. and portable downloading machine which divides storage, a built-in storage peripherals for music data storage, and a tone synthesis type of a plurality of karaoke apparatus which karaoke performance reads music data stored in the storage device, wherein The karaoke device turns on the music data from the host station.
Download on line or download the portable
Download song data offline from the loading machine
A karaoke system stored in the storage device . 2. A music synthesis type karaoke apparatus which incorporates a storage device for storing music data, reads out the music data stored in the storage device in response to a request, and performs karaoke, and supplies music data required for karaoke performance. A karaoke apparatus, comprising: a host station that performs the following: a sub-host station that captures all necessary music data from the host station through a communication line; and a portable downloader that stores the music data that is captured by the sub-host station. A karaoke system wherein music data is downloaded online from the host station and stored in the storage device, and music data is downloaded offline from the portable downloader and stored in the storage device. system.