JP3299304B2 - Composer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a music composition apparatus and an external storage device used for music composition, and more particularly to a music composition provided in connection with an information processing apparatus and effective for easily composing music of a desired tone. The present invention relates to a device and an external storage device used for composition.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A music composition apparatus that operates using an information processing apparatus displays a staff notation for each instrument corresponding to a tone on a screen of a CRT display such as a television, and writes notes on each staff notation. Techniques for composing music are known.

[0009]

In a conventional music composer, a staff notation must be displayed for each musical instrument or part, and the staff occupies a large area of the display screen. There was a problem that the area was reduced. Further, in the conventional music composer, since it is necessary to specify notes for each part, the operation is complicated, and there is a problem that a user with little knowledge of music, such as a child, cannot easily compose music.

[0011] Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide:
An object of the present invention is to provide a composition device and an external storage device used for composition, which can compose music having a plurality of types of timbres using one staff. Another object of the present invention is
An object of the present invention is to provide a music composition device and an external storage device used for music composition, which are easy to operate and can be easily composed by a user having little knowledge of music such as a child.

[0012]

A music composer according to the present invention comprises:
The musical instrument includes a staff data generating unit, a tone character data generating unit, a tone color / tone specifying unit, a tone character display control unit, a storage unit, and a reading unit.

The information processing apparatus for composing music according to the present invention
The control method includes: a first step of generating staff data;
The second step of displaying the timbre character, the timbre character
To specify the desired pitch, and to generate the sound.
Third step to specify timing, specified sound
4th step of displaying color character, designated sound
The color character data and the data indicating the pitch are used as the sound generation
Fifth step to memorize in relation to mining, generate sound
And a sixth step.

[0014]

The staff data generating means included in the music composer of the present invention generates staff data for displaying the staff on the screen of the display means, and displays the staff notation on the screen of the display means. The timbre character data generation means generates data for displaying a timbre character designating a plurality of types of timbres, and displays the data on a screen of the display means. Tone-pitch designation means, a plurality of types displayed on the display unit by operating the input means of the tone characters specify one tone characters, on five lines <br/> staves by the operation of the input means By specifying the desired pitch by specifying the coordinates of the vertical axis , and by specifying the coordinates of the horizontal axis on the staff
The sound generation timing . The timbre character display control means outputs a designated pitch and sound on the staff.
The timbre character designated by the timbre / pitch designation means is displayed at the coordinate position corresponding to the raw timing . Storage means associated respectively with data indicating the tone color character data and pitch specified by the tone color, pitch designation means
The information is stored in relation to the timing at which the attached sound is generated . The reading means reads the timbre character data and the pitch data stored in the storage means based on the sound generation timing, and supplies the read sound data to the sound generating means to generate a sound of a predetermined length .

The display means, the input means, and the sound generator according to the present invention
Use the information processing device provided with the steps to play the desired music.
The control method of the information processing apparatus for composing a music piece includes a first step.
There are top to sixth steps. In the first step, the table
Staff data for displaying the staff on the screen of the display means.
Data. In the second step, on the screen of the display means
Display a tone character that specifies multiple types of tone
You. In the third step, the duplicate displayed on the display means is displayed.
Depending on the operation of the input means among several types of tone characters
One tone character is designated, and the input means is operated.
By specifying the coordinates of the vertical axis on the staff
And the horizontal axis coordinates on the staff notation
The sound generation timing. 4th
In the step, the staff notation displayed on the display means
Corresponding to the specified pitch and sound generation timing
Display the specified tone character at the coordinate position
You. In the fifth step, the specified tone character
Data and pitch data are related to the sound generation timing.
Memorize continuously. Sixth step, support multiple sounds
After specifying the tone and pitch to be played,
Tone character data stored in response to the output signal
Data and pitch data based on sound generation timing
The sound is given to the sound generating means to generate a sound.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, an information processing apparatus 10 such as a game machine includes a microprocessor (hereinafter, referred to as “main CPU”) 11 having arithmetic processing and control functions.
An image processing unit (hereinafter referred to as “PPU”) 13 and a sound CP are provided to the main CPU 11 via an A address bus 12a, a B address bus 12b, and a data bus 12d.
U14 and a working RAM (W-RAM) 15w are connected. An operating device 30 such as a controller or a mouse is connected to the main CPU 11. A address bus 12a
An edge connector 16 for detachably connecting a memory cartridge 20 described later is connected to the data bus 12d. A video RAM (V-RAM) 15 v for storing image information is connected to the PPU 13. P
The output terminal of the PU 13 is connected to the CRT 30. A sound DSP 17 is connected to the sound CPU 14, and a sound RAM 15s is connected to the sound DSP 17. The output terminal of the sound DSP 17 is connected to the speaker 50 via the D / A converter 18 and the amplifier 19.

On the other hand, the memory cartridge 20 includes a nonvolatile memory (ROM) 21 and a backup RAM 22. ROM21 and backup RAM22 is, A A
They are connected to the A address bus 12a and the data bus 12d via the dress bus 23a, the data bus 23d and the edge connector 16, respectively.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a storage area of the ROM 21. The ROM 21 has a main routine program storage area 211, a drawing subroutine program storage area 212, an animation subroutine program storage area 213, and a composition subroutine program storage area 2.
14. Stamp creation subroutine program storage area 2
15. Synthetic output subroutine program storage area 21
6, a save subroutine program storage area 217, a game subroutine program storage area 218, a character data storage area 219, a sound data storage area 21a, and another data storage area 21b.

In the main routine program storage area 211, programs for executing operations of a main routine shown in FIG. 4 described later, for example, a control program of the CRT 40, a control program of the operation device 30, and a sound C
A control program for the PU 14, a mode selection program, and the like are stored.

Drawing subroutine program storage area 21
2 stores, for example, a color designation program, a drawing program with a designated color, a drawing program with a stamp, and the like.

In the animation subroutine program storage area 213, a program for creating a plurality of pictures for sequentially displaying an animation with an arbitrary number of frames such as four frames that are changed little by little and an arbitrary path on the screen are provided. Stores a program for sequentially displaying pictures of each frame.

Composition subroutine program storage area 21
4 includes programs for realizing the operation of the composition subroutine shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, such as a staff notation display program, a tone color character display program, a tone color character designation program, a pitch designation program, a designated tone color character display program, and a sound generation program. Etc. are stored.

The stamp creation subroutine program storage area 215 stores, for example, a program for designating a color of a picture to be drawn on a stamp, a stamp drawing program, and a save program for storing the created stamp character data. .

The combined output subroutine program storage area 216 stores, for example, a program for displaying a picture created in the drawing mode, a program for overlapping an animation created in the animation mode on the drawn picture, and a picture and animation. Is displayed, and a program for playing or generating a song composed in the composition mode is stored.

Save subroutine program storage area 2
17 stores, for example, a program for storing pictures created in the drawing mode, a program for storing a plurality of pictures and moving directions created in the animation mode, and a program for storing songs created in the composition mode. .

Game subroutine program storage area 2
The game program 18 stores, for example, a game program for notifying an operation practice procedure of the operation device 30 and playing a game using the created character.

The character data storage area 219 stores, for example, graphic data of a staff notation, graphic data of a timbre character, and other graphic data to be written in the V-RAM 15v.

The tone data storage area 21a stores tone color data (or waveform data) corresponding to a tone color character, frequency data corresponding to a pitch in order to designate a pitch (tone), and other sound data. ing.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing data stored in the W-RAM 15w. As shown in FIG. 7 to be described later, the W-RAM 15w includes storage areas 151 to 151 for storing, for example, up to three types of tone character data for each dividing line 42 indicating the unit of the minimum length of the sound on the staff 41. 15n and another storage area 15p. Specifically, for example, three types of tone color character data storage area and pitch data storage area are stored in the first separation data area 151 to the n-th (= the number of separation lines drawn on the staff). Are included.

The backup RAM 22 is a W-RAM 1
5w and a read / write memory that stores data or the like temporarily stored in the V-RAM 15v as it is or as compressed data subjected to data compression processing, and is backed up by a battery (not shown) or the like.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation when the music composition device of the present invention is incorporated in a device capable of drawing and creating animation. Main CPU 11
Starts the following operation based on the program stored in the storage area 211 of the ROM 21. That is, in step (shown as “S” in the drawing) 1, the main CPU 11 displays the mode selection screen on the CRT based on the program data in the ROM 21 and in cooperation with the PPU 13.
It is displayed on 40. By viewing the mode selection screen, the user operates the operation device 30 to select any one of the creation mode, the save mode, the composite output mode, and other processing. Here, the creation mode
A drawing mode, a composition mode, an animation creation mode, and a stamp creation mode are included. The composite output mode is a mode in which a picture or animation is combined with a tune and output. The save mode is a mode in which image data such as a picture or animation created in the creation mode and music-related data such as composed timbre character and pitch data are transferred and stored in the backup RAM 22.

If it is determined in step 2 that the creation mode has been selected, the process proceeds to step 3. Step 3
In, the user selects one of a drawing mode, a composition mode, an animation creation mode, and a stamp creation mode. In subsequent step 4, when it is determined that the drawing mode is selected, the process proceeds to step 5. In step 5, the user operates the operating device 30 to select one of the colors and draws a picture (line drawing) based on the selected color.
A line drawing is created by combining stamps created in a stamp creation mode described later. The main CPU 11 executes a drawing process based on these operations and a program stored in the storage area 212.

If the composition mode is selected in step 3, it is determined in step 4 that the current mode is not the image formation mode. Then, in step 6, it is determined that the composition mode is selected, and the process proceeds to step 7. The composition mode in step 7 is realized by performing a subroutine process shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 described below.

On the other hand, if the animation mode is selected in step 3 described above, the process goes through steps 4 and 6, it is determined in step 8, and the process proceeds to step 9. In step 9, an animation creation process is executed based on the program stored in the storage area 213. Specifically, first, in accordance with the selection command of the number of frames, a drawing area corresponding to the selected number of blank frames is displayed. The user, after selecting the first of <br/> frame, drawing one screen of video to the frame, then draw a second frame video, sequentially moving a few minutes frames in the same manner Draw . The drawing data of each frame is W-RAM1
5w. At this time, the moving image of the preceding and succeeding frames is drawn so as to change little by little, so that if the images are sequentially displayed at regular intervals, the picture appears to be moving. further,
The user specifies the moving direction or moving path of the moving image on the screen while the large drawing screen is displayed in order to specify the moving direction or moving path when one frame of the moving image is synthesized on the large drawing screen. I do.

If the stamp creation mode is selected in step 3 described above, it is determined in step 8 that the mode is not the animation mode, and then the process proceeds to step 10. In step 10, a stamp creation process is performed based on the program stored in the storage area 215. Specifically, 16 × 16 grids are displayed, and the grids form the dots of the stamp character. In order to create a stamp of a desired character, a user sequentially designates a color in dot units, and draws a desired character by a set of color-designated dots. The color data for each dot of the stamp character is WR
It is written to AM15w. The stamp character created in this way is given a character code,
Thereafter, by specifying a coordinate position and a stamp character in the display state of the large drawing screen, the stamp character is used to display the stamp character at the specified coordinate position.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are detailed flowcharts of a subroutine for music composition processing. Next, the operation of the music composition process which is a feature of the present invention will be described. If it is determined in step 6 that the music composition mode is set,
The main CPU 11 executes the composition subroutine of FIG. 5 based on the composition subroutine program stored in the ROM 21. Specifically, in step 11, first, the staff data stored in the ROM 21 is stored in the V-RA
M 15v . When the PPU 13 generates a video signal for displaying the staff on the screen of the CRT 40 based on the staff data, the staff is displayed on the CRT 40 as shown in FIG. Subsequently, in step 12, a timbre character is displayed around the staff notation display area on the CRT 40. Here, the timbre characters are, for example, characters such as animals, cartoons, and plants, and different timbres are associated with each other. The timbre data corresponding to the timbre character is stored in the storage area 2 of the ROM 21.
1a is stored as waveform data corresponding to the timbre.

In the following step S13, the user operates the coordinate designating means such as the operating device 30 to display the icon (= instruction /
A desired tone color is selected by selecting the tone color character 43 which is displayed as a command (a figure in which the command is easily understood). The operation of selecting a timbre character will be described in more detail. After the cursor 44 (see the arrow in FIG. 7) displayed on the CRT 40 is moved according to the amount of movement of the mouse to specify a desired coordinate position, the selection is shown. This is done by pressing a switch (not shown). Step 1
At 4, the coordinate data specified by the operation device 30 and the data of the pressed switch are read. In step 15, it is determined whether or not the command specified by the icon method is a timbre character. If it is determined that the timbre is specified, the process proceeds to step 16. In step 16, the user operates the operating device 30 to specify a display position of the first delimiter displayed on the staff 41 and a coordinate position indicating a desired pitch, and a switch indicating the specification of the pitch. Press. In response to this, the coordinate data specified in step 17 is read, and the specified timbre character is displayed at a position on the staff notation corresponding to the pitch specified in step 18 (see FIG. 8). By this,
The timbre and pitch of one tone are specified and displayed on the screen, and the timbre character data and pitch data are written to the timbre character data storage area and the pitch data storage area of the storage area 151 corresponding to the division number 1.

Similarly, by repeating the operations of steps 13 to 18, when a chord needs to be generated for the division number 1, the timbres and intervals of the remaining two tones are designated, and the other division numbers 2 to n Also, a tone color and a pitch of up to three tones are designated for each section. However, for a single note, 1
One set of tone color and pitch is specified for each partition, and no tone color and pitch are specified for a partition that does not generate a sound (a partition corresponding to a rest). Note that the horizontal axis of the staff corresponds to the time axis, and the maximum number of divisions corresponds to the time during which sounds can be specified.

[0039] On the other hand, staff notation, which is displayed in the CRT40
4 1 After finished specifying the desired timbre and pitch on, if you want to view the trailing blank staff notation on CRT40, the user in step 13 to specify the scrolling symbols 45 by operating the operation unit 30. In response to this, it is determined in step 15 that the timbre is not designated, and in step 19
Proceed to. In step 19, image data for moving the staff in the designated direction, right or left, is generated and displayed on the CRT 40, whereby the staff is scrolled. And, again, the above-mentioned step 13
By executing the operations of Nos. To 18, the timbre and the pitch are written in the following blank staff.

In step 13, when the user operates the operation device 30 to select the tempo symbol 46, it is determined in step 15 that the tone color is not specified, and in step 19 it is determined that scrolling is not performed. At 21 it is determined that the tempo is designated, and the routine proceeds to step 22. In step 22,
In response to moving the tempo symbol left or right,
Read tempo data changed to a tempo corresponding to the movement amount. This tempo data is used for setting the reading speed of the W-RAM 15w in the music generation (or synthesis output) mode after the completion of composition.

Further, in step 13, the user operates the operation device 30 to operate the loop symbol (repeat symbol) 47.
Is selected, the tone is not specified in step 15, the scroll is not specified in step 19, and the tempo is not specified in step 21, and it is determined in step 23 that the loop symbol is selected. Proceed to. Step 2
At 4, the loop symbol stored in the storage area 219 is read out and displayed at the end of the staff 41 by the PPU 13. When the loop symbol is designated in this way, the music generation (or synthesis output) mode after the completion of the composition is repeatedly executed for the composed music.

On the other hand, if the user wants to try listening to the music after composition, he or she operates the operation device 30 to select the play symbol 48 in step 13. Step 1 accordingly
It is determined in step 25 that the play symbol has been selected through steps 5, 19, 21 and 23, and in step 26
Proceed to. In step 26, the main CPU 11
-Specify the address (head address) of the storage area corresponding to the first division number of the RAM 15w, and read out the tone color data and the pitch data of the first to third sounds at the address specified by the address. However, the tone color data and the pitch data corresponding to the same division number are read out at substantially the same timing. In step 27, the timbre data and the pitch data are
Given to U. The PPU displays the specified timbre character at the coordinate position corresponding to the specified pitch of each section on the staff 41 according to the music to be generated. At this time, if necessary, the action character 49 is displayed above the delimiter number generating the designated tone and pitch, so that the viewer can be notified of the sound or chord of the delimiter number currently generated. (See FIG. 8). Step 2
8, the timbre data and the pitch data are the sound C
The sound data is output to the PU 14 and the sound DSP 17 reads out waveform data corresponding to the timbre at a frequency based on the pitch data, so that data indicating the pitch of the designated timbre is output from the sound DSP 17. This data is D
The digital / analog conversion is performed by the A / A converter 18 to convert the pitch to a designated tone color.
The signal is amplified by the amplifier 19 and output from the speaker 50. In step 29, it is determined whether or not the apparatus waits for a time corresponding to the tempo. After waiting for a time corresponding to the tempo, the process proceeds to step 30. In step 30, the main CPU 11 advances the read address by one sound. In step 31, it is determined whether or not the address (final address) corresponding to the third tone of the partition number 15n of the W-RAM 15w has been reached. If it is determined that the address is not the final address, the process returns to step 27, and The operations of steps 27 to 31 are sequentially repeated.

By the above-described operation, the storage areas 151 to 1 of the W-RAM 15w are moved at a speed corresponding to the designated tempo.
5n are sequentially addressed, and timbre data and pitch data of one to three tones corresponding to each division number are sequentially read.
When it is determined in step 31 that the address corresponding to the last partition number has been specified at the timing when the address of the partition number 15n is specified, the process proceeds to step 32. If it is determined in step 32 that a repetition symbol is present, the operations in steps 26 to 31 are repeated, so that the composed music is repeatedly generated. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no repetition symbol, the operation of the composition subroutine ends, and the process returns to the main routine of FIG.

Incidentally, the animation drawn in step 9 (and / or the picture drawn in step 5)
If it is desired to synthesize the music composed in step 7 and output the synthesized music from the CRT 40, the synthesis output mode is selected in step 1 described above. Accordingly, it is determined in step 2 that the mode is not the creation mode, and in step 33 it is determined that the mode is the composite output mode.
Proceed to. In step 34, a composite output process of the picture and / or the animation and the music is performed. Specifically, the generation of music is described in steps 26 to 32 described above.
The same operation as that described above is performed. In addition, the animation created in step 9 is superimposed on the picture created in step 5 and moving images of a plurality of frames are sequentially displayed, so that the user composes the music. It is possible to realize animated moving or moving expression in accordance with music.

When ending the drawing and / or composition process, the user selects the save mode in step 1. In response to this, through steps 2 and 33, it is determined in step 35 that the save mode has been selected, and the process proceeds to step 36. In step 36, after the main CPU 11 performs data compression processing on the respective data relating to the drawn picture or animation and the composed music temporarily stored in the W-RAM 15w based on the program stored in the storage area 217. Then, the compressed data is transferred to the backup RAM 22 included in the cartridge 20 and stored therein. As a result, even after the power switch (not shown) of the information processing apparatus 10 is turned off or the cartridge 20 is removed, data such as drawing and composition is stored in the backup RAM 22 in a state of being stored and held. The song and animation data are compressed and stored in the backup RAM 22 . If it is determined in step S35 that the game is not in the save mode, another game process is performed in step S37, and the process ends.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to compose music having a plurality of kinds of timbres by using one staff notation, so that the operation is simplified and a user having little knowledge of music, such as a child. Can compose easily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a composition device and an external storage device used for composition according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a storage area of a ROM 21.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing schematically the serial憶領area of the W-RAM15w.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the composition subroutine program of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a continuation of the flowchart for explaining the operation of the composition subroutine program of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an illustrative view of a music composition screen for explaining the operation;

FIG. 8 is an illustrative view showing a case where a timbre character is displayed on the staff notation of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Information processing device 11: Main CPU 13: PPU (image processing unit) 14: Sound CPU 15W, 15v, 15s: RAM 20: Memory cartridge 21: ROM 22: Backup RAM 30: Controller 40: CRT

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A music composer provided in connection with display means, input means and sound generation means for composing desired music, wherein the staff notation displays a staff notation on a screen of the display means. Staff data generating means for generating data, timbre character data generating means for displaying timbre characters designating a plurality of types of timbres on a screen of the display means, generated by the timbre character data generating means and provided on the display means. One tone character is designated by the operation of the input means from among the plurality of types of displayed tone characters, and is displayed on the staff notation by the operation of the input means.
Specify desired pitch by specifying coordinates of vertical axis
And specify the horizontal axis coordinates on the staff
Tone / pitch designation means for designating a sound generation timing , at a coordinate position corresponding to the specified pitch and sound generation timing on a staff notation displayed on the display means,
Tone character display control means for displaying a tone character designated by the tone / pitch designation means, tone tone data data designated by the tone / pitch designation means and data indicating a pitch to a sound generation timing
After specifying a timbre and a pitch corresponding to a plurality of sounds by the storage means for storing in association with the timbre / pitch specifying means, the timbre and the pitch are stored in the storage means in response to an output signal based on the operation of the input means. The sound generation timing in which the associated timbre character data and pitch data
Comprising reading means for generating a sound given to the sound generating means reads, based on the ring, to the sound generator, and tone given character data
A music composition device that generates a sound of a predetermined length based on pitch data . 2. The staff notation data generating means, wherein:
Display multiple separators to separate the horizontal axis of a specified interval
To generate music notation data, and the generation timing of the sound corresponds to the delimiter.
The music composition device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
Including a tempo setting means for setting The reading means is set by the tempo setting means.
The sound stored in the storage means based on the tempo
Read the color character data and pitch data to generate the sound
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sound is given to the means.
The composer described. 4. An animation on the screen of said display means.
Animation display means for displaying
See The animation display means displays an animation.
The reading means emits a sound to the sound generating means.
The music composition device according to claim 1, wherein the music composition is generated. (5) Display means, input means, and sound generation means
To compose the desired music using the information processing device
Control method of an information processing device for (1) A staff notation is displayed on the screen of the display means.
Generate the staff data (2) Specifying multiple types of tones on the screen of the display means
To be displayed, (3) Plural types of tones displayed on the display unit
One sound of the character by the operation of the input means
A color character is specified, and the input
By specifying the coordinates of the vertical axis on the staff, the desired sound
And specify the horizontal axis coordinates on the staff notation.
To specify the sound generation timing, (4) Fingers on the staff notation displayed on the display means
Coordinates corresponding to specified pitch and sound generation timing
At the position, the specified tone character is displayed, (5) The specified timbre character data and the specified sound
Data indicating the process is stored in relation to the sound generation timing
And (6) After specifying the tone and pitch corresponding to multiple sounds
In response to an output signal based on the operation of the input means,
The stored timbre character data and the pitch data
Data based on the sound generation timing to generate the sound
A method of controlling an information processing device that gives sound to a means
Law. 6. The timing of said sound generation is based on the staff notation.
Corresponds to separators for separating the horizontal axis at predetermined intervals
6. The method for controlling an information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
Law.