JP3587796B2 - Karaoke device characterized by cyclic key control - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus having a key control function, and more particularly, to a karaoke apparatus in which the setting of a performance key of karaoke accompaniment music can be changed stepwise by an up / down operation on a remote controller or a main unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As is well known, a general karaoke apparatus has a key control function and can variably set a performance key (pitch) of karaoke accompaniment music within a certain range. The performance key is set to a standard state (default) for each song, but can be changed stepwise by semitones by the user performing an up / down operation using a remote controller or an operation unit of the main unit. In order to allow the user to easily perform this change operation in a manner that is easy for the user to understand, in this type of karaoke apparatus, the above-described up / down operation is performed by using two operation keys of up (UP) and down (DOWN) in each direction. A user interface is provided for indicating and displaying the state of the set performance key in a visual correspondence. Specifically, a number (for example, 11) of LEDs corresponding to the number of semitone steps from the upper limit to the lower limit of the performance key are vertically arranged, and the LED located at the center of the arrangement is a standard LED for each music. Correspond to the key setting status (default). In general, an LED at a position corresponding to the height of the performance key set by the up / down key is selectively turned on.
[0003]
In the device described above, the down key is operated to lower the performance key. The performance key is lowered by one semitone by operating the down key, and accordingly, the LED at the position corresponding to the lowered performance key is lit. When the performance key reaches the lower limit and reaches the position where the LED at the lowermost position is lit, there is a dead end from which the lower portion is not lowered even if the down key is operated. Conversely, to raise the performance key, operate the up key. In this case, the performance key is raised by a semitone by operating the up key, and the LED at the position corresponding to the raised performance key is lit. Then, when the performance key reaches the upper limit and reaches the position where the LED at the uppermost position is turned on, there is a dead end where the upper key is not operated even if the up key is operated. Therefore, the user can set the desired state by moving the performance key up and down within a predetermined range by operating both the up and down keys selectively, and indicating the set state by an LED. Can be confirmed by
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described apparatus, for example, it is assumed that a male user tries to sing a musical piece with a female performance key as a standard and notices that the key does not match, and performs an operation of lowering the key. This key lowering operation is performed using the above-mentioned down key. However, if the key does not match even if the performance key is lowered to the lower limit, the user sings without help. But sometimes I stop without singing.
[0005]
In fact, when a man sings a song for a woman, it is convenient to raise the playing key several times, and the key can be met one octave below. However, there are not a few male customers who start the operation of lowering from the prejudice that the key of the woman is high, and as described above, they are stuck. A knowledgeable user can reach the target key by re-operating in the reverse direction, that is, in the upward direction, but once the key has been lowered to the lower limit, it must be returned to the standard position and further up from there The operation of bringing the user to the position is complicated and inefficient.
[0006]
In order to improve the complexity of the above-described operation, there is a case where a variable range of performance keys, that is, a variable number of semitone steps up to an upper limit or a lower limit is provided more than necessary. For example, the upper limit is extended to “+7” and the lower limit is extended to “−7” for the standard “0”. In this way, even if the performance key should be raised and lowered, the user of the standard range may be able to manage by the extended lower or upper limit. However, also in this case, the upper limit and the lower limit still exist, and the complexity and inefficiency in performing key matching by re-raising the key once lowered to the lower limit are not improved at all, but rather. The worsening of the lower and upper limits will make it worse.
[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and has as its object to stall operations even when a user wants to raise the performance key and lowers the performance key or vice versa. It is another object of the present invention to provide a karaoke apparatus that can easily and efficiently reach an appropriate performance key state.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The karaoke apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by cyclic key control, and is specified by the following items (1) to (8).
(1) A karaoke apparatus including a performance means, an operation input means, a display means, and a control means. (2) The performance means can change performance keys in semitone steps when playing karaoke accompaniment music. (3) The operation input means is capable of inputting a key-up signal and a key-down signal. (4) The display means includes a circle-shaped arrangement of one main element and 11 elements. (5) The control means enables key change amount display processing, key change amount calculation processing, and key control processing. (6) Key change amount display processing
a. In the initial state, the main element has a specific display mode different from the others b. When the key-up signal is input, the specific display mode is shifted clockwise to the next element c. When the key-down signal is input, the specific display mode is shifted to the next element in the counterclockwise direction.
d. When the main element is in the specific display mode, the key change amount is set to zero. E. If one of the N-th elements (N = 1 to 5) clockwise from the main element is in the specific display mode, the key change amount is set to + N. F. When one of the N-th elements (where N = 1 to 5) counterclockwise from the main element is in the specific display mode, the key change amount is set to −N. G. When the specific display mode has shifted from the fifth element to the sixth element clockwise from the main element, the key change amount is set to +6. H. When the specific display mode shifts from the fifth element to the sixth element counterclockwise from the main element, the key change amount is set to −6. (8) The key control processing is performed when the music is played.
i. If the key change amount is zero, the music is played with the standard performance key of the music. J. If the key change amount M is in the range of +1 to 6, perform the performance with a key that is M semitones higher than the standard performance key k. If the key change amount M is in the range of -1 to 6, the user is caused to play with a key lower by M semitones than the standard performance key.
By performing the operation of changing the performance key by using the up key and the down key in each direction, the configuration of the operation unit can be simplified, and the user can perform a simple and easy-to-understand change operation. The variable range of the performance key may be 13 steps in semitone steps, and if there are display elements of the number corresponding to the number of steps, the setting state of the performance key can be indicated and displayed. If the height of the performance keys is made to correspond to the lighting positions of the LEDs arranged in a straight line or in a circle, the height of the performance keys can be visually displayed so as to be intuitively and easily recognized. When the display elements are arranged in a circle, the user can also intuitively recognize the state of the above-described circulating setting in an intuitive manner.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a main part of a karaoke apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the karaoke apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of a portion for indicating and displaying the setting state of the performance key.
[0011]
=== Karaoke apparatus configuration ===
As shown in FIG. 2, the main body of the karaoke apparatus includes a main control unit 1 including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and a karaoke execution unit 2 that operates under the control of the main control unit 1. The main control unit 1 includes a communication I / F (interface) 11, a remote control I / F 12 for receiving a wireless operation signal by infrared rays or the like, a main body operation unit 13, a main body display unit 14, and the like. A request from a user is taken into the main control unit 1 via the remote control I / F 12, and the main control unit 1 controls the operation and the state of the karaoke execution unit 2 based on the request and the like.
[0012]
The karaoke execution unit 2 has a karaoke database 21, an audio processing unit 22, a video processing unit 23, and the like. The karaoke database 21 is configured using a large-capacity storage device such as a CD-ROM or an HDD, and stores tens of thousands of karaoke music data in a searchable state by ID and genre. Stores effect video data and the like that is displayed separately or according to the music content.
[0013]
The audio processing unit 22 includes a performance processing unit (synthesizer) 31, a mixing processing unit 32, and the like. The performance processing unit 31 has variable performance key settings, and performs music processing such as MIDI read from the karaoke database 21 with predetermined performance keys to generate karaoke accompaniment music. The reading of the music data from the karaoke database 21 is performed based on a request issued by a remote control operation. The performance processing of the music data is performed by a standard performance key set in advance for each music, but when the user performs an up / down operation with a remote controller or the like, the performance key changed by the operation is used. Done. The remote controller and / or the main body operation unit 13 are provided with an up key for performing an operation of raising the performance key in semitone steps and a down key for performing the reverse operation.
[0014]
The mixing processing unit 32 mixes the karaoke accompaniment music generated by the performance processing unit 31 and the singing voice collected from the microphone 41, outputs the mixed voice to the speaker 42, and reproduces the sound. The video processing unit 23 causes the display 43 to display lyrics and an effect video corresponding to the musical composition.
[0015]
=== Performance key setting operation ====
The performance key of the karaoke accompaniment music is set to a default for each music, and a user interface is provided in the above-mentioned karaoke apparatus so that the user can change the default setting by a remote controller or an up / down key of the main body operation unit 13. Have been. The main part of the user interface is realized by software under the control of the main control unit 1. For this reason, the main control unit 1 incorporates a program for executing control as shown in FIG.
[0016]
In FIG. 1, when the user operates the up / down key of the remote controller or the main body operation unit 13, it is determined which key is up or down (S11, S21).
If the down key is operated (S11), it is determined whether or not the performance key has already reached the lower limit (-6) (S12). If not, the performance key is changed from the current setting. Is also lowered by 1 (semitone) (S13). However, if the performance key has already reached the lower limit (-6), the performance key is reset to (+5) (S14).
[0017]
If the up key has been operated (S21), it is determined whether or not the performance key has already reached the upper limit (+6) (S22). If the performance key has not yet reached the upper limit, the performance key is set to a value lower than the current setting. Raise by 1 (semitone) (S23). However, if the performance key has already reached the upper limit (+6), the performance key is reset to (-5) (S24).
[0018]
As is well known, a key raised +6 and a key lowered -6 from the standard key differ by exactly one octave. In accordance with this, the present invention is configured as described above. Thus, for example, even if a male user sings a song for women, the performance key should be raised, but the operation in the direction of lowering the key is performed, but the performance key is held up one octave where key matching is possible. can go. Similarly, in the opposite case, the user can wait for the performance key one octave below where key adjustment is possible.
[0019]
=== Display of performance key setting ===
For example, three embodiments shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are preferable as display means for clearly displaying the setting state of the performance keys to the user. The display element 51 shown in each of the embodiments (A), (B) and (C) is constituted by, for example, an LED, and selectively turns on the LED at a position corresponding to the set height of the performance key. Thus, the height of the performance key is visually displayed so that it can be intuitively and easily recognized.
[0020]
In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the display element 51 corresponding to the (standard) performance key is arranged at the position of 0 o'clock on the clock. From here, (+1), (+2), (+3), (+4), and (+5) are arranged in the clockwise direction, and (+6) and (−6) are the same display elements at 6 o'clock. (± 6) is set to 51. Subsequently, the display elements for all 12 digits are arranged in a circle like (-5), (-4), (-3), (-2), and (-1). Here, when the up operation is repeated, for example, the lighting elements change in the order of (+4), (+5), (± 6), (-5), (-4). Conversely, when the down operation is repeated, the lighting elements change, for example, (-4), (-5), (± 6), (+5), (+4). This allows the user to intuitively recognize the situation of the above-described cyclic setting.
[0021]
Alternatively, the display elements 51 may be linearly arranged as shown in FIGS. In this case, the circular array of (A) may be rearranged linearly as in (B), or (+6) and (−6) may be further separated as in (C). Good.
[0022]
The instruction display section 5 for the performance keys is suitably provided on the main body display section 14, but may be provided on other portions.
[0023]
Further, instead of the above-described instruction display unit 5, a display 43 for displaying lyrics and effect images may be used to display the setting state of the performance key. In this case, a bar graph or the like representing the setting state of the performance key may be inserted into the video processing unit 23 and synthesized.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the karaoke apparatus which concerns on this invention, even if it goes down where the user should just raise the performance key, or vice versa, it will be easy and efficient to set a proper performance key state without being stuck in operation. You can reach it well. Thus, it is not necessary to prepare a large number of variable ranges of performance keys, that is, a variable number of semitone steps, and it is sufficient to prepare six steps (+ 6 / -6) above and below the standard setting "0". Along with this, the display of the setting state of the performance key only needs to have a display element for 12 to 13 digits.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a main part of a karaoke apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a karaoke apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a layout diagram showing a configuration example of a portion for indicating and displaying a setting state of a performance key.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Main control unit 11 Communication I / F
12 Remote control I / F
13 Main unit operation unit 14 Main unit display unit 2 Karaoke execution unit 21 Karaoke database 22 Audio processing unit 23 Video processing unit 31 Performance processing unit (synthesizer)
32 Mixing processing unit 41 Microphone 42 Speaker 43 Display 5 Performance key instruction display unit 51 Display element (LED etc.)

Claims (1)

A karaoke apparatus including a performance unit, an operation input unit, a display unit, and a control unit,
The performance means, when playing karaoke accompaniment music, can change the performance key in semitone increments,
The operation input means can input a key-up signal and a key-down signal,
The display means includes a circular array of one main element and 11 elements,
The control means enables key change amount display processing, key change amount calculation processing, and key control processing,
Key change amount display processing
In the initial state, the main element has a specific display mode different from the others,
When the key-up signal is input, the specific display mode is shifted clockwise to the next element,
When the key-down signal is input, the specific display mode is moved counterclockwise to the next element,
The key change amount calculation process
When the main element is in the specific display mode, the key change amount is set to zero,
When one of the N-th elements (N = 1 to 5) clockwise from the main element is in the specific display mode, the key change amount is set to + N,
When one of the N-th elements (N = 1 to 5) counterclockwise from the main element is in the specific display mode, the key change amount is set to −N,
If the specific display mode has shifted from the fifth element to the sixth element clockwise from the main element, the key change amount is set to +6,
When the specific display mode is shifted from the fifth element to the sixth element counterclockwise from the main element, the key change amount is set to −6,
Key control processing is performed during music performance.
If the key change amount is zero, play with the standard performance key of the song,
If the key change amount M is in the range of +1 to 6, the user is caused to play with a key that is M semitones higher than the standard performance key,
A karaoke apparatus in which, when the key change amount M is in the range of -1 to 6, the key is played by a key lower by M semitones than the standard performance key.

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