JP3896986B2 - Electronic musical instruments - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument that generates a musical tone such as a stringed instrument by means of a pitch designating means such as an operator provided on a fingerboard and a timing designating means such as a pseudo string for controlling the sound generation timing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are electronic musical instruments that can produce sounds with various musical instrument tones. For example, in a keyboard-type electronic musical instrument (keyboard synthesizer, electronic piano, etc.), there are instruments that can produce sounds of various musical instruments such as piano, organ, harpsichord (harpsichord), guitar, and other strings. Thus, the ability to achieve a wide variety of timbres with a single musical instrument is a function unique to electronic musical instruments.
[0003]
Further, for example, there is an electronic stringed instrument disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-251182. This electronic stringed musical instrument is a guitar-type electronic musical instrument, which specifies the pitch by depressing the pitch switch unit 3 at the neck (saddle) and triggers the plucking operation on the pseudo string of the string input unit 5 As a musical sound. This eliminates the need for string replacement and tuning, as is the case with a guitar with an actual string (raw guitar), and is particularly suitable for beginners playing the guitar.
[0004]
Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-308947, there is also known an electronic stringed instrument that can be tuned for right-handed / left-handed.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-251182 A
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-6-308947
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the keyboard-type electronic musical instrument as described above generates a musical tone mainly only by pressing a keyboard even when a musical tone is generated by the tone color of a stringed musical instrument such as a guitar or strings. In other words, even if the music itself can be varied with abundant tones, the performer does not feel like playing a stringed instrument with two inputs on the right and left hands. It will not be.
[0007]
In addition, the electronic stringed musical instruments described in the above publications can be played in the same manner as acoustic guitars and electric guitars, but these techniques are limited to simulating ordinary guitars. You cannot perform or practice. In addition, although it can respond also to left-handedness by setting a string like Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 6-308947, this also corresponds only to one specific instrument, such as a guitar.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to enable an electronic musical instrument to simulate a stringed musical instrument with a performance method peculiar to many stringed musical instruments corresponding to various stringed musical instruments.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
2. The electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the pitch designating means constitutes a plurality of rows of, for example, fret switch rows corresponding to the strings, and pitch data (for example, pitch data such as key codes) of the reference pitch set is the plurality of rows. It corresponds to each pitch of the open string state of the part. The reference pitch set and timbre correspond to the musical instruments that are candidates for selection by the musical instrument type selection means. Since the mth musical tone is generated from each reference pitch (reference pitch set according to the instrument type) by the operation of the mth of the pitch designating means and the timing designating means, the performance method corresponding to the selected musical instrument. Can simulate the instrument. Note that the instrument type includes a case where “same instrument and different tuning” are different types.
[0010]
The pitch data of the reference pitch set may be generated by table conversion or may be generated by calculation. The instrument type selected by the instrument type selection means may be an instrument type having the same number of columns in a plurality of columns.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic musical instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention. This electronic musical instrument is a ukulele-type electronic stringed musical instrument, and its external shape is substantially the same shape and size as a normal acoustic ukulele. A string input unit 20 having four pseudo strings 20a1, 20a2, 20a3, and 20a4 made of metal wires simulating each string corresponding to the first to fourth strings of the ukulele is disposed in the center of the body 10. Yes. The last digit of the “pseudo string” sign is for distinguishing the first to fourth strings. If the first to fourth strings are not specified, the sign of “pseudo string” is “20a”. Will be described.
[0012]
The pseudo string 20a has leg portions 20aa at both ends, and is pivotally supported about the center of the leg portion 20aa so as to be rotatable about the longitudinal direction of the string. The lower end of the leg portion 20aa is configured to interlock with an elastic plate (not shown) in the body 10, and when the pseudo string 20a is played, the pseudo string 20a and the elastic plate are deformed and / or vibrated and attached to the elastic plate. A plucked signal corresponding to the plucking strength with respect to the pseudo string 20a is obtained by the piezo element. The level of the plucked string signal (plucked string sensor value) is used as touch data. The pseudo string 20a is conductive, and the pseudo string 20a is electrically connected to the hum noise detection sensor. And the contact (finger string) of the finger | toe to the pseudo string 20a is detected by this hum noise.
[0013]
The first to twelfth frets 50 are sequentially arranged on the neck 30 from the head 40 side. Between the head 40 and the first fret 50 and between each other adjacent fret 50, 50, a fret operation unit 1 corresponding to each pseudo string 20a is disposed. That is, the fret operating unit 1 has 12 stages and four pseudo strings 20a in the fret arrangement direction (the direction of the arrow (1) in FIG. 1 and the “column” direction) corresponding to the first to twelfth fret 50. Corresponding to each of them, a total of 48 pieces in four rows are arranged in a matrix in the string arrangement direction (the direction of the arrow (2) in FIG. 1 and the “row” direction). Twelve stages corresponding to the pseudo strings 20a of the fret operation unit 1 form one set of row portions, and four sets of row portions are configured corresponding to each pseudo string 20a. In the following description, this “row portion” may be simply distinguished as “string”.
[0014]
The head 40 is provided with four dials 60a to 60d imitating ukulele thread windings (pegs), and one of the K dials 60a corresponds to "musical instrument type selection means". The timbre (instrument type) is selected as described later. Further, a transpose value (transposition amount) is set by the Trsp dial 60b. Further, various parameters such as volume adjustment are set by the dials 60c and 60d. Note that a sound emitting unit 70 incorporating a speaker is disposed at a position corresponding to the sound hole of the body 10.
[0015]
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the fret operating unit 1. Each fret operation unit 1 includes a resin fret operation element 11 for operating the fret operation unit 1, and a knob portion 11 a of the fret operation element 11 includes frets 50 and 50 adjacent to each other in the fret arrangement direction. It has a length corresponding to the interval between them and has a rectangular shape with a rounded corner (long shape) in which the string arrangement direction is a rectangular shape about the width of the string. The knob 11 a protrudes outward from a long through hole 31 a formed in the upper case 31 of the neck 30. A substrate 12 is disposed inside the upper case 31, and two fixed contacts 12 a and 12 a and a chip LED 12 b are disposed on the substrate 12. Note that the fixed contact 12a is a carbon conductor having a copper foil as a base pattern patterned by placing parallel terminals close to each other at a blowing portion indicated by a one-dot chain line.
[0016]
A movable part sheet 13 made of transparent rubber is disposed between the upper case 31 and the substrate 12. The movable part sheet 13 has a movable part 13a that contacts the lower part of the fret operator 11, and a skirt part 13b that supports the movable part 13a. The movable part 13a faces the fixed contacts 12a and 12a inside the movable part 13a. Movable contacts 13c, 13c made of a carbon conductor layer are formed in the portion bulging downward at the position. When the fret operator 11 is pressed, the movable portion 13a is pushed down against the elastic force of the skirt portion 13b, the movable contact 13c comes into contact with the fixed contact 12a, and the fixed contact 12a conducts and is turned on ( Fret on) is detected. Further, when the pressing force of the fret operation element 11 is eliminated, the movable part 13a and the fret operation element 11 are returned to the state shown in FIG. 2 by the elastic recovery force of the skirt portion 13b and are turned off (fret off). In this way, each fret operation unit 1 constitutes a fret switch, and when the fret is turned on, a pitch is designated by a key code corresponding to the fret operation unit 1.
[0017]
The upper case 31 of the neck 30 in this embodiment corresponds to a “fingerboard portion” in the claims, the fret operation portion 1 corresponds to “pitch designation means” in the claims, and the string input portion 20 corresponds to “timing designation means”. Is equivalent to.
[0018]
The fret operator 11 has translucency with respect to red light, and the movable part sheet 13 is transparent. When the LED 12b is turned off, the fret operator 11 partially scatters external light and looks bluish. It appears to glow red due to the light emission. The chord display and the string press display can be performed by the light emission of the LED 12b, that is, the light emission of the fret operator 11.
[0019]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control circuit according to the embodiment. A microcomputer control unit 21 including a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM executes a control program, which will be described later, stored in a ROM or the like to perform overall control. The microcomputer control unit 21 scans the pitch switch unit 22 configured by each fret operation unit 1 to detect a fret on / off event of the fret operation unit 1. Also, according to the plucking signal from the string input unit 20, if there is no pitch data or fret-on on the highest tone side of the fret on for each pseudo string 20a corresponding to the plucked pseudo string 20a, it is released. The pitch is determined by the pitch data corresponding to the string. Then, various musical tone control parameters (MIDI data) corresponding to the determined pitch are output to the sound source block 23. The sound source block 23 generates a tone signal based on the tone control parameter, and generates a tone in the sound system (SS) 24 based on the tone signal. The sound source block 23 can be sounded for each of the pseudo strings 20a1 to 20a4 by four sound generation channels respectively corresponding to the pseudo strings 20a1 to 20a4 by multiple time division processing or the like.
[0020]
Further, the microcomputer control unit 21 inputs a K value (parameter) set by the K dial 60a, reads out pitch data of a reference pitch set corresponding to the musical instrument type corresponding to the K value from the ROM table, Set as pitch data for open strings. Further, a Trsp value (parameter) set by the Trsp dial 60b is input, and transposition (transposition) is controlled according to the Trsp value. The Trsp value is, for example, “−12 to 0 to +12”.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 4A, numerical values 0 to 8 indicating K values are written around the K dial 60a, and each K value can be set by turning the K dial 60a. FIG. 4B is a musical instrument type table attached to the back side of the body 10, for example. The correspondence between the K value and the instrument type can be confirmed from this table, and the desired instrument type is selected according to the K value. The instrument type table may be described in an instruction manual (manual).
[0022]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of a reference pitch set and tone color table, and this table TBL1 is stored in the ROM of the microcomputer control unit 21, for example. In the figure, “K” indicates a K register for storing the K value set by the dial 60a. “PI (1) to PI (4)” indicates an open string preset pitch register for storing pitch data of the reference pitch set selected by the K value, and PI (1) is the first string, PI ( 2) is the second string, P (3) is the third string, and P (4) is the fourth string. “TN” indicates a timbre number register for storing the timbre number selected by the K value. In this embodiment, since transposition is possible, the pitch data of the selected reference pitch set is also stored (saved) in reference pitch registers PO (1) to PO (4) described later.
[0023]
The K value (K) corresponds to each instrument type (in this embodiment, the same instrument and different tunings are included), and four vertical pitches (for example, A = 0, K3, A3, E3, C3, G3). Constitutes one reference pitch set. As for symbols such as “A3”, alphabets (and sharp symbols) indicate pitch names, and numbers indicate octaves. For example, “C3” is the pitch of “central C”. The subsequent numbers such as “(69)” indicate a key code (decimal). The pitch shown in the figure is pitch data stored in the table, and is naturally a pitch that is not transposed.
[0024]
K = 0 corresponds to a normal ukulele (Standard), and K = 1 corresponds to a type (LowG) in which the pitch of the fourth string is tuned one octave lower than a normal ukulele. K = 2 corresponds to the type (American) for tuning each string of a normal ukulele one note higher. K = 3 corresponds to a type (Bariton ukulele) in which the first to third strings are tuned 500 cents lower than a normal ukulele and the fourth string is tuned one octave and 500 cents lower than a normal ukulele. These K = 0 to 3 correspond to the timbre number T1 for designating the ukulele timbre.
[0025]
K = 4 corresponds to the bass guitar (Bass) and corresponds to the tone number T2 that specifies the tone of the bass guitar. K = 5 corresponds to a mandolin and corresponds to a timbre number T3 that specifies the timbre of the mandolin. K = 6 corresponds to a violin and corresponds to a tone number T4 that specifies the tone of the violin. The reference pitch set for mandolin and violin is the same. K = 7 corresponds to left-handed (Left Hand Standard) equivalent to K = 0, and K = 8 corresponds to left-handed (Left Hand LowG) equivalent to K = 1. K = 7 and K = 8 correspond to the ukulele tone number T1.
[0026]
6 is a flowchart of a main routine of a control program executed by the CPU of the microcomputer control unit 21, FIG. 7 is a flowchart of initial setting processing, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart of various parameter setting processing. The operation will be described based on each flowchart. . In the following processing, four channels corresponding to each string are processed by time division processing, and “ch” indicates channel numbers “1 to 4” corresponding to the pseudo strings 20a1 to 20a4, respectively. PIT (ch) is a register that stores the pitch data (key code) of the tone to be generated, PI (ch) is an open string preset pitch register that stores pitch data for an open string, and PO (ch) is specified by a K value This is a reference pitch register for storing each pitch data of the reference pitch set corresponding to the musical instrument type. Also, TC (ch) is a register that stores a plucked sensor value detected from a plucked string signal as touch data, Trsp is a register that stores a Trsp value (transpose value), and m is a fret operation unit that is fret-on. This is a register for storing numbers counted from the open string of 1 to the high pitch side. In the following description and each flowchart, the registers and their stored contents may be abbreviated with the same label.
[0027]
In the process of FIG. 6, first, the initial setting process of FIG. 7 is performed at step S1, and the various parameter setting processes of FIG. 8 at step S2 and the processes after step S3 are repeated. In the initial setting process of FIG. 7, in Steps S21 to S23, the K value currently set in the K dial 60a is read, the table TBL1 is referred to based on this K value, and the reference corresponding to the selected instrument type. The pitch data of the pitch set is stored in the reference pitch register PO (ch), and the timbre number is set to TN and sent to the sound source block 23 to set the timbre. In steps S24 and S25, the Trsp value currently set in the Trsp dial 60b is read, the pitch data of the reference pitch set is shifted by this Trsp value, and the preset pitch register for open strings, PO ( ch). In step S26, other processes such as resetting flags indicating various states are performed.
[0028]
The various parameter setting processing of FIG. 8 is processing when there is an operation of the K dial 60a, the Trsp dial 60b, and other operators. If it is determined in step S31 that the K dial 60a has changed, step S32 is performed. ˜34, the reference pitch set and timbre number are set based on the K value in the same manner as in the initial setting process. If it is determined in step S35 that the Trsp dial 60b has changed, in steps S36 and 37, the reference pitch set is shifted according to the Trsp value and the pitch data for the open string is set in the same manner as in the initial setting process. . If it is determined in step S38 that other operation elements have changed, parameters such as volume, attack pitch, and vibrato depth (for a violin tone) are set in step S39.
[0029]
As described above, by the initial setting process or various parameter setting processes, the pitch for the open string is determined according to the selected instrument type according to the K dial 60a and the Trsp dial 60b. In FIG. 6, the tone generation control is performed after step S3. In the loop of steps S3 to S5, the processing at the time of off reception is performed for the four tone generation channels corresponding to the four pseudo strings 20a1 to 20a4 in the sound source block 23 in correspondence with the end of the generation of the musical sound. That is, it is detected that the musical tone signal level (envelope signal level) being generated is very close to zero (S4), and all data of the channel is reset.
[0030]
Steps S6 to S13 are processes mainly corresponding to the operation of the fret operation unit 1, and steps S6 to S9 are processes corresponding to a fret on event (Fsw on) by a fret on / off signal, steps S6, S7, and S10. S12 is processing corresponding to fret off (Fsw off). In steps S8 and S9, when the channel corresponding to the string of the fret is in use (sounding) when the fret is turned on, if the current event is on the high pitch side, the pitch data (PI (ch)) corresponding to the event in step S13 + M) is stored in the pitch register PIT (ch) for sound generation. Even when pitch data is stored in PIT (ch) in the routes of steps S7, S8, and S13, since S7 indicates that “there is a fret on event”, m value corresponding to the on event is detected. Is inevitably determined, and the m value is used in S13 to determine the pitch. In step S9, the pitch data (pitch register) of the current channel is maintained if it is not the high tone side. At this time, neither S12 nor S13 passes, but it means that the state that should have passed S13 in any fret-on state in the previous time is maintained. As a result, even when the same string is being sounded, the fret-on is higher than that sound, and after that, at the same time, a new musical tone is generated when “having a plucked string” during the string scanning described later.
[0031]
In the fret-off process in steps S10 and S11, it is determined whether or not the open string is generated by the off-event in step S10 (that is, the off-event of the fret that is turned on last in that string). For example, the pitch data for the open string is stored in the pitch register PIT (ch) for sound generation (S12). If it is not an open string, the mth pitch, which is the pitch of the highest fret of the strings that are fret-on, is given priority, and the pitch corresponding to the pitch Data (PI (ch) + m) is stored in the pitch register PIT (ch) for sound generation (S13). Through the above processing, pitch data corresponding to the fret operation unit 1 and the open string having an event is stored in the pitch register PIT (ch).
[0032]
Steps S <b> 14 to S <b> 19 are processes mainly corresponding to the plucking operation of the string input unit 20. That is, the string is scanned in S14 to detect a channel with a finger string (S15), and the channel with the channel is turned off (S16), that is, the tone being generated in the sound source block 23 is rapidly attenuated for that channel to zero. When it is close to the level, all the data for the channel is reset. At this time, there is a case where the sound is not being generated, and in this case, this includes that nothing is actually performed. If a plucked string is detected regardless of the fret on / off state (S17), the plucked signal level (plucked sensor value) is captured as touch data TC (ch) (S18), and the current channel ( ch) is output to the sound source block 23 to generate a musical sound (S19).
[0033]
With the above processing, for example, immediately after the power is turned on, the reference pitch set corresponding to the operation position (K value) of the K dial 60a is selected, and the transposition is performed according to the operation position (Trsp value) of the Trsp dial 60b. The set reference pitch set is set as the reference pitch set for the open string. Further, when the K value is changed by operating the K dial 60a, the reference pitch set is also changed. Further, when the Trsp dial 60b is operated to set the Trsp value to “0”, the transpose is cancelled.
[0034]
In the above embodiment, the pitch data of the reference pitch set is stored as an absolute value in the table TBL1, but the pitch data of one standard reference pitch set is stored as shown in FIG. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9B, difference data from the standard reference pitch set may be stored in the table TBL2 as the pitch data of the reference pitch set corresponding to each instrument type. In this case, the process in step S41 in FIG. 10A may be performed instead of step S22 in FIG. 7, and the process in step S33 in FIG. 8 may be performed to perform the process in step S51 in FIG.
[0035]
The above embodiment is an example of an ukulele-type four-string electronic string instrument, and a four-string instrument (a kind of instrument having the same number of columns in a plurality of columns) is selected as an option. Since there are a variety of four-stringed string instruments, according to this embodiment, various stringed instruments (live instruments) can be played.
[0036]
However, the present invention is not limited to four strings, and may be six strings such as a guitar or other numbers of strings. For example, it is possible to realize a 4-string electronic string musical instrument as in the above-described embodiment by making the 6-string compatible with the guitar and additionally making the first to fourth strings effective.
[0037]
In the above embodiment, the reference pitch set and tone are selected by first determining the instrument type and selecting the K value corresponding to the instrument type with the K dial, but the K value refers to the table. It may be used only as an internal parameter (argument), and the instrument type (instrument name) may be specified directly around the K dial. This eliminates the need for the user to be aware of the K value. However, if the configuration is such that the K value is selected as in the embodiment, it is only necessary to specify a simple number even in a narrow space around the K dial.
[0038]
In the embodiment, the operation element such as the K dial has a thread-wound shape, which makes it look like a musical instrument. However, the operation element may be a switch having another shape. For example, the K dial is used to select the musical instrument type, but a plurality of timbre switches corresponding to the musical instrument type may be provided as the musical instrument type selecting means. In this case, the instrument type may be specified in correspondence with the timbre switch. Furthermore, the instrument type may be selected while sequentially displaying the instrument type (electronic display or the like) each time one switch operator is pressed.
[0039]
In other words, in the embodiment, the K value (instrument type) and the Trsp value are set by the dial, but these settings may be set by an electronic switch. In particular, in this case, the K value may be reset to “0” (standard ukulele) in the initial setting. In addition, the transposition may be canceled by setting the Trsp value to “0” in the initial setting. Needless to say, the transpose function may be omitted.
[0040]
In the embodiment, a sound system such as a speaker and a sound emitting unit is provided in the body. However, an audio signal, a MIDI signal, or the like is transmitted from the body to the outside, and a musical sound is generated by the external sound system. You may make it do. In this case, a musical sound generating means is configured including an external sound system.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
According to the electronic musical instrument of the first aspect, it is possible to simulate the musical instrument with a performance method corresponding to the selected musical instrument in correspondence with a plurality of types of various stringed musical instruments.
[0042]
According to the electronic musical instrument of the second aspect, the same effect as that of the first aspect can be obtained, and the musical instrument type selected by the musical instrument type selecting means can be selected from the musical instrument types having the same number of columns in the plurality of columns. , Corresponding to a variety of stringed instruments (live instruments) with the same number of strings, you can play like that.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic musical instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a fret operation unit in the electronic musical instrument according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the electronic musical instrument according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a K dial and a musical instrument type table in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a first example of a reference pitch set and a tone color table according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a main routine of a control program in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an initial setting process in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of various parameter setting processing in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a second example of the reference pitch set and the tone color table according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a part of a flowchart corresponding to the second example of the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Fret operation part (pitch designation | designated means), 20 ... String input part (timing designation | designated means), 20a ... Pseudo string, 21 ... Microcomputer control part (musical sound generation means), 23 ... Sound source block (musical sound generation means), 31 ... Upper case (fingerboard part), 50 ... Fret

Claims (2)

Pitch designating means comprising a plurality of pitch designating elements for designating pitches arranged side by side in rows and columns, and timing designation for controlling sound generation timing for each of a plurality of ones corresponding to the plurality of columns In an electronic musical instrument having means and a musical sound generating means for generating a musical sound by operating both means,
An instrument type selection means for selecting an instrument type;
By selecting a specific one by the instrument type selection means, each reference pitch set and timbre corresponding to the open string of the plurality of rows corresponding to the selected instrument type are determined, and the sound An electronic musical instrument characterized in that an m-th musical tone is generated from a reference pitch by an operation of the m-th designation means and the timing designation means. 2. The electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the musical instrument type selected by the musical instrument type selecting means is selected from musical instrument types having the same number of columns in a plurality of columns.

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