JP3948685B2 - Karaoke equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus capable of performing karaoke performance using a plurality of microphones.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a karaoke apparatus capable of using a plurality of microphones is known. The plurality of microphones are used, for example, when a user sings a duet song or when a plurality of users sing the same song at the same time.
[0003]
In recent years, karaoke has come to be enjoyed in various places, and not only in store-type karaoke like a so-called karaoke box, but also widely enjoyed at wedding receptions and various party venues, for example. It is coming. At a party, karaoke is usually enjoyed only for a part of the time, and participants of the party enjoy various other games and the like. At parties, quizzes are often held. Quizzes that compete among multiple respondents as soon as possible to give the correct answer, as is often done on TV programs, are often used as a game that can be enjoyed not only by respondents but also by all party participants. It is also performed on the ground.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the quiz as described above, who gets the right to answer first is determined by operating a button or the like. That is, a button is arranged in advance for each respondent, and when a question is given, each respondent immediately presses the button. The input signal from each button is input to the detection device, and the respondent who pressed the button earliest is identified.
[0005]
However, since the devices as described above need to prepare button wiring, various display devices, etc., and are relatively expensive, there is a demand for performing a quiz game as described above. In spite of the fact, there were many cases where execution was not achieved.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. The karaoke device is used to detect who among a plurality of users has performed a predetermined operation first, and the detection result is displayed on a screen or the like. An object of the present invention is to provide a karaoke apparatus that can be displayed on the screen.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a karaoke apparatus according to the present invention plays a song based on performance information, displays an image on a display device based on image information, and displays audio signals from a plurality of microphones. In the karaoke apparatus that combines and outputs the karaoke apparatus, mode switching means for switching the operation mode of the karaoke apparatus to a second mode different from the performance mode for performing a song, and the karaoke apparatus operates in the second mode. A state detection unit that detects a voice input state of each of the plurality of microphones, and a microphone that first detects a voice input among the plurality of microphones based on a detection result of the state detection unit. And a microphone identifying means for identifying the above.
[0008]
As a result, when the karaoke apparatus operates in the second mode by the mode switching means, the microphone specifying means determining means specifies a plurality of microphones in which voice input is first detected based on detection of the voice input state of the microphone. It can be determined whether at least one of the microphones is in a predetermined state.
[0009]
In the karaoke apparatus according to the present invention, when the karaoke apparatus is operating in the second mode, only the audio signal from the microphone specified by the microphone specifying means is acquired and output, The signal from the microphone may be provided with an audio output control means for invalidating the signal.
[0010]
The voice output control means is such that only the microphone specified by the microphone specifying means is connected to the status detecting means, the connection switching means for electrically connecting or disconnecting each of the state detecting means and the plurality of microphones. A connection switching control means for controlling the connection switching means so that another microphone is disconnected from the state detection means; and an audio signal of the microphone connected to the state detection means is output under the control of the connection switching control means. It may have an audio output means. Thereby, it is possible to acquire and output only the sound signal of the microphone whose input state is in the predetermined state earliest and invalidate the signal from the other microphone.
[0011]
In the karaoke apparatus according to the present invention, when the karaoke apparatus is operating in the second mode, the karaoke apparatus has display control means for displaying information on the microphone specified by the microphone specifying means on the display device. It is characterized by that.
[0012]
As a result, the display means displays information regarding the microphone whose input state is the predetermined state the earliest.
[0013]
In the karaoke apparatus according to the present invention, switching of the operation mode from the performance mode to the second mode by the mode switching means is allowed only when there is no song to be played in the performance mode. It is characterized by. Accordingly, the mode is switched to the second mode only when there is no song played in the performance mode.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the karaoke apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. The karaoke apparatus 1 includes a CPU 12 that is a control unit that controls the operation of the entire apparatus. The CPU 12 includes an input device 10 as an input unit for performing music reservation, a ROM 13 storing a procedure of processing executed by the CPU 12, a work area when the CPU 12 executes the program, and a user RAM 14 for storing reservation contents of karaoke songs input by the input device 10, external storage device 11 for storing song data composed of performance information and image information required for performance of karaoke songs, performance information A sound reproduction device 18 for generating a performance sound signal based on the image, a video reproduction device 20 for reproducing a background image displayed on the CRT 22 during a karaoke performance based on the image information from a laser disc or a video compact disk, and the like based on the caption data. Generates subtitle images to be displayed on the CRT 22 or other various CRTs 22 A display information generation device 19 that generates an image signal of the displayed information, a synthesis circuit that combines the background image signal output from the video reproduction device 20 and the display image signal output from the display image generation device 19 and outputs the resultant image to the CRT 22 21. Further, the A / D converter 17 is also connected to the CPU 12. A plurality of microphones 15 a, 15 b,... 15 i for inputting a user's utterance are connected to the A / D converter 17 through an amplifier 16. The amplifier 16 is further connected to a speaker 16M that outputs an audio signal amplified by the amplifier as an audible sound. The CRT 22 is connected to the synthesis circuit 21.
[0015]
Although the detailed illustration is omitted, the input device 10 is a panel switch or a remote controller provided in the karaoke device 1 main body. The karaoke apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is operable in two operation modes. That is, there are two modes: a performance mode for performing normal karaoke performance, and a fast-press detection mode as a second mode in which a plurality of microphones are used to detect which microphone first receives a voice input. The input device 10 is provided with a fast-press detection key 10a for switching the operation mode from the performance mode for performing normal karaoke performance to the fast-press detection mode.
[0016]
Brief explanation of normal karaoke performance. Since the operation when the karaoke apparatus 1 of the present embodiment operates in the performance mode is the same as that of the conventional karaoke apparatus, it will be simply described below.
[0017]
The operation of the karaoke apparatus 1 in the performance mode is as follows. First, the user inputs a requested song using the input device 10. The CPU 12 stores the song number of the song input from the input device 10 in the RAM 14. Next, song data corresponding to the song number stored in the RAM 14 is read from the external storage device 11. Data read from the external storage device 11 includes performance data and caption data. The performance data is MIDI data, and audio data based on the performance data is generated in the audio reproduction device 18 described above. On the other hand, a background image is reproduced by the video reproducing device 20 based on the image data, and a subtitle image is generated by the display information generating device 19 based on the subtitle data, synthesized by the synthesizing circuit 21, and displayed on the CRT 22. The audio signal output from the audio reproduction device 18 is combined with the singing voice of the user input from the microphones 15a, 15b... 15i by the amplifier 16, and then output as an audible sound from the speaker 16M. As long as the user's requested music is stored in the RAM 14, the above performance process is repeated.
[0018]
In the configuration as described above, the sound reproducing device 18, the amplifier 16 and the speaker 16M constitute a karaoke performance means. In addition, the display information generating device and the video reproduction device 20, the synthesis circuit 21, and the CRT 22 constitute display means. The amplifier 16 also functions as a voice synthesizer for synthesizing the karaoke performance and the singing voice of the user input from the microphones 15a, 15b,.
[0019]
Next, the fast-press detection mode, which is a feature of the present embodiment, will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the CPU 12 when the karaoke apparatus 1 is operated in the fast-press detection mode in which a plurality of microphones are used to detect which microphone is initially input with sound. First, in S11, the CPU 12 determines whether there is a reserved song. As described above, when the user inputs a song number from the input device 10, the song number of the performance song is stored in a song number storage area (not shown) in the RAM 14.
[0020]
Therefore, in S11, it is determined whether or not there is a reserved song depending on whether data is stored in the song number storage area of the RAM 14 or not. If the song number of the reserved song is stored in the RAM 14 (S11: YES), the CPU 12 reads out the head of the song number stored in the song number storage area of the RAM 14 in S13, and the external storage device 11 The music data corresponding to the music number is read out and the karaoke performance is performed according to the above-described processing (S13). As described above, switching from the performance mode for performing karaoke to the fast-press detection mode, which is the second operation mode of the karaoke device 1, is performed by using the fast-press detection key 10a provided in the input device 10. In the present embodiment, the mode is switched when data is stored in the reserved song storage area of the RAM 14 (that is, when the reserved song remains in the RAM 14). It is prohibited, and after the performance of all reserved songs is completed (S11: NO), the operation mode can be switched to the fast-press detection mode.
[0021]
If the song number of the performance song is not stored in the song number storage area in the RAM 14 (S11: NO), it is checked in S15 whether or not the fast press detection key 10a in the input device 10 has been pressed. If the fast-press detection key 10a has not been pressed (S15: NO), the process returns to S10 to check whether there is a reserved song by checking whether there is data in the song number storage area on the RAM.
[0022]
If the reserved music is not stored in the reserved music storage area of the RAM 14 and the fast-press detection key 10a is pressed (S15: YES), the CPU 12 controls the display information generating device 19 to operate the operation mode. Displays a predetermined default screen on the CRT 22 to indicate that has entered the fast-press detection mode. This default screen can be arbitrarily set by the user, for example, when a game such as a quick press quiz is performed, such as a screen for informing the start of a quiz. In this embodiment, only the screen display is controlled, but a predetermined sound (for example, fanfare) may be output when the default screen is displayed.
[0023]
Next, the CPU 12 acquires the number of microphones connected to the karaoke apparatus 1 in S19, and stores the number in a counter C used as a pointer when checking the microphone input state later (S19). The counter C is a variable stored on the RAM 14.
[0024]
Here, the connection between the microphones 15a, 15b,..., 15i and the CPU 12 will be described with reference to FIG. The amplifier 16 is provided with a switch unit 16SW for connecting each of the microphones 15a, 15b,..., 15i, and each microphone has an internal circuit of the amplifier and an A / A via a switch of the switch unit 16SW. The D converter 17 is connected. The switch unit 16SW is configured such that each switch is controlled to open and close independently by the CPU 12. In the case of normal karaoke performance, all the switches of the switch unit 16SW are closed, and the input from any microphone is input to the internal circuit of the amplifier. Therefore, the singing voice is output from the speaker 16S in the same manner regardless of which microphone is used for karaoke performance.
[0025]
On the other hand, when the karaoke apparatus 1 operates in the fast-press detection mode, the CPU 12 changes the open / close state of the switch of the switch unit 16SW. One end of each switch of the switch unit 16SW is connected to a microphone, and the other end is connected to an internal circuit of the amplifier and is connected to a predetermined input port of the CPU 12 via the A / D converter 17. The CPU 12 can determine whether sound has been input to each microphone based on a signal corresponding to each microphone input from the A / D converter 17.
[0026]
In the fast-press detection mode, the CPU 12 first closes all the switches of the switch unit 16SW. Then, whether or not an audio signal is input to each connected microphone is determined by sequentially detecting signals input to the input ports of the CPU 12 corresponding to the respective microphones. If it is determined that an audio signal is input to any of the microphones, the CPU 12 opens all the switches of the switch unit 16SW except for the switch connected to the microphone. That is, if the sound input in one microphone is earlier than the sound input in another microphone, only the sound of the microphone is input to the internal circuit of the amplifier 16, and the switch of the switch unit 16SW is in an open state for the sound signal from the other microphone. Therefore, it is not input to the internal circuit of the amplifier 16.
[0027]
In S21 of FIG. 2, the CPU 12 determines whether an audio signal is input to the Cth microphone by checking an input signal of the input port of the CPU 12 corresponding to the Cth microphone. If it is determined that the input state of the microphone is the voice input (S23: YES), a screen as shown in FIG. 3 corresponding to the microphone number, that is, the number of the counter C is displayed on the CRT 22, and which user is selected. It displays whether or not the voice has been input to the microphone earliest and notifies all users (S29). In S31, the CPU 12 closes only the switch corresponding to the C-th microphone of the switch unit 16SW and opens the others. As a result, only the sound input from the microphone is input to the internal circuit of the amplifier 16.
[0028]
When it is determined in S23 that the voice input state for the C-th microphone is not input (S23: NO), the counter C is decremented by 1 to check the input state of the next microphone (S25). However, if the counter is 0 (S27: YES), the process proceeds to S19, the number of microphones is reset in the counter C, and the counter C is initialized. By repeatedly performing the processes from S19 to S27 until YES is determined in S23, the input states of all microphones are repeatedly scanned, and the microphone that has the earliest voice input can be detected. That is, it is possible to identify the microphone whose voice input state is initially in a predetermined state.
[0029]
Note that the processing from S21 to S27 executed by the CPU 12 corresponds to the state detection means in claim 1 of the present invention, and in particular, the processing of S23 corresponds to the specifying means. Further, the sound output control means in claim 2 is realized by the process of S31 executed by the CPU 12, and the display control means in claim 3 is realized by the process of S29 executed by the CPU 12.
[0030]
In the karaoke apparatus that operates as described above, it is detected which microphone is the earliest voice input among a plurality of microphones as the voice input apparatus already attached to the karaoke apparatus, and the detection result Can be displayed on the screen, etc., and it has the authority to answer the person who took the predetermined action quickly performed on TV programs etc. It can be easily realized by a karaoke device without adding more.
[0031]
In the above-described embodiment, the microphones other than the microphone that originally input the voice are disconnected from the amplifier 16, but this configuration is omitted and only the display of the microphone that is initially input is displayed. If it is only performed, the switch unit 16SW can be omitted, and the application of the karaoke apparatus can be expanded with a simpler system configuration.
[0032]
In the above-described embodiment, “early press” is detected using a microphone. For example, a button device configured to output a predetermined audio signal when a button is pressed is changed to a microphone. By connecting to the amplifier 16, it is possible to easily configure a fast-press detecting device that detects a fast-press of a button.
[0033]
Further, in the above configuration, if each button device outputs an audio signal having a different frequency, it is possible to identify the button that has been pressed quickly by obtaining the frequency of the earliest input signal.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
According to the karaoke apparatus, it is possible to determine whether or not at least one voice input state of the plurality of microphones has reached a predetermined state. The microphone of the karaoke apparatus can also be used as the input means.
[0035]
According to the karaoke device, since the earliest voice input microphone can be identified, the user only has to speak to the microphone without performing a button operation, so-called “fast press competition”. Can be enjoyed.
[0036]
According to the karaoke apparatus, since only the earliest input state of the plurality of microphones is determined to be the predetermined state, since the input order of voices to other microphones is not detected, a simple system It is possible to construct a fast press detection system with a simple and simple control.
[0037]
According to the karaoke apparatus, since it is configured to acquire and output only the sound signal from the microphone whose input state is the predetermined state earliest, the signal from the other microphone is invalidated. For example, if you do something like a quick press quiz that gives the right to answer the first voice input to the microphone, the microphone of the user who doesn't have the right is automatically turned off, so the game progress Becomes smooth.
[0038]
According to the karaoke apparatus, the user can easily know the microphone that is initially in a predetermined state, and for that purpose, it is not necessary to use an apparatus other than the karaoke apparatus.
[0039]
According to the karaoke apparatus, since information on the microphone whose input state is the predetermined state is displayed on the display unit earliest, all users can easily know the microphone that has been in the predetermined state earliest. In addition, it is not necessary to use a device other than the karaoke device.
[0040]
According to the above karaoke apparatus, even if the switch button is mistakenly operated during karaoke operation, the mode is not switched as long as there is a requested song. It becomes possible to provide.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a fast press detection process in which the CPU of the karaoke apparatus according to the present embodiment detects the earliest voice input.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of a result of detection displayed on the CRT 22 when a microphone having the earliest voice input is detected;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a switch unit 16SW for controlling connection between each microphone and an amplifier.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Karaoke apparatus 10 Input apparatus 10a Quick-press detection key 11 External storage device 12 CPU
13 ROM
14 RAM
15a, 15b,..., 15i Microphone 16 Amplifier 17 A / D converter 18 Audio reproduction device 19 Display information generation device 20 Video reproduction device 21 Synthesis circuit 22 CRT

Claims (4)

In a karaoke device that plays a song based on performance information and displays an image on a display device based on image information, and synthesizes and outputs audio signals from a plurality of microphones with the performance song,
Mode switching means for switching the operation mode of the karaoke apparatus to a second mode different from a performance mode for performing a song;
When the karaoke apparatus is operating in the second mode, state detection means for detecting the respective voice input states of the plurality of microphones;
A karaoke apparatus comprising: a microphone specifying unit that specifies a microphone in which voice input is first detected among the plurality of microphones based on a detection result of the state detection unit. When the karaoke apparatus is operating in the second mode, only the sound signal from the microphone specified by the microphone specifying means is acquired and output, and the sound from other microphones is invalidated Output control means,
The voice output control means is
Connection switching means for electrically connecting or disconnecting each of the state detection means and the plurality of microphones;
A connection switching control means for controlling the connection switching means so that only the microphone specified by the microphone specifying means is connected to the state detection means and the other microphones are disconnected from the state detection means;
The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an audio output unit that outputs an audio signal of a microphone connected to the state detection unit under the control of the connection switching control unit.   The display control means for displaying information on the microphone specified by the microphone specifying means on the display device when the karaoke apparatus is operating in the second mode. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 2.   2. The switching of the operation mode from the performance mode to the second mode by the mode switching means is allowed only when there is no song to be played in the performance mode. Item 4. The karaoke apparatus according to any one of items 3 to 4.

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