JP4017776B2 - Tone switching device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a timbre switching device for switching timbres of musical sounds generated in an electronic musical instrument.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A normal electronic musical instrument stores a plurality of timbre data (data necessary for generating musical sounds) divided into a plurality of groups according to the physical position of the memory. For example, the timbre corresponding to the timbre data from the beginning of the memory area to a certain position is set as one group, and the timbre corresponding to the timbre data from the certain position to the next certain position is set as another group. It is grouped as such. Here, this group is defined as a bank. When the operator selects a timbre, first, the bank including the desired timbre is selected, and then the desired timbre is selected from the timbres included in the bank.
[0003]
In recent years, the total number of timbres to be set has become enormous as it exceeds 1000, making it difficult to select timbres. Therefore, a method having a category function has been proposed as a timbre selection method. This is because one group is set with the same category, for example, a plurality of timbres of the same type of instrument, a plurality of groups according to these categories are provided, a category to which a desired timbre belongs is selected, and then included in the category A desired tone color is selected from the tone colors. In this selection method, since the timbre is grouped for each category, it is relatively easy to select the timbre.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, there are times when it is desired to be able to select not only a category but also a timbre by bank. In this case, if an operator for selecting a bank and an operator for selecting a category are provided separately, the number of operators increases and the hardware configuration becomes complicated.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide a timbre switching device that can select a desired timbre among timbres grouped from different viewpoints by operating few operators.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A timbre switching device according to the present invention is a timbre switching device capable of selecting a plurality of timbres, and includes a first operator that designates one of a plurality of groups obtained by grouping the timbres, A second operator that is different from the first operator, and in the state where one group is designated by the first operator, a second operator that designates one tone color in each group; It has. The plurality of groups includes a plurality of first viewpoint groups in which the timbres are grouped from a first viewpoint, and a plurality of second viewpoints in which the timbres are grouped from a second viewpoint different from the first viewpoint. And at least a viewpoint group. The plurality of timbres are always included in any one of the plurality of first viewpoint groups, and at the same time, are always included in any one of the plurality of second viewpoint groups. The first operator is one operator, and designates one of the plurality of first viewpoint groups or the plurality of second viewpoint groups.
[0007]
In this timbre switching device, one of the groups belonging to the first and second viewpoints which are different viewpoints can be designated by the operation of the first operator which is one operator. Therefore, there is no need to provide a designation means for each viewpoint group. One of the timbres belonging to the group designated by the first operator is designated by the operation of the second operator.
[0008]
Further, the timbre switching device of the present invention can be provided with memory means for storing timbre data for generating musical tones of each timbre in a predetermined memory area. In this case, the memory area has a plurality of small areas, and the timbre corresponding to the timbre data stored in each small area constitutes each group according to the first aspect and has the same musical characteristics. The timbres having the above constitute each group of the second aspect. The small area may be formed by dividing a single memory area into a plurality of areas, or each small area may be configured by memory chips, and the memory area may be configured as an aggregate of these memory chips.
[0009]
Since each group of the first viewpoint is each small area of the memory area, it is not necessary to separately prepare information for defining the first viewpoint group. In addition, since the second viewpoint group is grouped by timbres having the same musical characteristics, it is possible to select timbres that are very sensory and easy to understand.
[0010]
In the timbre switching device of the present invention, the first operator can designate any one operation position among a plurality of operation positions, thereby designating a group corresponding to the operation position. In this case, a notation indicating each group belonging to the first viewpoint group and the second viewpoint group is provided at a position corresponding to each operation position of the first operator on the panel.
[0011]
Since the notation indicating each group of the first viewpoint group and the second viewpoint group is given at a position on the panel corresponding to each operation position of the first operator, the current operation of the first operator Depending on the position, the currently selected group can be recognized. Further, by looking at the first operation positions on the panel, it is possible to immediately determine how far the first operator can be operated to select a desired group.
[0012]
As a viewpoint, for example, the following can be used. Similar timbres on hearing, timbres of instruments with similar appearance, timbres of instruments with the same or similar pronunciation (for example, screaming instruments, bowed instruments, percussion instruments, etc.) Tones recommended for timbres of the same or similar musical instruments (for example, melody, chorus, bass, rhythm, solo, accompaniment (backing), etc.) Jazz, blues, rock, techno, drum'n bass, etc.), tones of instruments used in or near the same geographic region (eg country, region, region, etc.) (eg, Indian instrument tone, Bulgarian instrument tone) , Okinawan musical instruments, etc.). Of these aspects, at least two aspects may be used as the first and second aspects. For example, audible similar timbres can be the first viewpoint, and timbres of musical instruments with the same or similar sounding band can be the second viewpoint. Based on one viewpoint selected from these viewpoints, the timbre data may be grouped and stored in a plurality of physical memory areas on the memory.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An electronic musical instrument including a timbre switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention has a musical tone generating circuit 2 as shown in FIG. The tone generation circuit 2 determines tone waveform data corresponding to data supplied from the CPU 4 via the bus 6 by accessing the tone color memory 8 and reads it from the tone waveform data memory 10. Further, the musical sound generating circuit 2 performs processing such as filtering on the read musical sound waveform data and adding an envelope, thereby forming a musical sound signal. The timbre memory 8 stores timbre data for instructing frequency data and musical tone waveform data corresponding to the timbre and tone range.
[0014]
The CPU 4 supplies a control program stored in the program memory 12 including a ROM, operation information supplied from the operation panel 14 via the panel interface 16 and the bus 6, and supplied from the outside via the MIDI interface 18 and the bus 6. The tone generation circuit 2 is controlled according to the MIDI information. A work area, a control register, a flag, and the like when the CPU 4 performs control are formed on the RAM 13.
[0015]
In the timbre memory 8, timbre data as shown in FIG. The timbre data is set for the first viewpoint, for example, for each bank. The timbre memory 8 stores a plurality of timbre data (data necessary for generating a musical sound) in groups in a physically divided memory area. That is, the first viewpoint in the embodiment of the present application indicates “physical area (bank) on memory”.
[0016]
The timbre data is composed of a plurality of parameter information for generating musical sounds, and an index number is assigned to each timbre data. The number is composed of a bank number indicating the number of the bank and a program number indicating the number of the bank. For example, for the first timbre of bank 1, BANK-1-001 is set.
[0017]
Each tone color data has a category set as one of the parameter information. The categories are grouped according to a second point of view different from the first point of view, and are grouped according to the type of musical instrument corresponding to the tone color in the present embodiment. For example, there are groups such as PIANO (piano), KEY & ORGAN (organ and other keyboard instruments), GUITAR / BASS (guitar bass), ORCH / BRASS (instruments used in orchestras such as violins).
[0018]
The first viewpoint and the second viewpoint referred to here indicate a plurality of physical memory areas or categories (instrument types) on the memory. In addition to these, the various viewpoints exemplified in the section of means for solving the problems can be the first and second viewpoints.
[0019]
As will be described later, selection information for each category, for example, a database, as shown in FIG. 3B, is formed on the RAM 13 based on these tone color data. This database is a collection of timbres of the same category stored in each bank of the timbre memory 8. For each category, position information indicating the position of the category and the position of the bank Number information indicating what number the program number is. In FIG. 3B, a database of a plurality of categories is shown to be created at the same time, but actually, only a database of one category that is required is created.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 1, the operation panel 14 is provided with a first operator, for example, a category / bank switch 20. The changeover switch 20 is constituted by, for example, a rotary switch, and has a plurality of operation positions, for example, changeover positions respectively corresponding to a plurality of banks and a plurality of categories. On the operation panel 14, a notation indicating the type of bank and category, for example, a name, for example, is silk-printed in a portion corresponding to each switching position. Further, an alignment notation is provided at one peripheral portion of the bank / category changeover switch 20, and by adjusting the alignment notation to one of the bank or category notations indicated on the panel, A bank or category is selected by a single operator (bank / category changeover switch 20).
[0021]
The operation panel 14 is also provided with a second operator, for example, a value operator 22. The value operator 22 is constituted by, for example, a rotary encoder. The value operator 22 can select any one program number among the categories belonging to the bank in a state where any bank is selected by the category / bank switch 20. When an arbitrary category is selected by the changeover switch 20, it is possible to select the program number of each bank belonging to that category. As the second operation element, a rotary switch similar to the first operation element can be used.
[0022]
The operation panel 14 is also provided with a display device 24. When a bank is selected by the category / bank switching switch 20, the program number selected by the value operator 22 is displayed, and the category / bank switching is displayed. When the category is selected by the switch 20, the position information of the category selected by the operation of the value operator 22 is displayed.
[0023]
In this timbre switching device, timbre switching is performed based on the control of the CPU 4. For use in this control, a temporary memory 26 as shown in FIG. 4 is formed on the RAM 13. In the temporary memory 26, a bank number area for storing a currently selected bank number and a program number area for storing a program number are formed. Further, a category area for storing the currently selected category on the database and a position information area for storing a position in the category are also formed. Further, a flag flag indicating whether a bank is currently selected or a category is selected, and a database area for storing a database as shown in FIG.
[0024]
When the switching operation by the category / bank switch 20 is performed, the interrupt routine shown in FIG. In this interrupt routine, first, it is determined whether or not the flag flag on the temporary memory 26 is 0 (step S2). This flag flag is set to 0 when a bank is selected before the switching operation is performed, and is set to 1 when a category is selected before the switching operation is performed.
[0025]
If the flag flag is 0, that is, if a bank is selected, it is determined whether a category is selected by operating the category / bank switch 20 (step S4). This can be done, for example, by detecting the switching position of the category / bank switch 20. When the category is selected, a database of the category selected by the category / bank switch 20 is formed on the temporary memory 26, and the program number at the head position of the category is stored in the position information area of the category on the temporary memory 26. (Step S6). A program change is performed so that the tone of the read program number can be switched (step S8), and the flag flag is set to 1 (step S10).
[0026]
If it is determined in step S4 that no category has been selected, the bank is selected both before and after the category / bank changeover switch 20 is switched. Accordingly, the currently selected program number (stored in the program number area on the temporary memory 26) is left as it is and the bank number stored in the bank number area on the temporary memory 26 is changed to the category / bank switch. The bank is switched to the bank corresponding to the operation position of 20 (step S12). The program is changed so that the tone of the currently selected program number in the switched bank is switched (step S14), and the flag flag is set to 0 (step S16).
[0027]
If it is determined in step S2 that the flag flag is not 0, the category has been selected prior to the operation of the category / bank switch 20. In this case, it is determined whether the category has been selected by the current operation (step S18). If it is determined that the category is selected, the above-described steps S6, S8, and S10 are executed, a database of the selected category is created, the program number at the head of the category is read, and a program change is performed. , The flag flag is set to 1.
[0028]
If it is determined in step S18 that the category is not selected, the bank number in the bank number area on the temporary memory 26 is changed to the bank number of the bank selected by operating the category / bank changeover switch 20, and the program The program number in the number area is set to 1 (step S20). A program change is performed so that the timbre represented by the bank number in the bank number area and the program number in the program number area can be switched (step S22), and the flag flag is set to 0 (step S24).
[0029]
Following step S16, S10, or S24, when the flag flag is 0, the current program number currently specified by the value operator 22 is displayed on the display device 24. When the flag flag is 1, the value operator 22 The position in the current category designated by is displayed (step S26), and this interrupt routine is terminated.
[0030]
In this way, switching between the bank and the category is performed only by the switching operation of the category / bank changeover switch 20 which is one operator, and the category-specific and bank-specific operators are unnecessary.
[0031]
FIG. 6 shows an interrupt routine that is executed when the value operator 24 is operated. In this interrupt routine, it is determined whether or not the flag flag is 0 (step S28). If it is determined that the flag flag is 0, since the bank is currently selected by the category / bank changeover switch 20, the temporary memory 26 is set in accordance with the operation amount of the value operator 22 in the currently selected bank. The program number in the upper program number area is changed (step S30). Program change is performed so that the tone of the changed program number can be switched (step S32).
[0032]
If it is determined in step S28 that the flag flag is not 0, the category is currently selected by the category / bank changeover switch 20. Therefore, the operation amount of the value operator 22 is referred to the currently created database. Accordingly, the position in the category is changed, the position information in the position information area of the category on the temporary memory 26 is changed to the program number, and the program number corresponding to the position information is changed (step S34). A program change is performed so that the tone of the changed program number can be switched (step S36).
[0033]
Subsequent to step S32 or S36, when the flag flag is 0, the current program number is displayed on the display device 24, and when the flag flag is 1, the position within the current category is displayed (step (S38) This interrupt routine is terminated.
[0034]
As described above, the operation of the value operator 22 as a single operator can change the program number in the bank and the position information in the category, and it is necessary to provide a plurality of operators. Absent.
[0035]
Although not shown in the interrupt routine of FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, in the state where the head tone color in the bank or category is selected, the value in the direction of further decreasing the program number / category position number. When the operation element 22 is operated, the timbre is not switched (the operation of the value operation element 22 is ignored).
[0036]
Similarly, in the state where the last timbre in the bank or category is selected, if the value operator 22 is further operated to increase the program number / category position number, the timbre is not switched (value). The operation of the operation element 22 is ignored).
[0037]
In the timbre switching device of the above embodiment, each time a category is selected by the category / bank switch 20 based on the timbre in the timbre memory 8, a database corresponding to the selected category is created. A database may be created for each category in advance. This database can be created when the electronic musical instrument is turned on. Alternatively, every time a category is selected without creating a database, timbre data corresponding to that category may be searched.
[0038]
In the timbre switching device of the above embodiment, when the electronic musical instrument is turned off, the operation state of the category / bank changeover switch 20 and the value operator 22 is recorded, and the above operation state is displayed when the power is turned on. You may make it reproduce. Alternatively, when the power is turned on, the operation state of the category / bank switch 20 and the value operation element 22 may be recorded, and processing corresponding to the operation state may be performed.
[0039]
Further, the category information possessed by each tone color can be set freely by the user from the outside. Further, when the last program number of the bank is designated by the operation of the value operator 22, for example, the first program number is designated if the operation is continued as it is, or when the first program number is designated, the operation is performed as it is. If it continues, it is also possible to adopt a loop configuration so that the last program number is designated. Of course, when the final position information or the first position information of the category is specified, if the operation of the value operator 22 is further continued, the loop configuration is set so that the first position information or the final position information is specified. You can also.
[0040]
In the above-described timbre switching device, timbres grouped from two viewpoints of banks and categories are used. However, the viewpoints of grouping can be further increased. For example, a group for each specific folk instrument can be added. Moreover, in the above timbre switching device, the name of each bank and the name of the category are described at each switching position of the rotary switch. For example, bank names and category abbreviations may be written.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the timbre switching device according to the present invention, a desired group among a plurality of groups grouped from different viewpoints is selected only by the operation of the first operator that is a single operator. Therefore, many operators are unnecessary, and the configuration can be simplified. Further, according to the timbre switching device according to the present invention, since the first viewpoint is a plurality of small areas included in the memory area, it is not necessary to newly define the first viewpoint group. Further, since the second viewpoint group is defined by timbres having the same musical characteristics, it is possible to select timbres that are very sensory and easy to understand. Furthermore, according to the timbre switching device according to the present invention, the first viewpoint group and the second viewpoint group are indicated at positions corresponding to the operation positions of the first operator on the panel. Therefore, the currently selected group can be recognized from the current operation position, and there is no need to separately prepare a display device for displaying the group. Further, by looking at the operation position of the first operator on the panel, it is possible to instantaneously determine how far the first operator can be operated to select a desired group, and the operability is improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of an operation panel of a timbre switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the timbre switching device of FIG. 1;
3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a timbre memory and a database used in the timbre switching apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG.
4 is a diagram showing a temporary memory configured on the RAM of FIG. 2; FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing an interrupt processing routine executed by operating a category / bank switch in FIG. 1. FIG.
6 is a flowchart showing an interrupt processing routine executed by the operation of the value operator in FIG. 1. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
4 CPU (control means)
8 tone memory 20 category / bank switch (first control)
22 value operator (second operator)

Claims (3)

A timbre switching device capable of selecting a plurality of timbres,
A first operator for designating one of a plurality of groups obtained by grouping the plurality of timbres;
A second operator that is different from the first operator and designates one tone color in each group in a state where one group is designated by the first operator. And
Equipped,
The plurality of groups includes a plurality of first viewpoint groups in which the timbres are grouped from a first viewpoint , and a plurality of second viewpoints in which the timbres are grouped from a second viewpoint different from the first viewpoint. Including at least a group,
The plurality of timbres are always included in any one group of the plurality of first viewpoint groups, and at the same time, always included in any one group of the plurality of second viewpoint groups,
The first operator is one operator, and is a timbre switching device that designates any one of the plurality of first viewpoint groups or the plurality of second viewpoint groups. In the timbre switching device according to claim 1,
Comprising memory means for storing timbre data for generating musical tones of each timbre in a predetermined memory area;
The memory area has a plurality of small areas, and the timbre corresponding to the timbre data stored in each small area constitutes each group of the first aspect,
A timbre switching device, wherein timbres having the same musical characteristics constitute each group of the second aspect. In the timbre switching device according to claim 1 or 2,
The first operator specifies a group corresponding to the operation position by taking any one operation position among a plurality of operation positions.
A timbre switching device, wherein a notation indicating each of the first viewpoint group and the second viewpoint group is provided at a position corresponding to each operation position of the first operator on the panel.

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