JP4360212B2 - Karaoke equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for more appropriately performing adjustment related to a microphone for inputting a singing voice in a karaoke apparatus.

Conventionally, in a karaoke apparatus, a microphone for a voice input by a singer (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as “microphone” if necessary) is conventionally adjusted by a person (adjustment operator = adjustment work). The person who says "I'm testing the microphone right now" goes to the microphone and moves the knobs up and down while listening to his voice expanded through the karaoke device and the amplifier / speaker. The adjustment items mentioned here include microphone input level, high / low tone correction, echo strength, howling cut sensitivity, and the like. In particular, with respect to echo, the characteristics of reverberant sound can be adjusted as detailed items such as strength / depth / speed. As a technique of microphone adjustment in such a karaoke apparatus, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a technique for performing level adjustment according to the position of a microphone to suppress howling is known.
JP-A-6-75585

  In the case of a karaoke system, the type and arrangement of peripheral devices such as microphones, amplifiers, and speakers connected to the karaoke device itself are not always constant, and the size and reverberation characteristics of the installed room are also different. Time adjustment is very important for the operation of the karaoke business.

  However, in the case where the voice is uttered at the same time as the conventional method while the voice is uttered, the adjustment result cannot be heard objectively and the adjustment result becomes subjective. For this reason, there remains a question as to whether or not the adjustment result is appropriate, and appropriate adjustment is often difficult. This point will be further described with reference to FIG.

  As indicated by a broken line in FIG. 3, “adjustment sound (bone conduction sound) S <b> 1” that is transmitted directly from the vocal cords to the ear but is not audible to others by the adjusting operator M that emits a voice. And “air propagation sound S2” transmitted without passing through the device, “amplified direct sound S3” reaching directly to the ear out of the sound output from the speaker via the device, and the wall of the room among the output sound from the speaker The sound is heard in a mixed state with “amplified reflected sound S4” that reaches the ear after being reflected by W or the like. In the case of a karaoke device, it is necessary to consider entertainment as well, and it is necessary that the singer himself listens to his singing and feels comfortable. It should be noted. Here, when there is an audience as a third party, among the above-described transmission sound elements, only the loud direct sound S3, the loud reflection sound S4, and the “air propagation sound S2” can be heard, and the air propagation sound S2 is a singer. It depends on the amount of voice. At least the intracranial conduction sound S1 cannot be heard by the audience. Therefore, even if the adjustment worker M obtains an adjustment result that seems appropriate by the procedure described above, as long as the method of “listening to the voice at the same time while listening to the voice” is adopted, it is objective. It may not be an adjustment result, and for example, there may be a problem that echo is too effective, the balance between the music volume and the microphone volume is not good, or only the low sound is too strong.

It should be noted that if the adjustment workers work in pairs and work by dividing the role of making a voice and the role of adjusting the degree of the sound effect while listening to it (parameter adjustment), an appropriate adjustment value can be obtained. However, it is actually difficult to force two people to always be engaged in the installation work of the karaoke device in this way, and in fact, the somewhat unintentional installation adjustment work continues as described above. It is thought that the current situation is.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the karaoke apparatus which can perform the adjustment relevant to the microphone for inputting the singing voice in a karaoke apparatus more appropriately.

  The karaoke apparatus of the present invention, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, includes a storage means, a sound effect applying means, a mixing means, a recording control means, a reproduction control means, a receiving means, and a sound effect applying control. And performs the following operations.

That is, the recording control means can continuously store the audio signal input from the microphone for inputting the singer's voice in the storage means for a predetermined time . The audio signal (recorded audio signal) stored in the storage unit by the recording control unit is output to the acoustic effect applying unit by the reproduction control unit, and a predetermined acoustic effect can be applied by the acoustic effect applying unit. Here, the acoustic effect imparting means can adjust the degree of imparting the acoustic effect. Then, the sound effect applying control means controls the sound effect applying means so as to be in the sound effect applying state based on the sound effect applying adjustment instruction received by the receiving means. The sound signal to which the acoustic effect is imparted by the acoustic effect imparting means thus controlled is output to the mixing means. The mixing means mixes the audio signal with the karaoke accompaniment signal as necessary, and outputs it to the speaker side for generating an audible sound. Here, “if necessary” means that when the karaoke performance itself is not being executed, the karaoke accompaniment signal itself does not exist, so only the audio signal input from the microphone is output to the speaker side. It becomes. Normally, adjustment related to a microphone is performed without performing karaoke performance.

  In this way, an objective and appropriate microphone sound quality adjustment operation can be easily performed by one person. In other words, the adjustment worker first says to the microphone as before, “Now testing the microphone”. The audio signal input in this way is temporarily stored in the storage means. After that, the sound is output to the speaker side through the reproduction control means, the sound effect applying means, and the mixing means, and an audible sound is generated from the speaker. As a result, the adjustment worker can objectively listen to his / her voice. Then, an adjustment operator who wishes to change the degree of sound effect provision may give an adjustment instruction via the receiving means. Since the sound effect imparting control means controls the sound effect imparting means in response to this adjustment instruction, the adjustment operator can confirm the adjusted state with an audible sound generated from the speaker.

  Since the conventional method is “listening to the voice input by the user in real time from the speaker”, the adjustment operator adjusts the parameters each time while making a voice many times. In this case, it is divided into two stages of “recording one's own voice once” and “adjusting the sound effect while devoted to playback and listening”. Thereby, an objective and appropriate microphone sound quality adjustment work can be easily performed by one person.

  If the application of the acoustic effect is controlled digitally, the following may be performed. That is, the analog sound signal input from the microphone is converted into a digital sound signal by the AD conversion means, and the recording control means stores the digital sound signal output from the AD conversion means in the storage means. The sound effect applying means is configured to be capable of applying a predetermined sound effect to the digital sound signal and to adjust the degree of the sound effect, and to output the digital sound output from the sound effect applying means. The signal is converted into an analog audio signal by DA conversion means. Then, the mixing means mixes the analog audio signal output from the DA conversion means with the karaoke accompaniment signal as necessary, and outputs it to the speaker side.

By the way, there are various acoustic effect parameters, and it is assumed that the adjustment operation is not completed by one reproduction. In view of this, first, the recording control means is devised so as to execute the following control with respect to the audio signal input to the microphone. That is, when an instruction to start adjustment of acoustic effect is received by the receiving unit , the audio signal is updated and stored in the storage unit until the receiving unit receives an instruction to approve the microphone input level for the recorded audio signal. Then, the recorded voice signal is repeatedly reproduced for a predetermined time, and the microphone input level for the recorded voice signal stored in the storage means is determined by accepting the approval instruction . Further, a parameter storage means for storing the sound effect parameters is provided, and the sound effect imparting control means is devised so as to execute the following control. In other words, when an adjustment start instruction for sound effect provision is received by the reception unit, the sound is repeatedly reproduced for a predetermined time while the reproduction control unit repeatedly performs the reproduction until the adjustment end instruction is received after the above-described approval instruction is received. The sound effect parameters in the effect applying means are sequentially updated and stored in the parameter storage means. The “predetermined time” may be the same as or shorter than the length of the audio signal stored in the storage unit, for example. For example, if an audio signal for 5 seconds is stored, it may be reproduced repeatedly. In the meantime, various sound effect parameters are adjusted, and the sound effect parameters are successively updated and stored. When an adjustment end instruction is received from the adjustment worker who has finished the adjustment work, the reproduction of the stored audio signal is also ended. Since the sound effect parameters at this time are stored in the parameter storage means, when performing a karaoke performance, if the sound effect is stored using the sound effect parameters stored in the parameter storage means, an appropriate adjustment is made. Can be obtained. Specifically, when the karaoke application software, which is a standard operation of the karaoke apparatus, is executed, the sound effect imparting means imparts the sound effect to the sound signal using the sound effect parameter stored as the set value. It controls the degree.
In addition, it is good to devise so that an acoustic effect provision means may perform the following control until it receives the approval instruction | indication with respect to a sound recording signal as mentioned above. That is, the input level parameter adjustment instruction received by the receiving means is reflected on the audio signal. Further, the sound effect imparting means stores the adjusted input level parameter as a set value, and when the karaoke application software is executed, the sound with respect to the audio signal is stored using the input level parameter stored as the set value. It controls the degree of effect.
Further, when the karaoke application software is executed, when the sound effect parameter adjustment instruction is received by the reception unit, the sound effect imparting unit receives the sound received by the reception unit instead of the sound effect parameter stored as the set value. It is preferable to control the degree of the acoustic effect applied to the audio signal using the effect parameter.
Furthermore, when the karaoke application software is not executed, the sound effect applying means may control the degree of sound effect applied to the sound signal using the sound effect parameter stored as the set value.

Note that it is meaningless to always perform recording control by the recording control means and reproduction control of the recorded audio signal by the reproduction control means. That is, it suffices if recording control and playback control can be executed only during adjustment work. Therefore, it is conceivable that the execution is permitted only during the period from when the adjustment start instruction for sound effect provision is received by the reception unit until the adjustment end instruction is received.

  In addition, regarding such adjustment work, it is convenient to provide guidance on work contents to be executed by the adjustment worker from time to time. In view of this, it is further provided with notifying means for notifying at least one of display and sound, and guidance control means for notifying the work content to be performed by the adjustment worker in the adjustment work for applying the acoustic effect via the notifying means. It is good to do so. Since the sound is reproduced and adjusted, the notification method may be only display. This is because notification by display can be continued during voice reproduction, which is advantageous as a guidance function.

  In addition, it supplements about the acoustic effect parameter of adjustment object. Since the object to be adjusted in the present invention relates to the sound input via the microphone, it is considered that there is a great problem mainly due to the function of the microphone used and the environment of the sound field. Therefore, as the acoustic effect parameter to be adjusted, for example, a microphone input level, an echo, and a tone can be considered. When the microphone input level is relatively low due to the function of the microphone, it is preferable to relatively increase the level at the time of input. In addition, the echo tone may depend on the function of the microphone. Therefore, it is preferable that these acoustic effect parameters can be adjusted.

  However, it seems that the echo tone is highly dependent on the environment of the sound field. Therefore, depending on the magnitude of the reverberation level, it is preferable to perform adjustments such as adjustment of echo intensity, depth, and speed, and tone high tone correction and bass correction. The present invention is premised on a karaoke device, but the karaoke device is not always constant in peripheral devices such as a microphone, an amplifier, and a speaker connected to the device main body, the size of the installed room, reverberation characteristics, etc. Therefore, the adjustment work at the time of installation is important for the operation of the karaoke business. Therefore, it is very beneficial to be able to easily realize appropriate acoustic effect parameter adjustment according to the sound field environment.

  Moreover, when the recording control means, the reproduction control means, the sound effect imparting control means, and the guidance control means in the karaoke apparatus described above are realized by a computer, for example, it can be provided as a program executed by the computer. Such a program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a hard disk, a ROM, or a RAM, and is loaded into a computer for execution as necessary. The function as each control means can be realized by loading and executing the program.

  Embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the following examples, and can take various forms as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

[Configuration of karaoke equipment and peripheral equipment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a karaoke apparatus 1 as a content data reproducing apparatus of this embodiment and the configuration of peripheral devices during operation.

The karaoke apparatus 1 of the present embodiment visualizes the CPU 14 that controls the entire karaoke apparatus 1, the following units connected to the CPU 14, that is, the operation panel 10 for performing a song reservation operation, image information, and the like. A video processing unit 11 for recording, a hard disk (HDD) 13 for storing karaoke performance music data, video data and other various data, a memory 15 for storing system programs and setting data necessary for various settings, etc. , A MIDI sound source unit 17 that performs performance reproduction based on MIDI data (music data), a music volume circuit 19, a digital effect circuit 20, a microphone input level volume circuit 21, a PCM recording buffer 23, a PCM reproduction buffer 24, a microphone volume circuit 26, and Main volume circuit 28 and other configurations Then, the digital signal output from the MIDI sound source unit 17 is converted into an analog signal (hereinafter, the converted signal is also referred to as “analog music signal”) and output to the music volume circuit 19. Then, the analog signal output from the microphone input level volume circuit 21 is converted into a digital signal (hereinafter, the converted signal is also referred to as “digital microphone audio signal”), and the AD converter 22 capable of outputting to the PCM recording buffer 23. The digital signal output from the digital effect circuit 20 is converted into an analog signal (hereinafter, the converted signal is also referred to as “analog microphone audio signal”) and output to the microphone volume circuit 26, the DA converter 25, and the music volume. Analog music signal output from circuit 19 and microphone And a mixer 27 for outputting to the main volume circuit 28 mixes the analog microphone sound signal output from the volume circuit 26.

  The main volume circuit 28 is connected to an amplifier 30, and an electrical signal related to the audio information output from the main volume circuit 28 is amplified by the amplifier 30 and output to the speaker 32, and the accompaniment and user are output from the speaker 32. The singing voice of (singer) is emitted. The singing voice of the user (singer) is input to the microphone input level volume circuit 21 via a microphone (hereinafter simply referred to as a microphone) 33. The video processing unit 11 is connected to a monitor 36 that displays a background image, lyrics, and the like.

  Here, the operation panel 10 is provided on the front surface of the main body of the karaoke apparatus 1 and is operated by the user to select an arbitrary song, adjust the pitch of the performance sound, adjust the volume balance between the performance and the song, In addition, it has switches for making various adjustments such as echo, volume, and tone, and a display panel for displaying the currently playing song code, the number of reserved songs, and the like. As the display panel, for example, a display panel composed of 7-segment LEDs and capable of displaying 6-digit numbers and symbols can be considered.

  The HDD 13 stores music data, content data such as image information, and the like. When a song is selected via the operation unit of the operation panel 10, the CPU 14 calls the song data and image information from the HDD 13 and outputs them in synchronization with the video processing unit 11 and the MIDI sound source unit 17. ing.

  The MIDI data output from the CPU 14 is converted into an analog performance sound signal in the MIDI sound source unit 17, then converted into an analog music signal in the music DA conversion unit 18, output to the music volume circuit 19, and further a mixer 27 is output. Then, the signal is mixed with the analog microphone audio signal output from the microphone volume circuit 26 by the mixer 27, sent to the amplifier 30 via the main volume circuit 28, and electrically amplified. Furthermore, it is output from the amplifier 30 to the speaker 32 and is output as sound and performance sound from the speaker 32 to the outside.

On the other hand, the video processing unit 11 reproduces lyrics video based on image information (lyric data) read from the HDD 13 by the CPU 14 under the control of the CPU 14. Image information (background image data) read from the HDD 13 by the CPU 14 is combined with the lyrics video by the video processing unit 11 and output to the monitor 36. As a result, the lyrics telop is displayed on the screen of the monitor 36 together with the background video.
With this configuration, the user can sing using the microphone 33 in accordance with the karaoke performance that flows from the speaker 32 while referring to the lyrics telop displayed on the monitor 36.

  The music volume circuit 19, microphone input level volume circuit 21, and microphone volume circuit 26 are electronic volumes whose gain can be adjusted by parameter control by the CPU 14. For example, by passing 8-bit 256-level parameters, audio passing through It has the effect of increasing or decreasing the signal level. Among these, the microphone input level volume circuit 21 plays a role of appropriately adjusting different sensitivities depending on the product of the microphone 33 to be connected.

The analog signal output from the microphone input level volume circuit 21 is converted into a digital signal (digital microphone audio signal) by the AD conversion unit 22, and the digital microphone audio signal is, for example, “8 bits of 44.1 Khz”. A transmission format that has a sampling format and is commonly used includes SP / DIF (Sony Philips Digital Interface). It is conceivable that the digital audio signal handled here conforms to such a format.

  The digital effect circuit 20 is specifically realized by a DSP. There are various scales and uses such as programmable general-purpose DSPs and specialized ones for audio signals. Here, for example, it is conceivable to adopt an “audio DSP” that can adjust echo and tone. . This DSP receives sound quality parameters of echoes and tones under the control of the CPU 14, and processes (effects) the sound according to the parameters. In this embodiment, as an example, the DSP is defined as a DSP having input / outputs corresponding to the following five kinds of sound quality parameters.

Parameter 1 ... Echo strength (reverberation sound level) [0 to 128]
Parameter 2 ... echo depth (reverberation deviation) [0 to 128]
Parameter 3 ... echo speed (time until reverberation disappears) [0 to 128]
Parameter 4 Tone treble correction [−64 to 0 to +64]
Parameter 5: Tone bass correction [−64 to 0 to +64]
The digital effect circuit 20 performs processing according to the five types of sound quality parameters designated by the CPU 14. The digital audio signal subjected to the processing (if the parameters are all 0, the signal may be left unprocessed), and is converted back to an analog signal by the DA converter 25 as described above. Receives volume adjustment under control. The microphone volume circuit 26 is provided to balance the microphone sound and the reproduced accompaniment sound.

  On the other hand, the above-described music volume circuit 19 is also subjected to volume adjustment under the control of the CPU 14, and this music volume circuit 19 is provided in order to balance the microphone sound and the playback accompaniment sound in combination with the above-described microphone volume circuit 26. It has been.

  The analog music signal output from the music volume circuit 19 and the analog microphone audio signal output from the microphone volume circuit 26 are mixed by the mixer 27 and output to the main volume circuit 28. The main volume circuit 28 This is for adjusting the final volume of the karaoke apparatus 1.

  The microphone input sound is quantized by the AD conversion unit 22 and converted into a digital microphone sound signal. The PCM recording buffer 23 is a buffer that temporarily stores the digital microphone audio signal as digital data, and allows the temporarily stored digital data to be read in accordance with the operation of the CPU 14. By operating, the microphone input voice can be recorded as a recording data file on the HDD 13. As a recording format on the HDD 13, for example, a wav file format can be cited as an existing technology.

  On the other hand, the PCM reproduction buffer 24 is configured to reproduce the recorded sound as a digital sound signal by operating the player software on the recording data obtained as, for example, a wav file on the HDD 13 as described above.

Since it has a recording / reproducing function for such a digital microphone sound signal, the karaoke apparatus 1 can record and reproduce the sound from the microphone 33 and can record only the microphone sound. Furthermore, since recording / playback can be performed before the audio signal passes through the digital effect circuit 20, acoustic effects such as echoes and tones are later applied to the original audio that has been recorded once. It can be played many times with changing parameters.

  In the description so far, the number of channels is not particularly shown, but for example, the microphone system is often constituted by monaural and the music system is constituted by 2ch stereo. Of course, the number of channels is not limited to this.

It should be noted that software for various processing executed by the CPU 14 described above is also stored in the HDD 13 as a matter of course.
Although not shown, the karaoke apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is connected to a LAN hub apparatus via a LAN interface. An ADSL modem is connected to the LAN hub device, and is also connected to another karaoke device 1 installed in a separate room via a karaoke store LAN network. The ADSL modem has a built-in router function, and the karaoke apparatus 1 is configured to be able to communicate with the distribution center via the ADSL modem and the Internet. Thereby, the karaoke apparatus of a present Example can function as what is called a communication karaoke apparatus.
[Operation of karaoke equipment]
Next, the operation in the case of executing the acoustic effect adjustment for the microphone input sound using the karaoke apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
This acoustic effect adjustment is performed after the karaoke apparatus 1 and peripheral devices are carried into, for example, a karaoke box, the installation location thereof is determined, and the connection work between the karaoke apparatus 1 and peripheral devices is completed.

  First, it is determined whether or not there is an input from the operation panel 10 instructing start of adjustment (S10). If an adjustment start input is received (S10: YES), it is determined whether or not the karaoke mode is set (S15). Specifically, an affirmative determination is made in S15 when a karaoke reserved song is being input or when karaoke performance is started. If the karaoke mode is set (S15: YES), the processing of S210 to S240 is executed. These processes will be described later.

  On the other hand, if it is not the karaoke mode (S15: NO), the process proceeds to S20, and a message such as “Start microphone adjustment, proceed with the adjustment according to the guidance” is displayed on the monitor 36. In the subsequent S30, a message such as “Please speak a reference voice toward the microphone” is displayed. Note that supplementing the display in S20 and S30, for example, after displaying the message in S20 for a predetermined time (for example, 1 second), the message in S30 may be displayed instead of the message, or the message in S20 may be specified. After displaying the time (for example, for 1 second), the message in S30 may be displayed in addition to the message.

  The adjustment operator who sees the message displayed in S30 emits some sound toward the microphone 33, for example, “Ah, the microphone is being tested”. When the adjustment operator inputs an instruction to adjust the input level parameter in the microphone input level volume circuit 21 via the operation panel 10 together with this utterance, the instruction is reflected. Specifically, a +/- operation of a microphone input level adjustment value is input. In S32, the input status of the microphone input level parameter is checked. In subsequent S34, the microphone input level parameter is reflected in the microphone input level volume circuit 21.

Therefore, in S40, a process of digitally recording the emitted voice is executed. Since there is usually an interval between the start of message display at S30 and the time when the adjustment worker utters a sound, for example, a predetermined time (for example, 1 second) elapses from the start of message display at S30. The digital recording process may be started. S30
The message may be displayed continuously during the process of S40. However, since the reproduction process is performed in S50, the display is ended before the process of S50 is started.

  The digital recording process in S40 is continuously executed for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds). In this embodiment, this recording process is executed continuously for 5 seconds. However, this 5 seconds is 5 seconds as a temporary guide in consideration of promptly proceeding with the work while the change in volume is felt. However, for example, a desired length of recording may be performed by a stop operation performed by the adjustment operator from the operation panel 10. The recording data file obtained by the digital recording process in S40 is temporarily stored on the HDD 13 in preparation for reproduction. In this digital recording process, as described above, the PCM recording buffer 23 which is a buffer for sending the digital microphone sound signal quantized through the AD conversion unit 22 to the CPU 14 as digital data is used. The HDD 13 stores recording data as, for example, a wav file.

  When the digital recording process in S40 is completed, the process proceeds to S50 and the digital reproduction process is continuously executed for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds). In this digital reproduction process, as described above, the PCM reproduction buffer 24 that is configured to reproduce the recording data obtained as a wav file on the HDD 13 as a digital audio signal by the CPU 14 is used.

  When the digital reproduction process in S50 is completed, a message “Is this mic input level OK? YES / NO?” Is displayed on the monitor 36 in S60. Then, it waits for either YES / NO instruction by the key input on the operation panel 10 (S70), and when the key input indicates “NO”, the process proceeds to S80 and the message “Record again” is monitored. 36, and returns to S40. On the other hand, if the key input indicates “YES”, the process proceeds to S90. With this operation, the adjustment operator can confirm the recording result and perform adjustment of the microphone input level again as necessary.

  If the key input shows “YES” in S70, the recording of the reference voice is completed. In S90, “Please adjust the volume and sound quality while listening to the reference voice. Press the key to finish.” Is displayed on the monitor 36, and then the loop processing of S100 to S140 is started. The message in S90 may be always displayed on the monitor 36 during the execution of the loop processing of S100 to S140.

  In S100, the recording data obtained in S40 is reproduced for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds). During the reproduction, when the adjustment operator inputs the microphone volume level in the microphone volume circuit 26 or the adjustment instruction of the five kinds of sound quality parameters in the digital effect circuit 20 through the operation panel 10, the instruction is reflected. When instructing the adjustment of the five kinds of sound quality parameters, the five items of parameter 1... Echo intensity, parameter 2 .. echo depth, parameter 3 .. echo speed, parameter 4 .. tone high tone correction, parameter 5. Enter the item selection and +/- operation of the value. In S110, the input status of the microphone volume level and parameter adjustment instruction is checked, and in S120, the input is reflected in the microphone volume circuit 26 and the digital effect circuit 20.

In S130, the microphone input level input in S32 and reflected in S34, and the volume / sound quality parameter input in S110 and reflected in S120 are stored in the HDD 13 as parameters for imparting sound effects. In subsequent S140, it is determined whether or not an instruction to end the adjustment is input via the operation panel 10. If there is no instruction to end the adjustment (S140: NO), the process returns to S100 and the loop process is repeated. By such loop processing, it is possible to obtain the optimum microphone sound adjustment result by repeatedly adjusting the degree of application of the acoustic effect and confirming the result while reproducing the recorded sound. On the other hand, if there is an instruction to end adjustment (S140: YES), this application is terminated.

  When the karaoke application software, which is a standard operation of the karaoke device 1, is executed after the adjustment work of the degree of application of the sound effect is completed, the CPU 14 records the sound effect recorded in the HDD 13 in S130 of FIG. The degree of application of the acoustic effect in the microphone input level volume circuit 21, the microphone volume circuit 26, and the digital effect circuit 20 is controlled using the parameters for use.

  In addition, when the karaoke application software is executed, that is, when an affirmative determination is made in S15, the (conventional) sound effect adjustment can be performed. The process related to this adjustment corresponds to S210 to S240. In S210, the adjustment operator checks the input status of the volume / sound quality parameter adjustment instruction via the operation panel 10, and in S220, the input is reflected in the corresponding circuit.

  Here, the microphone input level and the sound quality parameter to be adjusted will be supplemented. Since the adjustment target is related to the sound input via the microphone 33, it is considered that there is a large problem mainly due to the function of the microphone used and the environment of the sound field. Therefore, the sound effect parameters to be adjusted may be related to volume and sound quality.

  When the microphone input level is relatively low due to the function of the microphone 33, it is preferable to relatively increase the level at the time of input. Therefore, the microphone input level volume circuit 21 is an adjustment target in S30 to S70. The recording data file obtained by performing the digital recording process in S40 is used as the reference sound. Since the volume of the reference sound cannot be dealt with in the adjustment processing stage of S90 to S140, the recording data file in S30 to S70 is used. Adjust at the stage of creation.

  Further, the volume can be adjusted even at the adjustment processing stage of S90 to S140. In this case, the adjustment target is the microphone volume circuit 26. Here, sound quality adjustment is also performed. That is, since the echo tone may depend on the function of the microphone 33, the digital effect circuit 20 is also an adjustment target. However, it seems that the echo tone is highly dependent on the environment of the sound field. Therefore, depending on the magnitude of the reverberation level, it is preferable to perform adjustments such as adjustment of echo intensity, depth, and speed, and tone high tone correction and bass correction. In the karaoke apparatus 1, peripheral devices such as the microphone 33, the amplifier 30, and the speaker 32 connected to the apparatus main body are not always constant (that is, the same product of the same manufacturer), and the size of the installed room, Since reverberation characteristics are different, adjustment work at the time of installation is important for the operation of the karaoke business. Therefore, it is very beneficial to be able to easily realize appropriate acoustic effect parameter adjustment according to the sound field environment.

  Further, as shown in S210 to S240, the volume and sound quality parameters can be adjusted even in the karaoke mode. However, in this case, since it is real-time adjustment, if someone other than the singer adjusts, it may be able to adjust appropriately, but if the singer adjusts while singing by himself, the conventional technology The problem described above occurs. Therefore, after the adjustment work in S20 to S140, if necessary, fine adjustment is performed by the microphone input level volume circuit 21 or the microphone volume circuit 26 if the volume is during karaoke performance, or by the digital effect circuit 20 if the sound quality. It is considered preferable to do this. However, if howling detection sensitivity is also included as an acoustic effect parameter, this howling detection sensitivity can only be adjusted in real time, and therefore it is necessary to perform this adjustment processing in S210 to S240.

  In this embodiment, the HDD 13 corresponds to “storage means”, and the digital effect circuit 20 corresponds to “acoustic effect applying means”. The mixer 27 corresponds to “mixing means”, and the operation panel 10 corresponds to “accepting means”. The CPU 14 corresponds to “recording control means”, “reproduction control means”, and “sound effect application control means”. Further, the CPU 14 corresponds to “guidance control means”. The AD converter 22 corresponds to “AD converter”, and the DA converter 25 corresponds to “DA converter”. The monitor 36 corresponds to “notification means”. Further, the process of S40 in FIG. 2 corresponds to the process as “recording control means”, the processes of S50 and S100 correspond to the process as “reproduction control means”, and the processes of S32, S33, S110, S120, and S130. Corresponds to processing as “acoustic effect imparting control means”.

[Effect of Example]
According to the karaoke apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, when the adjustment worker speaks to the microphone 33 such as “Now testing the microphone”, the input sound (reference sound) is converted into a digital sound signal and temporarily stored in the HDD 13. Remembered. Thereafter, the adjustment worker can objectively listen to his / her voice by outputting the stored audio signal as an audible sound from the speaker 32. Then, an adjustment operator who wishes to change the degree of sound effect (volume or sound quality) may give an adjustment instruction via the operation panel 10. In response to this adjustment instruction, the CPU 14 controls the microphone input level volume circuit 21, microphone volume circuit 26, and digital effect circuit 20, so that the adjustment operator can confirm the adjusted state with an audible sound generated from the speaker 32. . Since the conventional method is to “listen to the input voice from the speaker in real time”, the adjustment operator adjusts the parameters each time while speaking out many times. The example is divided into two stages: “Record your own voice once” and “Adjust the sound effect while devoting it to playback and listening”, so you can perform objective and appropriate microphone sound quality adjustment work alone. Can be carried out easily.

  In addition, it is assumed that the parameter adjustment work for imparting the sound effect does not end with one reproduction, but as described with reference to FIG. 2, the parameter adjustment can be performed while repeatedly reproducing the parameter. Can be adjusted to an appropriate state.

  It should be noted that such control that the sound input from the microphone 33 is once recorded and then adjusted while being played back is necessary only during such adjustment work, and may be executed during normal karaoke performance. has no meaning. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the adjustment start instruction is accepted via the operation panel 10 in the situation that is not the karaoke mode (S10: YES and S15: YES), and until the adjustment end instruction is accepted (S140: YES). To run.

In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in S20, S30, S60, S80, and S90 of FIG. 2, the contents of work to be executed by the adjustment worker at that time are displayed on the monitor 36 as a message for guidance. This is convenient.
[Another embodiment]
(1) In the above embodiment, the voice input from the microphone 33 is recorded once when it is not in the karaoke mode, and five types are listed as the sound quality parameters at the time of adjustment while being reproduced. However, all of these may not be targeted for adjustment. On the contrary, another parameter may be added as an adjustment target.

(2) In the above embodiment, the application of the acoustic effect is digitally adjusted, but the adjustment using the analog audio signal is not excluded. However, in recent years, it has become possible to record / reproduce digital audio signals without deterioration in audio equipment, and the degree of sound tuning that previously relied on the position of variable resistors in analog circuits has become a digital value. Therefore, it is considered that the realization and practicality when applied to the karaoke apparatus 1 are higher when digital adjustment is premised on the basis of the fact that it can be clearly recorded.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, the guidance at the time of the adjustment work is realized by displaying a message on the monitor 36. However, the notification may be made by voice. However, if the audio playback for adjustment and the audio playback for guidance are realized with the same output system, it is necessary to stop the audio playback for guidance during the audio playback for adjustment. Is suitable.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the karaoke apparatus 1 of an Example, and the structure of a peripheral device. It is a flowchart which shows the process which concerns on microphone sound quality adjustment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the problem at the time of the adjustment work of a conventional system.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Karaoke apparatus, 10 ... Operation panel, 11 ... Image processing part, 13 ... Hard disk, 14 ... CPU, 15 ... Memory, 17 ... MIDI sound source part, 18 ... DA converter part for music, 19 ... Music volume circuit, 20 ... Digital effect circuit, 21 ... Mic input level volume circuit, 22 ... AD converter 22 ... PCM recording buffer, 24 ... PCM playback buffer, 25 ... DA converter, 26 ... Mic volume circuit, 27 ... Mixer, 28 ... Main volume circuit 30 ... Amplifier, 32 ... Speaker, 33 ... Microphone, 36 ... Monitor.

Claims (5)

Storage means for storing a voice signal input from a microphone for inputting the voice of the singer;
A sound effect imparting means capable of imparting a predetermined sound effect to the audio signal and capable of adjusting the degree of the sound effect;
Mixing means for mixing the audio signal output from the acoustic effect applying means with the karaoke accompaniment signal as necessary, and outputting to the speaker side for generating an audible sound;
A receiving means for receiving various instructions by the user ;
Recording control means for continuously storing the audio signal in the storage means for a predetermined time;
Reproduction control means for outputting an audio signal (hereinafter referred to as a recorded audio signal) stored in the storage means by the recording control means to the acoustic effect applying means;
The sound for controlling the sound effect applying means to be in a sound effect applying state based on the sound effect applying adjustment instruction received by the receiving means with respect to the sound signal output to the sound effect applying means by the reproduction control means. An effect control means;
A karaoke device comprising:
When the recording control unit receives an instruction to start adjustment of acoustic effect by the receiving unit, the recording control unit updates the audio signal to the storage unit until the receiving unit receives a microphone input level approval instruction for the recorded audio signal. The reproduction control unit repeatedly reproduces the recorded audio signal for a predetermined time while storing the sound, and the microphone input level for the recorded audio signal stored in the storage unit is determined by accepting the approval instruction. Let
The sound effect applying means can store the adjusted sound effect parameter as a set value,
When the sound effect imparting control means receives the sound effect imparting adjustment start instruction by the accepting means, the sound recording sound signal is sent to the reproduction control means until the adjustment end instruction is accepted after the approval instruction is accepted. The sound effect parameters in the sound effect applying means are sequentially updated and stored while replaying for a predetermined time.
The recording control by the recording control unit and the reproduction control of the recorded audio signal by the reproduction control unit are executed only from when the adjustment start instruction for applying the acoustic effect is received by the reception unit until the adjustment end instruction is received. Is allowed,
Further, the sound effect imparting means controls the degree of sound effect imparted to the audio signal using the sound effect parameter stored as the set value when the karaoke application software of the karaoke apparatus is executed. Karaoke device. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1,
The sound effect applying means is
When receiving the adjustment start instruction for imparting sound effect by the receiving unit, until the approval instruction is received, the adjustment instruction of the input level parameter received by the receiving unit is reflected on the audio signal,
The input level parameter after adjustment can be stored as a set value.
When the karaoke application software is executed, the karaoke apparatus is characterized in that the degree of the acoustic effect applied to the audio signal is controlled using an input level parameter stored as the set value. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
In the case where the karaoke application software is executed, the sound effect providing means receives the sound effect parameter adjustment instruction by the receiving means instead of the sound effect parameter stored as the set value. If the karaoke application software is not executed, the sound signal is stored using the sound effect parameter stored as the set value when the karaoke application software is not executed. A karaoke apparatus characterized by controlling a degree of application of an acoustic effect to the sound. In the karaoke apparatus in any one of Claims 1-3,
further,
AD conversion means for converting an analog audio signal input from the microphone into a digital audio signal;
DA conversion means for converting the digital audio signal output from the acoustic effect applying means into an analog audio signal;
With
The storage means stores a digital audio signal output from the AD conversion means,
The acoustic effect imparting means can impart a predetermined acoustic effect to the digital audio signal, and can adjust the degree of imparting the acoustic effect,
The mixing means mixes the analog audio signal output from the DA conversion means with a karaoke accompaniment signal as necessary, and outputs the mixed signal to the speaker side.
The karaoke apparatus characterized in that the recording control means stores the digital audio signal output from the AD conversion means in the storage means. In the karaoke apparatus in any one of Claims 1-4,
further,
An informing means for informing at least one of display and sound;
Guidance control means for notifying the work content to be performed by the adjustment worker in the adjustment work for imparting the sound effect via the notification means;
A karaoke apparatus comprising:

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