JP5070908B2 - Automatic accompaniment generator for electronic musical instrument and computer program therefor - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic accompaniment generation apparatus that generates and outputs accompaniment sounds according to an arpeggio or an accompaniment style in an electronic musical instrument, and a computer program therefor.

As prior art document information related to the automatic accompaniment generating apparatus and the computer program of the present invention, for example, there is Patent Document 1 below.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-10445

In the invention described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of arpeggio pattern data defined by different pronunciation pattern data is stored, and a player selects one from each arpeggio pattern data, and uses an input operation unit (keyboard). When a performance is performed, the input performance contents are distributedly generated based on the selected arpeggio pattern.
Also, according to the composition of the music to be played, the arpeggio pattern being read can be switched to another arpeggio pattern during the arpeggio performance.
For example, you can use a quiet arpeggio pattern in the progress of a song, and change the arpeggio pattern to a more intense pattern as you move to a more intense part, so that you can perform an arpeggio performance that matches the atmosphere of the song. it can.
In addition, a pattern suitable for use in each part (each section) in the progression of the music is prepared, and the arpeggio performance may be switched by changing the pattern according to the transition of each section, so it is called section data There is also.

By the way, when the same section lasts for a relatively long time as the music progresses, the same arpeggio pattern is repeatedly used for a long time, resulting in a monotonous performance.
In such a case, you can improve the monotony by switching and playing the arpeggio pattern, but if you change the atmosphere of the arpeggio pattern, it will not match the atmosphere of the song, so it is relatively similar It is desirable to switch to the arpeggio pattern of the atmosphere.
However, a general electronic musical instrument is equipped with an operator for section switching, but it is necessary to prepare an operator for switching to an arpeggio pattern with a more similar atmosphere in smaller units than a section. This is not a good idea because of the setting area of the child and the complexity of the operation surface.
Also, the operation of the operation element for switching the arpeggio pattern is troublesome, and if it is frequently switched other than the section switching, the performance is supported.
Such a situation is not limited to an arpeggio performance, but also applies to automatic accompaniment in which accompaniment pattern data stored in advance is pitch-converted according to a specified chord.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic accompaniment generating apparatus in an electronic musical instrument that can perform a natural performance that is not monotonous even if the same arpeggio pattern or automatic accompaniment pattern is used for a long time, and a computer program thereof.

In order to achieve the above object, the technical means adopted by the present invention includes a plurality of pronunciation pattern data and pronunciation pattern designation data for designating the order of reproducing the pronunciation pattern data corresponding to the plurality of pronunciation pattern data. Automatic accompaniment pattern data storage means for storing a plurality of section data, section specifying means for selecting any one of the plurality of section data, and reproducing the plurality of pronunciation pattern data included in the selected section data Switching means for sequentially switching the order to be performed based on the pronunciation pattern designation data; and automatic accompaniment generation means for generating and outputting an automatic accompaniment sound based on the pronunciation pattern data switched by the switching means. An automatic accompaniment generator for an electronic musical instrument characterized by the above.

Further, each section data is preferably has a plurality of tracks including each a plurality of sound pattern data.

The section data further includes fill-in pronunciation pattern data for fill-in, and fill-in instruction means for instructing transition to the fill-in pronunciation pattern data, and according to the transition instruction to the fill-in, Temporary storage means for temporarily storing the order of the pronunciation pattern data reproduced at the time, and generating and outputting an automatic accompaniment sound based on the instructed fill-in pronunciation pattern data, and at the end of the fill-in pronunciation pattern data Accordingly, it is preferable to include control means for returning to the temporarily stored pronunciation pattern data and continuing to generate automatic accompaniment sounds.

A computer program applied to the automatic accompaniment generating device stores a plurality of section data including a plurality of pronunciation pattern data in a storage means, and generates an automatic accompaniment sound based on the stored pronunciation pattern data. In a computer program applied to an automatic accompaniment generating device for an electronic musical instrument to be output, a step of selecting any one of the plurality of section data and a plurality of pronunciation pattern data included in the selected section data are reproduced. determining an order, in order determined from the step of determining the order, the steps of switching the plurality of sound patterns data included in the section data sequentially, the sound pattern data is switched by the switching Ru step Based on this, an automatic accompaniment sound is generated and output. A computer program, which comprises the steps of, a.

The automatic accompaniment pattern data in the present invention means pattern data such as arpeggio pattern data and accompaniment style data such as a music genre.
One section data is, for example, main section data that is mainly played regularly in the music, intro section data that is played in the intro part of the music, or in the ending part of the music. Ending section data and the like, and a short phrase fill-in section that is played in a timely manner at the turn of the music.
The pronunciation pattern data is pattern data that defines variations of the arpeggio pattern and the accompaniment style pattern, and the pronunciation pattern data defines the section data.
The electronic musical instrument in the present invention is not limited to the type of electronic musical instrument such as an electronic keyboard musical instrument or an electronic string musical instrument as long as it is an electronic musical instrument having an automatic accompaniment generator.

  According to the present invention, it is not monotonous even if the use of the same arpeggio pattern or automatic accompaniment section continues for a long time without having to provide a large number of pattern switching operators or frequently performing switching operations during performance. A natural performance can be performed.

  The best mode for carrying out an automatic accompaniment generator in an electronic musical instrument according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic musical instrument.
The electronic musical instrument includes an input operation unit 1, a CPU 2, a ROM 3, a RAM 4, an external storage device 5, a communication interface (hereinafter referred to as “I / F”) 6, a display unit 7, and a sound source unit 8. Has been.
A display 71 is connected to the display unit 7, a sound system 81 is connected to the sound source unit 8, and an external device 61 such as a computer is connected via the communication I / F 6.

The input operation unit 1 includes a performance operator (for example, a keyboard) for inputting performance information and a plurality of various switches for inputting various settings.
The CPU 2 executes a control program stored in the ROM 3 or the external storage device 5 to control the entire electronic musical instrument, and functions as each unit described later.
The ROM 3 stores various data including various control programs executed by the CPU 2 and automatic accompaniment pattern data.
The RAM 4 temporarily stores various data including automatic accompaniment pattern data, various input information, calculation results, and the like.

The external storage device 5 is rewritable nonvolatile storage means for storing various application programs, automatic accompaniment patterns, switching timing information for each accompaniment pattern, automatic accompaniment pattern data, and the like.
Examples of the external storage device 5 include a flexible disk drive (FDD), a hard disk drive (HDD), a CD-R / RW drive, and a magneto-optical disk (MO) drive.
In these storage devices (drives), a storage device (for example, a disk-type storage device such as a flexible disk or a hard disk) in which data can be written and can be permanently stored is mounted or incorporated.
Note that the present invention is not limited to the disk-type storage device, and any storage device that can store data permanently (non-volatile) may be used. For example, a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory may be used.
As described above, the external storage device 5 can also store the control program executed by the CPU 1. If the control program is not stored in the ROM 6, the control program is stored in the storage device 5. By reading it into the RAM 4, it is possible to cause the CPU 1 to perform the same operation as when the control program is stored in the ROM 3.
In this way, control programs can be easily added and upgraded.

The communication I / F 6 is an interface for connecting an electronic musical instrument to an external device 61 such as a computer, and includes a MIDI (Musical Instruments Digital Interface) interface, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, a network interface, and the like.
Then, MIDI data, musical score data, remote control commands, etc. can be transmitted / received to / from the external device 61 via this.

The display unit 7 is a display control for displaying such information, a score, a message, a GUI (graphical user interface), and the like on a display 71 such as a liquid crystal display panel that displays an operation state and a setting state of the electronic musical instrument. The circuit is included.
The sound source unit 8 includes a sound generation control circuit that generates sound signals based on sound generation pattern data and performance data such as performance and automatic accompaniment, and outputs the sound signals to the sound system 81 for sound generation.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of automatic accompaniment pattern data for an electronic musical instrument.
The automatic accompaniment pattern data D exemplified in this embodiment is an arpeggio pattern, and is composed of a plurality of section data D1, D2,.
Here, the section means each part in the progress of the music, and the section data is pattern data suitable for being played in each part (section) in the progress of the music.
In other words, accompaniment that matches the atmosphere of the music can be performed by switching and using the section data according to the progress of the music.
Typical sections include intro section, main section, fill-in section, ending section, etc. Each section may have a variation pattern with different atmosphere (for example, A variation and B variation for the main section). it can.
Although not shown, a large number of such automatic accompaniment pattern data D is stored, and any one of the automatic accompaniment pattern data is selected and used for performance.
Each section data D1, D2 in the present embodiment designates (refers to or associates) any one or a plurality of pronunciation pattern data among separately stored pronunciation pattern data 1, 2, 30,. Each track is given track numbers 1 to 5, and basically, tracks with track numbers 1 to 4 are normal. Data for generating an automatic accompaniment, which is repeatedly read and reproduced until a section change is instructed.
The track T having the track number 5 is composed of the sound generation pattern designation data D3 for fill-in, and the fill-in is instructed by the manual operation of the input operation unit 1 during the performance of the normal tracks 1 to 4. Thus, a short phrase is usually entered during the performance of tracks 1 to 4.

Each of the sound generation pattern data D4 stored separately from the section data specified by the sound generation pattern specifying data D3 in each track T is composed of different sound generation patterns composed of data as shown in FIG. Each tone generation pattern data D4 is assigned a pattern data number (1 to 14, 20, 30 in the figure).
The pattern data number is managed by the pattern data number when specifying any pattern data in each track of the section data or when editing the contents of the pattern data.

In the sound generation pattern designation data D3 of each track T of the track numbers 1 to 4, the sound generation order number (indicated by 1 to 4 on the right side of each sound generation pattern designation data in the drawing) is the default or the player's It is given by arbitrary editing.
In this embodiment, the tracks T having track numbers 1 to 4 can be reproduced simultaneously (in parallel).
Each track T corresponds to each of four performance parts (for example, corresponding to each region when the performance operator (keyboard) is divided into four regions), and each track T is played ( The performance sound (pressed) is distributed according to the sound pattern data of the track corresponding to the performance part.
Then, the sound generation pattern data specified by one or more sound generation pattern specification data D3 in each track T is sequentially switched and reproduced in the order of the sound generation order number.
That is, taking the track 1 as an example, the sound generation pattern data 1 is designated for the first time, the sound pattern data 4 is designated for the second time, and the sound pattern data 6 is designated for the third time.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the specific structure of the sound generation pattern data D4 is as follows: Timing indicating the output timing of the sound generation data as a clock count, Gate indicating the sound length in the sound generation data, and Key indicating the key number for sound generation. , Oct indicating the octave correction amount of the key, and Vel data indicating the velocity in the sound generation data.
Each of these data may be preset in the electronic musical instrument, but may be edited so as to match the music atmosphere.
Specifically, in the present embodiment, the sound generation pattern in one measure of an eighth note when a quarter note is set to 480 clocks is illustrated, but for example, it is set to a quarter note or two or more measures. Or edit to change the numerical value of each data.
In addition to editing each sound pattern data D4, editing the automatic accompaniment data in the playback order, which sound pattern data D4 is assigned to each track T, that is, the pattern specified by the sound pattern specifying data D3 Editing such as how many data numbers are to be used, how many pronunciation pattern designation data numbers in the track T are to be performed, and editing of pronunciation order numbers may be performed together.
At the time of this editing, each data is displayed as visual information such as characters and symbols on the display 71. While viewing the displayed information, an editing operation from the input operation unit 1 allows output timing, The tone length, key, octave correction amount, velocity, setting of the value of the pronunciation pattern designation data D3 in each track, the number, the order of pronunciation, etc. are edited.
A plurality of pronunciation pattern data designated in one track is created or edited in advance so that the performance contents are similar to each other.
That is, a plurality of pronunciation pattern data specified in one track has a common musical atmosphere in order to improve the monotonousness due to the same section data being reproduced continuously for a long time. The performance content is different.
On the other hand, such a similarity is not required between a plurality of tracks included in one section data, and the musical atmosphere may not be similar at all. It is necessary to make it a performance content.
Further, when editing each data, it is possible to perform editing while listening to the sound in each data by performing a performance operation by the input operation unit 1.
After the editing is completed, the information on each data is updated by closing the display on the display 71 or by a predetermined updating operation.

Then, the edited section data is selected, and when the performance operation for inputting performance information is performed in the input operation unit 1, the output of the automatic accompaniment corresponding to the pattern and the operation state is instructed. That is, the sound system 81 sequentially outputs the sound data in the sound data list L as shown in FIG. 3B at the output timing specified by the Timing data.
The sound generation data is MIDI note-on data, and its constituent elements are a gate indicating a tone length, a note indicating a pitch (note number), and a Vel indicating a velocity. Timing indicates the timing at which the pronunciation data is generated.

The Gate and Vel in the pronunciation data list L use the Gate and Vel at each timing included in the pronunciation pattern data as they are, but the Note is different from this.
That is, a note number corresponding to the operation of the input operation unit 1 is assigned a key number in a predetermined order, for example, in order from the lowest sound, and the note number corresponding to the key number at each timing is octave corrected by the value of Oct. The number is “Note” in the pronunciation data.
For example, when a pattern 1 as shown in FIG. 3A is selected and a performance operation of C3, E3, and G3 is performed, key numbers 1, 2, and 3 are assigned to these, respectively.
In the sound generation data at timing 0000, the value of Note is C4 obtained by raising C3 of key number 1 by one octave.
In the sound generation data at the timing 0240, the value of Note is G3 of key number 3.
Note that the method of assigning key numbers is not limited to the above, and the predetermined order may be the order in which the sounds are high or the operation order.
If the number of performance operations does not match the number of key numbers included in the pronunciation pattern data, the key numbers may be assigned to appropriate note numbers derived from the operation state.
In this way, the sound data for accompaniment is sequentially output. When the end of the sound pattern data is reached, the sound pattern data of the next order based on the pattern sound order is reproduced from the head.
Then, when the end of the last-ranked sound generation pattern is reached, the sound pattern returns to the head-ranked sound pattern, and output of similar sound data is repeated periodically while the performance operation continues.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing in which the CPU 2 of the present embodiment performs automatic accompaniment generation control.
Basically, automatic accompaniment is performed by executing a predetermined control program based on the selected section, the sound pattern data in the track in the section, and the input performance information.

  Specifically, each section data in the automatic accompaniment pattern data selected and read in step S1 is referred to, and in step S2, the association (designation) of the pronunciation pattern designation data in each track of each section data is changed. In step S3, each track is edited (change of the pattern data number designated by the pronunciation pattern designation data, change of the number of pronunciation pattern designation data in the track, change of the pronunciation pattern playback order, etc.), and the result is stored. In the subsequent automatic accompaniment, if the edited pronunciation pattern designation data is reflected in the automatic accompaniment and is not changed, the pronunciation pattern data in each section data in the read automatic accompaniment data is Reflected.

  Next, in step S4, any section data is selected. If section data is selected here, the section data selected in step S5 is stored as a designated section, and this selection is performed in the subsequent automatic accompaniment. If the selected section data is reflected and no section data is selected, section data 1 is stored as a designated section in step S6, and this section data 1 is reflected in the subsequent automatic accompaniment.

Next, when a performance operation is performed by the performer or an automatic accompaniment start instruction is issued, in step S7, an automatic accompaniment generation start is instructed by the operation, and the performance operation and the above-described step S5 or step S6 are performed. In step S8, automatic accompaniment generation is started based on the contents of the section data specified in step S8.
In step S7 and subsequent steps, it is assumed that the performance operation information for automatic accompaniment stores the latest state for each performance operation.

Next, in step S9, if there is an instruction to end automatic accompaniment generation, the automatic accompaniment generation process ends in step S10.
If there is no instruction to end automatic accompaniment generation in step S9, a fill-in operation instruction is detected in step S11.
The instruction to end the automatic accompaniment generation is not only for instructing the end of only the automatic accompaniment by the operation of the automatic accompaniment end switch etc. It shall also indicate the case of termination immediately.
In such a case, the automatic accompaniment is immediately terminated regardless of the switching timing.

When fill-in is instructed in step S11, in step S12, the pronunciation pattern numbers in the order that are currently the targets of automatic accompaniment are temporarily stored, and automatic accompaniment generation based on the pronunciation pattern data is temporarily suspended.
Then, in step S13, the automatic accompaniment generation for one loop is started based on the performance operation and the sound generation pattern data for fill-in on the track 5, and when the automatic accompaniment generation for one loop is completed, the performance operation is performed in step S14. Automatic accompaniment generation is resumed based on the pronunciation pattern data of the temporarily stored number.
If fill-in is not instructed and automatic accompaniment generation in step S14 is resumed, if section data is selected in step S15, the section data subjected to the selection operation in step S16 is the designated section. Is done.
In step S17, the pronunciation pattern data in which the rank is “1” in each track of the designated section is set as an automatic accompaniment target in each track.
After step S15 or step S17, when the reading of the accompaniment pattern data currently being reproduced in step S15 is completed for one loop (until it reaches the end), it is switched to the pronunciation pattern data of the next pronunciation order number in each track, On the basis of the performance operation and the switched pronunciation pattern data, automatic accompaniment generation is started from the head of the switched pronunciation pattern data, and from step S9 to step S15 until an automatic accompaniment generation end instruction is issued in step S9. Control the routine to repeat.

In the present invention, the pronunciation pattern data associated with each section data may be associated with section data having other automatic accompaniment pattern data, for example.
In this embodiment, sound pattern data is switched for each loop, but may be arbitrarily selected and set, for example, every two loops or every few bars.
Further, ON / OFF may be designated for the sound pattern data switching function, and this ON / OFF switching may be performed in a unit of sections or in units of tracks.
Further, the automatic accompaniment pattern data may be stored in a plurality of types of devices, or may be in a form referred to through an external storage device or a network.
In addition, although the order of switching the pronunciation pattern data is designated by the user in the embodiment, for example, the order of registration, the order of the numbers and names of the pronunciation pattern data, or the order may be random.
In this embodiment, one fill-in sound pattern data is associated with one section. However, a plurality of fill-in sound pattern data may be associated with a section.
In this embodiment, when the operation of the input operation unit of the electronic musical instrument is detected, the sound pattern data for fill-in is switched. However, the switch to the sound pattern data for fill-in is performed, for example, by the user. The performance state (velocity, etc.) may be determined and switched, or may be set to switch once to several measures.
Also, in this embodiment, all the pronunciation pattern data associated with each track is assigned a pronunciation order number and is subject to automatic accompaniment generation, but only a part of the associated pronunciation pattern data is a pronunciation order number. In this case, only the pronunciation pattern data with the pronunciation sequence number is the source of automatic accompaniment generation.
In the present embodiment, one or a plurality of accompaniment patterns included in each track is a method of designating the number of pronunciation pattern data stored separately using the pronunciation pattern designation data. It is good also as a system which memorize | stores the substance of pronunciation pattern data in it.
In addition, when automatic accompaniment generation ends or when a fill is interrupted, the automatic accompaniment sound in the middle of sounding may be interrupted immediately, or only the sound that is currently sounding may be played to the end, or the sound pattern data For example, you may be allowed to play to a point where measures such as measures and beats are good.
In this embodiment, the player's performance operation information to be referred to when generating the automatic accompaniment is input by operating the input operation unit of the electronic musical instrument. However, the input of this performance operation information has already been stored. The performance information may be read out and acquired.
In this embodiment, the automatic accompaniment generator is applied to an electronic musical instrument. However, the automatic accompaniment generator is configured as a sound source device that receives remote control from an external device such as a dedicated device other than an electronic musical instrument or a general-purpose personal computer. The present invention can also be applied to an automatic accompaniment generator or its control program.

The block diagram which shows one form of schematic structure of the automatic accompaniment apparatus in the electronic musical instrument which concerns on this invention. The block diagram which shows one form of automatic accompaniment pattern data. (A) The block diagram of the pronunciation pattern data memorize | stored in the track in automatic accompaniment pattern data, (b) The block diagram which shows one form of the accompaniment data which an accompaniment data generation part produces | generates based on it. It is a flowchart which shows the process regarding the automatic accompaniment production | generation control which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1: Input operation unit 2: CPU
3: ROM
4: RAM
5: External storage device 6: Communication interface 7: Display unit 8: Sound source unit 9: Bus 9
61: External device 71: Display 81: Sound system

Claims (4)

Automatic accompaniment pattern data storage means for storing a plurality of section data including a plurality of pronunciation pattern data and pronunciation pattern designation data for designating the order of reproducing the pronunciation pattern data corresponding to the plurality of pronunciation pattern data ;
Section specifying means for selecting any of the plurality of section data;
Switching means for sequentially switching the order of reproducing the plurality of pronunciation pattern data included in the selected section data based on the pronunciation pattern designation data ;
Automatic accompaniment generating means for generating and outputting an automatic accompaniment sound based on the pronunciation pattern data switched by the switching means;
An automatic accompaniment generator for an electronic musical instrument characterized by comprising: Wherein each section data, automatic accompaniment generator in an electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a plurality of tracks including each a plurality of sound pattern data. The section data further includes fill-in pronunciation pattern data for fill-in,
Fill-in instruction means for instructing transition to the fill-in pronunciation pattern data;
In response to the instruction to shift to the fill-in, temporary storage means for temporarily storing the order of the pronunciation pattern data reproduced at that time, and automatic accompaniment sounds are generated and output based on the instructed fill-in pronunciation pattern data In addition, in response to the end of the fill-in pronunciation pattern data, the control means returns to the temporarily stored pronunciation pattern data and continues to generate automatic accompaniment sounds;
The automatic accompaniment generator for an electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, comprising: A plurality of section data each including a plurality of pronunciation pattern data is stored in the storage means, and is applied to an automatic accompaniment generator in an electronic musical instrument that generates and outputs an automatic accompaniment sound based on the stored pronunciation pattern data. In a computer program,
Selecting any of the plurality of section data;
Determining an order of reproducing a plurality of pronunciation pattern data included in the selected section data;
Sequentially switching a plurality of pronunciation pattern data included in the section data in the order determined by the step of determining the order;
Based on the sound pattern data is switched by the switching Ru step, a step of generating and outputting an automatic accompaniment sound,
A computer program comprising:

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