JP5420611B2 - Karaoke equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus for reproducing karaoke music data.

  A technique for variably controlling the playback speed when playing back karaoke song data is already known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). For example, when the user performs an appropriate speed control operation on the high-speed playback side, the playback speed of the karaoke song data increases in response to the operation. Conversely, when the user performs an appropriate speed control operation toward the low-speed playback side, the playback speed of the karaoke song data decreases in response to the operation.

JP 2010-197867 A

  In recent years, in the karaoke apparatus as described above, it has been considered to provide a musical instrument player with a reproduction service of karaoke music data. A user who is a musical instrument player can practice the musical instrument or enjoy an ensemble of the entire karaoke musical piece by playing the musical instrument in accordance with the reproduced karaoke musical piece.

  Here, in the case of a normal usage mode in which the user sings along with the reproduction of the music, in the speed control operation of the karaoke music data, it is often sufficient to finely adjust the speed so that the user can easily sing. For this reason, an extremely large speed change is not required. On the other hand, when the user as a musical instrument player plays the musical instrument in accordance with the reproduction of the music as described above, when the proficiency of the musical instrument player is low in the speed control operation of the karaoke music data. There is a demand for users to make a large speed change instead of a fine adjustment, such as extremely slowing down.

  In the prior art described above, no particular consideration has been given to the case where the musical instrument player is a user as described above. For this reason, there is a possibility that the playback speed cannot be changed as much as desired by the musical instrument player, and there is a concern that convenience may be lowered.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a karaoke apparatus capable of greatly changing the playback speed to the extent desired by the user even when the musical instrument player is a user and improving convenience. There is.

In order to achieve the above object, the first invention provides a playback means for playing back music data, a musical instrument performance mode that enables the playback of the music data by the playback means, or a performance by a musical instrument. When switching to the singing mode that does not correspond to, the setting means for variably setting the reproduction speed for reproducing the music data within a predetermined control width, and the instrument performance mode, controlling the playback speed in large the control range than when being switched to the singing mode, the first control means, the possess, the music data, music is played along playing the music data When the music data is associated and the music data is reproduced by the reproducing means, the score data associated with the music data is difficult. Determining means for determining the degree, wherein the first control means is switched to the musical instrument performance mode, and when the difficulty of the score data is higher than a predetermined threshold value by the determining means; If it is determined, the playback means is controlled so as to slow down the playback speed compared to a case where the difficulty level of the score data is determined to be lower than a predetermined threshold value. To do.

  The karaoke apparatus of the first invention of the present application is provided with a reproducing means for reproducing karaoke music data. The playback speed of the karaoke song data in the playback means is variably controlled by the first control means based on the setting of the setting means. For example, when the user performs an appropriate speed control operation on the high-speed playback side, the playback speed of the karaoke song data is increased according to the speed control instruction signal corresponding to the operation. Conversely, when the user performs an appropriate speed control operation toward the low speed playback side, the playback speed of the karaoke song data is slowed down in accordance with the speed control instruction signal corresponding to the operation.

  On the other hand, the karaoke apparatus according to the first invention of the present application is provided with two operation modes: a musical instrument performance mode in which a musical instrument player as a user can perform with a musical instrument, and a singing mode that does not support performance with a musical instrument. Yes. Regardless of the mode, the reproduction speed can be changed by the speed control instruction signal.

  Here, when the user sings along with the playback of the music, the speed control operation of the karaoke music data needs to be adjusted so that it is easy to sing, that is, it is sufficient to make fine adjustments. No change is required. On the other hand, when a musical instrument player as a user plays a musical instrument in accordance with the playback of the music, in the speed control operation of karaoke music data, for example, when the user's proficiency level is low, it is extremely slow. In some cases, a large speed change is required instead of fine adjustment.

Therefore, in the first invention of the present application, based on the setting of the setting means, the first control means makes the playback speed control range larger in the musical instrument performance mode than in the singing mode. Accordingly, when a musical instrument player as a user plays a musical instrument, the reproduction speed can be reliably changed greatly as necessary. As a result, user convenience can be improved. In the first invention of the present application, the musical score data of the musical instrument performance part is associated with the karaoke piece data. Thus, when the karaoke song data is reproduced, for example, the display means displays a score corresponding to the song, so that a musical instrument player as a user can perform while viewing the score. At that time, if the performance of the performance is relatively high, such as when the content of the score data is complex, it will be difficult for the musical instrument player to perform at the same playback speed as when playing other music. There is a possibility. Therefore, in the first invention of the present application, when the difficulty level of the score data is higher than a predetermined threshold value as determined by the determination means, the first control means determines that the difficulty level of the score data is higher than the predetermined threshold value. Compared to the case where it is determined that the playback speed is low, the playback speed is slowed down. As a result, even if the music is relatively difficult to play, it is easier for a musical instrument player as a user to perform, and the convenience can be further improved.

  In a second aspect based on the first aspect, the setting means sets the playback speed to be variable in a plurality of steps within a predetermined control width, and the first control means is switched to the instrument performance mode. If it is, the playback speed is variably controlled at a larger change rate than when the mode is switched to the singing mode.

  As a result, when a musical instrument player as a user plays the musical instrument, the reproduction speed can be reliably changed greatly with a relatively small speed control operation. As a result, user convenience can be further improved.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, as the music data, storage means for storing raw sound data corresponding to reproduction using a raw sound source and MIDI music data using a MIDI sound source, and the musical instrument When switched to the performance mode, control is performed to cause the reproduction means to reproduce the MIDI music data of the music stored in the storage means instead of the raw sound data of the music reproduced by the reproduction means. And a second control means.

  Raw sound data for reproducing music using a raw sound source may significantly deteriorate the sound quality if the reproduction speed is changed too much. Accordingly, in the third invention of the present application, corresponding to this, the raw sound data is not used in the musical instrument performance mode in which the reproduction speed may greatly change as described above. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent deterioration in sound quality of music playback when the user performs a musical instrument performance.

  According to the present invention, even when the musical instrument player is a user, the playback speed can be changed greatly to the extent desired by the user, and convenience can be improved.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the main structures of the karaoke apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the front panel of a musical instrument connection board. It is explanatory drawing of the front panel of the control apparatus with which the karaoke apparatus was equipped. It is a functional block diagram which shows the main structures of the control system of a control apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the main structures of the music data transmitted to a control apparatus from a server. It is explanatory drawing of a speed control table. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content performed by CPU at the time of the music reproduction by a karaoke apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content performed by CPU by the mode setting process of step S100 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content performed by CPU by the performance speed setting process of step S200 of FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The karaoke apparatus 10 of the present embodiment is provided with two modes, an instrument performance mode and a singing mode, as operation modes when reproducing music data (described later). The musical instrument performance mode is a mode that enables a user to perform with a musical instrument. The singing mode is a singing mode corresponding to singing by the user without performing musical instrument performance. In this example, in the musical instrument performance mode, in order for the user to play the electric guitar along with the performance of the karaoke device, the user intends to reproduce the karaoke music data in the minus one state excluding the electric guitar music part. I will explain.

<Main configuration>
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the main configuration of the karaoke apparatus of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a karaoke apparatus 10 includes a monitor television (hereinafter abbreviated as a monitor) 13 (display means), a singer's monitor 14 (display means), a musical instrument connection board 8, and a control device. (Commander) 20 is provided. The monitor 13 displays a lyrics telop showing lyrics, a background video displayed on the background of the lyrics telop, a video showing a song selection number, and the like on the CRT. The musical instrument connection board 8 is for connecting an electronic musical instrument such as an electric guitar 4 or an electric bass guitar. The control device 20 selects a song for karaoke (karaoke song; hereinafter, abbreviated as “song” as appropriate) composed of musical sounds of a plurality of musical instruments, music selection control such as reservation of reproduction of the song, and the selected song. Communication control such as transmission of a request signal indicating a transmission request to the server, reception of music data (music data) corresponding to the music indicated by the request signal, MIDI as musical tone type designation information included in the received music data Of the data, the MIDI data specifying the sound source of the same type of instrument as the instrument connected to the instrument connection board 8 is deleted.

  Further, in this example, the karaoke device 10 includes an amplifier 16, a set of floor type speakers 11, 11, a set of speakers 12, 12 for hanging the ceiling, and a remote controller for remotely operating the control device 20. 60. The amplifier 16 mixes the musical instrument performance signal input from the musical instrument connection board 8, the audio signal input from the microphones 17 and 18, and the reproduction signal of the music, the volume balance between the audio and the music, the echo adjustment, the delay adjustment, and the mixing. It performs signal amplification, pitch control of the music to be played, that is, key control, treble and bass control, that is, tone control. The floor type set of speakers 11 and 11 and the ceiling set of speakers 12 and 12 reproduce the amplified signal output from the amplifier 16 as sound.

<Musical instrument connection board>
The configuration of the musical instrument connection board 8 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the front panel of the musical instrument connection board 8. As shown in FIG. 2, a power button 81 for starting up the power source of the musical instrument connection board 8 is provided on the upper left of the front panel of the musical instrument connection board 8. On the right side of the power button 81, a horn jack 82, a horn jack 83, a horn jack 84, a horn jack 85, and a jack 86 are provided. The horn jack 82 is a connection terminal for connecting a horn plug which is an output terminal of the electronic drum. The horn jack 83 is a connection terminal for connecting a horn plug of a keyboard. The horn jack 84 is a connection terminal for connecting a horn plug of an electric bass guitar. The horn jack 85 is a connection terminal for connecting a horn plug of the electric guitar 4. The jack 86 is a connection terminal to which a plug of a tuning meter serving as a pitch display means for displaying the pitch of a musical instrument with an LED is connected.

<Connection of horn jack>
A connection relationship between an expansion I / O port (not shown) provided inside the musical instrument connection board 8 and each horn jack 82 to 85 will be described. In addition, since the connection of the musical instrument to each horn jack 82-85 is respectively the same, the case where the electric guitar 4 is connected to the horn jack 85 is demonstrated here as a representative. The horn jack 85 is provided with a switch that is turned on when the horn plug of the electric guitar 4 is inserted and turned off when the horn jack 85 is detached. The switch is connected to the detection port for the electric guitar of the extension I / O port. For example, a DC voltage of 5V is applied to the switch.

  When the plug of the electric guitar 4 is inserted into the horn jack 85, the switch is turned on, and the voltage appearing at the detection port for the electric guitar of the expansion I / O port is from 0V (low level) to 5V (high level). To change. This change is detected by a CPU 45 (described later) provided in the control device 20 via an output terminal on the back surface of the musical instrument connection board 8. Thus, the music data is reproduced in the minus one state excluding the music part of the electric guitar under the control of the CPU 45 (details will be described later). On the other hand, the performance signal output from the electric guitar 4 is output to the output terminal on the back surface of the musical instrument connection board 8 via the horn plug, and this output performance signal is mixed in the mixing circuit 9 built in the amplifier 16 described later. Is input.

  Similarly, the performance signal of the electronic drum is input via the horn jack 82 to the corresponding detection port of the expansion I / O port. The keyboard performance signal is input to the corresponding detection port of the expansion I / O port via the horn jack 83. The performance signal of the electric bass guitar is input to the corresponding detection port of the expansion I / O port via the horn jack 84. Furthermore, the horn jacks 84 and 85 are connected to a jack 86 for connecting a tuning meter so that the pitch of the electric bass guitar and the electric guitar can be tuned.

  As described above, the musical instrument connection board 8 serves to detect that the horn plug of each musical instrument is connected and to output the performance signal of the connected musical instrument to the mixing circuit 9.

<Outline of control device>
The equipment of the control device 20 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the front panel of the control device 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the front panel of the control device 20 has a numeric keypad 21 including buttons 0 to 9 for inputting the music selection number of the music to be selected, and a music selection button 22 for confirming the music selection. Is provided. On the numeric keypad 21, there is provided a music selection number display 23 for displaying the music selection number of the selected music in LED with a 6-digit number.

  Further, on the left side of the music selection number display 23, there is provided a reserved music number display 24 for displaying the number of songs reserved for reproduction by LED. Below that, a cancel button 25 for canceling the reservation and a performance stop button 26 for stopping the performance are provided. In addition, a re-song button 27 for re-sung from the beginning during singing and an interrupt button 28 for interrupting and reserving between reserved songs are provided. Further, a light receiving unit 38 that receives an optical signal transmitted from the remote controller 60 is provided at the upper left of the front panel. On the lower left of the front panel, a power button 39 for turning on the power of the control device 20 is provided.

  Further, to the right of the numeric keypad 21, a minus key 29 for controlling the speed of the music to be played back slowly, a standard key 30 for controlling the speed of the music to be played back as standard, and a speed of the music to be played back are controlled quickly. A plus key 31 is provided. Below these keys are a vocal button 32 that sets the volume of the vocal melody line, a 2 chorus cut button 33 that plays up to the 2nd chorus, and a follower cut button 34 that cuts the posterior part of the song. Is provided. Furthermore, below these buttons, a karaoke switching button 35 for switching between karaoke and BGM, and an input for switching the data input via the LAN line 15 (see FIG. 1) from song data to cable broadcasting, TV broadcasting, etc. A switching button 36 is provided. In addition, a service button 37 is provided for switching the display of the monitors 13 and 14 to the display of service information provided by a karaoke box or the like.

<Electrical configuration>
The electrical configuration of the control device 20 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the main electrical configuration of the control system of the control device 20. The control device 20 includes a CPU 45 that executes the various controls according to a program. A RAM 46 and a ROM 47 are connected to the CPU 45. The RAM 46 temporarily stores data transmitted from the remote controller 60, music selection number data indicating the music selection number of the selected music, music selection number data of the reserved music, and the like. The ROM 47 stores a program executed by the CPU 45, a data table used for execution, and the like.

  The CPU 45 is connected with a video RAM 48, a LAN board 50, and a RAM 49 (storage means). The video RAM 48 stores character video data for displaying lyrics telop and various message videos on the monitors 13 and 14. The LAN board 50 is for receiving music data transmitted from the server 58. The RAM 49 temporarily stores music data 100 (see FIG. 5 described later) received by the LAN board 50. In the present embodiment, the song data 100 includes song data 100A for sound generation by a normal MIDI sound source, song data 100B for performing high sound quality reproduction generated by recording live performances as data, Are included (details will be described later).

  Further, a MIDI sound source board 51 and a raw sound source board 80 are connected to the CPU 45. The MIDI sound source board 51 inputs MIDI data 120 (see FIG. 5 to be described later) included in the music data 100A read from the RAM 49, and receives a sound source signal from the sound source specified by the input MIDI data 120. Output. The raw sound source board 80 inputs the raw sound data 122 (see FIG. 5 described later) included in the music data 100B read from the RAM 49, and receives a sound source signal from the sound source specified by the input raw sound data 122. Output. In addition, an audio control circuit 52 and a CD-ROM player 53 are connected to the CPU 45. The audio control circuit 52 receives the output sound source signal and converts it into a signal that can be amplified by the amplifier 16. The CD-ROM player 53 reads background video information 114 and title image information 116 (see FIG. 5 described later) included in the song data 100.

  In addition, a video control circuit 54 is connected to the CPU 45. The video control circuit 54 inputs background video data read from the CD-ROM player 53 and lyrics information 118 (see FIG. 5 described later) included in the song data 100 read from the RAM 49. Then, the video control circuit 54 creates video in which the lyrics telop is superimposed on the background video displayed on the display screen of the monitor 13 or changes the color of the lyrics telop as the music progresses. I do.

  Further, the conversion circuit 55, the LED as the music selection number display body 23, the reserved music number display body 24, the display circuit 56, and the input circuit 57 are connected to the CPU 45. The conversion circuit 55 converts the optical signal received by the light receiving unit 38 into a digital signal. The LED is turned on when various buttons and keys such as the numeric keypad 21 and the music selection button 22 provided on the front panel of the control device 20 are pressed. The display circuit 56 outputs a display signal to the LED. The input circuit 57 inputs a switching signal generated when the various buttons and keys are pressed. The speakers 11, 12, the amplifier 16, the audio output terminal 41, and the audio control circuit 52 described above function as reproducing means described in each claim.

<Song data>
The main structure of the music data 100 (100A, 100B) transmitted from the server 58 to the control device 20 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram showing the main configuration of the music data 100A. The music data 100A is music data of normal sound quality that does not include the raw sound data 122. The song data 100A includes a header 112, background video information 114, title image information 116, lyrics information 118, and MIDI data 120a, that is, normal data not for backup (details will be described later). FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram showing the main configuration of the music data 100B. This music data 100B is high-quality music data including raw sound data. The song data 100B includes the header 112, the background video information 114, the title image information 116, the lyrics information 118, and the raw sound data 122 generated by converting the recorded live performance into data, that is, normal data and raw sound data. MIDI data 120b for backup. That is, in the music data 100B, the raw sound data 122 is normally used for music reproduction, but it is difficult to reproduce the raw sound data 122 for some reason. The backup MIDI data 120b is provided for alternative reproduction so as to be possible. In the present specification, the MIDI data 120a and the raw sound data 122 are collectively referred to as “normal data” as appropriate in order to contrast with the MIDI data 120b functioning as a backup. Note that the music selection number of the music data 100A may be stored in the header 112 of the music data 100B, and in the musical instrument performance mode, the music selection number of the music data 100A stored in the header of the music data 100B may be read.

<Remote control>
The remote controller 60 is provided with a music selection number display section, a karaoke switching button, an external video button, and a game button. The music selection number display section displays the music selection number on a liquid crystal with a backlight. The karaoke switching button has the same function as the karaoke switching button 35 of the control device 20, and the external video button has the same function as the input switching button 36 of the control device 20. The game button is for switching to a state in which a video game prepared by the server 58 is played.

  In addition, the remote controller 60 is provided with a clap button, a minus key and a plus key, a numeric keypad, a music selection button, a performance stop button, a re-singing button, a cancel button, and an interruption button. The applause button is for setting to play applause or cheering sound between songs or after the music is played back. The minus key and the plus key have the same functions as the minus key 29 and the plus key 31 of the control device 20 for controlling the speed of the music to be reproduced. Further, the remote control 60 is provided with a singing button and a musical instrument button. The singing button is used to switch the operation mode of music playback to the singing mode, and the instrument button is used to switch the operation mode of music playback to the instrument performance mode. When each button is pressed, an optical signal indicating which button is pressed is transmitted from a transmission window provided in the remote controller 60.

<Features of this embodiment>
In the basic configuration described above, the present embodiment is characterized in that, when a song is played on the karaoke apparatus 10, when the operation mode of the music playback is the musical instrument performance mode, the control range of the playback speed is greater than that in the singing mode. There is to enlarge. That is, when a user sings along with the playback of karaoke music, the speed control operation of the karaoke music data only needs to be adjusted to such an extent that it is easier for him to sing, so that an extremely large speed change is not required. . On the other hand, when the musical instrument player plays the musical instrument in accordance with the reproduction of the music, in the speed control operation of the karaoke music data, for example, when the user is low in proficiency, the user wants to extremely slow down, etc. The user may request a speed change larger than the above adjustment. Therefore, in the karaoke apparatus 10 of this embodiment, the control range of the playback speed is set larger in the musical instrument performance mode than in the singing mode. Details will be described below.

<Speed control table>
As described above, in this embodiment, the user uses the minus key 29 and plus key 31 of the control device 20 or the minus key and plus key of the remote controller 60 to increase the music data playback speed to the plus side. The operation can be variably increased, that is, increased in speed in five steps of +1, “+2”, “+3”, “+4”, “+5”, and similarly, “−1”, “ -2 "," -3 "," -4 ", and" -5 "can be variably decreased, i.e. slowed down, instructed in five steps.

  The speed control table 180 shown in FIG. 6 defines how the actual reproduction speed change rate is associated with the speed instruction value by the operation instruction at each stage. Hereinafter, the speed instruction value is referred to as a speed control value. This speed control table 180 is a comparison table in which the music playback speed is displayed as a percentage with the standard speed set to 100% with respect to the speed control value abbreviated as “speakon value”, and is created in advance and stored in the ROM 47.

<Speed control in singing mode>
As shown in FIG. 6, in the speed control table 180, first, in the singing mode, when the speed control value is instructed to be “+1”, the playback speed is 103%, that is, the speed is increased by 3%. Playback will be performed. Similarly, in the order of “+2”, “+3”, and “+4”, the playback speed is increased by 3% sequentially, and the speeds are 106%, 109%, and 112%, respectively. When the speed control value “+5” which is the maximum instruction value on the acceleration side is reached, the playback speed is 115%, that is, 15% faster. On the other hand, the rate of change is the same on the deceleration side, and when the speed control value is instructed to be “−1”, the playback speed is 97%, that is, playback is performed at a speed slower by 3%. Similarly, in the order of “−2”, “−3”, and “−4”, the playback speed sequentially decreases by 3%, and the speeds become 94%, 91%, and 88%, respectively. When the maximum instruction value on the deceleration side, in other words, the speed control value “−5”, which is the minimum speed instruction value, is reached, the playback speed is 85%, that is, 15% slower. As described above, in the singing mode, the user can execute speed control of up to ± 15%.

  On the other hand, in the instrument performance mode, when the speed control value is instructed to be “+1”, the playback speed is 110% higher than that in the singing mode, that is, playback is performed at a speed 10% faster. become. Similarly, in the order of “+2”, “+3”, and “+4”, the playback speed is sequentially increased by 10% to 120%, 130%, and 140%, respectively. When the speed control value “+5”, which is the maximum instruction value on the acceleration side, is reached, the playback speed is 150%, that is, 50% faster. On the other hand, the rate of change is the same on the deceleration side, and when the speed control value is instructed to be “−1”, the playback speed is 90%, that is, playback is performed at a speed 10% slower. Similarly, in the order of “−2”, “−3”, and “−4”, the playback speed is sequentially decreased by 10%, and the speeds are respectively 80%, 70%, and 60%. When the maximum instruction value on the deceleration side, in other words, the speed control value “−5”, which is the minimum speed instruction value, is reached, the reproduction speed is 50%, that is, 50% slower. As described above, in the musical instrument performance mode, the user can execute speed control up to ± 50%.

  As described above, in this embodiment, in the speed control table 180, the change rate of the playback speed is ± 3% in the singing mode with respect to ± 1 increase / decrease of the speed control value, whereas in the instrument performance mode, the speed control value is changed. The rate of change in playback speed is ± 10% with respect to ± 1 increase / decrease. That is, it is set to change at a larger change rate in the musical instrument performance mode than in the singing mode. In the singing mode, the control range is 30% of the playback speed of 85% to 115% in the range of the speed control value “−5” to “+5”, whereas in the instrument performance mode, the speed control value “ In the range from “−5” to “+5”, the control width is 100% of the playback speed of 50% to 150%. That is, in the musical instrument performance mode, the playback speed is set to change with a larger control width than in the singing mode. In the present embodiment, the speed control value is changed by the control device 20, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the speed control value may be changed by the remote controller 60.

<Control procedure>
FIG. 7 shows the processing contents executed by the CPU 45 when the karaoke apparatus 10 reproduces music. In FIG. 7, this flow is started when the user of the karaoke apparatus 10 presses the power button 39 of the control apparatus 20 to turn on the power supply of the control apparatus 20. In conjunction with the rising of the power supply of the control device 20, the power supply of the amplifier 16, the musical instrument connection board 8 and the monitors 13, 14 is started up. Note that, as described above, in this example, the user of the karaoke apparatus 10 will be described by taking the case where the electric guitar 4 is connected to the musical instrument connection board 8 for performance. That is, when the user connects the horn plug of the electric guitar 4 to the horn jack 85 of the musical instrument connection board 8, the voltage appearing at the detection port for detecting the electric guitar of the expansion I / O port of the musical instrument connection board 8 is low level. Changes from high to low.

  In FIG. 7, first, in step S100, the CPU 45 sets the operation mode of music performance by the karaoke apparatus 10 to an instrument performance mode that enables the user to perform with a musical instrument or uses an instrument for the user to sing. A mode setting process is performed as to whether to set a singing mode that does not correspond to the performance.

  The mode setting process in step S100 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 8, first, in step S <b> 110, the CPU 45 determines whether or not there is an input of a music playback operation mode by the user. For example, if the user presses the singing button on the remote controller 60, the selection of the singing mode is input, and if the user presses the instrument button, the selection of the musical instrument performance mode is input. Until any of these selection inputs is received, the determination in step S110 is not satisfied (step S110: NO), and a loop standby is performed. If there is any selection input, the determination at Step S110 is satisfied (Step S110: YES), and the routine goes to Step S115. Instead of the above, when the voltage changes to a high level, the musical instrument performance mode may be selected assuming that the musical instrument is connected.

  In step S115, the CPU 45 determines whether or not the operation mode selection input by the user is the musical instrument performance mode. If it is the instrument performance mode, the determination is satisfied (step S115: YES), and the process proceeds to step S120. If it is not the musical instrument performance mode, the determination is not satisfied (step S115: NO), and the process proceeds to step S130.

  In step S 120, the CPU 45 sets “instrument performance mode” in a predetermined mode recording area provided in advance in the ROM 47. Thereafter, this routine is terminated.

  In step S <b> 130, the CPU 45 sets a “singing mode” in the mode recording area provided in the ROM 47. Thereafter, this routine is terminated.

  In addition, the procedure of said step S110, step S115, step S120, and step S130 functions as a switching means as described in each claim.

  Returning to FIG. 7, when step S100 is completed as described above, the process proceeds to step S10.

  In step S10, the CPU 45 determines whether or not the operation mode set in step S100 is the musical instrument performance mode. If the musical instrument performance mode is set in step S100, the determination in step S10 is satisfied (step S10: YES), and the process proceeds to step S15. If the singing mode is set in step S100, the determination in step S10 is not satisfied (step S10: NO), and the process proceeds to step S30 described later.

  In step S15, the CPU 45 reads the chip select signal (CS) for selecting the aforementioned expansion I / O port of the musical instrument connection board 8 according to the read timing of the CPU 45 (not shown), and when the read signal (RD) becomes the read timing. The data is read from the input port corresponding to each detection port for instrument detection. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S20.

  In step S20, the CPU 45 searches for designation data for designating a sound source for deleting or reducing the MIDI data based on the data read in step S10. In this example, since the voltage appearing at the detection port for electric guitar detection of the expansion I / O port has changed from the low level to the high level as described above, the designation data searched by the CPU 45 that has detected this voltage is This is data for deleting the MIDI sound source of the electric guitar 4. When step S20 ends, the process proceeds to step S25.

  In step S25, the CPU 45 temporarily stores in the RAM 46 the designated data retrieved in step S15, that is, data for deleting the MIDI sound source of the electric guitar 4 in this example. If no musical instrument such as the electric guitar 4 is particularly connected and the designated data in step S20 does not exist, there is no data to be stored, and therefore step S25 is substantially omitted. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S30.

  In step S30, the CPU 45 determines whether or not the music selection by the user has been completed. For example, when a user inputs a song selection number of a song that the user wants to sing with the numeric keypad of the remote controller 60, a number corresponding to the numeric keypad is sequentially displayed on the song selection number display section of the remote controller 60 and the song selection number display body 23 of the control device 20 each time the key is pressed. Is done. Subsequently, when the music selection button is pressed after pressing the last numeric keypad, the music selection is completed. Note that at the time of music selection, a song that is played using a live sound source (hereinafter referred to as “live music song” as appropriate, corresponding to the song data 100B) and a song that is played using a MIDI sound source (hereinafter referred to as “normal song” as appropriate). The user can also select one of them with a numeric keypad, for example. Until the music selection is completed, the determination in step S30 is not satisfied (step S30: NO), and a loop standby is performed. When the music selection is completed, the determination in step S30 is satisfied (step S30: YES), and the process proceeds to step S35.

  In step S35, the CPU 45 temporarily stores the music selection number data indicating the music selection number in the RAM 46 corresponding to the music selection result in step S30, and the music data 100 corresponding to the music selection number via the LAN board 50, that is, A request signal requesting transmission of the music data 100A or the music data 100B is transmitted to the server 58 via the LAN line 15. As a result, the server 58 retrieves and reads the music data 100 corresponding to the music selection number indicated in the request signal from a storage device (not shown), and the read music data 100 is transmitted to the control device via the LAN line 15. 20 to send. When step S35 is completed, the process proceeds to step S40.

  In step S <b> 40, the CPU 45 receives the song data 100 transmitted from the server 58 via the LAN line 15 via the LAN board 50. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S200.

  In step S200, the CPU 45 performs a process for setting the playback speed of the music data 100 received in step S40, that is, the performance speed. Details of the performance processing in step S200 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 9, first, in step S210, the CPU 45 determines whether or not the music reserved in the music selection in step S30 is a live music music, in other words, the data received and processed in step S40 is the music data 100A. Or the song data 100B. If a live music piece is selected in step S30, the determination in step S210 is satisfied (step S210: YES), and the process proceeds to step S215. If a normal music piece is selected in step S30, the determination in step S210 is not satisfied (step S210: NO), and the process proceeds to step S220 described later.

  In step S215, the CPU 45 determines whether or not the operation mode set in step S100 is the singing mode. When the singing mode is set in the mode recording area of the ROM 47 in the mode setting process in step S100 (see step S130), the determination in step S215 is satisfied (step S215: YES), and the process proceeds to step S220. When the musical instrument performance mode is set in the mode recording area of the ROM 47 (see step S120 above), the determination in step S215 is not satisfied (step S215: NO), and the process proceeds to step S225 described later.

  In step S220, the CPU 45 sets the normal data, that is, the MIDI data 120a of the music data 100A or the raw sound data 122 of the music data 100B as music data used for performance. Thereby, the MIDI data 120a of the music data 100A or the raw sound data 122 of the music data 100B is played back at the time of playback in step S73 described later. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S230 described later.

  In step S225, the CPU 45 sets the backup MIDI data 120b of the music data 100B as music data used for performance. Thereby, the backup MIDI data 120b of the music data 100B is used for reproduction at the time of reproduction in step S73 described later. When step S225 ends, the process proceeds to step S230.

  In step S230, the CPU 45 determines whether or not the above-described speed control instruction from the user has been input. As described above, when the user presses the minus key or the plus key of the remote controller 60 or the minus key 29 or the plus key 31 of the control device 20 to change the speed of the music to be played back, the operation corresponds to the operation. A speed control instruction signal is input. If the speed control instruction signal is not input, the determination in step S230 is not satisfied (step S230: NO), and the process proceeds to step S235. When the speed control instruction signal is input, the determination in step S230 is satisfied (step S230: YES), and the process proceeds to step S240 described later.

  In step S235, the CPU 45 sets the reproduction speed of the music data to a normal speed, that is, a speed control value “0”. Thereby, in step S73 described later, the MIDI data 120a of the song data 100A or the raw sound data 122 of the song data 100B is reproduced at the normal speed in the case of the singing mode, and the MIDI data 120a of the song data 100A or in the musical instrument performance mode. The MIDI data 120b of the song data 100B is reproduced at a normal speed. Thereafter, this routine is terminated.

  In step S240, the CPU 45 refers to the speed control table 180 stored in the ROM 47 in accordance with the speed control instruction signal input in step S230, and determines the music playback speed by the method described above. As described above, the playback speed of the music is determined with respect to the speed control instruction value so that the change rate and the control range are larger in the musical instrument performance mode than in the singing mode. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S245.

  In step S245, the CPU 45 sets the reproduction speed of the music data to the speed determined by referring to the speed control table 180 in step S240. Thereby, in step S73 described later, in the singing mode, the MIDI data 120a of the music data 100A or the raw sound data 122 of the music data 100B is reproduced at the determined speed, and in the musical instrument performance mode, the music data 100A. The MIDI data 120a or the MIDI data 120b of the music piece data 100B is reproduced at the determined speed. Thereafter, this routine is terminated.

  Although the case where the speed control table 180 is read before the reproduction of the music data has been described above is explained, even if the speed control instruction is given during the reproduction of the music data, the speed control table 180 is read again. The speed control table 180 may be read to cope with it.

  In the above flow, the procedure of step S225 constitutes the second control means described in each claim, the procedure of step S240 constitutes the setting means described in each claim, and the procedure of step S245 constitutes each claim. The first control means described is configured.

  Returning to FIG. 7, when step S200 is completed as described above, the process proceeds to step S45.

  In step S45, the CPU 45 temporarily stores in the RAM 49 the music data 100 received in step S40 and the speed set in step S200, specifically the music data 100A or the music data 100B, and so on. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S50.

  In step S50, the CPU 45 reads the designation data stored in the RAM 46 in step S25 described above, that is, designation data for deleting the MIDI sound source of the electric guitar 4 in the example described above. If no musical instrument such as the electric guitar 4 as described above is connected and there is no designated data in step S20, there is no data to be read out, so step S50 is substantially omitted. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S55.

  In step S55, the CPU 45 starts reading the MIDI data 120 stored in the RAM 49 in step S45 described above, that is, the MIDI data 120a of the music data 100A or the MIDI data 120b of the music data 100B. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S60.

  In step S60, based on the designation data read in step S50, the CPU 45 reads out the MIDI data which is read in step S55 and is the processing target at this point in time. It is determined whether or not the data is specified data for deleting the MIDI sound source of the guitar 4. If it is the specified MIDI data, the determination is satisfied (step S60: YES), and the process proceeds to step S65. If it is not the specified MIDI data, the determination is not satisfied (step S60: NO), and the process proceeds to step S70 described later. Even when the designated data does not exist as described above, the determination in step S60 is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S70 described later.

  In step S65, the CPU 45 deletes the MIDI data to be processed at this time. Thus, when steps S55 to S200 are repeated as will be described later, the MIDI data is deleted only when data including MIDI data specifying the MIDI sound source of the electric guitar 4 is read in step S55. . Note that data for muting or sound reduction may be added instead of deletion. As a result, it is possible to realize reproduction of karaoke music data in a minus one state excluding the electric guitar music part. When step S65 ends, the process proceeds to step S70.

  In step S70, the CPU 45 sends the MIDI data 120, which has been read in step S55 and then processed in steps S60 and S65, to the MIDI sound source board 51 according to the count of a timer built in the CPU 45 via a sequencer (not shown). Write to.

  In step S73, the CPU 45 outputs a control signal to the MIDI sound source board 51, and causes the MIDI sound source board 51 to output a sound source signal corresponding to the MIDI data written in step S70. The sound source signal output from the MIDI sound source board 51 is output to the sound control circuit 52 and converted into a music signal that can be amplified by the amplifier 16, and the converted music signal is sent from the sound output terminal 41 to the amplifier 16. It is output to the mixing circuit 9. Also, the audio signal input from the microphones 17 and 18 is mixed with the music signal in the mixing circuit 9 built in the amplifier 16. At this time, the performance signal output from the electric guitar 4 is input to the mixing circuit 9 via the musical instrument connection board 8 and the output terminal 85d, and is mixed with the audio signal and the music signal. The mixed signal thus mixed is amplified by an amplifier circuit (not shown) built in the amplifier 16 and then output to the speaker 11 and the speaker 12 and reproduced by both speakers. When step S73 ends, the process proceeds to step S75.

  In step S75, the CPU 45 determines whether or not the reproduction of the music data 100 has been completed. If the reproduction of the song data 100 has been completed, the determination is satisfied (step S75: YES), and this flow ends. Until the reproduction of the song data 100 is completed, the determination is not satisfied (step S75: NO), the process returns to step S55, and the procedure of steps S55 to S200 is repeated. During the repetition, the MIDI data specifying the MIDI sound source of the electric guitar included in the MIDI data read out in step S55 is not written on the MIDI sound source board 51. Therefore, the sound source signal indicating the sound of the electric guitar is The sound source board 51 does not output. As a result, the karaoke music data is reproduced in a minus one state excluding one desired musical instrument performance part, that is, the performance part of the electric guitar 4 in this example. Thereby, the user who is the player of the electric guitar 4 can play and enjoy the removed electric guitar performance part by himself according to the karaoke music reproduced in the minus one state. That is, the user can play the electric guitar 4 while causing the karaoke apparatus 10 to reproduce normal karaoke music data, that is, to perform karaoke performance.

  As described above, in the karaoke apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the playback speed of karaoke song data can be variably controlled. For example, when the user performs a speed control operation toward the high-speed playback side with the minus key 29 or the plus key 31 of the control device 20 or the minus key and the plus key of the remote controller 60, the playback speed of the music data 100A and 100B increases. Conversely, when the user performs a speed control operation toward the low-speed playback side, the playback speed of the song data 100A and 100B decreases. At this time, the karaoke apparatus 10 corresponds to the musical instrument performance mode in which the musical instrument data 100A and 100B can be played by the user's musical instrument, that is, the electric guitar performance 4 in the above example, and the musical instrument performance. There are no singing modes and two. In any of the modes, the playback speed can be changed. However, in the present embodiment, as described above, the control range of the playback speed is higher in the instrument performance mode than in the singing mode. (See FIG. 7 above). Thereby, when a musical instrument player who is a user plays a musical instrument such as the electric guitar 4, the playback speed can be surely greatly changed as necessary. As a result, user convenience can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the playback speed is variably controlled at a larger change rate in the instrument performance mode than in the singing mode (see FIG. 6 above). Thereby, when the musical instrument player who is the user plays the musical instrument, the reproduction speed can be surely greatly changed by a relatively small speed control operation. As a result, user convenience can be further improved.

  In addition, the sound quality 122 of the music data 100B for playing back music using the live sound source board 80 may significantly deteriorate the sound quality if the playback speed is changed too much. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, in response to this, in the musical instrument performance mode in which the playback speed may change greatly, the raw sound data 122 of the music data 100B is not used, but backup MIDI data 120b is used instead. Used (see step S225 in FIG. 9). As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent deterioration in sound quality of music playback when the user performs a musical instrument performance.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the technical idea. For example, the musical score data of the musical instrument performance part is associated with the music data 100A, 100B, for example, integrated into the data 100A, 100B, and when the music data 100A, 100B is reproduced, the musical score corresponding to the music is displayed. For example, it may be displayed on the monitors 13 and 14. In this case, a musical instrument player who is a user can play the musical instrument, that is, the electric guitar 4 while viewing the score. Furthermore, at that time, the degree of difficulty of whether or not the music data of the music data 100A and 100B is complicated is determined according to an appropriate standard, for example, there are many fine notes such as 16th notes and 32nd notes, A function may be provided to determine whether the incoming code is not a simple code and is not used very much (= function as determination means). For example, the determination means determines whether or not the degree of difficulty when the musical instrument player plays the score indicated by the score data with a guitar is higher than a predetermined threshold value. If it is determined that the difficulty level of the performance is relatively high, for example, higher than a predetermined threshold value, it is difficult for the musical instrument player to perform at the same playback speed as when playing other music. Therefore, it may be controlled so that the reproduction speed of the musical score data having a higher difficulty level than the predetermined threshold value is slower than the musical score data having a lower difficulty level than the predetermined threshold value . In this case, even if the music is relatively difficult to perform, it becomes easier for the instrument player to perform, and the convenience can be further improved.

  In addition, in the above, the arrow shown in each figure of FIG. 4 etc. shows an example of the flow of a signal, and does not limit the flow direction of a signal.

  Further, the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 do not limit the present invention to the procedures shown in the above-described flow, and the addition / deletion of the procedures or the order of the procedures are within the scope not departing from the spirit and technical idea of the invention. Changes may be made.

  In addition to those already described above, the methods according to the above-described embodiments and modifications may be used in appropriate combination.

  In addition, although not illustrated one by one, the present invention is implemented with various modifications within a range not departing from the gist thereof.

4 Electric guitar (musical instrument)
10 Karaoke device 13, 14 Monitor (display means)
20 Controller 29 Minus key 31 Plus key 45 CPU
47 ROM (storage means)
82 Speed control table 100 Music data 100A Music data 100B Music data 120a MIDI data 120b MIDI data 122 Raw sound data

Claims (3)

Playback means for playing music data;
Switching means for switching the reproduction of the music data by the reproduction means to either a musical instrument performance mode enabling performance by an instrument or a singing mode not corresponding to performance by an instrument;
Setting means for variably setting a reproduction speed for reproducing the music data within a predetermined control width;
A first control means for controlling the playback speed with a greater control width than when switching to the singing mode when the instrument playing mode is switched ;
The music data is associated with musical score data played along with the performance of the music data,
And,
When the music data is reproduced by the reproduction means, a determination means for determining the difficulty level of the score data associated with the music data is provided,
The first control means includes
When the musical instrument performance mode is switched to and the determination means determines that the difficulty level of the score data is higher than a predetermined threshold value, the difficulty level of the score data is a predetermined level. The karaoke apparatus characterized in that the playback means is controlled so as to slow down the playback speed as compared with a case where it is determined that the playback speed is lower than a threshold value . The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1,
The setting means includes
The playback speed is variably set in a plurality of steps within a predetermined control width,
The first control means includes
The karaoke apparatus variably controls the reproduction speed at a larger change rate when switched to the musical instrument performance mode than when switched to the singing mode. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2
Storage means for storing raw sound data corresponding to reproduction using a raw sound source and MIDI music data using a MIDI sound source as the music data;
Control that causes the playback means to play back the MIDI music data of the music stored in the storage means instead of the raw sound data of the music played back by the playback means when switched to the instrument performance mode And a second control means for performing karaoke apparatus .

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