JP6390190B2 - Server device and music system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a server device that generates musical tone signal data corresponding to performance data transmitted from a client device and transmits it to the client device, and a music system including the client device in addition to the server device.

  Conventionally, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, a plurality of electronic musical instrument processing devices such as a keyboard, a sound source, an automatic accompaniment device, an editor, and an effector are arranged separately in a plurality of rooms, Musical tone generation systems in which processing devices are connected by a LAN cable are known. In this musical tone generation system, a connection table that defines combinations of connectable processing devices is prepared, and the user generates a variety of musical tone signals by connecting a plurality of processing devices as appropriate using this connection table. I can do it. For example, performance data from a keyboard performance is selectively transmitted via a LAN cable to a processing device such as a sound source, automatic accompaniment, editor, effector, etc., and a desired musical tone signal is generated according to the performance of the keyboard, or an automatic accompaniment sound is generated. It is possible to generate or output a desired tone signal with a desired effect.

  As shown in Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2 below, when performance data (MIDI data) is transmitted from the client side to the server, the server generates a musical tone signal corresponding to the performance data and transmits it to the client side. A music service system is also known in which the generated tone signal can be acquired on the client side.

JP2007-114348

http://www.y2lab.com/project/miditovideo/ http://www.y2lab.com/project/cloudvst/

  According to the musical sound generating system described in Patent Document 1, a user can acquire various different musical sound signals for one type of performance. However, the cited document 1 includes a computer network such as an Internet line. There is no technical idea of easily acquiring musical tone signals from above. Further, by using the music service system described in Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2 above, the user can obtain a musical tone signal for the performance from the outside, but this music service system does not satisfy all users. Absent.

  For example, a user who has purchased an electronic musical instrument may want to acquire a musical tone signal corresponding to the function and quality of the electronic musical instrument that he / she owns. This means that if a musical tone signal transmitted from a computer network is different from a musical tone signal generated by an electronic musical instrument owned by the user, the transmitted musical tone signal is different from a musical tone heard when the electronic musical instrument owned by the user is played. This is because the music corresponding to the music signal is unfamiliar and the user may feel uncomfortable.

  In addition, when an electronic musical instrument manufacturer provides a service that allows a purchaser of an electronic musical instrument to use a musical tone synthesis function on the Internet, the services described in Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2 correspond to the purchase price. Cannot provide differentiated services. When a musical sound signal that does not reach the quality of a high-end model owned by the purchaser is to be provided, sufficient satisfaction cannot be given to the purchaser of the high-end model. On the other hand, if a purchaser of a low-end model can obtain a musical tone signal corresponding to a high-end model on the Internet, the musical tone signal on the Internet will not be generated or recorded by a self-owned electronic musical instrument. It may be possible to use only the provided system. In this case, an unfair feeling may occur between a purchaser of a high-end model and a purchaser of a low-end model.

  The present invention has been made in response to the user's wishes, and provides a server apparatus and a music system that can easily obtain a musical tone signal corresponding to the function and quality of an electronic musical instrument owned by the user from a computer network. The purpose is to do. In the description of each constituent element of the present invention below, the reference numerals of corresponding portions of the embodiment are shown in parentheses in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention. The present invention should not be construed as being limited to the configurations of the corresponding portions indicated by the reference numerals of the forms.

The feature of the present invention is that the tone signal generating means (11, 24, 25, S260, S260, S260, S260, S260, S260, S260, S260, S260, S260, S260, S260, S260, S260) S266), user registration means (S202 to S208) for setting the access right from the client device to the server device and storing electronic musical instrument information transmitted from the client device and indicating the type of electronic musical instrument owned by the user; Using the electronic musical instrument information stored by the user registration means, one of the plurality of tone signal generation methods is assigned to the client device (30), and the assigned one tone signal is assigned to the client device (30). The tone signal is generated by the tone signal generator according to the performance data transmitted from the client device. A server apparatus (10) having allocation control means (12, 24, S210, S252 to S256) and music signal transmission means (24, S262, S268) for transmitting the generated music signal to the client apparatus. is there.

In this case, a plurality of types of tone signal generation methods are assigned to, for example, a tone generator method used for generating a tone signal, waveform data used for generating a tone signal, the maximum number of tone signals that can be generated simultaneously, and a tone signal. At least one of the following effects and automatic accompaniment. The tone signal generation means includes waveform storage means for storing, for example, a plurality of types of waveform data used for generating a tone signal for one tone color, and the plurality of types of tone generation methods include a plurality of types of tone generation methods. This is a method for generating a musical sound signal using each waveform data. The assignment control means corresponds to the electronic instrument having the highest quality among the plurality of types of electronic musical instruments, for example, when the plurality of pieces of electronic musical instrument information representing the plurality of types of electronic musical instruments are stored by the user registration means. One tone generation method may be assigned to the client device. In this case, the multiple types of electronic musical instruments are, for example, multiple types of electronic musical instruments included in one product category.

In the server device configured as described above, the user registration unit sets the access right to the server device from the client device, and transmits electronic musical instrument information that is transmitted from the client device and represents the type of electronic musical instrument owned by the user. The storage and allocation control means generates one of the musical sound signals from among the plurality of types of musical signal generation methods respectively corresponding to the plurality of types of electronic musical instruments using the electronic musical instrument information stored by the user registration means. A method is assigned to the client device, and a tone signal is generated by the tone signal generation means in accordance with the performance data transmitted from the client device by the assigned tone signal generation method. Then, the musical tone signal transmitting means transmits the generated musical tone signal to the client device. Thereby, the client apparatus can acquire a musical sound signal generated by a musical sound signal generation method corresponding to a commercially available electronic musical instrument desired by the user. In particular, the user can acquire a musical sound signal corresponding to the function and quality of an electronic musical instrument that is purchased and owned, and can listen to familiar musical sounds without a sense of incongruity. Further, if an electronic musical instrument purchased and owned by the user is registered in the user registration means, the user can easily listen to familiar musical sounds without a sense of incongruity. In addition, since the electronic musical instrument information stored by the user registration means is an electronic musical instrument owned by the user, there is no unfair feeling between a high-end model purchaser and a low-end model purchaser.

  Another feature of the present invention is that the allocation control unit is configured to store one piece of electronic musical instrument information representing each of a plurality of types of electronic musical instruments by the user registration unit according to a selection instruction from the client device. The musical sound generation method is assigned to the client device. According to this, even when a user purchases and owns a plurality of electronic musical instruments registered in the user registration means, one type of electronic musical instrument can be selected from the plurality of registered electronic musical instruments. Can easily select and listen to the desired musical instrument sound.

  Another feature of the present invention resides in that the tone signal transmitting means has compression means for compressing the generated tone signal, and transmits the compressed tone signal to the client device. According to this, the amount of data transmitted from the server device to the client device can be reduced.

  In addition to the server device, the present invention further includes performance data transmitting means for transmitting performance data, and a tone signal receiving means for receiving a tone signal transmitted by the tone signal transmitting means of the server device. Some music systems include client devices. Also by this, the effect mentioned above regarding the server apparatus is expected.

  Furthermore, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to the invention of the server device and the music system, but can also be implemented as an invention of a method and a computer program applied to the server device and the music system.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a music system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a circuit block diagram of the server apparatus of FIG. (A) is explanatory drawing regarding the various programs for producing | generating a musical sound signal memorize | stored in the server apparatus, (B) is explanatory drawing regarding the various data for producing | generating a musical tone signal memorize | stored in the server apparatus. is there. It is explanatory drawing regarding the memory content of the virtual electronic musical instrument table of FIG.3 (B). It is a circuit block diagram of the high-grade digital piano of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the program performed by the server apparatus and the client apparatus side. It is a flowchart which shows the setting request routine and setting routine of FIG. 6 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the musical tone acquisition routine and musical tone generation routine of FIG. 6 in detail.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a music system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This music system is composed of a cloud computing system, and is composed of a server device 10 and a plurality of client devices 30 connected to an Internet line INT.

  Functionally, the server device 10 includes a musical tone signal generation unit 11 and an allocation control unit 12. The tone signal generator 11 generates a plurality of types of tone signals according to a plurality of types of tone signal generation methods corresponding to a plurality of types of commercially available electronic musical instruments by program processing (hereinafter referred to as a plurality of virtual signals). Are called electronic musical instruments). A plurality of types of electronic musical instruments are classified according to categories such as portable keyboards, digital pianos, synthesizers, and digital organs, and are classified according to qualities such as low grade, intermediate grade, and high grade for each category. The plurality of virtual electronic musical instruments respectively correspond to a low-level portable keyword, an intermediate-level portable keyboard, a high-level portable keyboard, a low-level digital piano, and the like, as illustrated. The assignment control unit 12 assigns any one of the plurality of virtual electronic musical instruments to each client device 30, and causes the assigned virtual electronic musical instrument to generate a musical sound signal. The broken line in the figure shows an example of an assignment state by the assignment control unit 12.

  The server device 10 is actually configured as shown in the circuit block diagram of FIG. That is, the server device 10 includes an input device 22, a display device 23, a computer device 24, a storage device 25, a digital / analog converter 26 (hereinafter simply referred to as a DAC 26), a sound system 27, and a communication interface circuit connected to the bus 21. 28.

  The input device 22 has operators such as a switch and a mouse, and outputs an instruction signal for instructing processing by the computer device 24. The display 23 has a display and displays various information. The computer device 24 includes a CPU 24a, a ROM 24b, and a RAM 24c. The CPU 24a executes the program on the server device 10 side shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 to respond to the request from the client device 30, and also executes various programs shown in FIG. 3 to generate a musical tone signal. The ROM 24b stores a control program and control data necessary for executing the program. The RAM 24c temporarily stores data necessary for the program when the program is executed. Although only one CPU 24a is shown in FIG. 2, actually, a plurality of CPUs 24a are provided in the computer device 24 in order to share and execute various programs.

  The storage device 25 includes a recording medium such as an HD (hard disk) and a DVD (digital multipurpose disk), and a drive circuit that drives the recording medium. The recording medium stores various programs and various data shown in FIG. 3 in addition to the programs on the server apparatus 10 side shown in FIGS. The DAC 26 converts the digital musical tone signal generated by the computer device 24 into an analog musical tone signal and outputs it to the sound system 27. The sound system 27 has an amplifier, a speaker, and the like, and amplifies an analog musical tone signal from the DAC 26 to generate a sound. The communication interface circuit 28 is connected to the Internet line INT, receives information supplied via the Internet line INT, and transmits various information via the Internet line INT.

  Next, a program and data for generating a musical sound signal stored in the storage device 25 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3 (A), the program for generating a musical sound signal includes a low-level, intermediate-level, high-level and ultra-high-level waveform reading program, a low-level, intermediate-level and high-level waveform editing program, a low-level, intermediate-level, high-level and ultra-high-level effect Program, low-level, intermediate-level, high-level and super-high-level automatic accompaniment programs, and other programs. The low-level, intermediate-level, high-level, and ultra-high-level waveform reading programs are programs that read waveform data for a waveform memory system and generate musical tone signals. The low-level, intermediate-level and high-level waveform editing programs are programs for editing generated musical sound signals. The low-level, intermediate-level, high-level, and ultra-high-level effect programs are programs that give tremolo, vibrato, reverb, and the like to the generated musical sound signal. The low-level, intermediate-level, high-level, and super-high-level automatic accompaniment programs are programs that generate automatic accompaniment sounds such as chords, base sounds, and arpeggio sounds using performance data. The reason why these programs are classified as low, intermediate, high, and super high is the type of data used depending on the quality of the electronic musical instrument, the data processing method, the type of processing, the number of types of processing, etc. Because it is different.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the data for generating a musical tone signal includes a virtual electronic musical instrument table, waveform data, and other data. As shown in FIG. 4, the virtual electronic musical instrument table is composed of a low-level, intermediate-level and high-level portable keyboard, a low-level, intermediate-level and high-level digital piano, a low-level, intermediate-level and high-level synthesizer, and a low-level, intermediate-level and high-level digital organ. It is a table which prescribes | regulates a production | generation system. The specified tone signal generation methods are, for example, a tone generator method, the number of simultaneous sounds, the type of waveform memory, the number of timbres, effects, and automatic accompaniment. As the sound source method, the specification of the tone signal generation method using the above-described low, intermediate, high-class or super-high-quality waveform reading program, the specification of the tone signal generation method using the FM sound source, the above-described low, middle or high-level waveform editing program Designation etc. are raised. The simultaneous sound number is the maximum number of musical sound signals that can be generated simultaneously. As the type of waveform memory, for example, the designation of the waveform memory storing waveform data such as low quality (16 bits), medium quality (20 bits), high quality (22 bits), and super high quality (24 bits) is raised. It is done. The quality of the waveform memory is related to the number of waveform data prepared for one tone color according to the pitch, key touch, etc., the number of bits of the sampling value of each waveform data, and the like. The number of timbres is the maximum number of timbres of musical tone signals that can be generated, such as piano sounds, clarinet sounds, and violin sounds. As the effect, the above-mentioned low, intermediate, high grade or super high grade effect program can be specified. As the automatic accompaniment, the above-mentioned designation of the low-level, intermediate-level, high-level or super-high-level automatic accompaniment program can be given.

  Next, the client device 30 will be described. The client device 30 employs a tablet terminal device, a personal computer, etc., in addition to a low-level, intermediate-level and high-level digital piano, a low-level, intermediate-level and high-level digital piano, a low-level, intermediate-level and high-level synthesizer, and a low-level, intermediate-level and high-level digital organ. Is done.

  FIG. 1 shows the musical sound generated by the server device 10 by transmitting performance data based on the performance by the intermediate portable keyboard 31, the high-grade digital piano 32, the lower synthesizer 33, and the MIDI keyboard 34 to the server device 10 via the Internet line INT. An example of receiving a signal on the Internet line INT is shown. That is, an example is shown in which a user who has purchased an intermediate portable keyboard 31, a high-end digital piano 32, a low-order synthesizer 33, and a high-end synthesizer 35 transmits performance data (MIDI data) to the server device 10. The reason why the high-level synthesizer 35 is illustrated is that the user who has purchased the high-level synthesizer 35 has also purchased the MIDI keyboard 34, and this user uses the MIDI keyboard 34 that can be easily carried instead of the high-level synthesizer 35. This is to show an example of transmitting performance data to the server device 10 in real time. In this case, the electronic musical instrument registered in the server device 10 described later is the high-level synthesizer 35 and not the MIDI keyboard 34.

  When the user owns the intermediate portable keyboard 31, the tablet terminal device 41 is connected between the intermediate portable keyboard 31 and the Internet line INT. In this case, the intermediate portable keyboard 31 transmits the MIDI data to the server device 10 via the tablet terminal device 41 and the Internet line INT. The intermediate portable keyboard 31 receives the musical tone signal generated and transmitted by the server device 10 via the Internet line INT and the tablet terminal device 41 and generates a sound from the speaker or records the received musical tone signal.

  When the user owns the high-grade digital piano 32, the high-grade digital piano 32 has a network connection function, so the high-grade digital piano 32 is directly connected to the Internet line INT. In this case, the high-end digital piano 32 transmits the MIDI data to the server device 10 via the Internet line INT. The high-grade digital piano 32 receives the tone signal generated and transmitted by the server device 10 via the Internet line INT and generates a sound from the speaker, or records the received tone signal.

  If the user owns the low-level synthesizer 33, a notebook personal computer 42 and a speaker 43 are prepared, the notebook personal computer 42 is connected to the Internet line INT, and the speaker 43 is connected to the notebook personal computer 42. Connecting. In this case, MIDI data obtained by the performance of the lower synthesizer 33 is stored in the notebook personal computer 42, and the notebook personal computer 42 transmits the stored MIDI data to the server device 10 via the Internet line INT. To do. The notebook personal computer 42 receives the tone signal generated and transmitted by the server device 10 via the Internet line INT and generates a sound from the speaker, or records the received tone signal.

  If the user has a high-class synthesizer 35 and a MIDI keyboard 34, a notebook personal computer 44 and a speaker 45 are prepared, and the notebook personal computer 44 is connected between the MIDI keyboard 34 and the Internet line INT. The speaker 45 is connected to the notebook personal computer 44. In this case, the notebook personal computer 44 receives the MIDI data by the performance of the MIDI keyboard 34 and transmits it to the server device 10 via the Internet line INT. The notebook personal computer 44 receives the musical tone signal generated and transmitted by the server device 10 via the Internet line INT and generates a sound from the speaker, or records the received musical tone signal. In this case, it is necessary to register and recognize in advance in the server device 10 that the high-level synthesizer 35 is owned. Further, the MIDI keyboard 34 is simply provided with a keyboard and does not have a function of generating a musical tone signal. In this case, the user can hear the performance sound of the electronic musical instrument by playing the high-class synthesizer 35.

  In these cases, the performance data based on the performance by the intermediate portable keyboard 31, the high-end digital piano 32, the lower-level synthesizer 33, and the MIDI keyboard 34 is stored without being transmitted to the server device 10 via the Internet line INT. The automatic performance data may be transmitted to the server device 10 via the Internet line INT. As a result, the user can acquire the musical tone signal generated by the server device 10 based on the transmitted performance data, can listen to the musical tone corresponding to the musical tone signal, and can record the musical tone signal.

  Next, the configuration of the electronic musical instrument owned by the user as described above will be described using the high-grade digital piano 32 as an example. As shown in the circuit block diagram of FIG. 5, the high-grade digital piano 32 includes a group of performance operators 52, an operation panel 53, a display 54, a tone generator circuit 55, a digital signal processing circuit 56 (hereinafter referred to as “the signal processing circuit 56”). A DSP 56), a mixing circuit 57, a digital-analog converter 58 (hereinafter simply referred to as DAC 58), a sound system 59, a computer device 61, a storage device 62, a MIDI interface circuit 63, and a communication interface circuit 64.

  The performance operator group 52 has a keyboard composed of a plurality of keys, and outputs a key press signal and a key release signal according to the keyboard performance of the performer. The operation panel 53 includes a switch, a numeric keypad, a dial, a touch panel, and the like, and outputs an instruction signal indicating a performance instruction by the performer to the computer device 61 to instruct processing by the computer device 61. For example, the operation panel 53 is operated by the user in accordance with the instruction information displayed on the display unit 54. The tone color of the musical tone, the style of the automatic accompaniment, the demonstration music, the headphone listening mode of the performer and the neighbor, the volume balance, etc. Used to select and specify The display 54 has a display and displays various information.

  The tone generator circuit 55 uses the waveform data stored in the ROM 61 a or the storage device 62 to generate a musical sound signal according to the performance operation of the performer group 52 of the performers and output it to the DSP 56. The DSP 56 performs digital signal processing on the sound source signal from the sound source circuit 55, gives effects such as tremolo, vibrato, reverb, etc. to the musical sound signal, and outputs them to the mixing circuit 57. The mixing circuit 57 mixes a plurality of musical tone signals from the DSP 56 and outputs them to the DAC 58. The DAC 58 converts the digital musical tone signal from the mixing circuit 57 into an analog musical tone signal and outputs it to the sound system 59. The sound system 59 has an amplifier, a speaker, etc., and amplifies an analog musical tone signal from the DAC 58 to generate a sound.

  The computer device 61 includes a CPU 61a, a ROM 61b, and a RAM 61c. The CPU 61a executes programs on the client device 30 side shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 to execute various requests to the server device 10 and transmits MIDI data to the server device 10 to transmit musical tone signals from the server device 10. Receive. The CPU 61a also controls the overall operation of the high-grade digital piano 32, and controls the generation of musical sound signals by the performance operation of the performance operator group 52 and the application of effects to the musical sound signals. The ROM 61b stores a control program and control data necessary for executing the program. The RAM 61c temporarily stores data necessary for program processing when the program is executed.

  The storage device 62 includes a recording medium such as a flash memory and a CD (compact disk), and a drive circuit that drives the recording medium. The recording medium stores a program on the client device 30 side shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 and various programs and various data for controlling the overall operation of the high-grade digital piano 32. Various data includes waveform data such as piano sounds, guitar sounds, and drums. The MIDI interface circuit 63 is connected to another electronic musical instrument and communicates with the other electronic musical instrument. The communication interface circuit 64 is connected to the Internet line INT, receives information supplied via the Internet line INT, and transmits various types of information via the Internet line INT.

  The high-grade digital piano 32 generates a musical tone signal by reading out waveform data. However, other electronic musical instruments may generate a musical tone signal by other methods. For example, in the case of intermediate and high-class synthesizers, an FM sound source is provided and a function of generating a musical sound signal by FM calculation is provided. In the high-grade digital piano 32, the programs shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 are stored in the ROM 61b or the storage device 62, and the CPU 61a executes the stored programs. However, in the case of communicating with the server device 10 by other electronic musical instruments including the intermediate portable keyboard 31 or the notebook personal computers 42, 44, the memory built in the other electronic musical instruments or the notebook personal computers 42, 44, etc. The program shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 is stored in the apparatus, and the CPU stored in the other electronic musical instrument or notebook personal computer 42, 44 executes the stored program.

Accordingly, in the following description of the operation, other electronic musical instruments or notebook personal computers 42 and 44 including the intermediate portable keyboard 31 and the high-grade digital piano 32 that execute the program on the client device 30 side in FIGS. It will be described as a client device. The CPU on the client device side that executes the program on the client device side will be described as CPU _CL . In addition, regarding the instruction related to the execution of the program by the user, the operator group operated by the user is not only the operation panel 53 but also the operation input of the tablet terminal device 41, the touch panels of the notebook personal computers 42 and 44, the keyboard, the mouse, and the like. A description will be given on the assumption that it is OPP _CL including means.

Next, a new registration setting operation of a user, a setting operation of addition and change of an electronic musical instrument owned by the user, and a transmission / reception operation of performance data and tone signals in the entire music system are shown in FIGS. This will be explained using a program. For the various setting operations and transmission / reception operations, the user operates OPP _CL to start execution of the program on the client device side in FIG.

The CPU _CL starts execution of the program on the client device side in step S10 in FIG. 6, and determines in step S12 whether the operation of the OPP _CL by the user is an operation related to communication with the server device 10. If the operation of the OPP _CL is not an operation related to the communication with the server device 10 but an operation related to the operation of the electronic musical instrument itself, the CPU _CL determines “No” in step S12, and proceeds to step S22. Control the operation of the electronic musical instrument itself. In this case, typically, it is a process of generating and outputting a musical sound signal in accordance with a performance using the performance operator group 52 in the electronic musical instrument itself. Through the processing in step S22, the electronic musical instrument operates regardless of the server device 10, and the user can enjoy playing the electronic musical instrument. After the process of step S22, the CPU _CL terminates the execution of the program on the client device side in step S24. The program on the client device side is repeatedly executed every predetermined short time, and the process of step S22 is performed. The process is executed repeatedly.

On the other hand, if the operation of the OPP _CL by the user is an operation related to communication with the server device 10, the CPU _CL determines “Yes” in step S12, and proceeds to step S14. In step S14, it is determined whether the OPP _CL operation by the user is an instruction of a setting operation related to the setting of new registration of the user or the setting of addition or change of the electronic musical instrument owned by the user. If the instruction is a setting operation instruction, the CPU _CL determines “Yes” in step S14 and executes the setting request routine in step S16. If it is not a setting operation instruction, the CPU _CL makes a “No” determination at step S14 to proceed to step S18. In step S18, the CPU _CL determines whether or not the operation of the OPP _CL by the user is an instruction for the transmission / reception operation of the performance data and the tone signal. If it is a transmission / reception operation instruction, the CPU _CL determines "Yes" in step S18, and executes a musical tone acquisition routine in step S20.

  The server device 10 executes a program on the server device 10 side including steps S30 to S36 in FIG. In the server device 10 side program, the setting routine of step S32 is executed in response to the setting request routine of step S16, and the musical tone generation routine of step S34 is executed in response to the musical tone acquisition routine of step S20. Executed

Next, the setting request routine in step S16 and the setting routine in step S32 will be described in detail. The setting request routine in step S16 includes steps S100 to S116 shown in FIG. 7, and the CPU _CL of the client apparatus starts executing the setting request routine in step S100. The setting routine in step S32 includes steps S200 to S212 shown in FIG. 7, and the CPU 24a of the server device 10 starts executing the setting routine in step S200.

After starting the execution of the setting request routine, in step S102, the CPU _CL determines whether the operation of the OPP _CL by the user is a user's new registration instruction. If it is a user's new registration instruction, the CPU _CL determines “Yes” in step S102, and executes the processes of steps S104 and S106. In step S <b> 104, the CPU _CL accesses the server device 10. After the access, the user inputs user information and electronic musical instrument information according to an instruction from the server device 10 using OPP _CL . The CPU _CL transmits the input user information and electronic musical instrument information to the server device 10 via the Internet line INT, and acquires an access right from the server device 10.

  In steps S202 and S204, the CPU 24a of the server device 10 communicates with the client device to execute a new registration process for the client device. In step S202, it is determined whether the access from the client device is access related to a new registration of the user. If the access is related to the new registration of the user, the CPU 24a determines “Yes” in step S202 and proceeds to step S204. On the other hand, if the access is not related to the new registration of the user, the CPU 24a determines “No” in step S202, and executes the processes in and after step S206. In step S204, the CPU 24a instructs the client device to input user information and electronic musical instrument information, confirms the user information and electronic musical instrument information input from the client device, stores them in the storage device 25, and registers them. The access right is set for the apparatus, and the fact that the access right is set is transmitted to the client apparatus.

The user information is, for example, the user's name, contact information, user ID (email address), password, and the like. The electronic musical instrument information is, for example, a serial number of an electronic musical instrument owned by the user. Instead of this serial number, other information may be used as long as the evidence that the electronic musical instrument is purchased and the model information (model name) are separated. After the process of step S104, the CPU _CL determines whether the access right to the server device 10 has been acquired in step S106. If the access right cannot be acquired, the CPU _CL continues to execute the processes of steps S104 and S106 repeatedly. When the access right is acquired, the CPU _CL determines “Yes” in step S <b> 106, and executes the processing after step S <b> 108.

On the other hand, if the operation of the OPP _CL by the user is not an instruction for new registration by the user, the CPU _CL determines “No” in step S102, and proceeds to step S108. In step S108, it is determined whether the operation of the OPP _CL by the user is an instruction to add or change an electronic musical instrument. If it is an instruction to add or change an electronic musical instrument, the CPU _CL determines “Yes” in step S108, and executes the processes of steps S110 and S112. In step S110, the CPU _CL logs in to the server device 10 using the user information, and after logging in, the user uses the OPP _CL to add or change the electronic musical instrument related to the electronic musical instrument according to an instruction from the server device 10. Enter instrument information. The CPU _CL transmits the input electronic musical instrument information related to the added or changed electronic musical instrument to the server device 10 via the Internet line INT. The addition or change of the electronic musical instrument is performed when the user purchases a new electronic musical instrument or discards the electronic musical instrument that the user has owned.

  In steps S206 and S208, the CPU 24a of the server apparatus 10 performs processing for adding or changing an electronic musical instrument by communicating with the client apparatus. In step S206, it is determined whether the login from the client device is a login related to addition or change of the electronic musical instrument. If the login is related to addition or change of the electronic musical instrument, the CPU 24a determines “Yes” in step S206 and proceeds to step S208. On the other hand, if the login is not related to addition or change of the electronic musical instrument, the CPU 24a determines “No” in step S206, and executes the processes in and after step S210. In step S208, the CPU 24a of the server apparatus 10 communicates with the client apparatus to instruct input of electronic musical instrument information to be added or changed to the client apparatus, and the electronic musical instrument information input from the client apparatus is stored in the storage device 25. Remember and register.

After the process of step S110, the CPU _CL determines whether the addition or change of the electronic musical instrument has been completed in step S112. If the addition or change of the electronic musical instrument has not been completed, the CPU _CL determines “No” in step S112 and continues to execute the processes of steps S110 and S112 repeatedly. When the addition or change of the electronic musical instrument is completed, the CPU _CL determines “Yes” in step S112, logs out from the server device 10 in step S114, and executes the setting request routine in step S116. Exit.

  Further, the CPU 24a of the server device 10 executes a process of assigning a virtual electronic musical instrument to a user in step S210 after the process of steps S202 to S208. This virtual electronic musical instrument assignment processing is processing for assigning one or a plurality of virtual electronic musical instruments out of a plurality of virtual electronic musical instruments to each user as shown in the table of FIG. This virtual electronic musical instrument allocation is performed according to the following rules 1 to 3. The plurality of virtual electronic musical instruments are classified into a plurality of product categories. In this embodiment, there are four types of product categories: portable keyboard, digital piano, synthesizer, and digital organ. Within each product category, electronic musical instruments are classified into lower, intermediate and higher grades according to their quality.

Rule 1: When one electronic musical instrument is registered for one user, one virtual electronic musical instrument corresponding to the one electronic musical instrument is assigned to the user.
Rule 2: When a plurality of electronic musical instruments are registered for a single user across a plurality of product categories, a virtual electronic musical instrument corresponding to one electronic musical instrument is assigned to the user for each product category.
Rule 3: When a plurality of electronic musical instruments belonging to the same product category are registered for one user, a virtual electronic musical instrument corresponding to one electronic musical instrument having the highest quality among the plurality of electronic musical instruments is presented to the user. Assigned.

Next, the tone acquisition routine in step S20 in FIG. 6 and the tone generation routine in step S34 in FIG. 6 will be described in detail. The musical tone acquisition routine in step S20 includes steps S150 to S176 shown in FIG. 8, and the CPU _CL of the client apparatus starts executing the musical tone acquisition routine in step S150. The musical tone generation routine in step S34 includes steps S250 to S270 shown in FIG. 8, and the CPU 24a of the server device 10 starts executing the musical tone generation routine in step S250.

After starting the execution of the musical tone acquisition routine, the CPU _CL logs in to the server device 10 using the user information in step S152. In step S252, the CPU 24a of the server apparatus 10 responds to the login by registering a plurality of product categories for the logged-in user, that is, a plurality of virtual electronic musical instruments respectively belonging to the plurality of product categories. It is determined whether the user is assigned to the user. If a plurality of product categories are registered, the CPU 24a determines “Yes” in step S252, and the client selects one of the registered product categories in step S254. The device is instructed to acquire selected category information representing the selected product category by communicating with the client device. If a plurality of product categories are not registered, “No” is determined in step S252, and the process proceeds to step S256.

On the other hand, after the processing in step S152, the CPU _CL on the client device side determines whether or not there is a product category selection instruction from the server device 10 in step S154. If there is no product category selection instruction, “No” is determined in step S154, and the process proceeds to step S158. If there is a product category selection instruction, the CPU _CL determines “Yes” in step S154 and proceeds to step S156. In step S <b> 156, the CPU _CL instructs the user to select a product category, inputs selection category information representing the product category selected by the user, and transmits it to the server device 10.

  The selected category information transmitted to the server device 10 is acquired on the server device 10 side by the process of step S254. After the processes in steps S252 and S254, the CPU 24a of the server device 10 determines a virtual electronic musical instrument to be assigned to the user (client device) in step S256. In this case, if a plurality of product categories are not registered, the virtual electronic musical instrument already assigned to the user is determined as the assigned virtual electronic musical instrument. Further, when a plurality of product categories are registered, the product category is determined according to the acquired selected category information, and the virtual electronic musical instrument that is already assigned to the determined product category is determined as the assigned virtual electronic musical instrument. The

On the other hand, after the processing in steps S154 and S156, the CPU _CL on the client device side selects, in step S158, whether to transmit live performance data or a performance data file, and is selected by the user. The type of the transmitted data is transmitted to the server device 10. When transmission of live performance data is selected by the user, the CPU _CL determines “Yes” in step S160, executes the processing of steps S162 to S166, and from the server apparatus 10 in step S174. After logging out, the execution of the musical tone acquisition routine is terminated in step S176. On the other hand, when transmission of performance data file is selected instead of transmission of live performance data by the user, the CPU _CL determines “No” in step S160 and executes the processing of steps S168 to S172. After logging out from the server device 10 in step S174, the execution of the musical tone acquisition routine is terminated in step S176.

  On the server device 10 side, after the processing of step S256, the CPU 24a determines whether or not the live performance data is transmitted based on the type of transmission data transmitted from the client device in step S258. If the live performance data is to be transmitted, the CPU 24a determines “Yes” in step S258, executes the processes of steps S260 to S264, and ends the execution of the musical tone generation routine in step S270. If the performance data file is not transmitted instead of the live performance data, the CPU 24a determines "No" in step S258, executes the processes of steps S266 and S268, and performs the musical sound in step S270. Ends the generation routine execution.

First, the processing of steps S162 to S166 and the processing of steps S260 to 264 will be described. In step S <b> 162, the CPU _CL on the client device side sequentially transmits performance data (MIDI data) by live performance using the keyboard to the server device 10. Instead of playing using the keyboard, the stored automatic performance data may be read sequentially, and the performance data may be sequentially transmitted to the server device 10 as the music progresses, as in the case of live performance.

  On the server device 10 side, the CPU 24a receives the performance data transmitted from the client device by the process of step S260, and sequentially generates musical tone signal data representing a musical tone signal using the received performance data. In the generation of the musical tone signal data, the program and data shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B are used in accordance with the method (see FIG. 4) designated by the virtual electronic musical instrument assigned to the client device (user). The musical tone signal data representing the musical tone is generated. After the processing in step S260, the CPU 24a compresses the generated musical tone signal data in step S262, and transmits the compressed musical tone signal data to the client device every predetermined number of packets. For example, the mp3 compression method is used for compression of the musical tone signal data. Next, in step S264, the CPU 24a determines whether reception of performance data has been completed. Then, until reception of the performance data ends, the CPU 24a continues to determine “No” in step S264, and repeatedly executes the circulation process including steps S260 to S264.

On the other hand, on the client device side, after the processing in step S162, the CPU _CL receives the musical tone signal data transmitted from the server device 10 in step S164, and sequentially generates the musical tone represented by the received musical tone signal data. At the same time, the received musical tone signal data is recorded. Next, in step S166, the CPU _CL determines whether the reception of the musical tone signal data has been completed. Then, the CPU _CL continues to determine “No” in step S166 until the reception of the musical tone signal data is completed, and repeatedly executes the circulation process including steps S162 to S166. Thereby, the user can listen to the musical sound corresponding to the performance data transmitted to the server device 10 and can record the musical sound signal data corresponding to the performance data.

Next, the processes in steps S168 to S172 and the processes in steps S266 and S268 will be described. In step S168, the CPU _CL on the client device side stores in the server device 10 a performance data file composed of performance data (MIDI data) for one song or a plurality of songs in which performances using the keyboard are stored in advance. Send. In this case, the performance data file is not based on the performance using the keyboard, but may be a performance data file obtained in advance from the outside.

  On the server device 10 side, the CPU 24a receives the performance data file transmitted from the client device by the process of step S266, and uses the performance data for one song or a plurality of songs in the received performance data file. Music signal data representing a music signal corresponding to the data is generated. Also in the generation of the musical tone signal data, the program and data shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B are used in accordance with the method (see FIG. 4) designated by the virtual electronic musical instrument assigned to the client apparatus (user). The musical tone signal data representing the musical tone is generated. After the process of step S266, the CPU 24a compresses the generated musical tone signal data for one or a plurality of songs and also for one or a plurality of songs composed of the compressed musical tone signal data in step S268. The musical tone data file is created, and the created musical tone data file is transmitted to the client device. In this case as well, for example, the mp3 compression method is used for compression of the musical tone signal data.

On the other hand, on the client device side, after the processing of step S168, the CPU _CL determines whether reception of the musical sound data file from the server device 10 is completed in step S170. The CPU _CL continues to make a “No” determination at step S170 until the reception of the musical sound data file is completed. When the reception of the musical tone data file is completed, the CPU _CL determines “Yes” in step S170, reproduces the musical tone signal data in the musical tone data file received in step S172, and represents the musical tone signal data. The generated musical sound is sequentially pronounced, and the received musical sound data file is recorded. Thereby, the user can listen to the musical sound corresponding to the series of performance data included in the musical sound data file transmitted to the server device 10 and can record the musical sound signal data corresponding to the performance data.

  In the above-described embodiment, the server device 10 generates any one of the tone signal generation methods among the plurality of types of tone signal generation methods respectively corresponding to the plurality of types of electronic musical instruments through the processes of steps S202 to S210 and S256. Is assigned to the client device. Then, according to the assigned one tone signal generation method, a tone signal is generated according to the performance data transmitted from the client device by the processing of steps S260 and S266, and the generated tone signal is generated by the processing of steps S262 and S268. A musical tone signal is transmitted to the client device. Thereby, the client apparatus can acquire a musical sound signal generated by a musical sound signal generation method corresponding to a commercially available electronic musical instrument desired by the user. In particular, the user can acquire a musical sound signal corresponding to the function and quality of an electronic musical instrument that is purchased and owned, and can listen to familiar musical sounds without a sense of incongruity.

  In the above-described embodiment, the server device 10 sets the access right from the client device to the server device 10 through the processes of steps S202 to S208, and transmits the type of electronic musical instrument that is transmitted from the client device and owned by the user. Electronic musical instrument information is stored, and one virtual electronic musical instrument (one musical tone signal generation method) is allocated to the client apparatus using the stored electronic musical instrument information by the processing of steps S210 and S252 to S256. . Thereby, the user can acquire a musical tone signal according to a generation method corresponding to an electronic musical instrument purchased and owned, and can easily listen to a musical tone familiar to the user without a sense of incongruity. In this case, since the electronic musical instrument information registered by the processing in steps S202 to S208 relates to the electronic musical instrument owned by the user, it is unfair between the purchaser of the high-end model and the purchaser of the low-end model. There is no feeling.

  Further, in the above embodiment, when a plurality of types of electronic musical instruments belonging to a plurality of product categories are registered in the server device 10 for one user, the server device 10 performs the processing of steps S252 to S256. Thus, one tone generation method is assigned to the client device in accordance with the selection instruction from the client device. Thereby, even when the user purchases and owns a plurality of electronic musical instruments in the server apparatus 10, one type of electronic musical instrument can be selected from the plurality of registered electronic musical instruments. You can easily select and listen to the musical instrument sound.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the server device 10 compresses the generated musical tone signal data by the processing of steps S262 and S268, and transmits the compressed musical tone signal data to the client device. Thereby, the amount of data transmitted from the server apparatus 10 to the client apparatus can be reduced.

  Note that the server device and the music system according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications.

  In the above embodiment, a virtual electronic musical instrument table (see FIG. 4) that defines the type of musical sound signal generation method for each electronic musical instrument type, and a program and data for a plurality of types of musical signal generation methods (FIG. 3). And the virtual electronic musical instrument table is referenced to determine the program and data for the musical sound signal generation method corresponding to the electronic musical instrument type, and the musical sound corresponding to the electronic musical instrument type is determined. A signal was generated. However, without preparing the virtual electronic musical instrument table, for a plurality of types of electronic musical instruments, a program and data for a plurality of types of musical sound signal generation methods are prepared in a one-to-one correspondence with each other. A musical sound signal corresponding to the type of electronic musical instrument may be generated by directly using a program and data for a musical sound signal generation method corresponding to the type of electronic musical instrument.

  In the above embodiment, the virtual electronic musical instrument is assigned to the user when the user is newly registered and when the electronic musical instrument is added or changed by the processing in steps S202 to S210, and a plurality of product categories are registered for the user. If not, one virtual electronic musical instrument is automatically assigned to the client apparatus (user) by the process of step S256. However, instead of this, when the musical tone acquisition routine (steps S150 to S176) in step S20 and the musical tone generation routine (steps S250 to S270) in step S34 are executed, the electronic musical instrument information relating to the desired electronic musical instrument is received from the client device. The server apparatus 10 may determine the virtual electronic musical instrument in response to the transmission of the electronic musical instrument information. In this case, immediately after login in step S152, the user selects one electronic musical instrument, and the client apparatus transmits electronic musical instrument information representing the selected electronic musical instrument to the server apparatus 10. And the server apparatus 10 should just allocate the virtual electronic musical instrument corresponding to the electronic musical instrument represented by the transmitted electronic musical instrument information in step S256.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, one type of electronic musical instrument of the highest quality for each product category is assigned to the client device (user) by the process of step S210. However, instead of this, a plurality of types of electronic musical instruments may be assigned to one product category. In this case, the presence / absence of registration of a plurality of types of electronic musical instruments is determined instead of the presence / absence of registration of a plurality of product categories in the process of step S252. If a plurality of types of electronic musical instruments are registered, the user may select a desired type of electronic musical instrument through the processing in steps S154 and S156 similar to the above embodiment.

INT ... Internet line 10 ... Server device 11 ... Music signal generator 12 ... Allocation controller 24 ... Computer device 25 ... Storage device 30 ... Client device 31 ... Intermediate portable keyboard 32 ... High-quality digital piano, 33 ... Lower synthesizer, 34 ... MIDI keyboard, 35 ... High-end synthesizer, 41 ... Tablet terminal devices 42,44 ... Notebook personal computer, 52 ... Performance operator group, 55 ... Sound source circuit, 61 ... Computer device, 62 ... Storage device

Claims (7)

A musical tone signal generating means capable of generating a plurality of types of musical tone signals by a plurality of types of musical tone signal generation methods respectively corresponding to a plurality of types of electronic musical instruments;
User registration means for setting access rights from the client device to the server device and storing electronic musical instrument information transmitted from the client device and indicating the type of electronic musical instrument owned by the user;
Using the electronic musical instrument information stored by the user registration means, one of the plurality of tone signal generation methods is assigned to a client device, and the one assigned tone signal is generated. An allocation control unit that causes the tone signal generation unit to generate a tone signal in accordance with performance data transmitted from the client device,
A server apparatus comprising: a musical sound signal transmitting means for transmitting the generated musical sound signal to a client apparatus. The allocation control unit corresponds to the electronic instrument having the highest quality among the plurality of types of electronic musical instruments when a plurality of pieces of electronic musical instrument information respectively representing a plurality of types of electronic musical instruments are stored by the user registration unit. The server apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein one musical sound generation method is assigned to a client apparatus. The allocation control unit allocates one musical tone generation method to the client device in response to a selection instruction from the client device when the user registration unit stores a plurality of pieces of electronic musical instrument information each representing a plurality of types of electronic musical instruments. The server device according to claim 1 . The plurality of types of tone signal generation methods are the tone generator method used for generating the tone signal, the waveform data used for generating the tone signal, the maximum number of tone signals that can be generated simultaneously, the effect given to the tone signal, and the automatic 4. The server device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the accompaniment is made different. The musical tone signal generating means has waveform storage means for storing a plurality of types of waveform data used for generating musical tone signals for one tone color, respectively.
4. The server device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of types of musical sound generation methods are methods of generating musical sound signals using a plurality of types of waveform data, respectively. 5. The server apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the musical tone signal transmitting unit includes a compressing unit that compresses the generated musical tone signal, and transmits the compressed musical tone signal to the client device. In addition to the server device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
Performance data transmitting means for transmitting the performance data;
A music system comprising a client device comprising a tone signal receiving means for receiving a tone signal transmitted by a tone signal transmitting means of the server device.

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