JPH04220697A - Touch response device of electronic musical instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To generate continuous musical sound smoothly by decorating a correspondent touch data when legato operation is detected by a key-on signal. CONSTITUTION:When two keys are pushed simultaneously, the operation is detected by a legato detection circuit 16, and after it is judged as legato, an output signal is sent to a delay control circuit 17. The diminishing of after-touch information supplied by a keyboard 11 is delayed for a fixed period of time by the delay control circuit 17, and the information is sent to a musical sound signal generating circuit 13. The diminishing of the after-touch information is delayed for a fixed period of time during the legato operation, during which the after-touch information due to the next keyboard 11 is started, and smoothly synthesized after-touch information is thus generated.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a performance input means for an electronic musical instrument, and more particularly to a touch response device for an electronic musical instrument suitable for legato performance.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art For example, on a piano, musical tones with various expressions are generated depending on how the keys are pressed. The timbre and volume of musical tones generated differ depending on whether the key is pressed quickly or slowly. Furthermore, even at the same speed, the tone is different when you play strongly and when you play lightly.

[0003] In order to realize such performance differences in electronic musical instruments, it is desirable that the keyboard of the electronic musical instrument not only detect pitch, but also detect key pressing speed, key pressing pressure, etc.

The key press speed can be detected, for example, by combining a two-make switch with each key and detecting the time during which the key passes through two predetermined positions during the key press operation.

Further, key depression pressure can be detected by providing a pressure-sensitive sensor such as a pressure-sensitive conductive sheet at the lowest position where each key is pressed.

Furthermore, if a position detection means such as a combination of a photocoupler and a gray scale that can detect the entire stroke of a key press operation is used, the velocity can be detected by the differentiation of the position, and the acceleration (force) can be detected by the differentiation of the velocity. can do.

[0007] When an electronic musical instrument generates a musical sound other than a piano, such as a musical sound of a bowed stringed instrument, the above-mentioned pressure-sensitive sensor can be used as an aftertouch control, for example, to control tremolo or vibrato.

By the way, in legato performance, it is desirable to generate musical tones smoothly so that there are no perceived breaks between the tones.

[0009] In order to perform legato performance in an electronic musical instrument, it is conceivable to use the after data from the above-mentioned aftertouch.

[0010] This will be explained with reference to FIG. Let us consider a case in which, in order to perform a legato performance, the mode is set to mono (single note), one key is held down, and another key is pressed before releasing the key to perform a legato performance.

As shown in the first and second waveforms in FIG. 3, key-on signals are generated partially overlappingly in response to the first and second key presses.

[0012] Corresponding to each of these key presses, first after-data and second after-data are generated from the aftertouch as shown in the third and fourth waveforms.

Even if the key press operation is repeated as seen in the first key-on signal and the second key-on signal, a predetermined time constant is required for the aftertouch data to rise, and the first aftertouch data When this and the second after data are combined, the after data becomes uneven as shown in the waveform at the bottom.

[0014]

[Problem to be solved by the invention] In this way, when playing legato on the keyboard, the keys must be turned on and off, so the aftertouch information becomes discontinuous and the legato nature is lost. Cheap.

[0015] The purpose of the present invention is to
To provide a touch response device for an electronic musical instrument suitable for generating smoothly continuous musical tones.

[0016]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A touch response device for an electronic musical instrument according to the present invention includes a keyboard means capable of generating a key-on signal and touch data, a detecting means detecting legato performance from the key-on signal, and a detecting means capable of generating a key-on signal and touch data. and means for modifying the corresponding touch data when a legato performance is detected.

[0017] The touch data modification means may also include means for smoothing changes in touch data.

[0018]

[Operation] In order to suitably perform legato performance, it is preferable to detect that it is a legato performance and to perform control suitable for legato performance.

By detecting legato performance and modifying the touch data by the legato performance detection means, touch data suitable for legato performance can be obtained.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a basic embodiment of the present invention in a block diagram.

The keyboard 11 includes a number of keys for specifying pitches and an aftertouch sensor associated with each key. When a key is pressed, key data and aftertouch data are output from the keyboard.

[0022] The key data is monomode key assigner 1.
2 is assigned to each channel.

The monomode key assigner 12 supplies key-on data and key data to a musical tone signal generation circuit 13 and also to a legato detection circuit 16. At this stage, if keys are pressed repeatedly, key-on data and key data are also generated redundantly. Note that the purpose of the legato detection circuit 16 is to detect legato performance (two keys being pressed redundantly), and may receive only one of key-on data and key data. The legato detection circuit 16 detects the operation when two keys are pressed redundantly, determines that the operation is legato, and supplies an output signal to the delay control circuit 17.

In the delay control circuit 17, the keyboard 11
The falling edge of the aftertouch information supplied from the aftertouch information is delayed by a predetermined period of time and then supplied to the musical tone signal generation circuit 13. The delay time given by the delay control circuit 17 is selectively given only when legato is detected by the legato detection circuit 16, depending on the degree given by the degree control circuit 19.

In this way, the aftertouch information supplied from the delay control circuit 17 to the musical tone signal generation circuit 13 has its falling edge delayed for a predetermined period of time during legato performance. While the fall of the aftertouch information is delayed, the aftertouch information will rise due to the next key press.
Smooth synthetic aftertouch information can be generated.

Based on such information, the musical tone signal generation circuit 13 generates a musical tone signal, and the sound system 14 generates a musical tone.

The operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be explained with reference to FIG.

Assume that the first key and the second key are pressed consecutively and partially overlappingly on the keyboard 11. Based on these key press operations, a first key-on signal and a second key-on signal as shown in the first and second waveforms of FIG. 2 are generated. Corresponding to the overlap of key press operations, the rear part of the first key-on signal overlaps with the front part of the second key-on signal. Corresponding to these key press operations, first after data and second after data are generated as shown in the waveforms shown in the third and fourth rows of FIG. Although the key-on signals are overlapping, the afterdata is not completely overlapping at its highest signal level.

If these after-data are combined as they are, as explained in the prior art, a dent will occur in the combined after-data.

In the circuit shown in FIG. 1, the legato detection circuit 16 detects the duplication of the first key-on signal and the second key-on signal, and the delay control circuit 17 applies a delay, so that the first after data is generated as shown in FIG. The waveform is delayed as shown by the broken line in the second row. By combining the first afterdata and the second afterdata delayed in this way, it is possible to generate continuous combined afterdata as shown in the waveform shown at the bottom of FIG. 2.

In the circuit of FIG. 1, the legato detection circuit 16 and delay control circuit 17 are shown as conceptual functional blocks. The circuits that perform these functions are
For example, this is realized by a circuit as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, the keyboard includes a large number of keys 11a and an aftersensor 11b corresponding to each key. Key data is generated from the key and supplied to the key assigner circuit 12a. Key data corresponding to the pressed key is supplied from the key assigner circuit 12a to the treble priority circuit 21 and the musical tone signal generation circuit 13.

The key assigner 12a generates a signal corresponding to the pressed key. Signals corresponding to the plurality of channels are detected and input to a 2-bit counter 26 via an OR circuit 25. The 2-bit counter outputs an output signal in binary code corresponding to the number of key-ons. The 2-bit output signal is supplied to a set terminal of a flip-flop 29 via an inverter 27 and an AND circuit 28.

The functions of these circuits will be explained with reference to FIG. 5(A). The OR circuit 25 receives the key-on signal from the key assigner output line. A 2-bit counter 26 counts the number of key-on inputs.

Since the number of key-ons required for legato detection is 2, this counter is intended for counting up to 2. Therefore, the types of key-on numbers are 0, 1, and 2. The counter 26 counts these key-on numbers,
Gives output in binary code.

In other words, if the number of key-ons is 0, 00;
If the number of key-ons is 1, the least significant bit is 1 and the next most significant bit is 0. When the number of key-ons is 2, the least significant bit becomes 0 and the next most significant bit becomes 1. At this time, the signal 1 is directly input to the AND circuit 28, and the least significant bit 0 is inverted to 1 by the inverter 27, and the least significant bit 0 is inverted to 1 by the inverter 27.
supplied to In other words, the AND circuit 28 provides an output of 1 when the number of key-ons is 2.

Note that the key assigner 12a, the 2-bit counter 26, and the FF 29 are each controlled by a timing signal supplied from the timing signal generation circuit 22. This timing signal is generated once for one key scan, for example. The output of FF29 is 2 at the same time.
When there are two key-ons (i.e., when playing legato)
0, otherwise 1.

The output signal of the treble priority circuit 21, like the output signal of the key assigner circuit 12a, includes duplicate key-on signals when a legato performance is being performed. OR circuit 3
1 detects these key-on signals. AND circuit 32
gives an output "1" based on the signal from the FF 29 and the signal from the OR circuit 31 when a legato performance is being performed. At other times, it is "0". That is, when the legato performance ends, it is immediately reset. In this way, the output of the FF 33 is 1 during legato performance and 0 during other periods. This signal “1” instructing legato performance is supplied to the selector 51.

On the other hand, the after data AFa (analog signal) of the after sensor 11b is analog-digital (A/
D) It is supplied to the conversion circuit 41, becomes a digital signal, and becomes A.
F on/off detection circuit 42, selector 43, selector 5
1, the comparator 52, the selector 53, etc. The AF on/off detection circuit 42 detects aftertouch, and when there is aftertouch, ON is "1" and OFF is "0".
When there is no aftertouch, the opposite signal is generated. That is, when there is an aftertouch, 1 is supplied to the selector 43 and the AND circuit 44 is supplied via the inverter 45.
1 is also supplied to The selector 43 inputs the aftertouch data to the "1" terminal. When “1” is supplied from the AF on/off detection circuit 42, the selector circuit 43
supplies aftertouch data to the AND circuit 44.

The AND circuit 44 multiplies the signal from the selector circuit 43 by "1" supplied from the inverter 45, that is, supplies the signal supplied from the selector 43 as it is to the shift register 46 of the delay circuit 50. .

The shift register 46 receives the timing signal from the timing signal generation circuit 22 and shifts the input signal one step at a time to the right.

The function of this shift register 46 is shown in FIG.
) for more detailed explanation.

The input signal of the shift register 46 is as shown in FIG.
Suppose that it changes as shown by the solid line below B). When this signal is shifted by one stage in the shift register 46, the output signal is delayed for a certain period of time on the time axis as shown by the broken line. When subjected to two stages of delay, the output signal is further delayed and becomes like the dashed line. These shift registers 4
The outputs of each stage of 6 are respectively supplied in parallel to a selector circuit 47.

The degree control circuit 19 includes, for example, a rotary encoder, and supplies an up/down signal and a signal indicating the magnitude of change to the selector counter 48. Based on these signals, the counter 48 selects the selector 4.
Change the signal to be selected in step 7. That is, an output signal having a desired delay time is selected and supplied from the selector circuit 47 to the next stage selector circuit 51.

When a legato performance is being performed, the signal "1" is supplied from the FF 33 to the selector circuit 51, so the selector circuit 51 selects the delayed signal supplied from the selector circuit 47. In cases other than legato performance, the selector circuit 51 selects the aftertouch data supplied from the A/D 41 as is.

The output of the selector circuit 51 is sent to the comparator circuit 52.
and is supplied to the selector circuit 53. The comparison circuit 52 compares the direct aftertouch data and the (delayed) aftertouch data from the selector circuit 51 (in the case of legato performance), and if the delayed signal from the selector circuit 51 is larger, Gives output "1". This signal "1" causes the selector circuit 53 to select the delayed signal. If the aftertouch data is larger, the selector circuit 53 selects the directly supplied aftertouch data.

When no legato performance is being performed, the aftertouch data is supplied to the selector 51 as is, so the output of the selector 53 becomes direct aftertouch data in any case.

The functions of the comparison circuit 52 and selector 53 will be explained with reference to FIG. 5(C).

When the aftertouch data has a waveform as shown by the solid line, the aftertouch data delayed by the delay circuit 50 is delayed by a predetermined time as shown by the broken line. The comparison circuit 52 compares the magnitude of the solid line signal and the broken line signal, and outputs "1" if the broken line signal is larger, and outputs "0" if the solid line signal is larger.

Based on these signals, the selector 53 selectively selects the larger one of the solid line signal and the broken line signal. Therefore, an output signal as shown on the right side of FIG. 5(C) is obtained. In this way, the aftertouch data with the intermediate drop removed is supplied to the musical tone signal generation circuit 13, and a suitable legato performance is executed.

Note that when there is no aftertouch and the ON output of the AF on/off detection circuit 42 is "0", the selector circuit 43 selects the input "0" signal. At this time, since "1" is supplied to the inverter 45 from the OFF output of the detection circuit 42, an inverted "0" is supplied to the AND circuit 44. That is, regardless of the input signal, the output of the AND circuit 44 is all 0, and the contents of the shift register 46 of the delay circuit are all 0.

As explained above, according to the circuit shown in FIG. 4, when a legato performance is being performed, the legato detection circuit 16 detects the legato performance and generates a legato detection signal during the period when key-on overlaps. do.

On the other hand, when the aftersensor 11b detects an aftertouch, the aftertouch data is supplied to the delay circuit 50, and a signal delayed by a predetermined time is formed. When legato is detected, the larger one of the aftertouch data and the delayed aftertouch data is selected, so that dents in the aftertouch data that occur at the time of key-on transition are prevented.

In order to further correct the drop in the output signal of the delay circuit 50, a correction circuit for performing interpolation or the like may be provided between the selector 47 and the selector 51.

Although the case where the delay circuit and the like are formed using a digital circuit has been described, the same effect can also be achieved using an analog circuit. For example, an RC time constant circuit or the like may be used as the delay circuit. For example, a plurality of RC circuits having different time constants may be provided in parallel, and a predetermined time constant may be selected using a legato detection signal, a degree setting signal, or the like.

Furthermore, the aftertouch change time constant may be made different between rising and falling edges. For example, the time constant when a key is released can be made longer and the time constant when a key is pressed can be made shorter. This setting speeds up the response when keys are pressed.

Furthermore, although the case has been described in which a legato performance is performed for the highest note, a mono mode circuit may also be used.

Fuzzy logic may be used to delay aftertouch data.

The present invention has been described above with reference to examples, but
The present invention is not limited to these. for example,
It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes, improvements, combinations, etc. are possible.

[0060]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention,
During legato performance, the aftertouch data is modified and continues smoothly, so legato performance can be performed suitably.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing signal waveforms in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a signal waveform during legato performance according to the prior art.

FIG. 4 is a block circuit diagram showing details of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the circuit in FIG. 4; 5(A) is a diagram for explaining the function of the 2-bit counter 26, FIG. 5(B) is a diagram for explaining the function of the shift register 46, and FIG. 5(C) is a diagram for explaining the function of the comparator circuit 52 and selector 53. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining functions.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Keyboard 13 Musical tone signal generation circuit 14 Sound system 16 Legato detection circuit 17 Delay control circuit 19 Degree control circuit 21 Treble priority circuit 22 Timing signal generation circuit 26 2-bit counter 43, 47, 51, 53 Selector circuit 46
Shift register 50 Delay circuit 52 Comparison circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Keyboard means capable of generating a key-on signal and touch data; detecting means for detecting legato performance from the key-on signal; and when the detecting means detects legato performance, modifying the corresponding touch data. A touch response device for an electronic musical instrument.