JPH07104670B2 - Electronic musical instrument - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument, and more particularly to an electronic musical instrument capable of generating a musical sound whose tone color changes over time.

[Prior Art] FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional music synthesizer. First, with reference to FIG. 6, the structure of the music synthesizer and its operation will be described.
When the keyboard 1 is pressed, the key-pressing signal causes the envelope generators 2 and 3 and the voltage controlled oscillator (hereinafter referred to as VCO).
4 and a voltage control filter (hereinafter referred to as VCF) 5. The envelope generators 2 and 3 output an envelope signal representing a temporal change of a tone color based on a key depression signal. The envelope signal from the envelope generator 2 is given to VCO4 and VCF5. The envelope signal from the envelope generator 3 is a voltage controlled amplifier (hereinafter referred to as VCA) 6
Given to. The VCO 4 outputs a signal having a frequency corresponding to the key depression signal to determine the pitch of the sound. Also, VCF5
It changes the harmonic composition of the pitch signal output from the VCO4. Then, the VCA6 changes the amplitude of the signal output from the VCF5 to determine the loudness of the sound.

FIG. 4A shows an example of envelope signals output from the envelope generators 2 and 3. In FIG. 4A, the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents the magnitude of the envelope signal. By giving this envelope signal to VCF5, for example, the cutoff frequency of VCF5 changes as shown in FIG. 4 (b), and a timbre change over time can be obtained.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above-described electronic musical instrument, while it is possible to obtain a temporal change in tone color during performance, point A (change start portion) or point B (shown in FIG. 4 (a)) It was difficult to confirm what the timbre is like at the change-back portion) when setting the timbre.

Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide an electronic musical instrument in which a tone color at a changing time can be set while being confirmed.

[Means for Solving the Problem] The present invention relates to a mode designating unit that selectively designates at least a first mode and a second mode, and at least a first tone color when the first mode is designated. Second
A tone color setting means for setting the tone color of the first tone color, a tone generation means for selectively generating a tone of the first tone and a tone of the second tone when the first mode is designated, and a second mode. 1st in response to a musical sound generation start instruction when specified
Means for generating a tone of a tone color that changes with the passage of time from the tone generation start instruction to the second tone color.

[Operation] The electronic musical instrument according to the present invention selectively generates the musical tone of the first tone color and the musical tone of the second tone color when the first mode is designated, and the second mode is designated. In response to the musical tone generation start instruction, the first tone color and the second tone color are generated to generate musical tones that change with the passage of time from the musical tone generation start instruction. It is possible to set the two tones while checking them, and to obtain a tone that changes from the set first tone to the second tone over time.

Embodiments The above-mentioned objects and other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description given below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is an external view of an embodiment of the present invention. This second
The example shown in the figure is an electronic musical instrument applied to a music synthesizer. The music synthesizer has a keyboard 1, a stage select switch 11, a stage time switch 12, and a VCO parameter switch 13
A VCF parameter switch 14, a VCA parameter switch 15, a parameter setting lever 16, a mode changeover switch 17, and a write switch 18. The stage select switch 11 divides the time corresponding to the key depression period when the keyboard 1 is depressed at a certain interval, and each of the divided breakpoints (hereinafter referred to as break points) A, B, C, D. , E
A dividing point designating means for designating the. It is to be noted that each of the break points A to E is referred to as a stage. The stage time switch 12 is a switch for setting the time of each stage A → B, B → C, C → D, D → E.

The VCO parameter switch 13 is for specifying the sound source among the parameters to be set. The VCF parameter switch 14 is for setting the parameter of the absolute value of the cutoff frequency of the filter. The VCA parameter switch 15 sets a parameter as a sound level. The parameter setting lever 16 is for setting the parameter size to an arbitrary value when any one of the VCO parameter switch 13, the VCF parameter switch 14 and the VCA parameter switch 15 is selected. The mode changeover switch 17 is for selecting either the STEP mode or the AUTO mode.

Here, the STEP mode is a mode in which a generated tone based on the parameter can be monitored when a parameter is set for each breakpoint, and the AUTO mode is a mode in which a part of the preset tone can be modified. The write switch 18 is selected by the break point set by the stage select switch 11, the stage time set by the stage time switch 12, the VCO parameter switch 13, the VCF parameter switch 14 and the VCA parameter switch 15 and by the parameter setting lever 16. It is a switch that gives a command to write each parameter whose value is set in the memory.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
Next, the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The stage select switch 11, the stage time switch 12, the VCO parameter switch 13, the VCF parameter switch 14, the VCA parameter switch 15, the mode changeover switch 17 and the write switch 18 shown in FIG.
Are connected to the CPU 21 as a control means. The variable resistor 161 provided in association with the parameter setting lever 16 shown in FIG. 2 is connected to the A / D converter 27. This A / D converter 27 converts the voltage as the parameter value set by the variable resistor 161 into a digital value and
Give to U21.

A memory 26, a parameter register 22, a target value register 23, a breakpoint counter 24, and a stage counter 25 are provided in association with the CPU 21. The memory 26 stores each parameter, which will be described later with reference to FIG. The parameter register 22 stores the parameter at each breakpoint set in the memory 26. The target value register 23 stores the parameter at the next breakpoint. Breakpoint counter
For example, 24 is to count the break points AB at predetermined steps in order to interpolate the parameters between the break points A and B. And
When the count value of the break point counter 24 is "0", it indicates between the break points A and B, when it is "1", it indicates between the break points B and C, and when it is "2", between the break points C and D. Shows breakpoints D and E when "3"
Indicates between.

The stage counter 25 counts the break points A to E. The CPU21 interpolates the parameters between each breakpoint and outputs the output to the D / A converter 28
Give to. The D / A converter 28 converts the parameter into an analog signal. The parameters converted into analog signals are VCO4, VCF by the demultiplexer 29.
Decoded into parameters corresponding to 5 and VCA 6, respectively, and given to the sample hold circuit 30. The sample and hold circuit 30 samples and holds the input parameter value and supplies the outputs to VCO4, VCF5 and VCA6, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing parameters stored in the memory 26 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the memory 26 includes areas 261 to 265 for storing VCO parameters, VCF parameters, VC parameters and stage times corresponding to the respective breakpoints A to E.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for facilitating the understanding of the operation of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the specific operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

First, before describing the overall operation according to the present invention, parameter setting and parameter interpolation between break points will be described with reference to FIG. For example, in a conventional music synthesizer, there is an envelope signal as shown in Fig. 4 (a), which is applied at the depth in VCF, resulting in V
It is assumed that the cutoff frequency of CF changes as shown in FIG. 4 (b). In order to do the same, in one embodiment of the invention, each breakpoint A, B, C, D, E
Cutoff frequency of VCF for each of 400Hz, 200Hz, 100Hz
Preset the break points A to D
Interpolate between

Use multiplication as the method of interpolation. That is, when interpolating between the break points A and B shown in FIG. 4 (c), [(parameter value of B-current parameter value) × constant determined by time of A → B + current parameter value] Calculation is performed using the arithmetic expression of. In this case, the parameter exponentially approaches the set value of breakpoint B, so
The parameter change does not match the set value at B. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4 (d), in calculation, [the set value of B + (the set value of B−the set value of A) × 1/8 is exponentially changed toward], It feels like it changes fairly smoothly.

Next, based on the above description and according to the flow chart shown in FIG. 5, the specific operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, when setting each parameter, the mode selector switch 17 is switched to select the STEP mode.
Then, the stage select switch 11 is operated to select one of the break points A to E. further,
Stage time switch 12 and parameter setting lever
Operate 16 to set the stage time. That is, for example, when the A → B key is operated to move the parameter setting lever 16 to operate the write switch 18, the stage time corresponding to the position of the parameter setting lever 16 is set.
Further, one of the VCO parameter switches 13 is operated, the value is set by the parameter setting lever 16, and the write switch 18 is operated. Similarly, the VCF parameter is set by operating the VCF parameter switch 14 and the parameter setting lever 16 and pressing the write switch 18.
By operating the CA parameter switch 15 and the parameter setting lever 6 and pressing the write switch 18, the VCA parameter is set. By such setting operation, the memory 26
In FIG. 3, each parameter is stored for each breakpoint, as shown in FIG.

When each parameter is set to each of the break points A to E, if the keyboard 1 is pressed each time, the sound for each break point based on the set parameter can be monitored.

Next, a method of setting each parameter in the memory 26 as described above and then interpolating between the breakpoints A to E based on this parameter will be described. First, the mode changeover switch 17 is used to select the AUTO mode and the stage select switch 11 is operated to select the break point A. Then, the keyboard 1 is operated. In step (abbreviated as S in the drawing) 1, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the keyboard 1 has been operated, and when it determines that the keyboard 1 has been operated, it resets the breakpoint counter 24 in step S2.

In step S3, the CPU 21 executes the memory corresponding to the break point A specified by the stage select switch 11.
The parameters are read from the area 261 of 26 and set in the parameter register 22. Then, in step S4, the CPU 21 subtracts the parameter of the breakpoint A from the parameter of the breakpoint B stored in the area 262 of the memory 26, and multiplies it by 9/8. Where 9
The reason for multiplying by / 8 is to exponentially change the value to about 1/8 higher than the set value of the breakpoint B, as shown in FIG. 4 (d).

The CPU 21 sets the above calculation result in the target value register 23. Then, in step S5, the area 262 of the memory 26 is
The stage time from break point B to A stored in the above is set in the stage counter 25. And
Each parameter set in the parameter register 22 in step S6 is output to the D / A converter 28. The D / A converter 28 converts the parameter as a digital value into an analog signal, and this analog signal is demultiplexed 29
And VCO4, VCF5, VCA6 via the sample and hold circuit 30
Given to each.

Therefore, the break point A is generated according to the operation of the keyboard 1.
It is possible to generate a sound based on the parameters set corresponding to. At this time, the sound can be changed to another sound. In other words, if you want to change the stage time by operating the stage select switch again and selecting break point A, operate the A → B key of the stage time switch 12 and select the desired stage time with the setting lever 16 and write. The built-in switch 18 is operated. To change the VCO parameter, VCF parameter, and VCA parameter, use the VCO parameter switch 13 and VCF parameter switch 14 respectively.
After selecting any one of the VCA parameter switch 15 and the VCA parameter switch 15 and operating the setting lever 16, the write switch 18 is operated.

On the other hand, the key-on signal and the key-off signal are not output while the keyboard 1 is being interpolated, that is, while the key is being pressed. Therefore, the CPU 21 determines in step S1 that it is not key-on, determines in step S7 that it is not key-off, and decrements the stage counter 25 in step S8. Then, in step S9, it is determined whether or not the count value of the stage counter 25 has become zero. If the count value of the stage counter 25 is not 0, the process proceeds to step S10 to perform the next calculation. That is, from the parameter value set in the target value register 23 to the parameter register 22
Subtract the parameter value set in
And the result is added to the parameter set in the parameter register 22. This calculation is to interpolate the separated one step between the break points A and B shown in FIG. 4 (d). The interpolated value of the parameter obtained by such calculation is output to the D / A converter 28.

The operations of steps S1, S7 to S10, S6 described above are repeated, and the stage counter 25 counts the stage time period set in the area 261 of the memory 26, and the stage counter 25
When the count value of 0 becomes 0, the CPU 21 determines in step S9 that the count value of the stage counter becomes 0, and in step S11 determines whether the count value of the breakpoint counter 25 is 3.

If the count value of the break point counter 24 is 3, then the fourth
Since it is during the break point DE shown in FIG. 7A, the process proceeds to the next step S6. However, since the break point counter 24 has been reset at the above-mentioned step S2, it is determined that the count value is not 3, and step S12 is performed. The breakpoint counter is incremented by +1. Since this has interpolated between the break points A and B, it is necessary to interpolate between the next break points B and C, so the break point counter 24 is incremented by one. In step S13, each parameter is read from the area 262 of the memory 26 at the breakpoint B, and the parameters are set in the parameter register 22, the target value register 23 and the stage counter 25, respectively. Then, in step S6, the parameter at the breakpoint B is set to the D / A converter 2
Output to 8.

While the keyboard 1 is being pressed, the above steps S1, S7 to S
Repeat 10 and S6. Then, when the interpolation between the breakpoints B and C is completed, the parameter at the breakpoint C is read from the area 263 of the memory 26,
Interpolate between breakpoints C and D. At this time, the count value of the breakpoint counter 24 is 2, and when the stage counter 25 counts the set time between the breakpoints C and D, the count value of the breakpoint counter 24 becomes 3.

Further, the parameter of the breakpoint D is read from the area 264 of the memory 26 and set in the parameter register 22, the target value register 23 and the stage counter 25.
Then, the interpolation between the break points D and E is performed. When the interpolation between the break points D and E is completed, the count value of the break point counter 24 is 3, so that it is determined in step S11, and this time, the step is performed without incrementing the break point counter by 1.
At S6, the parameter at the breakpoint E is output and the series of operations is completed.

It should be noted that if the hand is released from the keyboard 1 before the preset time between the break points D and E has elapsed, the keyboard 1 generates a key-off signal. When the key-off signal is input, the CPU 21 determines it in step S7, and determines in step S14 whether or not the count value of the break point counter 24 reaches 3. Breakpoints D and E
If the key is released before the stage time of, the count value of the break point count 24 is still 2, so the process proceeds to step S15. Then, in step S15, the count value of the breakpoint counter 24 is forcibly set to 3. Then, in step S16, the parameter set in the parameter register 22 is subtracted from the parameter of the breakpoint E, and it is multiplied by 9/8. The result is set in the target value register 23. Further, the time parameter from the break points D to E is set in the stage counter in step S17, and the parameter at the break point D is output in step S6. After that, the operations of steps S8 to S10 and S6 described above are repeated.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to set while confirming the first timbre and the second timbre,
Further, it is possible to obtain a tone color that changes with time from the set first tone color to the second tone color.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an external view of an electronic musical instrument to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the parameters stored in the memory shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for facilitating the understanding of the operation of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining a specific operation of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional electronic musical instrument. In the figure, 1 is a keyboard, 11 is a stage select switch, 12 is a stage time switch, 13 is a VCO parameter switch, 14 is a VCF parameter switch, 15 is a VCA parameter switch, 16 is a parameter setting lever, 17 is a mode selector switch, 18 Is a write switch, 21 is a memory, 22 is a parameter register, 23 is a target value register, 24 is a breakpoint counter, 25 is a stage counter, 26 is a memory, 27 is an A / D converter, 28 is a D / A converter, 29 Is a demultiplexer, and 30 is a sample hold circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A mode designating means for selectively designating at least a first mode and a second mode, and at least a first tone color when the first mode is designated by the mode designating means. Tone color setting means for setting a second tone color, and tone generation means for selectively generating the tone sound of the first tone color and the tone sound of the second tone color when the first mode is designated, And when the second mode is designated, a tone color that changes with the passage of time from the tone generation start instruction to the second tone color in response to the tone generation start instruction. An electronic musical instrument equipped with a means for generating musical sounds.