JPH09152881A - Reproducing method for chorus sound of communication karaoke device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize a decrease in presence by previously including an alternative chorus sound in MIDI information and outputting the alternative chorus sound when music data is reproduced. SOLUTION: The alternative chorus sound is previously recorded on an alternative track of MIDI corresponding to a specific phrase to which a chorus is added. When a user sings at a standard speed in a standard key, a MIDI reproduction part 23 outputs an accompaniment as it is, but outputs none of the alternative chorus voice which is a false voice recorded on the alternative track. Simultaneously, a chorus reproduction part 26 is placed in normal operation and a chorus switch 29 on its output side is closed to send a reproduced chorus signal to a speaker side as a following stage. This is repeated until the musical performance ends. In this case, a natural chorus voice is reproduced to the accompaniment and a state of rich presence can be created.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of reproducing a chorus sound of a communication karaoke apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, MIDI (Musical Ins) is used as a means for transmitting performance information for generating musical tones.
Trument Digital Interfac
e) is widely used. MIDI refers to a standard of hardware and software defined to enable information exchange by connecting with a sound source such as a musical instrument such as a synthesizer or an electronic piano. When using MIDI, the player's input to the keyboard or the like is converted into MIDI information and output to the transmission path. On the other hand, a sound source that has MIDI reception capability and that actually produces sound is connected to the transmission path and interprets MIDI information to produce sound.

Such MIDI information is roughly classified into the following information. (1) Musical note-like information (hereinafter referred to as musical note information) indicating sounding start by keystroke (pushing in the keyboard) and stop sounding by key release (stopping keypress). This note information includes information about the pitch of the note represented by the keyboard number. (2) Accent information indicating the strength of pronunciation. In MIDI, the note information is transmitted and received. (3) Control information for transmitting to the sound source an intonation expression such as crescendo, pitch fluctuation, etc. performed by the performer using pedals, levers, etc. Specifically, when the MIDI converter on the player's side detects a change in the lever position, position information is transmitted. Since each of these pieces of information is transmitted immediately as the performance progresses, the flow of information is in a state in which the above various kinds of information are mixed.

Since all MIDI information is digitized, it is recorded, edited, and reproduced by using a computer device such as a synthesizer and a recording medium. That is, the MIDI information is recorded on the medium as a data file. Here, SMF (Standard Midi Fi) is commonly used as a file format.
le), but since MIDI information is real-time performance information, each information element such as sound start and sound stop (hereinafter MIDI
When referred to as an event), when recorded in the SMF, it is recorded with time information added. Also, since recording is performed according to the MIDI event occurrence order,
The note information and the control information are recorded in a mixed form.

By the way, when not only SMF but also data files are stored, it is desirable that the data files are compressed as much as possible because the capacity of the recording medium is limited. Is usually L used in programs such as LHA and GZIP
A compression method by pattern matching called the Z method is used. The principle of this data compression will be briefly described. To generate a compressed file from an original file, the data read from the processing position is copied to the compressed file while moving the processing position in the original file from the beginning of the file. If there are two identical data areas in the original file, the processing position is 2 of the identical data areas.
At the time of reaching the beginning of the second data area, instead of simply copying the data, the distance from the beginning position of the matching first data area to the processing position and the length of the matching data area Is recorded in the compressed file, the processing position in the original file is moved to the end of the second data area, and the processing is continued. As a result, it is not necessary to copy the data for the second identical data area, and instead,
The data can be compressed by adding the distance information and the length information having a slight length.

As is clear from the above description, the compression rate of this compressed data increases as the size of two identical data areas increases. In addition, when searching for data patterns after a certain processing position from the data area before the processing position, the size of the search target area is limited. It has the characteristic of high rate. A communication karaoke apparatus can be cited as an example of using such a performance information file such as SMF. Among the communication karaoke devices, the non-storage type is one in which the terminal device receives a MIDI performance information file distributed from a distribution center through a public line or the like, and the terminal device reproduces the MIDI performance information file and uses it as an accompaniment for singing. Every time the user selects a song, the center side distributes information about the selected song. In such a case, if the performance information file in the distribution center is compressed and distributed, the distribution time can be shortened and the line usage fee can be reduced.

Further, the terminal device of the communication karaoke device called the storage type has a built-in recording medium such as a large-capacity hard disk and stores the performance information file distributed in the past in an updateable manner. Also in this case, by storing the performance information file in a compressed state, it is possible to hold more songs on the recording medium.

[0008]

By the way, when a karaoke device is used, it goes without saying that a background image corresponding to the atmosphere of the music is projected in order to make the atmosphere of the place lively. In the case of a song, it is desirable to play the chorus sound at the corresponding portion in the middle of playing the song.

However, since the MIDI information that is formatted in correspondence with the timbre of the music cannot reproduce the chorus sound of the real voice singing a specific lyrics or phrase, when the chorus is added, the MPEG or MPEG is used. ADP
Using digital audio compression technology such as CM, M
The chorus information is distributed separately from the IDI information. And, unlike the MIDI information operated by software, the distributed chorus information is reproduced in synchronization with the MIDI information via a digital audio chorus reproduction system, so that the accompaniment progresses and at the same time the necessary chorus information. Sound is added.

In general, the user often sets the key and tempo of the music to a value other than a preset reference value to sing according to his / her taste. In this case, the MID
Since the I information is reproduced as software, the accompaniment can be easily reproduced by following changes in the key and tempo. As for the chorus sound, a playback system using digital audio is used as described above, but this digital audio circuit has a complicated circuit configuration and is relatively expensive. To make the circuit structure corresponding to the change of the chorus sound, a more complicated circuit structure is required, and the cost is greatly increased. Therefore, in the current general karaoke equipment, a digital audio playback system with a relatively simple structure is used for cost reduction, and when playing a song with chorus, the key or tempo of the song is used as a standard. Plays the chorus sound only if it is maintained at the value, but
When the key or tempo is changed from the standard value, it cannot respond to this, so the chorus sound reproduction is immediately stopped. In this case, if the chorus sound is forcibly output without changing the tempo or the like, the accompaniment and the tempo will be different. For this reason, when the key or tempo is changed, the chorus sound is erased, so that there is a problem in that the chorus sound is lost, the sense of realism is lost, and the interestingness is significantly deteriorated.

Further, in the conventional apparatus, even if a failure occurs in the digital audio reproduction system for some reason, no chorus sound is output, and there is no means for compensating for this. Furthermore, as a simpler and cheaper karaoke device in the past, there is a karaoke device that does not have a digital audio playback system from the beginning and is designed not to play the chorus sound even when a song with a chorus is distributed. However, in such a device, there is a problem in that it is completely uninteresting when playing a song with a chorus. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems and was devised in order to effectively solve the problems, and an object thereof is to generate an alternative chorus sound and suppress the deterioration of the sense of presence to a minimum. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of reproducing a chorus sound of a communication karaoke device which can be performed.

[0012]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a method for reproducing a chorus sound of a communication karaoke apparatus for reproducing music data containing MIDI information and chorus information, wherein Is configured to include an alternative chorus sound in advance, and the alternative chorus sound is output when the music data is reproduced.

The output of the alternative chorus sound as described above is
This is performed when the user uses the key control means for changing the pitch or the speed control means for changing the reproduction speed, or when the normal chorus sound reproduction system becomes abnormal and the chorus sound cannot be reproduced. Also, when a music piece with a chorus is reproduced from a simple type karaoke device that does not have a reproduction system (reproduction circuit) for the chorus sound from the beginning, an alternative chorus sound is output. Therefore, it is possible to maintain a high sense of presence and a high quality of reproduced music without complicating the structure.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a method for reproducing a chorus sound of a communication karaoke apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing a communication karaoke apparatus for carrying out the method of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific configuration mainly including a control means and a reproduction means.
First, the overall configuration of the online karaoke device will be described with reference to FIG. Here, as a communication karaoke device, a digital audio reproducing system for reproducing a real chorus sound is provided, but this reproducing system is designed so as not to be able to cope with the change of the key or tempo of the music. Will be described.

The distribution center 2 which provides the information required by the storage-type communication karaoke apparatus 1 has text information indicating the music name, tempo, the size of the lyric character, the presence or absence of chorus, etc. for a large number of music, Music information of each music (MIDI
It has a large-capacity storage medium 3 in which information, lyric character information, chorus information when chorus is added), still image information, and the like are stored, and each song is made into a database. M above
IDI information is information for driving an electronic musical instrument,
It is formatted according to the MIDI standard. This database is distributed from the interface 4 to a predetermined communication karaoke apparatus 1 via the public telephone line 5 as necessary. The distribution center 2 manages a plurality of communication karaoke devices, and one of them is shown in the illustrated example. The information distributed from the distribution center 2 is taken into the device through the interface 6 on the side of the online karaoke device 1. The control means 7 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer and controls the operation of the entire apparatus.

The main storage means 8 is information about a large number of music pieces distributed from the distribution center 2, that is, text information,
It is a storage medium for storing MIDI information, lyric character information, chorus information, still image information, and the like, and is configured with a storage medium that is inexpensive and has a large storage capacity, such as a hard disk, because it stores a large amount of data. . The moving picture information storage means 19 is composed of, for example, a large number of laser discs and the like, and a large number of moving pictures are stored therein in advance. Each moving picture corresponds to a song type such as enka, folk, and pops, and as necessary. Read out. The input means 10 including a keyboard and a remote control device allows the user to select a song,
Information for setting the tempo (speed) and key (height) of the music is input, and for that purpose, it has speed control means 10A, key control means 10B and the like.

The reproducing means 11 reproduces MIDI information, chorus information, lyric character information and the like read from the main storage means 8 via the control means 7 based on the music selection information from the input means 10. The reproduced accompaniment music and chorus are further mixed by the amplifier 14 together with the singing voice input from the microphone 13 after being mixed by the mixer unit 12, and output as sound by the speaker 15. At the same time as the reproduction of the selected music, the moving image information selected according to the music type is controlled by the control means 7.
The lyric character information read out from the moving image information storage means 9 via the display and displayed on the display 16 is reproduced by the reproducing means 11, and superimposed and displayed. . A still image may be displayed as needed.

Next, the structure mainly composed of the control means 7 and the reproducing means 11 will be described with reference to FIG. A characteristic part of the present invention is that when a key or tempo of a musical composition is changed to a value other than the standard value, the output of a normal chorus sound is stopped,
The alternative chorus sound included in advance in a predetermined track of DI information is output. First, the control means 7 and the reproduction means 8 are connected via a bus 17, for example, a data bus 17A, an address bus 17B, etc., and the bus 17 is used as a high-speed storage means for access that performs a fast write / read operation. , For example, DRA for playback
M (Dynamic Random Access M)
The memory 18 is connected.

This reproducing DRAM 18 is provided in the main storage means 8
The information about the selected music read out from the device is temporarily stored except for the still image information. Therefore, the text information area 18A for storing the text information, the lyric character information, and the MIDI information are stored inside this. A music information area 18B for storing music information such as chorus information is secured. Although the above areas are secured in one playback DRAM, the playback DR is provided for each area.
AM may be provided, one DR for each appropriate number of areas
You may make it provide AM.

Font ROM (Read Only M
The memory 19 is a medium for fixedly storing outline font information of a main language, and font information is stored therein beforehand. Then, the font information corresponding to the lyrics characters (shift JIS code) to be displayed is extracted. The font expansion unit 20 expands the information extracted from the font ROM 19 and converts it into dot information of a designated size. For example, OFG (Outline Font Generato).
r). Lyrics character video signal forming unit 21
Is a portion for forming an actual video signal based on the dot information developed by the font developing unit 20. The video signal forming unit 21 considers the time required for the reproduction of the lyrics characters, For example, it has a RAM (not shown) having a capacity capable of storing lyrics characters corresponding to four screens, and sequentially outputs accumulated information as a video signal.

The still picture video signal forming section 22 is a section for forming a video signal for a still picture. The video signal forming section 22 has a RAM (not shown) for temporarily storing the video signal formed here. Have The MIDI reproducing unit 23 converts the parallel MIDI signal into a serial MIDI signal.
It includes a parallel-serial converter 24 for converting into a signal and a MIDI sound source 25 composed of, for example, a microcomputer, and reproduces MIDI information formatted according to the MIDI standard by software processing as described above. It forms an audio signal for driving an electronic musical instrument. In the present invention, for a song with a chorus, one of a large number of MIDI tracks is assigned for the alternative chorus, and if necessary, a human voice within the range permitted by the MIDI standard is used. An alternative chorus sound can be output with a simulated electronic sound.

The chorus reproducing unit 26 is composed of a chorus reproducing unit 27 assembled by a digital audio circuit and a D / A converter 28 for converting the obtained digital signal into an analog signal. For example, an information compression method such as MPEG. The information that has been compressed by is decompressed here so that the original chorus sound can be reproduced. On the output side of the chorus reproducing section 26, a chorus switch 29 which is mechanically or software operated to be turned on / off as needed is provided. The audio signals output from the MIDI reproducing section 23 and the chorus reproducing section 26 are mixed in the mixer section 12 and reproduced as sound from the speaker 15. The program ROM3
In 0, a program or the like defining the procedure to be processed is stored in advance.

Next, the method of the present invention carried out based on the above-mentioned apparatus example will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. First, when creating a database of music data on the distribution center 2 side, for example, several tens of tracks in MIDI are allocated to each track like a piano track, a bass track, a drum track, and the like. However, when a chorus sound is added to the song, an alternative track is assigned to one unused track so that a pseudo chorus sound can be recorded with a tone color as similar to a human voice as much as possible, and the chorus sound is assigned to this track. An alternative chorus sound is recorded in advance corresponding to a predetermined phrase to which is added. As described above, since the alternative chorus sound can naturally emit sound only in the waveform within the range defined by the GM (General Midi) standard, etc., it is not possible to use [Ar], [O], [Woo], etc. As described above, the vowel is mainly used, but since it can be reproduced by software processing, a special audio digital or audio analog circuit is unnecessary.

Therefore, when the distribution center 2 distributes the music data to the communication karaoke apparatus 1, the alternative chorus sound is MIDI for the music with chorus as described above.
It will be delivered as it is included in the information. First, when the requested music piece is selected from the input means 10, the music information (MIDI information, lyric character information, chorus information, etc.) corresponding to this music piece is reproduced from the main storage means 8 in the DRAM 18 for reproduction.
And take in (S1). Since a large amount of chorus information or the like cannot be fetched into the reproducing DRAM 18 at once, it is gradually fetched from the main storage means 8 in response to the output of the chorus information from the DRAM during the performance. .

Next, the control unit 7 sequentially reads out and reproduces chorus information, MIDI information, lyric character information and the like while referring to the text information of the reproducing DRAM 18, and mainly performs here. The reproduction of MIDI information and chorus information will be described. The control means 7 determines whether or not the chorus reproduction unit 26 is installed in this device (S2), and if YES, that is, if the chorus sound reproduction unit 26 is installed (in this device). , It is determined whether this is operating normally (S3). Here, in the case of YES, that is, when the chorus reproduction unit 26 is normal, it is next determined whether the user has set the speed control means 10A or the speed control means 10B of the input means 10 to a value other than the standard value. Yes (S4).

In the case of NO here, that is, when the user wants to sing at the standard speed (tempo) and the standard key (height), the MIDI reproducing unit 23 causes the normal MIDI such as a piano or a drum. While the information, that is, the accompaniment is output as it is, the output is set to zero for the alternative chorus sound which is the pseudo voice recorded on the alternative track. Due to the characteristics of MIDI, such an operation can be easily performed by software. At the same time as this operation,
The chorus reproducing unit 26 is normally operated, and the chorus switch 29 on the output side is also closed to flow the reproduced chorus signal to the speaker side in the subsequent stage (S5). The above steps S are repeated until the performance ends (S6). In this case, a real voice chorus sound is reproduced along with the accompaniment, resulting in a very realistic sensation.

Returning to S4, if the determination result here is YES, that is, if at least one of the speed control means 10A and the key control means 10B is changed to a value other than the standard value, then the chorus is next performed. The reproducing unit 26 determines whether or not the model can cope with the change of the key or tempo by using the key control means or the speed control means (S7), and YES.
In the case of, that is, in the case of a model that can cope with the key change and the tempo change, the process proceeds to S5 and the real chorus sound is reproduced as it is. On the other hand, in the case of NO in S7, that is, in the case of a model which cannot support the key change and the tempo change, if the real chorus sound is output as it is, the tempo shifts with respect to the accompaniment, or a sound with a different key is output. It is not preferable because it is done. Therefore, according to the present invention, the normal MIDI information, that is, the accompaniment is naturally output as it is, and the alternative chorus sound which is the pseudo sound recorded on the alternative track is also output to generate the pseudo chorus sound. This operation can be easily performed by software-like processing, and it is very easy to respond to changes in keys and tempo. At the same time, the chorus switch 29 is opened to interrupt the chorus sound of the real voice reproduced by the chorus reproduction unit 26 and stop the output (S8).

As a result, from the speaker 15, an alternative chorus sound consisting of a pseudo voice mainly consisting of vowels such as [Ah] and [Woo] is uttered simultaneously with the accompaniment.
It is slightly less realistic and interesting than when a real chorus sound is played, but when there is no Quran sound,
In other words, it becomes possible to create an atmosphere that is much more realistic than when only accompaniment music is used.

Next, returning to S3, the chorus reproduction unit 26
If there is an abnormality somewhere in the whole chorus reproduction system and the chorus sound of the real voice cannot be reproduced, the chorus switch 29 is opened to temporarily stop the output of the chorus sound. At the same time, the alternative chorus sound included in the MIDI information is uttered (S9). The reproduction of the alternative chorus sound is performed until the end of the performance of the music piece (S10). As described above, even when a problem occurs in the reproduction system of the real chorus sound and the real chorus sound cannot be reproduced, the substitute chorus sound is reproduced by the pseudo sound instead of the above. Therefore, compared to the case of the real voice chorus sound, the sense of realism and the interestingness are not so deteriorated.

Next, returning to S2, if NO here,
That is, when the chorus reproduction unit 26 is not installed, the process directly goes to S9 and the alternative chorus sound is output. This type of device is a model that does not have a chorus playback unit installed in advance in order to simplify the structure and reduce costs, and although the structure is different from this device, in general, the series of flows described above is used. The specified program can be distributed so that it can be updated from the distribution center. The above series of flows is based on three models, namely, a model with a simple structure that does not have a chorus playback unit, and a model that has a chorus playback unit but cannot respond to changes in key control and speed control. , And the flow is compatible with all advanced models equipped with a chorus playback unit that can also respond to changes in key control and speed control.
The flow may be adapted to correspond to a specific model of the two models.

Although FIG. 4 is equipped with a chorus reproduction unit,
The flow for models that cannot respond to changes in key control and speed control is shown. This flow differs from the flow shown in FIG. 3 in that this flow is equipped with the chorus playback unit as described above, but is for a model that cannot deal with key and tempo changes. The step S3 for determining whether the chorus reproducing unit is installed and the step S7 for determining whether the chorus reproducing unit can handle a change in key or speed (tempo) are omitted. Since the steps are configured in exactly the same way as the flow shown in FIG. 3, description thereof will be omitted. In the case of a model that does not have a chorus playback unit, when playing a song with chorus,
Of course, the alternative chorus sound is always reproduced.

[0032]

As described above, according to the method of reproducing the chorus sound of the communication karaoke apparatus of the present invention, the following excellent operational effects can be exhibited. An alternative chorus sound is included in the MIDI information, and when necessary, for example,
If the chorus playback unit is not installed, or if the chorus playback unit is installed but it is out of order or cannot respond even if the key or tempo is changed, an alternative chorus sound consisting of pseudo-voice Since the sound is played back, it is possible to secure sufficient liveliness and realistic sensation without complicating the structure, and compared to the case of playing a real chorus sound, The decrease can be suppressed to a minimum.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a communication karaoke apparatus for carrying out the method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific configuration mainly including a control unit and a reproduction unit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a reproduction process of chorus sound.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another example of a process of reproducing a chorus sound.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication karaoke apparatus, 2 ... Distribution center, 3 ... Storage medium, 5 ... Telephone line, 7 ... Control means, 8 ... Main storage means, 9
... key input means, 10A ... speed control means,
10B ... Key control means, 11 ... Playback means, 15
... speaker, 17 ... bus, 17A ... data bus, 17B
... Address bus, 18 ... Playback DRAM, 23 ... MID
I reproduction section, 24 ... Parasili conversion section, 25 ... MIDI sound source section, 26 ... Chorus reproduction section, 27 ... Chorus reproduction unit, 28 ... D / A converter, 29 ... Chorus switch.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A method of reproducing a chorus sound of a communication karaoke apparatus for reproducing music data containing MIDI information and chorus information, wherein an alternative chorus sound is included in the MIDI information in advance, and when the music data is reproduced. A method of reproducing a chorus sound of a communication karaoke apparatus, characterized in that the alternative chorus sound is output. 2. A method of reproducing a chorus sound of a communication karaoke apparatus for reproducing music data containing MIDI information and chorus information, wherein an alternative chorus sound is included in the MIDI information in advance, and when the music data is reproduced. While the output of the chorus sound is stopped in response to the key control means for changing the pitch or the speed control means for changing the speed being set to a value other than the standard value or an abnormality in the reproduction system of the chorus sound, The MI
A method of reproducing a chorus sound of a communication karaoke device, characterized in that the alternative chorus sound in the DI information is output.