JPH09258756A - Karaoke sing-along machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a singer to enjoy a feeling of the star by providing a sub- data base in which sub-data including the personal sub-background image of each singer is recorded, and adding information characteristic of each singer. SOLUTION: An accompaniment-song word data base 1 is stored with accompaniment music and song word image corresponding to this accompaniment music. A main data base 2 is stored with main background images to be the background images of accompaniment music. A sub-data base 3 has personal data characteristic of each singer written therein. As the personal data, the individual profile of the singer is expressed in an image and character information, and the like. The contents of the sub-data base 3 are read by a sub-base reproducing device 6, and a read sub-background image signal is inputted to an image mixing device 7. The image mixing device 7 superimposes images outputted from reproducing devices 4-6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention, in a karaoke device capable of selecting a background image, can arrange the background image using personal image data reflecting the singer's preference to obtain an original image. By making it possible for the singer to enjoy the mood of the leading role more, and by recording and reproducing various data associated with the singer's singing and personal information for customer management as necessary,
It is intended to provide a karaoke device that enables bidirectional data exchange with the karaoke device and can reflect the preference and intention of the singer more finely.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The current karaoke apparatus is a type in which an image and accompaniment music are integrally written on the same recording medium, and the image is divided into a lyrics image and a background image, and the lyrics image and the accompaniment music are integrated. It is roughly divided into two types: a written recording medium and a recording medium on which a background image is written separately so that the background image can be changed even in the same song. In the latter, the background image can be changed each time even when the same song is sung, so that the singer does not get tired.

[0003]

However, in recent years, as the base of karaoke enthusiasts has expanded, there is an increasing demand to enjoy karaoke as a more personal entertainment. The present invention has been made in view of such a current situation, and by adding information unique to each singer (hereinafter, also referred to as personal information) to the karaoke device, the singer can further enjoy the feeling of being the protagonist. It is something like this.

[0004]

The present invention, which has solved the above-mentioned problems, has the following constitution. An accompaniment / lyric database in which accompaniment music and character images including lyrics images corresponding to this accompaniment music are integrally recorded, and music signals and image signals are read from this accompaniment / lyric database to accompaniment music and lyrics images. An accompaniment / lyrics database playback device that plays character images including the main database that stores the main background video that is the background video of the accompaniment music for most of the performance of the accompaniment music, and a main that reads the video signal from this main database. A main database playback device that plays back background video, a sub-database that contains individual data for each singer using this device, including sub-data that includes a personal sub-background video, and a video signal that is read from this sub-database. Sub database playback device that plays back sub data including sub background video And a character image including the lyrics image output from the accompaniment / lyrics database reproducing device, a main background image output from the main database reproducing device, and a sub background image output from the sub database reproducing device. An image mixing device for creating an image in which a character image and a background image are combined by superimposing each other or from one side to the other side based on time management information for managing the progress of songs included in the lyrics database, A receiver that displays a composite image of the character image and the background image output from the image mixing device, the accompaniment music output from the accompaniment / lyrics database playback device, and the voice of the singer input from the microphone, and the speaker is amplified. It is a karaoke device equipped with a sounding audio amplifier.

The sub-database records information unique to each singer, for example, a favorite sub-background image of the singer, but in addition to this, customer management information and personal information regarding the singer's singing characteristics may be recorded.

Various recording media can be used as the recording medium of the accompaniment / lyrics database, the main database and the sub database. For example, CD (compact disc), LD (laser disc), DVD (digital video disc), semiconductor memory such as IC card, HD
(Hard disk), FD (floppy disk), etc. can be selected. A large capacity medium is suitable for recording the accompaniment / lyrics database and the main database,
From this viewpoint, it is preferable to select from CD, LD, DVD and HD. A sub-database that records unique data for each singer (hereinafter referred to as personal data) is built in a portable recording medium prepared for each singer. Such recording media include IC cards, magnetic cards, and FDs. It is preferable that the sub-database can be owned by individuals and portable, but it is not excluded to collectively construct sub-databases for a plurality of persons in a large-capacity recording medium such as an HD.

[0007]

According to the karaoke apparatus of the present invention, the personal sub-data recorded for each singer is taken into the karaoke apparatus as needed, and the data read from the accompaniment / lyrics database or the main database by the taken-in sub-data. Arrange the contents. The main arrangement is the personalization of the background image. Video personalization is achieved by superimposing a personal sub-background video on the lyrics video, or by replacing the personal sub-background video with the main background video. In order to superimpose or switch between images, a reference signal for managing these operation timings is required. The time management information for managing the progress status of the songs contained in the accompaniment / lyrics database serves as the reference signal itself or the source for producing the reference signal. In the present invention, the video control signals as the time management information are used to superimpose or switch the videos. In the most typical example of superimpose, when a song starts, a title such as the song title is displayed and a personal sub background image is displayed in the background of this title video, and then the background video switches to the main background video. The lyric image is superposed on the main background image, and the singer starts singing.

What is arranged by the sub data is not limited to the background image. As described in claim 2, when the customer management information and the data relating to the singing character of the singer are added, the singer's individuality and taste are reflected by the operation of the karaoke apparatus.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will now be described with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the invention. This karaoke device includes three independent databases, an accompaniment / lyrics database 1, a main database 2 and a sub-database 3, as shown in the figure, an accompaniment / lyrics database reproducing device 4 for reading data from these databases, and a main database reproduction. Device 5, sub-database reproducing device 6, image mixing device 7 for superimposing the images reproduced by these reproducing devices to each other or from one to the other, and a receiver for displaying the image output from this image mixing device 7. 10 and an audio amplifier 8 that amplifies the singing voice of the singer input from the accompaniment music and the microphone 9 and causes the speaker 11 to sound. Each of these devices may be configured by an independent device, or may be each unit of the integrated entire device.

The accompaniment / lyrics database 1 is a database in which accompaniment music and lyrics images corresponding to the accompaniment music are recorded, and the accompaniment music and the lyrics images are integrally recorded on the same recording medium. Both analog and digital recording methods are applicable. The accompaniment music may be recorded performance sounds or data for controlling a sound source such as MIDI. The lyric image may be a moving image, or may be a slide image for switching a still image. As a recording medium for the accompaniment / lyrics database 1, a large-capacity recording medium such as a CD (compact disc), an LD (laser disc), a DVD (digital video disc), an HD (hard disk) can be used. Also, an accompaniment built on the transmitting station side without providing a recording medium
The accompaniment / lyric data may be transmitted online in real time from the lyrics database. Further, the accompaniment / lyric data sent from the transmitting station may be temporarily stored in the HD, and then the accompaniment / lyric database stored in the HD may be used. Early lineup of new songs is important in karaoke equipment, and therefore the database structure of the accompaniment / lyrics database should be devised so that it can be updated relatively frequently. Update and addition of accompaniment and lyrics database 1
When the recording medium is a CD, LD, VD, etc., it is performed by adding these media, and when the recording medium is HD, it is performed by installing new data or downloading new song data sent via a communication line. The content of such an accompaniment / lyrics database 1 is read by the accompaniment / lyrics database reproducing device 4, the read accompaniment music signal is inputted to the audio amplifier 8, while the lyrics video signal is inputted to the video mixing device 7. To be done. What is important here is that the accompaniment / lyrics database 1 contains time management information for managing the progress status of songs, and this time management information serves as a reference signal itself for managing superimposing and replacement of images, Or it is a source for producing this reference signal. In this embodiment, the time management information contained in the accompaniment / lyrics database 1 is sent to the video mixing device 7 together with the lyrics video, and a video control signal is generated in the video mixing device 7, and this video control signal is sent to the main database reproducing device 5. Also, by being supplied to the sub-database reproduction device 6, the operation timing of superimposing and exchanging the images reproduced by these devices is controlled.

The main database 2 stores a main background image serving as a background image of the accompaniment music over most of the performance of the accompaniment music. The main background video is usually a moving image, but still images are not excluded. Each background image is a little generalized so that it can be used in common for different songs. The main background image may be divided into genres so that there is a genre such as enka or pops in the song, and an image matching each genre may be created. The genre can be further subdivided according to the nature of the music. The content of the main database 2 is read by the main database reproducing device 5, and the read background video data is input to the video mixing device 7. When the main database 2 includes management data other than the main background image, the main database reproducing device 5 also reproduces this management data.

In the sub database 3, personal data unique to each singer is written. The provision of this sub-database 3 is the greatest feature of the present invention. As the personal data, personal data is targeted, and a personal profile of the singer represented by video and text information can be exemplified. The singer's favorite image is used as the image. For example, a close-up image of the singer himself, other favorite landscape images, and further images such as computer graphics can be used. The video may be a moving image or a still image. Further, in the sub-database 3, the control data for selectively extracting one's favorite video from the main background video collection recorded in the main database 2 is recorded, and the personal data recorded in the sub-database 3 is recorded as necessary. It is also possible to select either a simple background image or an existing main background image. Sub-database 3 is not only video,
You can also record and update personal management information. For example, record the appropriate key (pitch), microphone volume, echo length, etc. when singing, and once set, enable automatic singing with the set value from the next time. It is possible. Further, the karaoke device may automatically request and request a new song easy for the person to sing based on the registered information at the end of the song by analyzing / registering key judgments and personal tastes. It is also possible to register customer information that can be used to create fixed customers, such as the number of songs sung, the songs to be sung, and the number of visits to the store. As a recording medium of the sub-database 3, a recording medium which can be owned by an individual and can be carried is suitable. Examples of such media include IC cards, FDs, MDs (rewritable magneto-optical disks), and the like. Sub database 3 is IC card, F
Needless to say, it is preferable to build it in a recording medium that can be personally owned and carried, such as D or MD.
It does not exclude that the sub-database 3 is built in the device installed in the store. In this case, the personal data is stored in a large-capacity recording medium such as an HDD, and the customer reads out his / her personal data from the sub-database 3 by keying in a personal identification code or the like.

The contents of such a sub-database 3 are read by the sub-database reproducing device 6,
The read sub-background video signal is a video mixing device 7
Is input to If the sub-database 3 contains personal information other than the video information, these information are also read by the sub-database reproducing device 6.

The image mixing device 7 superimposes the images output from the accompaniment / lyrics database reproducing device 4, the main database reproducing device 5 and the sub database reproducing device 6 to each other or from one to the other. In order to superimpose or switch between images, a standard for managing these operation timings is required. In the present invention, the superimposition of images and the timing of replacement are centrally managed based on the time management information for managing the progress status of songs included in the accompaniment / lyrics database. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the video control signal generated by the accompaniment / lyrics database reproducing device 4 based on the time management information contained in the accompaniment / lyrics database 1 is supplied to the video mixing device 7, and the video mixing device A video control signal is sent to the main database reproducing device 5 and the sub database reproducing device 6 through the device 7 to control the timing of taking out the video data from these databases. The video control signal may be directly supplied to the main database reproducing device 5 and the sub database reproducing device 6 without passing through the video mixing device 7. There are various modes of superimposing the lyrics image, the main background image (hereinafter referred to as the main image), and the sub background image (hereinafter referred to as the sub image). Most representatively, as shown in FIG. 5, the lyrics image is superimposed on the sub image at the beginning of the song, and the lyrics image is superimposed on the main image at most of the following songs. Then, the composite image thus created is displayed on the receiver. Although it is possible to insert the superimpose into a part of the displayed image, it is not preferable to modify the original image basically from the viewpoint of copyright law. It is preferable to replace the entire background image.

The audio amplifier 8 amplifies the accompaniment music signal inputted from the accompaniment / lyrics database reproducing device 4 and the voice signal inputted through the microphone 9 and sounds the speaker 11. The audio amplifier 8 has a built-in key controller or the like for controlling the pitch of a sound when singing.

Shown as FIG. 2 is a second embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the video output signal from the sub-database playback device 6 is input to the main database playback device 5, and the main database playback device 5 switches between main video and sub-video based on a control signal included in the sub-data. Is going. Then, the lyrics image is superimposed on the selected image by the image mixing device 7. Further, in this example, the video control signal output from the accompaniment / lyrics database reproducing device 4 is directly supplied to the main database reproducing device 5. Further, from the main database reproducing device 5 to the sub database reproducing device 6, a signal including a video control signal and monitoring the contents reproduced by the sub database reproducing device 6 is sent. When the main database playback device 5 requests the sub database playback device 6 to read the sub database 3, if there is a corresponding sub video, the sub database playback device 6 sends this sub video to the main database playback device 5. On the other hand, when the corresponding sub video does not exist, the main database reproducing device 5 is notified of that fact and the main video is judged to be prioritized. Incidentally, in some cases, the sub video may not be sent to the main database reproducing device 5 as indicated by a virtual line, but may be sent directly to the video mixing device 7.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, as described above, the singer's singing information is registered in the sub database together with the sub video, and the audio amplifier 8 is generated by using the control signal created based on this singing information.
By controlling the height of the key, the volume of the microphone, and the length of the echo to a set value that is easy for the singer to sing. Also, if the personal information such as the keys of the singer recorded in the sub-database 3 is recorded and updated each time the song is sung, the more the number of times the song is sung, the more accurately the individual key can be adjusted. In this case, since the sub-database reproducing device also updates the recording of the sub-database 3, it can be expressed as a sub-database recording / reproducing device 6 '.

FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the sub-database includes customer management information, and is devised so that it can be utilized for fixed customer creation.

An example of the operation mode of such a karaoke apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. First, an IC card on which personal data (sub-data) of the user is recorded is mounted on a karaoke device, and a song to be sung and a main background image thereof are selected. The main background image may be selected by the singer individually specifying a specific image of his / her preference, or by the karaoke device automatically selecting from a group that is automatically junneled based on genre information recorded in the accompaniment / lyrics database. is there. When the song begins and the intro begins to flow, the title video of the song title, the poet's name, the composer's name, etc. is superposed on the sub-background video. The figure shows a state in which a close-up image of the singer's smile is projected. When entering the singing part, the lyrics image is displayed and the background image is switched from the sub background image to the main background image. Then, when the song reaches the ending, only the sub-background image is displayed and the singer is re-introduced.

There are various ways of superimposing, and there are various ways of using the video information and other management information recorded in each database. For example, the sub video may be displayed only at the beginning of a song, or conversely, may be displayed frequently in the middle of the song.
There are various ways of superimposing, for example, for the entire screen and for a part of the screen. However, when performing superimposition on a part of the screen, it is needless to say that a partial change of the main background video is permitted in advance. Although the present invention has been described above by taking the commercial karaoke device as an example, the present invention is a home karaoke device if the sub database reproducing device can be separately used and the need for using an expensive main database reproducing device is eliminated. It goes without saying that it can also be applied to.

[0021]

According to the karaoke apparatus of the present invention, the existing main background image collection can be used to replace the main background image, and the personal singing information can be used by the singer to personalize the image. You can arrange them together, so you can enjoy original karaoke that better reflects the singer's taste.

When the sub-database contains the sub-background video as well as the customer management information and the personal information regarding the singing characteristic of the singer, the height of the key, as well as the arrangement of the video, The microphone volume, echo length, etc. can be automatically adjusted according to the singer, and the usage status of the karaoke device can be automatically recorded, further raising the mood of the singer and finely managing the customer. Will be able to contribute to the creation of fixed customers through.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of a karaoke apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a second embodiment of the karaoke apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a karaoke apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a karaoke apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation mode of the karaoke apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Accompaniment / Lyrics Database 2 Main Database 3 Sub Database 4 Accompaniment / Lyrics Database Playback Device 5 Main Database Playback Device 6 Sub Database Playback Device 6'Sub Database Recording / Playback Device 7 Video Mixing Device 8 Audio Amplifier 9 Microphone 10 Receiver 11 Speaker

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An accompaniment / lyric database in which an accompaniment music and a character image including a lyrics image corresponding to the accompaniment music are integrally recorded, and an accompaniment by reading a music signal and a video signal from the accompaniment / lyric database. An accompaniment / lyrics database playback device that plays character images including music and lyrics images, a main database that stores the main background images that are background images of the accompaniment music for most of the performance of the accompaniment music, and images from this main database A main database playback device that reads the signal and plays back the main background video, a sub-database that stores individual data for each singer using this device, including sub-data including personal sub-background video, and this sub-database The sub-device that reads the video signal from the A database playback device, a character image including the lyrics image output from the accompaniment / lyrics database playback device, a main background image output from the main database playback device, and a sub background image output from the sub database playback device. , A video mixing device for creating a video in which a character video and a background video are combined by superimposing each other or from one to the other based on time management information for managing the progress of songs included in the accompaniment / lyrics database A receiver for displaying a composite image of a character image and a background image output from the image mixing device, an accompaniment music output from the accompaniment / lyrics database reproducing device, and a voice of a singer input from a microphone are amplified. Karaoke with an audio amplifier that plays a speaker Location. 2. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sub-database contains customer management information and personal information relating to the singer's singing characteristics together with the sub-background video. 3. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the recording media of the accompaniment / lyrics database, the main database and the sub database is selected from CD, LD, semiconductor memory, HD and FD. 4. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the accompaniment / lyrics database is configured by downloading accompaniment / lyrics data supplied via a communication line to a recording medium.