JPH11119786A - Karaoke device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a KARAOKE with properties of entertainment and playing, for example, by selecting additional functions at random by using a roulette when a user selects a piece of KARAOKE music and sings it. SOLUTION: A roulette showing eight items of additional function control means is displayed on a CRT. Clockwise from the upper right, the roulette has a lyricless function r1, a reproducing function limited to only chorus r2, a standards performance function r3, a triple speed performance function r4, one recess function r5, a voice changing function 6r, an interval key random control function r7, and a humming function r8. And, this roulette is displayed on the CRT directly before the KARAOKE music is reproduced. And, when a user presses a start button on a remote controller, each function indication column is sequentially flickered, and a function indicator being turned on at the time of pressing the remote control stop button is functioned along with reproduction of the KARAOKE music.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus for reproducing karaoke songs, and more particularly to a karaoke apparatus capable of giving various additional functions to the performance of karaoke songs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a karaoke apparatus simply reproduces a karaoke song, but recently, in addition to reproducing a karaoke song, in order to give the karaoke more entertainment and playability. Many have various additional functions.

[0003] Such additional functions include, for example,
For example, a voice effect function for applying various effects to the singer's voice, such as a hamori function that adds a predetermined chord to the singer's voice, a voice changer function that changes a male sound into a female sound, and more karaoke. Various functions that can be enjoyed are provided in the karaoke apparatus. All of these functions can be realized only when a user performs a setting operation.

[0004]

However, in order to provide karaoke performances with additional functions for enhancing the entertainment and playability of karaoke, such as the voice effect function, it is necessary for the user to sing each time he sings. You have to do the setting operation yourself.

Therefore, various measures have been taken to improve the operability, such as simplifying the operation of a remote controller for setting the functions, so that more users can use such additional functions. ing. However, after all, unless the user himself makes settings for the additional function, the function is not used.

[0006] Furthermore, a user who is exclusively obsessed with music selection may not even notice the existence of such additional functions. For this reason, although it is an additional function attached to the karaoke apparatus, the frequency of use is not so high although it can exert a unique effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem. By increasing the frequency of using various additional functions for providing entertainment and play to karaoke, the amusement performance is improved. It is an object of the present invention to provide a karaoke apparatus that can provide services to users.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a karaoke apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention has an additional function control that can control an additional function when a user sings to a karaoke song. It is intended for a karaoke apparatus having a plurality of means, and in particular, has a function selecting means for randomly selecting at least one additional function control means from the plurality of additional function control means.

[0009] In the karaoke apparatus thus configured, the additional function control means controls additional functions when the user sings along with the karaoke tune. That is, the additional function control means controls the additional functions for enhancing the entertainment and playability of the performance of the karaoke song, thereby realizing the respective functions.

[0010] By realizing this function, the user can enjoy karaoke singing with more playability than simply singing along with the karaoke tune.

Further, the function selection means randomly selects at least one additional function control means from among the plurality of additional function control means.

That is, the function selection means selects one of a plurality of additional function control means of the karaoke apparatus from the plurality of additional function control means.
At least one additional function control means is randomly selected, and the selected additional function control means exerts its own functions.

Therefore, when the user operates the function selection means, at least one of the plurality of additional function control means prepared in the karaoke apparatus is randomly selected,
Since the drive of the selected additional function control means is controlled, the function can be enjoyed without performing an operation for activating each of the additional function control means. Further, since it is not known which additional function control means is to be selected until the user actually operates the function selection means, the playability can be further improved for the user.

That is, each time the user sings a karaoke song, the user can activate and control any one of the additional function control means without operating the additional function control means attached to the karaoke apparatus. Can be used more conveniently and in a fun way to increase the frequency of use of various additional functions to enhance the entertainment and playability of karaoke, thereby providing users with more amusement services. You can do it.

[0015] The karaoke apparatus according to claim 2 is
The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional control controlled by the additional function control means includes a function of controlling a user's voice, a function of controlling reproduction of a karaoke song, and a method of controlling a background image. It is characterized by being at least one of a control function, a scoring function, a function of controlling a user's singing order, and the like.

In the karaoke apparatus thus configured, the functions controlled by the additional function control means randomly selected by the function selection means specifically mean the contents described below.

That is, for example, as a function of controlling the voice of the user, there is a function of applying various effects such as making the voice of the singer a hammer or a dub, and a function of controlling the karaoke music. As a function to control the playback, it performs various processing on the karaoke performance to be played, such as applying various effects to the performance sound of the karaoke song, changing the key, and cutting the playback of the second and subsequent choruses. Or have a function. It also has a function of scoring the result of singing by the user, or a function of controlling the order of singing by the user who has reserved a karaoke song.

The function of controlling the order of singing by the user includes, for example, a case where a plurality of karaoke songs are already reserved by a plurality of users, and a reservation corresponding to a specific order among them is performed. Refers to the function of deleting or moving down a song.

At least one of the functions realized by the additional function control means described above is selected by the additional function selection means.
Since one of the additional function control means is selected at random and controlled to be activated, the user can realize control of any one of a wider range of additional functions.

The karaoke apparatus according to claim 3 is
The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising personal data input means for inputting personal information including a user's name and / or gender, and wherein the function selecting means includes the personal data input means. The additional function control means is selected based on personal information input by the means.

In the karaoke apparatus thus constructed, personal information including the user's name and / or gender can be input from the personal data input means, and the function selecting means can be selected based on the input personal information. And at least one additional function control unit is selected from the plurality of additional function selection units.

Then, even when a karaoke apparatus is used by a larger number of people, if each of the users inputs personal information via the personal data input means, it is ensured that each of the users can use the karaoke apparatus. In addition, it is possible to control additional functions having high playability, and various effects can be realized.

The karaoke apparatus according to claim 4 is
The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a character selection unit that selects a character for which identification information including a name and / or gender is set, wherein the function selection unit is configured to select the character. The additional function control means is selected based on the character selected by the means.

In the karaoke apparatus thus constructed, the character selecting means selects a character including a character for which identification information including a name and / or gender is set, and selects a function based on the selected character. The means selects at least one additional function control means from the plurality of additional function control means.

Therefore, in the case where the karaoke apparatus is used by a larger number of people, if each of the users selects an individual character by the character selecting means, a more playful and simpler method is provided. By such means, it is possible to surely control the additional functions having high playability for each of the users, thereby realizing various effects.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a karaoke apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the configuration of a karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the karaoke apparatus according to the present embodiment is a communication karaoke system in which a karaoke commander 30 is connected to a host computer 13 via a telephone line.

A microcomputer (microcomputer) 2 is attached to the commander 30.
Controls the entire karaoke apparatus.

The microcomputer 2 is connected to the modem 1. This modem 1 is connected to a host computer 13 via a telephone line. And, for example, MID
Karaoke music data composed of I (Musical Instrumental Digital Interface) data and the like is delivered from the host computer 13 via the modem 1 at night when communication costs are low and the karaoke device is not used.

An operation panel 3 is connected to the microcomputer 2. Through this operation panel 3, the user can
Various setting operations can be performed. In addition, the user,
Various setting operations can be performed through a remote controller (remote controller) 4 described later. That is, a plurality of additional function control means provided in the karaoke apparatus can be randomly selected via the operation panel 3 or the remote controller 4. Therefore, the operation panel 3 and the remote controller 4 correspond to a function selection unit in the present invention.

The microcomputer 2 has a hard disk 6
The hard disk 6 stores a large number of karaoke song data distributed from the host computer 13.

Further, the hard disk 6 stores various programs for activating a plurality of additional function control means of the karaoke apparatus when a karaoke song is reproduced. This will be described later.

The output port of the microcomputer 2 is
The DI sound source 5 and one input terminal of the video mixer 7 are connected, and the output terminal of the MIDI sound source 5 is connected to the input terminal of the audio mixer 10.

The MIDI tone generator 5 is composed of a synthesizer or the like, and reproduces musical tones of various musical instruments in accordance with an input MIDI signal and outputs the reproduced tone to the audio mixer 10.

The output terminal of the video mixer 7 has a CR
It is connected to T11.

An output port of the microcomputer 2 is connected to an input terminal of the disc player 8. The output terminal of the disc player 8 is connected to the other input terminal of the video mixer 7. The disk player 8 has a built-in video disk made of, for example, a CD-ROM. The video disk stores video data to be output to the CRT 11 as a background video together with the reproduction of the karaoke music.

The video mixer 7 combines the lyrics data in the karaoke music data with the background video data.
The video mixer 7 has a "function of controlling a background image" including the lyrics telop in the present invention.

Further, a voice effector 14 is connected to the microcomputer 2, and a microphone 9 is connected to another input terminal of the voice effector 14.
The voice input from the microphone 9 is converted into an electric signal and output to the voice effector 14. The output terminal of the voice effector 14 has an audio mixer 1
0 is connected to the input terminal. The voice effector 14 has a “function of controlling a user's voice” in the present invention.

The output terminal of the audio mixer 10 is connected to the input terminal of the speaker 12, and converts the input audio signal from the microphone 9, the voice effector 14 and the tone signal from the MIDI sound source 5 into a predetermined volume balance. And outputs the result to the speaker 12.

A scoring device 15 as a “scoring function” in the present invention is connected to the microcomputer 2.
The scoring device 15 is connected to the output terminal of the audio mixer 10, and scores the user's singing based on the user's singing voice and the main melody data of the musical sound.

As will be described later, for example, the microcomputer 2 has a “function for controlling the reproduction of the karaoke song” for omitting the reproduction of the second and subsequent choruses of the karaoke song, and a reservation function stored in the hard disk 6. The function of controlling the order of singing by the user is performed such that the order of singing by the user is skipped by deleting predetermined data from the song data.

Here, data for activating the additional function control means stored in the hard disk 6 is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hard disk 6 stores various programs for activating the various additional function control means described above. A start function 6a for starting a hamori function in the voice effector 14, a pitch key random function start program 6b for randomly changing a pitch key of a tone signal generated by the MIDI tone generator 5, and a voice A voice changer function activation program 6c for activating the voice changer function in the effector 14 is stored.

In the hard disk 6, a reserved music request for deleting the reserved music request data stored in another area of the same hard disk 6 and requested by the user via the operation panel 3 or the remote controller 4 is stored. Data deletion program 6d, MIDI
A triple-speed reproduction program 6e for triple the reproduction speed of the karaoke song data to be transmitted to the sound source 5, a lyrics display erasing program 6f for stopping the transmission of the lyrics data to the video mixer 7, and only one chorus in the performance data. A 2 chorus cut program 6g for transmitting to the MIDI sound source 5 and a normal reproduction program 6h for normally reproducing a karaoke song are stored.

Next, the configuration of the remote controller 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

A music selection number display section 71 for displaying music selection numbers on a liquid crystal with a backlight is provided above the upper surface of the remote controller 4, and a karaoke switching button 72 for switching between karaoke and BGM is provided below the selection number display section 71. An external video button 73 for switching from a background video for karaoke to a cable broadcast, a television broadcast, or the like, and a game button 74 for switching to a mode in which each user randomly selects the various additional function control means described above. .

Below these buttons, there are provided a clap button 75 for setting to reproduce the sound of applause and cheers after the end of the reproduction of the music, and a flat key 76 for lowering the key of the karaoke music. , Sharp key 7 to raise the key
7 are provided.

Below these, there are provided a numeric keypad 78 for inputting a song selection number of a karaoke song to be selected, a user name and the like, and a song selection button 79. Note that "1" on the numeric keypad 78,
The characters "A", "C", and "S" can be input in order from the buttons "2" and "3".

Below these are provided a performance stop button 80 for stopping the performance, a re-song button 81 for singing again from the beginning while singing, and a cancel button 82 for canceling the reserved music. Have been. Below these buttons, an interrupt button 83 is provided, and to the right thereof are provided a minus button 84 for decreasing the volume of the vocal melody, and a plus button 85 for increasing the volume of the vocal melody.

[0051] Below these buttons, a CR for each user to select additional function control means is provided.
A start button 86 for rotating a roulette wheel described later displayed at T11 and a stop button 88 for stopping the rotation are provided.

Further, below these buttons, there are provided a selection button 89 for each user to select a predetermined character and a personal name input button 90 for directly inputting a personal name instead of a character. Have been.

Below the buttons, the users individually
When selecting a character or entering a personal name, for example, in controlling the voice changer function,
A male input button 91 and a female input button 92 for inputting gender information necessary for appropriately changing the voice to be changed are provided.

The male input button 91, the female input button 92, and the selection button 89 select a character in which identification information including a name and / or gender is set in advance. Constitute.

Male input button 91, female input button 92
The personal name input button 90 described above inputs personal information including the user's name and / or gender, and constitutes personal data input means in the present invention.

Next, a roulette for selecting the additional function control means displayed on the CRT 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the CRT 11 displays a roulette displaying eight items of additional function control means. Clockwise in order from the upper right of the roulette, a no-lyric function r1, a playback function for only one chorus (two chorus cuts) r2, a standard performance function r3, and a triple speed performance function r
4, a one-time rest function (reservation skip) r5, a voice change function r6, a pitch key random control function r7, and a hamori function r8.

The roulette is displayed on the CRT 11 immediately before the karaoke music is reproduced. When the user presses the start button 86 on the remote controller 4, each function display field blinks sequentially, and the function display portion that is lit at the time when the remote control stop button 88 is pressed is used for playing the karaoke song. Will be functional.

In addition to the display of roulette, for example,
The input personal data and character data may be displayed in the upper right part of the CRT 11 for easy understanding.

Next, the operation of the karaoke apparatus will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

It is assumed that a plurality of karaoke songs have already been reserved by a plurality of users.

The microcomputer 2 of the karaoke commander 30 first detects that the user has pressed the game button 74 on the remote controller 4 (Step 1. Hereinafter, the steps are simply referred to as S). It is determined whether or not to input personal data such as name and gender (S3).

This is because the user inputs the personal name input button 90
By pressing, input becomes possible.

When detecting that the personal name input button 90 has been pressed (S3: Yes), the microcomputer 4 waits for the user to press the numeric keypad 78, and then waits for the numeric keypad 7 to be pressed.
When it is detected that the personal data has been input by pressing 8 (S5), the process proceeds to S6. By inputting the personal data, for example, each time a karaoke song is reproduced, the personal data is displayed on the CRT 11 or, based on the personal data, for example, a voice change function is used to correctly change the input voice. Activate the additional function control means appropriately.

On the other hand, when the user detects that the character is selected by pressing the character selection button 89 instead of inputting the personal name (S3: No) (S4), the process proceeds to S6. When the user presses the character selection button 89, although not shown, a configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of characters prepared in advance and displayed on the CRT 11 are selected.

In S6, among the reserved karaoke songs, the karaoke song to be reproduced is associated with the user singing the karaoke song, and the order of the users playing roulette is turned (S6). This is a process of moving a pointer to data (personal data or character data) stored in the hard disk 6 and specifying a user who sings the next karaoke song to be reproduced, while the karaoke songs are being sequentially reproduced. It is.

Then, the microcomputer 2 displays a roulette wheel on the CRT 11 as shown in FIG.
7).

Then, it is determined whether or not the roulette end input has been pressed by the user (S8). This is realized by pressing the game button 74 on the remote controller 4 again.

When the microcomputer 2 detects that the game button 74 has been pressed again (S8: Yes), the display of the roulette is terminated (S9), and a normal karaoke music reproduction mode is entered.

On the other hand, if the microcomputer 2 has not detected that the game button 74 has been pressed again (S8:
No), it is determined whether the start button 86 on the remote controller 4 has been pressed.

As a result, when it is detected that the user has pressed the start button 86 (S10: Yes),
The microcomputer 2 starts the roulette displayed on the CRT 11 (S11).

Then, first, the item indicated by r1 of the roulette shown in FIG. 4 is turned on (S12).

Subsequently, the microcomputer 2 executes the roulette r
The items indicated by 2, r3... R7 are turned on (S
13).

That is, if it is not detected that the user has pressed the stop button 88 on the remote controller 4 (S14: No), it is determined whether or not the item number of the roulette displayed on the CRT 11 is the maximum, ie, It is determined whether or not the item of r8 is turned on (S15).

As a result, if the lighting item number of the roulette is the maximum (S15: Yes), the operation from S12 is repeated.

On the other hand, if the lighting item number of the roulette is not the maximum (S15: NO), the operation from S13 is repeated.

In S14, when it is detected that the user has pressed the stop button 88 on the remote controller 4 (S14: Yes), the microcomputer 2 stops the control of sequentially turning on the roulette for each item (S1).
6) It is determined whether or not the item lit on the roulette at the time of the stop is a single break at r1 (S17).

If the lit item is a one-time break (S17: Yes), the program 6d for deleting reserved song request data in the hard disk 6 is started, the corresponding reserved song request data is deleted, and the reserved song request data is deleted. The pointer is shifted to data in which the next karaoke song to be played among the karaoke songs and the user who sings the karaoke song are associated (S6). Hereinafter, the operation of S7 is repeated.

On the other hand, the item lit in S17 is 1
If it is not a break (S17: No) and another item is lit, the lit item is executed (S17).
18).

Here, the execution process of the lit roulette item will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

If the item lit when the roulette is stopped is the no-lyrics function (r1) (S51: Yes), the microcomputer 2 reads out the lyrics display erasing program 6f in the hard disk 6, and reads out the CRT 11
Is controlled not to display the lyrics that should be displayed in (52). Then, the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, if the item lit at the time the roulette stops is not the no-lyrics function (r1) but not the one-chorus function (r2) (S53: yes), the microcomputer 2 Then, the two-chorus cut program 6g in the hard disk 6 is read, and control is performed so as to output only one chorus of the reproduced karaoke song (S54). Then, the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, if the item lit when the roulette stops is not the 1 chorus function (r2) (S53: No) but the standard function (r3) (S55: Yes), the microcomputer 2 The normal reproduction program 6h in the hard disk 6 is read, and the karaoke tune to be reproduced is controlled so as to be reproduced normally without adding any additional function (S56). Then, the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, when the roulette stops, the item that is lit is not the standard function (r3) but (S5).
5: No) If it is a triple speed function (r4) (S5
7: Yes), the microcomputer 2 reads out the triple speed reproduction program 6e from the hard disk 6, and controls the karaoke tune to be reproduced to be output at triple speed (S58).
Then, the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, when the roulette stops, the item that is lit is not the triple speed function (r4) but (S4).
57: No), if it is the voice changer function (r6) (S59: Yes), the microcomputer 2 executes the voice changer function activation program 6c in the hard disk 6.
Is read out, and the voice of the user input via the microphone 9 is controlled to be changed to a female voice if a male voice and a male voice if a female voice (S60). Then, the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, the item lit at the time when the roulette stops is the voice changer function (r
If not (S59: No) but the pitch key random function (r7) (S61: Yes), the microcomputer 2
Reads the pitch key random function activation program 6b in the hard disk 6, and controls to randomly change the pitch of the reproduced karaoke song (S62). Then, the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, when the roulette stops, the item that is lit is the pitch key random function (r7).
If not (S61: No), since the lit item is the hamori function (r8), the hamo function activation program 6a in the hard disk 6 is read out, and the user's voice input via the microphone 9 is hamo. It is controlled so that it is caused (S62). Then, the process returns to the main routine.

In S19, the microcomputer 2 sends the performance data to the MIDI sound source from the karaoke music data read from the hard disk 6, outputs the karaoke performance sound from the speaker 12 via the audio mixer 10, and outputs the lyrics data and the disk player data. The video data from 8 is sent to the video mixer 7 and the background video is output to the CRT 11.

In the karaoke apparatus according to the present embodiment described above, when the user selects and sings a karaoke song, for example, additional functions can be randomly selected by roulette. It is possible to provide more entertainment and playability, and to increase the frequency of using additional functions.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various applications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the present embodiment, roulette is used as the function selecting means, but the present invention is not limited to roulette, and a screen such as a slot machine may be displayed on the CRT 11.

[0092]

As is apparent from the above description,
According to the karaoke apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the user can operate the additional function control means attached to the karaoke apparatus without operating the function selection means, as long as the user operates the function selection means. Since any one of the additional function control means can be controlled to be activated from, in a more enjoyable manner, the frequency of use of various additional functions for enhancing the entertainment and playability of such karaoke can be increased, A service with higher amusement properties can be provided to the user.

According to the karaoke apparatus of the second aspect, for example, various effects are applied to the voice of the user who is a singer, various effects are applied to the performance sound of the karaoke song, and keys are pressed. Additional function control means for changing the playback of the second or subsequent chorus, scoring the result of singing by the user, and controlling the order of singing by the user who has reserved the karaoke song. Among them, at least one additional function control unit is randomly selected by the additional function selection unit and the activation control is performed, so that for the user, control of any one of a wider range of additional functions is realized. be able to.

Further, according to the karaoke apparatus according to the third aspect, even when the karaoke apparatus is used by a larger number of people,
If each of these users inputs personal information through the personal data input means, it is possible to control additional functions with high playability for each of them without fail. The effect can be realized.

According to the karaoke apparatus according to the fourth aspect, in the case where the karaoke apparatus is used by a larger number of people, if each of the users selects an individual character by the character selection means, it is more effective. Further
By using simple means, it is possible to reliably control the additional functions having high playability for each of these users, and realize various effects.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a karaoke system including a karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data configuration stored in a hard disk in the karaoke apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display unit of a remote controller.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing roulette on a CRT.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the karaoke apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the karaoke apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the karaoke apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the karaoke apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Modem 2 Microcomputer 3 Operation panel 4 Remote control 5 MIDI sound source 6 Hard disk 7 Video mixer 8 Disk player 9 Microphone 10 Audio mixer 11 CRT 12 Speaker 13 Host computer 14 Voice effector 15 Scoring device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A karaoke apparatus having a plurality of additional function control means capable of controlling additional functions when a user sings to a karaoke song, wherein at least one additional function control means is selected from the plurality of additional function control means. A karaoke apparatus comprising function selection means for randomly selecting function control means. 2. The additional control controlled by the additional function control means includes a function of controlling a user's voice, a function of controlling reproduction of a karaoke song, a function of controlling a background image,
2. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the karaoke apparatus is at least one of a scoring function, a function of controlling a user's singing order, and the like. 3. A personal data input unit for inputting personal information including a user's name and / or gender, wherein the function selecting unit controls additional function based on the personal information input by the personal data input unit. 3. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a karaoke device is selected. 4. A character selecting means for selecting a character for which identification information including a name and / or gender is set, wherein said function selecting means is an additional function controlling means based on the character selected by said character selecting means. 3. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the karaoke apparatus is selected.