JPS6220878Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to an electronic musical instrument that allows addition and modification of various performance functions.

Generally, electronic musical instruments have various performance functions, and the performance functions differ depending on each model.
For example, some models have an automatic performance function, while others do not. The number of tones also varies depending on the model. In other words, lower-end models generally have fewer tones that can be produced, but the number usually increases as the model becomes more expensive. Each performance function is fixed according to each model, and is configured so that no additional changes can be made.

Therefore, for example, if you purchase an electronic musical instrument that does not have a certain function, but later need that function, you will have to replace it with an electronic musical instrument that does have that function.

In instruments such as electronic musical instruments that have multiple performance functions, the need for new performance functions often arises during the practice process. but,
It is uneconomical to buy a different model each time. Furthermore, if only one function is required, it is generally necessary to upgrade to a higher-end model that has many other functions including that one function, which is extremely wasteful.

This idea was made in view of the above circumstances,
To provide an electronic musical instrument in which a user can expand and change functions by purchasing options as necessary.

For example, when trying to obtain an ensemble effect with an electronic musical instrument that does not have an ensemble function, it has conventionally been necessary to play with multiple electronic musical instruments that have the same function, or to purchase a higher-end model that has an ensemble function. However, according to the electronic musical instrument of this invention, it is possible to perform with an ensemble effect simply by purchasing an option for the ensemble function and connecting it to a predetermined fixed location of the electronic musical instrument.

The data bus type electronic musical instrument proposed by this committee is equipped with a data bus that transmits pitch information, volume information, timbre information, etc., and this data bus includes multiple keyboard devices, tone forming devices, automatic performance devices, and automatic score transcription devices. It consists of a configuration in which peripheral devices are removably connected. Each of the plurality of keyboard devices is equipped with means for generating pitch information, volume information, and timbre information to be sent to the data bus, and each musical tone forming device is provided corresponding to one tone. When the timbre information transmitted to the data bus corresponds to the timbre of the own musical tone forming device, the pitch information and volume information corresponding to the timbre information on the data bus are imported, and the imported pitch information is and is configured to form a musical tone of that tone based on the volume information.

In other words, the data bus type electronic musical instrument of this invention has a data bus that transmits pitch information, volume information, timbre information, etc., and connects multiple keyboard devices and automatic performance devices, etc., which are data generation sources, to the data bus. , consists of a plurality of musical tone forming devices corresponding to each tone and an automatic notation device, etc., which are data output devices, and are detachably connected.
Since each device has an equal relationship with the data bus, functions can be easily expanded and changed by attaching and detaching each device to the data bus.

An embodiment of the data bus type electronic musical instrument of this invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the embodiment of the data bus type electronic musical instrument of this invention shown in _FIG .
KB _o , data generators DG ₁ to DG _o corresponding to each keyboard section KB ₁ to KB _o , multiple tone generators
_TG1 to _TGn , audio systems _AC1 to _ACn corresponding to each of the tone generators _TG1 to _TGn , an automatic bass chord and arpeggio data generator 2, an automatic performance device 3, an automatic score transcription device 4, etc. The automatic bass chord and arpeggio data generator 2, the data generators DG ₁ to DG _o , the automatic performance device 3, the automatic score transcription device 4, and the tone generators TG ₁ to _{TG n} are connected to the data bus 1, respectively.

As shown in Fig. 2, the keyboard sections KB ₁ to _{KB o} each have a keyboard 6 for specifying pitch information, a timbre select button 7 for specifying timbre information, and an expression pedal (or button) 8 for specifying volume information. When a key is pressed on the keyboard 6, a signal indicating the pressed key is generated, and when the tone select button 7 is pressed, a signal indicating the selected tone is generated, and according to the amount of operation of the expression pedal 8. and generates a signal indicating the volume. Note that the signal indicating the volume information may be generated based on the strength of a key touch on the keyboard 6, not based on the expression pedal 8. Each of these signals is a data generator
Added to DG ₁ ~ DG _o .

The data generators DG ₁ to _{DG o} convert the signal indicating the pressed key, the selected tone, and the volume into pitch information, tone color information, and volume information, respectively, and convert these signals at a predetermined timing. and sends it to data bus 1. Here, the pitch information generated from the data generators DG ₁ to DG _o includes, for example, a key code KC consisting of a total of 7 bits, including 4-bit note codes N ₁ to N ₄ and 3-bit octave codes B ₁ to B ₃ . 4-bit tone data C ₁ to C ₄ can be used as tone color information, and 4-bit volume data V ₁ can be used as volume information.
~ _V4 can be used. Each data generator DG ₁ to DG _o generates pitch information KC and timbre information C ₁ to _{C 4} at a given predetermined time slot.
and volume information _V1 to _V4 , respectively, so that the information (data) sent to the data bus 1 is in a time-division format.

The automatic bass chord and arpeggio data generating device 2 generates data representing automatic bass notes and automatic chord sounds for automatic bass chord performance, and data representing automatic arpeggio sounds for automatic arpeggio performance. Data indicating the automatic bass tone, automatic chord tone, and automatic arpeggio tone in the automatic bass chord and arpeggio data generator 2 is generated based on the keys pressed on the keyboard of the keyboard section _KB1 . In other words, the automatic bass chord and arpeggio data generator 2 is connected to the keyboard section KB ₁ .
Data generator DG ₁ based on key presses on the keyboard
It receives the pitch information KC generated from the pitch information KC, and generates data indicating an automatic bass note, data indicating an automatic chord note, and data indicating an automatic arpeggio note based on the pitch information KC. This automatic bass chord and arpeggio data generation device can be constructed from a device similar to the well-known automatic bass chord playing device and automatic arpeggio playing device.
Data generated from the automatic bass chord and arpeggio data generator 2 is sent to the data bus 1 at a predetermined time slot, and occupies the data bus 1 at this time slot.

The automatic performance device 3 has a built-in storage device such as a magnetic tape, and performs automatic performance based on the contents stored in this storage device. Here, the storage contents of the storage device may be those recorded in advance, but they are also configured so that they can be recorded using the keyboard sections KB ₁ and KB _o . FIG. 3 shows an example of a recording method when a magnetic tape is used in this storage device. In automatic performance, it is necessary to produce multiple tones at the same time, so the magnetic tape has an N-track configuration as shown in Figure 3, and each track contains pitch information, timbre information, and volume information related to separate tones. Record. Each track here corresponds to a time division channel on the data bus 1.

The automatic performance device 3 plays the keyboard section in the recording mode.
Pitch information, timbre information, and volume information sent to the data bus 1 based on key presses at KB ₁ to KB _o are fetched from the data bus 1 and written on the magnetic tape in the manner shown in FIG. In the performance mode, the automatic performance device 3 sequentially reads pitch information, timbre information, and volume information regarding automatic performance sounds written on a magnetic tape or the like, and sends them to the data bus 1 in a time-division manner.

The automatic musical notation device 4 automatically records a musical score based on the data transmitted through the data bus 1. This automatic score transcription device 4 has a printer including a musical score symbol printing machine, and receives pitch information, timbre information, and volume information transmitted to the data bus 1 based on key presses on the keyboard sections KB ₁ to KB _o , etc. The printer is driven according to this information, and the content of the performance is automatically recorded on a musical score.

Tone generators TG ₁ to _{TG n} correspond to each tone, and each tone generator TG ₁ to TG n corresponds to each tone.
A musical tone signal of a corresponding tone is formed at TG _n . That is, the tone generators TG ₁ to _{TG n} are provided exclusively for each tone, and the tone information on the data bus 1 is transmitted to the tone generators TG ₁ to TG n.
It is used as selection information to select one of TG _n . The tone generators TG ₁ to _{TG n} look at all the tone information transmitted on the data bus 1, and if there is corresponding tone information, they take in pitch information and volume information corresponding to that tone information, and output the pitch information. and generates a musical tone signal of a predetermined tone based on the volume information.

For example, if the tone generator TG ₁ is configured to form a musical tone signal of the tone of a flute, and the tone information transmitted on the data bus 1 is indicative of the tone of the flute, the tone generator TG ₁ generates a musical tone signal of the tone of a flute. A musical tone signal of a flute tone is formed based on the pitch information and volume information corresponding to the pitch information and volume information.

Musical tone signals formed by tone generators TG ₁ to TG _n for each tone are applied to corresponding audio systems AC ₁ to AC _n , respectively, and are generated as musical tones.

Here, automatic bass chord and arpeggio data generator 2, data generators DG ₁ to _{DG o} ,
Since the automatic performance device 3, automatic score transcription device 4, and tone generators TG ₁ to _{TG n} are commonly connected to the data bus 1, the operation of other devices will not be affected even if each device is attached or detached. do not have. That is, if each device is removably connected to the data bus 1, functions can be expanded and changed by attaching and detaching each device. For example, tone generators TG ₁ to _{TG n}
By increasing the audio system AC ₁ to AC _n , the number of tones that can be produced can be increased, and by connecting a device that generates data for a certain performance function to data bus 1, this electronic musical instrument can A performance function is added.

FIG. 4 is a control showing the transmission of data to data bus 1 based on the operations of keyboard sections KB ₁ to KB _o shown in FIG. 1 and the reception of data from data bus 1 by tone generators TG ₁ to TG _n . This shows an example of the circuit.

In FIG. 4, terminal devices TD ₁ to TD _N are connected to data generators DG ₁ to DG _o shown in FIG. 1 and a keyboard section.
Tone forming device TF ₁ corresponds to KB ₁ to KB _o , respectively.
~TF _M is the tone generator TG ₁ shown in Figure 1 ~
Compatible with TG _n and audio system AC ₁ ~ _{AC n} . In other words, terminal devices TD ₁ to TD _N are terminal devices TD ₁
The keyboard 24 is equipped with a keyboard 24 for specifying the pitch, an expression pedal 25 for specifying the volume, and a tone select switch 26 for specifying the tone, as shown in detail in FIG.
generates pitch information, volume information, and timbre information based on the amount of key depression and expression pedal 25 operation and the turning on of the timbre select switch 24;
These are sent to the data bus 10. Each of the musical tone forming devices TF ₁ to TF _M corresponds to a certain tone, and when they look at the tone information transmitted through the data bus 10 and find that the tone information indicates a predetermined tone, they correspond to that tone information. A musical tone of a predetermined tone is formed and produced by taking in pitch information and volume information.

Data bus 10 from each terminal device TD ₁ to TD _N
A data bus 10 for transmitting pitch information, volume information, and timbre information to each musical tone forming device TF ₁ to TF _M
The acquisition of pitch information and volume information from the oscillator is controlled by a timing pulse generated from a timing pulse generation circuit 12.

The timing pulse generation circuit 12 is connected to the data bus 1
0, a timing pulse SY synchronized with the beginning of data transmission, and timing pulses T ₁ to T _N that provide the time slots of each channel are generated. Here, each channel corresponds to each terminal device TD ₁ to TD _N , respectively. That is, the first channel is a dedicated channel for terminal device TD ₁ , the second channel is a dedicated channel for terminal device TD ₂ , and similarly, the Nth channel is a dedicated channel for terminal device TD 2.
It is a dedicated channel for TD _N.

Now, assume that a key on the keyboard 24 of the terminal device TD ₁ is pressed, the expression pedal 25 is depressed by a certain amount, and a tone is selected on the tone select switch 26. A key pressed on the keyboard 24 is detected by a key pressed detection circuit 22. The method of detecting keys pressed on the keyboard 24 by the key press detection circuit 22 may be to simultaneously detect the keys pressed on the keyboard 24 in parallel, but if a well-known method using time division scanning is used, the keys pressed on the keyboard 24 and the pressed keys can be detected simultaneously. This is problematic in reducing the number of connection lines with the detection circuit 22. Based on the detection of a pressed key on the keyboard 24, the pressed key detection circuit 22 forms a signal (key code KC) indicating the detected key, and applies this to the data generator 21.

The expression pedal 25 is constituted by, for example, a device including a variable resistor whose resistance value changes depending on the amount of operation of the pedal, and generates an analog signal (voltage signal) corresponding to the amount of operation of the pedal. This analog signal is applied to an analog-to-digital converter 23,
4-bit digital data indicating volume V ₁ to _{V 4}
is converted to This digital data V ₁ to _{V 4} is added to the data generator 21 as volume information.

The timbre selection switch 26 includes a plurality of switches for selecting each timbre, and when any one of the plurality of switches is turned on, it outputs a signal indicating the turned-on switch. This signal is applied to the data generator 21 as 4-bit tone color information _C1 to _C4 .

The data generator 21 outputs the added key codes KC (note codes N ₁ to _{N 4} and octave codes B ₁ to _{B 3} ), volume information V ₁ to V ₄ , and tone information C ₁ to C ₄ to the timing pulse generation circuit 12 . , and is sent to the data bus 10 in synchronization with a predetermined timing pulse applied via line 11.

FIG. 5 shows 4-bit data D ₁ to _{D 4} sent to the data bus 10 by the timing pulse generation circuit 1.
Each timing pulse φ, SY, generated from 2
This is shown based on the relationship between T ₁ to T _N . Here, the timing pulse φ corresponds to the time slot of one data, the timing pulse SY is synchronized with the beginning of the data, and the timing pulse _T1 gives the allocated time of the terminal device _TD1 . T ₂ gives the allocated time of the terminal device TD ₂ , and in the same way, the timing pulse T _N gives the allocated time of the terminal device TD _N.

That is, data generator 2 of terminal device TD ₁
1 is the note code N ₁ to N ₄ and the octave code B ₁ in synchronization with the rising edge of the timing pulse φ on the condition that the timing pulse T ₁ is “1”.
-B ₃ , volume information V ₁ -V ₄ , and timbre information C ₁ -C ₄ are sequentially sent to the data bus 10.

Then note code N ₁ ~ from terminal device TD ₂
N ₄ , octave code B ₁ ~ B ₃ , volume information V ₁ ~
V ₄ and tone information C ₁ to C ₄ are transmitted. The transmission of data from this terminal device TD ₂ to the data bus 10 is exactly the same as in the case of the terminal device TD ₁ . However, data is sent from the terminal device TD ₂ on the condition that the timing pulse T ₂ becomes "1".

Thereafter, data is sequentially sent from the terminal devices TD ₃ to TD _N to the data bus 10 in the same manner. When the transmission of data from the terminal device TD _N to the data bus 10 is completed, the timing pulse SY is generated again, the timing pulse T ₁ becomes “1”, and the transmission of data from the terminal device TD ₁ is started.

In this way, each terminal device is connected to the data bus 10.
Pitch information generated from TD ₁ to TD _N (note code N ₁ to N ₄ , octave code B ₁ to _{B 3} ), volume information
V ₁ to V ₄ and timbre information C ₁ to _{C 4} are sequentially sent out, and one channel of data transmitted to the data bus 10 consists of four time slots, forming time-division data for a total of N channels. That is, note codes _N1 to _N4 are assigned to data D1 _to D4 in the first time slot of each channel, and octave codes _B1 to _B1 are assigned to data _D1 to _D4 in the second time slot.
B ₃ is assigned, volume information V ₁ to V ₄ is assigned to data D ₁ to _{D 4} of the third time slot,
Tone information _C1 to _C4 is assigned to data _D1 to _D4 of the fourth time slot, and this channel is
They are provided consecutively.

The musical tone forming devices TF ₁ to TF _M receive pitch information N ₁ to N ₄ , B ₁ to
A musical tone signal of each tone is formed based on B ₃ , volume information V ₁ to V ₄ , and tone color information C ₁ to _{C 4} . Tone forming device TF _1
.about.TFM shows the details of only the musical tone forming device _TF1 , and the others are omitted, but the musical tone forming devices _TF2 through _TFM also have a similar configuration. For convenience of explanation, the same reference numerals as those for each circuit of the tone forming device TF ₁ are used in the other musical tone forming devices TF ₂ to _TFM as well. Pitch information N ₁ to N ₄ , B ₁ to _{B 3} and volume information V ₁ to B 3 transmitted on the data bus 10
V ₄ , tone information C ₁ to _{C 4} are each musical tone forming device TF ₁ to
The data separation circuit 31 of TFn collects pitch information N ₁ to _{N 4} ,
B ₁ to B ₃ , volume information V ₁ to _{V 4} and tone information C ₁ to C ₄
The information is separated into two parts and added to the pitch information register 32, volume information register 33, and timbre information register 34, respectively. Here, data separation in the data separation circuit 31 is performed using timing pulses SY and φ generated from the timing pulse generation circuit 12. In other words, when the timing pulse SY occurs, the first timing pulse φ occurs.
Note code assigned to channel N ₁ ~
N ₄ is taken in, octave codes B ₁ to B ₃ are taken in with the second timing pulse φ, and these are added to the pitch information register 32, and volume information V ₁ to _{V 4} is taken in with the third timing pulse φ. Add this to the volume information register 33, take in tone information C ₁ to C ₄ with the fourth timing pulse φ, add this to the tone information register 34, and similarly apply the fifth and sixth timing pulses. Pitch information (note code) assigned to the second channel with φ
N ₁ ~ _{N 4} , octave code B ₁ ~ _{B 3} ),
Add this to the pitch information register 32, rewrite the contents of the pitch information register 32, take in the volume information V ₁ to V ₄ at the seventh timing pulse φ, add this to the volume information register 33, and read the volume information The contents of the register 33 are rewritten, the timbre information C ₁ to C ₄ is taken in at the eighth timing pulse φ, this is added to the timbre information register 34, the contents of the timbre information register 34 are rewritten, and the same process is repeated.

In this way, the pitch information register 32, volume information register 33, and timbre information register 34 of each musical tone forming device TF ₁ to TF _M contain pitch information (note code N ₁ ) assigned to the first channel to the Nth channel. ~ _N4 , octave codes _B1 ~ _B3 ), volume information _V1 ~ _V4 , and timbre information _C1 ~ _C4 are sequentially written. The output of the pitch information register 32 is applied to a gate 35, the output of the volume information register 33 is applied to a gate 37, and the output of the timbre information register 34 is applied to a timbre discrimination circuit 36. Tone discrimination circuit 3
Reference numeral 6 is a signal in which tone information indicating a predetermined tone is set, and this tone information is compared with tone information _C1 to _C4 added from the tone information register 34, and when the two match, the gates 35 and 37 are opened. Outputs “1”. However, if the two do not match, gate 3
The signals applied to gates 5 and 37 are “0” and are applied to gates 35 and 3.
7 remains closed.

That is, each musical tone forming device TF ₁ -TF _M has pitch information N ₁ -B ₁ , volume information V ₁ -V ₄ ,
Once the tone information _C1 to _C4 is captured, if the captured tone information _C1 to _C4 does not match the set tone information, the gates 35 and 37 are kept closed, but if they match, the gates are closed. Open 35, 37.

Pitch information (note codes N ₁ to N ₄ , octave codes B ₁ to _{B 3} ) output from the gate 35 is applied to a tone generator 38 . The tone generator 38 corresponds to a predetermined tone (the tone indicated by the tone information set in the tone discrimination circuit 36),
A sound source signal of a predetermined tone is formed based on the added pitch information. As the tone generator 38, a well-known device including a sound source signal generation circuit, a tone color adding circuit, etc. can be used.

A musical tone signal of a predetermined tone generated by the tone generator 38 is sent to a voltage controlled amplifier (VCA) 39.
added to. The voltage-controlled amplifier 39 has the volume information outputted from the gate 37 added to its control input as a control voltage signal via the digital-to-analog converter 41, and the volume of the musical tone signal is controlled in accordance with this control voltage signal. be exposed. The volume-controlled musical tone signal is applied to the audio system 40 and is produced as a musical tone.

In this way, the data transmitted through the data bus 10 is transmitted to a predetermined musical tone forming device _TF1 based on each tone color information.
~TF _M is assigned to one of them, and musical tones are formed for each tone.

In the above embodiment, a time division multiplexing method was used as the data bus transmission method, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a similar configuration can be made using any of many other well-known transmission methods. It would be possible.
For example, it is also possible to transmit the information of each channel (pitch information, volume information, timbre information) generated from each terminal device using a frequency division method without using the timing pulses T ₁ to T _N at all. In this case, each musical tone forming device selects and reproduces the information of each channel by frequency separation. Also, the timing pulse φ
can also be included in the data as a self-clock. In this case, the timing pulse φ
There is no need for a transmission line.

As explained above, according to the data bus type electronic musical instrument of this invention, the keyboard device, musical tone forming device, automatic performance device, etc., and other peripheral devices can be configured to be detachable, so the user can install options as necessary. Once purchased, the functions can be easily expanded and changed, allowing the user to construct an electronic musical instrument of any configuration with optimal functions, and also having excellent economic advantages.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the data bus type electronic musical instrument of this invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing one example of the configuration of the keyboard section shown in FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration example of this embodiment, and FIG.
3 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the device shown in the figure. 1, 10...Data bus, 2...Automatic bass chord and arpeggio data generator, 3...Automatic performance device, 4...Automatic score transcription device, 12...Timing pulse generation circuit, 21, DG ₁ to DG _o ...Data generator, 31...Data separation circuit, KB ₁
~KB _o ...Keyboard section, TG ₁ ~TG _n ...Tone generator, AC ₁ ~ _{AC n} ...Audio system,
TD ₁ to TD _N ...Terminal device, TF ₁ to TF _M ...Tone forming device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of claim for utility model registration] Data comprising a data bus for transmitting pitch information, volume information, timbre information, etc., and a keyboard, musical tone forming device, and other peripheral devices removably connected to the data bus. In the bass-type electronic musical instrument, the tone forming device is composed of a plurality of tone forming devices each corresponding to one tone, and each tone forming device is configured so that the tone information of the data bus corresponds to the tone of the tone forming circuit. A data bus type electronic musical instrument, characterized in that it is provided with means for acquiring pitch information and volume information of the data bus under certain conditions.