WO2015111657A1 - Acoustic effect setting method - Google Patents

Abstract

An acoustic effect setting method comprises: shaking a sound board of an instrument by a shaker on the basis of a test signal, thereby causing the sound board to emit a sound; capturing the sound which is emitted from the sound board as an audio signal; and outputting the audio signal as reference data.

Description

Sound effect setting method

The present invention relates to a sound effect setting method for a musical instrument.
This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-009644 filed in Japan on January 22, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for emitting sound from a soundboard by vibrating the soundboard with a vibration unit provided in the piano.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-77000

The soundboard is mainly made of wood, so the grain and water content are different for each soundboard. Therefore, the vibration characteristics of the soundboard are different for each piano. Therefore, the peak and dip of the frequency characteristic are different for each piano. For this reason, even if the soundboard is vibrated based on the same acoustic signal, there is a problem that the sound is different for each piano.

The present invention has been made in view of the background described above. An example of the object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism in which, in a musical instrument of a type in which a vibration unit drives a soundboard, a variation in vibration characteristics of each soundboard is absorbed and a desired acoustic effect can be obtained.

An acoustic effect setting method according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to vibrate a soundboard of a musical instrument with a vibrator based on a test signal to sound the soundboard, and to collect sound produced by the soundboard as a sound signal. And outputting the sound signal as reference data.

According to the present invention, it is possible to acquire reference data based on the pronunciation of a soundboard of a musical instrument. By using this reference data, the equalizer control parameters are set in the musical instrument so that the frequency characteristic of the soundboard becomes the desired frequency characteristic. Instruments with frequency characteristics can be supplied with stable quality.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the grand piano and microphone in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the internal structure of the grand piano shown in FIG. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the control apparatus provided in the grand piano shown in FIG. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the grand piano function shown in FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the setting method of the control parameter in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the frequency characteristic of the grand piano shown in FIG.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a grand piano 1 and a microphone 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The grand piano 1 is a keyboard instrument. The grand piano 1 has a keyboard having a plurality of keys 2 arranged on the front surface thereof, and a pedal 3. The plurality of keys 2 are played by the performer. The grand piano 1 includes a control device 10 having an operation unit 13. When the user operates the operation unit 13, a user instruction is input to the control device 10.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the internal structure of the grand piano 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, only the configuration provided corresponding to one of the plurality of keys 2 is shown, and the configuration provided corresponding to the other keys 2 is not shown.

A hammer 4 and a string 5 are provided corresponding to each key 2. When the key 2 is pressed, a force is transmitted to the hammer 4 via an action mechanism (not shown), and the hammer 4 strikes the string 5. The damper 8 is brought into a non-contact state or a contact state with the string 5 according to the depression amount of the key 2 and the depression amount of the damper pedal (hereinafter simply referred to as a damper pedal in the case of the pedal 3) among the pedals 3.
When the damper 8 is in contact with the string 5, the damper 8 suppresses vibration of the string 5.

The key sensor 22 is provided below each key 2. The key sensor 22 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the behavior of the key 2 to the control device 10. In this example, the key sensor 22 detects the pressing amount of the key 2 and outputs a detection signal indicating the detection result to the control device 10. The key sensor 22 may output a detection signal indicating that the key 2 has passed a specific pressed position instead of outputting a detection signal corresponding to the pressed amount of the key 2. The specific pressed position is any position in the range from the rest position of the key 2 (key position in a non-pressed state) to the end position (key position in the most depressed state). It is desirable that the specific pressing position is a plurality of locations. As described above, the detection signal output from the key sensor 22 may be any signal as long as the control device 10 can recognize the behavior of the key 2.

The hammer sensor 24 is provided corresponding to each hammer 4. The hammer sensor 24 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the behavior of the hammer 4 to the control device 10. In this example, the hammer sensor 24 detects the moving speed of the hammer 4 immediately before striking the string 5 by the hammer 4 and outputs a detection signal indicating the detection result to the control device 10. This detection signal may not indicate the movement speed of the hammer 4 itself. When the detection signal is in another mode, the control device 10 may calculate the moving speed based on the detection signal. For example, a case will be described in which the hammer shank passes through two positions while the hammer 4 is moving. In this case, the hammer sensor 24 may output a detection signal indicating that the hammer shank has passed through each position. Alternatively, the hammer sensor 24 may output a detection signal indicating the time from passing through one position to passing through the other position. As described above, the detection signal output from the hammer sensor 24 may be any signal as long as the control device 10 can recognize the behavior of the hammer 4.

The pedal sensor 23 is provided corresponding to each pedal 3. The pedal sensor 23 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the behavior of the pedal 3 to the control device 10. In this example, the pedal sensor 23 detects the depression amount of the pedal 3 and outputs a detection signal indicating the detection result to the control device 10. The pedal sensor 23 may output a detection signal indicating that the pedal 3 has passed a specific depression position, instead of outputting a detection signal corresponding to the depression amount of the pedal 3. The specific depression position is any position in the range from the pedal rest position (the pedal position when not being played) to the end position (the pedal position when the pedal is most depressed). The specific stepping position is preferably a stepping position that can distinguish between a state in which the damper 8 and the string 5 are completely in contact with each other and a non-contact state. It is further desirable that the state of the half pedal can be detected by setting a plurality of positions as specific depression positions. Thus, the detection signal output from the pedal sensor 23 may be any signal as long as the control device 10 can recognize the behavior of the pedal 3.

Based on the detection signals output from the key sensor 22, the pedal sensor 23, and the hammer sensor 24, the control device 10 causes the hammer 4 to hit the string 5 (key-on timing), the hitting speed (velocity), and the string 5. The vibration suppression timing (key-off timing) of the damper 8 is specified corresponding to each key 2 (key number). If the control device 10 can identify these, the key sensor 22, the pedal sensor 23, and the hammer sensor 24 output the detection results of the behavior of the key 2, the pedal 3, and the hammer 4 as detection signals in other modes. Also good. Details of the detection signal will be described later.

The soundboard 7 is connected with a soundbar 75 and a piece 6. The vibration of the soundboard 7 is transmitted to each string 5 through the piece 6, and the vibration of each string 5 is transmitted to the soundboard 7 through the piece 6. A vibration unit 50 is connected to the soundboard 7. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the number of vibration units 50 is one, but the configuration is not limited thereto. Two or more excitation units 50 may be provided. The vibration unit 50 includes a vibration unit 51 connected to the soundboard 7 and a yoke holding unit 52 (main body unit) supported by a support unit 55 connected to the straight support column 9. A drive signal is input from the control device 10 to the vibration unit 50. The vibration unit 51 vibrates according to the waveform indicated by the input drive signal, and vibrates the soundboard 7. Thereby, the piece 6 is also vibrated. The vibration unit 50 is preferably provided at a position overlapping the sounding rod 75 or the piece 6 in a plan view (viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the sounding board 7).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control device 10 in the embodiment of the present invention. The control device 10 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, an operation unit 13, a communication unit 14, a signal output unit 15, and an interface 16. These components are connected to each other via a bus 17. The control unit 11 includes an arithmetic device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The control unit 11 controls each unit connected to each unit of the control device 10 and the interface 16 based on a control program stored in the storage device. In this example, the control unit 11 causes the control device 10 and a part of the configuration connected to the control device 10 to function as the keyboard instrument of the embodiment of the present invention by executing the control program.

The storage unit 12 stores setting information indicating various setting contents used when executing the control program. The setting information is information for determining the content of the drive signal output from the signal output unit 15 based on detection signals output from the key sensor 22, the pedal sensor 23, and the hammer sensor 24, for example. The storage unit 12 stores test data for the setting unit 110 (to be described later) to output a test signal.

The operation unit 13 has operation buttons for receiving user operations. When a user's operation is accepted by this operation button, an operation signal corresponding to the operation is output to the control unit 11.

The communication unit 14 is an interface that communicates with other devices by wireless, wired, or the like. The data input to the control device 10 via the communication unit 14 is, for example, music data input to the signal output unit 15 during automatic performance. The communication unit 14 may be connected to a disk drive that reads various data recorded on a recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) or a CD (Compact Disk) and outputs the read data.

The signal output unit 15 includes a sound source unit 151, an equalizer unit 152, and an amplification unit 153 (see FIG. 4). The sound source unit 151 outputs an acoustic signal. The equalizer unit 152 adjusts the frequency characteristic of the acoustic signal output from the sound source unit 151. The amplifying unit 153 amplifies the acoustic signal output from the sound source unit 151 and adjusted by the equalizer unit 152. The signal output unit 15 outputs an acoustic signal amplified by adjusting the frequency characteristics as a drive signal. The equalizer unit 152 may be a parametric equalizer or a graphic equalizer.

The interface 16 is an interface for connecting the control device 10 and each external component. The components connected to the interface 16 are a key sensor 22, a pedal sensor 23, a hammer sensor 24, and a vibration unit 50 in this example. The interface 16 outputs detection signals output from the key sensor 22, the pedal sensor 23, and the hammer sensor 24 to the control unit 11. Further, the interface 16 outputs the drive signal output from the signal output unit 15 to the vibration unit 50.

Next, a configuration that functions when the control unit 11 executes a control program will be described.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the grand piano 1 in the embodiment of the present invention.

The setting part 110 and the performance information output part 120 implement | achieve the function shown below by the control part 11 and a control program.
When the user instructs supply of a test signal via the operation unit 13, the setting unit 110 reads the test data stored in the storage unit 12 and outputs the data to the performance information output unit 120.
The performance information output unit 120 outputs a test signal to the signal output unit 15 based on the input test data. Specific examples of test signals include, but are not limited to, pink noise and chirp signals.

The signal output unit 15 outputs a test drive signal to the vibration unit 50 based on the test signal. The equalizer unit 152 provided in the signal output unit 15 does not adjust the frequency characteristic of the signal when outputting the test drive signal.

The vibration unit 50 vibrates according to the input test drive signal and vibrates the soundboard 7. As a result, the soundboard 7 sounds.
The microphone 200 collects the sound generated from the soundboard 7 and outputs the collected sound signal to the reference data analysis unit 210 as reference data. The reference data may be data indicating a relationship between the frequency (αHz) and the loudness (βdB). More specifically, the reference data may be data indicating that the magnitude of the sound signal picked up by the microphone 200 when the soundboard 7 is vibrated with vibration corresponding to the waveform of αHz is β dB. Good.
The reference data analysis unit 210 analyzes the reference data and calculates the frequency characteristics of the soundboard 7. The reference data analysis unit 210 searches for a peak and a dip from the calculated frequency characteristic. Further, the reference data analysis unit 210 sets control parameters in the equalizer unit 152 so as to obtain a desired frequency characteristic based on the searched peak and dip. For example, the reference data analysis unit 210 sets a control parameter in the equalizer unit 152 so as to cancel the peak and dip so that the frequency characteristic becomes flat. Thereby, the sound reflecting the acoustic signal output from the sound source unit 151 from the low frequency range to the high frequency range is emitted from the soundboard 7.
When the equalizer unit 152 is configured by a parametric equalizer, specific examples of control parameters include an axis frequency, a varying bandwidth, and a varying band gain, but may include other parameters.

Next, a control parameter setting method will be described with reference to FIG.
The setting unit 110 outputs a test signal to the performance information output unit 120 (step S1). The signal output unit 15 outputs the test signal as a test drive signal (step S2). The vibration unit 50 vibrates the soundboard 7 according to the test drive signal. As a result, a sound is generated from the soundboard 7 (step S3).
The microphone 200 picks up the sound emitted from the soundboard 7 and outputs it as reference data to the reference data analysis unit 210 (step S4). The reference data analysis unit 210 analyzes the reference data and calculates frequency characteristics (step S5). The reference data analysis unit 210 sets control parameters in the equalizer unit 152 so as to obtain a desired frequency characteristic (step S6).
By setting the control parameters described above at the time of factory shipment of the grand piano 1, the frequency characteristics of each piano 1 can be set as designed by the designer of the piano 1, but this is not a limitation. Control parameters may be set according to user instructions when the piano 1 is installed.

The remaining configuration will be briefly described below.
Returning to FIG. 4, when the user operates the key 2, the hammer 4 strikes the string 5 and the string 5 vibrates. This vibration is transmitted to the soundboard 7 through the piece 6. The damper 8 is operated by operating the key 2 and the pedal 3. The vibration suppression state of the string 5 is changed by the operation of the damper 8.

Each of the key sensor 22, the pedal sensor 23, and the hammer sensor 24 detects the behavior of the key 2, the pedal 3, and the hammer 4, and outputs a detection signal as the detection result. The performance information output unit 120, based on these detection signals, hits the string 5 by the hammer 4 (key-on timing), the number of the key 2 corresponding to the hit string 5 (key number), and the hitting speed (velocity). And the vibration suppression timing (key-off timing) of the damper 8 with respect to the string 5 are specified as information (performance information) used in the sound source unit 151. In this example, the performance information output unit 120 specifies the hit timing and the key 2 number from the behavior of the key 2. The performance information output unit 120 specifies the hitting speed from the behavior of the hammer 4. The performance information output unit 120 specifies the vibration suppression timing from the behavior of the key 2 and the pedal 3. The performance information output unit 120 may specify the hit timing from the behavior of the hammer 4. The performance information output unit 120 may specify the hitting speed from the behavior of the key 2. The performance information may be, for example, information indicated by MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) format control parameters.

The performance information output unit 120 outputs performance information indicating the key number, velocity, and key-on to the sound source unit 151 at the specified key-on timing. The performance information output unit 120 outputs performance information indicating the key number and key off to the sound source unit 151 at the specified key-off timing.

The sound source unit 151 outputs an acoustic signal based on the performance information output from the performance information output unit 120. For example, the sound source unit 151 outputs an acoustic signal so as to have a pitch corresponding to the key number and a volume corresponding to the velocity. This acoustic signal is adjusted in frequency characteristics by the equalizer unit 152 in which the control parameter is set by the above-described flow, is amplified by the amplification unit 153, and is output to the excitation unit 50 as a drive signal.

The vibration unit 50 vibrates according to the input drive signal and vibrates the soundboard 7. As a result, the soundboard 7 sounds. This sound generation is adjusted by the equalizer unit 152 so that the frequency characteristic becomes flat, for example.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing frequency characteristics before and after adjusting the control parameter by the equalizer unit 152. A curve C1 shows the frequency characteristic before the control parameter adjustment. A curve C2 shows the frequency characteristics after adjusting the control parameters. As is clear from the curve C1, there are large peaks and dips before the control parameter adjustment. On the other hand, as is apparent from the curve C2, the frequency characteristics are close to flat after the control parameter adjustment.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the microphone 200 acquires reference data based on the pronunciation of the soundboard 7 of the piano 1. Using this reference data, the reference data analysis unit 210 searches for a peak and a dip from the calculated frequency characteristic, and sets a control parameter in the equalizer unit 152 so as to obtain a desired characteristic. Thereby, since the frequency characteristic of the piano 1 becomes uniform, the manufacturing dispersion | variation which arises by using wood for the soundboard 7 can be suppressed.
The reference data analysis unit 210 sets control parameters in the equalizer unit 152 so as to cancel the searched peak and dip so that the frequency characteristic becomes flat, so that the sound source unit outputs from the low frequency range to the high frequency range. Sound reflecting the acoustic signal can be emitted from the soundboard 7.

(Modification)
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the reference data analysis unit 210 is provided in the grand piano 1 has been described, but the configuration is not limited thereto. The reference data analysis unit 210 may be provided outside the grand piano 1. For example, the reference data analysis unit 210 is realized by an external personal computer, and the control parameter is output to the equalizer unit 152 by outputting a control parameter having characteristics that cancel the above-described peak and dip. You may make it set.
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the target for setting the acoustic effect is a grand piano has been described, but the present invention is not limited to such a case. The target for setting the acoustic effect may be an instrument that vibrates a soundboard by a vibration unit such as an upright piano or an electronic piano equipped with a soundboard. The target for setting the acoustic effect may be a musical instrument such as a guitar.
In the above-described embodiment, the test data is stored in the storage unit 12, but the present invention is not limited to such a case. Test data may be input to the control device 10 via the communication unit 14.
In the above-described embodiment, the microphone 200 is illustrated as a sound collection device that collects sound emitted from the soundboard 7. However, the sound collection device is not limited to the microphone, and may be another device such as a pickup.

The sound effect setting method according to the embodiment of the present invention causes a soundboard of a musical instrument to be vibrated by an exciter based on a test signal to generate the soundboard, and the sound produced by the soundboard is collected as a sound signal. And outputting the sound signal as reference data.
The acoustic effect setting method includes a control for analyzing the reference data to acquire a frequency characteristic, searching for a peak and a dip of the acquired frequency characteristic, and adjusting the acquired frequency characteristic to a desired frequency characteristic. It may further include setting the parameter to an equalizer.

In the acoustic effect setting method, setting the control parameter may include setting a control parameter for canceling the peak and dip in an equalizer of a musical instrument.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail with reference to drawings, a specific structure is not restricted to said embodiment. The present invention includes design changes and the like within a scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.

The present invention may be applied to a sound effect setting method.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Grand piano 2 ... Key 3 ... Pedal 4 ... Hammer 5 ... String 6 ... Piece 7 ... Sound board 8 ... Damper 10 ... Control apparatus 11 ... Control part 12 ... Memory | storage part 13 ... Operation part 14 ... Communication part 15 ... Signal output Unit 16 ... Interface 22 ... Key sensor 23 ... Pedal sensor 24 ... Hammer sensor 50 ... Excitation part 55 ... Supporting part 75 ... Sound stick 110 ... Setting part 120 ... Performance information output part 151 ... Sound source part 152 ... Equalizer part 153 ... Amplification Unit 200 ... Microphone 210 ... Reference data analysis unit

Claims (3)

1. Based on the test signal, the soundboard of the musical instrument is vibrated by vibrating the soundboard of the instrument,
   Collecting the sound produced by the soundboard as a sound signal,
   A sound effect setting method comprising: outputting the sound signal as reference data.
2. Analyzing the reference data to obtain frequency characteristics,
   Search for the peak and dip of the acquired frequency characteristic,
   The acoustic effect setting method according to claim 1, further comprising setting, in an equalizer, a control parameter for adjusting the acquired frequency characteristic to a desired frequency characteristic.
3. 3. The acoustic effect setting method according to claim 2, wherein setting the control parameter includes setting a control parameter for canceling the peak and dip in an equalizer of a musical instrument.

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