JP3223204B2 - Automatic performance device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic performance apparatus for performing an automatic performance based on performance information, and more particularly to a technique for controlling a timing at which storage of performance information is started.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an automatic performance apparatus which stores performance information, reads out the stored performance information, and performs an automatic performance based on the read performance information has been developed and put into practical use.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned prior art, when an automatic performance device records silent (rest) information in the automatic performance information at the beginning of a music, for example, the performer is a beginner and starts playing. In the case where several measures are not performed for timing, rest information is stored as it is as automatic performance information. For this reason, when playing a song based on the automatic performance information that includes the rest information at the beginning, the player has to wait until the reproduction of the rest information ends and the first musical tone is emitted. As a result, the player may feel uncomfortable. In addition, when the reproduction time of the rest information is very long, the reliability of the automatic performance information may be uneasy, for example, by pressing the reproduction switch again. For this reason, a technique has been proposed in which rest information written at the beginning of a song in the automatic performance information is skipped, and playback is performed from the first performance operation (note-on) information for instructing the generation of a sound (Japanese Patent Publication No. HEIHO). 4-5193).

However, the technique described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-5193 skips the rest information at the head of the music in the performance information uniformly, so that the technique is not related to the bars and beats of the automatic performance information. The automatic performance information will be reproduced at a timing that does not exist. FIG. 9 is a musical score representing an example of a song having rest information at the beginning. When the automatic performance information of the music as shown in FIG. 9 is reproduced using the technique described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-5193, the first bar and the second bar are all skipped, and the third bar and the second bar are skipped. The reading is skipped to the eighth note on the fourth beat and is reproduced from the back beat of the fourth beat.
For this reason, the automatic performance device has a problem that when played back, the beat is always counted with a half beat shifted from the original performance, and the beat feeling is unnaturally felt. Also,
If the automatic performance device is provided with a metronome function, the beat will be shifted as described above, making it difficult to synchronize the reproduced automatic performance information with the metronome. Further, since the rest information is stored in the stored automatic performance information as it is, there is a problem that the memory for storing the automatic performance information is wasted by the rest information.

According to the present invention, in view of the above circumstances, when reproducing the stored automatic performance information, the player does not have to wait until the first musical sound is emitted, and the beat feeling does not become unnatural. It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic performance device in which a memory for storing automatic performance information is effectively used.

[0006]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic performance apparatus for storing performance information, comprising: storage means for storing performance information; and writing means for writing performance operations of musical instruments into the storage means as performance information. Notification means for notifying the timing of measures and beats, instruction means for instructing the writing means to start writing performance information, and when the writing means is instructed by the instruction means, the notification means In addition to notifying the timing of measures and beats, ignoring continuous rests in measures from the beginning of the song represented by the performance information based on the performance operation by the musical instrument, and starting from the beginning of the measure including the first note information of the performance information, In the case where the writing means is controlled so as to write the performance information into the storage means, and the performance is performed based on the performance information written by the writing means, the storage means It is characterized in that the first measure of the stored performance information and control means for controlling to start playing in synchronization with the notification means.

[0007]

[0008]

Here, the above-mentioned "reporting means" typically corresponds to a conventional metronome, and notifies the timing of a beat or a bar by sound. In the present invention, the beat is notified by sound. The present invention is not limited to the notification, but may be, for example, the notification of the beat or bar timing by blinking of an LED or the like.

[0010]

The automatic performance device of the present invention does not write rest information uniformly like note information as in the prior art.
Rests that are continuous in bars from the beginning of the music represented by the performance information are ignored, and the performance information is written to the storage means from the beginning of the bar including the first note information of the performance information.
That is, in the example of FIG. 9, the automatic performance information is written from the third measure.

[0011]

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the automatic performance device of the present invention. The keyboard section 1-6 includes key information (pitch and note strength) corresponding to a key pressing operation or a key releasing operation (performance operation according to the present invention) and synchronized with the key pressing or key releasing timing. The performance operation information according to the present invention) is output to the sequencer section 1-1. Sequence data storage unit 1
In -2, keyboard information read from the keyboard section 1-6 by the sequencer section 1-1 is stored as sequence data (automatic performance information according to the present invention). The sequence data storage unit 1-2 sequentially reads out the stored sequence data in response to a request from the sequencer unit 1-1, and sends the sequence data to the sequencer unit 1-1. The sequencer section 1-1 reads the keyboard information sent from the keyboard section 1-6, and sets a tempo (for example, quarter note = 120), a time signature (for example, 4/4 time) set in advance by an operation unit (not shown), In response to ON / OFF of the metronome (for example, metronome ON), a tone generation command is output based on the read keyboard information, and in the case of the metronome ON, a metronome sound generation command is output. The metronome sound generation instruction is accompanied by designation of accented or unaccented, and is output to the metronome sound generator 1-4 in synchronization with the metronome sounding timing. On the other hand, the tone generation command is output to the tone generator 1-3 in synchronization with the generation of the tone. The tone generating section 1-3 and the metronome sound generating section 1-4 respectively generate a tone signal of a pitch and a length designated by the input tone generating command,
And an accented or unaccented metronome sound signal specified by the input metronome sound generation command.

The tone signal and the metronome sound signal output from the tone generator 1-3 and the metronome sound generator 1-4 are mixed with each other and output to an acoustic signal output unit 1-5 including an amplifier and a speaker (not shown). A musical sound and a metronome sound are emitted from the input audio signal output section 1-5. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of sequence data stored in the sequence data storage unit.

This sequence data is composed of three types of parameters: step time, note number, and velocity. The Step Time is a parameter for storing a relative time from the previous performance operation (note on, note off), and stores a quarter note as 100. For example, if there is a current note-on when an eighth note has elapsed since the previous note-on,
step Time = 50. For the first note, the relative time from the beginning of the score is stored.

[0015] Note Number
Is a parameter for storing the pitch, C0 = 0, C #
Intervals and numerical values are associated with each other, such as 0 = 1, D0 = 2, D # 0 = 3, E0 = 4,. The velocity (Velocity) is a parameter for storing the intensity of a note, and is stored as a value from 0 to 127. Velocity = 1 to 127 indicates a key pressed state, and Ve
“location = 0” indicates a key release state.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a program executed by the sequencer unit. This program is started by operating a start switch (not shown) of an operation unit provided in the sequencer unit 1-1,
The routine includes an initialization routine, an end determination routine, a metronome sound generation routine, a silence data deletion routine, and a keyboard information recording routine.

In the following description, NOTE, VELO
Are registers used in the program for holding the note number and velocity values, which are keyboard information. MSTEP is a register used in the program for managing time until the next metronome sound is generated.

The MCNT is a register used in the program for determining whether the next metronome sound occurs with or without accent. STEP is a register for counting the step time. An interrupt is generated at time intervals corresponding to the tempo, and is incremented by one each time. For example, if the tempo is 120, the time interval is 60.000 / 120/100 = 5 mse
c.

REC FLAG is a register used in the program for determining whether or not key press information is stored. Hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity, the same symbols are used without distinction between each register and the contents stored in each register. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the initialization routine.

When this routine is started, step 3
In -11, registers MSTEP, MCNT, S
TEP, REC The value of FLAG is initialized to 0. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an end determination routine. When this routine is started, first, Step 3-2
1, a stop switch (not shown) of the operation unit
It is determined whether or not has been operated. If operated, the program shown in FIG. 3 is ended, and if not operated, the process proceeds to step 3-22. Next, in step 3-22, it is determined whether or not the sequence data storage section 1-3 shown in FIG. 1 has a remaining capacity. Figure 3 if there is no remaining capacity
Is terminated, and if there is an area that is not stored, the process exits this routine.

The case of 4/4 time will be described below.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a metronome sound generation routine. When this routine is started, first, in step 3-31, a metronome is set.
Is ON (operating state) or OFF (non-operating state). If the metronome is off, exit this routine without doing anything. Step 3 if the metronome is on
The process proceeds to 32, where it is determined whether the value of the register MSTEP is 0 or not. In the case of the register MSTEP # 0, since it is not the timing to generate the metronome sound this time, the process proceeds to step 3-39, where MSTEP is decremented by 1, and the routine exits.

At step 3-32, the register MSTEP =
If it is 0, it is time to generate the metronome sound this time, and the value of MCNT is 1 in step 3-33.
Only decremented. Next, the routine proceeds to step 3-34, where it is determined whether or not the register MCNT is 0. As described above, the register MCNT is a register for determining whether or not the next metronome sound is to be accentuated or unaccented.
The process proceeds to step 35, where an accented metronome sound generation command is output. If MCNT ≠ 0, the process proceeds to step 3-37, where an accentless metronome sound generation command is output. When the metronome sound generation command with accent is output in step 3-35, the meter, that is, 4 is input to the register MCNT for the next preparation in step 3-36. If a metronome sound generation command without accent is output in step 3-37, the process directly proceeds to step 3-38, and the register MST is used to count the time until the next metronome sound is generated.
The value 100 corresponding to one beat is set in EP, and the value of MSTEP is decremented by 1 in step 3-39, and the routine exits.

Each of steps 3-33 to 3-39
The routine generates a metronome every beat,
At the beginning of each measure, a metronome sound with an accent
Generated. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a silence data deletion routine.
It is a low chart. When this routine is started,
In step 3-41, register REC FLAG value
Is determined to be 0 or not. Register REC FLAG
Determines whether or not keypress information is stored as described above.
Register REC FLAG
If the value of is 0, no key press information is stored yet.
Step 3-4 because rest information is stored
If it is not 0, the key press information is stored.
Exit the routine.

In step 3-42, register STE
If the value of P is smaller than the set time signature x 100 (for example, 4 x 100 = 400 for 4/4 time), the process proceeds to step 3-44. If so, the process proceeds to step 3-43, in which the value of the register STEP is decremented by the set time signature x 100, and the process returns to step 3-42. In this way, in steps 3-42 and 3-43, rest information in units of one bar is deleted.

Next, if the metronome is on in step 3-44, the process exits this routine. If the metronome is off, the process proceeds to step 3-45. This step 3-
If the value of the register MSTEP is smaller than 100 at 45, the routine exits from this routine because the rest information stored is less than one quarter note.
The process proceeds to 46, where the value of the register STEP is decremented by 100, and the process returns to step 3-45. In this way, in steps 3-44 to 3-46, the rest information for each quarter note is deleted.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a keyboard information recording routine. When this routine is started, it is first determined in step 3-51 whether there is keyboard information by a new keyboard operation. If there is keyboard information, the process proceeds to step 3-52. If there is no keyboard information, this routine is exited. Next, in step 3-52, the note number of the key that has been depressed or released from the keyboard section 1-6 (see FIG. 1) and the strength of the note (0 in the case of the key release operation) are stored in the register NOTE. , Are read into the registers VELO. In step 3-53, register RE
C It is determined whether the value of FLAG is 0 or not. Register REC If the value of FLAG is 0, the rest information is stored, so the process proceeds to step 3-54, where the register REC is set. If the value of FLAG is not 0, the process proceeds to step 3-56 to store performance information. In step 3-54, it is determined whether the value of the register VELO is 0 or not. If the value of the register VELO is 0, the operation is a key release operation, and there is no performance information to be stored. Thus, this routine is exited. If the value of the register VELO is not 0, the process proceeds to step 3-55. In this step 3-55, the register REC is set so that it can be determined that the performance information has been stored. 1 is assigned to FLAG. In this way, in steps 3-52 to 3-55, it is determined whether there is key press information for the first time, and the flag (REC) is determined. FLAG) is set. Then, in step 3-56, the register ST
The values of the EP, the register NOTE, and the register VELO are respectively Step Time and Note Nu shown in FIG.
The data is stored in the sequence data storage unit 1-2 (see FIG. 1) as mber and Velocity. Here, in order to count the step time until the next performance information is generated in step 3-57, 0 is substituted into the register STEP and initialized. In step 3-56, information indicating whether the metronome was on at the time of storage or performance information indicating metronome sound may be stored.

[0027]

As described above, the automatic performance apparatus according to the present invention ignores the rests continuous in measure units from the beginning of the music represented by the performance information and ignores the rest of the measure including the first note information of the performance information. The performance information is written into the storage means from the beginning. Therefore, when performing an automatic performance, the performance is started from the beginning of the bar of the performance information written in the storage means in synchronization with the notification means, so that there is no sense of waiting after pressing the reproduction switch. In addition, the automatic performance is reproduced with an easy beat and a natural beat feeling. Further, since no rest is written, the memory is prevented from being wasted.

[0028]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an automatic performance device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of sequence data stored in a sequence data storage unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a program executed by a sequencer unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an initialization routine shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an end determination routine.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a metronome sound generation routine.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a silent data deletion routine.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a keyboard information recording routine.

FIG. 9 is a musical score representing an example of a song having a rest at the beginning.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-1 Sequencer section 1-2 Sequence data storage section 1-3 Musical tone generating section 1-4 Metronome sound generating section 1-5 Sound signal output section 1-6 Keyboard section

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] Storage means for storing performance information; writing means for writing performance operations of musical instruments as performance information in the storage means; notification means for notifying timing of measures and beats; Instructing means for instructing the start of writing of information, and when the start of writing of performance information is instructed by the instructing means, the notifying means notifies the timing of measures and beats, and the performance information based on the performance operation by the musical instrument. The writing means is controlled so as to ignore rests continuous in measure units from the beginning of the song to be represented and to write the performance information to the storage means from the beginning of the measure including the first note information of the performance information. When the performance is performed based on the performance information written by the means, the performance is synchronized with the notification means from the beginning of the bar of the performance information stored in the storage means. Automatic performance apparatus characterized by comprising a control means for controlling to start.