WO2005022539A1

WO2005022539A1 - A system for processing music data and a method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2005022539A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/002131
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hyun Jun Choi; Jung Hoon Lee; Hyung Su Kim
Original assignee: The Dream Studio Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2003-09-01
Filing date: 2004-08-25
Publication date: 2005-03-10

Abstract

In order to improve the quality of music played according to the kind of a musical instrument regardless of modulation on tones and/or tempo done by a user, a music data processing system for processing and performing music data stored in a recording medium includes a user input device for receiving an instruction of a user, a tone-unchangeable music data storing module for storing music data which is unchangeable in tones regardless of desire of the user, a tone-changeable music storing module for storing music data which is changeable in tones according to an instruction of the user who desires, an operation control module for extracting music data from the storing modules or controlling other elements based on the instruction of the user received from the user input device, and a performance control for receiving the music data from the operation control module and/or an instruction and generating a music signal processed to perform music which the user desires.

Description

[DESCRIPTION] [TITLE]

A SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING MUSIC DATA AND A METHOD THEREOF [TECHNICAL FIELD] The present invention relates to a music data processing system and a method thereof for processing and reproducing music data recorded on a recording medium. Particularly, the present invention relates to a music data processing system and a method thereof capable of maintaining the quality of original sound regardless of the change in overall tones due to tone modulation by a user.

[BACKGROUND ART]

Generally, a music data processing system which records analog or digital music data in a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory or a magnetic recording medium and extracts and reproduces the data has been widely known as a Noreabang system or a karaoke system.

Referring to Fig. 1, Fig. 1 schematically shows an example of a conventional music data processing system. As shown in the drawing, the conventional music data processing system includes an input unit 1 for setting

^" the song number, key, tempo, etc. of a selected song using a plurality of buttons, a main system control unit 2 for controlling the overall karaoke system according to signals inputted and set by the input unit 1 , as music for a voice chorus according to the signals is played through a speaker 15, a music playing unit 11 for processing and outputting music data stored according to a control

signal of the main system control unit 2, a second tone changing unit 13 for

changing the tones of a music signal of the music playing unit 11, a chorus

playing unit 7 for processing and outputting voice chorus data stored on a CD in

a compressed manner according to the control signals of the main system

control unit 2, a tone and tempo changing circuit unit 10 for changing a

recovered reference frequency to change the recovery speed of the data

outputted from the chorus playing unit 7, a first tone changing unit 12 for

compensating the change in the tones of the voice chorus corresponding to the

change in the tempo according to the changed frequency outputted from the

tone and tempo changing circuit unit 10 and outputting the result, and a mixing

unit 14 for mixing the music, the tempo of which has been set and outputted

from the second tone changing unit 13, with the chorus, the tones of which have

been compensated and outputted from the first tone changing unit 12. In the conventional music data processing system, the voice chorus can

be provided with consistently uniform tones, even if a user changes the play

speed of the music.

According to such conventional music data processing system, however,

since the music data such as main music data or chorus data is stored in a

mixed manner regardless of the kind of the music data, a user modulates the

tones or tempo without differentiation of the kinds of the music data, thereby

causing a problem that the quality of the played music deteriorates. Moreover, according to the conventional music data processing system,

since music data in MIDI format, the sound quality of which is inferior, is used

due to the increase of the quantity of the music data which should be recorded,

the tones of the music data cannot be performed as they are, thereby causing a

problem that the quality of the played music deteriorates.

Therefore, according to the MIDI-based conventional music data

processing system, in order to overcome the obstacle caused by using the

music data in MIDI format described above, there has been an attempt to add

music data in another format, e.g. WAV, as a chorus. In this case, however,

since the music data in MIDI format is still used for a basic accompaniment, it

just partly overcomes the obstacle, and even if the WAV format is used for a

chorus, a kind of music data, the tones of which are unchangeable, is not taken

into account during modulating tones and tempo, so the modulation of tones

with high quality cannot be carried out when the music data in the tone-

unchangeable form is inserted.

[DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION]^'

It is an object of the present invention to provide a music data

processing system and a method thereof capable of maintaining the quality of

music played according to the kind of music data to be as good as that before

modulation of tones and/or tempo done by a user regardless of the modulation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a music data

processing system and a method thereof capable of maintaining the quality of music played according to the kind of music data to be as good as that before

modulation of tones and/or tempo done by a user regardless of the modulation,

using music data in WAV format, the sound quality of which is excellent is used. According to an aspect of the present invention, a music data

processing system for processing and performing music data stored in a

recording medium includes a user input device for receiving an instruction of a

user, a tone-unchangeable music data storing module for storing music data

which is unchangeable in tones regardless of desire of the user, a tone-

changeable music data storing module for storing music data which is

changeable in tones according to an instruction of the user who desires, an

operation control module for extracting music data from the storing modules or

controlling other elements based on the instruction of the user received from the

user input device, and a performance control module for receiving the music

data from the operation control module and/or an instruction and generating a

music signal processed to perform music which the user desires.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a music data

processing method for processing and performing music data stored in a

recording medium includes a user input receiving step of receiving an

instruction of a user, a music data storing step of storing tone-unchangeable

music data and tone-changeable music data to be distinguished from each

other, a music data extracting step of extracting the distinguished tone-

unchangeable music data and/or tone-changeable music data based on the received instruction of the user, and a performance processing step of

processing the extracted music data so that the music data is performed with a

tone and/or tempo which the user desires. [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS] Fig. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of a

conventional music data processing system.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an exemplary

embodiment of a music data processing system of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a first exemplary

embodiment of the performance control module included in the system in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a second exemplary

embodiment of the performance control module included in the system in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing a third exemplary

embodiment of the performance control module included in the system in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing a fourth exemplary

embodiment of the performance control module included in the system in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a block diagram schematically showing a fifth exemplary

embodiment of the performance control module included in the system in Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing a sixth exemplary

embodiment of the performance control module included in the system in Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a block diagram schematically showing a seventh exemplary

embodiment of the performance control module included in the system in Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is a block diagram schematically showing a eighth exemplary

embodiment of the performance control module included in the system in Fig. 2. [BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION]

Hereafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be

described in detail, referring to attached drawings.

"Music data in WAV format" herein is defined as digital data obtained by

sampling sound signals and having the quality close to the original sound. It

includes data which is compressed in a predetermined manner and

characteristically can be processed as music data in WAV format. Moreover, "MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)" is defined as an

interface protocol for performance of music in a computer using metadata such

as a timbre, tone, length, beat, etc. replacing a large quantity of music data in

WAV format. Further, "music data in MIDI format" is defined as music data

which conforms to the above MIDI protocol and is simple and convenient to

handle but has a limit to reproduce the timbre of a real musical instrument and

the atmosphere during performance.

Moreover, "tone-unchangeable music data" is defined as music data

which has no change in tones even if a user desires it. If an algorithm for tone

modulation is applied to a piece of music created by the tone-unchangeable

music data, the music gives a feeling that its tones have not been modulated

but it has a different timbre from the original. This means that the algorithm for

the tone modulation causes sound distortion which is not desired. Further, "tone-changeable music data" is defined as music data which is

changeable in tones according to user's instruction when needed. It includes all

music data except the tone-unchangeable music data.

It should be noted that the above tone-changeable music data and

tone-unchangeable music data are not necessarily but arbitrarily classified by

the need of a user or a manufacture. That is, it is desirable that a tone change

process is carried out on music data from keyboards such as a piano or from a

chorus to increase or decrease the overall tones by a predetermined degree

when a user needs. Accordingly, in this case it is classified and processed as

the tone-changeable music data. On the other hand, since it is general that

music data from percussion instruments or recent rap is unchangeable in tones,

it is preferable in this case that it is classified and processed as the tone-

unchangeable music data.

Referring to Fig. 2, Fig. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an

exemplary embodiment of the music data processing system of the present

invention. As shown in the drawing, the music data processing system

(hereafter, simply referred to as a "system") 100 according to the present

embodiment includes a user input device 102 for receiving various instructions

from a user, a tone-unchangeable music data storing module 106 for storing

tone-unchangeable music data, a tone-changeable music data storing module

108 for storing tone-changeable music data, an operation control module 104

for extracting music data from the storing modules 106 and 108 or comprehensively controlling other elements based on the user's instructions

received by the user input device 102, and a performance control module 112

for receiving music data and/or various instructions transferred from the

operation control module 104 and generating a music signal processed to play

a piece of music which a user desires.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, in order to

configure a complete set it may further include an amplifier 114 for amplifying

the music signal processed by the performance control module 112, a

microphone 116 for receiving a voice signal of the user, and a speaker 118 for

outputting the music data from the amplifier 114.

Moreover, according to further another embodiment of the present

invention, it may further include a video data storing module 110 for storing

video data which should be outputted at the same time during the performance

of music, a video device 120 for outputting the video data, and a MIDI device

112 for processing the music data in MIDI format. Those elements are optional

and thereby shown by dotted lines in the drawing.

According to the present invention, it is desirable that the tone-

changeable or tone-unchangeable music data is music data in WAV format

compressed by a predetermined algorithm. Moreover, the storing modules 106

and 108 which store those data can be realized as pieces of hardware which

are physically independent or as a piece of hardware divided into a plurality of

sections which can be logically recognized. Particularly, the performance control module 112 of the present

invention is desirably realized as a DSP device for processing a large quantity

of music data with high quality in real time. Moreover, if the MIDI device is

included, the performance control module 112 is desirably configured to control

it unlike the usual case. Further, the voice signal of a user received from the

microphone 116 is desirably processed by the performance control module 112.

The distinctive configuration of the present invention will be further described

later referring to Figs. 3 to 6.

The operation of the system 100 of the present invention is as follows:

When a user inputs an accompaniment control instruction such as an

accompaniment start instruction, accompaniment stoppage instruction, tone

modulation instruction or tempo modulation instruction using the user input

device 102, the operation control module 104 interprets the instruction and

transfers it to the performance control module 112. The operation control

module 104 extracts music data from the music data storing modules 106 and

108 and sends it to the performance control module 112.

The performance control module 112 receives the transferred music

data, decompresses it if necessary, and changes the tones or tempo of the

music data to be played as much as a user desires in case of a tone or tempo

modulation instruction. According to the present embodiment, however, the

performance control module 112 does not carry out the tone modulation for the

music data extracted from the tone-unchangeable music data storing module 106 even though the user instructs the tone modulation.

Moreover, when the performance control module 112 receives music

data in MIDI format, it sends a control signal to the MIDI device 122 to process

it. In this case, the MIDI device 122 processes the music data in MIDI format

and transfers the output to the performance control module 122 again.

The performance control module 112 carries out a mixing process and

digital-to-analog conversion on all the processed music data and outputs the

result to the amplifier 114. Also, if it is a digital signal that the amplifier 114

receives, the performance control module 112 does not need to carry out the

digital-to-analog conversion.

Meanwhile, when the operation control module 104 receives an

instruction to modulate a microphone signal from the user input device, it sends

the instruction to the performance control module 112. At this time, the voice

signal of the user from the microphone 116 is received to the performance

control module 112 through the amplifier 114. The performance control module

112 carries out modulation on the inputted microphone signal according to the

instruction of the user and sends and outputs it to the amplifier 114.

According to the music data processing system 100 of the present

invention, even if a user instructs the system 100 to modulate the tones of

music to be played, the tone modulation is not carried out on the tone-

unchangeable music data stored to be distinguished from other music data.

That is, even if a user instructs the system 100 to modulate the tones of music to be played, the timbre of the tone-unchangeable music data can be

maintained to be the same as the original timbre during performance, while the

tones of other music data are modulated according to the instruction of the user.

Therefore, the user can feel that the quality of the music played by the system

100 is equal to or superior to that of the original sound even though the tones of

the music have been modulated.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 6, exemplary embodiments of the performance

control module 112 included in the system 100 of the present invention 100 will

be described in detail. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, Figs. 3 and 4 are block diagrams

schematically showing first and second embodiments of the performance

control module included in the system in Fig. 2 respectively. As shown in the

drawing, the performance control module 112 according to the first embodiment

of the present invention includes a music data processing unit 200 for

processing tone-unchangeable and tone-changeable music data according to

an instruction of a user, a mixer 208 for receiving the output of the music data

processing unit 200 to carry out a mixing process on it and converting and

outputting it as an analog signal, and an accompaniment controller 210 for the

operation of the music data processing unit 200 according to an

accompaniment control instruction of the user.

Here, the music data processing unit 200 includes a decoder 202 for

decompressing the tone-unchangeable and/or tone-changeable music data which has been compressed, a tempo changer 204 for receiving the music data

decompressed by the decoder 202 and changing the play tempo if necessary, a

tone changer 206 for receiving the tone-changeable music data through the

tempo changer 204 and changing the tones thereof if necessary. As described

above, the tone-unchangeable music data and tone-changeable music data are

individually processed, and the tone modulation process is not carried out in

case of the tone-unchangeable music data.

Meanwhile, the performance control module 112 according to the

second embodiment of the present invention may further include a MIDI

controller 302 for receiving music data in MIDI format and sending it to the MIDI

device 122 to process it.

Further, the performance control module 112 may further include a

microphone signal modulator 212 for modulating a signal from the microphone

116. The operation of the performance control module 112 having the above

configuration is described in detail as follows: First, the accompaniment

controller 210 receives an instruction from the operation control module 104,

and requests the music data processing unit 200 and/or the MIDI controller 302

to process basic music data for performance, synchronizing their processes if

necessary.

The music data processing unit 200 having received a request to play

music data from the accompaniment controller 210 decompresses the received music data to convert it into a music signal suitable for performance, and then

carries out the tempo and/or tone modulation process described above on the

music data classified into the tone-unchangeable music data and tone-

changeable music data. Particularly, the tone modulation is not carried out on

the tone-unchangeable music data even if it is requested. Such processed

music data is outputted to the mixer 208.

The MIDI controller 302 having received a request to play music data in

MIDI format from the accompaniment controller 210 receives MIDI data from the

operation control module 104 and sends it to the MIDI device 122. The MIDI

device 122 having received a MIDI signal from the MIDI controller 302 converts

it into a music signal suitable for performance and outputs it to the mixer 208.

Meanwhile, if a user instructs the system 100 to modulate the

microphone signal, the accompaniment controller 210 requests the microphone

signal modulator 212 to modulate the microphone signal according to the

instruction from the operation control module 104 to modulate the microphone

signal. The microphone signal modulator 212 receives the microphone signal

from the amplifier 114 and modulates it as the user desires. Also, if there is no

instructions from the user for modulation, the microphone signal is outputted to

the mixer 208 again as it is. The mixer 208 carries out a mixing process on the outputs from the

elements 200, 212 and/or 122, converts the result into an analog signal if

necessary, and outputs it to the amplifier 1 14. Next, referring to Figs. 5 and 6, Figs. 5 and 6 are block diagrams

schematically showing third and fourth embodiments of the performance control

module 112 included in the system in Fig. 2 respectively. In these embodiments,

music data is divided and stored in a multichannel manner. Accordingly, the

performance control module 112 includes a plurality of music data processing

units 200.1 , 200.2 to 200. n (n is a natural number) for independently processing

plural channels of tone-unchangeable music data and/or tone-changeable

music data. Here, the music data in the multichannel manner may be

independently recorded in a plurality of storing modules which can be physically

and logically distinguished.

Other configurations and operations of the performance control module

according to the third and fourth embodiments are similar to or the same as

those of the performance control module according to first and second

embodiments, so they will not be described in detail. Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, Figs. 7 and 8 are block diagrams

schematically showing fifth and sixth embodiments of the performance control

module 112 included in the system in Fig. 2 respectively. In those embodiments,

the music data is divided into a tone-changeable music data group which has

tone-changeable music data with plural channels 1 to M and a tone-

unchangeable music data group which has tone-unchangeable music data with

plural channels 1 to N. In this regard, the performance control module 112

includes a music data processing unit 500 for separating and processing the tone-changeable music data group and/or tone-unchangeable music data group.

The music data processing unit 500 includes a mixer 504 for overlapping the

plural channels of the tone-changeable music data group and tone-

unchangeable music data group received from the decoder 502 and carrying

out a mixing process with the tone-changeable music data and tone-

unchangeable music data.

Other configurations and operations of the performance control module

according to the fifth and sixth embodiments are similar to or the same as those

of the performance control module according to first and second embodiments,

so they will not be described in detail.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, Figs. 9 and 10 are block diagrams

schematically showing seventh and eighth embodiments of the performance

control module 112 included in the system in Fig. 2 respectively. In those

embodiments, like the firth and sixth embodiments, the music data is divided

into a tone-changeable music data group which has tone-changeable music

data with plural channels 1 to M and a tone-unchangeable music data group

which has tone-unchangeable music data with plural channels 1 to N. The

music data processing unit 600 in the present embodiments includes a mixer

604.1 , a tempo changer 606.1 and a tone changer 608 for processing a tone-

changeable music data group among music data received from the decoder 602,

and a mixer 604.2 and a tempo changer 606.2 for processing a tone-

unchangeable music data group. Other configurations and operations of the performance control module

according to the seventh and eighth embodiments are similar to or the same as

those of the performance control module according to the first and second

embodiments, so they will not be described in detail. [INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY]

According to the present invention, regardless of modulation on tones

and/or tempo by a user, it is possible to maintain the quality of music which is

played according to the kind of music data to be equal to that before modulation.

Moreover, according to the present invention, by using music data in

WAV format, the sound quality of which is excellent, regardless of modulation

on tones and/or tempo by a user, it is possible to maintain the quality of music

which is played to be equal to that before the modulation.

Claims

[CLAIMS]

1. A music data processing system for processing and performing music

data stored in a recording medium, comprising: a user input device for receiving an instruction of a user; a tone-unchangeable music data storing module for storing music data

which is unchangeable in tones regardless of desire of said user; a tone-changeable music data storing module for storing music data

which is changeable in tones according to an instruction of said user who

desires; an operation control module for extracting music data from said storing

modules or controlling other elements based on said instruction of said user

received from said user input device; and a performance control module for receiving said music data from said

operation control module and/or an instruction and generating a music signal

processed to perform music which said user desires.

2. A music data processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said

performance control module receives said music data which is transferred,

decompresses said music data if necessary, and changes a tone or tempo of

said music data to be performed as much as said user desires, when said user

instructs said music data processing system to modulate a tone or tempo of

said music data, but does not carry out said tone modulation process on music data extracted from said tone-unchangeable music data storing module

regardless of an instruction of said user to modulate a tone of said music data.

3. A music data processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said

performance control module comprises: a music data processing unit for processing tone-unchangeable music

data and tone-changeable music data according to an instruction of said user;

and a mixer for receiving an output of said music data processing unit,

carries out a mixing process on said output, and outputs a result thereof.

4. A music data processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said

tone-unchangeable and tone-changeable music data storing modules are

realized as plural pieces of hardware which are physically independent of each

other.

5. A music data processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said

tone-unchangeable and tone-changeable music data storing modules are

realized as a piece of hardware in which said storing modules are logically

independent of each other.

6. A music data processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said

tone-changeable music data and/or tone-changeable music data is music data

in a compressed or uncompressed WAV format.

7. A music data processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said

performance control module comprises a plurality of music data processing units for independently processing plural channels of tone-changeable music

data and/or tone-changeable music data.

8. A music data processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said

performance control module comprises a music data processing unit for

separating and processing plural channels of music data into a tone-

unchangeable music data group and/or a tone-changeable music data group.

9. A music data processing system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said

music data processing unit comprises a mixer for overlapping said plural

channels of tone-changeable music data and tone-unchangeable music data

and carrying out a mixing process with said tone-changeable music data and

tone-unchangeable music data.

10. A music data processing method for processing and performing music

data stored in a recording medium, comprising: a user input receiving step of receiving an instruction of a user; a music data storing step of storing tone-unchangeable music data and

tone-changeable music data to be distinguished from each other; a music data extracting step of extracting said distinguished tone-

unchangeable music data and/or tone-changeable music data based on said

received instruction of said user; and a performance processing step of processing said extracted music data

so that said music data is performed with a tone and/or tempo which said user

desires.

11. A music data processing method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said

performance processing step comprises the steps of: receiving said extracted music data and decompressing said music data

if necessary; changing a tone or tempo of tone-changeable music data among said

music data to be performed as much as said user desires, when there is an

instruction of said user to modulate a tone or tempo; and changing a tone or tempo of tone-unchangeable music data among said

music data to be performed as much as said user desires, when there is an

instruction of said user to modulate a tone or tempo.

12. A music data processing method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said

tone-changeable music data and/or tone-unchangeable music data is music

data in a compressed or uncompressed WAV format.

13. A music data processing method as claimed in claim 10 further

comprising a step of independently processing plural channels of tone-

unchangeable music data and/or tone-changeable music data.

14. A music data processing method as claimed in claim 10 further

comprising a step of separating and processing plural channels of music data

into a tone-unchangeable music data group and/or a tone-changeable music

data group.

15. A music data processing method as claimed in claim 13 further

comprising a step of overlapping said plural channels of tone-changeable music data and tone-unchangeable music data and carrying out a mixing process with

said tone-changeable music data and tone-unchangeable music data.