JPH046598A - Timbre selecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent improper timbre from being selected by generating a musical sound with substitutive timbre when timbre in a 1st area with which a musical sound can not be generated is specified and generating no musical sound when timbre in a 2nd area with which a musical sound can not be generated is specified. CONSTITUTION:A selecting means 3 selects timbre specified by a timbre selection command when a 1st judging means 1 judges that generation is possible or other specific timbre substituting for the timbre specified by the command when the 1st judging means 1 judges that the generation is possible and a 2nd judging means 2 judges that the timbre is in the 1st area. Further, no musical sound is generated when the 1st judging means 1 judges that the generation is not possible and the 2nd judging means 2 judges that the timbre belongs to the 2nd area. Consequently, no improper timbre is selected when the timbre selection command is received through a communication means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an apparatus for selecting a timbre of a musical tone to be generated based on a received timbre selection command.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, when selecting the timbre of a musical sound generated by an electronic musical instrument with or without a performance means such as a keyboard, in addition to operating the timbre selection operator provided on the panel, (Musical Inst.
(Digital Interface)
It is also widely practiced to select a timbre based on a timbre selection command received from an external device such as another electronic musical instrument via communication means such as . When selecting a tone color using MIDI, a tone color number to be selected is given to an electronic musical instrument that generates musical tones by a tone color selection command called a program change. The electronic musical instrument that receives the timbre selection command selects the timbre corresponding to the received timbre number. However, the number of tones that can be specified by program change is only 1.
Since there are only 28 types, it is also being considered to define a new timbre selection command similar to a program change so that more timbres can be selected.

By the way, since the tone color corresponding to a certain tone color number differs depending on the electronic musical instrument, in order to obtain a desired tone color, it is necessary to know the correspondence between the tone color number and tone color in advance. For this reason, it is conceivable to standardize the relationship between tone color numbers and tone colors among electronic musical instruments.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, some electronic musical instruments can only generate musical tones of a specific tone, that is, the number of tones that can be generated is less than the number of tones that can be specified by the tone selection command, and the tone number corresponding to the tone that cannot be generated is specified. In some cases, the timbre selection command is ignored and the timbre is not switched, resulting in a musical tone being generated with an inappropriate timbre.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to prevent an inappropriate tone from being selected when a tone color selection command is received via a communication means.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the structural features of the timbre selection device according to the present invention are as shown in FIG. (b) Based on a timbre selection command, the timbre specified by the command belongs to the first area or the second area; (2) and (C) if the first determining means determines that the tone color can be generated, selects the tone specified by the command;
If the determining means determines that the timbre cannot be generated, and the second determining means determines that the timbre belongs to the first region, another predetermined timbre is selected as a substitute for the timbre specified by the command, and the If the first determining means determines that the generation is not possible, and the second determining means determines that the second
The present invention is to include a selection means (3) for not performing musical tone generation when it is determined that the musical tone belongs to the area.

[Effect]

If a timbre that can generate a musical tone is specified, a musical tone of the specified timbre is generated. If a timbre belonging to the first area that cannot be generated is specified, the musical tone is generated using a timbre in place of the specified timbre. If a timbre that belongs to the second area and cannot be generated is specified, musical tone generation is not performed, so that an inappropriate timbre is not selected.

〔Example〕

Before giving a detailed explanation of the electronic musical instrument to which the present invention is applied, an outline of the tone color selection operation according to the present invention will be explained.

FIG. 2 shows how a tone color is designated by a tone color selection command. Here, it is assumed that the timbre specification is performed by two timbre selection commands, timbre selection command 1 and timbre selection command 2. Specifically, the tone selection command 1 is MI
This is a program change defined in the DI standard, and the timbre selection command 2 is a command similar to a program change that is being considered to be newly defined. The columns in the figure are specified by the specified values (tone color numbers) of the timbre selection command 1, and the rows are specified by the specified values of the timbre selection command 2. For example, "20" is timbre selection command 2 due to timbre selection command l.
If "0" is specified by , the tone at the column and row (20, O) in the figure is specified. Both timbre selection command 1 and timbre selection command 2 express specified values using 7-bit binary numbers, that is, specifying values from 0 to 127, making it possible to specify a total of 128 squared, or 16,384 types of timbres. It becomes.

The timbres specified by the same timbre selection command are arranged so that they are approximately the same in all electronic musical instruments, regardless of the method of musical tone generation.

Tones that have similar tonal characteristics such as envelope shapes are grouped and placed in the same column.

Grouped tones have column numbers and row numbers from O to
79. Tones placed in other areas are not grouped. In the following explanation, the grouped area is referred to as the "grouping area".
, the ungrouped area is called "ungrouped area"
It is called. Note that sound effects such as the sound of waves, the sound of a train, or noise sounds, which are difficult to group because there are no other similar tones, are placed in the non-grouping area.

Each group within the grouping area is specified by specifying a column, and each tone within the group is specified by selecting a row. Groups include "piano group", "violin group", etc. For example, (32, O) ~
The tone placed at position (32, 79) is the tone that constitutes the piano group, and the tone placed at position (32, O) is the tone of "full concert grand piano", (32,7 ) position has a “semi-concert piano” tone, position (32, 48) has an “electric piano” tone, and position (32, 55) has a “metallic electric piano” tone. It is located. The tones within each group further constitute subgroups of 16 tones, for example (
The positions of 32, O) to (32, 15) are "grand piano subgroup" and the positions of (32, 48) to (32, 63) are "electric piano subgroup". Also, the row number of each group The tone color for which is "0" is considered to be the standard tone color representing the tone color of that group.

Similarly, in each subgroup, the line number is “O””1
The timbre of 6"32"48"64" is the standard timbre of that subgroup. In the example above, the "full concert grand piano" at position (32, O) is the standard tone of the "piano group," and the "electric piano" at position (32, 48) is the standard tone of the "electric piano group." In short, regarding the tones within the grouping area, the group or basic tone type can be specified by the tone selection command 1, and variations of that tone can be specified by the tone selection command 2. Each group or subgroup has a standard timbre representative of that group's timbre.

The tone color selection operation will be explained. As mentioned above, it is possible to select 16,384 types of tones by using two tone color selection commands, but depending on the electronic musical instrument, only musical tones of a specific tone can be generated. What characterizes the present invention is the operation when a tone color that cannot be generated is specified. This operation differs depending on whether the specified tone belongs to a grouped area or a non-grouped area. Note that it is possible to generate at least musical tones of standard tones for each group.

When a timbre that cannot be generated and belongs to a grouping area is specified, a standard timbre of a subgroup to which the specified timbre belongs is selected as a substitute timbre. For example, (32,
If the timbre at position 55) is specified, but it is not possible to generate a musical tone with the timbre corresponding to this position, the timbre at position (32,
Select the tone at position 48). If a standard timbre of a subgroup can be generated, a musical tone of this standard timbre is generated.

If it is not possible to generate a musical tone of the standard timbre of the subgroup, a musical tone of the standard timbre of the group to which the specified timbre belongs is generated. For example, if neither the timbre at the position (32, 55) nor the timbre corresponding to the position (32, 48) can generate musical sounds, the timbre at the position (32°0) is selected.

If musical tones of at least the standard timbre of each group can be generated, even if a timbre that cannot be generated is specified, a musical tone can be generated using an alternative timbre close to the specified timbre.

Furthermore, if a timbre that can be generated is specified, the specified timbre is selected, so no problem occurs no matter what timbre is specified.

Furthermore, if a timbre that cannot be generated and belongs to a non-grouped area is specified, no musical tone is generated because there is no timbre close to the specified timbre. Since the tones in the non-grouped area are tones such as sound effects, musical expression is not significantly impaired and no inconvenience occurs even if musical tones are not generated. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent unnaturalness caused by generating a musical tone with a timbre far from the specified timbre instead of the specified timbre.

Next, a specific embodiment of an electronic musical instrument equipped with a timbre selection device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 schematically shows the configuration of an electronic musical instrument to which the present invention is applied.

The MIDI circuit 20 receives MxDI supplied from an external device.
This is to temporarily store performance data by number i. The given performance data includes not only note on/off commands for starting and stopping the generation of musical tones, but also timbre selection commands for instructing timbre selection.

The MIDI circuit 20 is an FIF that stores multiple pieces of performance data.
O (Fu, -Stoin/First to Out Memory)
is built in, and the stored performance data is read out in the order in which it is supplied.

The stored performance data is supplied to the CPU 22 via the bus 21 under the control of the central processing unit t (CPU) 22 which executes a predetermined program.

A read-only memory (ROM) 23 stores programs executed by the CPU 22, tone data used to generate musical tones corresponding to each tone that can be generated by this electronic musical instrument,
It also stores information indicating whether or not the timbre can be generated for all of the 16,384 types of timbres that can be specified by the timbre selection command.

In the following explanation, the area that stores information indicating whether or not a specified timbre can be generated will be referred to as a "timbre map."

In the read/write memory (RAM) 24, storage areas such as various registers necessary for executing this program are set.

By executing the program, the CPU 22 selects R based on the performance data supplied via the MIDI circuit 20 according to the tone selection command included in the performance data.
The tone data used for musical tone generation is selected from among the tone data stored in the OM 23, and control data is given to the musical tone generation circuit 25 to generate a desired musical tone signal. The musical tone generation circuit 25 generates a musical tone signal that changes over time and has timbre characteristics based on the supplied control data.

The generated musical tone signal is sent to the speaker 27 via the amplifier 26.
It is emitted as a more musical sound.

FIG. 4 shows the main routine executed by the CPU 22.

A When the power is turned on, program execution starts and MI
The DI circuit 20, RAM 24, and tone generation circuit 25 are initialized.

B. Determine whether new performance data is being supplied to the MID1 circuit 20. If it is supplied, proceed to the next step; if it is not supplied, this step is repeated.

C The supplied performance data is decoded and it is determined whether or not it is the timbre selection command 2. If it is the timbre selection command 2, the process advances to the next step, and if it is not the timbre selection command 2, the process advances to step E.

D. The specified value specified by tone color selection command 2 is set as row specified value Y. When the processing of this step is completed, the process returns to step B.

E Decode the supplied performance data and determine whether it is tone selection command 1 or not. If the timbre selection command is 1, proceed to the next step; if the timbre selection command is not 1, proceed to step G.
Proceed to.

F Perform tone color selection processing according to the row designation value Y and tone color selection command 1 set in step D, and select tone data to be used for musical tone generation from among the tone data stored in the ROM 23.

Specifically, the position of the timbre used for musical tone generation (X.

Find Y'). (rY'J is a row designation value set based on the row designation value Y) The details will be described later. When the processing of this step is completed, the process returns to step B.

G Since the performance data is other than the tone selection command, the tone data corresponding to the tone position (x, y') obtained in step F is read from the ROM 23, and the read tone data and the supplied performance data are combined. Based on this, control data is given to the musical tone generation circuit 25 to perform processing such as starting/stopping musical tone generation. In addition, if the value of the row specified value Y° is "1"
28'', musical tone generation is not performed.

When the processing of this step is completed, the process returns to step B.

In addition, when the tone of the generated musical tone is changed,
It is assumed that the timbre selection command 2 and the timbre selection command 1 are given in this order, or only the timbre selection command 1 is given.

FIG. 5 shows a tone color selection processing routine executed by the CPU 22.

The specified value specified by the D-1 timbre selection command 1 is set as the column specified value X.

D-2 The position specified by column specification value X and row specification value Y (
It is determined whether it is possible to generate a musical tone with a tone color corresponding to the tone color (X, Y). Specifically, the determination is made by referring to the tone color map set in the ROM 23 using the column designation value X and row designation value Y. If it is possible to generate a musical tone with the tone at the position (x, y), proceed to the next step,
If generation is not possible, proceed to step D-4.

D-3 Let the value of the row designation value Y be the row designation value Y゛.

When the processing of this step is completed, the process returns to the main routine.

It is determined whether the tone at the position D-4 (X, Y) belongs to the grouping area. Specifically, the column specified value X is 79
It is determined whether or not the row designation value Y is 79 or less. If it belongs to the grouping area, proceed to the next step; if it does not belong to the grouping area, that is, if it belongs to the non-grouping area, step D-
Proceed to step 8.

The row designation value corresponding to the standard tone of the subgroup to which the tone at position D-5 (X, Y) belongs is determined.

Specifically, the value with the lower 4 bits of the row designation value Y set to "0" is set as the row designation value Y'.

It is determined whether a musical tone having the tone at the position D-6 (X, Y') can be generated. If the musical tone at the position (X, Y') can be generated, the process returns to the main routine; if not, the process proceeds to the next step.

Find the row designation value corresponding to the standard timbre of the group to which the timbre at position D-7 (X, Y) belongs. Specifically, the value of the row designation value Y° is set to "O".

The value of the designated value Y' in line D-8 is set to "128" indicating that musical tone generation is not performed.

As shown above, in the timbre selection process, if a musical tone of the timbre specified by the timbre selection command can be generated, that timbre is selected, and if a timbre that cannot be generated is specified in the grouping area, the timbre is selected. The standard tone of the subgroup or group to which the tone belongs is selected as the substitute tone. Furthermore, if a tone color that cannot be generated in a non-grouped area is specified, musical tone generation is not performed. In other words, for tones in the grouped area, the most appropriate tone is selected from among the tones that can be generated, no matter what tone selection command is supplied, and for tones in the non-grouped area, it is not possible to generate musical sounds. When a tone is specified, musical tones with unnatural tones are not generated.

In the embodiment described above, it is determined by referring to the timbre map whether or not a musical tone of the timbre specified by the timbre selection command can be generated, and if it is not possible to generate a musical tone, another timbre that can be generated is selected instead. However, in response to all the tones specified by the timbre selection command, a ``timbre selection map'' that stores the relationship between the specified timbre and the actually selected timbre is prepared in advance, and the timbre selection map is Alternatively, a tone color may be directly selected by reading out a corresponding tone color from a tone color selection map based on the tone color selection map. For example, (32,55
Although it is not possible to generate a musical tone with the tone at the position of (32, 48)
If it is possible to generate a musical tone with the tone at the position, store the value "48" in the location corresponding to (32, 48) on the tone selection map, and also store the value "48" in the location corresponding to (32, 55). Remember “48” (in this case, (32,5)
5) by the tone selection command specifying the position (32°4
The tone at position 8) is selected. In addition, in the timbre selection map, the area corresponding to the timbre for which musical sound generation is not possible in the non-grouped area has a value "128" indicating that musical sound generation is not possible.
”.Alternatively, the tone selection map stores the tone data of the tone to be selected in the ROM23.
The address may be stored. When such a timbre selection map is used, it is not necessary to perform judgment processing based on a timbre selection command, so that the processing related to timbre selection can be simplified.

In addition, a value indicating that a different tone is to be selected is stored in the area of the tone selection map corresponding to a tone for which musical tones cannot be generated, and when that value is read from the map, a line is specified. It is also possible to select another tone by changing the value using the method shown in the above embodiment. For example, "-1" is placed in the area corresponding to the tone for which musical tones cannot be generated.
Remember. If "-1" is read when referring to the map (-, the specified value is set to the value corresponding to the standard tone of the subgroup to which the specified tone belongs, and the map is referred again. The standard tone of the subgroup is also a musical tone. If generation is not possible, "-1" is also stored in the corresponding area of the map.Alternatively, in the area corresponding to each tone of the subgroup to which the standard tone that cannot be generated belongs, the standard tone of that group is stored. A value indicating that a tone color is suddenly selected, for example "-2" may be stored.

We have explained the case where a timbre map or timbre selection map is prepared in advance for all the timbres that can be specified.
A timbre map or timbre selection map may be prepared only for some timbres by comparing the specified value of the timbre selection command with a predetermined value. For example, if it is not possible to generate musical tones of any of the tones specified by a command in which the value specified by the timbre selection command is larger than a predetermined value, the specified value of the timbre selection command is first compared with the predetermined value, and then the specified value is If is larger than a predetermined value, it is determined that the musical tone of that tone cannot be generated, and processing such as selecting another tone is performed. If the designated value is smaller than the predetermined value, the map is referred to.

In addition, two types of maps are used: a map referenced by timbre selection command 1 (hereinafter referred to as "command 1 map") and a map referred to by timbre selection command 2 (hereinafter referred to as "command 2 map"). The size of the map involved in selection may be reduced. This will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 6(a) shows one command map. The command 1 map is referred to by the timbre selection command 1, and includes command 1 map (0) to command 1 map (4) 5.
Variety is available. Each map has 128 storage areas that are referenced by the timbre selection command 1, and each storage area contains the timbre (column number, row number, or tone data stored in the ROM 24) that is actually selected by the timbre selection command 1. address) is memorized. Figure 6(b)
shows the command 2 map. The command 2 map is a map referred to by the timbre selection command 2, and which command 1 map to select is stored in each storage area as a map number. For example, the specified value of timbre selection command 2"
The area referenced by ``0'' has map number ``0''.
Map number "4" is stored in the area referenced by the specified value "48". When a timbre selection command is received, the command 2 map is first referred to based on the specified value of the timbre selection command 2, and the map number is read out. Next, the command 1 map is selected based on the read map number, and this map is referred to by the specified value of the timbre selection command 1 to select a timbre. Note that "-1" indicates that the command 1 map selected by the timbre selection command 2 does not exist in the area corresponding to the specified values "7" and "55" of the command 2 map.
is memorized.

When this "-1" is read, the value specified by the tone color selection command 2 is changed to a value corresponding to the standard tone color of the subgroup or group to which the specified tone color belongs. For example, if the specified value of timbre selection command 2 is "55", "-1" is read from the command 2 map, so the specified value "55" can be changed to "48" by the method shown in the example. The command 2 map is referred to again by this "48". As a result, command 1 map (4) is selected. Note that if there is no timbre selected by timbre selection command 1, "-1" is stored in the corresponding area of the command 1 map, and if "-1" is read at the time of reference, timbre selection command 2 is selected.
The specified value is changed to a value corresponding to the standard tone of the subgroup or group to which the specified tone belongs, and the command 2 map is referred to again.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when changing the row designation value to a value corresponding to the standard tone of the subgroup, the change is made by setting the lower 4 bits of data to "0"; This may be done by taking the remainder when divided by the number of tones included in the group (16 in this embodiment).

In addition, in the above embodiment, when a timbre that cannot be generated in a grouping area is specified, a subgroup to which the timbre belongs or a preset standard timbre of the group is selected as an alternative timbre. The timbre to be selected may be any timbre close to the specified timbre, and may be another timbre within the same subgroup or group.

Furthermore, although two types of timbre selection commands are used in the above embodiment, one type of command or three or more types of commands may be used.

Further, in the above embodiment, when timbre selection command 1 is supplied, timbre selection is executed, and when timbre selection command 2 is supplied, the designated value is only stored and timbre selection is not executed. , the selection may be executed when either tone color selection command is supplied.

Further, in the embodiment described above, subgroups are provided in all groups, but subgroups may not be provided unless particularly necessary. Alternatively, only necessary subgroups may be provided. Further, the size of the subgroup may be arbitrary and may be changed depending on the group to which the subgroup belongs.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a case has been described in which a tone is selected based on tone data stored in the memory (ROM 24) built into the electronic musical instrument, but a storage medium such as a semiconductor memory card installed in the electronic musical instrument The present invention can also be applied to the case where a tone color is selected based on tone data stored in a . In this case, the timbre selection command may select either the built-in timbre group or the semiconductor memory card timbre group, but rather than fixedly deciding which one to use, priority is given to these timbre groups. When a timbre selection command with ranking is received,
First, the timbre corresponding to the timbre selection command is selected from among the timbre groups with high priority, and if there is no corresponding timbre (when it is not possible to generate a musical tone with the specified timbre), the timbre with low priority is selected. The tone may be selected from among the following.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the case where the timbre selection command is received via MIDI has been described, but the timbre selection command to be received may be one obtained through communication means other than MIDI or data on a recording medium such as a magnetic recording disk. It may also be obtained by reading out.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram corresponding to the configuration of the present invention described in the claims, and FIGS. 2 to 6 are specific examples of an electronic musical instrument to which the timbre selection device according to the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an outline of tone selection operation, FIG. 3 is an overall schematic diagram, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams of programs executed by each CPU. Flowcharts of the main routine, the tone color selection processing routine, and FIG. 6 are diagrams for explaining maps used at the time of tone color selection. MIDI circuit bus CPU OM AM musical tone generation circuit amplifier speaker crab first judgment means. ↑ Tone selection command 2 +27 Figure 6 (a) (b) Map number Tone selection command l Tone selection command 2

Claims (1)

Scope of Claims: (a) based on a timbre selection command, a first determination means for determining whether or not a musical tone of the timbre specified by the command can be generated; (b) based on the timbre selection command, the (c) a second determining means for determining whether the timbre specified by the command belongs to the first area or the second area; and (c) if the first determining means determines that it can be generated; Select the tone specified by the command, and select the tone specified by the first command.
If the determining means determines that the timbre cannot be generated, and the second determining means determines that the timbre belongs to the first region, another predetermined timbre is selected as a substitute for the timbre specified by the command, and the If the first determining means determines that the generation is not possible, and the second determining means determines that the second
1. A timbre selection device comprising a selection means for not generating musical tones when it is determined that the timbre belongs to the region.