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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument with
automatic performance function, constructed not only to generate a musical
sound in response to operation of an input implement such as a keyboard,
but also to undergo automatic performance of a given musical composition
composed of plural parts according to performance data recorded in a
memory.
In some conventional electronic musical instruments having automatic
performance function, a semi-automatic performance can be effected to
selectively silence a certain one of the plural parts of the musical
composition, while a player conducts a manual performance of the silenced
part in synchronization with the remaining sounded parts. By such
operation, automatic performance of a rather mechanical nature may be
modified to add a human touch. Further, in practicing a certain part, the
player can readily recognize if the certain part is actually mastered
without notes. Such a technique of selectively silencing a desired part of
the automatic performance is called "minus-one performance" or "minus
play". This technique is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open No. 321480/1989. In this prior art, a specific
switch is provided to select a particular part of the performance data
corresponding to one of upper, lower and foot keyboards to effect the
minus-one performance.
However, the conventional electronic musical instrument utilizes a function
selecting switch to change between the minus-one performance and the
regular or full automatic performance. Therefore, once the minus-one
performance is selected and set, a certain part designated in minus play
is continuously held in a silenced state. The conventional instrument is
at a disadvantage in that the function selecting switch must be actuated
during the course of the minus-one performance in order to recover the
silenced state of the designated part. For instance, when practicing the
designated part using the minus-one performance, if the player
incidentally wants to hear the designated part, due to lack of score
memory for example, the player must actuate the function selecting switch
to restore the designated part immediately after incidental play
discontinuation of the designated part.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to improve operability and efficiency of the
minus-one function in the electronic musical instrument of the type having
an input implement such as a keyboard for use in manual performance, and
having automatic performance function to effect automatic performance of a
given musical composition composed of plural parts. In order to achieve
the object, the electronic musical instrument having automatic performance
function includes an input implement operable to input manual performance
information, detecting means for detecting if the input implement is
operated, and musical tone generating means receptive of the manual
performance information from the input implement for generating instant
musical tones accordingly. The instrument also includes automatic
performance means for feeding automatic performance information of a given
musical composition composed of plural parts to the musical tone
generating means to generate programmed musical tones accordingly,
allotting means for allotting a particular one of the plural parts of the
given musical composition to the input implement, and minus control means
operative when the detecting means detects operation of the input
implement for controlling the musical tone generating means to inhibit
generation of programmed musical tones of the particular part while
allowing generation of instant musical tones for the same part.
According to the invention, when the manual performance information is
inputted by means of the input implement, such as a keyboard into the
electronic musical instrument having the automatic performance function,
the musical tone generating means generates the instant musical tones
according to the inputted manual performance information. Concurrently,
the automatic performance means enables the musical tone generating means
to generate programmed musical tones of the plural parts according to the
automatic performance information. In this operation, the minus control
means controls the musical tone generating means in response to the
operation of the input implement for inhibiting generation partly of the
programmed musical tones for the particular part which is allotted to the
input implement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the inventive
electronic musical instrument having automatic performance function.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a recorded format of performance data
in the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a main routine of control for the
embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a key event process in the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a start/stop process in the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a song process in the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a minus-one process in the embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a tempo clock interruption process in the
embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a reproduction process in the embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a note process in the embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a count process in the embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the inventive
electronic musical instrument. The electronic musical instrument is
controlled by a CPU 1 to effect either manual or keyboard performance and
automatic performance by operation of a keyboard 2 and a switch panel 3.
The automatic performance can be effected for a selected musical
composition composed of plural parts. This embodiment has minus-one
function with respect to a melody part and an obbligato part. A key event
detecting circuit 2a is provided to detect a key event on the keyboard 2
to output a key code corresponding to a key-on event, together with a
key-on signal indicative of key depression or a key-off signal indicative
of key release. The keyboard 2 is divided into a right region 2R and a
left region 2L, which regions are allotted with different parts in the
minus-one function. The switch panel 3 includes various switches such as a
song selecting switch 31 for selecting a desired one of plural musical
compositions recorded for the automatic performance (hereinafter, each of
the recorded musical compositions is called "song"), a start/stop switch
32 for commanding start and stop of the automatic performance, and a
minus-one switch 33 for setting the minus-one mode. A switch event
detecting circuit 3a is provided to detect a switch event on the switch
panel 3 to produce a signal corresponding to an actuated switch.
A performance information memory 4 of ROM type stores various data needed
for automatic performance including automatic accompaniment. The memory 4
contains an accompaniment data area, a chord sequence data area and a
performance data area. The first accompaniment data area is recorded with
automatic accompaniment patterns such as a bass performance pattern and a
chord backing pattern for each song. These accompaniment patterns are
repeatedly read out with progression of song performance. The second chord
sequence data area is recorded with a chord data progression throughout
the entire length of each song. The chord data is continuously read out
along with progression of song performance. The accompaniment pattern is
tuned according to the read chord data to effect the automatic
accompaniment. Such a type of the automatic accompaniment is called "chord
sequencer method". The third performance data area is recorded with note
data sequence throughout the entire length of each song for non-repetitive
parts such as a melody part, an obbligato part and occasionally a bass
part, depending on the nature of the song. The note data is continuously
read out in the progression of song performance. For simplicity, the note
data sequence is prepared for only the melody and obbligato parts in this
embodiment.
FIG. 2 shows a record format of the note data sequence. The performance
data of each song (song 1, song 2, . . . ) is comprised of track 0 and
track 1 corresponding to the melody part and the obbligato part,
respectively. The respective track is composed of a sequence of note data
corresponding to note-on/note-off events and interval data indicative of a
time interval between adjacent note events. Each note data is comprised of
an identification code thereof, an event code EVT indicative of key-on or
key-off, and a key code KC corresponding to a particular key-on event.
Each interval data is comprised of an identification code thereof and an
interval time value TM in terms of a number of tempo clocks. Further, an
address pointer is provided for the respective tracks to read out the note
data sequence. The address pointer is updated whenever a unit of note data
and a unit of interval data are retrieved.
Returning to FIG. 1, a program memory 5 of ROM type stores a given control
program shown in flow charts of FIGS. 3-11. The CPU 1 controls based on
the control program stored in the program memory 5 using various
registers, counters and flags provided in a working memory 6 of RAM type.
A tempo clock generating circuit 7 generates a tempo clock at every timing
of one-eighth beat (one beat corresponds to a quarter note) according to a
tempo value set by the CPU 1. The CPU 1 executes an interruption process
in response to each tempo clock to control programmed tone generation of
the automatic performance. A tone generator (TG) 8 has a plurality of
sound channels. The CPU 1 assigns musical tone data to these sound
channels of the tone generator 8 to effect tone generation. The tone
generator 8 reads out a waveform data of a given timbre from a musical
tone waveform memory (not shown) according to the tone data fed from the
CPU 1 to output to a sound system (SS) 9 a musical tone signal having a
given tone pitch determined by the inputted tone data. The sound system 9
carries out D/A conversion and amplification of the musical tone signal to
generate musical tones. In this embodiment, there are set different rhythm
patterns of four-quarter measure and three-quarter measure according to
the kinds of songs to be automatically performed, i.e., according to song
codes SNG. A clock number of one measure is determined by a flag BT (SNG)
which uses SNG as an index.
Next, operation of this embodiment will be described in conjunction with
flow charts of FIGS. 3-11, where FIG. 3 shows a main routine of the
control program, and FIGS. 4-11 show subroutines and interruption
routines. In the following description and the flow charts, various
registers, counters and flags used in the controlling are denoted by the
following labels; and their contents or values are also represented by the
same labels unless, otherwise specified.
RUN: a run flag indicative of start/stop state of the automatic performance
MUT: a flag indicative of set state of the minus-one mode
INT.sub.0 : a counter for counting time value TM of the melody interval
data
INT.sub.1 : a counter for counting time value TM of the obbligato interval
data
CLK: a counter for counting a tempo clock of the automatic performance
within one measure
SNG: a register for registering a song code selected in the automatic
performance
BT(k): a flag memorizing a time measure of the song designated by a song
code SNG=k
Referring first to FIG. 3, a power source is switched on so that the CPU 1
initiates the main routine. Step S1 carries out initialization so that
respective flags, counters and registers are reset and the tempo clock
generating circuit 7 is preset with a given tempo value. Next, Step S2
checks if a key event has occurred. Step S4 is initiated if no key event
occurred. On the other hand, if there is a key event, Step S3 carries the
"key event process" of FIG. 4, thereby proceeding to Step S4. Step S4
checks whether the start/stop switch 32 is actuated. Step S6 is carried
out if the start/stop switch is not actuated. On the other hand, if there
is actuation of the start/stop switch, Step S5 carries out the "start/stop
process" of FIG. 5, thereby proceeding to Step S6. Step S6 checks if the
song selecting switch 31 is actuated. Step S8 is carried out if no switch
actuation occurred. On the other hand, if there is switch actuation, Step
S7 carries out the "Song process" of FIG. 6, thereby proceeding to Step
S8. Step S8 checks if the minus-one switch 33 is actuated. If no switch
actuation occurred, processing returns to Step S2 to repeat subsequent
steps. On the other hand, if there is switch actuation, Step S9 carries
out the "Minus-one process" of FIG. 7, thereby returning to Step S2 to
repeat subsequent steps.
In the key event process shown in FIG. 4, Step S31 executes either sounding
silencing of an instant tone, depending on key depression or key release.
Then, Step S32 determines if the condition RUN=1 and MUT=1 is held. In
this regard, the flag RUN is set with value "1" by the start/stop process
(described later in detail) under the running state of the automatic
performance. Alternatively, the flag RUN is set with the value "0" under
the stopped state of the automatic performance. The flag MUT is set with
the value "1" by the minus-one process upon selection of the minus-one
mode, and is set with the value "0" upon release of the minus-one mode. If
it is found that the above condition is not satisfied in Step S32,
processing returns to the main routine since the minus-one mode is not
established during the automatic performance. If the condition is
satisfied, processing proceeds to Step S33 since the minus-one mode is
established in the automatic performance. Step S33 checks whether the key
event occurs in the right key region 2R. If the key event occurs on the
right key region 2R, Step S34 inhibits a particular sound channel of the
tone generator 8, which is assigned with the melody part of the automatic
performance, thereafter returning to the main routine. On the other hand,
if the key event occurs in the left key region 2L, Step S35 inhibits a
particular sound channel of the tone generator 8, which is assigned with
the obbligato part of the automatic performance, thereafter returning to
the main routine. In this regard, a key-off signal is fed to the
particular sound channel and forced dumping is effected to inhibit and
silence the particular sound channel. By the above-described key event
process, when the minus-one mode is set during the course of the automatic
performance, the operator can play the keyboard 2 to accomplish manual
performance to generate instant melody or obbligato tones, while the
melody part of the automatic performance is suppressed when the right key
region 2R is manipulated or the obbligato part of the automatic
performance is suppressed when the left key region 2L is manipulated.
In the start/stop process shown in FIG. 5, the flag RUN is inverted by
actuation of the start/stop switch in Step S51. Then, subsequent Step S52
checks if RUN=1. If RUN=1 is not held, i.e., if RUN=0, a stop command is
inputted during the running state of the automatic performance. Then all
the sound channels of the tone generator 8 assigned to the automatic
performance are placed in a silent state in Step S53, thereby returning to
the main routine. On the other hand, if RUN=1 is held in Step S52, a start
command of the automatic performance is inputted so that respective
address pointers are set to the top of the melody track and the obbligato
track of the note data sequence recorded for the currently selected song,
in Step S54. Then in Step S55, the counters INT.sub.0, INT.sub.1 and CLK
are all reset to "0", thereafter returning to the main routine. After this
inversion to RUN=1, the tempo clock interruption process is periodically
called to conduct the automatic performance.
The song process of FIG. 6 is initiated when the song selecting switch 31
is actuated to select a desired song. In Step S71, the song code of the
selected song is memorized in the register SNG. Then, Step S72 is
undertaken to effect a silencing process of all the sound channels of the
tone generator 8, used for the automatic performance. The process of Step
S72 is directed to discontinue the automatic performance of a previously
selected song. Next, Step S73 enables respective address pointers to be
set to the top of the melody track and the obbligato track of the
newly-selected song. Then, in Step S74, the automatic accompaniment
pattern changes according to SNG. Further, in Step S75, the counters
INT.sub.0, INT.sub.1 and CLK are all reset to "0", thereafter returning to
the main routine.
In the minus-one process of FIG. 7, the flag MUT is inverted by actuation
of the minus-one switch 33 in Step S91. Thereafter, Step S92 if MUT=1 is
not held, i.e., if MUT=0, it is necessary to remove the minus-one mode,
thereby immediately returning to the main routine. On the other hand, if
MUT=1 is held in Step S92, it is necessary to set the minus-one mode so
that a subsequent check is made in Step S93 to determine if RUN=1 is set.
If RUN=1 is not held in Step S93, it is indicated that the minus-one mode
is not effective because the automatic performance mode is not set,
thereby immediately returning to the main routine. On the other hand, if
RUN=1 is held in Step S93, it is indicated that the minus-one mode is
properly set under the automatic performance mode so that subsequent Step
S94 occurs to set a melody tone color for the right key region according
to the selected song and also to set a tone pitch range. In a similar
manner, an obbligato tone color and an obbligato tone pitch range are set
for the left key region. Next, Step S95 checks if a certain key is turned
on. If no key is depressed, processing returns to the main routine. On the
other hand, if a certain key is depressed, Step S96 checks if the
depressed key belongs to the right key region. If Step S96 proves to be
the right key region, Step S97 silences the automatic melody channel. If
Step S96 is not the right key region, Step S98 checks if the depressed key
belongs to the left key region. If S98 indicates that the depressed key
does not belong to the left key region, processing immediately returns to
the main routine. On the other hand, if the left key region is indicated,
Step S99 silences the automatic obbligato channel of the tone generator 8,
thereafter returning to the main routine. By the above-described minus-one
process, whenever the minus-one switch 33 is operated, the minus-one mode
is selected or removed alternatively. Further, when the minus-one mode is
selected and concurrently a certain key is depressed during the course of
the automatic performance, either of the programmed melody and obbligato
parts is inhibited and silenced according to the location of the depressed
key.
Referring to FIG. 8, the tempo clock interruption process is called every
one-eighth beat in response to the tempo clock fed from the tempo clock
generating circuit 8. First, Step S11 checks if RUN=1. If RUN=1 is not
held, processing immediately returns to the main routine. On the other
hand, if RUN=1 is held, Step S12 reads out a chord from the chord data
sequence, corresponding to the current timing of the selected song in the
automatic performance. Further, Step S13 reads out a tone data from the
accompaniment pattern corresponding to the song code SNG at the current
timing, and outputs the read tone data to the tone generator 8, thereby
advancing to Step S14. Except for rhythm or percussive tone, the tone data
is converted into terms of tone pitch according to the read chord, and
then fed to the tone generator 8. Next, a variable i is set, in Step S14,
with value "0" indicative of the melody track. Then, Step S15 executes the
"Reproduction process" shown in FIG. 9. Subsequently, the variable i is
updated in Step S16 to the value "1" indicative of the obbligato track.
Then, Step S17 is called to execute again the reproduction process of FIG.
9. Lastly, Step S18 again executes the "Count process" of FIG. 11, thereby
returning to the main routine. By the above-described tempo clock
interruption process, the automatic accompaniment is conducted according
to the selected song in Steps S12 and S13. Further, the respective melody
and obbligato parts are automatically performed in the reproduction
process of Steps S15 and S17.
In the reproduction process shown in FIG. 9, Step S21 checks data sequence
is completed with respect to the track corresponding to the variable i
(i.e., the melody part or the obbligato part). If the note data sequence
is completed, processing returns immediately to the tempo clock
interruption routine. On the other hand, if the note data sequence is not
yet completed, a subsequent check is made in Step S22 to see if the
counter INT.sub.i reaches value "0". If INT.sub.i =0 is not held, the
counter INT.sub.i is decremented in Step S23, thereby returning to the
tempo clock interruption process. On the other hand, if INT.sub.i =0 is
held in Step S22, subsequent Step S24 is undertaken to read out a
performance data indicated by the address pointer of the particular track
corresponding to the variable .sub.i. Then, Step S25 checks to whether the
identification code contained in the retrieved performance data indicates
note data or interval data. If the identification code indicates the note
data, Step S26 executes the "Note process" shown in FIG. 10, thereafter
advancing to Step S28. On the other hand, if the identification code does
not indicate the note data, but indicates the interval data, the time
value TM of the retrieved interval data is set to the counter INT.sub.i in
Step S27, thereafter advancing to Step S28. In this step, the address
pointer is updated, thereby again returning to Step S21 to repeat the
subsequent steps. By the above-described reproduction process, when the
current timing falls between adjacent note events on either of the melody
and obbligato tracks designated by the variable i, the counter INT.sub.i
counts the time value TM. When the time value TM lapses, Step S26 effects
the note process.
In the note process shown in FIG. 10, Step S41 checks if the event code EVT
contained in the note data indicates key-on. If the EVT does not indicate
key-on, the EVT indicates key-off so that a key-off signal feeds to a
particular sound channel of the corresponding part in the tone generator
8, thereafter returning to the reproduction process. On the other hand, if
the event code EVT indicates key-on, Step S43 checks as to if MUT=1. If
MUT=1 is not held, processing jumps to Step S47. On the other hand, if
MUT=1 is held, Step S44 checks if i=0, i.e., if the current processing is
associated to the melody part. If i=0 is held in Step S44 to indicate the
melody processing, Step 45 checks if there is a certain depressed key-on
the right key region. If the right key region contains a depressed key,
processing returns immediately to the reproduction process without
effecting programmed tone generation of the melody part. On the other
hand, if there is no depressed key-on the right key region, processing
advances to Step S47. Referring again to Step S44, if i=0 is not held to
indicate the obbligato part processing, branched Step S46 checks if there
is a depressed key-on the left key region. If the left key region contains
an actually depressed key, processing returns immediately to the
reproduction process without effecting programmed tone generation of the
obbligato part. On the other hand, if there is no depressed key-on the
left key region, processing advances to Step S47. In Step S47, a key-on
signal and a key code KC contained in the retrieved note data feed to the
sound channel of the corresponding part in the tone generator 8 to thereby
effect the programmed tone generation, thereafter returning to the
reproduction process. By this operation, when the actual key depression is
detected only in either of Steps S45 and S46, the processing returns to
the reproduction process without effecting the programmed tone generation.
Consequently, programmed tone generation of a minus-one part is inhibited
or suspended when the manual performance is conducted under the minus-one
mode with respect to the same minus-one part.
In the count process shown in FIG. 11, the counter CLK is incremented in
Step S61. Then, Step S62 checks if BT (SNG)=0 is held to determine a time
measure of the selected song according to its code SNG. If the condition
BT (SNG)=1 is found, three-quarter measure is achieved. Thus, Step S64
checks if the counter CLK reaches "24" which is the full number of clocks
contained in the three-quarter measure. On the other hand, if BT (SNG)=0
is held, four-quarter measure is achieved. Thus, Step S63 checks if CLK
reaches "32" which is a full number of clocks contained in the
four-quarter measure. If the counter CLK=32 is held in Step S63 or CLK=24
is held in Step S64, processing advances to Step S65 in which CLK is reset
to "0", thereby proceeding to subsequent Step S66. On the other hand, if
the counter CLK does not reach the full clock number of one measure,
processing immediately returns to the tempo clock interruption process.
Step S66 checks if the note data sequence of the melody track is
completed. If it is not completed, processing jumps to Step S68. If it is
completed, Step S67 returns the address pointer to the top of the melody
track, thereby advancing to Step S68. Step S68 checks if the note data
sequence of the obbligato track is completed. If it is not completed,
processing returns to the tempo clock interruption process. If it is
completed, Step S69 is undertaken to return the address pointer to a top
of the obbligato track, thereby returning to the tempo clock interruption
process.
According to the invention, as described above, the minus-one mode is
established in the automatic performance by operation of the minus-one
switch 33. In this mode, when the keyboard 2 is not manipulated, the full
automatic performance is carried out, including the melody and obbligato
parts. When the right key region is operated, instant tone is generated in
response to the key depression while programmed tone of the melody part is
not generated and therefore is excluded from the full automatic
performance. In the same manner, when the left key region is actuated,
instant tone is generated in response to the key depression while
programmed tone of the obbligato part is not generated. Accordingly, when
the operator plays the keyboard to carry out manual performance in part
under the minus-one mode of the automatic performance, the instant tone is
generated in a particular part (minus-one part) allotted to the keyboard
while the programmed tone is silenced in the same minus-one part so that
the operator can accomplish the manual performance of the minus-one part
with the automatic accompaniment of the remaining parts. When the operator
discontinues manipulation of the keyboard, the programmed tone of the
minus-one part is immediately restored to recover the full automatic
performance. In this manner, the minus-one function can be switched
automatically upon detection of the keyboard operation. This automatic
switching of the minus-one function may facilitate practicing of keyboard
play, particularly when the player forgets the score.
Generally, in order to emphasize the melody part as compared to the
obbligato part in the musical composition, the melody part is set to a
higher tone pitch range than that of the obbligato part. Thus in this
embodiment, the right key region of a relatively high tone pitch range is
allotted with the melody part, and the left key region of a relatively low
tone pitch range is allotted with the obbligato part. By such an
allotment, a minus-one part to be silenced selectively by the minus-one
function can be associated to an adequate section of the input implement
(left key region/right key region) suitable for manual performance of that
minus-one part. Consequently, by playing the implement associated with a
desired part, the minus-one part is automatically selected by the
minus-one function, thereby eliminating the additional operation of a
function selecting switch.
Though the present embodiment utilizes key region division of the keyboard
for detection or discrimination of the melody and obbligato parts, other
methods such as different types of implements are discriminated between
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) channels can be utilized.
Further, when regenerating programmed tone of the minus-one part alter
stopping the manual keyboard performance, the tone volume may be
controlled in a fade-in manner. Similarly, when silencing the programmed
tone of the minus-one part after starting the manual keyboard performance,
the tone volume may be controlled in a fade-out manner. Moreover, it is
expedient to provide a suspending duration at a programmed tone generation
timing of the minus-one part during the course of manual performance with
the automatic accompaniment under the minus-one mode. By such
construction, if a slight delay occurs in manual key touch on the
keyboard, duplicate generation of the programmed and instant tones can be
avoided. If the manual performance is discontinued over a given interval,
the full automatic performance will be initiated without such a suspending
duration. Although the performance data is stored in the ROM in the
present embodiment, the performance data may be stored in a RAM to effect
automatic performance according to the invention. Though the keyboard is
utilized as an input implement in the present embodiment, other kinds of
input implement may be adopted to automatic switching of the minus-one
function upon operation of the implement in the electronic musical
instrument. In the process routines of the present embodiment, the right
key region is fixedly associated to the melody part and the left key
region is fixedly associated to the obbligato part. However, the regions
of the keyboard may be associated in a free or flexible manner to channels
or tracks of the tone generator. In such a case, a routine for memorizing
the association therebetween and steps referring to the added routine may
be added.
As described above, according to the invention, the electronic musical
instrument has an automatic performance function such as to effect
automatic performance of a musical composition composed of plural parts as
well as to effect manual performance by means of an input implement such
as a keyboard. When the operation of the input implement is detected,
programmed tone generation of the automatic performance is partly
inhibited for a certain minus-one part which is specifically associated to
the input implement. Thus, there can be obtained the automatic minus-one
function for the minus-one part by the actuation of the input implement,
thereby improving operability and efficiency of the minus-one function in
practicing of the electronic musical instrument and so on.
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